The Heaton File

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

The Greatest Author

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, J.R.R. Tolkien, William Shakespeare, C. S. Lewis, William Faulkner, Virginia Wolfe, Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain, Zane Grey, and Ernest Hemingway are among the elite authors in world history who have changed the face of literature. Their writings are considered classics in their own right alongside many other authors who share the historical significance of changing the world. Few men attain the notability of worldwide authors who are remembered for centuries. Their writings are studied, examined, and quoted, and form the basis of intellectual discussions in higher levels of education. If a man were able to combine all the great writings in the history of language into one collection, none would be a shadow of significance to the one person who is the greatest author of all – Jesus Christ.

An author is someone who invents, originates, and promotes an idea and publishes those ideas into a series of philosophies, doctrines, or stories. The truth about human wisdom is that nothing is truly original. Hugh Miller said, “No dramatist can draw taller men than himself.” Every author is limited in his creation because, like the axiom in physics that water cannot rise above its level, no man can create a character greater than himself. If all the authors of all time were gathered into one room and their talents combined into one united force, they could not begin to create the story of God’s redemption of man and the story of Jesus Christ.

 When the Roman soldiers crucified three men outside Jerusalem long ago, the man in the middle was the author of the greatest story ever told. Jesus Christ became the author (causer) of eternal salvation when He died for the sins of the world. His story became the means by which sinful man could find eternal life. There is no other story that will save man. All others are false religions created by human wisdom of failed theologies, condemning their followers to life without God. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation only to those who obey Him. His story will have no impact if the heart does not accept His word. The cross is the central story of Jesus Christ, who, for the joy that was set before Him, learned obedience in the things He suffered to receive authority from God and become the Savior of the world.

There is no greater author than Jesus Christ. The story of Jesus begins in Genesis and triumphs in the Revelation. Every jot and tittle of the message penned by holy men of God declares the authorship of Jesus Christ. His hand is in every word. The power of the Holy Spirit inspired every syllable. God’s message of redemption permeates each page of divine revelation to declare the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Eternal life can only be found in the message of the author of eternal life, and Jesus is His name. Knowledge is power, and reading is learning the grace of God’s message to a lost world. Faith comes from reading the words of the author of eternal salvation. Without faith, there is no salvation. Jesus is the greatest author. Read His book often. Your destiny depends on it.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

Forgive Them

On a hill outside Jerusalem, three criminals were being put to death according to Roman law. The execution of malefactors was not uncommon. Crucifixion was the evidence of how cruel man could be, as thousands were nailed to a cross and left to die. It was reserved for the worst of criminals, the murderers, and the rebellious. Rome held an iron fist on the empire to maintain law and order with cruelty, barbarism, and infanticide. More than thirty years earlier, the Roman government sent soldiers into a small village south of Jerusalem and killed all the male children two years and under. There was no mercy. The city was overcome with great weeping and crying.

Three men were sentenced to die, and the Roman soldiers carried out the execution with precision. First, the victim was scourged with a whip that opened up his back in slivers of bleeding flesh. The soldiers knew not to scourge the man too much to kill him, but the man in the middle received a harsh beating. After scourging, the victims had to carry the cross-piece on their shoulders to the place of execution. One man was unable to carry it fully, and a victim was chosen from the crowd to finish the journey. Three men made their way through the streets of Jerusalem as people hurled insults, curses, and threw things at the condemned men. The crowd showed no mercy.

When the condemned men reached the Place of a Skull, the man forced to carry the cross-piece threw the heavy piece on the ground, and the soldiers prepared the man from Nazareth by nailing his hands to the wood. Other soldiers did the same to the men on the right and left. Lifting the weakened body of the man in the middle to the stipe or post in the ground, the soldiers secured the patibulum and then nailed the feet to the rough wood. Their work was done. The soldiers backed away, and three men struggled to push against the nails in their feet to breathe. Each breath caused extreme pain in the hands nailed to the wood. Death would be torturous and slow and would never come soon enough.

As the soldiers divided the remaining earthly possessions of the victims, the crowd that gathered mocked and scorned the three men. They especially took pleasure in taunting the man in the middle. He had claimed to be a great teacher sent from God and had told the Jewish leadership he would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. It infuriated the crowd that this man claimed to be the Son of God. If He was the Son of God, they demanded He show them by coming off the cross. Even the two robbers cursed and swore against their fellow criminal. And then the man in the middle spoke.

Jesus had come into the world, born of a virgin, to fulfill the will of the Father. He humbled Himself to take on the form of the greatest servant to save a world that turned against Him. Everything Jesus did was for the glory of the Father to show the world the one true light. He healed untold thousands, performed undeniable miracles, and taught a message of love, hope, mercy, and forgiveness. His message was stern and forceful. He never sinned in His life, and yet the people cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him” – and they did. Within the power of Jesus was to call 72,000 angels to come and destroy the world, but He opened wide His arms and accepted the will of His beloved Father.

Instead of calling down twelve legions of angels, Jesus called down the greatest words offered to a rebellious and dark world: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Jesus prayed for those who were killing Him, mocking Him, and denying Him. He asked for mercy because of the complete failure of human wisdom. The Jews knew what they were doing when they brought Jesus to Pilate. Pilate knew what he was doing when he sentenced Jesus to death. The crowds knew what they were doing when they cheered on the soldiers to kill Jesus. And that was the divine irony of the wisdom of human knowledge. They killed the Son of God, and He prayed for them. That is the picture of divine love.

The death of Jesus took place more than two thousand years ago, but human wisdom continues to deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Everyone thinks they know what they are doing, but they are failing, just as they did outside the city of Jerusalem. On the Day of Pentecost, three thousand people realized the failure of human wisdom and asked forgiveness for the death of Jesus. That same message is given today for men to lay aside human wisdom and believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Father is willing to forgive sinful man, regardless of what he has done, if he will but only repent and be baptized. There is no measure to the divine wisdom of God. The wisdom of man is clearly a failure. Jesus prayed for those who were killing Him. What greater example of love can there be in a dark world of human wisdom? Thank you, Jesus, for being the Son of God.

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Tightening The Strings

As the musician tightens the strain on his violin strings, yet is careful not to snap them asunder, but only to secure a sweeter melody and better accord, so God, through affliction, makes his own children more perfect instruments for His service. God created pain to show man that he is alive. When Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, suffering and trials became a part of everyday life. Affliction can either destroy the spirit of man or make him a better person. No one enjoys suffering, but there is a way to view the trials of life with a positive outlook.

The early Christians suffered from persecution and trials, and yet the Lord told them to count it all joy when the trials come. How is it possible to look at life with troubles and have a spirit of hope? Without God, it is impossible. With God, the spirit sees the real nature of life with a view of eternity. The problem with looking at trials the wrong way is to believe life here and now is all there is. Having the hope that life is short and in death greater blessings await changes the view of life.

At the beginning of the epistle of James, he tells those scattered abroad to know that the testing of their faith would produce patience. They were suffering under the hand of persecution. God wants them to know He hears their prayers and understands their pain, but their suffering will lead to greater things. The testing of their faith would produce a stronger faith if they trusted in the Lord. Prayer was central to the character of enduring trials. Seeking wisdom from God helps to understand the trials of life.

The apostle Paul told the saints in Rome to glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. It is difficult to see hope in the midst of tribulations, but allowing the process to be filled with the love of God gives the heart of man the strength to produce character, leading to hope. This kind of hope is everlasting. God demonstrated His love for man when He allowed His Son to suffer. Jesus had the power to call down 72,000 (twelve legions) angels to defend Him, but he suffered to show the path of hope. God never forsook Jesus in His suffering, and He will not forsake us in our suffering.

There is much suffering in the world, and that will not change. Living through those trials can only be done with the hope in Christ. Belief in God does not take away pain, but it helps to understand its purpose. The reality is that suffering is but for a short time and then eternity. Find peace in God. He offers hope. There are answers to suffering.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:5-9)

An Elder Is A Bishop

Titus is not mentioned in the book of Acts, which covers much of Paul’s ministry throughout the Roman Empire. Paul mentions him in three of his letters (2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 2 Timothy) and includes a letter to Titus. When Paul left Crete, he left Titus there to set in order things lacking in the churches of Crete. One of the main goals of Paul was for Titus to establish the New Testament church according to the pattern given to them by the Holy Spirit. As the early church grew, there were growing pains as the saints came to understand the role of the church, its leadership, authority, and pattern established by the Holy Spirit. Titus was there in Crete to put those things together.

Every church is lacking something. One of the most needful things for the churches in Crete was the establishment of men to be elders or bishops. Paul and Barnabas had gone throughout Asia Minor appointing elders in every church. This would be a constant pattern for Paul to establish the church as God wanted it to be. Paul wrote to Timothy, instructing him about the role of those who would be called bishops. Specific qualities are given to Timothy and Titus about the men who would shepherd the local flock of God’s people. These were not ordinary men in many ways, as they had to be married, fathers, men of good character, and examples to all. Their role was to lead the local church to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and care for each member. They were called elders, bishops, shepherds, overseers, and pastors.

An elder and a bishop (overseer) are the same thing. These men hold a leadership role in the local church to tend and care for the souls in their care. They are not exalted men wearing flowing robes of distinction. The world has perverted the idea of a bishop to be a person of exalted stature who exercises authority over a diocese, including several churches. Nothing is further from the truth. There is never a record in the New Testament of a bishop being anything but an elder who shepherds one local congregation. He must meet the qualities of character shown to Timothy and Titus. Any deviation from this is an error and false doctrine.

Many people often mistakenly call a preacher a pastor. This is another term that religious groups have perverted. A pastor is an elder or bishop who has followed the guidelines of scripture shown to Timothy and Titus. Preachers are not pastors. On a few occasions, a preacher may become an elder, bishop, or pastor if he is following the model set forth by the Holy Spirit, but the general use of calling a preacher a pastor is misapplying scripture. It should be noted that calling a man “Reverend” is an affront to the name of God. The only time “reverend” is used in scripture; it denotes the name of God.

Names are important. The religious world is free with the use of names that are not found in the Bible. Misapplying roles of the church is an egregious insult to the character of God because it flies in the face of His holy word. Honest Bible students will hold accountable those who misuse scripture. An elder is a bishop. A pastor is an elder. He oversees one flock as a shepherd. His qualities are in line with what Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. Any deviation from this is not the New Testament church. Does it make a difference? It matters to God, and it should matter to you.

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. (Psalm 39:4)

We Are But Frail Creatures

Young men think they will live forever, and old men understand how frail life is. The spirit of youth clouds the vision of knowing the reality of life, that little time is given for a man to walk upon this earth. From a young age, life seems like an endless adventure filled with expectations and accomplishments. The energy of a youthful eye cannot see what is beyond the horizon because everything is about the here and now. Life is measured by the vitality of an endless day that stretches over time without end. There is no knowledge of the trials of life, heartaches, disappointments, and realities of growing old. Far removed is the eye of wisdom that knows how short life is measured and that death has always been near; but a whisper away.

The old must die, the young can die. When an old man dies, he has lived a full life. A young man dies, and tears of grief question how he could be cut down at the prime of life. The reality is, there is no difference between the old and the young. Life is not justified by age. Babies die in childbirth. Old men die after many years lived. The grave is an impartial judge. It is difficult for a young man to have the life experience that comes with age. With age comes wisdom, but not for all. An old man can refuse to accept his time on earth and seek for youth in his later years, but he fights a losing battle. God has ordained death for all men, and for most, it is accomplished through the aging process. An old man who seeks to relive his youth is a fool. Young men are young, and old men are old. Life is measured in this form by the hand of God.

Wisdom comes from understanding how frail life is. The psalmist David examined life and found that youthfulness serves a purpose, but it is fleeting. True knowledge comes from looking at life from the viewpoint of the Creator. To truly understand the nature of life, God must be acknowledged. Every man comes into the world by the hand of God, and everyone leaves this world by the decree of God. God gives life to the eternal spirit dwelling in a mortal body. Because of sin, God has limited the days of man. Death is certain, and nothing man can do will stop that. David understood the complexity of life, which must be measured to know its length. After seeing how short life is, the psalmist concludes what God wants man to know: life is a vapor that appears for a moment and then it is gone. That is how frail life is.

When a man looks at life as God gives life, he can understand how valuable each moment is. The frailty of life is heard when parents see their children grown and remark, “Where did childhood go?” Measuring life shows how quickly the world turns when milestones are reached in life. Graduation from school, marriage, children, grandchildren, retirement, and old age. It seems but for a moment. How frail life is. The frailty of life is highlighted when death invades the heart, with so many dying at a young age and at an old age. Time marches slowly as the expectation of many more years is now few. Frailty of body and mind creeps in. Challenges increase. The darkness of old age overshadows the heart.

David knew how to live each day for the God he served. The Holy Spirit said David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Death is called a sleep – a rest, because life is fragile. When a man dies, he goes to his long home, an everlasting home, the eternal home. The contrast is stark. Life is but a vapor. Eternal life is forever. What once was measured and frail is now unmeasured and secure. Count your days. They are fleeting. Life is a brief moment and then eternity. Only God can help you measure your days to find salvation in eternal life.

O Lord, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing. Pour out Your fury on the Gentiles, who do not know You, and on the families who do not call on Your name; for they have eaten up Jacob, devoured him and consumed him, and made his dwelling place desolate. (Jeremiah 10:24-25)

Families That Do Not Call On God

The tragedy of the human race is the failure of the home. Nothing is more central and foundational to society than the union of a man and woman creating a home. Every nation is crafted from the substance of the home. If the home is full of goodness, the nation will be a place of goodness. When the home turns away from God, the nation will soon follow. The law of the home becomes the law of the land. Morality is not a national spirit; it is a seed that grows from the ground of the home. Immorality grows the same way. In the early days of the earth, the family became corrupt, and every thought was evil continually. Before long, the world was corrupted, and God destroyed it.

God created the home to be a perfect union of man and woman joined in the holy relationship of godliness. Satan destroyed that when he tempted Eve. The home has always been the bulwark of truth and righteousness, with honor given to the headship of the home. Under the Law of Moses, striking the parents brought death. Cursing the father or mother was met with the death penalty. The Lord was sending a message to all generations about the hallowed nature of the home and that it was to be honored and respected. If the home turned away from God, He turned away from the home.

Jeremiah’s message in the last days of Israel was for the Lord to bring His fury on the Gentiles and on the families who do not call on the name of the Lord. Israel was destroyed because the people lacked the knowledge of God, turning away from the holiness of God to the embrace of an immoral and decadent world. God’s wrath is brought against the home that does not honor Him. It is futile to establish a home without putting God first. Without the guidance of the Creator of the home, there can be no happiness or joy. The home is destitute and empty.

Most homes do not have God. Some claim to have God in their midst, but they do not follow His word. Many claim to say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do the will of the Father. They are ‘religious’ but only as a prosthetic that is worn to satisfy the longing for acceptance, not realizing God does not accept them. Jesus taught the disciples that most homes are ungodly. He said that most people will be lost to an eternal flame. Those people He spoke about came from homes where God was denied. A family that does not call upon the name of the Lord is doomed to face the wrath of God.

Every home has the opportunity to know God. When the husband and wife or father and mother choose to give their lives to a dedicated service of putting God first in everything, the central altar of the home is truth and righteousness based on the word of God. The home is made up of sinners who need the grace of God. Successful homes are those that instill in their children a love for God at all costs. A united family in Christ stands with the character of God’s divine image impressed upon their hearts. Be warned – God will bring His wrath upon the home that does not call upon His name. He will bless the home that seeks Him first in all things.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

What Satan Knows

Satan, the fiery red dragon, the serpent of old called the devil is powerful. He has a clear agenda and a defined purpose driven by his rebellion. Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. When Jesus rose from the dead, Satan knew something. He knew he was totally defeated. There was nothing he could do against Jesus, although he tried innumerable times while Jesus walked as a man. Did Satan consider the death of Jesus (God) a victory? If so, it was short-lived. God had told the devil that he would bruise the heel of the Seed, but that his head would be bruised. Everything came to pass when Jesus died and rose on the third day.

Paul warned the early Christians of the power of Satan, describing him as the master of evil principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The devil is not a being to be taken lightly or ignored. Any day with the devil is an evil day. The fiery darts of the dragon are powerful. His wily ways are unscrupulous and very effective. Satan destroyed the relationship between God and man when he successfully tempted Eve in the garden. The world was destroyed in a flood through the power of the devil. Only Noah and his family survived. Satan destroyed the apple of God’s eye when he brought Israel down. The devil was bold to tempt Jesus at the beginning of His ministry with three powerful allurements. He failed.

Satan is powerful, but his power is limited. When he went after the man Job, God limited what he could do. Jesus showed His power over Satan in healing demon-possessed souls. All the demons obeyed the voice of Jesus without hesitation. James tells us the minions of Satan believe and tremble. The Bible is the manual for dealing with the influence of Satan. God gave man a book to read and understand the enemy he is up against. With greater knowledge comes greater power to withstand the pressures of the evil one. If a man resists the devil, the old lion will flee.

The apostle John wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ nearly two thousand years ago. His message was sent to the seven churches in Asia to exhort, rebuke, correct, and challenge the early saints to walk faithfully before the Lord. The early Christians were suffering under the heavy hand of the Roman Government, religious persecution, and the influence of an ungodly world. In the Revelation, the Lord reveals to His people that He knows their pain and suffering and that He has heard their prayers. One of the most important lessons they needed to learn was not to fear the devil. He is the dragon behind the persecution, but the good news comes at the end of the story. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Satan is not unaware of his future. It has been written down on the divine ledger for more than two thousand years for the devil to read time and time again until that last and final day. All wicked people who die will be surprised when they find themselves in a place of torment. No one really expects God to exercise His wrath with an eternal Hell – but He will. Everyone in Hell will know why they are there and will agree that God’s justice is righteous. There will be no arguments made for ignorance or leniency. But the devil? It will be no surprise to him and his angels. They know exactly where they are going and why. The time has not been set yet, but that day is coming. That will be the only surprise for Satan.

There is part of faith that should be reassuring, knowing the enemy of God’s people is a powerless and a condemned being with literally no future. Nothing is going to change the course of Satan’s path. The devil and his demons believe and tremble and are damned to Hell, and they know it. God shows the victory in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the greatest victory is that death, Hades, and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. They will never be released from that eternal torment. The power to seduce people to rebel against God is gone. There will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, or suffering – all brought about as a consequence of sin. When you are being tempted to sin, look Satan square in the face and remind him where he is doing. Remind him often! He knows!

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28)

Carry The Bride Across The Threshold

Have you ever wondered why the guy is supposed to carry his bride over the threshold? Blame the Romans. They believed that good and evil spirits fought for control at a home’s entrance. For good to prevail, Romans felt you must enter a room with your right foot first. Romans concluded that a new bride in a highly emotional state might be careless and forget about the “right foot” stuff. To prevent possible tragedy, they decided it was best for the groom to carry his bride across the threshold.

The Romans were very superstitious people, basing life decisions on concepts foreign to truth, but the principles have merit. A newlywed couple begins a life together with commitment, trust, and hope for the future. Unbeknownst to the Romans, what they suggested is a principle that is important to the establishment of the home. God created the man before He created the woman. The woman was taken out of man to be his helper or helpmate in life. This relationship changed when the serpent, the devil, deceived Eve. Part of the consequence of her actions is that God said her desire would always be for her husband, and he would rule over her.

Paul taught the Ephesian Christians that, just as Christ is the Head of the church, so the husband is the head of the wife. This role is not one where the man is a tyrant or bully. He is to love, cherish, and nourish his wife as his own flesh. The husband has the leadership role in the family according to God’s divine pattern. He must take on that role of leadership to guide the family in the way of the Lord. There is a figure by which the man must carry the bride across the threshold of the home to show his willingness to lead the family in the way of God.

There can only be one head in the home. The wife is a very important part of that leadership. If a man cannot understand his role, he must examine the way Christ died for the church, loves the church, and guides the church by His leadership. The husband must take responsibility for leading the family. As a husband, his role is to help his wife find eternal life. A father will do everything in his power to ensure his family discovers the joys of salvation in Christ. As head of the family, that is his work and passion.

No one has a greater responsibility than a man who takes on the role of husband. He must make that right “first step” to ward off the influences of ungodliness. His goal is to protect his family from the wiles of the devil while protecting himself. It begins with the right “first step.” That step is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Based upon a study of the word of God, the man will lead his family in the grace of God.

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

Three Descriptions Of The Church

Two thousand years ago, the church of Christ was established on the Day of Pentecost by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus died for the church and is the only Head of the church. Before time began, God set in motion the scheme of redemption to save men through the church. The world says the church is not important. Men have corrupted the nature of the church beyond what God intended. The Bible clearly defines the church as the house of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and ground of truth.

On the Day of Pentecost, the church was established, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The church is the house of God with God as Father, Jesus as the older brother, and the saints as brothers and sisters. There is a familial association in the house of God, with each member having a brotherly love for one another as a spiritual family. As the house of God, relationships are built with a common purpose and a common eternal goal. Members of the house of God share a deeper love for one another because they share the same Father. The world must see the church as a family united together in the love of God. Sibling rivalry is to be expected in the spiritual family, but through the teachings of the Holy Spirit, brethren seek the best in others and strive not to be divided with one another.

The importance of the church is seen when it is recognized as the church of the living God. Human wisdom and reasoning did not create the church as a stopgap or secondary purpose in the mind of God. The church was established in the mind of God before the world was created. Its design and purpose came from the will and purpose of God to show His glory to the world. To suggest the church is unimportant is to deny the will of God. The church of the New Testament is a powerful entity that represents the omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence of the Lord God Almighty. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present throughout time. Through the church, God is glorified and honored. Lessening the church to a fragment of importance blasphemes the nature of a Holy God.

Paul calls the church the pillar and ground of the truth. Embodied in the church is all truth. Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is seen in its creation, propagation, design, and purpose. Nothing in the annals of human history or the greatest minds of the world could imagine anything as grand and powerful as the church. Truth is older than error, and God establishes His divine truth in the church. The body of Christ is the pillar of truth as the only edifice to hold the true word of God to a lost and dying world. Jesus established the church as the bastion of God’s will against the assaults of the devil. All truth begins with the church of Christ. His word is the only authority. As the foundation of truth, the church must uphold the word of God as the divine authority. Its mission is to carry truth to a lost world, light to a dark world, and hope to a hopeless world.

The church is the house of God, with the Father guiding His family through the Headship of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is His church, as the church of the living God. Truth comes from the church as the pillar and ground of all truth. The church is the most important thing man has ever known because only in the church will salvation be found. Those who are saved are in the church because God adds them to the church. When men refuse to honor the church of the living God, they deny themselves entrance to the ark of safety. In the days of the great flood, Noah built an ark for the saving of his household. Eight people were saved from the wrath of God because they believed in the ark of God, the ark of the living God, and the ark which was the pillar and ground of truth. There was only one ark, and all those not in the one ark perished. The church is the ark of God’s love. Only those in the church will be saved. That’s the pillar and ground of truth.

“Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord … and honor your sons more than Me … his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” (1 Samuel 2:12,29;3:13)

Three Failures Of Parenting

Little is known about Eli, who served as priest and judge for the people of God before the days of Samuel. His story revolves around other people more than himself. When Hannah comes to Shiloh to pray, Eli takes her actions as those of a drunken woman. She was not, but in a state of grief, longing for a child. God grants Hannah her prayer and gives her a son, Samuel. Hannah presents Samuel to Eli the priest to serve before the Lord. The next story of Eli revolves around his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who served as priests with their father. His sons are known as “men of Belial” (or worthlessness). They would force the people to give them food from their offerings, threatening to use force if they refused. Hophni and Phinehas also seduced the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

The Bible is filled with examples of good parenting and bad parenting. Eli failed as a parent because he refused to correct his sons and to punish their disobedience. He served as priest for the nation of Israel and did not teach his sons. His role as judge of the people gave him authority to enforce the law, but allowed his sons to be lawless. He would not rebuke his sons. The best he could do was to chide them for their greed and immorality gently. Three things are said about Eli that should serve as a warning and teaching opportunity for all parents. His sons did not know the Lord, Eli loved his sons more than God, and while he saw their actions as reviling to the Lord, he did not restrain them.

Faith in the family begins at home. Hophni and Phinehas were raised by a man who was the judge and priest of God’s people. It seems incredulous that the sons of a judge and priest grew up not knowing the Lord. Eli was more concerned about others than his own family. His sons needed to know about the Lord, but they did not hear that from their father’s voice. He was so busy caring for the people of the land that he neglected his own family. Eli stood before the people as the priest of the Lord, stained with the example of his sons who corrupted the institution Eli represented. As a judge, his authority was tainted as his sons acted in such a lawless manner.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that Eli loved his sons more than God. Hophni and Phinehas could do no wrong in the eyes of Eli. When the man of God came to Eli, warning him of the death of his sons and the curse upon his lineage, he told Eli how he honored his sons more than the Lord. Eli knew that his sons’ actions were evil, but his love for them overshadowed any rebuke or chastening. Hophni and Phinehas knew their father was someone who would never punish them, so they acted wickedly. They acted unrestrained because there was no restraint.

When a child lives without restraint, they will live as they please. Hophni and Phinehas made themselves vile, and Eli did nothing to stop them. He talked them to death. His gentle rebuke fell on deaf ears and wicked hearts. It bothered Eli what his sons were doing, but he took no action. His knowledge that his sons were committing fornication with the women serving at the Tabernacle was an affront to the glory of God. Hophni and Phinehas were proud, arrogant, and wicked men who believed they could do no wrong. They bullied the people to get what they wanted. What Eli did not teach them was the judgment of the Lord. That would come soon enough.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and Israel was defeated with the loss of about four thousand men. Distraught over their defeat, the people came to Eli wanting to bring the ark of the covenant into the camp to instill fear in the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas brought the ark into camp to the loud cheering of the army, causing fear to sweep throughout the Philistine army. So, the Philistines fought and defeated Israel, killing thirty-thousand-foot soldiers. They also captured the ark of the tabernacle and killed Hophni and Phinehas. Judgment day had come to the sons of Eli.

Eli failed as a father, and his example continues today. Parents who do not teach their children to know the Lord will find their children lost in the world without hope. They may be successful CEO’s of great companies, but their soul is lost. Parents who love their children more than righteousness and truth will reap the whirlwind of sin. Blood is not thicker than water. God must come first, and if a child is not serving the Lord, they are lost to divine perdition. Parents who do not correct their rebellious children are setting their children up for a miserable life, believing they are entitled to what the world has to offer. Children must be taught to know the Lord so they can humble themselves before someone greater than themselves. Parents who do not prepare their children for eternity are failures. Ask Eli, the priest and judge of Israel.