The Heaton File

And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. (Acts 25:13-15)

The Almost Persuaded King

Paul had enjoyed a respite for two years following the attack by the mob in Jerusalem and his deliverance by Claudius Lysias, commander of the garrison near the temple. Brought to Caesarea, the apostle had stood against the charges leveled against him by the high priests and elders but had been left bound by order of the governor Felix when he was replaced by Porcius Festus. The Jews quickly tried to take advantage of the newly appointed governor pleading with Festus to have Paul brought to Jerusalem to stand trial again. Their plan was to assassinate the apostle on the road from Caesarea. Festus refused their offer and demanded they make their charges at his garrison which they did. Again, no proof was given of any crime Paul had committed. Festus made an offer to Paul to take him to Jerusalem to face his accusers but Paul demanded to be heard by Caesar. As was the law of the Empire, appealing to Caesar became an irrevocable request and Festus set in motion Paul’s journey to Rome. Before Paul was taken to Rome, King Agrippa II visited Festus at his garrison in Caesarea. Some days later Festus laid before the king the problem of Paul and his accusers. Festus knew there was no evidence that Paul committed a crime but appealing to Caesar required the governor to specify the charges against him and Festus had nothing to write. King Agrippa wanted to hear Paul himself and arrangements were made to bring Paul in before a great crowd of nobility and prominent men of the city. Festus hoped that by the king examining Paul he would have something to write concerning the charges against the apostle.

The opportunity to stand before an august audience of kings, governors, Roman commanders and prominent men of the city was an incredible moment in the life of Paul. A chained prisoner stood before the elite of society and his oration was filled with the power and grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul knew that King Agrippa was very familiar with the customs and questions about the Law of Moses and the Jewish culture. The king’s family was of Idumaean descent with a long history of dealing with the people of Israel. Paul’s sermon was basic in its nature yet powerful in its message. He proclaimed there was ample proof that Jesus was raised from the dead even though the earlier part of his life Paul had persecuted the church. He recounts his seeing the Lord on the road to Damascus and the call of the Lord to be a witness and messenger to Jews and Gentiles alike. Affirming to King Agrippa that he had taken his charge seriously and with great devotion, Paul declared to the Jews and Gentiles that they should repent, turn to God and do works fitting repentance. He explained the persecution of his own people two years before at the temple was why he stood now before the king in chains. His defense was a powerful declaration that the Christ had suffered, rose from the dead and the message of the cross was the apostle’s plea to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

Festus was the first to react as he called out to Paul that he had lost his mind. The apostle did not wince as he firmly declared to those gathered his message were words of truth and reason. He then looks at King Agrippa and pleads with him to accept what he knows to be truth and lays before Agrippa the appeal to believe the prophets. The heart of the king is in turmoil as he knows what Paul has presented is true. Whether in derision or true to heart, Agrippa declares that he is almost persuaded to be a Christian. There is nothing more that Paul would desire than to see the king accept the testimony of Jesus Christ and do exactly what the apostle had done many years before in the obedience of baptism. Sadly the king left and would die at the age of seventy years unborn in Christ. Almost but not. Sin had taken a toll on the heart of Agrippa. Bernice was his sister and rumors swirled they shared an incestuous relationship. On that fateful day with the great messenger of God standing before him, King Agrippa refused to allow the truth of the gospel to penetrate his heart. He would always know he had come so close to serving the one true God but squandered his hope on the ruins of carnal desire. Almost being a Christian is being totally lost. There are no almost children of God. Acceptance to the will of the Lord demands a full and complete change of heart to serve God. Anything less is unacceptable.

This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:7-8)

Looking Forward To The Gathering

Abraham is one of the great men of faith in the Bible. He lived a remarkable life that we only know the final one hundred years. Everything we read about Abraham begins when he was seventy-five and giving birth to two sons – one at the age of 86 and another at 100 – and then the final seventy-five years. Moses describes the life of Abraham as a ‘sum’ or an amount of time accumulated to fill the space of his beginning and end. The dash between the date of birth and the date of death is a small thing compared to the totality of life lived. When all is said and done life is but a vapor – even if a man lives for 175 years. All men will have a sum of life and that existence is very short; yet upon this short life an eternal existence depends. Abraham lived a full life with many powerful stories of faith to leave as an inheritance to the spiritual family that walks in his steps. His sum of life can help measure the sum of a man’s life who wants to walk with God. The faith of Abraham trusted in God to fulfill what He promised even when Abraham did not know how the promises of God would be seen in his life. Of the three promises made he only visualized one. The Lord promised Abraham he would have a seed (remarkable considering his age), he would be given land and there would be a nation coming from his loins. Isaac was the son of promise that Sarah bore to her husband at the age of ninety (remarkable for her age). God’s power worked in the lives of Abraham and Sarah to bring to pass all He had said would come to pass. The nation promise would come many generations later when Moses led the Hebrews to Mt. Sinai. Forty years later Joshua took the nation of Israel across the Jordan and fulfilled the final promise. Abraham believed in all of the promises of God before they happened. The sum of his life was summed up by his faith in the Lord.

Death is feared by most and dreaded by nearly every man. Moses describes the death of Abraham as ‘breathing his last.’ There will come a time for all men the breath of life will leave the body as the earthly tent is folded up. Rich and poor, kings and paupers, proud and humble will all share in the valley of death. No man is exempt. Righteous men die and unrighteous men perish. What may not be common in life will be ordinary in death because every man since Adam will cease to exist in the carnal form of flesh. Abraham died in a good old age, an old man full of years. Not everyone will die in a good old age full of years but death is certain. With this reality standing before all men it would seem that greater care would be taken to prepare for death. What value can man find in himself when he believes he will come into the world through the wonder of conception and birth, live a period of years, die and that is final? How can there be any worth to life if it all ends in nothing? Abraham died full of years but he looked beyond the grave to the gathering with his people. This expression of gathering to his people is said often in scripture of men like Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron and Moses. It is a beautiful manner of holy script to tell that Abraham did not cease to exist in death but continued to live after death. His faith was looking to a city he had not seen but promised by God. Abraham died in peace knowing death was not the final answer.

The joy of living a life full of years knows the promise of living an existence filled with eternity. Life after death is a reality and something to long for. Abraham was a great man of faith as he looked into the eyes of God and saw everything promised by the Father came to pass. He trusted the Lord in leaving his home going to a land he did not know. His faith gave him a son at the age of one hundred even though he knew his body was dead from conception. When told to offer Isaac as a sacrifice he willingly took his son to worship the Lord believing in the resurrection. As the breath of life left his body at the age of 175 Abraham waited to awaken in the glory promised by the Father. His life was full of years but his eternity is endless. We will not live to be 175 years of age but whatever years we have to live should be full, saturated with the good things promised by God, seeing His promises fulfilled daily and knowing the Lord cares for His people as they journey toward the eternal home. Death is certain but redemption is the joy of dying in the Lord. When the time comes for death to take our mortal tent and fold it upon on the shores of eternity the only thing left to do is close our eyes. What a day that will be when we open our eyes to the face of God as we gather to our people. Welcome home. Enter in.

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (Genesis 50:20)

God Is So Good

Joseph is one of the most amazing characters of scripture. He embodies the kind of person that fully trusts in the goodness of God regardless of the circumstances. This does not suggest that life for Joseph was always easy because it was far from the ideal. He grew up as the favored child of a wealthy man. Enjoying more prestige and honor than his brothers, Joseph’s life was full and satisfying. Because of his elite status the brothers held deep resentment that led them to almost kill their brother. Instead they sold Joseph as a slave to a passing caravan thinking they were rid of their insolent sibling forever. Twenty-two years later they would stand before a ruler of Egypt who held their lives in their hands unknowing it was the brother of yesterday. Joseph was forced into the life of a slave and his journey to Egypt was harsh. The humiliation of being sold as so much meat must have impacted his heart with a great weight. He became a slave to an Egyptian commander doing all the menial and base jobs of the home. Joseph would later be accused of rape by the commander’s wife and thrown into prison where he again was treated with contempt and hatred. Forgotten by fellow prisoners the son of Jacob languished in an Egyptian prison.

The hand of God had never left the heart of Joseph. In everything the young man of seventeen did in life was measured by the goodness and grace of God. He believed in all the Lord had promised and trusted the Lord would work in his life for His glory and honor. His despondency on the road to Egypt was tempered by his trust in the will of God. Being sold as a slave to Potiphar was an opportunity to show the Egyptian commander what the life of a child of God can do under adversity. The home prospered because of Joseph. When he was faced with sexual temptation he pleaded to the purity of the Lord as his defense. Rewarded with prison Joseph continued to trust in the will of the Lord and served Him faithfully. Somewhere deep in the mind of Joseph he knew that God was good and while his life was taking a course of great hardship he relied on the blessings of the Lord to see him through. It would be many years later following the death of his father his brothers would fear retribution for the heinous act they brought upon their younger brother. Joseph revealed a spirit of trust he had held from early age. He knew that God was good and all that God revealed to him was for his good. Life was not always easy but it was easy to trust in the will of God. God is good. That never changes.

There is no deeper commitment a person can make to the Lord than to allow the goodness of God to work in their lives through His goodness. This does not guarantee life will always be an easy road but in the strongest adversities God will always be there to comfort, guide and protect. Trust comes from a heart that is fully committed to the power of God working in life for a greater end. Many stories in the Bible show the trials of the saints who are delivered through the grace of God. There are many lives today that face illness, hardship and death and yet do so with a spirit of hope because they know that God is good. He is always good and never changes. Faith maintains the heart to believe that all things work for the glory of God. Life is not about the here and now and if life is nothing more than facing the reality of death – God is still good. Why? Because God has always promised something greater in His presence. Nothing is as glorious, grand and awesome than being able to stand before the Creator and see Him face to face. That is goodness. Greatness comes in bowing the will to the spirit of God and allows His goodness to shine in the heart because He loves His people who love Him. God is good.

The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. (Proverbs 15:31-33)

Constructive Criticism

It is hard to be told that decisions we make are not the best conclusions. Somewhere deep in our inner conscience there is a sense that we have the answers and yet so often in life we are reminded that is not the case. This is not a haughty or proud attitude but rather a perception that life is defined in the terms we are familiar with due to our experience, wisdom and ability to reason. Having said that, we determine the course of action taken is the best because we deem it so. It does not take long before these decisions are challenged and a rebuke is in order for the path we have chosen. When someone corrects a decision we have made we stand at the crossroads of two dilemmas: accept what they have said and change course or refuse to believe that anyone could have a better decision than us and charge forth regardless of the consequences. The latter is fraught with constant failure. Practical wisdom fills the pages of the Bible and no place is more enlightening than the book of the Proverbs. This is a book for the common man teaching common sense through practical application.

The Lord teaches the gems of wisdom do not come by the self-proclaimed assurance of pride but rather the ability to receive constructive criticism and rebuke. Wisdom is gained from the viewpoint of others. It is hard for man to accept the fact he does not have all the answers. The path a man chooses is never absolute. Left to himself, man destroys his own nature when he believes all knowledge dwells in him. Sin mars the character of man and as the prophet Jeremiah enumerated, man does not know how to walk or to direct his own steps. Man is a fundamentally flawed individual incapable of making all the right decisions. The thing that separates man from God is that God is all-knowing and man is barely-knowing. Rebuke is what builds the character of man to be a wiser creation. The ear that hears the rebukes of life will live a fuller life because he is willing to learn from others. To scorn advice from others makes a fool of himself because the wisdom of others will clarify the path more clearly. Heeding constructive criticism from others will bring deeper understanding. God created man and noted it was not good for him to be alone. At the family level this was proven to be true as man needed woman and she him. Any man who does not listen to the counsel of his wife is a fool and any woman who disregards the wisdom of her husband is a fool. Friends, mentors, colleagues and associates who give advice should be heeded for the community of counsel that is found in the collective wisdom of men.

To have greater understanding is to know one important rule of accepting advice. The source of wisdom will determine the outcome of life and the proverbs are very clear where that knowledge must come. Receiving rebukes in life must not be based solely upon the wisdom of men. The fear of the Lord is where truth comes. All truth that is found in man can only come from the wisdom granted by the Creator to His creation. God formed man in His image and only when men seek the image of God in their lives will they find the answers of life. History is littered with the failed attempts of man to build his tower of Babel’s upon the failed religion of self-wisdom. The first failure in the wisdom of man comes when he rejects God. Seeking the fear of the Lord is where the instruction of wisdom must come and nothing else. From the beginning of time man has always known the will of the Lord but he ignores and rejects the heavenly spirit to fall into the demise of his own foolishness. To be raised up in wisdom begins with a humble heart to accept the reproof of God. Someone said the Bible was written to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. That is the nature of God’s word that men dislike. The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man and no greater message of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and insight into the nature of man has been given. When the Bible afflicts the soul in rebuking the actions of men, it is rejected for human wisdom. Failure always comes next.

The wise man will receive reproofs and rebuke for the measure it is intended to make a person wiser. Our friends and family can help us in the many decisions of life live productive and prosperous ways as long as we in humility receive the instructions with kindness and grace. Everything must be based upon the principles and truth of God’s word as the final voice in making decisions. Face it: we do not know everything and often we make the lesser of the wisest decisions. Learn from others. Realize that my way is not always the best way and others have a better answer. God gave us two ears to listen twice as much as we speak so we should listen more than speaking. That is great wisdom to hear the rebukes of life and learn. With the fear of the Lord in the heart and the honor of humility in the mind, happiness will always follow.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

The Joy Of Fellowship In God’s Family

There is nothing that can compare to the joy of sharing with those of like precious faith the joy of worship. In the incredible wisdom of God was created the fellowship of kindred spirits lifting up voices in praise and adoration to the praise of the Father. The only limitations are the ability to sing without losing the voice or through exhaustion find one unable to continue. But before the inevitable happens – what a glory is shared when saints come together as one in the house of the Lord to express through song the joys of being a saint of God and fellow servant of Jesus Christ. There is something powerful about singing together. It does not come from the tones of professional training by musical theorists exercising the voice to sing as an orator of song but simple people filled with the Spirit of God that smile, cry and pray for the beauty of the song and joined hearts of love. Fellowship in singing praises to God is one of the most life-changing moments of time a person can experience. Sadly we do not sing as much as we should. Our worship services have to be completed in an hour or less and we only sing a limited numbers of songs. Lost in the hurried pursuit of carnal goals we hasten through our services and rush back to our lives of worldly needs. How difficult it becomes to think about God in such a hurry.

David sums up the feeling of joyous fellowship. He loved to worship the Lord. His longing was to be with God’s people and share in the time of praising Him and honoring Him because of all that the Lord had done in His life. The heart of David was in the place of worship and going to be with God’s people was the joy of his life. They shared in their happiness and lifted one another in times of sadness. Worship in their hearts was a bond of love for all the Father had done for His children. Their lives were woven together in the thread of a heavenly family that enjoyed the same blessings from the elder Son, the power of the Holy Spirit and the eternal love of God the Father. He was glad to go to the house of the Lord and worship. His heart was filled with happiness in anticipation. The spirit of David was revived as the king of Israel stood with the poor and dispossessed of the world together blending their voices toward the throne of God and singing praise. There was no pride or arrogance in this worship. All men were equally needy of the mercy of God whether king or pauper. Singing together wove the heart strings in unison to the glory of His praise.

Today is the first day of the week. How do we feel about what we are permitted to be a part of as we join together in worship? Are we glad today is Sunday and we are going to the house of the Lord to sing and honor the Lord God? It comes down to an attitude of heart. We can look at services today as a drudgery hoping the preacher will not preach past twelve o’clock and we can get to the restaurant before the crowds and back home to watch TV or go shopping or play ball or a myriad of reasons we have to ignore the joy of why we have assembled together as God’s people. David said it best: “I was glad when they said, ‘Let’s go spend some time with God.’” He was not in a hurry. It was not his goal to check in and check out. The heart of David was longing to worship the Lord in His house in His way to His praise. As you and I prepare ourselves to worship today and make all the necessary preparations to dress appropriately, comb the hair, shine the shoes and take our Bibles – don’t forget to take a heart that is filled with the joy of being in the house of the Lord to worship Him. Please do not be anxious to rush through the service and then rush home. Take time to be holy. Be glad when it is time to go to the house of the Lord. What a day that will be when the Savior we will see. Let this day be a precursor of the joy of that moment. Praise God. Let’s worship.

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:25-32)

Hope In The Word

There are times in the lives of God’s people that hard times press down upon the soul causing despair and anxiety. It is not a lack of faith but a time to appeal for more courage to face the uncertainties of life. The image of man is made in the frail form of fleshly weakness that can manifest itself at times in the lives of the strongest believers. David felt overwhelmed by the afflictions of life and appealed to the word of God as his guide and companion from the valley of anguish. There is a refreshing hope from the knowledge of the word of the Lord that brings showers of blessings on souls downtrodden from grief, worry and unanswered questions of tomorrow. The psalmist knows that if he can find his way in the word of God he will find joy, peace and answers. Understanding the statutes of righteousness is where hope abides. Trusting in the way of the Lord allows the heart of man to know eternal truths the wisdom of man can never engage. The fundamental message of the psalm embraces the knowledge of God’s word as the only source where men will find the answers to life, the courage to face the trials that are real and strength to overcome adversity. God’s word is the blueprint, model, template and pattern of truth alone. Whatever affliction David was experiencing he knew his only hope was in the truth of God.

The fourth section of this psalm declares the need of depending on the word of God for salvation. There are terms like ‘revive me,’ ‘teach me,’ ‘make me,’ ‘strengthen me,’ ‘remove from me,’ and ‘grant me’ expressing David’s deep longing for the Lord to work in his life in a vibrant way. This is a heart open to the fashioning of God’s word to change the soul of man according to the will of the Lord. Reading the word of God will have little impact if there is no desire to allow the word to change the life of the reader. Words will not have power if the power of change is not in the heart. There must be a longing to understand the way of God’s law and to meditate on the wonderful works of the Almighty. This spirit comes from a life fully enveloped by the presence of God. It has been said the word of God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Change is the key to approaching the message delivered by the hand of God.

David appealed to his knowledge of God’s word as the way of truth. The children of God under Christ have so much more to be thankful for in the revelation of the grace of God yet so often more limited than those of David’s day. The shepherd king was a man possessed with the burning desire to know all he could about his God. He chose the way of truth and laid the judgments of God before his path every day. Clinging to the testimonies of righteousness David sought to please the Lord in every part of his life. Enjoying the fully revealed word of God the child of God must long for the commandments of God as a daily source of knowledge. The hope of salvation enlarges the heart to overcome the times of despair in life and times when the soul clings to the dust. There is no greater presence to experience than the revival found in the contemplation of the precepts, statues, testimonies and commandments of God. His word is truth and in that truth is life. Spend time in the word of God and when life brings the hardships and trials that are certain to come, hope will be found in His message of love.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)

The Only Way To Preach Jesus

Philip was a hard working preacher in the early days of the church. He lived through the persecution of Saul and went to Samaria and preached Christ to them. Multitudes heeded the words of Philip as he showed the powerful message of the man from Nazareth and confirmed the word with signs and wonders. There was great joy in the city because of the diligent work of Philip. The Holy Spirit had more work for the evangelist to do and sent him toward the south along the road which went down from Jerusalem to Gaza. It was a desolate place but there was a man returning from Jerusalem on his way home that God had a special plan for. Queen Candace of Ethiopia had a eunuch that was in charge of her treasury and he had come to Jerusalem to worship; a journey more than two thousand miles. Philip found the eunuch reading the book of Isaiah and inquired if he understood what he was reading. Joining the treasurer in his chariot, Philip began at the reading of Isaiah 53 and preached Jesus to him. It was later as they went down the road the eunuch asked to be baptized and with great joy a child of God was added to the body of Christ.

The sermon by Philip is not recorded (what a powerful lesson that must have been) but the Holy Spirit shows the nature of preaching is based on the message of Jesus Christ. He began with scripture and preached the word of God to the eunuch. The recipient of the message responded in accord with the power of the message by asking to be baptized. Preaching is foremost and fundamentally established within the framework of the word of God alone. Philip did not philosophize with the wisdom of men, what the latest teaching from the leaders of the church would be or his own ideas of what this man needed to do to be saved. The eunuch was reading aloud the book of Isaiah. Philip began at Isaiah 53:7-8 and preached Jesus. Truth cannot be established if it does not follow the message of the book and to establish that truth the word of God must be opened and examined. Too often people want to discuss the Bible without opening the Bible which only leads to speculation of carnal wisdom from the whims and misguided notions of men. Preaching is communication. It is transferring the message of the cross to ears that are attentive to hear. No man should undertaking the task of teaching the message of salvation with a closed Bible. Preaching Jesus is where truth is established, ordained and propagated in the hearts of those who need its saving power. The word accomplishes that – not man.

It is important for the word to be preached and it is also vital the hearer respond to the word of God. The eunuch had an honest and open heart. He was a seeker, looking for and longing after the will of God. He did not have to believe what Philip showed him. There were many philosophies of men that could be used to argue the message of Jesus was not necessary and the eunuch could have appealed to any number in his defense. What happened with the man from Ethiopia was an honest appeal to what the scriptures said without the prejudice of denying the truth. Philip preached Jesus to him and it was the eunuch who asked about baptism. That is an incredible part of this story as the response to the gospel was on the heart of the eunuch. Preaching Jesus includes water baptism and the necessity of it; otherwise why would the eunuch appeal to its message with urgency? The reason is when the story of Jesus is preached from scripture (words) then knowledge of salvation reveals itself to the open and honest heart. Philip began with the words of God and preached the word of God so the eunuch could believe the word of God. Preaching is declaring Jesus and declaring Jesus begins with scripture.

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 1:11)

The Rebellion Of Korah

Jude’s little book covers about six hundred words but his message speaks volumes to those who would consider rebelling against the will of the Lord. The early church was plagued by those who would deny the only Lord God claiming Jesus was not the Christ. They were ungodly men who were seeking their own exaltation and glory. These were grumblers, complainers who walked according to their own desires to fill the church with the poison of their own self-centered hypocrisy and evil-mindedness. It is hard to believe men of such nature would wear the cloak of religion in the name of God who were nothing more than sensual people causing division among God’s family. Jude using three men as examples of those modern day apostates: Cain (son of Adam and Eve), Balaam the man of God who sold Israel into the hands of the Moabites to commit sexual immorality and finally Korah, a Levite who lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Through the historical remembrance of these men, Jude impresses the consequence of opposing God from those who exalt themselves about His will.

Korah was part of the Levitical family that were not priest but workers set apart for the ministry of the tabernacle and later the temple. It was during the wilderness wanderings of Israel Korah led a rebellion against Moses that included non-Levitical leaders from the tribe of Reuben. They rose up against Moses and Aaron along with two hundred fifty leaders of the congregation as men hungry for power. Their hearts were filled with ungodliness to challenge the authority of Moses who was the spokesman of the Lord. Moses was distraught at the attitude of the rebels who challenged the authority of God. The Levites had a pivotal role in administering the work of the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to serve them. Korah was jealous to be a priest and take power from Moses and Aaron denying the word of God. Along with his cohorts Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, Korah brought division among the people with an evil heart. Moses became very angry at these men and declared the glory of God would show the true nature of those who were holy and those who were unholy. As every man stood at the door of his tent, the Lord showed His power and glory against those who would challenge His word. Korah, Dathan and Abiram stood at the door of their tents with their wives, sons and little children in defiance to Moses and the Lord God while the two hundred fifty men offered incense. Moses declared the power of the Almighty would show itself by the earth opening up and swallowing all of the rebels along with their possessions. When Moses stopped speaking, the ground split apart under Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their families and they all went into the pit alive and the earth closed over them. Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred fifty men who offered incense. The day following this terrible event the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron and before the wrath of God ended fourteen thousand seven hundred Israelite’s lay dead from a divine plague.

The story of Korah is found in the book of Numbers and remains as a memorial to those who believe they can reject the word of God. Jude emphasizes the story to show what God will do to those who stand against Him. The church still battles against those who exalt their hearts above the word of God and teach things not found on the pages of holy writ. Men like Korah will rebel against the clear teaching of the Lord turning the grace of God into lewdness and sensuality for their own gain. They will find their place is one of eternal punishment. The message is clear and demonstrative. There is only one way and one truth and that can only be found in God’s word. So many churches fill their dogmas with the corrupt teachings of men who turn the hearts of the people to believe things not found in scripture. God has revealed His word in plain language that all can read and understand. Churches wear names not found in His word, teaching modes of salvation foreign to the doctrine of Christ and leading astray the hearts of the simple who will deny the power of the gospel. The influence of Cain, Balaam and Korah still fill the pews of churches that refuse to follow the divine pattern of truth. There is only one God to serve and one way to be found faithful. Sadly, like the families of those who rebelled against Moses in the wilderness, many innocent will suffer. Rebellion will not go unpunished. Just ask Korah.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

The Spiritual Litmus Test

David’s psalm of the omniscience of God is an incredible message of the all-encompassing power and knowledge of the Lord. The masterful psalmist unveils the complete nature of God’s inner view of all that man is from his creation to life. There is nothing hidden from the eyes of the Lord – nothing. No place on earth can man flee that God is not already there. Long before men created machines that look at the fetus in the mother’s womb the Creator peered into the soul of the little child. Life comes from God and being made in the image of the Creator man can never be hidden from the eternal view of God. It is without measure to consider the knowledge God has of man. David acknowledged such knowledge was too wonderful for him; so high he could not attain it. He began his psalm writing about how the Lord had searched him and known him. It is at the conclusion of his prose he explains the reason why. David asked God to search his heart and to know his heart. The shepherd implored his great shepherd to test his heart and know what was in his mind. Even more boldly the king of Israel sought the examination of God to see if there was any wicked way in him seeking the blessing of the Lord to lead him in the way everlasting. What a challenge David poses not for God but for himself. He openly seeks the Lord God to tear his life apart and look at the microscopic level of his being.

The spiritual litmus test is to have the courage to ask this prayer of God each day. There are many passages that would benefit the soul in reading time and again. This psalm is at the top of the list. David openly invites the Lord to examine him to the atomic level of his soul. The courage to seek the blessing of God’s scrutiny from a divine eye is an awareness of David to know there is nothing hidden from the Lord and he seeks to live his life in that knowledge. This does not create fear but an assurance that what David seeks in his life is to walk in a fashion pleasing to God. The goal is to live in such a way that the Father sees David trying very hard to live a righteous and pure life. It is unknown if the psalm was written before the tryst with Bathsheba or not but it applies to either scenario. If he had applied this prayer at the time he saw Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop, sin would not have had its way with him. Praying this prayer in the moment of temptation will drive far away the desire to disobey God because the heart knows there is nothing hidden from God. It is safe to say the message of this prayer resonated with the heart of David after the affair with Bathsheba and never left his mind. There is a deep spirit of repentance in the message and a desire to fortify the soul against such vicious attacks in the future.

David invites the Lord to look in his life and see if there are any wicked ways. It is easy to try to serve God and mammon but Jesus reminds us this is impossible. Too often God’s children will try to justify unrighteousness by arguing the point of the line that is crossed or not crossed to define sin. The son of Jesse openly implores the Lord to open his heart and see if there are motives that are wrong, feelings that are unjust and whether sin is lurking at the door. He is all in and all open to the Lord. This is not a question of marginal living before the great I AM. David hates evil and is trying everything in his life to refrain from its power over him. Sin can only be dealt with by fleeing away from it. Eve’s first mistake in the garden was having a conversation with Satan. If she would have stopped the conversation, sin would not have happened. It is clear that sin begins when man tries to reason his way out of it. David has the answer. He asked God to examine him and see if there was any wicked way in him – big or small. Then he knew that he needed someone to guide him. David prays the Lord will lead him in the way everlasting. His only safety is in the Lord. To be a man after the heart of God is a man who has the courage to pray this prayer.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

When God Is Absent

There is a lot of cruelty in the world. Sadness is always just a breath away when out of nowhere tragedy comes. It can be from natural disasters or disease but so much comes from the hatred of man against man. The world of Noah was destroyed because the height of wickedness had become a pungent odor of death in the nostrils of God and He had had enough. Eight souls were saved but wickedness remained. Grace came through Jesus Christ giving man the ray of light to cleanse his soul of the putridity of the carnal mind. Sin continues to plague the spirit of men and drives the passions of those who fill the world with sexual immorality, murder, strife and unloving in their actions towards one another. Senseless acts of murder spread across the headlines almost daily. Death is not a sacred fear but a wanton act of one man’s wrath upon unsuspecting victims. Life is filled with plans, joys and accomplishments but taken away in the split second of the hatred of one man against another. Everyone asks the questions of why and why now and why here. The answer is profound and simple. When the world removes the Creator from the forefront of their minds, the world becomes a godless and unholy world. God in the world creates godliness; God removed creates a godless world. One plus one equals two and the world without God equals chaos.

The question of murder has nothing to do with religion. Killing innocent men who are serving their community is not explained by some deep theological analysis of how man perceives God and how man defines the acts of religion over the random acts of murder. Paul said the problem lies in the denial of God and the exercise to remove the idea of God from the mind. Murder comes from a heart void of the knowledge of eternity and the consequences of facing the Creator of all men. The blackness of hatred does not allow the presence of God to live in the heart. Serving the fleshly carnal desires of lusts and murder is where a man finds himself when he denies the reality of God. There is a righteous judgment coming but most do not believe. The world forms God into its own image refusing to acknowledge the true nature of the one Lord. Sin is the result. God can only be worshiped in one fashion and that is according to His will, His way and His word. Religion is not the definition of truth – the word of God is truth. The world does not need more religion. It needs God!

Tragedy is without warning. In the most inconspicuous times and places the hatred of man will rise up to show the fruit sown from a world that demands God be removed. There is an outcry against the senseless deaths of the innocent but there is no call for a return to God. Failing to keep God in the heart will breed more and more murder, immorality, hatred of parents, unloving souls who fill the world with the passions of strife, deceit and evil thinking. Man has always had two choices to follow and the consequence of that choice determines the history he will live. A world that denies God will be a world of anarchy and hatred. Murder comes from a heart void of God. The second choice is to embrace the knowledge of an eternal Creator who knows what is right and what is wrong. Retaining God in the mind will bring the peace men seek. And then there is the final reality. The remnant of God’s people will have to endure in a world that will seldom change. Satan’s hold on the hearts of men is sure. He will have has way until the coming of Jesus Christ and then he will be judged. The greatest tragedy is the souls he will take with him to the eternal fires of hell. Until that time our prayers are with the downtrodden and all those impacted by the sadness of death. May God grant His peace on our hearts and give us hope in the coming of His Son – soon.