The Heaton File

I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. (Ezekiel 39:21-23)

God Among The Nations

There is always something exciting about the coming of a new year. The previous year quietly fades to the memories of yesterday and bold plans are made for new opportunities, challenges, accomplishments and desires in a year untarnished by time. Everything seems bright with hope rising on the horizon. Prognosticators set forth their predictions of how the next generation will unveil its character upon the pages of history. Great energy is exerted to overcome the failures of the past year and hearts are filled with courage to face with determination a will to be a better person in the coming year. Lost in the din of human fervor is the reality that escapes most men as they plod along year after year seeking answers to the questions of life. God still rules among the nations of men and His glory is established by His word and His judgment. Time was created by the Lord and He fashioned the world by His design and His purpose. Every New Year is an expression of His glory that should remind men of who He is and that God rules among the affairs of the nations.

Ezekiel is writing during the captivity of the remaining house of Israel in Babylon. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin are all that was left of the once great nation of God. Because of their disobedience and continued rebellion, the Lord sent them into a foreign land for seventy years. The prophet is reminding the people that God was the reason they were being punished. It was not a plan devised by men that brought the children of Israel to Babylon. The glory of God was shown to the Gentiles that the Lord works His power in all nations including the apple of His eye – Israel. This is an important lesson to learn from holy scrip that no matter whether it was during the captivity of Israel in Babylon or the nations that exist today, God’s hand works His will for His glory in all nations. The purpose of this working is for men to see who the Creator of the world is and how He continues to work among the nations. All of this points to the character of God for men to find the answers they seek. God has always been among the nations since the beginning of time. If men would look carefully they will find His judgments in everything that has happened in history.

Beginning a new year is reminding all the nations of the world that God is not worshiped with the trinkets of a material world. Time is the fingerprint of the Lord’s existence to show men His glory. All men must come to the knowledge of the one true God that rules among the nations of men. Israel is an example of how the Lord rules among men. The nation of Babylon was moved by the Lord to do what they did against Israel. All of this shows the glory of God and His righteous judgment upon all nations. Israel was destroyed by their rebellion. Rejecting Jesus was the final blow for the nation and Biblical Israel ceased to exist. Babylon was later destroyed by the Medo-Persian empire as God brought judgment upon them. Through the centuries God continues to work His will among the nations. If you look closely His handiwork is seen on the folding pages of yesterday. In this coming year His glory will be found in the affairs of men as He rules among the nations. To God be glory now and forever.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)

Having A Heart Of Submission To Shepherds

Authority has always been the under-girding foundation of the word of God. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve sinned when they failed to submit their will to the authority of God. All men have been subject to the will of the Father and salvation has been determined based on obedience. The New Testament church is built upon the authority given to Christ following His resurrection in its pattern, worship, organization and mission. Leadership has always been a part of God’s plan. Within the framework of the church there is an authority that comes from Christ being the head and men being subject to Him. In the New Testament writings there is clear indication of God’s pattern of authority given to men who are set aside as shepherds of the local flock exercising leadership and guidance of the souls under their care. These men are called bishops, elders, overseers and shepherds. Each term is descriptive of their role as they guide the saints of God. In the final admonitions of Hebrews, a direct admonition is given to Christians to obey those men entrusted with the care of their souls. Accountability is placed upon the saints to obey and submit to the rulers as they fulfill their role of watching out for the souls of those entrusted to them.

The pattern of the New Testament for those who rule the local congregation is a multiplicity of men. There is never a hint that one man should be the sole ruler of a congregation as a ‘pastor’ often seen in churches of men. God’s design includes men who are specially set apart by qualities that suit them for the work of leadership. Not everyone can be a shepherd of God’s flock. Their work is based upon a diligent study of God’s word so they may know how to care for the people of God in a manner suited to the will of the Lord. All men will stand before the judgment bar accountable for their lives but those men who take on the mantel of leadership in the local congregation will be judged in a much harsher manner. The work of a shepherd is to look out for the souls of those entrusted to him. This will cause deep reflection upon those who desire to be shepherds of the flock. Men of great faith will rise to the occasion serving well the work of shepherds who watch out for the eternal destinies of every member.

An important part of the organization of the church is men who serve as shepherds and members who obey and submit their souls to their leaders. The command is direct and forthright. There is no mincing of words. In a world that resists the idea of authority the word of God is clearly established that saints are to submit themselves to those men who serve as elders of the local congregation. Obedience and submission is full. It is not a matter of obeying only in the ways that appeal to the member. God has given authority to specific men who have passed a rigorous test of character in being chosen to serve as leaders and the members are to obey and submit to their rule as servants of the Lord. Guided by the word of God shepherds seek the will of the Lord in the work of the church. This is not blind devotion but working together to accomplish what is found in the word of God based upon the authority of the will of God. Harmony will bring unity to the local congregation when men lead under the care of Jesus Christ and members submit their lives to the rule of God being submissive to their shepherds. The pattern of the New Testament church is a marvelous testimony to the creation of God. Jesus is the head of the church. Shepherds guide the local congregation under His headship. Each member can know that God’s grace is found in these men who seek their spiritual welfare guiding them to an eternal home. Submitting will be a joyous following of souls who work together for the glory of the Father.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Possessing The Gospel Without Fear

The core belief of every Christian is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be possible without first embracing the word of truth convicting the heart of sin followed by a joyful response to the grace of God’s love. All of this comes from the message of good news that man finds hope in the wisdom of God. Since the beginning of time the Lord has revealed Himself to men so they may find Him and enjoy the blessings of His saving truth. In these last days, the gospel of Christ has been delivered throughout the world for all to come to the knowledge of God’s eternal plan to redeem His creation. No one can stand before the Lord on the final day and blame ignorance of the truth. The gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone. It is a message that is eternal. By its nature it shows supremacy to anything written by man because it remains the single most influential message of time. No story can rival the message of the man from Nazareth. The truths revealed on its pages are unchanged, unchallenged and unmistakable divine. Paul uses the term of an incredible force when he writes of the power of the gospel. Our modern word ‘dynamite’ comes from the same Greek word for power: dunamis. To possess the gospel is to have a power that is from the hand of God.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel because of what it had done to his life. To fully understand the message of truth one must possess that truth for themselves. When Paul was persecuting the church, he denied the message of God’s grace. He knew that only God had revealed to Moses the Law and he defended the truth of the Law with unmatched zeal. When the fully revealed word of God was brought to bear upon the heart of Paul, he immediately obeyed because the message of Jesus was true. The one whom he persecuted was the Son of God and the gospel plainly set forth this teaching. He had a radical heart change because of the gospel. He dedicated his life to sharing the message of the gospel with the world. He did not possess the gospel – the gospel possessed him. There was no fear in teaching the word of God because Paul knew its teaching was eternal. It was a joy to see hearts changed like Lydia by the river or the jailer in Philippi. That was the gospel in action. Untold numbers changed their lives through the teaching of the word of God – the gospel. Paul gave his life to the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That was central to the life of the apostle.

No message can possess a man like the words of the Bible. From the Genesis revealing the Paradise of man lost to the Revelation when God returns man to Paradise gained, love is spilled upon the pages of every truth as the Lord shows His grace and mercy to sinful men. Possessing the gospel without fear comes from the knowledge that all of what God has preserved in this grand book of ancient beginnings in the mind of an eternal Father who loves and cherishes His creation. Infused with the fragrance of His love, God blesses all men with the written word whereby when they read they can understand the mystery of eternal truths and abiding hope. There is nothing to be ashamed of when possessing this book. Its pillars of truth stand tested through the ages without trembling or being shaken. No edifice of men can match the marvel of the Bible in its simplicity and complexity blending together the needs of man with the mercies of the Father. The power of the gospel remains a despised cross where a man long ago was crucified. He was not just an ordinary man. His message was the final words in His dying gasp of forgiveness for the ignorance of men – Forgive! That is power. Glory comes from the blood spilled that day. It is the power of God. Believe. Do not be ashamed.

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. (Hebrews 8:1-7)

Mediator Of A Better Covenant

The Law of Moses was a remarkable body of law. Given to the newly established nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai, God created a national consciousness that would regulate every part of the lives of the Hebrews. No law given among men is more complete, fair, just and beneficial to a people than the Law of Moses. The preamble of the law has been the fundamental faith of generations as they follow the Ten Commandments. Nations have been formed from the roots of the Mosaical law. Moral debates stem from the principles of a law given to the Jews following their captivity in the land of Egypt. Many still hold to the law as a guide for their beliefs. Examining the law with its teachings about morality, social and religious teaching is a perfect brief of jurisprudence unmatched by the laws of men. Remarkably it was not a law without fault.

Law must be established upon a single principle that will define its legality and value. The Law of Moses came from the mind of God, handed down by the Holy Spirit and delivered to the Hebrews by the words of Moses. No other nation in the world received such a law. It was an extraordinary body of law. There was one fatal flaw in the law that would highlight the purpose of the writer of the book of Hebrews to declare the first covenant was invalid. The sacrifices of the Law of Moses came by the blood of animals offered by priests who were sinful men. Jesus would change this. He became High Priest when He offered His blood to redeem men. His blood was pure and without sin. The failure of the Law of Moses was the inability of animals to redeem man because their blood was not eternal. When the priests offered up sacrifices he had to first purify himself. The blood of Jesus was eternal and He had no sin. As High Priest of the new covenant, the Lord sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. He is a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Father erected.

Jesus became the Mediator of a better covenant built upon better promises. Everything about the law given by God through His Son is perfect. There is a better priesthood, better blood, better sacrifice, better hope and a better image of grace than the Law of Moses. The Gentiles proved they could not live as a law to themselves and the Jews proved they could not keep the written law given through Moses. Jesus brings all men to His cross where they find the perfect love expressed through a perfect grace of a perfect sacrifice. If the Law of Moses had been faultless there would have been no reason for Jesus to come. The fact God sent His only begotten Son into the world proves the Law of Moses was a failed system of salvation. Grace can only be found in the Son of God as He is the only way, the only truth and the only life.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (Colossians 3:16-21)

The Context For The Family

It has been said that a text without a context is a pretext. One of the important tools to study scripture is to remember to embrace a passage with the frame of the discussion that surrounds it so that a deeper sense of meaning is given. Taking a single verse without understanding the previous thought by the writer may not bring to mind all that God wants to be considered. There are valuable lessons for the family to learn. The relationship of the husband and wife is very important to follow the design as intended by the Lord. Parenting is an incredible journey fraught with uncertainty and questions. Learning the best way to impress upon hearts of children the love of God is vital to the happiness of the home. How the children react can largely be dependent upon the leadership of the home. Contextually the admonitions for the family should only be understood in the light of what Paul wrote earlier.

Wives must learn how to subject themselves to their own husbands and the husband must learn how to love his wife without being bitter towards them. Children are commanded to obey their parents in all things because that is the will of God. The leadership of the home is placed upon the shoulders of the father who must guide the home. For those who are raised with Christ and seek the things that are above are changed people. They are the elect of God, holy and beloved who have put on the character of tenderness, kindness, humility and many other godly virtues. Love rules the home. All of this is accomplished because the home is built upon the word of Christ dwelling in the hearts of each individual. This must be the beginning place for the woman to learn how to submit herself to her husband. As the leader of the home in the role of a husband who loves his wife and guides the hearts of the children, the man seeks the word of God to guide him in teaching and admonishing his family. The word of God dwells in the heart of children and they obey their parents because they serve the Lord. Songs fill the home in praise to God as the family is a worshipping body of people who love the Lord in word and deed. Everything about the character of wife and husband is done in the name of the Lord Jesus. Mothers and fathers teach their children to follow after the will of God in all decisions of life. The home built upon the word of God is a family filled with the thanksgiving of God the Father. They realize all blessings come from Him.

The context for the family is established in all of the attributes of the relationship of the disciple of Christ. Women may find it hard to submit themselves to their husbands but when they engage their hearts in the word of God they will learn the beauty of His arrangement. It is more the nature of men to be bitter towards their wives. Being men of faith and loving the Lord with all the heart will show the path of righteousness to love their wives. As the elect of God, the man and woman show the glory of the Lord in their marriage because they let the word of Christ dwell in their hearts richly in all wisdom. Children obey their parents when they see the love of God first in the hearts of the father and mother. Their obedience is because they love the Lord like their parents. Everything in the home comes from doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. The family will find the peace of God ruling in their hearts when they follow the pattern for a godly home.

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)

What Is Your Aim In Life?

As a child of God there should be no greater purpose in life than to please the Father in heaven. Nothing compares to the noble character that seeks every day to do and say those things that bring a pleasing smile to the Lord. We always hit what we aim at. An errant shot may miss the target but that is because our aim was misguided. Paul’s admonition reminds us the only thing that should be important is the knowledge that every part of my life is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. That is a tall order. Trying to please our parents was challenging enough but they did not have full knowledge of what we did or did not do on a daily basis. God sees us without fail every minute of every day and we still must strive to please Him. If nothing else this should put our lives in perspective. If our aim is misguided we will not please the Father. Sin will have that impact and has been defined as ‘missing the target.’ The reason we fail to hit the target is because we chose not to. Sin is not an accident. It is a purposeful action drawn from our lusts. Making our aim to please the Father is putting forth the effort to bring our desires under control showing the Lord our faithfulness to Him.

Obedience to the will of God is not because of a spirit of commandment keeping drudgery. My willingness to keep the commandments of the Lord is because I want Him to be pleased with my life. His glory will be seen in my life when I follow the truth of His word. By example others will see the Father living in me and this pleases Him. My aim in life is to speak in a manner that honors God. When the Lord looks down on a population of six billion souls He will know that I am doing the best I can to bring joy to His heart because of my example. Every day is an expression of thanksgiving that God allows me to be His child and I honor that blessing by living in such a manner that pleases Him. He loves to see me open His word and learn more about Him. His love for me is found in His Son and the more I love His Son the more I please Him. The many times I lift up my soul in prayer is like sweet incense to the Father who is pleased His children want to speak to Him. Sharing my life with others in brotherly love is something that brings joy to the heart of God when He sees His children filled with love for one another. Helping others see the truth of salvation pleases the Father because He knows I care for the salvation of another human being.

There are many good things to aspire for in life but none compare to the change that takes place when my aim is to please Him. It brings peace, happiness, joy, contentment and the knowledge of an everlasting hope. Seeking the Lord removes the sorrows of the world with its bitterness. A calm demeanor overshadows the mind in knowing that what I do is something that makes God happy. What greater aspiration can a person have than to live in such a manner that when life is over the Father welcomes him home to live with Him? Pleasing God is preparing for an eternal home. In death the Father says, “Welcome home.” Then we get to see Him face to face and while He is pleased that we dwell with Him – our joy is without end. Make it your aim that whatever you do: be pleasing to God.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:8-11)

The Church Was In The Mind Of God

Moses declared that in the beginning God created the heavens and earth. He opened the book of beginnings by showing how everything in this world was created by the word of God. The world was formed by the design of the Creator and established through His creative power to show His glory to all men. Long before the void of earth was made beautiful by the Lord, there was something else that would not come to fruition until the death of God’s Son. In the eternal ages prior to Eden, God had His purpose that would be accomplished in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son and be called the church of Christ. The body of Christ or the church was in the mind of God before time began. It was a mystery hidden through the ages from the hearts of men. Promises were made in obscurity of the Garden of Eden when a Seed was promised. Abram was told that all nations would be blessed through his seed. Throughout the generations of men both Jew and Gentile future promises were made looking forward to a new day and a new time. Jesus referred to the coming kingdom in His ministry. Not until the death and resurrection of the Christ did the Father reveal the eternal plan for the church. Begun on Pentecost and spreading throughout the world, the church fulfilled the eternal plan of the Lord as the saved were added to the church daily.

The church is not some afterthought because the Jews rejected Jesus killing Him on the cross. Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel and Joel spoke of the coming kingdom hundreds of years before the coming of Christ. Paul declares the glory of the church is found in the manifold wisdom of God revealing to all men the eternal purpose He proposed for the church. The value and importance of the church is eternal. It is the highest expression of God’s love found in the gift of His Son which purchased the church with His blood. Jesus died for the church. He is the head of the church and savior. There is nothing slight about the church as many consider. For many today the church is an expression of something good but unessential. They see no value in being a part of the church or to be faithful to the work of the church. The world considers the church as an opportunity that one can choose any church they like. One so-called church is just as good as another so-called church. Sadly many of God’s people look at the church as a convenience once in a while and never commit to the work of the church.

When the church was established two thousand years ago, it represented the eternal plan of God fulfilled. The saved are in the church because the church is the body of Christ. Salvation can only be found in abiding in Christ. There is no other means which a man can be saved outside of the church. Jesus is the head as the only authority. The church is the bride of Christ. As King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Christ rules over His Kingdom. Saints have been baptized into one body which is the one church. All of this shows how important the New Testament church is to the mind of God and how important it should be for men. Salvation cannot be found outside of Christ and that includes the church. Admittedly one of the ploys of Satan that has brought about a misguided view of the church is the many different kinds of churches. This is nothing more than an extension of the great lie he wants to fill the hearts of men with. There is only one church because God had only one eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. Praise God for His wonderful power that gives us the church.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

Jahaziel’s Advice For The Christian

The battle took place more than 2500 years ago but the lessons learned still resonate with the people of God. It was a time of the divided Israel when Ahab and Jezebel reigned in the northern tribes and Jehoshaphat ruled the southern two tribes. The northern ten tribes never had a righteous king and the influence of Ahab and Jezebel sent the people of God down a path of incredible wickedness. Jehoshaphat was a man who followed in the ways of his father Asa doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. A day came when the people of Moab with the people of Ammon gathered against the king of Judah with a great multitude. Unlike his counterpart in the northern tribes, Jehoshaphat sought the blessing of God to help him defeat this great army that had come up against Judah. He begged the intervention of the Lord to spare the people from this catastrophe that waited with this great army. All of Judah, with their little ones, their wives and their children stood before the Lord seeking His blessings.

God sent His servant Jahaziel the son of Zechariah to deliver the message of hope for the people. The battle plan was not a complex maneuvering of chariots, infantry or batteries of artillery bombardment. It did not involve the people of Judah to do anything. Jahaziel told the people to go down and face the enemy and then do a most remarkable thing. First of all, there will be no need to fight this battle because the Lord has already won the victory. What the prophet wanted the people to do was to face the enemy, position themselves and stand still. No movement. No fighting. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Nothing else. They did not need to be afraid or to be dismayed because of the great army that stood before them. God would fight their battle for them. The people believed the prophet and did what he said to do. In place of swords and spears, the people sang praise to the Lord. When they began to sing the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. In a remarkable battle preserved through the pages of God’s word, the enemy of Judah began killing one another until no man was standing. When the battle was over, Judah came to find the land littered with dead bodies. It took three days to gather all the spoil from the dead bodies. God had won a great victory that day and the people of Judah trusted in the word of the Lord.

Jahaziel’s advice is still pertinent for the Christian. The battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and against the rulers of darkness. There is no reason to be afraid of Satan and his minions because the battle is not won by the power of men but the power of God. Facing the enemy is recognizing the powerful influence the devil tries to put in our lives and he is most successful. Allowing the power of God to guide the heart of the Christian, courage begs for the soldiers of Christ to position themselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with us. There is no greater power to defeat Satan than the power of God living in our lives. Through prayer, meditation of the word of God, fellowship and constant devotion to His cause, nothing will be able to defeat us. Trust in the Lord and let Him fight for you. He will give the victory because Jesus has risen from the dead. Thank God for His incredible gift.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:8-13)

The Letter Of The Law Was The Law

Examining the Law of Moses it is easy to see there were many details that had to be followed. The daily sacrifices, offerings and many feasts would be an exhausting schedule to keep up with. There were thousands of people assigned various jobs to fulfill the requirements of the Law. What is notable about the instructions are the minute details that fill the pages with what to do and what not to do. The law of the burnt offering is an example of the careful manner the Lord expected the priest to follow. Earlier Moses had instructed Aaron and his sons the burnt offering could be either a bull, male goat or sheep, turtle dove or pigeon. There were two lambs that were offered every day – one in the morning and another at twilight. This would be a continual burnt offering throughout the generations of Israel.

There were specific things required of the priest to maintain the burnt offering. The fire of the altar was to be kept burning without ever going out. This would take a lot of diligence, care and effort to maintain the fire. Someone would have to make certain the supplies for the fire were kept constant. The letter of the law was the requirement to keep a fire going day and night. When the priest came to take the ashes of the burnt offering he was to put on his linen garment and linen trousers. He would then place the ashes beside the altar. The constant burning would create a lot of ashes and this would be a daunting task. It is important to note that while the duties of the priest were very important and filled with the grandeur of the position to honor God, some of his duties were humble reflections of his position before the Lord. Removing the ashes from the altar would remind the priest of his lowly state. Before removing the ashes to a place outside the camp, the priest would once again change his garments. He would then find a clean place outside the camp to dump the ashes. When the nation of Israel settled in a place all of the tribes would encircle the Tent of Tabernacle. Every day the people would see the priest carrying the ashes of the burnt offering far beyond their camp to be disposed out of their sight. This would have been a purposeful lesson every day for the people to remember the grace of a loving God.

Keeping the letter of the law as an important lesson God wanted to impress upon the priest and upon the people. There may have been those who questioned why the fire had to be maintained without end and why the priest had to put on certain clothing to remove the ashes from the altar and then change his clothes to take the ashes outside the camp. Often the Lord tests the faith of His people when He gives them a law to see how faithful they will be in the small matters so that He can see their faithfulness in the larger matters. If a man is unwilling to obey the Lord with small things he will not obey the Lord in weightier matters. What may seem unnecessary at first will be found necessary in the will of God. The law of God has never changed from that path. Before the Law of Moses was given to the people the Lord expected obedience in the small things as well as the larger. Obedience is a willingness to do all the Lord commands without question – because God is always right. This does not regard the wisdom of man whether he understands it or not. Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron) offered strange fire and God struck them dead. They failed to appreciate God’s attention to detail.

Religion today is driven by the wisdom of man instead of the law of God. Many things that people do in worship to the Lord are without Biblical foundation. Baptism is rejected as unnecessary because man cannot see the wisdom in being immersed for salvation. Assembling every first day of the week is asking too much. Remembering the sacrifice of Jesus each week is an option. Living a life dedicated to Christ is measured by the whims of carnal thinking. If a person argues the letter of the law they are accused of being ‘commandment keepers’ who deny the grace of God. What men fail to see is the grace of God is enormous but only when the law is observed in the manner prescribed by God. Grace was found in the burnt offerings under the Law of Moses because the Lord took the sins of the people away because of their obedience. When the priest did exactly what the Lord required God blessed the people with His love. Grace and works are inseparable. The letter of the law is the law and without the letter of the law there can be no salvation.

The Day Before Christmas

So what do you put in the bulletin a day before Christmas? Tomorrow is the 25^th day of December traditionally seen as the day of Christ’ birth with many services today focused on silent nights and hearing the angels sing. Festive plays well rehearsed depicting the manger scene of shepherds and three wise men staring down at the baby Jesus will fill churches throughout the world. A huge star will be suspended above the manger. Angels will sing as little boys and girls with fragile wings will squirm and giggle with parents gleaming. The message of Jesus will be preached from pulpit to pulpit lauding the majesty of His miraculous birth. So what would be a good article to put in the bulletin the day before Christmas? Honestly it is hard to say.

We could discuss that Christmas is not really the birth of Jesus. It could be pointed out the misinformation that has longed filled the hearts of people who do not read the Bible to see the real story of Jesus birth. Matthew and Luke are the only ones that tell us what happened but men still get the story wrong. There is little detail in the birth of Jesus but again most of the world does not know the truth about His birth. Mark and John do not take the time to tell the story and the writers of the epistles including Luke’s account in Acts do not discuss it either. The only thing we know about the early life of Jesus are the first couple of years (limited information), when Jesus is twelve years and then when He is the age of thirty. Regarding the adulthood of Jesus ranging in a period of about three years the New Testament writers fill 27 volumes of stories, teachings, instructions and commands.

The basis of what to do to be saved is not found in the birth of Jesus but His resurrection and His commission. Twelve men took the gospel of salvation to the Jews in Jerusalem and three thousand souls were saved that day. Four men set forth stories of the life of Jesus called The Gospels. Countless disciples of the Lord gave their lives to preach Christ crucified and the hope of the resurrection. The New Testament never records a sermon where the birth of Jesus is highlighted with special emphasis on a day of celebration like Christmas. Hearts were convicted when the people were told they had killed the Son of God. Forgiveness was preached through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation was a message of promise given by the Father through His Son to all men who would obey Him. Early saints gathered weekly to engage in a memorial that signified the depth of God’s love to allow men to murder His Son on a cross. Their lives were daily committed to serving Jesus changing their characters to be in the image of the Father. The love these disciples had for God was not measured by poinsettias and Easter lilies. They gave their lives for the Lord because they worshiped Him with integrity and truth.

Early Christians were noble people empowered with a message of a cross that stained their hearts. Courage was their banner as they marched to war against Satan. Victories were gained daily as they conquered the carnal onslaughts of a world filled with wickedness. Their religion was not defined by a veneer of faith seen once a year on a silent night. Honor was the badge of love they bore under persecution; sometimes facing death with calm reserve.

What do you write a day before Christmas? The world has gone mad in a religious fervor that defies the truth of God’s word believing their lives are better for believing a lie.

Satan has an interesting ploy to deceive men. So often he does not want man to disbelieve in God. In fact it serves the devil well when men believe in God – as long as they fashion God into an image that is more like him. The totem of man is what Christmas is all about. Ironically men fashion Jesus into an image that glorifies man instead of the truth. All of the pomp and circumstance of December 25 is a memorial to the ignorance of man’s wisdom. How dark the blindness of those who cannot see.

So what do you put in the bulletin the day before Christmas? I guess it sounds cynical but then rebuking error can be viewed in that fashion. Truth is so pure yet so often misunderstood. It is sad how many people believe the lie. Maybe we should try harder to help one another do something noble: read the Bible. Do we think God has given us a book we cannot understand? What kind of God would He be if He could not reveal His truth to all men to know what to do to be saved? Frankly, Christmas is a good example about how a simple story, written in plain language can be so confusing in the minds of men.

Well, that is the end of the story. I have written 854 words and not mentioned a single scripture so here goes. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)