The Heaton File

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:19-20)

Jesus And The Tower Of Babel

The early world that began with such promise ended in the global destruction of everything with the breath of life, including every man and animal. Only the remnant of grace found in the ark was spared the destruction. Sin had cast men from the garden. Cain killed his brother. The genealogy of humanity continued a course of wickedness until it repented the Creator that He had made man. Preserving the promise made in the garden, the Lord told Noah of the impending doom and what he must do to be saved. Noah did according to the word of the Lord, saving his household and a remnant of animals.

Soon after the flood, it became clear that while God’s wrath had destroyed everyone on earth but eight people, sin still ruled in the hearts of men. Noah became a farmer and grew a vineyard after which he made wine and got drunk. His son Ham shamed His Father and was cursed. Sin had not been taken away, and the heart of men grew worse. In time, the multitude of humanity gathered in the plain of Shinar and, fearful of what happened to their ancestors, decided to build a city and a tower to reach into the heavens. The purpose of their plan was to make a name for themselves lest they are scattered over the face of the earth. Seeing the unity of their sinful hearts, the Lord came down and confused their language. Until this time, all men spoke one language. So, the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.

The flood did not answer the problem of sin. Through the carnal wisdom of humanity, sin was intensified with pride leading the charge against God. The tower of Babel was representative of how man tries to deal with his failure. Instead of seeking the will of the Lord, the sinful heart turned to self and sought to find answers in the flesh, the exaltation of human wisdom, and the pride of human achievement. None of these would save man from the wrath of God. The flood indicated the immensity of God’s power of destruction, and only by grace were eight saved. Noah and his family were not saved because they were sinless. The grace of God favored them to carry on the promise of the Seed given in the garden. After the flood, the world continued to be held captive to sin.

God promised Adam and Eve that a Seed would come that would bruise the head of the serpent. Jesus Christ was the Seed promise carried through the centuries as the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and realized in the Lamb of God’s birth by Mary, wife of Joseph. Jesus’ life was forged on the anvil of self-sacrifice, love for the Father, and a will to carry the burden of sin upon His shoulders. The Jews rejected Jesus of Nazareth as God’s Son and had Him crucified by the Roman authorities. As the Son of God was nailed to the cross, Pilate made a fateful decision that would hearken back to Babel as a reminder of the power of sin. It was a common custom to affix a label to the cross, stating the crime for which the person suffered. Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek so that many people could read it.

Three languages were affixed to the cross of Jesus to tell the story of saving grace. He was the answer to sin. His blood would bring men to the Father. Prophetically poised above His head, the Son of God was the one who divided the world into languages. He knew at the tower of Babel that He would pay the price for sin. Men would struggle to answer sin, but Jesus knew His life would be cast as the mold of eternal life. At Golgotha, three languages reminded humanity of their failed attempt and exalted the Son of God as the only answer to sin. The world is filled with many languages, but the language of grace is only found in Christ. Men tried to reach heaven by building a tower. God opened heaven by raising His Son on a cross. There is no hope in a tower. All hope is in the cross.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Sin – Only $19.95 – But Wait

Advertising is a billion-dollar industry that consumes every facet of social media from television, magazines, billboards, the internet, and radio. Without advertising dollars flooding the market, products would fail, and economies would collapse. The purpose of marketing is to sell a product to a particular group at an appealing cost, using a myriad of schemes to convince the buyer of the necessity of having the object. One of the most critical parts of the selling game is how to price the commodity.

The public is not as quick to accept certain price offers, and marketers know this. There is a mind game that goes on in setting a product for sale. Most consumers will balk at being asked to buy something for $20.00, but if the item is marked five cents less, there is a greater chance of success. $19.95 is five pennies short of $20.00, but a person is more likely to buy the same product at the lesser price believing they are getting a much bigger deal. Also, it has been proven that if a man is asked to give $19.00 for something and he offers a twenty-dollar bill, he will tell the person to keep the change. The small variance in price is of little consequence. Sales for $19.95 are more appealing than sales for $20.00. What will sweeten the attraction is if, after offering the product for $19.95, the announcer says, “But wait, we will double the offer!” Now the consumer is offered twice the amount for the same price. The cash register continues to ring the vesper chimes of advertising dollars at its best. This is the same reason many charitable causes appeal to the audience for just $19.00 a month; they can change a life. The price is too good to pass up.

While Fortune 500 companies have found many innovative ways to market their products to John Doe of Main Street, USA, they pale compared to one of the most insidious marketeers of human history. His brochure is sleek, his presentation flawless, and the price irresistible. His first sale came when he sold the soul of Eve for $19.95 and then said, “But wait, I can have two for the price of one,” and took Adam also. Sin is never sold at a price it is valued. It is always devalued in the eyes of the consumer as something he cannot live without. A little bit of evil sounds better than a lot of evil. Most people will balk at becoming an adulterer, liar, and cheat on the first date but allow a little cheap talk first at a reduced price, and soon the heart is turned entirely to the wiles of the devil. Sin never comes packaged in its original wrapper. Satan will not come prancing down the street in a red suit with smoke coming out of his ears. He knocks on the door in a pair of tight blue jeans with an alluring smile that is almost too resistible. His offer is simple: $19.95. And if enough time is given: “But wait, there is more.”

Paul succinctly defined sin when he explained the full price. There are no bargains or sales when it comes to sin. The price for sin is death. It is eternal. There is no end. It will damn a soul to a fire that is never quenched, a darkness that never leaves, and indescribable horror. Satan’s great marketing ploy is to sell sin short, offer it quick, and take offers in the billions. There is nothing good in his product. Sin will destroy more lives than anything known to man. Death is the penalty of sin, and eternal death is the reality of sin. Satan never markets his product for the truth that it is. If a man knew what was at the end of the broad way of pleasure, sensuality, and wickedness, he would never accept the offer. The appeal of Satan is to sell sin short, and he is remarkably busy with prospects.

Salvation came at a high price. The cost was so high no man could pay it. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to DIE for all men. There is no cheap alternative. Satan sells souls cheap, but Jesus paid the price of crucifixion and death to redeem man from sin. To find salvation, a man must pay a high price. Jesus called it taking up a cross to follow Him. Most people want the cheap way out and accept the $19.95 ‘Ronco’ deal of the century, hoping they will get two for the price of one. They never do. Only in Christ Jesus will men find the gift of God is eternal life. If you are unwilling to pay full price, you cannot have it. When you take Satan’s offer of $19.95, you will regret it.

Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:8-10)

Speaking Evil Of Dignitaries

It is easy to forget that living in a country that affords freedom of speech that freedom of speech is not always granted in the kingdom of God. Liberties enjoyed from a secular government does not allow for freedoms under the law of Christ. There are two authorities in the world: the authority of men and the authority of God. The higher of two is the authority of God. God establishes every government, and it is according to the Lord when nations rise and fall. Resisting government is resisting God. The only time a child of God can stand against the laws of men is when those laws transgress the law of God. A man may not enjoy paying taxes, but Jesus taught those things required by Caesar are due to Caesar; those things due God are required by God. The only conflict is when God’s law is superseded. Until that time, every soul must be subject to the laws of the land.

Democracy is a fleeting mistress in the affairs of men. The United States of America is founded upon principles that all men are created equal and with certain inalienable rights. Over the history of America, this meaning has been redefined in many ways. Freedom of speech is one of the treasured parts of the constitution of the United States. Being allowed to express opinions and criticisms of government is a foundational trait of the American way of life. However, while enjoying the rights and privileges of the democratic system of government, the Christian is held to a higher law. One such challenge is the matter of freedom of speech.

In many countries of the world, harsh criticism and uncivil rhetoric of officials is severely put down. To do so in America is almost a badge of honor. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, faced a world with corrupt government officials, wicked leaders, and a government corrupt from top to bottom. He reminds his readers that a Christian is sanctified by God the Father, and the behavior of those set apart must not be like the world. Living under the Roman rule of law would have been more oppressive than anyone has seen in the United States’ short history. In the face of such oppression and persecution, Jude challenges the spirit of those who would speak evil of dignitaries and reject the authority of the land. As an example of the reservation demanded by children of God, Jude shows that Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Michael was an archangel, but he knew his place before the Lord. Jude tells us this took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body. Nothing is known about the dispute between Michael and the devil, but the point is clear that when people speak evil of dignitaries, they sin.

Freedom in Christ is measured by the word of God. The child of God does not go on social media and lambast, accuse, revile, and speak evil of those in authority. It may be socially acceptable, but it is not the character of God’s holy people separated for truth, purity, and an example of holiness. It does not matter who is elected to be President or who is defeated; the Christian is not to speak evil of those in authority. Peter encouraged the Christians living under Caesar Nero to honor the king and to respect those in power. Grumbling, complaining and accusing – let it not be named among those who are of the faith of Christ. Follow the example of Jesus, who never reviled the government that was killing Him. You may have a right in America, but you do not have a right in Christ.

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

Teach Me To Walk In Truth

David had a deep longing to be as close to God as he could be. Everything about the life of the sweet psalmist of Israel was how he walked with the Lord. As a shepherd caring for his sheep, David felt the comfort of God’s presence to protect, provide, and lead him in the paths of righteousness. David was a man of prayer. He frequently spoke to his Father with longings to know more of His will, His way, and His work. The knowledge of the Lord was all that David needed to sustain him. He knew knowing the will of God would give him peace in a world of chaos. Facing his guilt of adultery, David remained steadfast in his devotion to God. When his sons turned against him, the embattled king retained his faith in the will of God. His desire to build a house for the Lord was an outgrowth of a yearning to exalt the name of the Lord for all the world to see. While he was forbidden from building the house of God, the heart of David spoke volumes to his love for God.

The life of David was remarkable because he understood the simple principle of personal growth. He knew his life could take the path of least resistance and rely upon self, or he could turn his life over to the will of God and find eternal security. This process of change could only take place when he was taught the way of the Lord. Most men did not desire the truth of God to guide their lives and took no occasion to know the word of God. David prayed to the Lord for the knowledge of the right way. He relied on the wisdom of God to teach him the way of truth. David wanted to mold his life to be an example of righteousness so that others could see God living in him. When Saul was trying to kill him, and on more than one occasion, David could have killed the king, he refused because he was the anointed of God. Even with the sin of Bathsheba, David showed the heart of devotion when he acknowledged his sin and begged forgiveness. He was not a man without sin, but he faced his sin with courage and faith. This type of devotion could only come from knowing the way of the Lord.

Life is a manner of walk determined by the wisdom of carnality, or God’s truth measures it. Knowing how to walk in the narrow path requires teaching. There is a responsibility that when knowledge is given, that duty demands action. Faith comes from hearing the word of God, and then action must come from that teaching to walk in the one way of truth. The purity of the heart does not come naturally. It requires instruction and walking or practicing the word that has been taught. David prayer to the Lord to teach him how to walk. He knew he could not walk in truth without the knowledge of God. He desired to live according to the truth of God. And he did.

David lived nearly three thousand years ago, but the principles of obedience remain the same. People of faith are praying people who desire to know the word of God and then allow their faith to be seen in the action of their example of walking in the truth. David wanted God to teach him. He told the Lord he would walk in truth. David also prayed for the Lord to unite his heart to fear the name of God. Three elements of a Christian’s life are found in teaching, walking, and uniting. The child of God needs teaching. They must learn to walk in truth, and their hearts must be filled with the respect of honoring the name of God with fear. Then a man can praise the Lord God with all their hearts and glorify His name forever.

“Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor, and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,” says the Lord.” (Zechariah 8:17)

What God Hates

Hate is a strong word. It connotates a feeling of strong antagonism and dislike. The idea of hatred is seldom referenced to God’s character, but there are many things the scriptures say God hates. Among them are pride, lies, murder, wicked hearts, falsehood, and the spirit of discord, to name a few. The purity of God is manifested by His love for righteousness and His wrath described by his hatred of those who defile His name and His character. When men begin to rationalize the nature of God to be a kind and loving, benevolent Father incapable of discipline or wrath, they fail to understand the character of the Lord’s righteousness fully. What God hates comes from what God loves. Men hate with a cruel passion. The hatred of God is the purest form of righteousness against the works of the evil one, Satan.

There is no middle ground with evil. The message from the beginning of time is there are only two paths a man can walk. He can choose the broad way of self-satisfaction and pleasure or choose a narrow and challenging path of obedience. The roads of life have an inevitable ending, and that is where God’s nature is discovered. Willful disobedience to the word of the Lord will bring the wrath of God because the Lord God hates those who rebel against Him. The broad path of life ends in destruction. Only at the end of the narrow path of righteousness will joy and life be found. There is no other path a man can follow. He will choose the path that leads to the eternal love of God, or he will find the way leading to the eternal condemnation of the Father.

Zechariah the prophet lived in a day after the captivity of Israel to Babylon and Persia. Returning to their fathers’ land, the Jews struggled to regain their place in the worship of the Lord. The prevalent sins in the prophet’s days were not idolatry but cheating and lying, and injustice. Captivity had cured the hearts of the people from the idolatry that destroyed their nation earlier. Sin stilled burdened the hearts of the people with their neglect to consider their neighbor, and the prophet Zechariah admonishes the nation to see God’s view of their evil. God hates sin. He punished the generation before them, and He would punish them if they did not turn from their wickedness. Why does God warn of impending doom? He hated sin before, and He still hates sin.

God is a loving and kind Father, but He hates sin. His desire is for His children to speak truth to their neighbors with judgments of truth, justice, and peace. Anything short of that God hates with divine wrath. Men try to excuse their actions by pleading to the mercy and kindness of the Lord. This does not change the nature of God that He hates what sin does to His people. The hatred of God will determine the damnation of those who refuse to follow His word. This hatred is not a spiteful and evil emotion but the purity of divine righteousness. It is real. God’s love is unsearchable, and His hatred of evil is unending. He is a God of mercy and kindness, and He is a God of severity and punishment. It is proper to view God for whom He is and for whom He will be when all men stand before Him.

“For all these things I hate,” says the Lord. These are hard words. It is difficult to image God hating anything, and while He is not willing that any should perish and that all men should come to the blood of Jesus Christ – the wrath of God is against evil. The nature of God cannot abide by the spirit of rebellion. Sin was so severe and hated so much by God that it took the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to die for the sins of all men. God’s love is found in how He answered the question of sin. He loved the world and gave His only begotten Son. The cross is the answer to sin. Found in the blood of Christ is the love of God against all that He hates.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

As Little Children

There is something magical about the innocence of a little child. The character of a pure heart fills the mind of children with trust, love, and devotion. Their allegiance is a natural acceptance of the world they are born in, with dependence measured by an inability to care for themselves. One of the greatest attributes of a child’s heart is the absence of pride and arrogance. These are learned later in life by hearts that have been corrupted with the envy of self-worth. Children can be fighting one minute, and the next to be the best of friends with all slights forgiven. The heart of a child cannot harbor anger and hatred. Innocence is not a failing but a noble attribute of their nature that makes beautiful children.

Jesus was an amazing man. He could cast out demons, raise the dead, heal all manner of diseases, and walk on water. The Lord rebuked the Jewish leaders’ hypocrisy, debate with impunity the cleverest of legal Jewish minds, and rebuke the harsh critics who attacked Him. There was a gentle side of the man from Nazareth as He enjoyed spending time with little children. Mothers would bring their little boys and girls for Jesus to bless them. He would take them in His arms and tell them words from His Father. It seems that children were often in the company of Jesus as on one occasion when the adults were arguing about greatness, Jesus took a little boy and set him in the midst of the disciples. He takes the little boy and tells the disciples that they will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless they become like a child. Jesus must have amazed the adults as they looked upon the pure face of a little boy who had little idea how important he was to Jesus. What was the boy’s name? Who were his parents? What became of the little boy that became an object lesson for Jesus?

Children are born in innocence and grow to adulthood where sin fills the heart. Salvation comes by conversion and this transformation happens when the spirit of the man returns to his childhood. Unless a man changes his heart to be trusting, loving, and forgiving, he cannot be pleasing to God. Adults are tasked to teach children, but adults must learn how to be faithful to the Lord.  The greatest in the kingdom are those who are humble. A child is not filled with pride. They depend wholly on others. When conflict arises, they forgive easily. The safest place they find themselves is in the bosom of their parents. When danger comes, they immediately run to the safety of their parents. Children of God depend wholly on their heavenly Father in a humble spirit of love. When conflicts arise in the family of God, they forgive easily. Their security is in the word of God, and when danger comes, they seek the word of the Lord through prayer. Christians must learn from children how to serve the Lord.

Life problems will be solved if children are placed in the midst of those who seek greatness. Jesus was a humble Son devoted to the will of His Father fully trusting in His Father’s will. The life of Jesus is a testimony to the heart of a child. If the Lord did not have the heart of a little child, He would never have accepted the cross and its suffering. Thank God Jesus had a child-like heart. His followers must develop a heart that is like a child. A servant’s heart. The spirit of love. A pure heart. Willing to sacrifice for others. Forgiving heart. A heart filled with God. Overflowing.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:20-26)

Faith In Prayer

Prayer is the most fundamental part of the relationship between God and man. It is not so much for God as it is for man to learn to talk with his Creator and trust the Lord to care for his needs. God created man to show the glory of the Divine. There is a dependence of the creature to his Maker. Prayer is the exercise of knowledge where a man learns the Father’s will and conveys his needs to God. The challenge of prayer is that it is more than just words spoken to impress or say the right things. Rooted in the character of talking to God is the germ of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and this is especially true of prayer.

Faith believes in something unseen with the assurance that what is hoped for is real. The word of God opens the door of faith, accepting the Father’s promises as the heart obeys God’s will. From the beginning of time, men have prayed to God. It is in the nature of humanity to express deep feelings to his Creator. Jesus spent many hours in prayer. As the Son of God, He longed to speak to His Father and share His thoughts with His Father. The remarkable faith of Jesus is found in His prayer on the cross when He begged the Father to forgive those who were killing Him. These were not words of insincerity. The prayer of Jesus was as pure as His sinless heart. Faith and prayer are essential to one another.

A few weeks before Jesus was crucified, He came out of Bethany and was hungry. Seeing a fig tree afar off, the Lord went over to take of its fruit. When He arrived at the tree, He found nothing because it was not the season for figs. In response, Jesus cursed the tree. The next day, as the disciples and Jesus passed by the condemned fig tree, Peter took note the tree had withered. The Lord used the occasion to teach a lesson about faith and prayer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus had cursed the tree, and it withered. The miracle of the cursing showed the power of faith in God to do an incredible thing. Jesus encouraged His disciples that prayer, coupled with faith, could move mountains. Doubt is a hindrance to effective prayer. When men pray to God, they must possess the spirit of faith to believe what they ask is possible. If God can show His power by withering a fig tree, what can He not accomplish in men?

Faith in prayer takes away the vain repetitions of impressive prayer. Some men like to hear their own prayers for verbosity, cleverness, and pride. Their words are not directed to God but to impress the heart of men. These careless words have no faith in their boasting. True prayer begins with faith and lives in faith. Jesus tells His disciples they can pray for anything, and if they believe that they will receive it, it will be theirs. Faith exemplified.

One of the most challenging parts of prayer is forgiveness. It is easy to ask God to forgive oneself, but it is hard to forgive others. Prayer comes with requirements. If a man prays and he is unwilling to forgive another, God will refuse to forgive him. Prayer is a vertical relationship between God and man, but it depends on man’s horizontal relationship with others. The will of the Lord is clear: if a man does not forgive his brother, God will not forgive the man. Faith can move mountains, and sometimes it requires greater faith to forgive another. Loving enemies and praying for them demands faith that will move the world. Without faith as the center of prayer, the plea becomes nothing but useless words. Faith in prayer allows God to take the reins of the heart and guide the soul of man according to His will. Trusting in the love of the Father is where faith finds its home in prayer. Pray fervently but pray in faith.

And according to the Law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:22-23)

It Was Necessary

Blood is essential for life. Without blood, life cannot survive. Following the flood, the Lord told Noah that life is sanctified in the blood because men are made in the image of God. Many animals have blood, but no creature is made in the image of God but man. Killing an animal is not murder but killing a man is an abomination before God. Before Christ, blood was used as the sacrificial offering for the sins of those under the Law of Moses. Untold numbers of bulls, goats, sheep, and oxen were slaughtered, and their blood poured upon the altar to appease the wrath of God. After all the blood that was shed by animals, sin still had not been defeated.

God commanded the offering of animals in the Law of Moses. Without blood, nothing was purified. The High Priest garments were stained with the centuries of sacrificial blood offered to atone the sins of the people as a reminder that nothing could wash away the defilement of sin. In those sacrifices, there was a reminder of sins every year. The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins, although their blood was used to atone the people. Blood was the central image of the Law, but something was lacking.

The purpose of animal sacrifice was to impress upon the hearts of the Jews the sanctity of life. Something had to die so the people could live. Animals are sacred to the Creator and using them as a sacrifice was not without cause. Their blood was used to atone the people, but the problem lay in the reality that animals were not made in the Divine’s similitude. Only man’s blood would establish the reality of sin and the price required to pay for redemption. But human sacrifice was an abomination to the Lord. Under the Law, only animals without blemish were to be sacrificed. The problem with finding a man who had no sin was evident. There was never a man who did not battle sin and allow its corruption to defile them. Every man was blemished and forbidden to be offered as a sacrifice.

It was necessary for the blood of bulls and goats to be offered, seeking atonement for man’s sins because that was the will of God. However, because of its failure, there was a greater necessity to redeem man with the blood of a person who was without blemish. This person must be sinless. From Adam to Moses and David and all the great saints of God who lived righteous lives, no one was innocent. Therefore, the Son of God needed to take man’s form and shed His blood as an offering without blemish. It was required for the blood of Jesus to redeem man from sin. The death of Jesus was not a mistake. His sacrifice was a necessary part of saving men from the wrath of God.

For more than thirty years, Jesus suffered in the flesh resisting sin and battling Satan at every corner so that He could offer His blood for the redemption of humanity. He knew His death was necessary. It was a requirement to save men. Nothing could take the place of the blood of Jesus. As He faced the cross, He knew what He must do was necessary. His suffering was all that stood between man and God. In His agony, the Son of God cried out with the realization that His blood would redeem men. Thank God for what became necessary for His Son to endure. Thank God.

I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord. How can you say, “We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us”? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord; so what wisdom do they have? (Jeremiah 8:6-9)

The Stork Is Wiser Than A Man

Animals are amazing creatures. The Arctic Tern is an example of the incredible power of a small bird no larger than 14 inches and weighing no more than 3 to 5 ounces. Each year the migration of the Arctic Tern covers around 25,000 miles flying from one end of the globe to the other. They do not have any roadmaps or GPS to guide them on their way. Their migrations have continued since the beginning of time without the aid and assistance of man. Embedded within their tiny brains is the imprint of God’s creative power to know their appointed seasons and times.

The prophet Jeremiah may not have known what an Arctic Tern was but his comparison of God’s creation and the wisdom of man is clearly evident. Israel had fallen into the darkness of idolatry rejecting the word of God for their own wisdom. Based upon their carnal desires the people of God had rejected the word of the Lord to follow after broken down trees carved into idols. Sin had so consumed the hearts of the people that no one was sorry for doing wrong. There was no remorse for the evil brought through immorality, corruption, wickedness, and false worship. It seems as if the nation was running headlong as fast as they could into everything vile and depraved. The Lord compares the wisdom of birds to the wisdom of men and finds the wisdom of men lacking. Birds may have small brains but they know the time of migration. Men are made in the image of the Divine and show no wisdom in following their Creator.

The law of nature determines the course of the sun, moon, and stars. Oceans and rivers flow around the world according to the divine plan of creation. Animals go about their lives without the aid of man’s wisdom. They know instinctively when to move to warmer climates or when to return to their spawning origins and do so without the guidance of human wisdom. Since the beginning of time, God has given man His word so that he can know and understand the eternal truth of the nature of man. What separates man from animal is that man is an eternal being that will never cease to exist. Animals die and they are no more. Men possess the intellect of eternal wisdom but animals live by instinct. The law of God is given to guide man and give him direction but he refuses to listen. History repeatedly shows the failure of human wisdom. Compared to human wisdom, animals are the wiser species.

Human wisdom is a quagmire of foolishness that has never elevated man to a higher plane. As hard as a man will try, his knowledge will fail him every time. Only when the creation listens to his Creator will the human spirit find the purpose to which they were created. Human wisdom makes man nothing more than an animal with no purpose in life. Animals have a purpose in life and live each day fulfilling the divine pattern of life prescribed by God. The stork is smarter than a man who does not follow the word of God. Men twist the word of God to their destruction and make themselves more foolish before all the animals of the world. Is a man so wise after all when he rejects the word of God? What wisdom do they have? Consider the stork.

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:1-4)

The Johnstown Flood

Located about sixty miles east of Pittsburgh, the town of Johnstown was an industrious and booming coal-and-steel town in the late 1900s. It was a hard life for the people of Johnstown as the dawn of the twentieth century ushered in an industrial boom that would change the landscape of what was once a quiet town nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Like many communities across the land, Johnstown had its share of disasters in the form of floods, fires, and epidemics that seem hardest on the children. In 1879, diphtheria killed over a hundred children in a short time. Accidents at the mills and mines would always be a present danger. Located in the mountains above the town was a reservoir built in the 1850s with an earthen dam roughly 72 feet above the valley floor and more than 900 feet long. The locals called it the South Fork dam.

The purpose of the dam was to cater to the rich and privileged who built the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club on the shores of the lake. Members included men like Andrew Carnegie. Over the years the dam would suffer damage and breaks due to lack of maintenance and repair. This led to the complacency of the danger lurking above the town. Warnings would be sounded and when nothing happened, the residents would quickly return to the lives. Finally, an air of contentment settled among the citizens that few took to heart any warnings about the dam. Most turned a deaf ear to the impending disaster that never came. They believed the owners of the dam, who were powerful and wealthy industrial leaders of the day, would take care to make certain nothing would happen. On May 31, 1889, the people of Johnstown got their answer.

An unusually severe storm hit the area of east Pennsylvania causing rivers and lakes to swell in size. Warnings of the dam being compromised went out, but few heeded the message. At 3:10 pm, the dam broke sending a wall of water rushing through the valley. The water tore through Johnstown with a thunderous roar killing 2,209 men, women, and children. Destruction was everywhere. The town was nearly wiped off the face of the earth. Many lives would have been saved if only the warnings had been heeded but because of the complacency of those who lived in the shadow of the dam, those warnings were ignored.

The apostle Peter through the direction of the Holy Spirit penned an epistle warning of impending doom that will not be a local catastrophe but global destruction. There is coming a day when the world will come to an end in a conflagration of eternal consequence. Everyone will see the coming of the Lord and His holy angels. No one will escape the brilliance of the image of Jesus Christ as He brings the world to an end with a great noise. The heavens will pass away and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. God’s wrath will be brought upon the world against those who deny Him and His grace upon those who serve Him.

No one knows the time of the great day of the Lord but it will come. Sadly, most do not believe the world will be destroyed and that God would judge them. They go about their lives living in the shadow of death and the end of the world with no regard for their eternal destiny. That day will come. Unlike the Johnstown story where warnings were given of the impending failure of the dam, there will be no warnings of the coming of the Lord. When God sends His Son, there will be no second chances. Are you ready? There’s a great day coming.