The Heaton File

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad. (Psalm 119:89-96)

The Word Of God And The Works Of God

There is nothing more evident in the natural world than the invisible attributes of God’s design and purpose. The world is filled with testimony of the Creator’s hand declaring its Maker as powerful, everlasting and awesome in the beauty from horizon to horizon. Every part of the universe cries forth the wisdom of the One who formed and molded each particle to reflect His glory. Man is without excuse as he gazes into the celestial heavens above or the mountains and valleys filling the earth and the immense blue oceans circling the globe that there is a God and Lord of all things. He can know there is a higher being that brought forth all these wonders but He cannot know the power of God’s spirit until he opens up the law of the Lord. The works of God cannot testify without the word of God. Each comes from the breath of God as the Lord formed the world by the power of His word and then revealed His mind unto man through the written word as the breath of the Holy Spirit. Truth is found in the nature of God’s creation and explained fully in the manifestation of the commandments of the Lord. One cannot exist without the other. Creation is explained by the word and the word declares the creation. The psalmist interweaves the glory of creation and the testimonies of God as codependent upon one another and showing the power of God individually.

The word of God is declared as final as it is settled in heaven. Man did not write the word of God or determine the testimonies of the Lord. It came from the breath of God and man cannot change the unchangeable word of God. Throughout all generations the message of the Lord has remained the same. Adam and Eve gazed upon the same sun, moon and stars that all men see today and the word of God is the same word given in the Garden of Eden as revealed to man today. Faith, love, obedience, trust and belief were the tenets of God’s will for Adam and Eve and these remain today as the foundational principles of the law of God. The word of God endures to all generations. What is amazing about the Bible is how it applies to those who lived in 1492 and those who live in our modern, technological and scientific world of today. It satisfied the needs of the folks who lived in the deep forest of Germany in 1123 as it does for the CEO of a large corporation on Main Street USA. The Bible is relevant to the people of Masaya, Nicaragua and the tribal leader in Afghanistan or the government worker in St. Petersburg, Russia. Like nature itself the Bible is something that is purposeful to all people in all times for all their needs. The sun shines on everyone regardless of nationality, gender or age and the Bible can light the life of all those in every nation regardless of gender, age or culture. God’s word abides today just like the earth continues to spin in its revolution around the sun.

Abiding in the truth of the law of God will bring the fulfillment of life created by the Lord. If the word of God is not in the heart of man there will be affliction. Delighting in His message of grace will save man. Life comes from the word of God because it is the breath of the Creator to His creation. Forgetting the heavenly precepts will be the worst tragedy man will bring upon himself. The psalmist found refuge in the word of God to save him from his enemies. Seeking the precepts of the Lord brings joy and safety. The wicked may seek to bring harm but resting upon the commandments of God brings hope. There is nothing that can change the word of the Lord for it is settled in heaven and affirmed by the power of God throughout every generation. Perfection can only be found in the word of God. Creation testifies to this perfection. The word declares it.

Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” (John 18:3-9)

They Came Against Jesus With Weapons

The Garden of Gethsemane was normally a place of quiet repose and reflection often used by the Lord to meet with His disciples. On this night, under a bright full moon, hundreds of men moved against twelve men who huddled in the olive groves of the mount outside Jerusalem. Jesus had drawn Himself away from His disciple to pray to His Father for the coming hour. Peter, James and John struggled to remain awake as their Lord spent time in prayer. Suddenly a large band of men consisting of Roman Soldiers, guards from the Temple, Jewish leaders and curious mobs of men appeared before Jesus. They held torches and lanterns on a bright night to emphasize their determined work of finding the man from Nazareth. Their hearts will filled with hatred to find the man called Jesus and arrest Him for blasphemy. Nothing was more intent in their evil minds than to find a way to kill this false teacher and accuser of Israel. The Roman Soldiers had their weapons of war lashed to their sides with the authority of the Roman Empire. Jewish leaders brought their cohorts of soldiers to make certain their plan to kill Jesus was carried out. Curious onlookers with a mob mentality joined the fray with clubs and torches. The multitude surged forward with angry words and malicious thoughts to find this man who claimed to be God. At the head of the mob was a familiar face to Jesus. He was one of His trusted apostles whom He loved. Judas the son of Simon Iscariot had given over the location of his Lord to the Jewish leaders for the price of a slave leading them to where he often would commune with the Lord. As the crowd approached Jesus He inquired whom they were seeking. “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered Him. When the Lord told the rabble horde that He was the one they were looking for a remarkable thing happened. Instead of rushing Him they fell backwards. Fear clenched their hearts. The fierce mob of people brought weapons to fight if necessary but the Lord in calm tones of authority awaited their determined course. Then the soldiers bound Jesus in chains and led Him away.

What is amazing about the arrest of Jesus in the garden is the mob coming at Him with weapons and clubs. Here was the man who healed every known disease of man and they think weapons will be of impact against Him. They bring the Roman soldiers with the might of the Roman Empire against a man who raised a number of people from the dead. As the mob grew in number people began picking up clubs and sticks to fight against a man who never harmed another soul. The Jewish leaders rallied the crowd to rage to arrest this Jesus for the blasphemy they accused Him of saying He was the Son of God. Like any mob that gathers against someone or something most probably had little idea what was going on. Through the agitation of the Jewish leaders seeking to have Jesus killed large groups of people converged on the garden of Gethsemane to join in the work of arresting one man. There was no need for the mob, the clubs, the lanterns and torches. The Roman authorities could have seen a small detachment of troops to arrest one man but his was not an ordinary man. In an irony of parallels the arrest of Jesus was the commentary on the rejection of man to the saving grace of God.

Jesus will later tell Pilate if it were the Father’s will twelve legions of angels would rescue the Son of God from the clutches of human authority. All the weapons and clubs in the world could not and would not deter the will of God. Peter tried to show his courage by lunging at the servant of the high priest and did manage to cut off his ear. It seems incredulous no one noticed the miracle Jesus performed when He restored the man’s ear whole again. How could any weapon fight against such power? In the past three years what power could match the authority of Jesus of Nazareth to heal all manner of diseases, cast out demons, walk on water and calm the storm and raise the dead? If Jesus had that kind of power what value would a club or sword serve to arrest Him? When the Roman soldiers approached Jesus and bound Him in chains, how was that possible? This same man had cast out the demons from a man that could tear chains apart and yet He allowed these men to bind Him and lead Him away. Jesus did not fight against the crowd that came to him with weapons and clubs because He was giving His life for all men – including those standing before Him. He would die to show all government that He was King. His death would turn the hearts of many Jews to the Christ. Refusing to fight against the weapons of men illustrated the grace offered by God through His Son that salvation is found in servitude. Jesus died for all men giving His life to redeem man from the fear of death and sting of sin. The moment of decision in the garden of Gethsemane was the beginning of the end of Satan’s rule over man. No weapon could stand against God. The gospel is the message of God unto salvation. That is the power of Jesus Christ against the weapons of man.

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. (Luke 4:27)

Godly Parents In An Ungodly World

The story of Naaman the leper is one of the great Biblical examples of the power of God to heal every disease, the grace of God to have mercy on a Gentile and the influence of parents on a little maiden girl who changed the life of the Syrian commander. 2 Kings 5 is where the story is found in the Old Testament but one reference is found in the New Testament when Jesus defends Himself against the prejudices of His own people of Nazareth. He had come into the city and as was His custom read scripture on the Sabbath day before the people. His reception was anything but cordial because the people rejected Him for suggesting He was the Messiah. Using the story of Naaman as a backdrop for His rebuke of the people’s rejection of Him, Jesus reminded them of the many lepers that were in Israel during the days of Naaman but the Syrian was the only one that was cleansed of his leprosy. This was especially a vital point considering Elisha the prophet lived in Israel at the time to which Naaman had received the instructions to be cleansed of his leprosy. Those familiar with the story know that if it were not for one certain maiden girl taken captive in a raid by the army of Naaman, no one would have been healed of leprosy. Through the love of a little girl the story of Naaman and his cleansing of a dreaded disease is inscribed in holy writ.

Jeff Himmel recently presented a lesson on the little maiden and made a startling observation. The historical marker of 2 Kings 5 is during the time of the divided kingdom where all of the kings of the northern tribes were evil. Judah had a few good kings but Israel was plagued by kings like Ahab that did more evil to seduce Israel to sin than any other king. When the story of Naaman unfolds Ahab had not been dead very long. Jehoram the son of Ahab was king of Israel and he did evil in the sight of the Lord persisting in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. The legacy of kings for many years was nothing but wicked idolatry and harlotry. In the midst of this troubled world a father and mother welcomed the birth of a little girl. What became of the parents is unknown and how the maiden girl was taken captive is also unknown. A band of Syrian raiders entered Israel and took the girl from her home. The scriptures do not reveal what happened to the girl’s family and whether she would ever see them again. It must have been a horrific and terrible ordeal to survive the raid and then be taken to a foreign land of uncircumcised people to become a slave. The little girl would have had more reasons to hate the Syrians as she became a slave in the house of the commander of the Syrian army. Instead she had pity and love for the leper and implored her mistress to tell Naaman of the prophet in Israel that could heal his leprosy.

Jesus said there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Naaman and yet he was the only one that was healed. One family can change the world and the family of the little maiden was a family living in the midst of an evil world yet maintaining their deeply devoted faith in God and His power. They taught their daughter to trust in the power of God and to believe in the impossible. Leprosy could not be healed without the intervention of God. The little maiden believed in the impossible and loved her enemy because her parents had taught her to love God with all her heart, soul and mind. Growing up in a world reeling from the leadership of Ahab and Jezebel and wickedness pervading the country to its very core must have been an incredible challenge of parenting. Through it all a young girl saved the life and possibly the soul of a heathen Gentile who suffered from an impossible disease. What excuses can parents offer today to not teach their children to have a deep love for God and belief in His power? Godly parents can teach their children to live a godly life in an ungodly world. The parents of the little maiden proved that and she proved her faith by her works. Parenting is tough but when things get difficult godly parents get tougher. No excuses. Thank you Jeff for pointing out the power of godly parents in an ungodly world.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Why Is Modesty So Hard To Understand?

We live in a world that worships the body. It is not a new attraction as body worship has always driven man to focus on the outward appearance to allure, attract, highlight and express deep physical satisfaction with the carnal nature of fleshly desire. The world of Noah was destroyed in part because of the insatiable thirst for licentiousness and the reckless pursuit of sowing seeds of unbridled lusts with the body. What God created as a beautiful relationship in marriage has been turned by Satan into a corrupt and vile addiction to sexual immorality, immodesty and evil thoughts. The first tragedy is the destruction it brings to the world as the moral compass of society is no longer pointing to true north but to the desires and needs of the flesh. Sexual immorality is so common there is hardly a blushing face that turns away. Pornography is accepted as part of the cultural norm, homosexuality is regulated by the whims of the minority, multiple partners in marriage is no longer shocking and the dress code has become so short, so tight and so revealing the imagination is no longer used to undress a woman because she is nearly undressed herself. The second tragedy is that while the world is rotting in the cesspool of its own moral depravity the people of God are found becoming like the nations around them.

The Bible is a simple book to read and understand. It would seem incredulous that anyone would think the God who created the world in all its splendor and intricate details of divine purpose could not write a book that everyone could read and understand. Viewing the word of God is often like trying to understand the atomic levels of quantum physics from a two-year old. Nothing is further from the truth. The Holy Spirit crafted a message that anyone can read and understand the will of God. What lies at the core of the problem is the refusal of the heart to listen to the word of God and obey its precepts, judgments and commandments. Great effort will be taken to defend what a person must do to be saved but when it comes to defining modesty (or social drinking for that matter) there seems to be a clouded understanding of what the Lord demands of His people. Christians will argue long and hard or refuse to discuss the matter of modesty. They want to be like the world around them. God is clear in His message. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it matters what we do with it and how we dress it. A temple is a sanctified place that honors the one intended to receive worship. When a woman becomes a Christian she has dedicated her body to glorify God and Him alone. She no longer has a right to dress her body in any fashion she chooses. The body becomes sanctified to God. It is no longer under the purview of the individual to do with the body whatever they choose to do. The body BELONGS TO GOD! Paul writes about the impact of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church illustrating the sanctity of the body as a holy temple of the Holy Spirit belonging to God. This same application is made to how a woman dresses her body. Through the blood Jesus Christ the body is bought with a price to glorify God. It belongs to God and how we dress it matters to God.

Modesty is not a cultural view or opinion of a preacher. It is something that comes from the word of God. The Lord wants the body to be used for His glory so that when the world sees the body of the Christian they see holiness, purity, sanctity and a virtue that is guarded with the blood of Jesus Christ. When a woman wears a dress that is so short the thigh is exposed she is bringing attention to her body for others to look at. Sun dresses are popular with little small straps that reveal the top of the body falling short of revealing too much but again drawing attention from others to look at the body. It seems the fashion of the world wants to expose as much as the body as possible without somehow entering into a world of illegal dress. There are many undergarments that have more cloth to them than what is considered fashionable. Clothing is worn that bears the shoulders exposing everything just north of the breasts and this is worn to worship the Lord God. Young ladies are taught to wear short dresses, short-shorts that have little material left before they become undergarments. The problem is not that women of the world are wearing this type of clothing but women who profess godliness in the form of what the world wears. Fashion is more important than holiness. Drawing the attention of others to the body is more desired than showing the example of Christ in their apparel. Is the Bible that difficult to understand that women have trouble deciding what is modest and what is not? The mirror that is used to determine modesty is the shiny reflection on the back of the door instead of the word of God. Godly women will dress to please God and Him alone. That is not hard to understand.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

A Biblical App For Modern Man

In a world of digital technology that seeks to simplify life, easy productive plans to accomplish a work are welcomed. There is an application (or app) for everything it seems in life now. While at the dentist recently I noted there is an app for brushing teeth that reminds a person when, how and duration of brushing. There are apps to tell a person when to slow down and relax and when to go to bed. It seems our lives are driven by apps that help us organize our lives suggesting we are incapable of doing these things ourselves (which is a sad commentary on how we have allowed machines to run our lives). The Bible is filled with a lot of apps that come in different forms and will give us greater peace than any man-made machine. Paul’s letter to Thessalonica is filled with little apps that when put to use will help the faith of a Christian live a more productive and constructive life. The latter part of his letter is a series of short exhortations that are important for the welfare of the spirit of the child of God. His exhortations in our text are four simple applications.

App One: Warn those who are unruly. There have always been those who cannot remain in step with the will of God. They are disorderly in their conduct and idle. One of the problems in the church at Thessalonica was the brethren who were lazy, slothful and unwilling to work. It may have been the saints thought the Lord was to return at any time and gave up on industry becoming listless in their lives. Whatever they case they were not exemplifying the quality of character the Lord demanded from his servants. When a man becomes lazy in body he begins to get busy in spirit leading to gossip and being a busybody. Paul exhorted the brethren to warn those who were out of step and faced the severe action of the church if they did not repent. Brethren should have regard for one another having a concern for the welfare of themselves and the lives of those who would step out of line from truth. There is an obligation to have concern for one another and to receive this correction in the spirit given by the Holy Spirit.

App Two: Comfort the faint-hearted. It can be difficult being a Christian and many grow weary in serving the Lord. Likened to the arena of battle, soldiers can become tired of fighting or grow faith from the exhaustion of the constant barrage from the enemy. The people of God are to encourage, exhort and lift up the souls of those who are weak in their faith admonishing them to carry on and live with greater purpose. If a line of soldiers were marching and someone began to fall behind, the camaraderie of the group would band together to help the faint hearted remain in step to finish the march. In life there is a need to comfort those who struggle in their faith. Everyone needs a hand of encouragement as all of God’s people experience challenges in the Christian walk. Cheer up the ones who become discouraged. Seeking to help those who struggle helps the church grow more fully to the image of Christ.

App Three: Uphold the weak. Everyone comes to the knowledge of the will of God at different times with different abilities. Not everyone is as strong as the other or understands the principles of spiritual matters in the same light. The value of upholding the weak is to understand the growth pattern of the child of God seeking to help others find their faith and grow thereby. There is a present need to be indulgent with those who have not learned as much and struggle in their understanding of God’s word. Patience is a virtue that sees a person for what they are exhorting them to be someone they can become with the message of Christ. This will take time. Upholding the weak is allowing that time to manifest itself in the character of the growing child of God. “While not countenancing their sins, we may bear or prop them up by judiciously commending in them that which is good, by not too severely condemning them in the practice of things indifferent, and by striving to rectify their errors with all gentleness and fidelity” (Preacher’s Homiletical).

App Four: Be patient with all. One of the greatest needs in the church today and vital to the continued strength of the local congregation is learning how to be patient with everyone. The three apps listed above will require a lot of patience and love. Longsuffering is a spirit of looking after the needs of others with a compassionate and kind heart that prays for the continued growth of the individual. Consider how longsuffering God is with all His children and how much He desires for His children to be longsuffering with one another. As the family of God there should be recognition that everyone requires the grace of God. Without the kind hand of God’s patience none would be saved. Looking to the challenges of fellow saints in a spirit of patience will blend the hearts of the people of God helping one another warn the unruly, comfort the fainthearted and uphold the weak. If the Lord can exercise eternal patience with my life then I should learn how to be patient with one another.

Four applications that will help my life grow stronger and help the work of the church abound in spirit, love and being examples of the truth in Jesus Christ.

My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, “When will You comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, yet I do not forget Your statutes. How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful; they persecute me wrongfully; help me! They almost made an end of me on earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts. Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. (Psalm 119:81-88)

Help Me

The psalmist is in a lot of trouble. He is being bombarded by affliction from his foes that seek to destroy him. It almost overwhelms him as he tries to combat those who seek to destroy him. What they are doing against him is wrong and their attacks are so constant he almost gives up succumbing to their ploys. He is in desperate straits. His soul is fainting from the persecution. Long nights have been spent searching for answers and reasons why he is being hounded by his enemies. These trials are almost too much for him to bear and he struggles to maintain his faith. Like a wineskin hung in a smoke filled room the spirit of the man is shriveled and almost dried up. He is at a state of exhaustion in his body, mind and spirit by the affliction and mental distress. As a man of God he knows where to turn and his salvation is found where he knows he will receive comfort, peace and truth. The word of God is the island of refuge that helps the psalmist endure the slights and injuries of those who stand against him. He knows that in the word of the Lord there will be comfort and peace because he learns he is not alone and that his Father cares for him. Hoping in the word of God comes from learning the lessons of all men as they struggle with the afflictions of life. The Lord has promised He will care for the weary and fainthearted and numerous stories abound in the word to show His care for His people. Noah was not forgotten nor Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord cared for Moses and the people as they left Egypt and walked to the land of promise. Reading the word of God the psalmist learns that he will not be forsaken by his heavenly Father.

Obeying the statues of the Lord is not just about keeping commandments. It is a lesson in trust that comes from seeing the power of the word alive in the hearts of the people of God. Many saints of the Lord have lived through perilous times and by God’s grace and mercy endured to receive a blessing. The psalmist would have been familiar with the story of Job who lost so much but gained so much more by trusting in the Lord. There can be little doubt reading the riveting story of Job that faith would not be restored in the heart of the one being persecuted seeing the necessity of keeping the will of the Lord in the face of trial. Those who bring affliction against him are not keepers of the law because their actions go against the law of the Lord. These are his own people that are persecuting him. Why should his own brethren bring such harm against him? Sometimes the hardest criticisms leveled against others are brought by the people of God against their own brethren. The psalmist declares his trust in the commandments of God as faithful and the actions of the misguided as false. He measures his relationship with God more important than what men do to him and trusts in the will of the Lord to guide him. The only hope he seeks is what is found in the word of God.

There is a mournful cry in the midst of this conflict: Help me. Facing the affliction from others is never pleasant and can destroy the soul with ease. Faith can be challenged to a point of failing and every child of God must be warned of how easy some persecutions can challenge the spirit in a very severe manner. Men fail sometimes in their faith. Abraham lied about Sarah; David committed adultery and murder; Peter denied the Lord as did Judas. Saints of God struggle with faith and the psalmist admits he nearly lost his footing as they almost made an end of him. What kept his life in check was the word of God. He has declared throughout this lengthy psalm a reliance on the word of God and that without the knowledge of divine wisdom he would have been destroyed long ago. What is sad is when the child of God faces adversity and succumbs to the turmoil by forsaking the word of God. Truth comes from the word and through the study of the word man finds the answers to face the foes that set themselves against him. Only from the word can truth be found. When troubles come do not forsake the precepts of God but embrace them. Dive deeply into His word and learn about the lovingkindness of God and His mercy, grace, love and compassion. The soul will be refreshed from the time spent in the word. Revival comes from drinking deeply from the well of God’s commandments, laws, statutes, precepts and testimonies to know how to face adversity. The Bible is the voice of God. Listen to His word.

He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. (Isaiah 53:2b)

Jesus The Common Man

The Son of God is the express image of the glory of the Father. There are no words in the language of men that can fully comprehend what God looks like and the glory of His presence. To consider that Jesus dwelt with the Father and became flesh is beyond the pale of man’s imagination to take in. How great was the love of Christ to leave what He knew in the presence of the Almighty and take on human flesh to suffer the pains and afflictions of mortal man. How can man ascribe meaning to what Jesus gave up and what He became? It would seem natural to assume someone as great, powerful and majestic as God would come in the flesh and radiate a glory that all men would recognize as divine and holy but Jesus came in a manner void of an outward appeal to the eyes of man. Isaiah writes about the coming Messiah and the suffering servant that would give His life for all men. Included in the message of hope is the reality of what Jesus would look like when He came in the flesh. Isaiah does not include any physical characteristics such as height or size or facial notations that would give a hint to the appearance of Jesus but rather the reality that the Savior would not exhibit anything unusual in a crowd of men. He would come to the world as a common man that if He stood in a crowd would not be taken notice of. The totems of men describing the physical traits of Jesus have always depicted Him with a certain manner that made Him stand out among others. The New Testament never hints to any physical attributes of Jesus and many who knew Him and wrote about Him never disclosed a single detail. Isaiah simply describes the visage of Jesus as being a common man and undistinguished among men. The Son of God would leave the glory of the Father and become as the common man of flesh in the world of men.

There is a purpose of why the Holy Spirit never offered details about the physicality of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in the natural manner of men (His conception was the miracle) and grew from an infant to adulthood with the same pains, needs and wants as any other child. He had to learn to walk, practice his alphabet and be taught the word of God. His hair grew as did His limbs and stature. He learned to feed Himself and to prepare food to eat. Working along Joseph Jesus would learn the workings of a hammer and chisel. He slept, laughed, sneezed and ran with the other children in play. His brothers and sisters gathered around the table to eat with Jesus talking of the day’s activities and work to be done on the morrow. The childhood of the son of Mary was just as common as any other child in Nazareth. It is likely He spent time with his cousin John when the families would get together or make their journey to Jerusalem. They were only six months apart in age and had much in common. As a young man of 21 Jesus did not strike anyone with any significance of being different. He would be thirty years old before anyone took notice and many would not believe His miracle because they could only see the man who was a carpenter’s son and nothing else. He was a common man. Nothing significant. Nothing noteworthy. In a multitude of people Jesus did not glow or have a presence that would cause anyone to take notice. The Son of God looked like every other person and never stood out of the crowd.

What does Jesus look like? He is the image of the Father and His image is that of glory. The physical appearance of Jesus was of no significance for a number of reasons. Man has already recreated Jesus in the image of prideful man including attributes that have no bearing on the story of the Christ. He was a Jew who lived in a harsh climate under a strenuous lifestyle like all other men. Men would worship the image of Jesus if it was preserved but Jesus wanted all men to see His Father and listen to His teaching. He was unconcerned about His physical appearance to impress men. The teachings and miracles of the man from Nazareth showed the image of God. It is hard to imagine how glorious Jesus would have been with His Father and how He became so common when He walked among men. His work was not to be adored by men because of His appearance but rather for men to adore the Father because of His grace. Listening to the words of Christ creates an image of truth, holiness and beauty that describe the visage of the Lord as being glorious. Two thousand years have passed when a common man died on a common cross. That man who looked as ordinary as any other man was in fact the Son of God. His death was the least common death experienced on the face of the earth. The man who had no beauty that we should desire Him is the One who is the image of the Father and the picture of saving grace. Jesus was anything but common and thank God for that.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. (John 19:38-42)

The Men Who Buried Jesus

Faith is not always a clear determination in the heart of the believer. Like leaven, it must grow and infuse itself in the whole of man. For some it takes a long time to become a fervent and devoted spirit of faithfulness. The key to faith is the need to always seek opportunities to grow and become bolder in the exercise of showing trust and confidence. There were two men who stepped forward to bury Jesus and their faith had to grow before they would make that decision. Little is known of the two men but there is a lot of courage in their story. Joseph of Arimathea is unknown except for the brief mention by the gospel writers. He was a man of wealth who had become a disciple of Jesus. Mark tells us that Joseph was a prominent member of the council who himself waited for the kingdom of God. Luke writes that Joseph was a good and just man. At some time in the ministry of Jesus, Joseph had accepted the man from Nazareth was the Christ and became a follower of His teachings. He embraced the life of Jesus but hid his devotion from his fellow council members and friends for fear of being ridiculed or cast out of the synagogue. It seems he had a counsel in Nicodemus because the two of them shared their faith in Jesus and both hid their devotion from others. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews and as John references each time came to Jesus by night. His timid devotion to the Christ was measured by his faint-hearted faith to let others know of His belief in Jesus. That would change when the man they were fearful to acknowledge publicly was murdered on a Roman cross.

The news of Jesus death came quickly to the ears of Joseph and Nicodemus. They were part of the ruling party of the Jews and when their fellow council members spoke of the death of Jesus it must have pained their hearts to know they had hidden their faith in Him. Jesus was dead and the Romans had charge of His body. Many of the Jewish leaders were pleased the supposed Christ was dead. The hearts of Joseph and Nicodemus were heavy with grief. Faith began to grow in their hearts as courage moved them to make a bold decision. Joseph went to Pilate and sought permission to remove the body of Jesus. Granted the authority to bury the body Joseph and Nicodemus stepped on the stage of public opinion, ridicule and consternation from their fellow Jews. Going to Golgotha and removing the body was a public show of their faith. Everyone would see these two men taking the body from the Romans. This would not be done in secret or at night but boldly showing their loyalty to the crucified Jesus. Nicodemus ordered a mixture of myrrh and aloes that weighed almost one hundred pounds. The Romans soldiers removed the body of Jesus from the cross and gave Him to these two wealthy, powerful rulers of the Jews. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with fine linen with the spices and prepared the body for burial. The Christ would be buried in the tomb Joseph had prepared for himself. There they laid Jesus intending to return on the first day of the week to finish the burial process. As they left the tomb they were no longer afraid to let the world know they believed in Jesus Christ. The story ends there as the Holy Spirit is silent to what became of Joseph and Nicodemus. Fifty days later it would seem fitting to find these two men part of the first converts to the kingdom they looked for but were afraid to acknowledge. Joseph and Nicodemus would have been great examples of faith in the early church.

It took time for Joseph and Nicodemus to find their faith. At first they were afraid and hid their devotion. At the moment of need they stepped into the light of public view and boldly took the body of Jesus to let the world know of their faith. The story of these two men resonates in the lives of all of God’s children to know that faith should never remain the same. It should always be growing from the shadows of weak faith to bold declarations of faith exemplified in the courageous acts of love. There should be a lot of patience in allowing the weak brethren to grow in their faith. God did not cast Joseph and Nicodemus aside because they feared the Jews. Jesus did not rebuke Nicodemus for coming to Him at night because He knew faith had to grow in Nicodemus. The time came when they showed their faith and they left a huge impression on the pages of history. Two men who shared in their fearful faith of yesterday turned their courage into an everlasting story of devotion to their Lord.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

How God Thinks

The prophet Jeremiah had a daunting task. His mission was to bring the hearts of the people of Israel back to the Lord in a time when the nation was falling headlong into rebellion and chaos. The glory days of Solomon’s kingdom had long since faded into the distant memories of the people. Israel had been rocked by civil war witnessing the total destruction of ten northern tribes and the perilous precipice the remaining tribes found themselves facing threats from nations like Babylon. Jeremiah wept over the condition of the nation of God’s people that turned their hearts away from the blessings of righteousness, truth and holiness. Judah had become a treacherous sister who turned to the Lord only in pretense with backsliding Israel showing herself more righteous. God pleaded with His Beloved to stand in the ways and seek the old paths but they refused. Their worship was obscene trusting in lying words, embracing false teaching and the only left was the judgment of the Lord. He promised to make Jerusalem a heap of ruins and a den of jackals. The sword would come against the nation, famine and pestilence would fill the land and the Lord would not relent from the fury He was bringing against Judah. In the midst of all the wrath of God comes a message of hope. The Lord tells Jeremiah the nation will be taken away and kept in captivity for a period of seventy years. It will be at the end of this bondage the Lord will bring His people back home. This message was given to the priests, prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. Living in a world of despair God offers the people a ray of hope.

It is always difficult when a parent must discipline a child. The Lord never enjoyed punishing His people because He loved them with all of His heart. It pained greatly the spirit of the Lord to send His Beloved into a foreign land and be held captive for any length of time. The righteousness of the Almighty demanded judgement against the people because they had disobeyed Him but it was not His plan. Through Jeremiah God tells His people He only wanted peace for them and not of evil. They may look at the punishment of the Lord as a severe retribution against them but they needed to remember how often God warned them to repent and they refused. It is easy for a child to disbelieve a loving parent would discipline them until the time comes when the harsh hand of punishment is brought against the rebellious spirit. Punitive disciple must inflict pain in order for the lesson to be learned. Judah would suffer greatly because of her sin and there would be long lasting consequences to the rebellion of the people. God wanted His people to know that although the pain of bondage was being inflicted upon them that He still loved them with all of His power, might and strength. True love does not neglect the need of punishment. Love is expressed in necessary discipline and if the Lord allowed His people to go unpunished for their rebellion, He would not love His people as He should.

The final message God wanted His people to know was there was hope in the midst of their calamity. It may have seemed difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the people sat in a foreign land as slaves again like the days of Egypt. They would spend seventy years in captivity and there was nothing that would change that. However, this sentence was not a death sentence but a reprieve would come where the nation would be allowed to return and build Jerusalem. This was fulfilled in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The thoughts of the Lord were to instill in the hearts of the people hope for a better tomorrow. Judgment would come but there was a brighter day to look forward to and that should give the people courage to face the dismal condition they found themselves in. There is always hope and promise in the love of the Lord. Life can be filled with the chaos of despair, doubt and disbelief but trusting in the word of the Lord will bring the courage to face each day with renewed strength. The judgment of the Lord is real and so are the promises He makes of peace and safety. A remnant would come from the captivity that would rebuild the nation of Israel. It will never be the great nation it was under David and Solomon. A greater nation was coming that would dwarf the glory of the physical kingdom. Embedded in the promise of return after seventy years was the promised hope of the everlasting kingdom realized in Jesus Christ. Life can be tedious and difficult but the Lord has promised a greater hope with an everlasting peace. His thoughts are so grand to bless man with the gift of eternal life through His only begotten Son. What a great God we serve.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

The Glory Of God And Youth

This past week I was at a Bible Camp I have been involved with for thirteen years and the joy of being with nearly 150 young people filled with energy, vitality and youthfulness is an experience that can only be understood by the exhaustion realized at the end of the week. The days are long and the nights longer. Every day is a time of helping young people see the power of God and His love for their souls. The text of our camp this year was Isaiah 40 in that great declaration of the power of God’s word, His incredible exhibition of His glory and the never ending grace of His strength to renew the spirit of downtrodden man. Isaiah begins his second part of his book with the power of the everlasting God who is Lord, Creator and the one who never tires or grows weary. After a week at camp everyone is exhausted. All of the energies that can be possibly mustered have diminished into near unconsciousness. What is amazing is to see the energy of youth fill a room with the praises of the Lord God almost without end. Their voices seldom dim from day to day and their energies seem inexhaustible. After a week of incredible vitality the young people begin to wear down and grow weary. Trips home become long miles of deep sleep. Away from the hustle and bustle of Bible camp life sneaks in and the body relaxes into the calm needed for rest.

While the body is weary and needs its rest, the soul is what is heightened after a week of learning that God does not grow weary and never faints. The final night of camp was an emotional package of tears, laughter, joy, happiness and a deep feeling of identification with the eternal heart that is filled with the love of God. We sang a special song that identified the need that is found in all men. There is a need of grace, love, mercy and forgiveness that is found in Christ and in Christ alone. We grow weary but the Lord does not grow weary. He never faints and never is burdened with the limitations of flesh. Everyone who was a part of camp will take weeks to recover the physical energies expelled during the daily experience but today the heart will be filled with the glory of God as the spirit of the Lord fuels the heart to praise Him from whom all blessings come. The body is tired but the spirit is strong. Waiting on the Lord brings a renewal of strength. The message of Isaiah is filled with the knowledge that God will give His Spirit to His children to be full of grace because of His love for them.

It is hard to wait on the Lord. Man is a creature of self-will with a purpose to direct his own way by his own knowledge. Learning to wait on the Lord is where true strength comes from and the blessing of trusting in the ways of God will give man the ability to soar like eagles in the clear unbroken sunshine of truth. The incredible creation of man is limited because all men will grow weary. There is a limitation to what man can do because he will faint and fall in time. The Lord never grows weary or faints from exhaustion. He existed before time began and the same God Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshiped is the same God we worship today. He never faints! What He promises to His children is that if we wait on Him and trust His word we will never grow tired as we bask in the glory of His word. The mortal body will tire and grow weary but the soul will mount up with wings like eagles soaring in the exalted atmosphere of righteousness and purity. Waiting on the Lord is what makes a week of exhausted energy filled with an inexhaustible amount of hope for the youth of our day. There are many troubling things we hear about young people today but to spend a week with 142 young men and young women who love to sing about the glory of God and who learn that Jesus loves them is worth all the weariness, exhaustion and bone tired feelings of the thing we call Bible camp. To God be the glory.