The Heaton File

This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all–you are this head of gold. But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold–the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. (Daniel 2:36-45)

A Kingdom That Will Stand Forever

Nebuchadnezzar was king of the most powerful nation on earth. Babylon would rule for a short time but its influence would last for centuries to come. The great Babylonian nation was used by the Lord to punish His people for their disobedience and through the power of God Nebuchadnezzar became a conduit of the scheme of redemption for all men. A Gentile king, He was the son and successor of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Babylonian empire. In the year 586 B.C., the city of Jerusalem and the Temple were laid waste by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Many captives were taken to Babylon including Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; young men that would form the stories of the book of Daniel.

Not long after the arrival of Daniel and his friends, King Nebuchadnezzar had a terrible dream. Troubled by this dream he demanded his wise men to explain the dream but they must also tell him the dream. No one could tell the dream and the king in his fury began killing the wise men. Hearing of the decree, Daniel implored the king to give him time to seek an answer from the Lord. He went home and prayed with his three friends and the Lord revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel. The king had dreamed of a great image who head was fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Suddenly a stone was cut without hands that struck the image on its feet and broke them in pieces. The stone destroyed all the parts of the image pulverizing it into dust. When it was finished, the stone became a great mountain that filled the whole earth.

Daniel explained to the king that his dream showed four kingdoms. The head of fine gold represented the Babylonian empire. The kingdoms that came after were the Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed of the events leading up to a day when a powerful kingdom would be established that would never be destroyed. History records the four nations coming in succession with each nation greater than the preceding one. During the days of the final kingdom, the Roman Empire, Jesus came to build His church. The fullness of time came in the days of the final kingdom. Luke records the establishment of the kingdom of God on the Day of Pentecost. The New Testament declares the nature of the kingdom and church of the Lord as without end and will never be destroyed. The four kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream have all vanished from the face of the earth but the kingdom of God remains – two thousand years – and the kingdom of God will never be destroyed.

The church and the kingdom are one. Jesus built His church as the kingdom of His Father. There will never be a nation that will have the dominion as the Roman Empire enjoyed. No people, religion or nation will cover the earth with the influence as the kingdom of God. There is no force, no power, no kingdom or nation that rules the hearts of men as the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will never be conquered and it will never be destroyed. As King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ is the sole authority over all men. Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Catholicism, atheist, agnostics, amoral, immoral, political, or Satan himself will never destroy the kingdom of God. It will stand forever. It is the stone cut without hands that destroys all nations and is the mountain of God filling the earth. Praise God for His great power. Thank God for His kingdom. The church of Christ is the glory of God forever. It will not be shaken.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him — length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved. (Psalm 21:1-7)

Living Like A King

The Christian is a very blessed individual. Above all people on the earth, a Christian has a covenant fellowship with the Father that cannot be found in any other relationship. He or she shares in a bond of love sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Hope, joy, peace and understanding fill the hearts of those who have given their lives to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Christian life is one of blessings abounding more and more each day. Every child of God must look at their life to see the amazing things done by the hand of a benevolent and loving Father. King David understood the joys of the living presence of the Lord in his life and we can draw strength looking at his life learning how to enjoy the blessings of God.

David knew he was blessed beyond measure. God had done so many things in his life and David honored the Lord by acknowledging these blessings. It is easy to take for granted what we have been given. We can forget that life comes from God. He holds our breath within His hand. The sun rises every morning by the decree of the Lord. Seasons change and bring the rains through the glory of the Lord. Harvest fills the land with bounty in accordance with the divine will of the Creator. Whatever measure of happiness we share in life is from the heart of God. We wear crowns of gold as the Lord fashions our lives with food, clothing and the ability to work. The wealth of His presence is a peace passing all understanding guarding our hearts and minds through difficult times. The Christian does not fear death because they know it is only a passage to the presence of the Father. Life is filled with greater richness. Sorrows are comforted by the love of God and joys are excelled through the grace of the Father.

We are most blessed as children of God. No relationship on earth is more complete, whole and filled with goodness than having the family of God to share in our life. Counting our many blessings reminds us of all the Lord has done for us and continues to shower upon us. It is not measured by money, stuff, or pleasures of the flesh. Real joy comes from the fellowship of Christians singing together, praying for one another and helping one another through the travails of life. Trusting in the Lord allows His Spirit to dwell in our hearts giving heavenly peace and joy. Thanking God is a daily prayer. He has given us so much more than we deserve. The Christian shall have joy in the strength of the Lord and in His salvation how greatly shall we rejoice. He meets us with the blessings of goodness and sets crowns of pure gold upon our heads. The Lord gives us life and length of days. His glory is great in our salvation and we have been made most blessed and exceedingly glad. We trust in the Lord and through the mercy of the Most High we shall not be moved.

These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers–that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales–that shall be an abomination to you. (Leviticus 11:9-12)

No Fins, No Scales, No Good

The Law of Moses is a unique body of laws instructing the nation of Israel in every part of their lives. What is exceptional about God’s law with the Hebrews is the manner it affects every part of their lives. Laws that establish an overriding policy of requirements govern most societies but the Law given at Mt. Sinai was a law of government, family life, personal hygiene, health, foreign policy and clothing. Reading the Law of Moses reveals a detailed keeping of law in every part of the Jewish life. There were certain foods the Jews were allowed to eat and many foods were forbidden. This law was not given as a suggestion but as absolute law that would execute judgments upon those who disobeyed. One such example is the exclusion of anything that swims in the sea that does not have fins or scales. Eating this animal would be an abomination for the people. When the Lord placed the label of abomination upon a matter, it was to be rejected at all cost.

Prohibiting fish without fins or scales would include catfish, eel, clam, crab, crayfish, lobster and oysters to name a few. Many have tried to assume the reasons for God making these distinctions forbidding the Jews from eating animals without fins or scales but the truth remains it remains the truth of God’s word. Whether the Lord was trying to save the people from harmful food or not does not understand the character of His law. The law of God said not to eat shrimp. I like shrimp a lot. If I were a Jew living under the Law at that time, I would not be able to eat shrimp. Why? God’s law said shrimp was unclean. It was to be an abomination only to Jews. A Gentile could eat a whole platter of shrimp, lobster and smoked catfish without sin. The reason is the Law of Moses was given to the Jews alone and they were bound to keep the Law in every detail. It served also to serve as a strict distinction between the Jew and Gentile.

The Law of Moses was given to the Jews alone and when Jesus died on the cross, the Law was taken away. God no longer makes distinction between clean and unclean foods. Paul would later tell Timothy, God created every creature for good and is acceptable with prayer and thanksgiving. Forbidding the Jews from eating any fish that did not have fins or scales was the test of the law above all else. There are many parts of the Law that are strict adherence to the will of the Lord as tests to show the people’s faithfulness. Would eating a lobster kill a Jew? No, but their disobedience would bring about the judgment of the Lord. It is important to see this law as a matter of obedience, not taste. If eating clams were forbidden today, would we have faith in God to refuse to eat them? That is the lesson. Clams are tasty and enjoyable but the question has to do with whether we will follow the will of God or not.

Reading the Law of Moses is a lesson on obeying the Lord whether we understand His commands or not. Many people reject parts of God’s law today because they do not see the value of doing certain things. It does not make sense to them and they cannot see any harm in either doing or refusing to do certain things. Because they do not have an explanation why the command is necessary, they refuse to obey it. The point they miss is it has nothing to do with man understanding God; it has everything to do with man obeying God. Does baptism make sense to the mind of man? Many refuse to accept this teaching because human wisdom cannot understand it. Does that justify refusing to be baptized for the remission of sins? God commanded it and that is all there is for man to understand. The question of salvation, marriage and divorce, worship and church organization are just a few of the points of the law of God that men refuse to obey because they do not understand the why. What they miss is that it does not matter what men think. The only thing that matters is what God commands. If the Jews followed the will of God like most today, shrimp, lobster, and catfish would be on the daily menu. That law has been abandoned. God’s law through Christ remains. Obedience. Saved or lost. That is what matters.

A Contemplation Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psalm 78:1-8)

Teaching Children

Children need many things in life to give them success. The most important part of a child’s life is to know about God and the wonderful stories of the Bible. There is nothing more intrinsic to the formation of a child’s life than learning about the word of the Lord. It must be the central part of the everyday experience in the family. Learning the basics of education is imperative and years are spent in developing the mind to know about mathematics, science, language and culture. This forms the basis of a child’s knowledge and how to use that knowledge improving their lives. Great emphasis is placed on teaching children the necessary tools to let them succeed in life. What must not be forgotten is telling each generation the praises of the Lord, His strength and wonderful works that He has done. This knowledge will be eternal.

Asaph contemplates a powerful example of teaching children. He shows the influence of the father in his role of telling the family about the praises of God. Central to the success of the family is the man who takes the mantle of leadership very serious as a teacher of God’s word. Time is fleeting and the father will not forget to teach his children the commandments of the Lord and the law of God. Fathers are commanded by the Lord to teach their children about Him. Every generation needs to know about the Lord so they will not forget Him and disregard the many works He has done. Asaph reminds his readers of the previous generation that were stubborn and rebellious who did not set their hearts in faithfulness to God. They were not steadfast or committed to God as they should be. Children need to learn from the mistakes of their parents.

Teaching children is showing them the way of the Lord and often by using the previous generation as an example. God does not want His people to serve Him because that is what father and mother did. He desires for the children to develop their own faith using the examples of the previous generation as a learning tool to become more steadfast in their resolve to serve Him. Successful families are those who impress the word of God upon their children in a daily walk. Children need to know what the praises of the Lord sound like, what the presence of God feels like and how they can trust in Him to care for them. The Lord is full of strength and power. Reading the Bible will fill their minds with the glory of God. Children will learn what right and wrong are. They will see the longsuffering of the Lord and His love. Jesus will be the central figure in the story of the Bible as they read each page. Filling the hearts of children with the word of God will give them hope in life. Success in life will not be measured by how much money they make or how popular they are in school; rather how close a relationship they have with the Father.

The contemplation of Asaph is about the story of Israel but it is more about teaching children to know those stories. As parents, we must put forth the effort to instill in our children a love for God. They need to see how much we are in love with the Lord and how joyful we are in our lives to serve Him. When our children see our love for Him they will want to have that same love. Their hearts will learn to set their trust in the word of God, His love, mercy and grace. The spirit of our children will be faithful to God when we set forth the pattern of truth in our lives. Children need many things in life. They must be prepared for creating a home for themselves and starting a family. The greatest gift we can give our children is a love for God. This will be a blessing for them in this life and especially in the life to come.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” (John 9:35-39)

Lord I Believe

When Jesus healed the man blind from birth, it caused quite a stir among the Jewish leaders. Neighbors questioned the man how he gained his sight and he replied a man called Jesus made clay and anointed his eyes telling him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Taking the former blind man to the Pharisees, he was grilled along with his parents how he gained his sight. Finally, the Pharisees cast him out disbelieving his story of healing. Jesus heard the man had been cast out and sought him out asking him if he believed in the Son of God. The man was unsure whom Jesus spoke of but the Lord told him it was He that had healed him. Three words summed up his feelings at the time – Lord, I believe.

Jesus must have been disheartened at the response of the people to this powerful miracle. The disciples had thought the man was a sinner because he had been born blind. It was a terrible injustice of life to be born blind. He lived his life as a beggar and a castoff from society. Never having seen Jesus he did not know who he was. While he sat begging, a man came by, anointed his eyes with spit and clay, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. He did and to his joy opened his eyes for the first time in his life. When the Pharisees challenged him, he replied all he knew was that he was born blind, a man put clay on his eyes and now he could see. The blind man knew someone sent from God could have only done this. For this, he was cast out from the Pharisees. In compassion, Jesus sought the man out to encourage him.

The work of Jesus brought about different reactions. To the blind man He was the Son of God because he experienced first-hand the power of God. He had never seen the sun or the trees or faces of his parents and family. Now, in a miracle that could only come from God, his eyes were opened. It was more than the physical sight he gained that day. His heart was opened to the wonderful grace of God. On the other hand, the religious leaders of the day could see perfectly well with their eyes but were in total darkness in their hearts. The Pharisees grilled the man about his blindness not believing it was possible someone could heal him. Bringing in the man’s parents they were told indeed their son had been born blind but they could not answer for him. In an ironic twist, the blind man began teaching the Pharisees the truth of God’s power. For this, he was cast out. Jesus declared those who are seeking truth would find it and those who refuse to see the evidence of God’s power will remain blind.

Blindness is in the heart of those who refuse to see the word of God as His power. The Bible is the complete mind of God revealed to men but so many refuse to accept the simple message of truth. Religious leaders are filled with their own preconceived prejudices blinding them from the truth of what the scriptures say. Many look at the words of Jesus and refuse to accept His teaching. Yet the simple message of salvation is easy to understand but hard to accept if the heart is not prepared to see the miracle of God’s Son. Jesus came to bring light to all men, opening their hearts to the wonders of the mercy of God. Let the healing power of His love open your eyes to see Jesus and say, “Lord, I believe.”

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:11-13)

The Church Is A Combat Outpost In Enemy Terrain

When the war with Iraq began in 2003, few realized the outcome would result in the longest war in American history. The United States Special Operations Forces began fighting the war on terror in 2001 and would continue to be an integral part of the battle in the region. During the years between 2003 and 2006, insurgents used the city of Ramadi, Iraq as a stronghold 68 miles west of Baghdad to carry out their violence against coalition forces. One story that came out of the battle for Ramadi was in 2006 when Seal Team 3 went into the midst of the city to set up combat outposts. They were in the heart of the insurgency surrounded on every side by those who sought to kill them. Later, other combat outposts would be set up throughout the city. This was a bold tactic to draw the enemy out and to fight him on his own ground.

The church of Jesus Christ has been fighting a battle against forces greater than ISIS or any conventional army known to man. Arrayed before the bastions of truth are forces described as principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness. There is a war of unparalleled destruction going on every day for the souls of men. Satan has cast his long shadow of tyranny on the hearts of men destroying their hope and eternal salvation. Jesus declared that most people would fall to the wiles of the devil with only few survivors saved. It is a vicious war. The church is a combat outpost in the midst of enemy terrain seeking to save lives and destroy the enemy. Like Seal Team 3, Christians are at war with an aggressive enemy that must take courage, fidelity and teamwork to overcome the nearly impossible odds. The resolve of Seal Team 3 helped to establish other outposts in the war torn city. Each local congregation of God’s people is an outpost in the lair of the mighty lion who seeks to devour the saints of the Lord. Every child of God needs to accept the reality they are soldiers of Christ fighting an incredible battle. There is a war going on and it has cost millions of lives, destroyed homes, families, relationships and souls. It has the smell of death. Warring against the devil is very ugly and vile. He has no care for those he kills slaughtering with no regard.

John sees in the Revelation the final victory is assured by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Battles are fought every day with the outcome determined by the power of God. The local congregations of the Lord’s body are the special operations forces fighting against the insurgency of Satan’s warriors. Each church of Christ must realize their role in the community is to defend the truth, uphold the righteousness of Jesus Christ and save the lost. It is not the purpose of God’s church to maintain a presence by hanging out a sign. Every local congregation is at war. The members are soldiers who with the armor of God can defeat Satan. They must go out into the community to win the hearts of those oppressed by the rulers of darkness. When Seal Team 3 entered Ramadi, they did not go without their body armor, weapons, tactics or tools to defeat the enemy. Why should Christians think they could fight Satan without first putting on the armor of God? Many soldiers of Christ die without the protection of the Lord because they do not put the armor on.

War is real. It is harsh, tiring, and ugly and with an outcome that determines life or death. The spiritual war is the only war that matters. Saving the soul is the eternal consequence of serving the Lord as a good soldier of Christ. It requires fighting the fight, engaging the enemy, and never giving up until the final victory is given in the death of the saint. Piled high before the gates of heaven is the armor of all those who have given their lives to fight valiantly against Satan. They have put their armor off to enter the gates of redemption. The war is over. Victory is gained. Eternal life is granted. Rest awaits.

There are only war veterans in Heaven, who have fought the good fight for the Kingdom of God. (Fulton Sheen)

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest–when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 8:7-14)

Taking God For Granted

It is so easy to forget the many blessings God has given us as we seek our own desires and pleasures. Life has a way of channeling our hearts to dwell on our selfishness. The pride of life helps us see the carnal pleasures fulfilled to the enjoyment of self. Israel faced a monumental task as they prepared to enter the land promised for hundreds of years. The warnings of forgetting the Lord are just as relevant today as then. We live in a good land blessed with so many things and we lack very little. In the midst of the richness of this land, it is hard to remember all these blessings come from God. Our time is filled with the satisfaction of the ‘me’ person. He gives us so much and we return so little. The heart is lifted up and God is forgotten. Laid to forgotten memories are the times the Lord delivered us, protected us and guided us as we fill our lives with the carnal pleasures, lusts of the flesh and meaningless pursuits of a vapor called life.

Throughout the forty-year journey of Israel’s wanderings, God showed His power repeatedly testing the hearts of the people. As the new generation stood before Jordan, Moses admonishes them to enter the land of promise with a dedicated zeal to serve the Lord with all their hearts, minds and souls. He exhorted them to remember all the good things they were going to see came from the hand of God. His warning became their history as the nation prospered and forgot the Lord. The commandments, judgments and statues of the Lord were laid aside for the pleasures of life. Worship to God became a ritual to do for a while until they were able to return to their lives of fun, frolic and pleasures. The Lord was nowhere to be found and soon was forgotten totally. A warning lies here for the Christian.

Growing as a Christian is remembering all that God has done. His blessings are innumerable as both spiritual and physical. He gave His only begotten Son as the sacrifice of sin. What can we do to repay such a debt? There are so many physical blessings given by the hand of the Lord and how can we thank Him enough for all these things? Remembering the Lord is a daily reminder we serve Him with gratitude of heart and willingness to acknowledge that He reigns in our lives supreme. We cannot serve two masters. We will hate the one and love the other. Serving the Lord demands an allegiance that is single in its purpose. Allowing the distractions of life to dim our vision of God will only bring emptiness. Each day should be a day of praise to know that by the hand of God He has blessed us and protected us. He deserves every part of praise we can give Him because of all He continues to do for us – in spite of our rebellion. God is so good, so great, and so powerful. His mercy endures from time beginning and overwhelms all His people through His grace. Thank God today for all He has done. Count the many blessings His hand has wrought in our lives. Enjoy the rewards of His providential hand remembering all His love and praise Him. Do not take God for granted. He will be glorified.

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. (Hebrews 13:11-13)

We Must Bear His Reproach

The Hebrew writer uses vivid language to describe the sacrifice of Jesus with comparisons of the Law of Moses. As He closes his appeal to the Hebrew Christians to maintain their faith in God, he reminds them of the great sacrifice of Jesus when He bore the sins of the world outside the city of Jerusalem. It was neither mistake nor a coincidence that Jesus was taken to Golgotha to die as a lamb to the slaughter. The location cannot be ascertained today but one thing we know is that it was outside the city. Under the Law of Moses, the sin offering was taken outside the camp and destroyed. Jesus would become the sin offering for all men accomplishing this by His sacrifice outside the gate of the city.

As a child of God, I am to bear the same reproach Jesus exemplified as He was taken outside the city as a sacrifice. Albert Barnes makes this observation of the text. “As if we were going forth with him when he was led away to be crucified. He was put to death as a malefactor. He was the object of contempt and scorn. He was held up to derision, and was taunted and reviled on his way to the place of death, and even on the cross. To be identified with him there; to follow him; to sympathize with him; to be regarded as his friend, would have subjected one to similar shame and reproach. The meaning here is, that we should be willing to regard ourselves as identified with the Lord Jesus, and to bear the same shame and reproaches which he did. When he was led away amidst scoffing and reviling to be put to death, would we, if we had been there, been willing to be regarded as his followers, and to have gone out with him as his avowed disciples and friends? Alas, how many are there who profess to love him when religion subjects them to no reproach, who would have shrunk from following him to Calvary!”

Jesus taught His followers that to be His disciple they would have to bear a cross. The language shows the severe test of discipleship likened to someone who is being crucified. Before a man is crucified, he is scourged. A heavy piece of wood is placed upon his shoulders as he bears his cross to the appointed place of death. Taken the condemned outside the city, death is final. The life of a Christian is a cross-bearing experience of sacrifice and devotion to the Father. We bear the reproach of Christ because we follow in His footsteps. His path leads to the cross. Our lives share in the reproach of the innocent one who died for us. As Barnes said previously, we are willing to identify with Jesus as the crucified one. Our life is forfeit for the cause of Christ. Bearing His reproach is the manner we show our life to the heavenly Father as one of absolute love and sacrifice. Let us go forth to Him – so we can receive the same glory He shares with His Father.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)

Blessed Are

Jesus was the manifestation of everything He taught. His teachings were the reflections of the image of the Father as the true light and perfect example of the salt of the earth. Teaching the multitudes on the mountain, Jesus began with the basic principles of character needed to mold the heart of a child of God. The simplicity of His introductory remarks becomes the foundation of what a Christian must become. It will bring a radical change to the spirit molding him or her into a person of holiness, truth and righteousness. What does it take to become a vibrant disciple of Christ in a world given over to darkness? Learning how to live a blessed life after the character of Jesus is the solution to sin.

New Testament Christians are spiritually impoverished people who have submitted their hearts to the will of God fully. To be poor in spirit is the contentment of the heart that trust in the will of God. Everything in life is according to the will of the Father and submission is necessary to be part of the kingdom of heaven. This will bring a sense of sadness, as understanding the price for sin is the death of God’s Son. Sin brought up the ultimate sacrifice and the sting of sin has been a scourge against man. Death came upon man both physically and spiritually. The Christian lives with the comforted knowledge that death has no dominion and eternal life is beyond the grave. Meekness is not weakness but the power of God’s love infused in the heart of man. The spirit of the meek heart comes from the beatitude of the poor in spirit who are comforted. Christians live in the peace of God knowing that He alone rules over all the affairs of men and His will is to be accomplished. Meekness allows the Lord to guide the concerns of life knowing He is a righteous judge. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness fills the deep cravings of those who seek God. A Christian is a person who has a deep desire to know all there is to know about the God that saved him and why. This desire is fed by the manna of God’s word. Filling the heart with the image of God is a daily blessing.

God has done so much to bless us. His mercy is everlasting and He desires His children to show this mercy to others. Through His love, He forgives us by His grace. This same character should be manifested toward others so they can see Christ living in me. Obtaining mercy comes from hearts that are filled with mercy toward others. How can we enjoy His blessings if we are unable to share those blessings with others? God desires for our actions to reflect the mercy He bestows upon our lives. Learning to be patient with others, forgiving, and kind and merciful is the true nature of the Christians walk. Becoming a peacemaker is the fruit of mercy. Too often, it is easier to stir trouble rather than solve disputes. Jealousy, anger and envy fuel the spirit of revenge against one another as grudges form and the heart becomes cold. A Christian is a maker of peace, forging a forgiving heart, and putting aside hurts and slights. The true character of a child of God is one who seeks peace not war.

It is impossible to live for God in a world living for self and not experience persecution. This does not suggest someone holds a sword to our throats demanding we deny Christ. To be persecuted means that we have taken a stand against unrighteousness in the meekness of Christ. The Christian refuses to dress like the world in immodesty, fall prey to the enticements of immorality and lets their life shine like a beacon of light to all that are in the world. If the Christian never has to say “no” they are always saying “yes.” Children of God will be persecuted because they cannot be God’s child without it. People may revile and say all manner of evil against our character but if we are children of God, we live for His glory.

Blessed are. Jesus began His sermon with the invitation to be what God desires His children to become. The character of those who follow the pattern of the Blessed will find the greatest joy and happiness in the kingdom of God. Jesus lived every part of the beatitudes and walking in His footsteps the child of God will experience the same cross of joy.

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16)

We Are Accountable For “I”

The ‘Me’ bubble that pervades our world is the idea that no one is responsible for what they have done. In a paradox of accountability, responsibility for individual actions can be blamed on anything but the self-choice of personal action. “I am what I am because nature made me this way” or society bears the burden for making me the person I am. Parents are blamed, failed education is ridiculed and God is vilified as the reason for the way we live our lives. Everyone is innocent it seems. No one is guilty of his or her sins. The margin of responsibility shifts to blame others so that actions can be justified and morality can be judged by what feels good. Children are taught from an early age the world owes them a great debt of gratitude and they grow up expecting it.

Buried deep in the Law of Moses is the reality of God’s view of accountability. There were many laws in the covenant with Israel calling for the death penalty. Measures were in place to judge according to righteousness. In the final analysis, a person put to death for disobedience was guilty of what they had done by personal choice. The will of God clearly defined personal responsibility and judgment would be meted out against all those who sinned. This adjudication would be according to what the individual had done. If a father sinned, they would be punished. The same judgment would be carried out against a son who sinned. The son would be punished, not the father. A person would be put to death for their own sin. This law has not changed.

The Law of Moses was not the first time the law of personal judgment was established. This law began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were each held accountable for their sins. Eve received the heavier judgment because she was deceived; not the man. Every story in the Bible is the retelling of the personal judgment inflicted upon the individual for their sin. As the day of judgment looms ahead of all men we face the same kind of judgment. Every man that dies will stand before the Lord and face God for the sins he or she has committed. There will be no appeal system to shift blame on parents, society, the church or the Lord Himself. All men stand before God bare and naked with the actions of life determining their innocence or guilt. If a person is lost and condemned to eternal torment, they will know the judgement is true and righteous. Parents will not be punished for the sins of their children. Unfaithful church members cannot blame the elders, the preacher, the Bible class teacher or fellow members for being lost. The unrighteous will not blame society, the government, or the passions of the flesh because they will know the responsibility of obedience was an individual choice. There will be no internet to blame. Nothing will be blamed but self.

A great surprise awaits the masses that live life blaming others for their misfortunes. There will be no arguments in the grave. Death will immediately seal the knowledge of truth that every person will bear his or her own sin. The joy of salvation is hearing the words of grace from the Father who says, “Well done good and faithful servant.” These people knew that life was about the choices they made in serving God. They did not blame others. They begged for mercy and walked in the paths of righteousness.

The sins that we should hate most are not those of our neighbor but our own. These are the only sins over which God has given us immediate power. (Raphael Simon, Hammer and Fire, 1959)