The Heaton File

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons — because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. HE CALMS THE STORM, SO THAT ITS WAVES ARE STILL. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

(Psalm 107)

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)

They Did What They Could Do

The First Century church was very different than the modern version of the Lord’s church in one particular way: it is not likely they had large and lavish building filled with soft pews, lighting and temperature control. As the first disciples began to learn to structure, organization and worship in the body of Christ, they had to find ways to carry out the work of the church. Assembling on the first day of the week was a command that had to be carried out but the means of bringing that about was left to the discretion of the brethren. Paul commends Aquila and Priscilla because of their diligent work for the Lord but also for allowing the church to assemble in their home. The apostle first met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth after the Roman Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome. As fellow tent makers, Paul had a close relationship with the couple often encouraged by their faithful work in the kingdom.

It is not known the financial status of Aquila and Priscilla but they had a home they were willing to open allowing the church to assemble there. Probably not everyone could do this but this couple did what they were able to do so the work of the church could continue. There is a lot of work and effort to have the church in the home. For the Christian it is a joyous time to serve others. Going the extra mile to open the home to fellow brethren on a constant basis shows the love Aquila and Priscilla had for the Lord. They were blessed with a home where people could meet and they used that opportunity to help the church. Everyone could do what they could do to help one another and that is the great lesson. People like Dorcas whom Peter raised from the dead showed her faith by the many tunics and garments she made for others. The individual can do something for the Lord like Aquila and Priscilla and Dorcas.

Jesus taught His disciples the heart of a servant is what makes him stand out from others. The world is only interested in self but the child of God thinks of others and what he or she can do for the work of the kingdom. There may be some like Aquila and Priscilla that can open their homes to the work of the church while others may only be able to call and exhorting others to be strong in the Lord. Every Christian has something they can bring to the table. There is a lot of work to be done in the church like sending cards, visiting the sick and shut-in, calling those who need encouragement, having Bible studies in the home, inviting others to services, providing transportation, sharing food and clothing with the needy and a whole list of things that will build up the church. What we learn from Aquila and Priscilla is there is something for everyone to do. The value of the gift is not measured by the proportion of the effort but the intent of the heart. Little things are important as well as larger.

The best kind of work to be done is that which is done without being asked. It is not hard to find something to do when we look for it. There is a lot of work to be done in the church and with a servant’s heart, we will find things to do that will benefit the work of the church and let the light of Christ shine in the community. If you have an eldership, go and ask what you can do. Look for ways and means to build the work of the church up in doing what you can do. The body of Christ is made up of many members and every member is important. No one is unimportant. When everyone is doing all they can do (like Aquila and Priscilla) the church will grow in love and number and spirit. What a blessing the local church will experience when its borders are filled with those who have a heart to share their lives for others. Jesus reminds us this is how the world will know we are His disciples. Let’s get to work.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-11)

The Need Of Diligence

Before Peter discusses the characters of grace that will help the child of God live with the assurance of salvation, he reminds his readers there must be a heart dedicated to the life changing message of truth. Having knowledge of the will of God and exercising that knowledge is what makes the difference in the attitude of how to carry out the word of God. The Christian graces given in this text cannot be viewed with an indifferent mind that does not realize the vital part each grace serves in the building character of the disciple of Christ. Adding these exhortations must be done with a diligent and careful heart determined to continually develop the image of the Lord into the life of the Christian.

There must be a diligence in adding these graces to the faith established in the heart. This shows how that developing the character of holiness does not come passively but by an active pursuing of the graces to be added and built up every day. Adding virtue to faith must be done with diligence. Every effort must be made to learn how to add knowledge to the mind of the child of God. Self-control requires a great deal of work as the battle between the flesh and spirit rages on. Learning to persevere under hardships and trials will require all the strength of the Christian. Godliness is a developed characteristic that takes years to fashion in the image of the Father. Showing brotherly kindness and love is often more difficult in the face of disappointments and without diligence will lag. Putting every effort into each one of these graces will transform the heart of the Christian.

Giving diligence to add to faith the graces of righteousness teaches the need for an active life of growing. Children of God must daily grow in the graces the Father has left as examples so that we can face the world with courage and live with the hope of eternal life through death. The Christian graces of 2 Peter are the definitive measure of a whole life built upon the promises that make eternal life a certainty. Faith does not come on its own. It comes from hearing the word and implanting the word in the daily living of the child of God. Adding the graces to the faith of the Christian will embolden the spirit to be more focused on eternal goals. Lacking in any areas will weaken the resolve. Giving all diligence is the engine that drives the character of the Christian.

Diligence is required in making sure the calling and election of the child of God. The graces listed in this passage will not make the individual barren but filled with the power of the spirit of the Lord. Through the working of these graces sin will have less sway on the heart of God’s people. The Holy Spirit has given a perfect list of graces that when examined will show what is lacking in the heart. If there is an area of life that a person struggles with having difficulty overcoming, one or more of these graces is the antidote. Giving all diligence to increase in one of these graces (or more) will help to overcome the pattern of sin that plagues the heart. Applying all of these graces with a diligent heart will give the child of God the assurance that eternal life is sure. Stumbling over sin will happen less often because faith has added these characteristics to a life of righteousness. Our weaknesses are defined by what is lacking in these graces. The strength we need to overcome is putting forth every effort to add to our faith the virtues of the Christian graces. It will transform our life making us to be stronger than ever before to fight against the wiles of the devil. The greatest blessing of this diligence is the knowledge that an entrance will be given abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ. Thank you God for Your grace that allows us to live in the knowledge that heaven is our home.

And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. (Deuteronomy 5:1-4)

Six Facts About The Law Of Moses

The Bible is a book of books containing sixty-six different books written over a span of 1500 years. There is harmony and unity in all its pages as the Holy Spirit directed men through the generations preserving the word of God. Only through the power of God is the message of redemption preserved in these sixty-six books so that man can read and understand the truth that will save him. One of the most important lessons about the Bible is to read it with the proper perspective. This is especially true when reading about the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments. There is no difference between the Law and the Commandments as they are all contained in the same body of law given to the nation of Israel. Many in the religious world today do not see how the Law of Moses is no longer a binding source of authority as they still cling to various precepts including the Ten Commandments. There are six points about the Law of Moses that must be understood.

1 – The Law of Moses did not come into being until the Hebrews became a nation as recorded in the book of Exodus. Genesis is the book of “beginnings” describing the beginning of the world, the home and the nations of the world. It is difficult to determine how many thousands of years are contained in Genesis but there were many, many generations before the story of the Law of Moses comes into focus. When Cain killed Abel he did not break one of the Ten Commandments. Murder was a sin long before the Law of Moses was given. Noah witnessed the entire world destroyed because the people were so wicked the Lord brought the great flood. No one in the days of Noah broke the Ten Commandments because it was not written at the time. Abraham was never accountable to the Law of Moses and was found justified before God.

2 – The Law of Moses was only given to the Hebrews when they came out of Egypt under Moses. This law did not apply to the nation of Egypt or the nations they were to conquer in their quest of the Promised Land. Moses reminded the people the Lord made a covenant with them in Horeb and this was a law for the Israelites. At Mt. Sinai the people were told they would be a special people above all of the earth if they would keep the covenant between them and God. The Hebrews agreed and entered into a covenant with the Lord as a nation. Israel was the only nation given the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

3 – The Gentiles were not required to keep the Law of Moses. It is necessary to see the Law of Moses was not a universal law that all men were obligated to obey. The Chinese nation had been in existence for thousands of years but the Law of Moses did not apply to them. Paul’s argument in Romans 4 explains how that Abraham was not accountable to the Law of Moses and yet he was found righteous and justified before the Lord. How could that be if he was not under the Law of Moses? Abraham was saved because of his faith and obedience to God and not through the Law of Moses. Jonah preached to the Gentile city of Nineveh. He did not require them to become followers of the Law of Moses but (like Abraham) the Ninevites were told to repent. And they did. Gentiles could proselyte into the law if they desired to live under the Law of Moses. Salvation for the Jew came through the Law and salvation for the Gentile came from ‘Abrahamic faith.’

4 – God promised a new covenant during the days of the prophets. Jeremiah taught the people as the nation of Israel was being carried away to Babylonian captivity. The pre-exilic prophets spoke of the word of the Lord going to the Gentiles. This promise was first seen in the Garden of Eden when the promise of a Seed was given and then confirmed through Abraham. The Seed is Jesus Christ as the message of salvation was brought to all men – Jew and Gentile. Jeremiah spoke of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31) and the Hebrew writer confirmed this new covenant with better promises, a better priesthood and a better sacrifice. If there had been nothing wrong with the Law of Moses there would have been no need to seek another law. The Law of Christ proved the Gentile could not save himself by himself and the Jew could not save himself by keeping the Law.

5 – Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill the Law of Moses. One of the clear teachings of Jesus during His ministry was to show how that He would take away the Law; not by destroying it but by living the Law of Moses with perfection. It was within the power of Jesus to simply remove the Law because He was the author of the Law. This would not show the purpose of the Law or the eternal plan of God to save all men – Jew and Gentile. Jesus lived under the Law of Moses and never broke one single law. He fulfilled the law by breaking the curse of the Law (Galatians 3).

6 – The New Testament shows the abolishment of the Law of Moses and the union of the Gentile to the redemptive plan of God. On the day of Pentecost, the Jews were ushered into the kingdom of God. When Peter taught Cornelius (a Gentile) the gospel, he opened up the doors of the kingdom to Gentiles. Under Christ all men (Jew and Gentile) could find salvation. The Law of Moses was abolished (Ephesians 2:15), and taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14). Paul reminds the Romans that all men had been delivered from the Law (Romans 7:6-7). The Hebrew writer describes a new priesthood annulling the priesthood of the Law of Moses (Hebrews 7:11-19). With a change in the priesthood the Law changed. One of the great problems in the First Century were Jews trying to bind the Law of Moses as a part of salvation; circumcision. In numerous passages, the apostle Paul refutes the importance of circumcision (Galatians 6:11-15). Taking circumcision away removes the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

The sacrifice of Jesus brings all men to Him for the cleansing power of His blood. There was a purpose and design for the Law of Moses (Galatians 3) but the Law (with the Ten Commandments) has no authority today. If a man steals he does not break the Ten Commandments because that law has been abolished. Sin is a transgression of the law of God. Salvation will only come through Jesus Christ who is the only way, the only truth and the only life. His law is what saves man (Galatians 3:26-29). Not the Law of Moses.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Perilous Homes

The Holy Spirit warned through the writings of the first century church there would come days of peril when the hearts of men would be turned away from the Lord. Perilous times were coming that would transform the world into a place of spiritual darkness. The warning of the Lord against the onslaught of Satan’s devices is not something that speaks of a specific time in history as if it were a single event. Paul is showing how the home will be the foundation for the corruption that is in the world. Every nation is built upon the character of the home and as the home goes, so goes the nation. Society blows in the direction of the training (or lack of) found in the relationship of the husband and wife and parents toward children. When the home is filled with unrighteousness, the community will follow suit. Blame cannot be laid at the feet of some generic cause for the crumbling of the nation. The home is reason the world has changed. When the home changes, everything else changes.

An examination of the modern home opens up the source of societal disease. Children are taught to love themselves above all things. Money is the focus in a materialistically driven world where name brand and new gadgets are the craze boasting of position and prestige. Respect for parents and older adults are lost with children that are unthankful, unholy, unloving and unforgiving. It is a ‘me, me, me’ world and instead of hearing an ‘amen’ in the home it is only a ‘who cares.’ Religion is maligned as something for outdated old people. There is no control in the passions and desires of young people who despise goodness as old fashioned and outdated. Headstrong lovers of pleasure, the home is on a roller coaster of non-stop pursuits of the pleasures of the flesh rather than lovers of God. As a result, the home is led away by the lusts of the flesh and eye filling the heart with the pride of life.

Perilous times are here. What is more frightening is to realize Paul is not talking about the homes of unbelievers but homes of the children of God. The danger of the perilous home is when this happens to the homes of those in the church. As the home goes so goes the church and when the church is filled with souls that are unloving, unforgiving, unthankful, etc.; it will not survive. All of the churches mentioned in the New Testament have disappeared. One of the reasons is because the perilous times came upon them and when the home was destroyed, they ceased to exist. The church today must reinforce the teachings of the home as built upon the promises of God. Husbands and wives must reestablish the home with the word of God as the center of influence with parents guiding their children by the sacred word. No home will survive without the teachings of the will of the Lord. Be warned. Perilous times are coming.

For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45)

Jesus The Arborist

The teaching of Jesus was simple. His illustrations were powerful because of their simplicity. Eager students of truth would not miss the clarity of the lessons Jesus presented whether He was speaking in parables or using common things of life to drive a point home. The sermon on the mount shows the simplicity of how the character of the disciple of Christ is formed. Learning to be humble and loving an enemy would take a tremendous change of heart requiring the mercy and grace of the Father. Hypocrisy could not be a part of the disciple’s life and the proof was in the character of the person. It was one thing to hear Jesus exhort His followers to be humble, love their enemies and not judge one another with a hypocritical heart. The real evidence of a change in heart was the change of action. This would be illustrated with a fruit bearing tree.

Good trees bear good fruit and diseased trees bear bad fruit. A simple law of nature convicts the listener to see the truth of Jesus’ teaching. Every person is known by their actions. Figs do not come from thorns or grapes from bramble bush (thistles). In the same way, people of good hearts will bear fruits showing their good hearts where bad attitudes come from hearts diseased by sin. This is an absolute pattern in nature and in the hearts of men. What comes out of the mouth first had residence in the heart. Often we may say, “I did not mean to say that.” In fact, we said it because it was in our heart. We may regret saying what we thought but an evil word does not come from a good heart. The tongue cannot be tamed but the heart can. Jesus implores His listeners to examine the heart and see what needs to be corrected.

An arborist is someone who cultivates, manages and studies trees, shrubs and vines. Jesus set forth a curriculum for all those who would be His disciple to look within their hearts and cultivate from good ground a tree that bears good fruit. This takes a lot of work and diligence. Arborists spend a lot of time examining, pruning and nurturing the tree to bring its full potential to bear. We must do the same thing with our hearts so that evil thoughts and words do not come out in a moment of recklessness. Controlling the heart is bearing good fruit both in words and in action. Hearts that are nurtured by the love of God will be more patient, kind, understanding and forgiving. The word of God must be carefully studied to learn how to cultivate the heart to think the right things, say the right things and act in the right way.

The most important lesson is to realize that what we are comes from our heart. If the heart does not change we will not change. Those who wish they could have a better attitude must change the heart first. When words come out of the mouth that embarrasses us and offend others we must see the problem lies within our hearts. We are what we have made ourselves to be in our hearts. Good hearts bring forth good things and bad hearts bring bad things. This is true in the natural world of fruit trees and this is true in the real world of men’s hearts. A bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Hearts that are filled with the world cannot (and will not) bring forth righteousness. The treasure of the heart defines our character. For out of the abundance of the heart our mouths speak. The only cure is to spend time with the arborist from God – Jesus Christ.

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.(Psalm 40:1-5; To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.)

Trust In The Lord

The relationship between a man of faith and the Father in Heaven is one of complete trust and confidence. David knew very well the faith a man could have in God and the blessings of serving the Lord with a spirit of praise. Trust is something that is experienced. In the beginning it is assumed but time is what creates the mortar of that conviction leading one to patiently wait upon the Lord to do His work. The son of Jesse experienced trust in the Lord facing the lion and the bear and then one day a giant named Goliath. Throughout the life of David, he relied upon the will of the Father for his guide and when he tragically went astray with Bathsheba, he still trusted in the mercy and grace of God. Trusting in the Lord is not a temporary relationship. The Lord will never forsake His people as long as trust remains. When the trials of life come upon the child of God, the Heavenly Father embraces the heart with a confidence of overcoming. How many times will the Lord deliver His children from danger? David said the wonderful works of the Lord are more than can be numbered.

Trusting the Lord is knowing He will never give up on His children. Waiting patiently to allow the perfect work of the Father to show itself in our life will assure the heart that God will be inclined to hear our pleas. He is not unaware of our needs. His work will bring us from the miry clay of despair lifting us up to the security of a broad place to stand. There is nothing He cannot do. His power is so immense and so beautiful that we will lack nothing in receiving the blessings of a protective Father. Learning to trust in the only true God will bring a song of joy to our lips because we can trust in Him.

He thinks about us. That is a remarkable thing to consider. With the heavens filled with billions of stars that He named one by one and the beauty of a world that magnifies His name from the four corners of the earth; our Father considers everything about my life. God is personal. He inclines His ear to my voice and hears my cry. His blessings are so many they cannot be counted and those blessings are just what I receive from Him. He loves each of His children as if they were the only ones in the universe. Together there is not enough parchment to write or sky to inscribe the words of praise for a Father who loves us so much. With this knowledge how can we not trust in Him? His will is perfect and His way is truth. There is no man that we can trust as confidently as the Father. His thoughts are not like the thoughts of man. They are higher than the heavens and because of His majesty we can trust Him with all confidence. He is always right. His word is always true. The way of the Father will never harm us when we follow His will. Establish your steps by the word of the Lord and you will never fail to have someone you can trust. The Lord be magnified.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-11)

We Need To Escape

The divine power of God has given man everything he needs to glorify his creator and worship the one true God. This knowledge comes through the life of His Son, Jesus Christ and there is no other way man can come to the Father. Contained in the words of salvation is the exceeding and precious promises motivating man to follow the will of the Lord partaking of the divine nature of God. The transition that takes place when a man empties himself to the will of the Lord is to escape those things that will destroy him. The world is a place of corruption. Anything that is corrupt is immoral, debase, depraved and wicked. There is nothing good in a corrupt world filled with the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The joy experienced in lust is temporary. It is the aftertaste that brings sorrow, pain and heartache.

Abounding in the grace of the Lord changes the life of a person who has known only the disappointment of a corrupt world. What is sad for most of humanity is they seek for the joys of life in things that will only bring pain. A corrupt world is built upon the nature of the feelings of now and enjoyment of pleasure the only goal in life. While these temptations have strong appeal, what is repeated time and again is the knowledge that nothing in a corrupt world lasts. The few drinks that bring pleasure end in despair and the need to drink again. Sexual pleasure is brief and must be sought after again finding the same result of emptiness. Money is only paper that is lost in a moment and yet a lifetime spent hoarding what can never be kept. Knowledge is endless and the mind can never be filled. Corruption fills the world with the ideals of lusts driving men to live an empty life of despair. The gospel of Jesus Christ raises man from the dredges of wasteful living to a world of fulfillment, happiness and true worth.

Escaping the corruption that is in the world is recognizing the reality of its imprisonment. The first step to find happiness is to see the world for what it is: corrupt. It is like living in a septic tank and realizing this is not what the Lord has created us to be. All men are made in the image of God to glorify Him. We are to rise above the sewers of Satan’s pleasures to the dazzling glory of righteousness. Escaping the corruption of the world is to crawl out of the septic putridity of a corrupt world and look to the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Cleansing ourselves of the filth of the flesh, we find the glory of God fulfilled in our life by the transformation of our character to His image. Adding the graces of the Lord to our life will help us to become fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. First, we must escape. Then we must continue to increase in the graces of godliness to remove the filth of the world from our lives. Escaping demands running away from something. To escape the corruption of the world requires running away from the entrapment’s of a corrupt world.

The exhortation of Peter to add the graces of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are the elements of the cleansing power of God to remove the filth of the flesh. These agents of God’s power will help the child of God escape the corruption that is in the world. Adding these virtues to the character of the child of God will bring greater happiness and peace. This pattern will help secure the life of the Christian to know that eternal life is granted making their calling and election sure. Escape the corruption of the world. Come to the cleansing power of God’s love.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images. (2 Chronicles 34:1-3)

Generational Influence

The young king did not know his ancestral grandfather David. It had been almost four hundred years since the death of King David and following the death of Solomon, the division of Israel. Judah had gone through turbulent times with prophets declaring the judgment of the Lord against the wickedness of the people. Idolatry filled the hearts of the people. The holy nation of God’s people had become like the nations around them. Josiah was eight years old when he became king. His rule would be a refreshing time of righteousness for 31 years. Less than 25 years after the death of Josiah, the city of Jerusalem would be burned and the temple sacked. Describing the rule of the boy king, the Holy Spirit declared that he walked in the ways of his father David. While he was young, he began to seek the God of his father David. It was impossible to bring the nation completely back to a righteous nation as they were under David but Josiah molded his character after a man who had been dead for nearly four centuries.

Influence is a powerful tool to achieve great success and when it is a good influence, the changes made are remarkable. King David was a great man of faith and described by the Spirit as a man who walked after God’s own heart. The good kings of Judah were described by a desire to be like their ancestor David. What kind of influence would a man have to achieve to have his great, great, great grandchildren (and more generations) describe their faith by his life? The impact of one man’s life upon generations to come is a powerful story of faith. No one molded their life after King Saul or King Solomon. Those who followed in the steps of Jeroboam or Ahab were brought to destruction. In seeking the good kings of Judah, the Bible reader is drawn to the phrase, “he walked in the ways of his father David.”

The kind of life I live as a father can have an impact on generations to come for good or for evil. Like David, we should leave a mark upon our families that will be passed on from generations to generations so they will know the glory of the Lord and His righteousness. Leaving an inheritance of worldly goods will only rust and fade away. Riches of this life will not last but a good name and a devotion to the Lord will change the lives of young men and women who are forming their love for God. As fathers, we must establish a role model for our family to follow that gives honor to the word of God and the will of the Lord. Firmly entrenching the ideals of righteousness in the hearts of the children can produce many generations of righteous people. It is sad to look around the church and see single generations of faithful Christians instead of three or four generations of godly homes. Truth must be passed from one generation to the next. Losing a generation or two of families will have lasting influence upon the future of the Lord’s work. Rise up and build a legacy of godliness so that four hundred years from now they will still speak of the faith of their fathers. Let that faith shine for years to come.

These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. (John 11:11-13)

Death For The Christian Is Only Sleep

There is no joy in death. It robs the world of a precious life that had vitality, vigor and a voice that brought joy and happiness to others. An unwelcome guest, death has always left behind broken hearts in its wake. When Satan deceived the woman in the garden, he brought the penalty of death upon all men. God created man as a mortal being and a consequence of sin is death. All men die and will die and while the knowledge of death is real it never takes away the deep sorrow that accompanies it. Death has no borders. It invades the lives of the rich and poor regardless of nationality. The old must die and they young can die. What hope is there for man when he faces death?

Jesus came into the world to bring man back to the paradise of Eden where death had no power. Before the fall of man, there was joy and contentment as man walked in the presence of his creator. No shame filled the heart and no tears flowed from sorrow. Death changed all that. The coming of the Son of God was to show man the incredible love of the Father who lovingly gave His Son to experience death so that man could face death with hope. Every generation passed through time by the river of death and that was final. Christ suffered at the hands of men and was killed as He experienced the sting of death. What made His death powerful was a story that happened early in His ministry that pointed to the glory to be revealed in the death of Jesus.

Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus. Receiving news that His friend was sick, Jesus delayed a few days before making the journey. Before He could arrive at the home of Lazarus, the sad news came that he had died. There was a certain air of disparity as some thought Jesus could have prevented the death of Lazarus. As always, God had a much bigger plan. Hearing Lazarus had died, the disciples were very sad. Jesus looked at the death of Lazarus as an opportunity to show the promise of His Father and a message to all generations that death is not to be feared. Believing in God and the hope of heaven gives men a hope that transcends the sadness of death. Jesus said that death is only a sleep. There are three things characteristic of sleep: it is expressive of rest, refreshment and implies expectation of awakening. Jesus said that death is only a rest and it serves as a sense of refreshment for the soul. The most important part of death is the reality that life comes after death.

Lazarus had died and that was reality. The hope Jesus brings to all men is that in death there is the knowledge of the resurrection. Jesus went to Lazarus and raised him from the dead. You and I will die but there is the knowledge that in death we will find rest and the promise of the resurrection. We will live again. Our loved ones who have died will live again. This is a promise given to all those who die in the Lord. Outside of Christ there is no hope. Death is only a sleep. Thank God for the joy of the resurrection.