The Heaton File

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. (Titus 3:1-2)

Biblical Guidelines For Social Media

Everyone needs a little reminding. Paul exhorted the preacher Titus to repeat some teaching to the brethren and reinforce the character of the child of God. Example is a powerful tool to show the grace of God. The manner of life of a Christian will be like a light in a dark world or salt upon an unseasoned heart. What is amazing about the admonition to Titus is the Holy Spirit knew the social media was coming in the generations to come. How else could He have described so clearly the problem with Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and the host of other avenues called social media? Frankly it is not very sociable at times. What is more disturbing is how people who call themselves children of God fall into the same carnal trappings of a corrupt world in their use of social media. Rantings, ungodly posts, irreverent behavior, gossip, bullying and sexually immoral pictures and posts fill the air waves. The advice of the Holy Spirit is a powerful tool to keep oneself unspotted from the world and show a perverse generation what truth and righteousness should be.

Christian’s are to honor those in authority whether they like or agree with the leadership. When Paul wrote his letter to Titus he did not live in a democratic society that allowed him to be as critical as many find themselves expressing today. When Herod the king sent troops to Bethlehem his sole purpose was to ferret out some baby that people thought would be a king. He murdered untold numbers of young children and it was legal. Did anyone protest in the streets and fill Facebook with political rants against the government? They knew they would be imprisoned or killed. This was the same government that held power in the Roman Empire when Paul told Christians to be subject to rulers and authorities. Social media should never be used to criticize and revile the President or government leaders whether it is the present day administration or the ones previous. The Holy Spirit calls that sinful. Citizens of the United States who are citizens of the Kingdom of God are to obey with gladness the laws of the land. The only laws that are permitted to be disobeyed are those that come in direct conflict with the law of God – the word of God. Not an opinion, not a political viewpoint or societal acceptance. Jesus commanded honor be given to Caesar when due as well as to God as required.

There are many good things that can be done in social media. Being ready for every good work is a great way to use social media. The gospel can be shared, downtrodden can be encouraged and teaching of truth can be spread throughout the world. Let the light of Christ shine through the example of godly, modest Christians showing the glory of Christ in their life. Speaking evil of no one is a good model to follow in social media. Kind words, encouraging words and exhortations to help others will bring about more good than the vile gossip often littered across social media. Learn to be peaceable. Reacting to some post is not showing self-control. There are many mechanisms to safeguard against what is offensive. Not everyone has to be a friend and often those who are accepted as friends do not have to be followed. Have the courage to unfriend someone who does not bring the glory of God to the social media platform. Gentleness is a proper way to address social media. Showing all humility to all men is a wonderful way to use social media. The Holy Spirit gave instructions on social media two thousand years ago because whether it was done electronically or not, the problem remains the same.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Seeing The Invisible

What a glorious day it will be to stand before the Lord and see His face after all the years of earthly toil. Life can be tedious at times with its challenges that tax the body, soul and mind. Sorrow is the lot of all men as they travel the road of life. There is pain from the fleshly tabernacle that weighs heavily upon the spirit of man. Tears abound from loss or disparity. Age is a cruel task master that ravages the body of youth with disease. Death is real but often ignored. All men sin and while this describes the relationship to God it also highlights how difficult it can be to have confidence in others due to failings, distrust, disappointment and insult. Trust can be a fleeting commodity from men who struggle with their own sin. Admittedly, viewing life from the standpoint of carnal reality can be a pretty dim picture. For the child of God, there is an ‘up-look’ that changes the view from an unbearable affliction to a burden that is light. It has everything to do with how we understand our relationship with God.

The Lord does not leave us unaware of the problems of life. Knowing the outward body or physical body is deteriorating is easy to understand. Time will tell this story in vivid terms. Youth is full of vitality and vigor. With each passing year a realization of the limitations become very apparent. The industry to find the fountain of youth is a billion dollar profit. For the Christian, the outward body is not the focus. What is more important than the fleshly body is the spiritual relationship with the Lord and this does not grow old. When the child of God spends daily time in renewing their minds with the word of God, a youthful spirit infuses itself into life. The eyes that may grow dim with age brighten with the knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Life and all its trappings is considered a light affliction. Imagine thinking that life is as weighty as a feather. With the grace of God it can be done. Sorrow does not blanket the soul of the one who looks to the Savior for consolation. The heart is tuned into an eternal reward instead of trying to find happiness in this life. Joy is found in death because this is the open door of eternal glory with the Father.

Looking at things of this world is seeing what is temporal. There is nothing lasting from our houses, lands, monies and pleasures. They are perishable and victims of disaster, theft and ruin. Death removes us from all the things of this life. How sad to spend a lifetime gathering stuff that we cannot take with us. Looking at the things that are eternal makes life a burden easy to bear. The eternal weight of glory is the measure of the man who does not lose heart and renews his spirit in the Lord daily. When a man possesses the Lord, this can never be taken away. Death will not remove it. Sorrow cannot overshadow it. Awakening in eternity is all that a man has and if he is without God there is no joy. Putting trust in the Lord will bring eternal reward. Believing in the one true God will carry the spirit of man from a temporal world to an eternal home. All the tragedies of life are nothing when the heart of man fully trusts in the Lord. Look at the things that are not seen and you will see greater treasures.

You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 14:1-2)

Set Apart From The World

The greatest challenge to the faith of a Christian is the allurement of the world and desire to be like the world. This has always been a problem when the people of God have tried to separate themselves from the trappings of the carnal world. It is hard to be different from friends, family and what society deems acceptable. Peer pressure weighs heavy upon the hearts of those who seek to walk the path of righteousness. There are many commandments that condemn the actions of an unrighteous world as found in our passage for the day. The real focus is not what should not be done but the reasons the people of God must be different. Forbidding the Israelite’s from cutting themselves or shaving the front of their heads was not a flippant command allowing God to exercise authority over His people. The children of Israel were holy people and He wanted them to act in such a way to show His glory. It is easy for people to read the Bible and see all of the “Thou shall nots” and go away discouraged because the Lord is such a domineering spirit. He has that right because He is the Lord God Creator and His law is the final say on everything. However, man should not view Him as some cosmic bully who demands His way without understanding the nature of the character of God. Israel was forbidden to be like the nations around them because they were very special people and that is what God wanted them to understand.

God chose the Israelite’s – they did not choose Him. Setting the Hebrews apart was by the grace of God because of His love for them. He had promised Abraham a seed would come from him and through the lineage of Isaac and Jacob, God raised up a nation to be a people for Himself. The Law of Moses was a covenant that set them apart in every part of their lives. Food was regulated by what was clean and unclean, judicial laws were established according to the righteous judgment of God, celebration of days and weeks were instituted and a hosts of laws that impacted every part of daily living for the Jews. Central to all of the commands was a love for God. The Lord wanted the people to serve Him out of love, not duty. His commands were not burdensome. They were designed to give the people peace, safety and security in knowing God would take care of all of their needs.

Israel was a special treasure of the Lord. They were set apart for His glory and when they lived in harmony with His will, all people would see and fear the great nation of Israel. The pagans lived as a law to themselves. When they mourned for the dead they would cut themselves and shave their heads. This was against the nature of how God created man to indulge in self-inflicted mutilation. It was an unholy act. Forbidding the people of Israel to cut themselves and shave their heads was to set them apart from the carnal and immoral pleasures of those who did not believe in God as Creator. As a holy people, they lived by a higher standard walking in the ways of righteousness. Chosen by the Lord to be a special treasure, the Jews would be a symbol of God’s grace to all men. Of all the people on the face of the earth they would show the love of God in their hearts. Sadly, they failed in keeping the covenant and the Law of Moses was abolished.

Christ came to bring all men to the Father. In His death He joined all men into a special treasure of one body called His bride. The church of the Lord is where the saved are found as they are set apart from all people. Now the ones set apart for God are the ones called Christian, disciple, saint or a follower of the Way. The special treasure of the Lord is found in the church of Christ as He bought the church with His blood, redeeming it with His sacrifice. Only in Christ will the promises of eternal life be found. There are commands to keep but like the laws of old, God desires the heart to be in love with Him. He wants His people to be holy people and not live like the world. The church is filled with those who live like the world and try to serve the Lord. Being set apart is to not be like the people of the world. Christian’s are chosen people, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. If the disciples of Christ do not live apart from the world they will not show the world how treasured they are by God. Three things define the Christian: holy, chosen and treasured. Be set apart from the world.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

Jesus Took Them In His Arms

There are many pictures given of the Son of God. He faced with boldness the tempter, showed His power by walking on the water, cleared out the money changers in the Temple, prayed earnestly in the garden and died humbly on a cross at Golgotha. All of these images describe the character of the man from Nazareth who was God in the flesh. One of the most endearing images of Jesus was His time with children. He was not so aloof that He did not want to take time out of His incredibly busy schedule to take some children in His arms and talk with them. The parents who brought the children wanted the Lord to touch them and bless them. Standing in their way were the disciples who felt the work of the Lord was too important to fuss about children. This is a mistake made by those who do not understand the true character of Jesus. He wants and longs to spend time with children. They are a breath of fresh air to the uptight, worried and anxious adults. Jesus was upset with His disciples that they would keep the children away from Him. Did they not realize how important the children are to His ministry? Jesus did not come just to talk to adults. He wanted to talk to the children.

The Lord made a powerful spiritual lesson with the children but there was more to it than that. He took them in His arms and laid His hands on them. Can you see the smiles, giggles and the shy child who is not sure about this man? Look a little closer and you will see a calm delight fall over the eyes of Jesus as He looks into the face of these innocent children who are as pure as the driven snow. The little boy who feels the firm grip of the man who embraces him feels secure and content. From the face of the little girl comes a smile radiant as the sun because she knows this man is full of love. All the children sitting on the knees of Jesus asking questions, laughing, talking and feeling this man with whom they somehow know is a place of safety. The heart of Jesus is bursting. He had been challenged by the Pharisees about marriage and divorce. The disciples had argued about greatness. There is concern that there are those who do not follow Jesus casting out demons. The adults that surrounded Him were filled with problems and questions and pride. In the midst of this storm of doctrinal issues sits a man holding a group of children and smiling. Jesus is blessing the pure in heart.

Children need to be brought to Jesus. They need to learn from the earliest age that Jesus cares for them. He wants to know them, teach them and mold their hearts to love His Father. The Bible is not a book for adults alone. Parents must teach their children from the day they are born to know the songs of love for God. Littles babies need to hear the voice of the father and mother reading the holy scriptures. They need to hear the hymns of praise from the lips of their parents. Church services should be a time of reverence as they sing, pray and learn from the preaching of the gospel. Jesus wants the little children to come to Him so that He can bless them. Forbidding the children displeases the Father. Learning to fall in love with the Lord is a vital part of the growing heart that will one day become a child of God. Children who learn to love Jesus today will learn to love His Father in obedience later. Let the little child come.

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. (John 19:1-3)

Mocked With A Crown Of Thorns

It is difficult to imagine the humiliation the soldiers of Pilate put upon Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Even more unimaginable is the fortitude it required for the Lord to allow the mockery and not bring down a legion of angels to dismiss the puny humans who treated Him so contemptable. After the brutal scourging by the soldiers, the whole garrison surrounded Jesus of Nazareth which numbered more than 400 men. The man who stood before them had declared himself a king and they were going to make sport of this foolish Galilean who sought to exalt himself above Caesar. Reeling from the intense pain of the scourging, Jesus’ garments were stripped off His bleeding body and a scarlet robe draped around His shoulders. Some men gathered a pile of brambles to form a crown of thorns which they placed on the head of Jesus. Laughing as they mocked a man who claimed to be king, the soldiers bowed the knee in jest, spitting on Him and striking Jesus repeatedly with a rod and their hands. All the while the Son of God stood silent. Getting no satisfaction from their victim and boring of their sport, they put his clothes back on Him and lead Jesus away to be crucified.

Satan was doing his best to humiliate the Son of God. He knew who Jesus was. What a joy it must have been to the devil allowing such treatment of the one he knew as God. No man had treated God as vile as this day. It is difficult to consider how the Father allowed His Son to be so treated but love ruled His heart. The crown of thorns was symbolic of the putridity of sin and how far man had fallen in his mire of wickedness, hatred and ridicule of righteousness. Jesus willing gave Himself to be treated as the scum of the earth by those whom He created. By His hand the breath of life coursed through the blood of these soldiers. The soldiers were making sport of Jesus. He felt pity for them. They did not know a day would come when they would be standing before Him. On that day there would be no laughter and no mocking. Instead of a crown of thorns there would be a crown with many diadems. He would not bow before them; they would bow before the Lord God and receive judgment for their actions.

Within hours Jesus would be crucified. The same soldiers who mocked Him would return to their barracks and live out their lives unattached to the one among many they crucified that year. Jesus of Nazareth was nothing more than a faceless victim who (in their minds) deserved to die. They had treated him as they treated all the poor souls who came before them. Others may have been given a crown of thorns like Jesus. Mockery was their pastime. And then they died. Everything changed from that moment on. Eternity does not dismiss the memories of earthly life. There is no doubt these men who placed a crown of thorns on the head of Jesus know full well what they had done and to whom they had made fun. Sadly there is nothing to do but to see the face of that man from Galilee and to remember the day they mocked Him with a crown of thorns. Caesar was not a king. Jesus of Nazareth was the true King. The crown of thorns became a symbol of the love of God to allow man to kill His Son. Through the power of the Father, Jesus was raised from the dead to wear a crown of victory.

Two crowns. One fashioned by man and one given by God. What man sought to do in making sport of Jesus becomes the image of love as Christ died for all men – including the men who hours earlier had treated Him so terribly. There is a tinge of hope that someone among the garrison would come to know the real Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not reveal what happened. What is preserved in holy scrip is the example of the Son of God dripping in blood, with his back severely beaten, as men placed a crown of thorns on His head and He did nothing. Thank you Jesus for taking that crown of thorns and to become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all men to see your crown of grace. His crown becomes our victory. It reminds us of the price for sin.

And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.” (1 Kings 3:6)

A Son Talks About His Father

There are few men in the Bible that stand in the shadow of the second king of Israel: David. The youngest son of Jesse, David became king of Israel following the disastrous rule of Saul. He is remembered for two great stories showing his courage and his failures. Killing Goliath is a story of gigantic proportions as he faces the giant without fear. It would be the story of Bathsheba that would taint his life and rule as he committed adultery and murder for a moment’s reckless folly. David was a man after God’s own heart that battled sin as any man. When his son Solomon began ruling Israel, he described the character of his father in three simple terms – truth, righteousness and uprightness. There is no greater gift a man can give his children than a legacy of faithfulness to God. Seeking the blessings of the heavenly Father is the greatest blessing that can be left as a spiritual inheritance is passed from generation to generation. Solomon reflected on the character of his father in terms of endearment of the faithfulness to the Lord.

David was a man of truth. He had lived to a full age with many stories to tell. How many times he retold the story of Goliath to young children can only be imagined. Later he might have reflected on the lessons he learned from his sin with Bathsheba. It pained him greatly that king Saul hated him so much and spent most of his life chasing David like a flea in the wilderness. Whatever David said was measured with truth. His word was his bond. He was known as a man who did not lie. The character of David was a pattern of truth. Solomon remembered his father as a man proven in his example as a man that would act truthfully and with the word of God as his guide. Godly men will let their example be one of integrity and veracity. Speak the truth always and act according to truth. What will your children remember about you?

David was a man of righteousness. The character of righteousness is doing those things that are right. It seems a simple idea but it is profound. Doing what is right is not an easy task in a world that wants to do whatever feels good or seems fulfilling at the moment. Righteousness is based upon one thing: the will of God. The only rule of what is right is the word of God. This is where men have problems with righteousness because what God says and what men desire to do are often polar ends apart. Living a righteous life is an act of purity, holiness and truth. David was a man of truth because he was a man of righteousness. Solomon reflected on the character of his father and realized that everything about him came from a righteous attitude toward the heavenly Father. One of the greatest legacies we can leave our children is for them to remember us as righteous men. What will your children remember about you?

Finally, David was a man of uprightness. He feared the Lord and walked accordingly. His way was in the path of justice as he dealt with others. Integrity is a vital part of character that must be shown in the true light of God’s righteousness. Solomon acknowledged his father as a man who learned the righteous judgments of the Lord. There are many things that are passed on from generation to generation but the values of the personal traits impressed the mind of Solomon to remember his father as a man who walked with the stature of truth. Was David a perfect man? Clearly we often highlight the faults of David above his true character. He was not a perfect man but failed as all men fail. The character of David is not defined by his failures but his trust in the Lord. Solomon saw that. Every father should strive to imprint on the minds of their children the image of God as seen through their own lives. What will your children remember about you?

For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. (Romans 15:26-27)

Happy To Give

The true spirit of Christian fellowship is found in the pleasure of giving. From the early church, a pattern of love is exemplified as the saints in Macedonia and Achaia sent a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They enjoyed being able to help people they had never met but knew they shared the kinship of brotherly love in the body of Christ. The higher part of love is going beyond the familiar and helping those who are not as fortunate. Sending a gift to a faraway place takes even more love and devotion. Possessing a heart of kindness and a ready hand to share material blessings is a sign of a church filled with benevolent brethren. Giving has always been a part of God’s people. Abraham showed his generous spirit in being hospitable to strangers when the three angels came to visit him. The Law of Moses stipulated the corners of the fields were to be left for strangers and the poor. When the church began on Pentecost, the first Christians readily gave of their own possessions to the saints in need. Now through the benevolent hand of the Christians in Macedonia and Achaia the poor among the saints in Jerusalem would be cared for.

It is a great test to take what is mine and share with others. There is a natural desire to hold on to what we have and being cautious of giving to others. There are dishonest people who look for opportunities to take from those willing to allow them to be taken advantage of. They will have their reward in the final day of judgment. The spirit of giving is a trait found in the hearts of God’s children that know what they possess is not theirs. All the blessings of life come from the hand of the Lord. Sharing with others is redistributing the wealth of God to share with His other children. The Father is pleased when He sees brethren in one place sending aid to those in another place. Jerusalem had a population of saints who were in need of a benevolent hand. More than a thousand miles away some brethren collected much needed funds and sent to the poor saints in Jerusalem to fill their needs. That is the love of God in action. Their faith was no in word alone but also in deed. Faith and works exemplified by the kindness of saints living in Macedonia and Achaia to help their fellow saints in another city.

Giving is an important part of the work of God’s family. Having faith in the Lord to take a portion of the material blessings given by the Lord sharing with others expresses trust in the God who gave them. It is certain we take none of these things with us when we die. Spreading the wealth of our bounty for the needs of God’s people is the image of the sacrifice of Jesus to share His life for all men. Macedonia and Achaia are the pattern of a giving heart the Lord has always wanted His people to have. There are needs that must be met by the kindness of those willing to give. A great work is yet to be realized in all that can be done with saints who are anxious to help others see Christ. Helping needy saints, spreading the word of the Lord and admonishing the faithful children of God is an ongoing experience requiring hearts of faith, hands of diligence and willing minds to share with others in need. There will be no grumbling or murmuring. Giving will be with a cheerful heart knowing the grace of God shines upon the spirit like those of Macedonia and Achaia.

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows who are really widows. (1 Timothy 5:1-3)

Respect For Age

There are many attributes that set a Christian apart from the world but one should be the respect given for age. From ancient times, the Lord has expected His people to hold a higher standard to those who are older. In the Law of Moses it was directed that one should rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man. This was based upon a fear of God and respect given for the Lord. Elisha the prophet was mocked by some youths who called him “bald head” and pronouncing a curse upon them two female bears mauled forty-two of the young people. Paul’s instructions to Timothy ring clear the respect young people should learn for their elders. The young preacher was to be an example to others and it was especially important that he give honor to those older than he as father figures and older women as mothers. This does not mean older folk cannot be rebuked or chastised for conduct unbecoming a disciple of Christ but the mode of correction should be with respect. Showing honor for age is part of the character of holiness. The Law of Moses had provisions that if a child dishonored their parents they could be stoned to death. God’s impression left on the mind of man is that respecting age is very serious to the Lord. While the Law of Moses has been abolished the attitude of God toward respecting the aged has not.

Children learn early to respect others. Parents should instill in their children to speak with reverence to their elders and show honor to them. It may not require a ‘yes-sir no-sir’ but it should not be far from it. Young people need to be around older folk. They need to listen to their wisdom and learn lessons from their lives. Exhorting older folks as fathers and mothers comes from a heart cultivated with the respect God wants from young people. Being older does not mean someone is right about everything. Young people make wrong choices because they are young and older folk make wrong choices because they are older. In both cases a wrong decision was made. Paul the older preacher is helping Timothy the younger preacher learn how to interact with his spiritual family. Honor those who are older, respect those who are of the same age and take special note of those who have lost their husbands. This will build a community of people that love one another seeing after their needs regardless of age.

Everyone needs exhortation. The older folk can look at the younger generation with distrust and the younger elite can view the older as outdated. Both are wrong. There is a reason God made our time of youth to be filled with experimentation and mistakes. Learning is an ageless process that does not end when we get older. Some who have reached a mature age have less maturity than those younger. The key ingredient in the relationships of youth to elder is to have respect for one another based upon a love and devotion from God. Learning to give honor to the older is a basic character development in having respect for God. If a child does not learn to give reverence to others, how can they have a heart of respect for the Lord? Many children who are spoiled and taught to disrespect others will do the same thing to the Bible, the church and the Lord Himself. Timothy was admonished to chasten others with a love like a father or mother, brother or sister.

And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt. For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD—to whom the LORD swore that He would not show them the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5:4-9)

Gilgal

The children of Israel had arrived at the land of Canaan with great anticipation. Crossing the Jordan River on dry ground heightened the awareness of the people of the presence of God and what they had witnessed in the last forty years. Their fathers had all died in wilderness because of their unbelief in the power of God. When the people rebelled at Kadesh Barnea refusing to enter the promised land the Lord punished the nation with forty years of wandering. Sons watched their fathers die; burying them in the wilderness as testimony to the word of God. Now the beauty of a land flowing with milk and honey stood before them. The days of drifting from one place to another were over. A new land stretched before them as promised by the Lord. Before the conquest of Canaan could begin there was one command that must be obeyed. When Moses gave the Law to the people there was one fundamental command that was necessary to establish a covenant with God and the people. Hearkening to the days of their father Abraham, the Lord commanded all the sons of those who fell in the wilderness to be circumcised. This would a sign of their faith to trust in the promises of God regardless of the pain involved. They obeyed.

Jericho was the first city to fall. In time the whole land fell to the hand of the Israelite’s. The land of Canaan was a land promised upon a covenant. Failure to keep the law would have doomed the conquest. Requiring the men to be circumcised was a test of their faithfulness to keep the Law of Moses. The men who came out of Egypt were consumed because they did not obey the Law. Obeying the word of the Lord He took away their reproach establishing again His covenant with Israel. The place of the circumcision was called Gilgal and would long be remembered for what took place here. Obedience is not a choice where men can decide to follow their own wisdom. Requiring the men to be circumcised was not a task to be enjoyed. It caused a great deal of pain requiring days of healing. Arguments could have been made as to why such a thing was necessary but the men did not challenge the word of the Lord. They had seen His judgment upon their fathers and learned the lessons of disobedience.

There are many places that remind the Bible student of the lessons from God. Eden was a garden where sin first came into the world. Mt. Sinai symbolizes the Law of Moses. Golgotha is where salvation from sin was given to all men. Gilgal should be a place to remember the covenant of the Lord and the requirements. What God asked of the men that day was beyond the pale of man’s wisdom but they did not question His law. Obedience was accepted and the grace of God was returned to the nation. That is the character of doing what the Lord requires. There are many who deny the value of baptism declaring it a work of salvation undeserved by the grace of God. What they do not see is the law of God requires the washing away of sins and without the burial into Christ there is no promised land. Reading about the men at Gilgal suggests it would not have been done by the religious world today. Baptism is by its nature painless but circumcision was anything but easy. Jesus suffered the pain and horror of the cross so that our circumcision is without suffering. Rejecting the command to be circumcised in the heart leaves a person without hope. Gilgal is a lesson of complete obedience.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Social Addiction

The sermon Jesus delivered on the mountain forms the nature and character of His disciples. Simple principles are put before the people challenging their perception of God in ways that astonished them. When He concluded the sermon, the hearts of the multitude was profoundly shaken. They had never heard such clarity and forthright teaching. Examining the sermon shows a powerful illustration of the simple doctrines of truth, righteousness and devotion to the Lord God. The common people understood Jesus because they heard teaching that did not mince words or create confusing analogies with ulterior motives as men devise. It would be fair to say the sermon exhibited a great deal of common sense approaches to character. The Lord removed the mist of doubt when He said the heart is the central figure in the life of the disciple. Nothing is more foundational than to see everything that makes a man a man comes from the heart. Whatever the desires of the heart will be is what will make the man a person of character or one that pursues aimless goals.

One of the enduring lessons about the Sermon on the Mount is the application it makes for every generation. When Jesus uttered these spiritual truths two thousand years ago He probably did not have in mind social media. He did understand the nature of man and how that he is drawn into the mire of social acceptance because of the need to be accepted by others. Whatever form that it takes (and it has taken many forms in the history of man) it remains the same problem of the heart. Idol worship was a social media nightmare taking the heart of the Israelites away from God. When Moses gave the Law to the Hebrews he began with the first principle of faithfulness to the Lord by showing that nothing can come before a relationship with the Lord God. The world turns upon a phenomenon that is of recent creation: social media. Unlike idol worship, there is some good in social media and can be used for the glory of God. Sadly, what happens more often than not is the heart is consumed with the devices that offer so many windows into the world. Studies have shown a serious addiction to mobile devices. People cannot function without their ability to twitter, engage, FaceBook, text, play, browse endlessly, share meaningless memes, shop and spend more than five years of their lives thriving on electronic devices. Imagine taking five years away from a productive life to do nothing more than stare into a glowing device.

Social media causes families to stop speaking to one another. They are too busy gawking at their phones. Computers glow in the late nights as trolling methods are increased by manufacturers that want you to stay on their sites and in their sights. Endless videos run holding the eyes captive to the next fun thing. A new word is being used to describe a phobia of not having a mobile device: Nomophobia. Imagine that. We now have a word to describe what we think about our mobile devise. Parents spend more time on their phones than engaging with their children. Young people are obsessed with having the newest and latest phones to fill the pressures of their peers. Attention spans are being lost as children do not know what to do without their electronic device. Mood swings, anxiety and bullying come with the territory. Road rage is coupled with texting while driving killing thousands every year. Lost in the blur of all of this new fad is the heart devoted to the Lord God.

After two thousand years faith still comes from hearing and hearing comes from the word of God. One of the greatest dangers of social media is how it takes the heart away from God. It does not seem alarming because there are good things to find in electronic devices. What is lost in the minds of God’s people is what it is creating in the heart. The treasure of the heart is not in the word of God but social media. Acceptance is based upon the number of likes and comments on a FaceBook page. Identification is measured by social acceptance through electronic devices not the character of righteousness. A twist to electronic devices is that many young people use their smartphones to find Bible passages. Hand them a Bible (the paper kind) and they have no idea where a passage is found. Faith comes from leaving the oil of the hand upon the pages of God’s word and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Character comes from people talking face to face with one another about the love of God. Sharing in life will not be done through a smartphone or social media account. Hearts are being lost to the world of materialism. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It is time for the church to take a hard look at where the hearts of God’s people is being taken. What value will that smartphone be when standing before the Lord in judgment and we realize our heart was not in the Lord? It would be better to go through life without social media and see God face to face than to throw our lives away in the heap of souls lost through a fad that will not endure. What is it profit if we gain the whole world and lose our soul? Sad isn’t it. Look at your heart. It is there you will find what you treasure.