The Heaton File

Orbiting 93 million miles from the Sun, Earth is the only object in the vast universe of space that harbors life. Since the beginning of time, the question of the age of earth has puzzled and challenged human wisdom. The present suggested age, when the earth formed, is 4.54 billion years ago. This seems to be a daunting number when determining how old the earth is supposed to be. The facts, however, are clearer than the suppositions put forth by scientists and mathematicians.

No one knows how old the earth is. There little evidence to suggest an exact age of the earth like the age of a person. Birthdays cannot change for a person as that day is determined with exact clarity. This is not true for the earth which has no marker setting the hour, day, week, month or year of its birth. At best, there will be estimations but that can also lead to miscalculations and error.

Suggesting the earth is 4.54 billion years old is impossible for the disciple of Christ to accept because of Adam. If a person believes God created the world then it is impossible to accept the theory the earth is millions of years old. The apostle Paul said Adam was the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45-47). He wrote to the Roman brethren that death reigned from Adam to Moses (Romans 5:14). Adam only lives 930 years and then he died. Adding up all the descendants of Adam will put the life range less than a thousand years each. If the earth is 4.54 billion years old, where did all those millions of years go for the first man who lived 930 years?

It does not matter how old the earth is but it really does matter how long eternity will be. “The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Paul refers to Jesus Christ who knows how old the earth is because He created it. The age of the earth cannot be known but salvation in Christ must be known. Make certain you know the latter.

Those who make an image, all of them are useless, and their precious things shall not profit; they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. Who would form a god or mold an image that profits him nothing? Surely all his companions would be ashamed; and the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together. (Isaiah 44:9-11)

Modern Day Idols

The destruction of Israel came from the desire of the people to be like the nations around them and as people succumb to the folly of idolatry. It is difficult to understand the concept of idol worship yet it is the most prolific cause of rebellion against God known to man. Many cultures are based on idolatry, wars have been fought through the influence of idolatry and the carnal desires of humanity have been fueled by the practice of idolatry. When the subject of idolatry is discussed, the first impression is that of a man bowing down to a stone or wooden figure of some mystical being created from the mind of the worshiper. Most of the gods are perverted compilations of man and animal or a place or a large stone dedicated to the purpose of the religion surrounding idol worship. The greatest appeal to idolatry is the ability to do anything desired by the worshiper including sexual perversions, murder, rape, pillaging, and a host of self-gratification acts of worship. There are no rules in idolatry except the rules established by the worshiper. In every culture built upon the stones of idolatry the people are corrupt, immoral and degraded to the likeness of the animal nature of man. Isaiah the prophet lived among the people of God corrupted with the practice of idolatry. He saw the destruction of Israel by the hand of the idol-worshipers and the impact it had upon the moral, religious and personal lives of those who once called Jehovah the only true God.

The failure of idolatry is how useless and empty it is. Idols are created by their creators. The blacksmith fashions the idol with his hammer and the craftsman stretches out his rule to make a totem of his religion. Idols are useless because they cannot see nor can they know anything. To form an image into an idol and then fall down and ask for the idol to deliver one is folly. Why would anyone form a god or mold an image that will not help him or protect him? If a man worships an idol and an earthquake threatens his home, who rescues whom? The idol of stone must be rescued by the worshiper. There is no mind in the form of the idol and no life. Falling down to an image of a Buddha or black stone or a man in Rome who calls himself ‘God on earth’ is sheer folly. Idolatry is useless because it is formed from the foolishness of men. The greatest failure of idolatry is the person believing his life consists of what that object will bring him when in fact it will come to nothing. And that is where the modern version of idolatry has a larger following than the ancients who worshiped Zeus, Baal, Thor and a host of gods.

Idolatry is not just falling down before a stone image but is found in the hearts of those who put their faith in the trappings of this world. Idolatry takes on many forms for the modern man. Possessions can become idols when the heart desires the finest things believing that the worth of a person is based upon where they live, what they wear, how they fix their hair, what cars they drive and how far their education has taken them. There is nothing wrong with stone, wood or precious gems but when taken to form idols it becomes a hindrance. Social status is a normal part of life unless it becomes the god that fuels the heart to despise others. Riches can be a blessing when used for good purposes yet become a god that drives the lives of the soul of man to trust more in riches than the one true God. The lesson from Isaiah is that whether it is the idols of mortar and stone or the modern conveniences and blessings of a prosperous nation, the precious things are useless and profit nothing. Parents will give their children everything but God. Jobs will keep the heart from serving the Lord. Life will be consumed by the accumulation of stuff to be left when death comes and for what purpose? The gods of this world cannot see nor can they hear. Isaiah’s plea resonates today that all men must see the value of this world and what is found here compared to what is found in a relationship with the eternal God who will judge all men. Where your treasure is found is where you will find your heart and where you find your heart determines your eternal path.

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. (1 Timothy 5:13)

Rattlers And Tattlers In The Church

A rattler is a noun form of one who rattles and is most often referred to as a rattlesnake. To rattle something is to make short sharp knocking sounds in quick succession. The rattlesnake is a venomous snake whose name is derived from the Latinized form of the Greek word for tail rattler. This means of warning is given when a rattlesnake is startled or threatened warning predators or unfortunate passer-by to beware. It can be a troublesome sound to the unsuspecting person as fear of injury or death could be the result of being inattentive to its warning. The rattlesnake if the most common injury by snakebite and can, while not often, lead to death. There is no doubt the rattlesnake is a very dangerous animal that can bring much sorrow, harm, and misery. A relative of the rattler is a person who is a tattler if nothing more than poetically observant. Paul warns the preacher Timothy to remind the brethren and especially the young widows in the congregation not to gossip or become busybodies in other people’s affairs. While the admonition specifies the young widows, this does not leave out the reality that others will not find tasteful the delectable morsels of gossip an appealing pastime. The early forms of the word used for gossip come from the idea of overflowing with talk meaning more is said that needs to be said. A prater is one who talks in a silly way and at length about nothing important often filling in the blanks with their own opinions. Triflers are also described as people who talk about trivial matters of no importance but enjoy a dish of gossip to tickle the ears of willing receptors of nonsense. Gossipers are people who talk about idle and improper conversation leading often to the destruction of lives through malicious talk with little or no truth or preconceived opinions based on fantasy.  As James described in his book, the tongue becomes an unrestrained license to demean the character of others like an uncontrolled fire or a horse without a bridle.

The church of Christ is the family of God. What is most disturbing about the admonition of Paul to Timothy is the warning given to children of God concerning the conduct of members of the body of Christ towards one another and others. There are ample instructions given in the epistles that brethren should be careful with their tongues. As the elect of God, holy and beloved, Christians are to have hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and bearing with one another. There should never be dishonest talk come out of the mouths of Christians, but only such as is good for building up and speaking well of others. As a family of God, the Father desires for His children to love and care for one another. Gossip is one of the most destructive tools of Satan to destroy the lives of God’s people. The church of Jesus Christ was bought with His blood and as Head of the church, the Lord has no desire to hear the members slander others, murmur against the shepherds, preachers, teachers or fellow members as this leads to dissension, disharmony, and sin. When a word is spoken it must be in the name of Jesus meaning with the grace of the Son of God addressing the conversation. It must be remembered that what is said here below echoes through the halls of God’s righteousness and all words said in this life will be brought before the soul standing in judgment. Nothing is hidden from the ear of the Lord God. He hears every word that is said (and that includes Facebook).

In a world filled with religious error, the church of Christ should not be viewed by the world as body of people that gossip about one another and about others. Rattlers are dangerous creatures in the wild but tattlers are dangerous for the church demeaning the holy character of why Jesus gave His life for the Beloved. The example of Christian’s showing restraint in their speech is one of the most important ways to impress upon others the importance of being sanctified in Christ. A change takes place when the soul enters into a covenant with God to change their thinking and the manner of their speech to be filled with holiness and righteousness. Being idle and wandering about from house to house gossiping about things that should not be spoken damages the church of Christ and its mission. This can destroy the faith of some including those involved. Let the church be the glory of a people that season their speech with the grace of God. Do not let the speech of the carnal world betray the real character of those who speak for Christ in a dark and perverse generation. If you are a rattler in the church get rid of your tattler.

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. (1 Peter 3:1-2)

Saved Without A Word

Teaching a person the plan of salvation can be a challenging endeavor filled with questions and uncertainty on how to address the eternal consequences of the decision to be made. Those who have spent many hours studying scriptures with others know the difficulties that can be faced. What is often overlooked is the power of influence and the Holy Spirit directs the attention to one specific scenario that has one of the most rewarding outcomes for the family. Consider a woman who is a child of God married to a man who is not in covenant with Christ. This can be a difficult place for a woman to find herself either because she married a man who was not a Christian or she has obeyed the gospel and the husband has not. Regardless, the stark reality of the marriage is that she enjoys the hope of eternal life and her husband faces the reality of perishing. This can be a dangerous liaison in the marriage bond as spiritual goals struggle to mesh with carnal lives driven by the concerns of the world. The wife serves the Lord but the husband does not.  She has desires to live a spiritual life facing the hardship of a man she loves deeply who does not share that passion. There will always exist a wall of separation between the two because the view of life is fundamentally opposite. This can result in many hours of heartache, despair, worry, and sometimes anger. Oftentimes it creates in the woman a dispirited attitude of complacency with little concern her husband has no hope of eternal life believing that he is a good man and God will show mercy. The Bible does not teach salvation by goodness. He can be a great father, loving husband and respectable man in the community but the eternal reality is that he is doomed to perdition.

Peter addresses the challenge of a Christian woman married to a non-Christian husband offering a kernel of hope that may bring about joy in the home. The apostle will not negate the need of teaching the word of truth to the husband but Peter does suggest one of the strongest motivations a man will find to be saved is the conduct of their wives. Many husbands will not listen to the words of the preacher or elder or friend. Some will not obey the gospel of Christ through direct teaching. What will change the heart of the husband is the chase conduct of his wife. Her life of purity and reverence for God can change the heart of her husband. He sees how much she loves the Lord and is willing to serve the Lord. She is faithful in how she daily reads the scriptures to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Her words are graced with the words of the Bible. By her actions the wife shows the husband the character of godliness coupled with godly fear. Peter will explain more in the text one evidence of her submission to God is her manner of dress. What is precious in the heart of a godly wife is how she dresses. Her adornment is not as the world dresses but as modesty would dictate under the guidance of God. The husband sees in his wife the radiance of the hidden person of the heart, the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Impressed by her Christian life, the husband can be won to Christ without a word. One of the strongest examples of faith for the woman married to a non-believing husband is how she submits to her husband. This can only be found in the character of a godly wife who subjects her will to the word of God. Women of the world will not submit themselves to their husbands. Those who follow Christ know the value of submission first as a command and secondly as a means to show their husbands how much they love God. Unbelieving husbands can be saved without a word by the conduct of their wives.

It must be noted in contrast that many husbands will never obey the gospel because of the conduct of their wives. What makes this formula so powerful is that a man can save his soul without a word but rather by the conduct of his wife. Her life will help lead him to Christ and to eternal life. If a wife refuses to submit to her husband she may very well be putting his soul in jeopardy. When a woman does not live godly before her husband she is blocking out the only possible hope he may have to eternal life. If she never spends time in the word of God, she is telling her husband that he need not bother. When she continually forsakes the assembling of the saints she declares to her husband his allegiance to service of the most high God is of no use. The wife who dresses like the world and enjoys the pleasures of the world more than adorning herself with chaste conduct testifies to her husband that his eternal life is not important to her. It is hard to imagine how a woman can show love to her husband in every way in this world but show no love for his life in the world to come. The chaste conduct of the wife can save her husband without a word. It is also true the neglected example of godliness in a woman who does not live for Christ each day can possibly damn her husband to eternal fire. This is the reality Peter writes about that must be concerning on the hearts of women who are married to non-believers. Women who trust in God can lead their husbands to heaven if they will show that love and dedication in their own lives. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by your behavior, when they see the purity and reverence of your life.

Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.” (Amos 7:7-9)

God’s Plumb Line

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a plumb line is “a line (as of cord) that has at one end a weight (such as a plumb bob) and is used especially to determine verticality; a line directed to the center of gravity of the earth: a vertical line.” Used by plumbers, carpenters, surveyors and a host of construction workers, the plumb line is a basic tool to test whether an object is perpendicular to the square. It is believed to one of the oldest tools as used by the Egyptians in constructing the ancient pyramids. During the days of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Amos describes the justice and righteousness of the Lord against Israel as the measuring of the plumb line. God calls the prophet by name and asks him what he sees. In the vision, the prophet sees the Lord holding a plumb line. Sadly, the message of the plumb line is that God has brought final judgment against his people Israel and He would tear down the wall of His Beloved. The imagery is striking as the house of God was built in perfection but the idolatry and wickedness of the people had perverted the nation. Measuring spiritual Israel with the plumb line of God’s justice and mercy Israel was found wanting. Many prophets had come to the people seeking their repentance but there was no turning back. The longsuffering of the Lord allowed the nation to stand but the time had come when judgment would come to the house of the Lord. A plumb line is based on the law of gravity that is unmovable. There can be no deviation or change when the measure of God’s wrath is brought against ungodliness. A plumb line is complete truth, pure accuracy and shows a wall to either be straight or crooked. Using a spiritual allusion to the plumb line, the Lord tells Israel the day of longsuffering has come to an end. The high places of Israel shall be desolate or destroyed. These high places were where the people offered sacrifices to the gods of idolatry. When the kingdom first divided and Jeroboam became king of the northern ten tribes, he set up golden calves at Dan and Bethel and became sin because the people went to worship before the shrines on the high places. Two hundred years later the final judgment came upon Israel as the plumb line of God’s righteousness brought swift judgment upon the people.

The plumb line seen by Amos was not the first time the Lord had used His plumb line to judge the people. Mentioned only by Amos and Zechariah, the plumb line was crafted before time began. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God, the plumb line of truth measured their actions and found them in rebellion. In the days of Noah, the world had turned away from God requiring their measuring by the eternal plumb line of the Lord. It brought about swift judgment by the hand of the Lord as He destroyed all things that had the breath of life save eight souls. For those who perished the plumb line of God found them out of line with the will of the Lord. Noah and his family were measured by the same plumb line and found grace in the eyes of the Lord. When a wall is straight the plumb line will bear testimony of its character and if a wall is skewed the same plumb line will find the inconsistencies. Gravity is an absolute law that is unchanging. Grace is an absolute law that is unchanging in the character of God. He created the law of gravity in the beginning and He formed the plumb line of righteousness that tests the hearts of all men. Throughout the generations of men, the same plumb line has been used by the Lord to tests the hearts of men. The Bible is filled with stories of those who found judgment before the Lord because of their failure to respect the word of God. He measured them and found them wanting.

There is evidence of the divine plumb line when one reads the Bible. Contained within the sacred pages of holy writ the Lord measures the hearts of men to test them and determines if they will obey Him. Men have tried to change the word of God to fit their own wisdom but like a plumb line, the word of God always returns to the original creation formed by God. The evidence of many churches shows how men have tried to build their walls of truth according to their own designs. Compared to the word of God they do not line up. If a person wants to know if what they are practicing is the word of God, they only have but to use the plumb line of truth to see if what they believe is found in the Bible. Examining the many names of churches, how do these titles line up to the plumb line of God’s word? When men seek answers to what must be done to be saved and they use any other answer than what is found in the word of God they deny the plumb line of the Lord. The pattern of worship, work of the church and character of the body of Christ is determined by a single body of evidence: where does the plumb line of God lie? Finally, it must be clear that as in the days of Amos, the plumb line of the Lord was used to bring judgment against those who disobeyed. In the same vein, it determined who the righteous of the nation were. A day is yet to come but will come soon when all men will stand before the Creator of heaven and earth and the plumb line of righteousness and truth will measure the stature of their hearts whether they have done the will of God or rejected His word. It will be a day of complete justice, mercy, grace, and love as the measure of God’s character judge the hearts of men. Where you find your eternity will be determined by where the plumb line of God falls on your heart.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Luke 4:16-17a)

The Custom Of Jesus

During the days of Jesus, the Synagogue was the gathering place where the community worship brought families together for prayers and reading of the law and the Prophets. At least ten persons had to be present for regular worship. It was common for someone in the crowd to be selected to expound on a text or on occasions a visitor might ask to speak to the congregation. Young boys growing up in the synagogue would become familiar with the order of services and participate with the older men in the engagement of worship. Jesus grew up in the city of Nazareth and was recognized by the community as the son of Joseph and Mary along with his brothers and sisters. At the age of twelve, Jesus astonished the teachers at the Temple when for three days He had astonished them with His understanding and answers concerning the law. As a young man, Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. Those in the synagogue of Nazareth knew Jesus very well and would often see Him reading and reciting text during the worship. At the beginning of His Galilean ministry, the Lord returns to Nazareth where He had been brought up and gathered with the villagers for a day of worship at the synagogue. He was handed the book of Isaiah and when He unrolled the book began reading from the latter part of the prophetic book. What is striking about this event is this is something Jesus has done all His life. Luke writes that “as His custom was,” indicating the life of Jesus was a pattern that was easily recognized by keeping the custom of things He learned at an early age. After fleeing Bethlehem as a little boy with his parents and spending time in Egypt, Jesus grows up in Nazareth as the son of His carpenter father, Joseph. As a little boy, He would have been taken to the synagogue on a regular basis embedding into His heart a love for the word of God. It would not be uncharacteristic to see Jesus at the age of twelve reading in the synagogue and later as a young man being very involved in the services at the synagogue. Jesus had to learn the word of God. Because He was God did not allow Him to have divine recall or knowledge without examining the text. Spending time at the synagogue and through the teaching of His parents, the boy Jesus came to know about the word of God and the writings of the Prophets. When He was twelve He was asking questions of the Temple instructors. Knowledge came for Jesus as with all men and one of the important parts of that pattern of growth came from His custom of going to the synagogue.

Nearly six hundred years before Christ another man did something because it was his custom from his youth. Daniel was in a foreign land under the persecution of those who despised him. A decree had been established under Persian law that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except the king of Persia, shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel knew the law and the penalty of disobeying the decree which could not be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. The rest of the story is how Daniel is arrested and condemned to death in the lion’s den. An angel of the Lord delivered Daniel from harm and those who accused Daniel were thrown to the lions along with their children and wives. What is notable about the story is the training as a young man Daniel had received in his homeland of Israel. It was his custom from an early age to kneel down on his knees three times a day in prayer and thanksgiving. This resonated with him throughout his life as it did with Jesus. The custom of Daniel and Jesus found its way into their adulthood and guided their decisions. When Jesus came into the synagogue at Nazareth, it was not a surprise that He would read from the text. The multitudes gathered for worship that day were not shocked Jesus came to services. It was something they had witnessed for thirty years because that was His custom. When the man gave Jesus the scroll of Isaiah, the son of Joseph did not have to stumble about looking for the place on the huge scroll where the passage read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.” He knew exactly where it was because it was His custom to read that passage often. The life of Jesus was an example of doing what was His custom from early days: attending the worship of the Almighty God whether in the synagogue or the Temple.

Jesus died to build His church and His body is the depository of those who are saved. One of the clear patterns of the New Testament disciples who followed the will of God was to establish churches in every city so the gospel of Christ could be spread throughout the world. The church is not to be treated with a flippant matter of convenience with no regard to the impression made upon those who gather with the saints. Assembly on the first day of the week is not a choice but a command. Included in the work of the church are efforts by the local body of Christ to admonish, teach, instruct and exhort the souls of its members to greater life and service to God. Far too many children of God believe they can forsake the family gathering of God’s people and please the Father. The custom of many is to attend as little as possible to the work of the church. It is not their custom to be part of the local church and to engage in the work of the church. Jesus and Daniel set a pattern of life that will build strong characters in those who exercise that same devotion. When young people are not brought to the services of God their hearts are not open to His word. It is amazing the number of parents who grieve because their children do not obey the gospel of Christ and yet their custom growing up was to seldom be part of the local work of the church. Obedience to the Lord is not accomplished only by sitting in a pew or class chair but if this is not part of the custom of the child’s life, it is not likely their hearts will have any interest in eternity when they grow to adulthood. When a person struggles to find passages in the Bible it is because it is not their custom to find passages in the Bible at home. Jesus knew where the passage in Isaiah was found and He did not use chapters and verses because that would not happen for nearly fifteen hundred years. He knew where it was because His thumbprints had spent many hours there before. The lesson is clear from Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth. Customs learned early will carry over to adulthood and that can be good or bad. If the custom of the family is to neglect the Lord today then tomorrow has no hope. Children who learn early the customs of godly devotion will carry that devotion with them in life. What customs are you teaching your family and what customs are you following in your life? Know God today so you will know God tomorrow.

Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7)

Dying Of Thirst And Looking For God

The Hebrews witnessed the incredible power of God when the Lord brought the plagues on Egypt in a way few peoples would be able to recall. All the waters that were in the streams, rivers, ponds, and pools of water became blood when God first began to bring His wrath against the nation of Egypt. Then the land was covered with frogs which afterward died filling the land with a great stench. Lice infested man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt and then millions of flies filled the sky and ground as thick swarms of flies corrupted the land entering into every house. All the livestock of Egypt were stricken and died from a great pestilence including the cattle in the fields, horses, donkeys, camels, oxen and on the sheep. Soon fine dust settled on the land of the Nile causing boils to break out as sores on man and beast. The plagues of God continued when the Lord caused a very heavy hail to rain down such as not been in Egypt since its founding followed by an east wind bringing a storm of locusts that went up over all the land destroying everything in its path. Then three days came when the land was covered in thick darkness so terrible no one moved from their houses for three days. In the final and complete plague, the Lord went into the midst of Egypt and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt died, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the female servant who was behind the hand mill and all the firstborn of the animals. The cry was so great there was not a house in Egypt where there was not one dead. As the wrath of God came upon the Egyptians, the Hebrews were spared from the onslaught and destruction but they witnessed the power of God against their enemies. It would be highlighted by the crossing of the Red Sea when the Lord parted the waters allowing the people to cross on dry land. When the remaining elements of the Egyptian army pursued the people into the sea the waters closed around the chariots, horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh and no so much as one of them remained. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Three days later they came to Marah but the water was unfit to drink. Moses showed the power of God when he was instructed to throw a certain tree into the waters and the waters turned sweet. Later, when the people complained about needing food the Lord provided manna that would be provided for them for forty years.

It had only been a couple of months since the deliverance of Israel from Egypt when the people contended with Moses against the Lord. The plagues against Egypt were powerful testimonies to the wrath of God, His power to rule the world and bring the death of thousands of people in one night. There was a clear separation of what happened to Egypt and the preservation of the Hebrews. They did not suffer as their captors and the Lord made certain they could see His grace upon the children of Abraham. When the Red Sea was parted by a strong east wind and the Hebrews walked across on dry land it should have been an awe inspiring, life changing confirmation of the unlimited power of God. The destruction of the Egyptian army was a message that God controlled all nations and no people would be able to stand against the might of the nation of Israel. As a people, the multitudes brought out of Egypt had every sign given to them to show how God was with them and would care for them in every way. However, shortly (in less than a few months) the people strove and quarreled with Moses because they were dying of thirst. In an incredible expression of ingratitude, the people actually complained about being delivered from Egypt. Had they forgotten their cries to the Lord when they were being oppressed by the taskmasters of Egypt? How soon the minds of the people looked back on their bondage as a time of joy when in fact it was an affliction of sorrow, misery, and slavery. They began to question whether God was going to take care of them and whether He really was a great God or not. Did they not have ample evidence of how God had taken care of them, provided for them and protected them from the fury of the Egyptians and now they contend with Moses about being thirsty.

Dying of thirst and looking for God to deliver them, the Hebrews reveal the fickle character of the heart of men who see the power of the Creator and deny He exists. The Bible declares the mind of God for everyone to read and understand the grace and mercy of the Lord yet the majority of people in the world live outside the bounds of God’s love complaining about wars, suffering, and misery. Why do most people not see God? The truth lies in the adage that a person finds what they are looking for and what they see is what they will find. Israel had every opportunity to see firsthand the immense power of God and questioned whether He was among them or whether He would take care of them. Their carnal hearts were filled with the complaint because God was not serving them in the manner they demanded. This pattern would continue for the next forty years as they rejected the providence of God to conquer the promised land and to believe He would provide all their needs. The story of Israel is not unlike those today who view the Bible with disdain rejecting its teaching as archaic, out of step and mere myths and fables. Everything God has done to provide a written testimony of His character is refused because people are thirsty for their carnality and selfish desires. The invisible attributes of God are clearly seen and the revelation of His word is available for all men in every nation and tongue so that they are without excuse. It is sad to see millions groping about dying of thirst when the fountain of life is within their grasp. The Hebrews saw the power of God but could not see His grace. It is tragic the only hope man has is found in the book he rejects and his death will not come about from lack of water but lack of faith and obedience.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)

The Church Reveals The Mystery Of God

Mysteries intrigue the mind of man to discover, unveil and uncover things hidden for generations. Archaeologists sift through the sands of time to find civilizations long forgotten and ancient treasuries of great wealth. Scientist unlock the codes of the universe to see what has never been known before and delve the depths of the oceans to see what lies in the darkness of the deep. Medical science has broken the barriers of human DNA revealing the secrets of diseases, health and taking surgery to places never imagined. The world is filled with mysteries yet uncharted and undiscovered by man driving the imagination of the will to keep discovering and opening up new worlds of discovering. For many years the greatest mystery man would ever know was hidden from the world through the will of God. Time marched through the centuries with nations rising and falling and civilizations leaving their imprints on the pages of history. There were subtle hints of things that would come but no certainty that man can place his wisdom around and understand. During the days of the Roman Empire in an obscure village south of Jerusalem a baby was born that would change history forever. Joseph and Mary had come to Bethlehem to register for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus. They were unable to find room at an inn and Mary had to give birth to her son in a place where animals were kept. The birth of Jesus would begin the opening of a mystery hidden since the beginning of time. Thirty years later Jesus would begin His short ministry to reveal to the world the good news of salvation long hidden from the wisdom of men. After the death of Jesus, twelve men would gather in Jerusalem and the church of Christ began with three thousand devout Jews obeying the will of the Father. From that first day the church grew in spirit and number as the disciples were added daily to the church by the grace of God. Men like Peter and Paul would go throughout the region around Jerusalem and travel as far as Rome to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ establishing churches in every place. What the early disciples were doing was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery kept hidden since the world began. Through the writings of the Old Testament, the disciples made known to the whole world the commandments of the everlasting God for obedience to the faith.

As Paul was nearing the end of this third missionary journey he found himself in the city of Corinth. He was on the way to Jerusalem to deliver an offering for the saints but his plan was to travel to Rome and as far as Spain if the Lord willed. Writing to the Christians in Rome, Paul declared the gospel message of Christ for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. The apostle unveils the mystery of God through the preaching of Christ and the design of the early church to complete the work of showing to all men the will of the Father. While the letter to Rome was a powerful treatise on the gospel of Christ, his conclusion bears testimony to the work of the church. In a world that is filled with many different kinds of churches, there is no more pressing time to reemphasize the original design of the church than now. For many, the church represents a social entity to care for their needs whether in food, clothing, and entertainment. Satan has succeeded in allowing the church to remain in form before the mind of men but he has redesigned the church to become a place where the carnal designs of man’s pleasure are the focus instead of the original design. The apostle Paul clearly shows the work of the church is a continuing mission of revealing the mystery kept secret since the world began. Through the death of Jesus and the establishment of the church, God’s eternal mystery was revealed but Satan has accomplished a great deal of work to cloud the purpose of the church diverting the work of the church to the carnal instead of eternal. The church was given to man so the gospel could be preached and that gospel is Christ crucified. Preaching must be focused on the scriptures that show the necessity of keeping the commandments of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith. There is little gospel preached in the churches today. Hearts of men are tired of the will of God desiring more the will of their own hearts to serve the church as they see fit. The mystery remains veiled in the hearts of men.

No greater message of hope can be found than the saving grace of God given through the offering of His Son, Jesus Christ. The avenue of this salvation is the church of Christ establishing the disciples in the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Only in the gospel of Christ will the righteousness of God be revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just will live by faith. The revealed mystery of God also shows the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Through the evidence of the world the eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen but through the teaching of the gospel of Christ, the eternal mystery is unveiled. Obedience to the faith is found in preaching that honors the word of God as supreme. There can be no room for the wisdom of man. The church reveals the mystery of God. When that mystery is hidden the church stops being the church of Christ.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:7-10)

All You Need Is Love

One of the first emotions experienced by a child is the love of a parent. This brings about an approval desired throughout life to be accepted by others and to feel a bond of companionship leading to familial relationships with one another. Friendship comes from the germ of love shared by two people. Marriage is predicated on some level of love that binds two hearts together. A deeper kind of emotional bonding is learned when a person accepts the idea of God giving His only begotten Son to die for them. Accepting the Biblical story of God’s love is paramount to having a spiritual relationship with the Creator and to share that brotherhood with men. Religion is produced from the convictions of the heart that seek a higher power to guide their lives and mold their character towards a common goal. As in human relationships, love is the basis for the manifestation of how a person interacts with his Maker. For many people, love is the key element that seems to shroud the mystery of salvation with a garment of grace with an acceptance of all peoples who will love God and love one another. A familiar theme in this type of communal religion is the expression, “All you need is love.” Love based upon full acceptance of others removes judgments, characterization, and condemn the actions or lifestyles of others. Generalizing love as the only thing needed in a relationship suggests there can be no disagreements or contrary doctrines. On the surface this seems like the answer to war, poverty, hatred, prejudice, and disharmony in the world. What is not seen is the impossibility of humanistic values guiding the heart to have harmony with others simply based on love. What one person defines as love may not be what another deems viable as love. If the only thing a person needs is love, what happens with the conference ends and life goes back to normal? How can the world function in a Woodstock environment of free love and acceptance without consequences? The answer is that love is not the only thing needed for the completeness of man.

God loved the world so much He gave His only begotten Son. Clearly, love was not all God needed for man because He gave the most incredible gift man will come to know when the Son of God died on the cross. Defining love by the sacrifice of Jesus is showing what love means. Trying to define the word love cannot be done with words alone. The true sense of love is an expression of the heart towards the object of that love. Suggesting the only thing needed in religion is love decries the very message of the Bible. Proponents of love alone salvation fail to appreciate what the Lord said about the character of love. Jesus reminded His disciples that if they loved Him they would keep His commandments. With the shadow of the cross hours away, Jesus tells His followers that commandment keepers are those who love Him and when those who profess His name keep His commandments, He will love them and abide in them. Love is based upon doing the will of the Father. Many people believe that as long as they say they love God that He is pleased with them. Love is not found in saying one loves or believes in God but rather there must be evidence of that love. The apostle John describes a child of God as one who loves God and keeps His commandments. There can be no separation between the two. The love of God is seen when men keep His commandments and John reminds the saints the commandments of God are not burdensome. Love is found in walking according to the commands of God. Without doing the will of the Father there can be no hope of salvation. Jesus did not die to make His follower’s commandment keepers but to show by His love that obedience must be learned by the expression of love. The example of Jesus shows that love was not enough. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus loved His Father more than any man could understand and the Lord expressed that love to His Father. However, His love was tempered by the knowledge that He must do what His Father desired Him to do. Jesus begged His Father if there was another way, but the Son of God had to obey the command of the Father and in so doing expressed His love for the Father.

The Bible is a testimony of the love of God found from the beginning of Genesis to the final pages of the Revelation. Jesus Christ is the center of that message in His love for humankind and the expression of that love on the cross. When a man loves God he is born of God and knows God. Without that love man cannot see the Father. No greater meaning of love can be found than God sending His Son to die for the miserable creature of man who was undeserving, unworthy and unreceptive to the grace of his Creator. And God still sent His Son because of His love. It is certain that God is love and for man love is not all he needs to find salvation. The Lord has done His part in bestowing grace and mercy to all sinners. All men must love God and accept the invitation of the eternal to be saved. Love bends the heart of humankind to learn about the Father and to seek His will in their life. Love without keeping the commandments of God is not love but futility. Salvation cannot come from love alone. It can only come from doing the will of the Father from a heart of love. Saying one loves God will not save a man because Jesus said salvation comes from doing the will of the Father. If you love God – obey Him.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)

A Famine Of God’s Word

One of the greatest killers of mankind is the severe shortage of food resulting in widespread hunger or famine. Thirty million people died in China when famine struck in the late 50’s and early ’60s. Millions die from malnutrition and starvation each year, especially in the sub-Saharan African countries. From the beginning of time there have been various causes of famine brought on by natural disasters, infestations of insects, wars and failed policies of governments. Untold millions have died a slow and horrible death of famishment. The Bible reveals famines during the days of Abraham, and Isaac, and the great famine in the world during the days of Joseph when he rescued Egypt from destruction. During the period of the Judges and reign of David, there were famines. There was a severe famine in Samaria during the days of Ahab and Jezebel when Elijah and Elisha prophesied. The people of God were punished with the sword, judgment, pestilence, and famine seeking to bring them back to the Lord. God used the scarcity of food to impress upon His own people a day would come when there would not be a famine of food but an absence of the divine word. Knowing a famine was coming would strike terror and cause the heart to faint at the inability to find food. People would become frantic seeking ways to endure the blight of famine. During the days of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, the prophet Amos brought the reality of God’s judgment upon the people who had become secure in their prosperity of the golden age of the northern kingdom. There was a great social and economic revival in the land with the people enjoying a prosperous time of ease and wealth. Amos would talk about those who lay on beds of ivory stretching themselves on couches and eating lambs from the flocks and calves from the stalls. There was music that filled the land and wine flowing freely in the bowls not knowing a famine was coming. This famine was not in the absence of food but the famine of the word of God. No greater famine has plagued man than when the word of God is scarce. Like the famine of food, spiritual famine will bring certain death.

Israel had divided as nation after the death of Solomon. The northern ten tribes rebelled against the one true God setting up golden calves in Dan and Beer-Sheba. No king that ruled over the northern tribes was righteous and many of the kings would become more wicked than the nations around them. Men like Amos prophesied against the immorality, idolatry, and wickedness of the people but the messages of God’s wrath fell upon deaf ears. They oppressed the poor, neglected the needy and in their prosperity forgot God. As a nation, they were destroyed for lack of knowledge in forgetting the law of God. The Lord sent pestilence, drought and the plague like that of Egypt to show His wonder to the people trying to cause them to repent but to no avail. Finally, the day of the Lord would come when the famine of the word of God would come upon the people. There would come a time when God withholds His message of grace to the people. No prophet will arise to declare the word of the Lord. The day will come when the hope of God’s presence will fade away. As the people spiraled deeper into ungodliness, the Lord removed His presence and His spokesmen. The people of God would be cast into captivity never to return. None of the gods they served would deliver them and like their gods of wood and stone, the people would perish. When God leaves a land removing His word, death follows like a famine. It is complete, overshadowing and final.

What is tragic about the words of Amos is that he is speaking about the people of God who were given the law to guide them, train them and protect them. There was no excuse for them to be destitute of the way of the Lord. Everything they needed was provided by the hand of the Lord including the written word but they did not want to hear. Apostasy and rebellion come from ignorance dwelling in the minds of people and this was very serious for the nation of Israel. Lack of knowledge is a tool of the devil to destroy the hearts of God’s people. Because the Hebrews rejected the Lord He would stop sending His messengers with the word. This same ploy is found today in the body of Christ where Christian’s do not have any knowledge of the word of God. Again, like Israel of old, the church is destroyed for lack of knowledge. There was a time members of the church were well-versed in the Bible but those days are far removed from where it should be. Remarkably, the Bible is available in more formats and ease of use than any time in the last two thousand years but more and more of God’s people are ignorant of basic truths. Studying the word of God is no longer done. The joy of assembling with saints to discuss the righteousness character of godly living is ignored. Trying to fill the pews on Sunday night and Wednesday night is a greater challenge as people have no desire to assemble with the people of God. As a result, ignorance in filtering in among the people of God and the church is dying in many places. The hunger and thirst for the truth have diminished. What is feared is the word of the Lord will come to pass again when God declares a famine of His word in the United States of America. It is thought the church will always be on the corner of Main street and Third in middle America but that is a false hope because so many of God’s people are ignorant of the Bible. If God brings a famine of His word upon His people it will be a warning of how far removed the hearts of the people have become. Avoiding a famine is to keep the fields white with harvest in the souls of those who hunger for the word of God.