The Heaton File

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:19-21)

Nocturnal Men

God created humanity to be creatures of the day. Nocturnal animals are active in darkness and often possess special adaptations for seeing in low-light conditions, including large eyes that facilitate low-light vision. The human body is not created to be nocturnal. God created light as the first of creation to establish the natural and spiritual nature of man. When God created Adam and Eve, He created them in His own image as spiritual beings that would never cease to exist, dwelling in the light. Sin brought the darkness of rebellion to the world, and Satan has been casting his shadow of evil over the world, destroying the lives of those who were created for light.

Jesus came into the world as the divine light of God to show the glory of the Father in a dark and perverse world. The Son of God came to bring light to all men, but the world did not want the light to expose their sin. They loved the darkness of sin above the Light of God and sought to extinguish the Heavenly Light. Jesus was killed on a cross as the world plunged into the greatest darkness of sin and rebellion. The earth shook and trembled because God had died. But on the first day of the week, the Light of God returned once more to shine in the hearts of men the glory and power of God. Jesus rose from the dead to bring eternal light to all men. The early disciples spread the news of the eternal light, and thousands obeyed the gospel. But most rejected the Light of God and continued in their sin.

The condemnation of the world is that men love sin. There is greater joy in the darkness than in the deeds of the light, which is contrary to the eternal makeup of humanity. Man was created to be a creature of the light to glorify God. Those who love sin hate the light because they are exposed to what they are doing in the darkness. Why are most people, according to Jesus, going to be lost? They love darkness. Sin is fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling for them as they scurry about in spiritual darkness, believing they will not suffer any harm for their actions. The pride of man does not allow the light to show what they are doing because they are ashamed. When Adam and Eve first ate the forbidden fruit, they hid in the shadows of the garden in shame. Nothing much has changed since.

Light walkers are those who seek the light to bask in the glory of the Heavenly Father. Their deeds are clearly exposed, but they invite the eyes of God to look upon their lives and see all that is in their heart, souls, and minds. People of light are not afraid of what God sees because they know He is a graceful and merciful God who forgives through His infinite love. Light exposes everything. Walking in the light demands full accountability. Those who seek the light of Jesus Christ are unafraid of what the Lord will see. For those who follow the truth, they come to light to show God their love for Him. There is no greater joy for the Father to see His children walking in the light.

The greatest tragedy is when children of the light return to the darkness. They were once enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift of God’s grace, but they long for the joy of darkness. Like a hog returning to the wallowing in the mud, a soldier of light casts off his armor to dwell in the darkness of sin. The tragedy is compounded because they refuse to return to the Lord to walk in the light. Darkness becomes their friend and their enemy. Without the light of Christ, there is no hope. The reality is realized too late when death comes and the darkness of eternal damnation overwhelms the soul. Those who live in darkness now will live in darkness in eternity. The soul that walks in the light will live in everlasting light. God created all men to be people of the light because the Lord is unwilling that any should dwell in darkness. He has prepared a place of darkness for the devil and his angels, but He desires that none of His creation be cast into outer darkness. And yet, Satan has convinced the majority of humanity to dwell with him in darkness, and most will. Are you walking in the light? If not, you are walking in darkness. You need to change places.

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (Job 1:8-10)

The Hedge Of The Lord

The trouble with the devil is that he can turn truth into a half-truth that becomes a lie. When Satan tempted Jesus, he quoted scripture, but to his own advantage. As the father of lies, Satan can never be trusted to speak the truth. In the story of Job, Satan makes a charge against God that was based on some truth that became a lie as the devil was seeking to impugn the character of God. The Lord asked Satan if he had considered the faithfulness of Job, that there was none like him on the earth. Job had a blameless character, being an upright man. He was not sinless, but he strove daily to be pure in the eyes of the Lord. Job feared God with godly fear and kept evil as far from him as possible. In the eyes of the Lord, Job was one of the most righteous men on earth.

Satan took the Lord’s blessing on Job and tried to turn it to his evil deeds. He accused God of protecting Job so much that Job was predestined to be saved without any effort on his part. The devil accused God of placing a barrier around Job that would not allow the wiles of the devil to penetrate; thus, Job could not sin because God protected him. Job was a blessed man above all men on earth. He had ten children, immense wealth, and Job lived a sanctified life of goodness through the blessings of the Lord. Satan accused God of creating a hedge around Job that disqualified his righteousness as nothing more than divine intervention. As in all cases with the father of lies, Satan was telling a half-truth.

God does place a hedge around His people. The nation of Israel was a protected people who were highly favored through the blessings of the Lord. Moses told the people that if they obeyed the Lord God, He would bless them above all nations. After leaving Egypt and wandering for forty years, Israel only lost one battle against their enemies. The Hebrews were not a nation of soldiers. At best, they were bricklayers. Only through the power of God were they delivered from Egypt and became a mighty nation. The Lord hedged in His people, but they chose to rebel against Him, and He removed that hedge when Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem and the temple to the ground.

When someone obeys the gospel of Christ in baptism, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God places a spiritual hedge around the obedient soul that will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear. Temptation is the common lot of all men, but it is dealt with differently for those in Christ. God is faithful and will not allow His children to be overwhelmed by the wiles of the devil. He places a hedge around His children to protect them. When the king of Syria sent his army to capture the prophet Elisha, a servant of the prophet became very afraid. Elisha assured his servant that God would protect them, and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The spiritual hedge surrounding them was the army of the Lord.

The Christian has a hedge placed around them by the power of God to protect and keep them from the evil one. This hedge is put there by the grace of God to be used by the Christian to stand against the wiles of the devil. God’s hedge does not keep the heart from temptation but protects the soul if the heart is willing to trust in the Lord to protect them. The hedge of the Lord is placed around the child of God to give them the power to resist the devil. This hedge needs the nourishment of the word of God and prayer to remain healthy. God never suggests He will protect the soul without the person making a diligent effort to walk in the light. Sadly, many fail to care for the hedge of protection given by God, and in time, the devil is able to regain the heart to his evil ways.

The protective hedge of God is found in the prayer of Jesus, asking God to deliver the soul from the evil one. An essential part of prayer is seeking the protection of the Father from the evil darts of the devil. Paul describes it as the armor of God. The armor will have no value if not worn daily. Every Christian is at war and needs protection. God places a hedge around His people to protect them and to give them a blessed assurance of hope. The devil can be resisted by the power of God. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Thank God for the blessings of the hedge!

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

The Holy Word Of God

The Bible is the divine word of God revealed to the world to understand the will of God. In the beginning of time, God spoke directly with men. After the nation of Israel was established, the Lord gave His people a written law. After Jesus came and established His church, God gave man the written testimony of His will. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the canon of divine will was created in what men call the Bible. The sixty-six books of the Bible are the completed, perfected word of God for all ages to all men.

One of the greatest tools to spread the word of God was invented in Germany, around 1440, when Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press. The Bible was the first book printed and was called the Gutenberg Bible (1455). Since that time, millions of copies of the Bible have been printed in every language on the planet, making it the most published book in the history of the world. The Bible has no rivals. There is no other book that has stood the test of time like the Bible. Throughout history, the Bible has retained its pure message. There are tens of thousands of early documents of the New Testament proving its authenticity.

The printing press changed the world, but it could also change the words at times through mistakes made by printers. In one 1631 printing of the King James Bible, the printer accidentally left out the word “not” in the commandment against adultery, so that it read: “Thou shalt commit adultery.” The printer was fined and the Bibles recalled. In a 1612 printing of the King James Bible, Psalm 119:161 says, “Printers have persecuted me without a cause.” “Printers” is supposed to be “Princes.” In a 1653 printing of the King James Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:9 reads: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?” There is supposed to be a “not” before “inherit.” In a 1763 printing, Psalm 14:1 says: “The fool hath said in his heart there is a God,” when there should be a “no” where the “a” is.

The mistakes of printers are unintentional, but when men change the words to teach another doctrine, that is denying God. Thomas Jefferson intentionally removed miracles and the resurrection of Jesus from the Bible to create his own version of scripture. Many religious groups teach doctrines that are not found in the Bible. It is imperative that a publisher certify the printing is perfectly in line with the word of God, and readers of the text have no less responsibility to hold accountable those who teach the word to teach what is written. Challenge those who teach to demonstrate their commitment to the Bible. Eternal life is contained in the words of the Bible. Truth comes from the Bible, not men. As Ronald Reagan said, “Trust, but verify.”

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

Trying To Hide From God

Hiding from God is a hobby that men have been trying to do since the Garden of Eden. The first time someone tried to hide from God, it was Adam and Eve who did so. When God created the garden, He placed two trees in the midst of the garden and told Adam and Eve they could eat all they wanted from one tree, but were forbidden to eat of the other tree. Nothing in the command of God was lost on the first couple, and they understood completely what God had told them. Satan deceived Eve into taking the forbidden fruit, and she gave some to Adam. The eyes of Adam and Eve were opened immediately, and they knew they were naked.

Realizing the shame of their nakedness, Adam and Eve fashioned coverings to hide their shame. Hearing the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid themselves among the trees of the garden. The Lord God called to the couple, asking where they were – God knew where they were. Adam explained they heard the voice of God in the garden, and because they were naked and ashamed, they hid themselves. God had warned Adam and Eve that the day they ate of the forbidden fruit, they would die. At the moment Eve took of the fruit and gave some to Adam, God knew what had happened. The Lord God felt the separation between Himself and man because of sin.

Hiding from God seemed like a good idea at the moment, but there is no purpose in the creation seeking to hide from the Creator. God created Adam and Eve. As the Creator, His omniscience overshadowed everything Adam and Eve did. When the Lord asked Adam and Eve where they were, He was drawing out a confession from them. He knew they had taken the forbidden fruit, and He knew where they were and what they were doing. Repentance demands confession. There is nothing that can be hidden from the eyes of the Lord.

Adam and Eve had a son named Cain, who killed his brother Abel. Trying to hide things from God was a family tradition. After Cain killed Abel, and the Lord asked where Abel was, Cain pretended not to know where Abel was or what had happened to him. God had warned Cain about his anger. The moment Cain killed Abel, God knew. During the days of Noah, the world had become a corrupt and immoral place. God knew the wickedness of man was great and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The world tried to hide what it did from God, but to no avail. In the midst of the spiritual darkness, God knew the hearts of Noah’s family, and they found grace in His eyes.

Hiding things from God (or attempting to) is a family tradition handed down from generation to generation from Adam. David and Bathsheba tried and failed. The nation of Israel pretended to worship God and followed idols, which was met with disaster. Jesus walked among men and knew their hearts. Ananias and Sapphira, two Christians in the early church, tried to hide their greed from the Lord. God struck them dead as a warning to all who seek to hide things from Him. Nothing man can do will hide what they do from God. Jesus explained how men love the darkness because they are fooled into believing their actions are hidden. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that God knows what is in the darkness. Nothing is hidden from God.

Knowing that God sees all and knows all should change the hearts of men to walk more perfectly in the light of Christ. Trying to hide anything from God is the most ridiculous thing a man can do. It is possible to hide things from others, but the judgment of the Lord will lay bare all that man has done. He will judge the heart for everything that is done in life. If it is evil, God will judge according to His wrath. He will give grace when He sees the goodness of man seeking the glory of God. Live in the full knowledge that God sees all and He knows all. That is a comforting message of hope, of the care and love of God. How wonderful to know that God knows everything about me.

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:24-26)

Does Faith Alone Save Us?

The doctrine of salvation is the most important question that must be answered according to the divine will of the Father, or eternal consequences will follow. There is nothing more pressing in the scheme of redemption than to know and understand what a man must do to be saved. A good Bible student will recognize that Satan has no desire for the world to know the real answer to what to do to be saved, and he has been very effective in his deceptions. One of the greatest lies he has told is to convince religious people that they are saved by faith alone. This lie is not new. The devil convinced Israel that they could follow after idolatry and God would still save them because they were the seed of Abraham. Satan lied, and God destroyed Israel.

There are many different denominations among the Protestant churches. Most follow some form of Calvinism, especially the idea that salvation comes by faith alone. The “Health & Wealth” religion of today touts a poisonous blend of the Bible with the cowardly doctrines of salvation through goodness and grace that convince thousands they are saved; when in the eyes of God, they are not. To believe that all a person has to do to be saved is believe in Jesus Christ is the most destructive and vile doctrine of the religious world. The reason is simple: the Bible does not teach the doctrine of salvation by faith only.

James was not addressing doctrinal issues, but the principles he employed to exhort brethren to care for one another are applicable. He writes that faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Believing Jesus is the Christ does not bring salvation because Satan believes that, and his demons believe, and they tremble! James declares that faith without works is dead. If a man thinks he is saved by faith alone, he is seeking to be saved by a dead faith – which cannot happen. Dead faith is dead. Abraham is an example of faith and works. God tested the patriarch, telling him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham did not reply to God that he had faith, so why take the journey? Faith moved Abraham to act upon his belief in God, and he offered Isaac on the altar. Faith required works!

Rahab, a prostitute of the city of Jericho, was justified by works when she protected the spies sent into the city by Joshua. She believed the Hebrews served the one true God, and Rahab acted upon her faith. God did not save her by faith alone. No one has ever been saved by faith alone. The plain teaching of scripture, the divine will of God, the word of God, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit declares that faith without works is as dead as the body without the spirit. James never discounts the need for love, mercy, and grace, and religious people who discount salvation by faith and works will not be saved. They will die joyously, longing to see Jesus face to face and realize too late they are eternally lost. Salvation by faith only is a lie. Stop listening to the whispers of the devil. Read the Bible. Tell anyone who preaches or teaches faith only that they are telling a lie. Stand for truth.

“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.