The Heaton File

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2:1-4)

The Steadfast Word

Apostasy is a serious danger facing every Christian. The faith of God’s saints is daily tested against the wiles of the devil who seeks to devour the soul of the Christian. Hebrews is a book written to encourage the Jewish Christian to hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering. One of the foundational requirements of a stable faith is anchoring the soul in the word of God. Paul reminded the Romans that faith came from hearing the word of God. A strong spirit is fortified with the study, examination, and meditation on the truth revealed through the Holy Spirit. Knowledge requires a diligent desire to listen carefully to the truth and to exercise the application of that truth into the heart. The more the word permeates the mind of man, the more secure he will be in the faith of God.

The word of God has always been proven trustworthy. There has never failed a promise of God. His word is reserved in Heaven and no man can change the divine truth when the Lord speaks it. Everything that God promised that was good came about and all the things that were punishment came true. The word spoken through angels always stood firm with no deviation. Jesus never spoke a word that was not the word of His Father. From time beginning, the Holy Spirit revealed the mind of God to the world in the exacting details purposed by the Father. All the word of God has proven steadfast. God told Noah He would destroy the world, and He told Noah how to save himself. The flood destroyed the disobedient just like the word of God had said. Noah and his family were saved by the word of God when he obeyed the instructions of the Lord.

Faltering faith comes when a man stops listening to the word of God. Neglecting salvation begins with a denial of truth. The writer of Hebrews asks a rhetorical question when he considers how a man can escape the judgment of God. There is no way a man will evade the judgment of God because the word of God is sure, steadfast, and immoveable. God spoke His word, it was confirmed by Jesus through signs, wonders, and miracles and the early disciples were given gifts by the Holy Spirit to confirm the word. That word is unchanged. It remains the same. His word establishes God’s love. His word confirms the severity of God. What makes a man think the word of God will not judge him (good or bad) on the final day?

The danger of drifting away from the truth is real. When a man leaves the Lord, it begins when he stops listening to the word of God. External indicators may be a pattern of failing to assemble with the saints but it started much earlier when the word of God was not a central part of life. A soul turns away from God when the Bible is no longer important. Faith does not disappear overnight. It is a gradual process of drifting away until finally, the soul rejects God completely. There is a need for an earnest effort to constantly be made to fortify the heart with the teaching of the word of God.

What God did for men a thousand years ago He will do for men today. The power of God’s word is that it is unchanging. In 1492, the gospel was a compelling message of hope and that same power is available today for all men who would come to the Lord and accept His word. Time does not diminish the word. The apostasy of men will not dilute the word. Angels cannot change the message of grace. If the Lord allows the world to continue until the year 3021, the word of God will be the same. It is sure, steadfast, and true. No man will escape the word of God. His word will either be a blessing or a curse. You make the decision. What are you doing with the word of God?

These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh. (Joshua 12:6)

The Servant Of The Lord

There are only three men in the Bible called “servants of the Lord.” Thousands of men and women were servants of the Lord but only Moses, Joshua, and David bore the name, “servant of the Lord.” Four New Testament writers opened their letters, calling themselves bondservants of Christ following along the same theme as the Holy Spirit inscribed of Moses, Joshua, and David.  Servitude is as old as the earth. It has always been the lot of some men to find themselves enslaved to others whether by war, poverty, or injustice. Slavery is a central theme in the Bible. Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave and rose to second in command of Egypt. The Hebrews were later enslaved by Pharaoh and by the power of God, delivered with great power and signs.

To be a servant is to be enslaved and indebted. The rules of servitude are simple. There is a master and a slave and the slave must be obedient to the master. Not all slavery is evil. Many masters were benevolent to their servants (the parable of the prodigal son). The Law of Moses protected slaves from harsh treatment. Moses was called a servant of the Lord on numerous occasions because his life reflected complete dependence and obedience to the will of the Lord. His heart was willing to follow the word of God as a servant to a master. He was a servant of the Lord in everything he did. Joshua was one of the most diligent servants of the Lord as he trusted in the power of God to defeat the nations of Canaan when Israel rebelled against God. When Israel crossed the Jordan to battle the city of Jericho, Joshua the servant of the Lord followed exactly the commands of the Lord. Joshua would only take seven years to conquer Canaan. His life was a reflection of servitude.

David was a man after God’s own heart and this is where his servitude shone brightest. He trusted in the power of God when he killed Goliath. A servant of the Lord stood in the valley of Elah and slew the giant who defied the army of God. When David became king, he served the will of the Father. Nathan came to David following his infidelity with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, charging David with the wrath of God. The servant heart of David did not oppose the condemnation or try to blame others. David the servant of the Lord said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” What set David apart from others was his willingness to accept the rule of God in his life without exception.

To be a servant of the Lord, one must become a slave. The world has depicted slavery in a very dark and evil manner and there have been injustices of the cruelty of men to others. This same attitude is reflected in the relationship of men who refuse to subject themselves to the will of the Lord. Servitude to God is not a request but a command. If a man is unwilling to submit his whole life to the will of the Lord, there will be no eternal joy. Servitude and slavery are at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has always required and demanded first place and will not accept anything less. Moses was a servant of the Lord through his love for God. The Christian must turn his life completely and fully over to the will of the Lord as a man becomes a slave of another. God is the Master and there can be no other.

It is not possible to be a ‘part-time’ servant of the Lord. Either a man becomes a servant of the Lord or remains a slave of sin. There are infinite rewards and blessings for those who are the servants of the Lord. This life is one of slavery but eternal life is one of family fellowship where the Father brings His servants into His home to dwell with Him. Those who refuse to submit to the will of the Father will be cast into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then they will be enslaved to an eternal hell wishing they had been servants of the Lord in life. Which are you? Have you enslaved your life to Jesus Christ?

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Allegiance

A pledge of allegiance is a promise of loyalty to a particular cause. The commitment of allegiance is vowed that everything will be focused on a single factor without exception. When a person joins the military, they take an oath to honor the commitment to serve that branch of service with complete devotion. If that allegiance is not held up, the individual could face discharge. In the Roman army, complete devotion was required. When the New Testament writers wrote about allegiance, they borrowed from the language of the military. Jesus told His disciples service to God required complete, unequivocal and undeniable devotion.

The problem with man is he believes he can multi-task between God and the desires of the flesh. God has not only demanded first place, He is a jealous God who will not allow anything to come between Him and the service of men. The character of the human heart is a single devotion. If a man loves the things of the world, he will not love God fully. The idea that Satan plants in the mind is to love the Lord a little but not to become so enamored with Him that the heart can see nothing else but God. Many people mistake believing the devil tempts men to deny God. On the contrary, the devil is willing for men to accept a totem of God in their own choosing but not to commit fully to the will of the Father. That way, they can say they love the Lord and continue to live carnal lives.

Jesus describes the conflict of heart when men seek to serve God. It becomes a matter of all or nothing. There is no fence-sitting in the kingdom of heaven. Dual memberships are not allowed in the kingdom of God. Trying to keep one foot firmly planted in the world and a toe in the body of Christ accomplishes nothing. Jesus reminded His disciples that where the treasure of the heart resides is where the values of life are found. There is no exception. If a man seeks the fame and glory of the world, he will never find eternal reward. Seeking after the pleasures of the flesh will drive a heart far away from the love of God. The heart’s allegiance must be entirely in favor of God and Him alone or there is no reward.

It is hard to keep allegiance with God with the world’s temptations so alluring. There is a desire to be like the world but this will be in conflict with the will of the Lord. Trying to serve the mastery of the flesh and subduing the flesh in the body of Christ cannot be done. It is impossible for a man to serve two masters. The reason is simple: the heart can only focus on one love. If a man loves the world, that is his god. When the heart rises above the desires of the flesh and seeks to love God, it demands a complete devotion of love. Serving God requires hating the things of the world in favor of His will. Loyalty will be determined by where the heart resides. A divided loyalty is no loyalty. Divided loves are exercises in infidelity. Jesus boldly proclaims the eternal truth that will judge men: it is impossible to serve God and mammon.

What the church of God needs more than anything are hearts devoted to the cause of Christ. The soul of man must be committed to serving the Father’s will with complete allegiance. There can be nothing that will come before the will of God. He is first or no place at all. Nothing will take away the commitment a person has to serve the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and body. What God desires comes first. The other key of allegiance is that it happens daily. Serving God once a week or whenever the desires come will not show allegiance. Living the Christian life demands seven days a week showing the world that God is first in their life. No man can serve two masters and it is impossible to serve God without an allegiance of complete devotion. Who are you devoted to and who do you serve? God knows. Do you know God?

I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. (Isaiah 44:22)

The Forgiveness Of God

Forgiveness is the greatest blessing God has given men. It cost the Son of God His life to grant the grace of a forgiving and kind God. All men deserve the wrath of God. There is nothing that man has done to deserve the mercy of the Father. The death of Jesus was not accomplished by civil men who wanted to fulfill the word of God. Jesus was killed by an angry mob of Jews that hated Him so much they could not be satisfied until He was dead. Their hypocrisy was further seen when they begged Pilate to break the legs of Jesus to hasten death because the next day was a high Sabbath day. Jesus was in the tomb while the Jewish leaders went about their worship of the Lord God whose Son they had just killed. Forgiveness came at an eternal cost.

The conditions for forgiveness changed when Jesus died on the cross but the nature of forgiveness has never changed. Isaiah wrote about the love of God for Israel when he shares the word of the Lord for His people. God promised to sweep away the sins of the people like a cloud. God did not forget Israel and although they brought the wrath of God upon them, He remained faithful to them promising redemption. For all the things Israel had done, the Lord promised to wipe away their sins, blotting them out like a thick cloud. What more can anyone ask than the mercy and grace of a loving Father to accept back a rebellious child as God promises to those who seek Him.

Forgiveness will only be given to those who come to the Lord. There is no sin a man commits that God will not forgive when he – with a humble heart – returns to the Lord seeking forgiveness. This is the greatest of blessings. David and Bathsheba committed adultery and were judged guilty by the Law of Moses. Under the Law, David and Bathsheba were to be killed for infidelity. David caused Uriah to become drunk and then murdered him by the hand of Joab. When Nathan came to David to unveil his sins, he told the king that the Lord put away his sin and that he and Bathsheba would not die. David certainly feared the consequences of his actions, yet David found grace in the eyes of the Lord and by God’s mercy, David and Bathsheba were forgiven.

The immeasurable grace of God to take away sin is beyond comprehension. God is willing to blot out, like a thick cloud, the sins of His children. The price of forgiveness is measured by the price paid to make atonement. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can take away sin and what a high price was paid. Forgiveness is an emotion that should fill the heart of those who receive the grace of God with thanksgiving unending. How can one day pass without a grateful heart that God forgives like a dark cloud? The heart must sing daily the praise of “I am redeemed.” Sin is such a heavy burden to bear and often overwhelming with despair and doubt. God comes to His child and, while embracing them, reminds them of His love when He says, “I forgive.” Praise God for His love. Forgive me, Father. Thank you.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-3)

Unless You Are Converted

The disciples of Jesus frequently argued about who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Their view of the work of the Lord was clouded by their pride and misunderstanding of the divine plan. Jesus used a child to draw an impact lesson to their minds. Children of God are children in their hearts. Without becoming like a child, service in the kingdom of heaven is impossible. Before a heart can become like a child, a change must take place. Jesus did not tell the disciples to become children. He told them to change their hearts and become as little children. Often lost in the admonition of a child-like heart is the need for conversion.

Arguing about who would be greatest in the kingdom highlighted a problem that men had yet changed their lives to be entirely devoted to the Lord. The disciples of Jesus did not realize their teacher and master would soon die on a Roman cross. It came as a shock and with dismay, the disciples scattered. Jesus told them He had to die but that God would raise Him from the dead. They did not hear him. Following Jesus was an intellectual journey until they saw Him die. Then everything changed and the eleven devoted their lives to the Lord. That change occurred when their hearts finally had been converted to the will of the Father.

To be a Christian for many is an intellectual journey where they go through the motions and do the “right” things in the “right” way but have never changed their lives to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Little has changed in their lives. They still think as they did before. Their immodesty continues with no change. Habits are seldom changed with an acceptance of the carnal trappings of the world (dancing, drinking, smoking, gambling, etc.). The group of friends they had before becoming a Christian continues to make up a large part of their lives. Work remains the first place in the constant pursuit of the rat race. If the boss wants them to work on Sunday, the Christian sees no harm and is willing to miss multiple times.

Conversion is a notable change with evident expressions of a change of heart, mind, and soul. Jesus said a true disciple is a changed person. If a man or woman has never changed their life for the glory of God, they have never fully become part of the kingdom of heaven. Conversion is not accepting the moral code of the church to follow a set plan in specific steps. The real convert is a heart that has converted the old ways to new ways. There is a new way of thinking. Women begin covering themselves with sobriety and modesty. Habits of the old life are put away so that all can see Christ living in the example of the Christian. Conversion may require a change of friends who are not influencing the heart to heavenly thoughts. A courageous heart will explain to the employer that Sunday is a sacred day that will not be missed on account of work. God comes first without exception.

A converted heart knows the price paid for salvation. Jesus gave up equality with the Father, offered His life for the sins of all men, and agreed to subject Himself to the Father when all things are accomplished. In a fashion, Jesus converted His existence to save men. He asks for those who want to be His disciples to change their lives. There is nothing a man will give up that will measure to the gift of God through Jesus Christ. When a man converts his life to the glory of God, he will find the unfathomable measure of God’s love. Are you converted?

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

Mindful Of The Word

Jesus was the teacher of a band of disciples that followed Him and learned of the word of God. The teaching of Jesus was unlike what these men had heard from the religious leaders of the day. He spoke with authority. Jesus did not mince words and defeated the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders at every turn. Being a disciple of a teacher like Jesus would impress upon the mind a presence of divine authority. The disciples witnessed incredible miracles confirming their teacher was the Son of God.

Jesus asked His disciples who people were saying He was. Some thought Jesus to be John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Peter responded that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus commended Peter for his answer. Shortly afterward, Jesus began to show to His disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the Jewish leaders. In fact, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be killed, but he will be raised from the dead on the third day. This upset Peter who took exception to the words of Jesus. He could not imagine the one he just identified as the Son of God would allow such a thing to happen. Peter’s idea of the kingdom of heaven was wrapped in a carnal garment of an earthly kingdom.

Peter took Jesus aside and reprimanded his teacher for suggesting His own people would kill Him. It seemed incredulous that Jesus would think the elders, chief priests, and scribes would do such a thing. In the mind of Peter, Jesus was wrong and he was going to set Jesus straight about the matter. Peter tells Jesus such a thing would never happen and he would not allow it. The other disciples would not allow it. Peter could see no reason why Jesus would think such a thing. Taking the matter into his own hand, Peter rebukes Jesus.

What Peter had forgotten was the word of Jesus was the authority of God. Peter’s bravery was a veneer of courage. Later, Peter would deny Jesus three times when faced with being a follower of the man just arrested and taken before Pilate. Jesus reminded Peter that he could not change the will of God. It was in the divine plan for Jesus to die and Peter’s denial would not change that. All the miracles proved Jesus was the Son of God which confirmed the words of Jesus were divine. Peter should have accepted what Jesus said with faith and followed the words of Jesus. Taking Jesus aside to rebuke him was an affront to the character of Jesus and His word.

The problem with men is when they are not mindful of the word of God, they go beyond the word or deny the word. Peter was not mindful of what God’s plan was. He could only see things from a human viewpoint. There was no reason in the mind of Peter the Jewish leaders would do such a thing. The problem with Peter was he did not understand the whole picture. He tried to change the word of God to something he could understand. When Jesus told him something he disagreed with, he rebuked Jesus. Many read the Bible and disagree with God’s words and criticize the Lord by adding to His word or taking away from His word. These men are not mindful of the word of God. Like Peter, they have their own ideas and doctrines.

God sent His Son to tell all men His will. Jesus taught the word of God and showed by His power the word was divine. The responsibility of everyone is to accept the word of God. Too many people take God to task for His word because they do not understand and do not agree. This does not change the word of God but that is why there are so many different churches and faiths today. Men think they know better than God. They go beyond His word or they deny His word. Sadly, the rebuke of Jesus comes from the word and if a man fails to receive this rebuke, he will lose his soul. Men dare not challenge the word of God lest He takes them aside and says, “Get behind Me, Satan.”

Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (Matthew 18:27)

God Is Moved With Compassion

Forgiveness is a necessary part of the will of God but it is one of the most challenging emotions that men are tasked to do. To forgive is to put aside, cease to feel resentment against another, and pardon the offense caused by another. It is easy to forgive friends and companions but hard to forgive enemies. Peter asked Jesus if there was a limit to how many times a man must forgive another. This shows men’s perception that while forgiveness is commanded, there has to be a limit on the number of times a man must forgive another.

Peter was mistaken to believe forgiveness came with a qualifier. Men forgive one another based upon the worth of their willingness to accept wrong. When a man sins against another repeatedly, a line is drawn in the sand because the carnal heart demands justice for the wrong done. Jesus answers Peter with an illustrative number that shows forgiveness must be endless. The Lord follows up with a parable of a man who owed his master ten thousand talents. The sum owed was millions of dollars. There was no way the servant could repay his master. When the man begged for the master to have patience allowing him time to repay the debt, the heart of the master was moved to compassion. In a gesture of eternal mercy, the debt was forgiven. The master gave up millions of dollars because of his love for the servant.

The servant did not deserve mercy from the master. There was a reason the man owed millions of dollars. He had been unworthy, dishonest, and untruthful in his dealings with the master. The debt owed was not by accident. His careless attitude toward his debt increased daily to a point it was impossible to repay what was owed. The master was entirely within his rights to demand payment and to administer punishment against the debtor. He threatened the most severe payment to have the man and his family sold to regain a small portion of the debt owed. This was the worst thing to happen for a family and they stood in jeopardy of the harshest punishments.

When the man begged for mercy, the heart of the master was moved with compassion. The millions of dollars owed was no longer of any value. What the master saw in the face of the servant was a penitent heart for his failure. Mercy was given to the debtor out of pity for him. In a sweeping moment of grace, the master forgave the debt and brought the debtor a surprising peace and calm. It had to shock the man as he heard the words and saw the love in the eyes of the master. His life was changed forever. The story turns dark when the forgiven man does not show mercy to another who owed only a pauper’s due. He was punished severely by the master. Jesus was teaching how men must forgive others in the same manner the Father has forgiven them.

The key ingredient of the story is the compassion God has upon sinful man. Sin is the debt that humanity heaps up every day, becoming an impossible debt to pay. There is nothing men can do to live righteously before God apart from His grace. All men have sinned and everyone falls short of the glory of God – without exception. Sin is the damning penalty inflicted upon humankind. God demands justice. He requires payment but there is nothing to pay the debt. Only when a man of contrite heart comes before the Father begging for mercy is the heart of God moved to compassion. They are about to be cast off but God has mercy on them. Mercy is a most wonderful feeling to enjoy in the forgiveness of the Lord God. No man deserves it, nothing can be done to change it, and the wrath of God is justified against sin. Then the Lord is moved with compassion, releases the guilt of sin, and forgives. Glory to God.

God is moved with compassion when the humble heart seeks His love. Jesus Christ was the essence of grace when He died for the sins of all men so that the Father can express His compassion and forgive sins. There is no greater gift offered to mankind than the grace and mercy of God. The forgiveness of sins is taking away a debt impossible to pay. Jesus paid the debt in His blood. Through the blood of Jesus, all men are given the opportunity to find grace before the Father and hear those incredible and eternal words: I forgive. Come to Jesus. He will save you. Why? Because God is moved with compassion.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

God Cares

Adam stood alone in the garden surrounded by the animals created by the Lord. Each animal was brought to the man and he named them but something was missing. Inborn in the inner being of the soul of Adam was a longing and care for companionship. God knew that He had created a being that possessed the need for love and protection and He took a rib from Adam and created the woman. Adam’s response was to see the woman as bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. In the paradise of Eden, Adam and Eve felt complete and whole as they shared those intimate moments of companionship with one another.

Sin destroyed the beauty of Eden. Satan divided the relationship of God and man in a cruel manner of deceit. The companionship of God and man was complete as the Lord walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve in perfect union with one another. When the forbidden fruit was taken, God had to remove Adam and Eve from the home He had provided for them. The first man and woman stood alone outside the garden not knowing what to do next. God provided for them and cared for them. In time a son was born and then many, many more children were born and the world grew in number.

God never abandoned Adam and Eve. When they disobeyed the command of the Lord, He could have left them to their own destruction or destroyed them to start again. The consequence of sin was God taking the Tree of Life away from mortal man and death would rule the world. When the Lord pronounced sentence upon the man and woman, He punished them but He showed them He cared for them and loved them. The first promise of God was not to leaven them without hope. Adam and Eve walked into a world populated only by two people and God cared for them. Adam would live to be 930 years old and he and Eve would bear many children. God took care of early man because He cared for them.

The nation of Israel learned throughout their history that God cared for them. He delivered them from bondage, protected them from enemies, fed them with sufficient food to sustain them, and never caused them to go without water. Their clothes did not wear out in the forty years of God’s wrath. The land of promise was a gift from a benevolent Father who provided all things for His people. In the face of their wickedness, rebellion, and rejection of the love of God, He remained steadfast in His love for them and promised hope if they would repent. God cared and saved a remnant.

God’s care for humanity began in the garden of Eden when the Lord promised a Seed. Sin separated man from God and there was nothing man could do to save himself. Only by the grace, mercy, and love of a benevolent Father would mankind find hope. In the days of Noah, God destroyed everything that had the breath of life except for eight souls. By the narrowest of margins, God preserved the Seed promise through Noah. Abraham became the father of the faithful as the Seed promised flourished through his lineage. There were perilous times in the history of the children of Abraham the promise of God was challenged. Finally, in a little town called Bethlehem, the Son of God was born to a virgin and eternal hope was realized.

Sin destroyed the companionship of God and man but through the blood of Jesus Christ, hope sprang anew with the promise of a God who cares for His creation. The Lord never abandoned man. He always showed His love and care for humanity. Every day the sun rises, the word of God declares how much God cares. First, because of creation the world can know the Creator still is in control and cares for His creation. Second, with each new day God shows His love by offering His Son as a gift of salvation. God cares for every human being and desires nothing but peace and contentment for them. He has proven that from the beginning of time.

When a man humbles himself before God, he will be exalted to a place of glory. The central message of the gospel of Christ is that God cares for all those who will come to Him and humble themselves before His blessings. God cares for each person and shows every day the sun rises that the word of the Lord is faithful. Men fear death but the care of God takes away fear. God cared enough to sacrifice His only begotten Son to save sinful man. Give all your worries and care to God, for he cares about you. The sun proves He cares and the Son demonstrates His love. God cares for me. What an amazing thought.

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:14-15)

God Knows

A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the study or treatment of heart diseases and heart abnormalities. A cardiologist’s work is life-saving as they can detect problems that may arise in the heart and treat disorders that afflict the heart. An echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are tools medical professionals can use to see the condition of the heart. With all the technologies that allow doctors to understand the heart, they fight a losing battle because all men die and the heart stops beating. Life ends and the heart returns to dust.

There is a spiritual heart spoken of by Jesus that will never die. This heart is the eternal spirit of a man that can never be found on any medical tests or examinations. The fruit of the spiritual heart is evident and it is something defined by the eyes of the Lord. When God created humanity, He did not give them the ability to peer into the eternal spirits of another. He could have but chose to reserve that view to Himself. The amazing power of God by His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; is the Lord God knows the heart of every man at any given moment simultaneously. Everything a young man may be doing, saying, or thinking in Lawrence, Kansas, is known by God who hears every word of a young man in the Ural Mountains of Siberia.

God knows everything that is done on the earth: north, south, east, and west. Nothing escapes His knowledge. He sees all that men do, good or bad. It matters not whether it is day or night, cold or hot, and high or low; God knows everything. This is almost more than a person can comprehend. To magnify the knowledge of the Lord God, He also has knowledge of everything since Adam and Eve spoke their first words. Jesus chided the religious leaders of His day to remind them their hypocrisy was well-known by a God who knows the hearts of all man. A man can lie to another and never be found out. The moment a lie is told, God knows. It is impossible to commit a crime and never suffer the consequences because God knows. Secret affairs may never be discovered but they are open to the eyes of the Lord.

The wise man declares the Lord is watching everywhere and there is no place on earth man can God that God is not already there. There is nothing done in the affairs of men that God is now aware of. David wrote in his psalm of the perfect knowledge of God, declaring there is no place man can escape the all-seeing-eye of the Creator. If a man goes to heaven, God is there and when a man goes down to the grave, God is there. When a man is in the womb of his mother, God sees and knows. It is too wonderful to consider the depth of God’s knowledge.

God knows the heart. It should give eternal pause to realize that all things pertaining to life are open and naked before the Lord. There are no secrets with the Lord. Hiding from God is hiding in plain sight with a spotlight focused on the soul. God judges the hearts of men. The eternal spirit of man belongs to God and he examines it and hears it and knows all things of the heart, good or bad. Jesus said the Father knows the hairs on the head and when a sparrow falls. If God is so great and merciful, does He not know of the trials of His children? The joy of God’s knowledge is He knows me, understands my needs and desires to help me in my failings. There are seven billion souls on the earth and while God knows every one of those souls – He knows me. God knows. Thank you Father.

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. (Deuteronomy 7:9-10)

God Is Faithful

Keeping a promise is often a difficult thing to do. Many factors can delay a promise made or make it impossible to fulfill. Good and honest men make promises intending to keep their word. Because of circumstances beyond their control, a promise can be broken. A man can have a faithful spirit but even the best of men will fall short of perfection. Faithfulness in the character of God is absolute, never failing, always true, and without measure. He is not like men. It is difficult for the human mind to understand how complete the faithfulness of God is. He is not faithful in a few things; His faithfulness has been perfect before time began.

God is God. That is the reason He is faithful. Every promise made by the Lord has been kept. In the garden of Eden, God promised to nurture and care for Adam and Eve. He fulfilled His promise but they broke His command. God was faithful to punish them because He said He would – and He did. The history of Israel is a textbook examination of the faithfulness of God. He delivered them from Egypt, fought their battles to victory, fed them and gave them water and during the forty years wandering did not allow their clothes to wear out, gave them the promised land, and blessed them above all nations on the earth. There was nothing God did not promise that He failed to keep.

Israel was the unfaithful nation that turned its back on the faithfulness of God. Hosea the prophet would vividly illustrate the faithfulness of God when he married a prostitute who bore him one son before having two illegitimate children by other men. Gomer would go away to whoredom before Hosea would once again love a woman loved by lovers and take her back. The faithfulness of God is everlasting – even against the rebellion of His people. Israel became corrupted through idolatry and yet the Lord would continue to appeal for the nation to repent and He would forgive. After the punishment of the bondage, the remnant returned as a symbol of God’s eternal faithfulness to forgive His people.

The faithfulness of God climaxed when Jesus Christ died on the cross. There was no hope or promise of glory without the Son of God dying for the sins of the world. God is faithful to allow His only beloved Son to suffer at the hands of cruel men and to do nothing. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, sin can be destroyed. That is a promise of God. There is no sin a man can commit that God will not forgive because He is faithful. When a heart turns from sin and obeys the commandments of the Lord, he will be saved. Grace is not measured by the goodness of men but by the faithfulness of God.

There is another side to the faithfulness of God. He does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Often, faithfulness is viewed in the positive response of eternal glory. The other side of the faithfulness of the Lord is He will punish all who refuse to obey His word. He will not be slack with those who hate Him. Many deny there is a place of eternal punishment but if God is a faithful God, His righteousness demands it. Jesus preached the message of eternal fire for those who disobey. God is faithful to bless those who love Him and keep His commandments and God is faithful to repay those who hate Him and refuse to keep His commandments.

God is faithful. What a man does with that promise will determine his eternal destiny. Accepting the grace, mercy, and love of God will find eternal joy in the faithfulness of the Lord. Refusing to obey the will of the Father will bring the faithful judgment of a righteous God on the heart of the disobedient. Everyone in Hell will know that God is faithful. Sadly, it will be too late. Are you faithful? God is. He is faithful.