The Heaton File

Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:1-4)

Convicted By The Word

The captivity of God’s people had come to an end. After seventy years of bondage, the word of God came to Cyrus, king of Persian, to return the Hebrews to Jerusalem. The returning exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua began the rebuilding of the House of God. Faced with resistance, it would take nearly two decades for the temple to be completed. The scribe and priest Ezra came to Jerusalem to instill in the people a religious reformation to restore the holiness of God’s character over the land. He faced a formidable task. The leaders came to Ezra and confessed the people of God had mixed with the peoples of the lands in marriage. They had taken some of the daughters as wives for themselves and their sons. Worse yet, the leaders and officials led the way in this trespass.

Ezra was distraught beyond measure. He tore his garment and his robe, plucked out some of the hair of his head and beard, and sat down astonished. The people came before Ezra and waited for him to speak. They trembled with fear. Ezra remained unmoved until the evening sacrifice. Afterward, the man of God lifted his voice to God in prayer, seeking the grace and mercies of the Lord to save the people. Throughout the crowd, hearts were heavy, for the people wept bitterly. They knew what they had done was an abomination to God. Marrying pagan wives was forbidden under the law. Ezra prayed fervently for the people. The word of God was clear, and the word convicted the people of the Lord. Their weeping and broken hearts were not enough. They knew they had to do more.

Shechaniah spoke up and confessed on behalf of the people how they had transgressed the word of the Lord. They had taken pagan wives in contradiction to the Law. Their marriages were special to them, but the people’s hearts were more convicted by the word of the Lord. They made a covenant that day to do something incredible. Shecahaniah declared they would put away their wives for the glory of God and His word. There was no financial gain to put away their wives. It would not be for political reasons to divorce their wives. The notion of ending an unlawful marriage had no merit in the eyes of the pagan world and seemed foolish. What changed in the hearts of the people was the willingness to obey the word of the Lord. Nothing else mattered. When the final list was given, it was noted that some of them had wives by whom they had children. It did not matter. Obeying the word of God did matter.

The word of God will only convict the honest heart. Is it possible to be so convicted by the word of the Lord to become a eunuch for the kingdom of God’s sake? There is a false notion that people have that God wants them to be happy. The Lord never promised happiness, but He does demand holiness. Jesus acknowledged that many would not heed the word of the Lord and, like the rich young ruler who came seeking eternal life, will go away desiring the pleasures of this world than the eternal glory. What is enjoyed here is but for a short time and what is experienced in eternity is without end. Shechaniah, speaking for the people, made a bold and courageous statement to allow the word of God to rule, not the pleasures of life. The people gave their promise that they would put away their wives. Showing their repentance and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering. Repentance produced sacrifice, first in giving up their pagan wives; secondly, in worship to the Lord. A ram died that day for their sins because they were willing to obey God. Jesus died so that we can obey His word – whatever the cost. What are you willing to give up? How will the word convict you?

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

The Value Of Addition

There is value in numbers as an indicator of progress and success. A number can represent a positive indicator or a negative. It is not an emphasis in the early church, but God does take note of numbers. The Holy Spirit says three thousand devout Jews obeyed the gospel on the Day of Pentecost. Later, the number of men who heard the word and believed came to be about five thousand. The word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. When the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified, they were multiplied. Luke also records the word of God grew and multiplied.

The value of a number indicates a sense of belonging. Three thousand people obeyed the gospel, and Luke says there were many more when the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Addition was important to God because He was adding souls to the kingdom of Christ. Soon after Pentecost, believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. To add someone to the Lord or the church denotes an increase in size. The kingdom of God is about addition because it is about saving souls. It is not significant to recounting of a number but the fact that addition has taken place. Only God knows the number of saved on the earth at one time or those resting in the bosom of Abraham. He knows the uncountable number of stars and the hairs on the head of every person, and He loves to add to His church souls redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Addition suggests some are not added. To be added to something means there is a place before the addition. When Luke said the Lord added to the church, he indicated those added were at one time out of harmony with the love of God. Addition changes the station of a man’s life from the darkness of sin to the light of Jesus Christ. A conversion has taken place. Adding a soul to the church subtracts a life from the clutches of the evil one. The joy of spiritual addition is one less servant of the devil, making mathematics with eternal consequences. If the Lord did not add a person to the church, they would be lost. Adding a soul to the kingdom of Christ expresses the grace and mercy of God.

Mathematics is the purest of sciences. One plus one equals two in any language at any time with any people. It will never change. The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Being added to the church came about through the obedience of those who heard the word of God, were convicted in their hearts they killed the Son of God and followed the pattern of addition outlined by Peter and the apostles. Those pricked in their hearts asked Peter and the others what to do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. It is at this time the essential character of addition comes into the eternal view. Three thousand souls repented of their sins and were baptized for the remission of sins, and the Lord added them – included them in the number – counted them a part of – the church. Addition is the mercy and grace of God, allowing a man to escape the wrath of God. Many more people heard the preaching of the apostles, but they refused to believe Jesus was the Christ and were not baptized. Did the Lord add them to the church? No. They were not added. If they refused to obey the gospel and the Lord never added them to the church, they were lost to perdition. It matters whether a person is added or not. Have you been added?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Spirit Fruit: Gentleness

There are two words attached to the meaning of gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit. A spirit of meekness and humility express an attitude of mildness and indulgence toward others with patient longsuffering. The character of gentleness is the opposite of anger, wrath, or an uncontrolled spirit. Some men are born with a kinder disposition than others, but this kind of gentleness is learned from the school of the Holy Spirit. As a fruit, gentleness comes from knowing the will of the Lord to be like Jesus Christ. The Lord invited men to come to Him because He was gentle in heart desiring His disciples to have that same disposition. Throughout the life of Jesus, He exemplified a humble and meek spirit in His Father’s strength in dealing with the harsh criticism of the Jewish leaders. Facing death, the Son of God impressed on the hearts of men His firm resolve not to render anger or to revile against those killing Him; He prayed for the Father to forgive them. This came from fruit born of the Holy Spirit.

Gentleness is a much-needed trait in a world filled with hatred, prejudice, and anger. Sin does not bring peace. It always brings animosity and bitterness. Without gentleness, a spirit of revenge and pride rules the heart. The self-centered, self-aggrandizing heart seeking its own glory will never know the power of meekness and humility. Satan paints meekness as a weakness, but it is far from the character of being weak. It takes great strength to learn to have a gentle spirit. Silence is a greater instrument of strength than the loud-mouthed, unruly tongue filled with the poison of uncontrolled anger. Through the Holy Spirit, the heart learns patience and to speak in a voice of wisdom. These traits show the Christian apart from the world as God’s elect with an example of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, and longsuffering.

The character of gentleness is found in the leaders of the church. Paul would instruct Timothy to appoint men to shepherd the flock of God who are gentle and meek. Those who would preach the word of God must possess the spirit of gentleness without being quarrelsome. This kind of wisdom does not come from the works of the flesh. Only from that which is above (Holy Spirit) will a man find the wisdom of God that is pure, peaceable, willing to yield, and full of mercy and good fruits. The gentle and quiet spirit is the most desired trait of a person of God. There will always be conflict in the life of a Christian. As a fruit of the Holy Spirit, humility will focus the heart on being gentle with all men so that Christ can be magnified and the Father glorified. The church must be filled with souls that seek the fruit of the Spirit and, in particular, to learn gentleness.

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew 16:28)

Two-Thousand-Year-Old Disciples

According to the Guinness World Records, the greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment (France). Born on 21 February 1875 to Nicolas (1837 – 1931) and Marguerite (neé Gilles 1838 – 1924), Jeanne died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on 4 August 1997. Many centenarians have lived upwards of 119 years of age. In 2012, it was estimated there were 316,600 living centenarians worldwide. The lifespan of a person living 100 years is realized more fully, considering all the changes over a century witnessed by one life.

Methuselah is the oldest recorded person to live, reaching the age of 969 years. Adam lived to be 930 years which could be a few more years considering he was created as an adult (age unknown). Abraham had a son at the age of 100 and lived for seventy-five more years. His son would live to be 180 years. It was unusual for scripture to give the age of women, but Sarah is recorded to have lived 127 years. Moses was 120 years old when he died, and his eyes were not dim, nor his natural vigor diminished. These are impressive numbers to consider a human being living far beyond the one-hundred-year mark but none so remarkable as the age of those that many say is still living today – after two thousand years.

Jesus asked His disciples who men said that He was. There were many conflicting reports about Jesus, but Peter answered correctly when he recognized Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus would show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the Jewish leaders, be killed, and rise from the dead on the third day. This was the message of the kingdom of Christ. The Lord preached the kingdom was at hand. Everything about the kingdom of God was based on Jesus being the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Chosen One, and the Anointed. Through the vision given to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed through Daniel a kingdom would be established during the days of the Roman Empire that would destroy all kingdoms. The prophecy was a clear testimony to the coming of a kingdom in the fulness of times realized in the time of Christ.

When Peter heard Jesus talking about suffering and dying at the hands of the elders and chief priests, the impetuous apostle took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus, in turn, rebuked Peter for his unbelief and, turning to the disciples, declared that following Jesus would be cross bearing and suffering. Jesus would feel the pains of crucifixion in a literal sense, but those who were to be the disciples of Christ would bear a spiritual cross. The kingdom of Christ would be made up of those who denied themselves and followed Jesus carrying a cross. Jesus puts a time-marker on the coming of the kingdom when He tells the disciples that among them (the disciples), there would be those who would live to see the coming of the kingdom. In other words, the kingdom of God would come in the lifetime of some of those standing there with Jesus that day.

Throughout the religious world, the doctrine of the kingdom of Christ is taught of a future time. Many accept the idea that He could not set up His kingdom when He came the first time, and now humanity awaits the rapture, revelation, and recreation of the plan of God to establish a kingdom on earth. According to the words of Jesus, if the kingdom was not established in the first century, there must be people who are at least two thousand years old living today. Jesus said men were standing before Him on that day that would live to see the coming of the kingdom. If the kingdom did not come, then either Jesus is a liar, or some incredibly old men walk around Jerusalem today. Neither is acceptable. Jesus did not lie, the kingdom did come, and no one is two-thousand years old. The kingdom has existed for two millennia, and Christ has reigned at the right hand of God as King of King and Lord of Lords.

Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. (1 Samuel 15:32-33)

It Was His Just Due

The king of the Amalekites was a ruthless killer. His expeditions against Israel and unsuspecting travelers in the region were fierce, cruel, and without mercy. None were spared the barbarous murder of the Amalekites. Women with child were ripped open. Children were slaughtered. Men tortured to the pleasure of the horde. Virgins raped and killed. The atrocities of the Amalekites were well known and feared. God had sent Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites. He told the king to completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys. Nothing was to be spared. Amalek had ambushed Israel after they left Egypt and continued to spread a reign of terror with their murderous exploits.

Saul took 210,000 soldiers and defeated the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. His conquest of the people of Amalek was nearly complete, with thousands killed. The instructions of the Lord were quite clear. There was no doubt what Saul was to do. His job was to annihilate the Amalekites where none would remain. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, and instead of killing him, spared the king his life. Refusing to follow the command of God, Saul and his men kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs. They could not see the purpose of destroying everything, so they kept what appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. Together with King Agag and the bounty of war, Saul went to Carmel, set up a monument for himself, and then traveled to Gilgal near Jericho.

The Lord came to Samuel, the prophet, telling him what Saul had done. Grieved at the continued disobedience of the king, Samuel met Saul in Gilgal. He told the king that God had rejected him from being the Anointed one of Israel, and the kingdom would be taken away from him. Before leaving, Samuel demanded Agag be brought before him. Saul had repented for his actions, but a very serious matter remained. King Agag was supposed to die, and Saul did not carry out the will of the Lord. Samuel carried out the will of the Lord. It seems Agag sought pity from Samuel, but no sympathy would be given. The king of the Amalekites would die in the manner he had slaughtered so many thousands, but his execution would be at the hand of a righteous God. Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

There will always be justice against those who live apart from the will of the Lord. Two kings received their due that day. Saul had his kingdom taken away because he had a rebellious heart. Agag lost his kingdom and his life from his reckless abandon of righteousness, reigning terror on others. God’s hand is against those who do evil. Judgment may not always be found in this life, but a fate worse than being hacked to death lay in store for Agag in hell. His death may have been swift, but his eternal death will never end. The justice of God is found against those who are filled with wickedness. Agag received his just due, meaning that righteousness was carried out against him.

All men stand before God accused and guilty and should receive that which is due to them. Only through the blood of Christ is the wrath of God abated. Without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, all men would stand spiritually before the Father as Agag. Thank God for the grace and love of God that offers redemption, joy, and forgiveness to those who deserve the wrath of God (their due)  – but grace abounds. It was right what Samuel did because it was the will of God.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)

There Really Is Something Called Sin

When the apostle Paul sat down to write a letter to the church at Corinth, he had a lot on his mind. The church suffered from numerous problems rising out of a divisive spirit, jealousy, rebellion, confusion, and immorality. At the forefront of the issues, a church member was living with his stepmother in an immoral relationship. It was such a horrific situation; even the pagans were appalled by such a thing. What made matters worse, the leadership of the Corinthian church and the body of believers failed to respond to the blatant immorality with any concern. To say the least, Paul was beside himself with concern the church had taken no action to save the people involved, and allowing sin to dwell within the borders of God’s church was reprehensible.

It would seem likely the report about the man with his father’s wife came from the house of Chloe, who had contacted Paul about the problems at Corinth. As Paul considered the question, he realized that at some point, the man had boldly entered a relationship with his father’s wife, and no reaction was found from the Corinthian brethren. There may have been personal disgust and gossiping filling the airwaves, but the man was allowed to be among the brethren in fellowship. What struck a nerve with the apostle Paul was how easily blatant sexual immorality was accepted within the body of Christ. At the root of the problem was an unwillingness to confront the man and the woman and call their relationship what God called it – sin!

Ignoring sin is not uncommon. The fabric of humanity call good, evil, and evil, good; light, darkness, darkness, light; sexual immorality, lifestyle, and a host of other names that suggest acceptance and approval. Paul did not hesitate to call the relationship of the man with his father’s wife sexual immorality because it was an abomination in the eyes of God. Sin must be recognized for what it is. Mitigating immorality does not change the character or nature of what God abhors. Ignoring sin does make it go away. Defining sin as anything but immorality will not change the mind of God. Lying is not advantageous as an acceptable means to conduct business – it is a sin. Lusting in the heart from pornographic images is immoral in the eyes of the Lord God. Failing to assemble with the saints to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sin. Cheating on taxes is a sin. Drunkenness is sin. It does not matter how man defines sin – God’s view of sin remains unchanged. Paul was bold and courageous to call out the couple that had been accepted within the fellowship of Corinth. There were consequences of sin the apostle likened to the effect of leaven. Failing to identify sin as immorality allowed the disciples’ hearts to turn a blind eye to any sin. It is not an easy task to preach about sin, but any other message is not the word of God. Sin must be identified for what it is and what it has done to the world. The measure of sin can only be understood in what it cost to defeat sin: the blood of the Son of God who died without sin. When men fail to call sin what it is, they deny the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His atoning blood. God so loved the world; He allowed sinful men to kill His Son. That was the price of sin. Thank God for His redeeming grace that identifies sin and, then by His mercy, is willing to wash sin away in baptism.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

The Wisdom Of The World

There are many things humanity has accomplished in the past thousands of years. From the pyramids of Egypt to the great wall in China and present-day technologies placing men on the moon and machines on Mars, human wisdom has vaunted itself as a power of dominion over the world. God instilled in the mind of His creation an incredible tool of knowledge to take possession of the world given to him to subdue. Sadly, the wisdom offered by the Divine to man has been his downfall. The world of Noah rejected the word of God for the wisdom of the flesh and perished. Building the tower of Babel was an example of how impressive the wisdom of united men had become but through a single act of dividing tongues, the Creator subdued man. There is a habitation that limits the knowledge of man, and God is the one who draws the line.

Knowledge has always caused problems when men fail to seek the wisdom of God. In creation, the Lord created knowledge, giving men the ability to accomplish great things. His failing has always been that rather than using the knowledge to glorify his Maker, he has used his knowledge to promote himself. Measuring wisdom by the standards of the world exalts the spirit of pride. Proper understanding is when the heart of man sees humanity’s foolishness compared to God’s word. What can man accomplish that is greater than God? Building the tower of Babel would be a great feat, but how does that compare to the multitude of stars that fill the night sky? A man can marvel at the small shiny reflection of the International Space Station as it passes overhead in the canopy of the night sky and remark at how smart man has become to place men in space. But what of the untold number of stars that surround it – how can the wisdom of man match the starry hosts?

Paul warns the Corinthians the wisdom of men is foolishness, divisive, and the root of trouble. Pride comes before the fall when men think they stand taller than angels. The greatest feat accomplished by humanity is microbiologically insignificant to everything God has done. His creation resounds with His wisdom. Science bursts forth with the evidence of the power of God. Nature is a symphony of divine design. The word of God is unparalleled in the writings of men. Nothing compares to the message of the Bible that has remained unchanged and unmoved. The word of God traps the wisdom of men in a snare of their own cleverness. God knows the mind of man, and they are worthless. Why would a man boast about anything? Do not the angels amuse themselves with the pride of men?

The Corinthians were trying to elevate the wisdom of men above God. Paul admitted he was only a man, as was Apollos. These men were servants of the Lord. They had no desire to be exalted by human standards. Their humility was found in the willingness to teach the word of God to glorify the Father. They did not seek elevation in the company of human wisdom. Their preaching was Christ crucified and nothing else. Preaching the wisdom of the world would deny the character of the Son of God. True wisdom comes when one accepts the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The only knowledge that saves is found in Jesus Christ. It is easy for men to seek a higher plane with self-glory, but the true disciple of Christ will seek the well-being of others, desiring the betterment of their fellow man above themselves and putting Jesus Christ first in all things. Glory in no one but Christ and, in so doing, glorify God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Spirit Fruit: Faithfulness

Faith is the foundational character of a man’s relationship with God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Through faith, a man can see the hope of eternal life and the promises made by the Lord. Men like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses exemplify the power of faith to believe the impossible and accept the unknown. Paul writes that faith comes from hearing the word of God, showing all men the revealed pattern of divine love and grace. It is from this kind of faith that faithfulness comes. The first faith brings one to God, and faithfulness is the character that solidifies the spirit to fidelity.

As one of the fruits of the Spirit, faithfulness is more than believing in God. The Holy Spirit expresses the character of faithfulness in the child of God as one of action. Faith and faithfulness are like love when a man loves God and shows that love through his manner of life. There is more to love than saying it. To find the true value of love, it must be exercised. Faith follows the same path. Saying one has faith in God has little meaning with the expression of faith through faithfulness. Faith will lead a man to God, but faithfulness is the manner of life that springs forth from the word of God to be evidenced in the life of the man.

A faithful man is one of integrity and honesty. He is known as a man of his word because of his faithfulness. As a member of a community, people will see his character as one of truth. In the workplace, the faithful man exhibits honesty, productivity, reliability, and a willingness to help others. There is no place faithfulness is more important than in the home. A man and woman are faithful in their relationship with one another as husband and wife. Their children see faithfulness in their character as parents. The home is established with the fruits of the Spirit, including showing faithfulness.

As a fruit, faithfulness comes from the Holy Spirit. Speaking truth from the heart requires guidance and counsel. As strangers and pilgrims in a perverse generation, showing faith takes more courage, and the Holy Spirit will bear the fruit of faithfulness to concrete the soul into the image of the Father. Daniel and his friends showed their faithfulness by standing for truth and not allowing the world’s influences to change their character. Faith had them stand before the fiery furnace and the lion’s den, but faithfulness guided their hearts, minds, and souls to show their love for God. Christians must show faithfulness in their speech, manner of dress, behavior, disposition, and attitude.

Faithfulness is a vital ingredient in the work of the church. What the church needs more than ever are members who show their faithfulness in the integrity of their work in the kingdom. A man bearing fruit from the Holy Spirit will show faithfulness in his worship to keep the commands of the Father in the assembly. This is found in prayer, song, remembering the sacrifice of Christ, returning the Lord the bounties of life, and growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness born of the Spirit will help give the courage to talk to others about eternal life. The fruit of the Spirit is a manifestation of the growth of the Christian. The Lord will bless those who are faithful.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)

The Agency Of Teaching Is By Men

There are few stories as riveting as the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. The early disciples were terrified of Saul, who participated in the death of an early Christian named Stephen and made havoc of the church, dragging men and women to prison from every city he could find those of the Way. Saul was relentless in his pursuit of the Christians. He was zealous toward God to destroy the church. His single purpose in life was to stamp out all that followed Jesus of Nazareth. With the authority of the Jews in Jerusalem, Saul chased down Christians in foreign cities, compelled believers to blaspheme Christ, and cast his vote against them when they were condemned to death. Saul of Tarsus was exceedingly enraged against the Christians.

One day, Saul was on a mission to find Christians in the city of Damascus when about noon, a bright light shone about him. Unknown to Saul, he was a chosen vessel for the Lord to take the name of Jesus to the world. The Lord appears to Saul on the road to Damascus and tells him to go into the city to the house of a man named Judas. Jesus came to Saul to appoint him as a minister and witness of the gospel to both Jew and Gentile. The Lord was telling Saul what his life would be in the service of the kingdom of God, but there was one thing the Lord did not do. He did not save the man from Tarsus while he stood in the road. Saul was going to become a great disciple for Christ, but the first thing that needed to be done was for someone to come and baptize Saul.

Jesus did not take away the sins of Saul. The Lord told Saul to go into the city, and it would be told him all the things he was appointed to do. Saul arose and went into the city. He found the street called Straight and then found the home belonging to Judas. It was quite a shock for Judas and his household to see Saul of Tarsus standing at the front door, considering all the things people knew about Saul. They would have known that Saul had come to Damascus to arrest all those who called upon the name of Jesus, including their household. By faith and trust in the power of God, Judas and his family accepted Saul into their homes, waiting for the word of the Lord. When the Lord appeared to Saul on the road, he had been blinded, requiring others to lead him by the hand. Now in the house of Judas, Saul was cared for by the very people he sought to destroy.

Shortly after the Lord appeared to Saul, the Lord also came to a man named Ananias and told him to find Saul and restore his sight. He would find him at the house of Judas. Ananias stood before Saul and, by the power of God, restored his sight to him. With everything that had happened to Saul from the Lord appearing to him, his blind walk to the house of Judas, and not eating or drinking for three days, one thing remained unresolved. Saul was still a lost sinner. The appearance of the Lord had not saved him. His belief in the word of the Lord had not saved him. Waiting three days without eating and drinking did not save him. It was not until Ananias came to the house of Judas and said to Saul, “Now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Saul arose and was baptized.

Saul was not saved on the Roman road to Damascus. The appearance of Jesus did not save him but the agency of a man coming to tell the man from Tarsus what he must do to be saved. This pattern of salvation is repeated throughout the story of the gospel. The gospel was given through the agency of men to the devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit sent Philip to teach a man from Ethiopia. Paul and Barnabas, and Silas would travel many thousands of miles teaching the gospel to lost souls. Peter would teach a Roman Centurion and his household the saving gospel of Christ even though an angel had appeared to Cornelius.

The gospel is carried through the agency of men to other men. It is within the power of God to save any man with His grace and mercy without the intervention of human participation: but it is not His will! The gospel is carried by faithful men who teach other men. Our neighbors will not be saved by the appearance of an angel or intercession of the Lord in some bright light. It requires a man discovering the truth of God’s love either through his own study or a man like Ananias who will come and show the way of salvation. All the good feelings and signs a person will find in life will not save him. The idea that a man is saved because he feels saved is a lie. Faith comes from hearing the word of God and obeying that word. The agency of the gospel is through the interaction of men willing to teach other men redemption.

Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly. Therefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. (2 Chronicles 22:2-4)

Wrong Parental Advice

Every child born into the world comes with a fresh innocence of newborn purity. Jezebel was one of the most wicked women in the Bible, and yet there was a time when her heart was as pure as the driven snow. Like her husband, Jezebel made a name for herself as the antithesis of righteousness, goodness, and holy character. Her reputation came through the influence of the world around her and parental guidance leading her down a path of destruction. She did not lose time to mold her daughter in the ways of Baal and idol worship. Athaliah was born to Ahab and Jezebel and, as a young baby, had a pure heart. Taught by her wicked parents, Athaliah would rise to power one day that would set her on the road to infamy as one of the cruelest women who lived.

In a marriage of political expediency, Athaliah was given to Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. After Jehoram became king, he murdered his six siblings, probably at the behest of his wife. Eight years later, Jehoram dies from an incurable disease of the intestines which he suffered two years until his intestines came out. He died in severe pain. His death was to no one’s sorrow. After the death of Jehoram, his son Ahaziah became king, with his mother serving alongside him. He walked in the ways of his grandparents (Ahab and Jezebel), led by the strong influence of his mother, Athaliah. The reign of Ahaziah would last only one year before he was killed by Jehu, son of Nimshi, whom the Lord appointed to cut off the house of Ahab. After the death of Ahaziah, his mother murdered her grandchildren, taking the throne of Judah for herself. But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash and hid him from the wrath of Athaliah.

The family of Ahab and Jezebel were a blight to the nation of Israel. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. “In Jezebel, his Phoenician wife, Ahab found a champion of the foreign culture, who was as imperious and able as she was vindictive and unscrupulous. She was the patron of the prophets of Baal and of the devotees of Asherah” (ISBE). Jezebel taught her daughter, Athaliah, well in the art of evil and manipulating others. Jezebel and Athaliah were very capable of killing their own children and grandchildren for their personal cause. Influenced by these parents, Jehoram and Ahaziah ruled with the same wickedness.

Every child is born in innocence without any corrupt or evil seed. Ahab and Jezebel were without sin when they were babies, but it changed quickly. They had children that were born in purity, but they changed their hearts. The teaching of their parents primarily influenced the corruption and ungodliness that charactered their lives. Joash would be one of the great reforming kings of Judah, and it largely had to do with his grandmother, Athaliah, not influencing him. It can be assumed his aunt Jehoshabeath (Jehosheba), the wife of Jehoiada, the priest, instilled in the young boy love for God. The power of parental influence is overpowering to determine a child’s destiny.

The Bible is filled with the godly influences of parents who sought to instill in their children a love of God. Abraham and Lot are examples of how one man guided his home with God, and the other allowed the wicked influence of Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy his home. Manoah and his wife sought the Lord’s counsel to establish the rule of life and work of their son, Samson. Hannah was a powerful influence upon her son, Samuel. Daniel’s parents taught him from an early age to pray three times to the Lord, and he never forgot those lessons. Joseph and Mary were the parental influence of the Son of God. Parenting is fraught with danger and is not for the weak-hearted. The only goal a parent should have is to make sure their children are safely in the ark when it begins to rain. Nothing else matters. Life only gives one opportunity, and those days quickly pass. Which parent are you? Teach your children to fall in love with God by your example.