The Heaton File

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17)

He Is Teacher, Lord, And Washer Of Feet

Robert Ingersoll said of Abraham Lincoln, “If you want to find out what a man is to the bottom, give him power. Any man can stand adversity — only a great man can stand prosperity.” The 19^th-century British politician Lord Acton wrote, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” One of the strongest points of temptation is the sin of pride. It exalts the heart to a corrupt mind of arrogance, conceit, self-importance, and egotism. Leaders especially are tempted to take too much power for themselves wielding a strong hand upon the citizens. They always fall in time. Death is the great equalizer. Throughout history, great men have had great power over vast stretches of land with millions oppressed by their rule. There has never been a king who has possessed power like Jesus Christ.

The power of the Son of God was unlimited. Jesus was divine and through the power of the Holy Spirit, exercised dominion over disease, time, distance, death, and showed His rule over the spirit world in casting out demons. There was nothing Jesus could not do. He acted under the will of His Father. At no time did He go beyond the authority given to Him as the Son of God. His final plea to the Father in the garden was for the will of God to be accomplished, not the will of the Son of God. The cross is the emblem of complete surrender to the power that was not His. He died for the sins of all men because that was the requirement for redemption established by the word of God.

On the night Jesus would be betrayed by one of His own, the Lord rose from the Passover supper, took a towel, and girded Himself. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the twelve men who He called His apostles. When He finished washing their feet, Jesus began drying them with the towel he had around him. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?” The twelve were amazed by their teacher and master washing their feet. Peter at first rebuked the Lord because he could not see what Jesus was trying to teach him. Jesus was their Lord and He was their Teacher, names of reverence which disciples of the Hebrew teachers were accustomed to offer to their masters. There was no doubt about the rule of Jesus in their lives but what they needed to see was that although He was Master and Teacher, Jesus had come to serve. He was a washer of feet.

Leadership begins with servitude. Jesus was the Son of God. He had the power to command the wind and the waves. With only three words, He brought Lazarus from the tomb. Through the will of the Son of God, Jesus commanded the demons with all authority. Yet, in the dimmed upper room of a Passover feast, the Son of God bent down and in a great act of humility washed the feet of twelve men. Incredibly enough, Jesus washed the feet of the man who soon would leave and betray Him. What was Jesus thinking as He took the dirty feet of Judas, caressed his feet with a gentle hand, and washed all the dirt away? When Judas stood before the Jewish council and sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, did he look down and see his clean feet? The Master and Teacher who was Lord of Lord’s washed the feet of His disciples to show them what love meant and to leave an example for them to follow.

True godly character comes from those willing to wash feet. Jesus was their Teacher but he washed their feet. He was Lord and He washed their feet. The twelve did not know that in less than 24-hours, their Teacher and Lord would be nailed to a cross. When Jesus washed their feet He was showing them a pattern of sacrifice that would be forever highlighted by His death on the cross. Jesus is Master and Lord because of the cross and because twelve men had their feet washed by the Son of God. Thank you Jesus for washing my sins away.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:15-17)

Post-Election Christians

The Holy Spirit is surgical when it comes to text and context. Many passages are listed in a specific order to emphasize a certain conclusion building upon one another drawing the mind to the absolute truth of God’s will. The Spirit does that through the writings of Peter. God’s will is the subject and focus of the passage for today. Being a good example before all men is the need to allow the light of Christ to shine for others to see. The Christian is bound as a slave of God to obey His word, His will, and His truth without reservation. First, honor must be given to all men. Second, the relationship of God’s people toward one another will show the world the disciples of Christ are united. Here comes the tough part: the king must be honored, respected, and recognized as one in authority established by the word of the Lord. This clause does not defer to noble and righteous leaders or seek a distinction between personal preferences in rulers, kings, presidents, or prime minister. The will of God demands the Christian honor the President of the United States. Why? Because they fear God!

Before the Holy Spirit tells the first-century saints to honor ‘Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus’ (his full name), He tells them God must be feared. Nero was known as a tyrant who lived an immoral, ungodly, and decadent life. Little if any of his life characterized righteousness at any level but he was the ruler of Rome and Christians living under his rule were obligated to honor him as their king. This did not suggest complete obedience to Nero without consideration of the will of God. Peter and the apostles established during the first persecutions that all Christians must obey God rather than men when the law contradicts the will of the father. Jesus honored Caesar by paying taxes. In so doing the Lord was not approving the life and morals of Caesar. Peter reminds Christians to honor the king because they feared God first.

It is hard to remember the object of the spiritual mission is to serve the Lord first when the world seems to be crashing down around the hearts of God’s people. Leaders are put in office who allow for the murder of millions of babies. They support and defend the repugnant lifestyle of homosexuality and pornography. Laws are added that remove God and the Bible from the consciousness of society. Religion is ridiculed and men and women with religious convictions are berated as fools. Individual rights are torn from the pages of civility with ruthless abandon. Churches are increasingly being scrutinized for what they teach and condemned if what they believe is against the norm of society. It is not the world of Nero but the present-day landscape of America.

The post-election Christians must face some harsh realities. The world is not moving in the direction of God. Society as a whole continues to move away from a faith in a Creator, the sanctity of the Bible, and the respect for religion. This is not a new philosophy that has suddenly appeared in the last fifty years. Someone remarked how bad the world has become. Folks, the world has been bad and messed up since Eve took of the forbidden fruit. There was a time in America when most people respected and honored God. Presidents prayed and read the Bible. Those days are long gone and may never return. Leaders in Washington have become more hedonistic in their corruption of character than ever before with platforms that deny the holiness of God. The word of God has not changed. Children of God fear God and honor whoever sits in the Oval Office because that is the will of the Lord. Be thankful that for the present time the church of Christ has not been forced into the corner of decision regarding laws forbidding the preaching of the word or assembling for worship. That day will come. But even then, obey God first and always honor the king. Above all things – pray. And pray hard.

For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

Rejoice – The Sun Rose Today

Sunrise this morning came at 6:21 am. It is a cool morning with a Fall temperature of 60 degrees. As the morning rays began to filter through the dense woods, a rafter of turkeys sprinted towards the south field where corn was freshly dispersed pecking feverously for each succulent morsel. From a clearing beyond the tree line, two young deer bounded toward the corn scattering the feeding turkeys with their playful antics. As squirrels scampered around and the mist of morning settled thickly upon the ground, deer and turkey quietly grazed and pecked around the field unconcerned but for a moment’s alert attention to any danger that lay lurking beyond their sight. The morning slowly grows brighter as the sun eases itself above the horizon and tree line. Clouds fill the sky. Birds fly across the blue canopy with ease and grace. The world has awakened to a new day and everything seemed peaceful.

In contrast to the beginning of a beautiful day, humans are frantically preparing for the day. There is great consternation over the election of the night before that remains unsettled. Fear grips the hearts of the nation as one man or another will succeed in gaining the victory. Panic fills the minds of the masses who await the answer that will change the course of history forever – or at least that is what they are led to believe. It seems the events of the night before have brought about anxiety, worry, apprehension, and dread. Lost in the meat grinder of human foolishness is the reality that another day has begun, the sun has risen and the animals scurry about as they do each day and without a care in the world.

Human beings are a funny sort of creature. The birds do not plant or harvest or store food in barns, but God takes care of them. You don’t find worry lines on the brow of a bird. As a higher creation, human beings spend most of their life worrying about things they cannot change and trying to change things they cannot understand. The birds don’t worry because they know their Creator is in charge. Men worry because they forget who their Creator is. The sun rising each morning declares that God is still in charge and the world will continue according to the divine will. All of the affairs of men seem important for the moment but will fade to the memories of yesterday.

The sun does not rise again from the day before and will not rise again until the prescribed time of the next day. What happened yesterday is forever sealed in the capsule of time and unchangeable. Worrying about the sun rising tomorrow is futile as there is no promise of a new day. The sun rises only today and begins the day showing the glory of God. It is not dependent upon the fragile affairs of men. Electing a President does not change the rotation of the heavenly bodies. Animals are unconcerned about the events of a newscast or predictions of human affairs. Children of God learn from the birds of the air and the lilies of the field there is nothing to worry about. If God takes care of the birds and clothes the grass of the field, why should any man fear what the day will bring if God cares for him more than birds and grass? Take a moment and thank the Lord for a new day, a new sun, and a new opportunity to trust God more. Today is a beautiful day.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11)

The Most Important Election In History

Today is Election Day in the United States of America. The rhetoric of candidates vying for a place in government suggests this election will change the world dramatically and profoundly in ways never seen before. Whether it is the highest office in the land to the local council seat, the process of an election day is a time of pitting ideas and philosophies against one another in the hopes of gaining the favor of the majority. The frenzy of campaigning is fueled by the idea this election is the most important of all elections. History points out the same rhetoric in every election since George Washington. All the candidates believe their time and their positions are paramount to earth changing and world-shattering decisions being made in their respective elections. The candidates for this year have emphasized the fearful expectation of consequence if they are not elected. When the dust settles after every election the world continues on its frantic pace of commerce, industry, and entertainment, and while things change in time, little of the fearful expectations of doom come to pass. The sun rises the day after the election.

There have been 58 presidential elections with 45 Presidents elected before today. There are four former Presidents still living including Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) who is 96 years old. The administrations of all the Presidents have carved their niche into the fabric of the American historical narrative and if the Lord wills, others will take their place in the years to come. One constant in all of these historical events is that one administration takes power and then another takes their place. Elections occur every four years and some men only serve one term while others serve two. Their elections are historical but short. Except for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected to four terms (dying in April 1945), all Presidents are limited to eight years. Each election is temporary. Monuments and libraries are established to commemorate the achievements of the election but in time are forgotten in the dust of history. The self-proclaimed “most important election in history” becomes only a passing page in the history of the United States.

There is one election that has eternal consequences and rewards. If this election is lost there are dire consequences. When this election is gained, there is the eternal reward. Jesus describes God’s people as the elect. Throughout the writings of the apostle Paul, the elect of God is spoken of as those who have obtained salvation in Christ Jesus. Peter and John include in their epistles the reference of a Christian as the elect. Peter exhorts the saints to follow after the graces of truth and righteousness to make their calling and election sure. He urges Christians to work hard to prove they are among the called of God and those chosen by His grace. Seeking after the eternal election will secure a place in Heaven, the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ. If there was an election that had earth-shattering and eternal consequences, the election of grace is the most important election in history.

Elections of men come and go with time. The choice of whether one chooses to follow Jesus Christ has an impact far beyond this world. God sent His Son to open a way for all men to come to the truth and be saved. This salvation is not granted automatically or loosely. All those who desire to place their names on an election ballot must be qualified. To be a child of God a person must qualify themselves worthy of the blood of Jesus Christ. Without faith that God is and that He is a reward of those who seek Him, there is no election. Hearing the word of God is what brings about a heart of faith to believe and accept the teachings of Jesus, the Son of God. Through the message of the gospel, a man recognizes his sinful state and his need for the mercy of the Lord. With a humble heart and contrite spirit, the heart seeks forgiveness through the avenue of repentance. Acknowledging the need for grace, a man confesses with his mouth his allegiance that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Obedience is not yet full and his election is not yet complete. By the will of God and through faith leading to obedience, the man is baptized for the remission of sins where his sins are washed away. Rising from the watery grave of baptism, the man is now one of the elect of God. He is a chosen vessel sanctified to be a saint, a Christian, a disciple, and a follower of Christ.

The spiritual election of a man becoming a Christian is the most important in history – the history of the man. This is the most impactful decision he will make in his life. What happens after death will be determined whether a man has become one of the elect of God or not. Applying the Christian graces to his life, he will make certain and sure his election to eternal life. The spiritual election in Jesus Christ has an eternal reward that will never go away. Those who elect in God will reign as kings and priests in the presence of God. Sadly, most men will never be elected to the grace of God and Jesus told His followers that most men follow the broad and easy path. God’s gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. If those who are so concerned about the election today would be as concerned about their spiritual election, the world would be a different place to live. This election will pass and the world will continue if the Lord wills. Elect of God will never die. Eternity awaits them.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)

Eternal Rhetoric

Rhetoric is persuasive speech or writing that communicates its point persuasively. Sin entered the world with a serpent persuading the Woman to doubt the word of God. In the beginning, all men spoke a single language uniting them against the will of God. After the flood, the Lord divided humanity through the means of languages establishing cultures and nations that filled the earth. The power of rhetoric has begun global conflict and brought peace to a troubled world. There is a great influence through the word to be used for good and to bring evil upon the fate of humanity. The Christian has a special role as an example of godliness in the manner of their speech. An effective tool for good can be the language of a child of God that does not grumble, complain, and argue. It is difficult to not be caught up in the rhetoric of the world that has a negative word for every moment with complaints, murmurings, and dissatisfaction.

Rhetoric that is befitting the character of godly men and women is tempered by the word of life. Jesus is the Word and His life fills the hearts of those who disciple under His teaching. Instead of being like the world, a Christian measures his speech to be seasoned with the eternal salt of grace. Speech that is without complaining and disputing cannot be criticized by others. Living in a crooked and perverse world is difficult enough without complicating the influence of God’s people by unchecked speech. One of the great attributes of the Christian’s grace is self-control. The tongue is a small thing that boasts great things and just a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. It is a flame of fire. Children of God control the tongue to show the glory of God.

Rhetoric that is of value is eternal speech. Holding firm to the word of life enables the tongue to speak the words of God in the hearts of the ungodly. There is no occasion for a charge against those who control their tongues. For the Christian, they will do everything without complaining and arguing as the ear of God hears all they say. Jesus reminded His followers that every word will await a man when judgment comes. There is nothing hidden from the mind of God. The words of influence are the words of the heart filled with the eternal word of God. Shining like bright lights in a dark world, the speech of the Christian is a pattern of goodness, kindness, charity, and love. Filled with the word of God, the world hears the heart of the saints praising God for the abundance of mercies given to them. There will be rejoicing with the Father sends His Son in the final day to hear the eternal rhetoric of His people singing praises to His name and glorify Him by His Word. Eternal rhetoric is persuasive speech or writing that communicates its point persuasively to a crooked and perverse world.

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:14-15)

It Never Has Been Our Battle

Judah was in peril from the people of Moab, Ammon, and the people of Mount Seir as their armies had been drawn up to battle against Jehoshaphat. The king was afraid and sought the counsel of the Lord. A fast was proclaimed. All the cities of Judah came together to seek the Lord. They voiced their allegiance to the Lord who had fought their battles and won the victories. Now with the danger of the large army gathered before them, the people of Judah sought the voice of God. A Levite named Jahaziel came before the people of God and assured them the enemies of the Lord would be defeated. They would not need to fight in the battle. If they would stand still and seek the salvation of the Lord, their enemies would be vanquished. The next morning they obeyed the voice of God and the Moabites, Ammonites, and the people of Mount Seir were destroyed by the hand of the Lord.

There are many battles throughout the Bible story. One of the most important reasons for the telling of the stories is to show that when men put their trust in God, the battle belongs to the Lord. Jahaziel reaffirmed what had been true from the beginning of time. Trusting in the Lord is letting Him fight the battles. Victory comes to those who trust in His power, His will, and His knowledge to overcome Satan. Some of the Biblical battles were spiritual while many were nations against nations. Adam and Eve fought the first war against Satan and lost because they did not trust in the word of the Lord. Cain lost his battle with sin when he allowed hatred to kill his brother. The world of Noah was destroyed when humanity turned away from God and sought to fight the devil alone. Noah and his family gained the victory over sin when they showed their faithfulness to God.

The nation of Israel fought many battles against the nations around them from Egypt to the Philistines and great empires of the world. All of their successes came from the hand of the Lord. Their defeats were from faithless trust in their own power. The Egyptian army was drowned in the Red Sea by the power of God but Israel was defeated by the Canaanites when they refused to trust the power of God at Kadesh-Barnea. Throughout the forty years journey to Canaan, the Israelites struggled to learn the lesson that God fights their battles. The great city of Jericho highlighted the power of God to defeat all enemies and the same army was defeated by the city of Ai because of sin. There is no reason to be afraid or dismayed when the heart believes the battle is not in the power of man but the power of God.

The Christian must fight against the forces of evil every day. There are legions of temptations surrounding the heart, mind, and soul of the people of God. The conflicts of the past that pitted nations against nations are long gone but the greater battle remains. There is fear and trepidation from current events. Health concerns with a global pandemic cause hearts to become weak in the face of uncertainty. Political posturing has succeeded in filling the minds of citizens with unsettling dread of who will be the next President of the United States. Economic uncertainties drive the spirits of men to abandon God. Fear reigns – why? The COVID virus will come to an end one day. Whatever happens on November 3 will not change the fact that on November 4 God is still in control. There is one thing almost everyone will miss on Wednesday morning: the sun will rise and the birds will sing and there is nothing man did to make that possible. If the Lord wills, the sun will rise and the animals will scurry around like they always have without a care in the world. Why? Because God takes care of them. Next week, next month, and next year should be a time to remember the battle belongs to the Lord. Trust in God. Let the heart know the Lord is in charge. He holds our breath in His hand – why worry?

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Windshield Or Rear-View Mirror

Life is like driving a car. Moving forward requires looking out of the broad windshield in front or to remain idle by staring through the rear-view mirror at what is behind. The reason automobile manufacturers make such a large front windshield is to afford a broad view of what lies ahead. Without this picture, it would be difficult to see where to go and what dangers may be ahead. A clean windshield improves visibility and modern glass is manufactured to be resilient to heavy abuse and even designed in such a way to reduce injury in case of catastrophic damage. Needless to say, the windshield is a very important part of enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive through the country. On the other hand, the rear-view mirror is very small and is placed in a position to give a small glimpse of what is behind. The purpose is not to use what has gone by as a means of going forward but to reflect on what has been but is no more. Everything in the rear-view mirror grows smaller and disappears in time if the car is moving. Both the windshield and the rear-view mirror are essential and vital to the safe operation of the vehicle but each serves different purposes with one allowing progress and the other a matter of reflection.

Life is like driving a car. Moving forward requires looking out of the broad view of what God has placed before us to see the opportunities and blessings of His grace. The vistas of life are filled with new roads to travel and exciting places to be a part of. Finding fulfillment will only come when the eyes are on the road ahead as the eyes peer through the windshield. It does not do well to try and drive looking through the rear-view mirror. Paul had many things in his life that could discourage him and cause him to quit. He had severely persecuted the church with the zeal of destroying any who called themselves of the Way. His purpose in life had been to arrest, imprison, and cast his vote of death against all the blasphemers of God. The grace of God changed his life. Everything in the life of Paul was viewed through the windshield of how much God had loved him allowing the redeeming blood of Jesus to wash away his sins. The apostle declared that he had put his past behind him and that he would press forward to what was before.

Life is like driving a car. As you look through the windshield the small view of what is behind is there but it slowly moves out of sight. It is good to see where we have been but only to see where we are going. Paul said he was focused on one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. He did not suggest he wiped his memory completely of his past as near the end of his life he told Timothy he considered himself chief among sinners. Paul’s view of his past was small compared to the expanse of what lay before him in Christ. It is good to look in the rear-view mirror on occasion but the focus is ahead. Understanding how we have been saved by grace through faith in the promises of God will help us to keep our eyes on the road. Growing in Christ will diminish what lies behind as the blessings of God open up before us.

Life is like driving a car. The final lesson is to know there are only two roads a man can travel. One is a broad boulevard of ease, pleasure, and self-satisfaction. The other is a narrow, difficult, and winding way. Driving on the broad way is easy and fun but the warning signs that line the road warn of the impending doom at the end. Sadly, most of the drivers on the broad way ignore the warning signs until it is too late. The few who heed the warnings and accept the challenge of going on the narrow way find joy and eternal life at the end of the road. It was a journey filled with storms, dangers, and difficulty but with the encouragement of fellow travelers, the grace of a loving God, and an eternal map with all the right information contained therein – Heaven is found. Only those who use the windshield of God’s grace will find eternal life. How is your driving? Which road are you on today?

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. (John 10:11-13)

I AM The Good Shepherd

When the disciples saw a man who was born blind sitting and begging, they asked Jesus if he had sinned or his parents. The Lord reminded His followers that sin did not cause this man’s blindness but that this occasion would be a time to reveal the glory of God. Jesus spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He then told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Following the instructions of Jesus, the blind man went to the pool, washed, and received his sight. He was then called before the Jewish council to answer how he received his sight. His parents were called in to testify but deferred to their son to plead his own case. After a heated exchange with the Pharisees, the man was cast out from the assembly. Jesus found the man and asked if he believed in the Son of God and the man answered he did. As the man worshipped Jesus, the Pharisees stood around and Jesus proclaimed that He had come into the world for judgment and those who could see would be made blind. He was referring to the blindness of the Pharisees who rejected the miracle of the blind man receiving his sight. They asked Jesus if He thought they were blind. The Lord affirms their hypocrisy by telling them the story of the shepherd.

Jewish history is filled with allusions to God’s people being the flock of God. The leaders of Israel were called shepherds in the writing of Ezekiel. One of the severe charges made against the leaders of Israel during the captivity was their failure to feed, tend, and care for the flock of God. Ezekiel 34 is a stinging rebuke of the utter failure of the shepherds of Israel. Jesus uses this reference to show the continued hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders of His day and what Jesus came to offer all men. The hierarchy of Israel cared more for themselves than the people they were supposed to serve. Like the failed shepherds of old, the Jews mistreated the blind man and cast him out. How could they treat a fellow child of God in such a manner? It was reprehensible the way the elite Jewish leaders prided themselves with vanity, self-glory, and self-righteousness. Jesus was not that kind of shepherd.

The division of John 9 and 10 is an unhappy placement that takes away the importance of how Jesus compared Himself to the Pharisees and Himself. The Pharisees were thieves and robbers who tried to climb over the wall with their righteousness; unable to come in the door of the sheepfold. The one who enters by the door is the true shepherd. Only through the will of the doorkeeper will the shepherd be allowed to come in and take his sheep. The sheep hear his voice and they follow him. They will not listen to the voice of a stranger but flee from him. The shepherd will lead his flock to green pastures and beside still waters. Only the true shepherd will care for his sheep. A hireling will not have such care. His concern is to be paid with little or no concern for the safety of the sheep. His will is selfish. The good shepherd will give his life for the sheep because he cares for them.

Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd. I AM the door and I AM the good shepherd is the distinction Jesus makes in what He came to do for all men and how the Jewish leaders treated their fellow citizens. Like a true shepherd, Jesus comes by the authority of the Father to do His will. Healing the blind man on the Sabbath affirmed the authority of Jesus to do the will of God. The miracle testified He was the Son of God. When the blind man received his sight, he could see the glory of God. The Pharisees could see with their eyes but were blinded by the message of the Good Shepherd. Jesus came to be the Good Shepherd for all men to come and find the joy of knowing the Father. He was willing to die for His sheep when these same Jews cried out to Pilate, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” The death of Jesus was the Good Shepherd dying for His sheep. He was the Lamb of God who took the scroll and broke its seals. Jesus was the Chief Shepherd who would guide His church. It was through the sacrifice of the Lamb the Gentiles were part of the flock of God. There was only one Good Shepherd. Thank God for the Shepherd.

The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:12-14)

Noah, Daniel, And Job

Righteousness exalts a nation but sin will destroy any people. The nation of Israel had been the apple of God’s eye before falling headlong into such immorality they surpassed the wickedness of the nations around them. Warned by the prophets to repent and change their ways, the people of God were persistent in unfaithfulness. Through the providential will of the Father, Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian and Babylonian empire. At the time of Ezekiel’s writing, the northern ten tribes had been gone for more than one hundred years and Jerusalem was on the brink of total destruction. The priest Ezekiel was in captivity among the Hebrews warning them of the impending doom of the city of God. He tried unsuccessfully to convince the Jews the sinfulness of Judah had reached a point of no return and the wrath of God was coming. The house of Israel would be punished if they did not return.

The magnitude of the wickedness of Judah was highlighted by a bold illustration of three men. Ezekiel is speaking to some of the elders of Israel and he warns them the sin of the people is so great that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would save no one but themselves. Noah lived in a period of history that was so evil, vile, and wicked; the Lord destroyed every living thing on earth that had the breath of life. Only Noah and his family were saved. Noah was a righteous man but his righteousness could not save the world. In a later time, God comes to Abraham and tells the man of God that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed because the cry of wickedness was great. Abraham sought to intercede that if righteous people were found in the city, the mercy of God would spare the cities. But there were no righteous people to save the cities and only Lot and his family escaped. Ezekiel is showing the mercy of God when righteousness lives in an ungodly world and yet even Noah could not stop the global destruction.

Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel. He was taken captive during the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim. When Ezekiel is writing his prophetic word, Daniel has been in Babylon for nearly fifteen years. He has made a mark of distinction for himself as a man wholly devoted to the Lord. His three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also had shown themselves faithful in their devotion to God. Ezekiel uses Daniel as a present-day example that as righteous a man as Daniel, he could not change the will of the Lord to punish the house of Israel. The people had become so wicked there was no hope to save them although there were righteous people like Daniel who continued to be faithful to the Lord. The contrast of character is stark. Daniel is faithful and Israel is unfaithful.

Job is another great patriarchal example of faithfulness and devotion to the Lord in the face of adversity. Every Jew was familiar with the story of the righteous man who endured incredible sufferings yet retained his faith in God. The righteousness of Job was a sterling example of facing terrible calamities that would have destroyed any man and yet through confidence in the will of God, Job never lost favor with the Lord. It was a struggle but Job endured.

Ezekiel uses Noah, Daniel, and Job, to illustrate how perverted the land had become. He notes that in the present time, only these three men would be delivered. During the flood, Noah was saved along with his family. If he were alive in the captivity of Israel, he would not be able to save his family. This was also the case with Daniel and Job. This is how bad things had turned when God looked around for righteous people. The warning was clear: unless the people repented, the wrath of God would be unleashed among them. Sadly, this became their history. A few years later Jerusalem will be burned to the ground including the House of God.

If Ezekiel were writing today in modern-day America, he may paint a similar picture. Thankfully there are more than three righteous souls in this great land but they are becoming fewer. There will come a time when the land of the free and the brave will be the land of lost and the cowardly who love the siren songs of immorality rather than the righteous tunes of godliness. The threat is real and the danger always present. Righteousness exalts a nation. Unrighteousness destroys a nation. If Noah, Daniel, and Job were living today – who would be saved with them?

I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)

Obedience Begins In The Heart

David was a remarkable man whose heart was fully trusting in God. He showed great courage in facing Goliath, exercised restraint in harming King Saul when he had more than one opportunity to kill him, and as a king showed himself to be a wise and beneficent ruler. His sin with Bathsheba marred his character and the stain of its shame would remain for the rest of his life. David faced many enemies finding himself often the object of scorn, ridicule, and even treason by his sons. The occasion of writing the fortieth psalm is uncertain but whatever it was it had put him in a pit of despair. He was thankful for the kind mercy of God to rescue him from his mire of despondency noting the blessing of God’s word guided his heart to seek the Lord. There were so many blessings David could enumerate but he was unable to recount them all. He was a man filled with the word of God.

Obedience comes from the knowledge of knowing what to do and how to do what God requires. None of the commandments of the Lord are burdensome. The Lord has never asked a man to do anything he was unable to do. Doing the will of God has always been the hallmark of the faithful character, godly spirit with a devoted and true heart. The key to obedience is not just in the doing but where the direction of the heart instills submission. David took joy in doing the will of the Lord because the word of God was written in his heart. Obedience cannot come from an empty heart. Seeking the will of the Lord requires the knowledge to know what is right and what is wrong. Without the word, there can be no obedience. The result of those who seek to obey God without a knowledge of His word will find themselves measured by the standards of human wisdom rather than divine will.

David understood that obedience begins in the heart. Jesus would later say that all things that make up a man’s character begin in the heart: good or bad. The things that corrupt a man come from a corrupt heart. Righteousness is the blossom of the divine flower of truth that spreads its aromatic fragrance of God’s character throughout the soul of the man possessed of the law of the Lord. Truth begins in the word and when the word is planted deep in the heart, the result is a man who delights to know the will of the Lord. Faith comes from hearing the word of God as it is implanted in the soul of man. That is where true delight comes when the heart is filled with the word of God.

Obedience follows from the seed of God’s word planted in the heart. This process cannot be done by osmosis or transference of minds or boring a hole in the head and pouring it all in. Knowledge comes from much study and while much study can be a weariness of the soul, the spirit of the soul will grow stronger. What is implanted in the heart guides the mind of a man to do the will of the Father. Recognizing the opposite is to see the reason that many Christians struggle in their faith because they seldom (if ever) spend time in the Word. A man cannot teach what he does not know. Faith cannot be resident in the heart of the Christian if the Christian has no interest in knowing the Bible. God has given to all men a complete guide to know His will: the Bible. Reading the book and finding ways to mold a character according to the divine pattern will bring about eternal consequences. It must begin with the word in the heart.