The Heaton File

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)

Seeing The Salvation Of God

The little child Simeon held in his hands was just over a month old. He was still wrapped in the swaddling clothes of His infancy as the baby peered deeply into the aged prophet’s eyes. Simeon was a devout man who lived for a single promise made to him by the heavenly Father and that promise was what he held in his hands. Joseph and Mary had brought the infant Jesus to the temple to be presented with a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. God had promised Simeon that he would not die before seeing face to face the Messiah or Lord’s Christ. Being filled with the Holy Spirit on the day Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon blessed God and proclaimed the glory of the Son of God for the child Jesus he held in his hands. He knew his eyes beheld the salvation of God and the hope of redemption for the world.

Simeon was ready to die having seen the Lord’s Christ. There was no doubt in his mind as he rejoiced looking into the face of an infant child that God always keeps His promises whether in the scheme of all humanity or just one promise to an old man. The Lord is God whose word is faithful and true. Simeon saw the child but he recognized the power of God’s word. The word of God was true, faithful, and never failed. He would not live to see how the infant he held in his arms would one day be nailed to a Roman cross. God’s salvation was fulfilled three decades after the death of Simeon when Jesus gave His life to prepare the way of salvation. Following the resurrection of the Lord’s Christ, the church was established ushering in the final eternal plan of redemption as a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.

Joseph and Mary marveled at Simeon and his words. The aged man of God spoke a prophecy of sorrow for the mother of Jesus who would often have her heart pierced with grief. Mary knew with no uncertainty that her son was the Son of God. She stood at the cross and witnessed the words of Simeon come true as the small baby boy honored by the man of God in the temple was now being honored by the heavenly Father as an obedient Son. Salvation had been prepared by the Lord before time began. The bookends of the life of Jesus were found in the joy Simeon’s face looking upon a baby later framed by the face of sorrow for Mary at the cross. Simeon could only see salvation yet to come but salvation came through the word of God.

The salvation of God is still visible today. From the pages of holy writ, the Lord has revealed to all men the Lord’s Christ from His birth in a stable of Bethlehem to a place called Golgotha outside the city of Jerusalem. The story of Jesus began as Moses penned the words of the book of beginnings and concludes with the revelation of John writing about the victorious Christ riding before His army victorious over Satan. To see the salvation of the Lord is to see the divine Word as the light to reveal God to the world and to express by the providential hand of God the glory of His people Israel. All men can see the salvation of the Lord in Christ. Simeon believed in the promises of God’s word and salvation is found in hearts willing to accept the promises of God as true. The Lord has never failed in His promises. Truth fills the Word with the unmovable promise of the one true God. See the salvation of the Lord. Look unto Jesus Christ.

Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and begot Enoch. After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died. Enoch lived sixty-five years and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:18-24)

Are We Enoch Ready?

Only two people are described in scripture who were taken by the Lord without death. The first was seven generations removed from Adam and the second was the great prophet Elijah spirited away on a chariot of fire in a whirlwind. It must have been an amazing experience to be transformed in an instant to the glory of God. Much is known about Elijah but little is said about the prophet Enoch. His place in divine history is a reference to the genealogy of Adam. The New Testament writer Jude refers to Enoch as the seventh from Adam. He lived to be 365 years old before being translated by the Lord. Luke lists the man Enoch in the genealogy of Jesus in his gospel. The Hebrew writer declares the faith of Enoch in his great chapter of faith describing how Enoch was taken up to heaven and disappeared because God had taken him. A hint of Enoch’s life is given that he was a man who knew God and was known by God as a faithful and devoted servant. Enoch pleased the Lord. God does not reveal His reasons for translating Enoch but he did. Finally, in his small epistle, Jude declares the fervent faith of Enoch as a man that prophesied about the judgment of ungodly men. Some generations removed from Enoch the world was destroyed in the flood.

There are two great lessons about the heart of Enoch. His life pleased God and Enoch was ready to go and be with the Lord at any time. Compared to many other patriarchs, Enoch was a young man at the age of 365. Adam lived to be 930, Seth died at the age of 912 and the son of Enoch, Methuselah, lived to the incredible age of 969 years. Enoch was ready to meet the Lord as a ‘youth’ in his day. It is tantalizing to consider how faithful Enoch must have been to bring God to point of extracting him from the wicked world he lived to the glory of eternity. What was the measure that moved the Lord to make such a bold decision? There are no answers but the faith of Enoch and his life so meshed with the will of God that the greatest blessing of life to evade death was granted to the son of Jared. He lived to be ready to meet God. Enoch purposed every part of his life that if he died at 145 or lived to be 1,000 years of age; his life was a pattern of righteousness that pleased the mind of God.

Enoch was not a lazy man. He was a man of courage who preached against the wicked hearts of men as the world grew dark in immorality, corrupt minds, and willful disobedience to God. His message of the coming of God’s angels to execute judgment on all who disobeyed the Lord and to convict the ungodly of their sin was heard by the angelic host and the Creator of the world. He was bold in his message and did not cower from the obvious persecution he would face. Enoch lived ready to see God with no regard for what men thought of him.

Not only did Enoch live ready to meet the Lord, but he also wanted to go and be with the Lord. It is easy to say a person can be ready to see the Lord but then find it difficult to leave the world. Enoch knew life would not last. Methuselah lived to be 969 years but the text says he died. All men die whether young or old. Enoch understood that one day he would die like all men and prepared himself for that day when he would breathe his last. This was interrupted by the plans of God and Enoch did not see death. God took him and he passed to glory without the pains of death. A little girl was trying to tell the story of Enoch and she said that God and Enoch were going for a walk one day and God said, “Enoch, would you like to come home with me today?” Enoch replied, “Yes, Lord.” And so he did. He wanted to be with the Lord. The reader would like to know how that event happened if it was like the chariot of fire and whirlwind or like Jesus who just ascended into heaven. Whatever the case when the day came, Enoch was willing to go and he did.

You and I must do two things: live to be ready to meet the Lord and to be willing to leave the world. The first part is necessary to enjoy salvation. Jesus often told His disciples of the need to watch and pray and always be ready for the coming of the Lord. Like a thief in the night, death will come upon all men and one day in the same manner the world will come to an end. If a man is not prepared to meet the Lord there will be no time to change. Most importantly, if God came to you today and said, “Would you like to go home with Me today?” – what would you say? Some might want more time to raise their children or enjoy their grandchildren. Many might want to finish their bucket list before leaving for eternity. There are a host of things people could say why they would like a little more time but when is a more important time than now to go and see God? Death is not to be feared. It is only the conduit to an eternal home prepared for the righteous. If the time has come for either death or the end of the world, can we not say, “Lord, come quickly”? We want to be with him and no matter how beautiful and marvelous this world is, there is nothing compared to what we will see in the eternal dwelling of God. Be ready. Be willing. Be an Enoch.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Nothing Has Changed

When the world turns itself on its head and things seem to spiral out of control, voices are raised in alarm at the signs the end of times are nearing. The consciousness of morality degrades as society sinks into more wickedness with the acceptance of sin and immorality as the norm and people begin to fear the world is coming to its fiery end. There is coming a day when the Lord will return and the universe will be obliterated from existence and when that time comes is secured in the mind of God. No man knows when that day will be. Like a thief in the night, the end of the human race will cease in a sudden and instantaneous moment. No warning. No heeding impending doom. Not a sign in the world that God is coming.

Paul’s final letter to Timothy is a plea from the aged apostle to exhort the evangelist to hold fast to the truth of God. He will be facing great trials as the world will bring heavy persecution against the body of Christ. Paul also tells Timothy that in the last days it will be difficult times as the world becomes very wicked. He does not suggest this is a new problem. What Paul describes happening in the last days is something that has been going on since the first days. As society becomes more carnal in thinking and turns more and more to the wiles of the devil, some believe the world has become more wicked than before. In fact, what Paul describes has been around since the post-Eden days. The world has always been wicked since man was removed from the paradise of Eden. In the days of Noah, the world became so vile it was destroyed by God. Throughout the generations of the human struggle, there have been greater times of wickedness than others but the fact remains sin is common.

There are nineteen examples of the sinful nature of men. Heading the list is the most evident sin where men worship themselves and their possessions. Everything in life is about them as they live a shallow and meaningless life. Going for all the gusto, the hearts of men love only themselves and their money with no regard for God. All their life is spent in carnal pursuits and then they die. In life, they boast of their power, wisdom, riches, and arrogance. How often the voice of men cry out they fear no man and deny there is a God. But like all men, they die and their human achievements are lost in the dust of time. Pride exalts the heart of man and death awakens a soul now humbled in the presence of the Almighty. Men will blaspheme the name of God and then proclaim His glory in eternity.

Perilous times are filled with calamity. Families are destroyed by rebellious children who abuse their parents. There is no thankfulness in the heart for anything. Pursuing unholy lives without love, forgiveness, and slandering anyone who stands in their way, the proud man goes through life as a self-centered egotist who worships himself as his own god. They are brutal and cruel in their life. There is no good in them as they push their way through life demanding their rights and their privileges. The only person that matters is what they want and all the world must bow down to their wishes or suffer the consequences. If they have to betray their friends to rise to the top of the human heap they expend any who oppose them. Reckless and motivated by pride, the cargo of carnal desires fuels the spirit of men who love pleasure above all things. Some will act religious but in their hearts squirm in the blackness of despair with the unholy offspring of sin their guiding light. These things will come about in the last days because this is the way the plight of humanity has always been.

The days in which we live can be viewed as dark and troublesome. Changes take place in every generation that shock and dismay the passing generation but there is nothing new under the sun. What has been will be again and what is now has been before. Sin has not changed from the moment Satan whispered in the ear of Eve. However long the Lord allows the earth to stand, the mass of humanity will plunge into the deep crevasses of ungodliness with great vigor. What they fail to recognize is that death comes to all and that in death all come to realize there is a God in Heaven. And that has not changed since before the world was made.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Receiving The Word Of God

The word of God has been around since God spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. There has never been a time when humanity has been without the word of God. In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. During the days of the patriarchal fathers, the Lord spoke directly to men. When the Hebrews became the nation of Israel, God spoke through Moses and the written word found in the Law of Moses. Jesus Christ came into the world as the living Word proclaiming the teachings of His Father. As the church began to grow in the first century, disciples wrote down the gospel of Christ with instructions, commands, admonitions, and letters to places and people forming the canon of divine truth. For two thousand years, the fully revealed word of God has been given to man to read and understand the mystery of God.

Ignorance has never been a problem for men. There has never been a time when God has not or does not reveal Himself fully to men. No man can stand before the Lord God and declare they did not know the will of God. All truth has been revealed. The problem is found in what men have done with the divine word revealed through the ages. Ignoring the word of God does not diminish or destroy the word. Adam and Eve heard and understood the command of God but chose to disobey God’s word. The early world of Noah knew the word of God but perished in the flood because they chose to live carnal lives apart from the word. Israel was given the written law clearly defining the will of the Father. Their history is a wasteland of broken promises, rebellion, and rejection of the law. Jesus came into the world as the Word and they killed Him. The early church would suffer great persecution because of the Word. Religion is divided into many denominational camps today from the teachings of human wisdom are more important than the word of God.

Paul’s first letter to the church of the Thessalonians commends the saints for their keen insight into the word of God. Luke had written in his history of the early church the people of Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica. Paul had visited the city on his second missionary journey. Later, from Corinth, Paul wrote his first letter to commend the saints at Thessalonica for their acceptance of the preaching of Christ. A change had taken place. They accepted the preaching of the gospel not as mere human ideas but as the very word of God. When the gospel of Christ was preached in the city, the saints received the word as the divine will of the Father. Their faith and love for truth were evident to all.

If the faith of the saints at Thessalonica were replicated today there would be less division in the church. The religious world would find a common ground of truth in the word of God without their creed books and doctrines of men. Within the body of Christ, unity can only be found when the people of God unite under the same message of truth. The Bible is the revealed word of God with all truth delivered to the saints. Changing its message does not produce truth. Denying the word will not diminish the truth of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the Thessalonians is to receive the word of God not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the word of God. Rejecting the Bible is to reject God. Let the Bible speak where the word of God declares the message of the Father. Do not add to His book and do not take away from His book. Receive the word of God as it is: the word of God.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! (James 2:19)

Does Belief Require Fear?

Faith comes in many forms. The salvation of man is founded upon the measure of belief he has in the word of God. Faith alone can never save a man because there must be a manifestation of faith coupled with fear as man responds to the will of God. This is clearly seen in the story of Noah and the destruction of all humanity by the flood. God’s grace made known to the son of Lamech the impending doom of the world and what must be done to be saved. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and believed the word of the Lord to be true. The grace of God alone did not save Noah as he was told to build an ark for the saving of his household. Moving with godly fear, Noah did exactly what God told him in the manner outlined by the grace of the Lord. His belief was expressed through his fear of the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Noah and his family were saved from the flood by the grace of God, their faith in the word of God and understanding the terror or fear of the Lord.

The epistle of James is a book of practical Christian living. James makes a strong argument that a child of God that does not show their faith by their works is judged by the whole law and condemned. Faith alone cannot save and must be justified by works. Arguing for the effectual working of faith to be manifest by works, the writer uses an unusual illustration to drive his point to the heart of the matter. As in all generations, the danger of speculative faith is a common malady that on the one hand gives a veneer of false security through faith but has no effect on the heart. If a man says he believes in God he has done nothing more than what the demons of the abyss have done. Evil spirits do not deny Christ because they know of a certainty He is the Son of God. Throughout the ministry of the Son of God, the demons acknowledged Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. What makes the demons more credible than men is they believe in God and tremble; most men believe in God and never shutter.

Finding obedient faith is having a belief that will lead to a change in life and bring about a holy life. Religion can easily be viewed through the lens of complacency by acknowledging that God is real but making no effort to mold their life into His image. Demons believe and tremble. Every man on the face of the earth must believe and tremble at the word of God or what good has the word? Failing to fear God comes from the mistaken idea that man and God are equal. The pride of the human heart accepts a false notion of equality leading to the exaltation of the word of man over the word of God. That is why there are so many churches in the world today. Men claim they believe in God but do not tremble.

Faith leading to fear is not a hypothetical belief but a vivacious and productive belief. It changes the heart. Fearful belief is a vibrant and exciting faith seeking to mold the character of a man’s heart into the image of Jesus Christ. There is a deep respect for the holiness of God and the imperative nature of His word. On the one hand, the knowledge of judgment permeates the soul as a fearful expectation but the love of God overshadows the heart with the grace of God. Fearing God is respecting who He is. The demons believe but are unwilling to honor God. If a man believes that God is and will not submit to His rule, he dishonors God. Fear without works is dead and faith without trembling is dead.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (James 1:1-3)

The Epistle Of My Brethren

There are few books in the sacred writings that are as practical and applicable to daily living as the small epistle of James. Spanning a little over 2,300 words, the half-brother of Jesus (as suggested by many commentators) exhorts the disciples to mold their lives in the fashion of Christian conduct. James is the epistle of brethren as he uses the term frequently in his epistle. Fifteen times in the text, James exhorts the “brethren” to be examples of trust and faith as they faced trials, prejudice, neglect, abuse, and the ever-present danger of the devil in all forms of temptations. Eight times he calls them “my brethren” and three times “my beloved brethren.” Each writing exhorts to a different admonition.

At the beginning of his letter, James pleads with his brethren to face their trials as an opportunity for joy. The early Christians suffered from persecution and it would take courage and faith to endure the hardships of the testing of their faith. Through prayer and the wisdom of God, the heart would be able to endure the trials and temptations placed upon them. James reminds the saints not to blame God. He calls them his beloved brethren to remind them that all good and perfect gifts come from the hand of the Father. A second time he implores his beloved brethren to be careful of their speech. It is a time to remain resolute in doing the will of God without question. James warns against allowing the wrath of man to destroy the blessings of God.

In the second series of admonitions, James encourages the brethren to hold fast their faith in Jesus Christ without showing partiality to others. The danger of pride can lead the people of God to think of themselves more highly than they should when they honor the man wearing fine clothing and gold rings. At the same time as they honor the powerful and rich, they dishonor the poor man as rejected and despised. A third plea for his beloved brethren to consider how God views all men and the Lord has chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith. Showing partiality is sinful because God does not do not with His creation. Within the body of Christ, all men are the same. This will be evident by the works of those who show their faith through their works in caring for others. If a man is naked and destitute, the love of God will extend a hand to help and supply what is needed. There is great hypocrisy in saying you love God and yet deny a brother the necessities of life. Faith without works is dead. For a third time, James addresses the saints as “my brethren” to ask if someone says he has faith but does not have works can that person be justified? Abraham and Rahab are used to illustrate the need for faith to be justified through works as brethren take care of one another. Like a lifeless body that has no spirit, faith lacking works cannot save.

The fourth exhortation by James to his brethren is to be careful with the unruly tongue as a little member that boasts great things. Many of the sins afflicting the heart of men fall under the heading of the tongue and without taming the tongue will destroy the soul. Like a bridle in a horse’s mouth or the rudder of a great ship, the small tongue is a powerful instrument of either good or evil. Again, James calls the saints “my brethren” when he admonishes them against speaking blessings and cursing from the same mouth. Emphatically, James says these things should not be for brethren of Christ. Immediately he emphasizes the need of his brethren to recognize that what proceeds from the mouth comes from the heart. This can only be earthly, sensual, and demonic wisdom. When the wisdom from above possesses the heart the tongue will only speak blessings. Wars and fighting come from unruly hearts. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

James reminds the disciples to not speak evil of one another, to be patient, and not to grumble against one another because they were brethren. In his final message, James implores the disciples as “my brethren” to be reminded of the prophets who left an example of suffering and patience and to let their speech be without swearing but in honesty and truth. His final sentence as he closes his message is asking the brethren if someone wanders away from the truth to seek every opportunity to bring them back. When they do so (as brethren showing faith and works) they can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from an eternal judgment of God and to bless them with the hope of salvation. Brethren must look out after brethren because all are brethren who are in Christ. James wants all the disciples of Christ to care for one another as brethren. Your fellow Christian is your brother and your sister. Be a family.

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17:5-10)

We Are Unworthy Servants

Finding the courage to forgive another takes a lot of faith and can seem an impossible task at times. The early disciples faced this when Jesus taught them to forgive someone even if he sins against them seven times in a day. They asked Jesus for greater faith and the Lord told them a story about a slave who served his master after a long and grueling day of service before preparing his own meal. Servants were common in the Biblical days and the disciples could easily see the lesson. A man works in the fields plowing or tending the sheep and when the work is done enjoys the respite of the end of the day. When the servant comes to the house, the master requires him to fix his supper and serve the master before preparing a meal for himself. This was the common practice of master and slave. Jesus asks the disciples if the master thanks his servant for the work he has done. It was not likely the servant would receive any remuneration for what he was required to do. The conclusion Jesus teaches the disciples is while it may be hard to forgive others for the harm done to them, the Father grants mercy to all men who have never deserved His mercy.

Man must serve God. There is nothing more fundamental to the existence of all humanity than to see their place in the scheme of all things. No man is more important than another and no man matters more to God than another. The reason is that all men are unprofitable slaves who are indebted to the grace of God. Jesus did not die for worthy men. God loved the world so much He gave His only begotten Son to die for those who His enemies, who were ungodly and those who had no strength. What right has a man to demand anything from God when the Creator is the Master of all men and holds their breath in His hand? When an individual does all he can do to please God he remains an unworthy slave who has simply done his duty.

Pride calls for the heart of men to demand freedom from servitude to the Lord. The world revolts against the law of God demanding their rights to live the way they choose. From the story of Jesus, it seems the slave comes in from the field and tells the master to fix his own meal and to make himself an equal. Man can never be equal to God. The teaching of Jesus is to show how unworthy, unprofitable, undeserving, and unfit every man is who stands before God. This does not diminish the character of man but exalts him if he submits to the rule of the Lord. God so loved the world (every man without exception) that God gave (His grace) His only begotten Son (His gift) to die for every man and woman that walks on the face of the earth. Jesus died for the rich and the poor because they were all slaves to sin. All nations are welcomed to the throne of God for grace if they would accept His will. It does not matter what color skin a person is, whether he is educated or not and it matters not if he lives three centuries ago or in the modern world; Jesus loved and died for all men because all men matter.

Every person needs Jesus Christ because all men are unprofitable servants. There is no grace greater or love higher than what God did in allowing His creation to kill His Son. In the body of Christ, all distinctions are removed as the blood of Christ cleanses the hearts bowed in submission. When the final judgment comes the souls of men will be presented uncolored before the Eternal Judge for either His love or His wrath. The unprofitable servants who have devoted their lives to serving Jesus Christ will be blessed. Those who have refused to submit to the servant-hood of Jesus Christ will face eternal darkness and suffering. At the end of the day, every man is unworthy. You chose whether you want to be a bond-servant of Christ.

And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’” And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.”

So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself. The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as before. Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel.

Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah. Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it, and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. Then he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.” Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.” And he said, “I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. For I have been told by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ” He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.) So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.

Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”

So it was after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him.” (1 Kings 13:1-26)

Why The Man Of God Was Killed

The commandments of the Lord are not burdensome. No command given to man is impossible to obey and God has never asked of any man more than he can do. Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the forbidden fruit but they disobeyed the word of God. The world of Noah rejected the counsel of the Lord and died in the flood as a consequence of their rebellion. When Moses instructed the Hebrews on the law of God, he declared that disobedience would be met with the severe penalty of God’s wrath. The history of Israel is a testimony to the rebellious heart of humanity and God’s punishment on those who trifle with His word.

During the divided kingdom when Jeroboam ruled over the northern tribes, a man of God visited the king to warn him of his rebellion to the will of the Lord. Jeroboam had set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan for the people to worship. On a day when Jeroboam was in Bethel burning incense before the golden calf, an unknown man of God approached the king warning him of the doom of those who follow idolatrous worship. Jeroboam tried to have the man arrested by was cursed with a shrunken hand. Pleading for mercy, the man of God entreated the Lord and the king’s hand was restored. Jeroboam asked the man of God to join him at the palace for something to eat and the king would give him a gift. The man of God replied that he had been forbidden to eat or drink anything in the place and was to return to Judah differently.

An old prophet heard of the man of God and went looking for him. He too invited the man of God to join him for a meal and to refresh himself at his home. The man of God said again the word of God prohibited him to do so. But the prophet told the man of God that since he was a prophet also that he could trust his word. The old prophet went on to tell the man of God an angel had told him it would be permissible by God for the man of God to enjoy a feast at the prophet’s home and rest up. He was lying to the man of God but the man of God believed him. Returning to the old prophet’s home, the man of God ate bread in his house and drank water.

For his disobedience to the word of the Lord, the man of God would be killed. After leaving the old prophet’s house a lion found the man of God and killed him. Remarkably, the lion did not devour the man but stood by the corpse along with the donkey. Hearing of the death of the man of God, the old prophet took the torn and mangled body of the man of God and placed him in his personal tomb for burial.

The story of the man of God is a purposeful examination of the meaning of obedience and the consequence of disobedience. This is highlighted by the story of the man of God because God is not a respecter of persons. Men of God must obey the word of the Lord as much as anyone. The man of God had a clear mandate to follow and in regards to his work of warning Jeroboam, he excelled. Why the man of God failed became apparent when he allowed another prophet to dissuade him with something he fully knew conflicted with the word of God. Just because the old prophet said an angel had told him the word of the Lord had changed did not change the word of the Lord. The man of God was not permitted to eat bread or drink water in that place and was commanded to return to Judah by another route. This is not hard to understand or difficult to follow. What God said was clear, plain and easily understood. He disobeyed the word of God and it cost him his life.

Blame can be placed on the old prophet but to what degree? He did not force the man of God to return with him but challenged his understanding of what the Lord had said. The man of God should have told the old prophet that even if an angel from heaven gave any other word than what he had been instructed, he should be accursed. There was one truth and the man of God failed to honor that truth. The men were alike in their duties as prophets but this did not allow one prophet to change the word of God.

There is religious division today with many different churches because so many people have been lied to by those who call themselves followers of Christ and are not. Televangelists, pastors, and religious leaders are leading the multitudes to an eternal slaughter because they, like the old prophet, are weaving webs of lies. There is one truth and that is found in the word of God. The man of God should have remained steadfast to the only truth he knew and he would have lived. God has revealed His will to all men who can read and understand what they must do to be saved. The siren call of apostasy rings loud in the world appealing the senses of the unsuspecting and unaware. Are you listening to another man or are you listening to the voice of God?

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. (Acts 26:19-20)

Three Things Every Man Must Do

The apostle Paul preached throughout the Roman Empire to kings, queens, dignitaries, governors, religious leaders, and more often the common man. His message was the power of the cross of Jesus Christ persuading souls of the grace of God. Sent by the will of God to the Gentiles, Paul never hesitated in declaring the unvarnished gospel of salvation. His message was radical to the thinking of his peers because it demanded personal accounting and a willingness to give up the pride of the heart in submission to one God. Further, the gospel did not save a man alone but required continued obedience in showing the manifestation of faith in works showing the good things of righteousness in the heart. Paul’s three-point lesson to King Agrippa illustrates the simple message of salvation that saves men then and will bring a soul to Christ today.

All men need to repent. The first word of the gospel is repent. John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus when he taught the people to repent. Jesus began His ministry with the same message. On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s first message was to repent. The early disciples went through the world preaching repentance. Without repentance, no one can come to God. The challenge of repentance is it will require a man to empty himself and many are unwilling to give up the rule of self-determination and accept the will of God. They say they have turned to God but without a penitent heart emptied of self-will. Conversion for the prideful heart is to declare allegiance to the Lord without having to accept the terms of God’s authority. Repentance demands an emptying of all of self. It realizes the need for salvation because of sin. There is nothing man can do to save himself apart from the grace of God. Repentance is the first sign of man’s submission to the will of the Father.

Every man needs to turn to God. Repentance pricks the heart with the sorrow of sin crying out for salvation but salvation is not granted yet. There can be repentance but without the act of turning to the Lord, hope is lost. No man can be saved by repentance alone. When Peter told the Jews at Pentecost to repent they had to turn to God to be saved. They heard the message of the apostles what they had to do to be saved and then turned to God in obedience. Jesus said in the mountain sermon that many will call upon the Lord but unless they do the will of the Father they will not be saved. Turning to God is the action of a contrite heart doing what the Lord requires a man to do to be saved. Salvation is not just a good feeling. Many believed in Jesus but refused to join Him. Refusing to turn to God will bring the wrath of God. Paul’s message of the gospel was for all men to repent and to turn to the Lord. And there is more.

The grace of God requires a follower of Christ to do works befitting repentance. A man must repent and then turn to God but this is not a once saved always saved type of religion where there is nothing more required of a man. Turning to God is the act of obedience to the will of the Lord and then works befitting the act of repentance. A man must prove they have changed by the good things they do. This is the message of Paul to King Agrippa who was an expert on the customs and questions of those things pertaining to the Jews. The king was not unaware of religious requirements as taught in the Law. Paul emphasized the same principles in the message of Christ that every man must repent and turn to God and do works that show their faith in the Lord. Without these works, there can be no salvation.

Paul’s words continue to resonate for lost souls today who must first change their lives through repentance and turn to God. There is no hope apart from the grace of God. All men stand to face the wrath of God if they do not repent. Turning to the Lord requires a life of devotion and worship to the will of the Lord. A man cannot be saved by grace alone nor is he justified by works alone. The character of obedience is three-fold with repentance, turning, and doing. There is no reason a man should be lost when the mercy of God is revealed in His word. Hearts turned to the message of the gospel will find God’s love in sending His only begotten Son and the blood that will cleanse them of their sins. What have you done? Listen to Paul. Repent, turn to God and prove yourself worthy of the name of Christ in works worthy of repentance.

Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.” (Hosea 4:1)

Three Pillars Of Righteousness

There are three basic foundations of righteousness that when present will exalt a people and destroy a nation if absent. Truth, mercy, and knowledge are the building blocks of God’s grace upon the world. From the beginning of time, these principles have remained the same. Noah’s world was destroyed in the flood because there was no truth, no mercy and God had been abandoned by men. Israel was destroyed for the lack of righteousness that made them a great nation. Their history was replete with the warnings of the Lord against denying the truth of His word, showing mercy and kindness to others, and filling their hearts with the word of God. When the people turned away from the Lord they denied His truth as law becoming a law to themselves. As a result, they did not show love for one another through acts of mercy but rather they sold one another for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They crushed the helpless in the dust and pushed the oppressed out of the way. To make matters worse, both father and son sleep with the same woman. Without the knowledge of God, there was no restraint. Righteousness had been abandoned for the carnal pleasures of the flesh. There was no truth or mercy or the knowledge of God in the land.

When the world at large rejects the truth of God’s word it becomes a place of darkness in the putridity of man’s abuse of others in impurity, lustful pleasures, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, envy, drunkenness, and the wanton pleasures of self. Without truth, there is no law. In the absence of law, there is no restraint. Society breaks down to lying, killing, stealing, sexual immorality of adultery, homosexuality, and perverted sexual abuse. There is no restraint. Knowledge is rejected. Unrighteousness is the mantra of the day. Humanity implodes on itself is self-destruction. The wisdom of man is seen for the failed system of self-gratification that it is. Only when truth is restored, mercy is given and the knowledge of God retained will peace come to the world.

Jesus came as the truth of God to show mercy in dying for all men so that lost souls can come to the knowledge of salvation. The three pillars of righteousness are found in Jesus Christ. He is truth. Everything He said is the faithfulness of the will of God. No man has lived in perfection but Christ became flesh and was sinless. His truth is pure because there is no falsehood in Him. Truth is measured by the word of God and Jesus is the Word. Righteousness is Jesus Christ. His word is truth. The example of Jesus shows the incredible gift of God to willingly offer His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of all men. Mercy is discovered at the cross of the One who is Truth. Jesus offered to humanity the kindness of God to leave His place with the Father and endure the sufferings of the flesh so that righteousness could be exalted before the heart of men. The cross is righteousness.

Without knowledge, man is destroyed. The Word became flesh and expressed the love of God’s mercy. Jesus came to open the portals of eternal life through the knowledge of God’s grace. Through the knowledge of God, no man should be lost but Jesus said that most men will not find eternal life. Sadly, the knowledge of salvation is given to men but they reject this knowledge for their carnal wisdom. Righteousness is establishing what is right in the eyes of the Lord and this knowledge can only come from the One who formed man in His image. What is right is what God says is right. When the Lord declares a thing to be evil it is because it stands against His will. Righteousness is the word of God.

The three pillars of righteousness are truth, mercy, and knowledge. When these characters are absent in a person’s life they will never find joy, happiness, or fulfillment. All of the tragedies of humanity come from the absence of truth, mercy, and knowledge. For the child of God, filling their hearts with the truth of God’s word, showing kindness to others, and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ will transform their lives to a full and complete life. The greatest joy of living righteous lives will be found when the Father says, “Enter in.” Without truth, mercy, and knowledge men are destroyed. Their doom will be eternal. Build your house on the rock. Everything else is sand.