The Heaton File

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. (Matthew 5:38-42)

The Attitude Of The Second Mile

Radical. That was the teaching of Jesus on the mountain. His sermon is a vast array of character building lessons awakening the eyes of the dull of heart Jews of His day. The response of the multitude was astonishment. They had never heard this kind of teaching from their own scribes. In one part of the sermon, Jesus contrasts the thinking of stoic law keeping to matters of the heart. It is easy to remember how to treat the evil person. If they hurt you, you hurt them. There was in the Law of Moses provisions for recompense but Jesus wants the people to listen to the heart of the matter. The Law was given as a schoolmaster bringing the Jews to Christ. God did not want the burnt offerings – He wanted their whole hearts. The attitude of the second mile would drive the lesson home.

Evil men abound who take advantage of others. Often, because of the humble spirit of God’s people, they are taken advantage of by worldly-minded men. This would happen to the disciples of Christ but the reaction of His followers would be very different than the expected response. The child of God does not seek revenge when offended by others. Followers of Jesus Christ will not have a lynch mob mentality against those who do not love God. The figure of being slapped in the face is not a matter of physical abuse. Taking a tunic or cloak in a legal matter is of little consequence. Being pressed into service to deliver a dispatch would be done with a spirit of “how far do you want me to take the message?” The attitude of the second mile is not a restrictive spirit but a willing heart to serve others for the glory of God.

Today the world is filled with injustices and difficulties. The idea of being pressed into service is not so common but the attitude of the heart is still needed. Christian’s are people who do more than others do because they serve the Lord. Their heart is filled with a benevolent spirit of kindness, gentleness and an attitude of going the second mile. Evil men abound and hearts that are willing to do more than expected need abound in the body of Christ. “What more can I do?” should always be on the lips of the people of God. There is much work to do for the kingdom of God and we must always be ready to put our shoulders to the task with diligence. The world can be a hardhearted world but the children of God season their communities with the grace of the lives. Jesus declared in the sermon on the mount that His disciples are lights to the world and like salt, seasoning to the influence of others. Going the second mile for others is how we show that grace in our lives.

Jesus set forth high standards for His disciples in His sermon. What is important to remember in His teaching is that Jesus never asks us to do anything He was not willing to do Himself. When it comes to the attitude of the second mile, go to Golgotha and see the suffering Savior on the cross. He did not go the second mile. He went all the way to the throne of His Father for you and for me. Can we do any less with our fellow man?

There is no Christian truth so clearly revealed as this, that the spirit of every Christian must be a spirt of sacrifice. (P. A. Sheehan, 1902)

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)

I Am Holy

Understanding God the Father is a difficult challenge for the mind of man. There is no comparison – never has been – never will be. God is so much larger than man is and the reality of man is so much smaller. Consider that as Creator the Lord can hold the universe (known and unknown) in the palm of His hand. He has a name for every star (try counting them one night). Man fumbles around trying to find his beginning and the Lord God has no beginning and no end. Before the world was created, He was; man was not even dust. The knowledge of the mind of Jehovah is filled with the lives of every human being that has ever lived, living now and the lives of all those who will live before the end of the world. He remembers everything – literally. He knows everything – literally. He exists everywhere – literally. How incredibly awesome is our God. And He wants us to be like Him. The Lord wants us to be holy because He is holy.

The nature of holiness is defining. God wants us to be holy people following the character of His holiness. It is important to see that we are not expected to do holy things but to be holy people. Often men think that if they do holy things God will see them as holy. Other men may think the person to be holy because of the things they do. Contrary, the admonition is to be holy people living holy lives from a heart consecrated to the love of God. Righteousness is not measured by the deeds of good works but the spirit of the heart dedicated to the will of the Lord.

Holiness comes from minds that are prepared with the grace of God. Devotion to God is found in the spirit of love for the Father – desiring to mold the heart with the image of the Lord. We are holy because we think in holy ways. Sober minded hearts are filled with the measure of the Father’s love showing forth in the words, deeds and lives of holy people. Like the Father, we do not do holy things – we are holy. Every atom of our existence is filled with the desire to be like God. Faith directs every step. Hope guides the heart in every decision. Devotion carries the spirit through the difficult paths of obedience. God’s people mold their conduct into His will in complete faith and trust. Holiness is a natural outpouring of who we are. Why? Because that is who God is.

“Holy” has the same root as “wholly”; it means complete. A man is not complete in spiritual stature if all his mind, heart, soul, strength are not given to God. (R. J. H. Stewart, Spiritual Conferences of, 1952)

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:1-10)

The Burning Bush

An aged shepherd moved his flock to the back of the desert as he had done many times before in the tedious work of tending sheep. A mountain was there and the sheep could find good pasture to feed on. It had been a remarkable year as the patriarch thought of where he was forty years previous. What a change had taken place. He remembered growing up the privileged son of the king of Egypt. His allegiance had been divided as he was known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter but in his heart, he knew he was a Hebrew. On a fateful day so many years before, he had murdered a man believing that God had placed him among the nation to deliver his people from slavery. Instead of being hailed a hero, he had banished himself to a desperate part of a country far away tending a flock for his father-in-law. He gazed over the flock that had become so familiar to him drinking in the irony of his life.

It was then something caught his eye. There was a bush on fire. This could be a dangerous thing and concern for the flock. As he looked, he realized the fire burned brightly but the bush was not consumed. He had never seen such a sight. Moving towards the flame a voice spoke to him calling out his name. The voice told him to remove his sandals from his feet for the ground where he stood was holy ground. The Lord God was speaking to Moses and from this time on his life would never be the same.

The burning bush was a pivotal point in the history of man. It was not just about Moses but about the promise God had made to deliver man from the bondage of sin. A promise first made in the garden of Eden, confirmed through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and now begun in earnest through the deliverance of the people of God from Egypt. Moses would be the leader of the people to draw them forth from the land of Egypt. The life of Moses was a testimony of the grace of God upon all men. Born a Hebrew, he was raised in the house of Pharaoh as a son of great privilege. This all came to nothing when he murdered a man fleeing for his life to Midian. Moses seems to have an arrogance about himself that was lost after forty years tending sheep. The Lord needed a humble leader to bring His people out of Egypt. Moses needed to be humbled before taking that job.

God’s providence is evident throughout the life of Moses. Saved from the river, he would lead the people through a sea to freedom. Born a Hebrew, his name would always remind the people of his Egyptian heritage. A man powerful in words and deeds had to become a man of a humble spirit to guide the people of God. The life of a prince became a life of a shepherd. Moses complained of his inability to lead the people while talking to God at the burning bush but on Mount Nebo decades later, he would see the promised land where he had brought the faithful of the Lord. His life is one of contrast. Conflicts always confronted him. His love for the Lord never diminished. Moses was a faithful man of God who first realized his purpose at the burning bush.

We all need those moments. Its life changing. For us it is a cross. It is burning with the love of God that we cannot take our eyes off for the wonder of what we see. The place of the cross is holy ground where we meet our Savior. Freedom is found when Jesus rose from the dead crossing the river of death victoriously leading us to the promised land. In death, we cross the Jordan to live with God forever. Our Savior is Jesus Christ. Now that is a great story.

Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” (Jeremiah 44:15-18)

We Will Not Listen To You

Man has a stubborn heart. The book of Jeremiah is a powerful testimony to the gracious mercy of God and the rebellious heart of those set on doing what they want to do regardless of what the word of God says. Israel had been torn apart because of sin. Ten tribes had been completely destroyed and the remaining two tribes of Judah and Benjamin were struggling to keep their heads above the tide of judgment sweeping the land. Babylon was the super-power of its day and judgment had come to the city of Jerusalem. Zedekiah the king of Judah saw his sons killed before his eyes before Nebuchadnezzar put out Zedekiah’s eyes taking him bound to Babylon.  The governor had been murdered along with many other Jews. Eighty men who came to worship at the house of the Lord were murdered and thrown into a pit. The people came to Jeremiah asking if the Lord would allow them to flee to Egypt. He warned them disaster would meet them if they did. These were perilous times. If there was a time to listen to the word of the Lord, it was now.

The response of the men who came to Jeremiah is quite telling. They knew their wives had burned incense to idols. For the past few years the nation of God had been devastated by assassination, invasion and calamities one after the other. Now the heart of the people rested in the hope of Egypt to deliver them. Inquiry had been made whether the people should go to Egypt and Jeremiah had told them the Lord forbade it. In an open statement of rebellion, the people refused to listen to the word of God because they knew better. Anything Jeremiah would tell them was of no use because if anyone would save the people it would be the people. They blamed God for their misery (which was actually true) recalling the bountiful days they enjoyed serving idols. What they failed to remember was the misery suffered throughout the land was brought about by the hand of God as punishment for their refusal to obey Him. And now they were going to do the same thing again and find the same result. No wonder Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” after dealing with these people.

The refusal of the people to heed the word of Jeremiah was very clear. They would not listen to him. Their rebellious heart was straightforward that anything they would decide would come from their own lips. The queen of heaven gave them happiness and they will follow her instead of the Lord God. Living under the blessings of idols, they believed they had plenty of food, were well off and saw no trouble. Life was good under the hand of ungodliness. Living under the hand of God only brought misery. So they thought. Judgment did come to the people. Their lives were destroyed and they lost their hope of salvation. For a bowl of pottage in life’s quagmire of sin, life was fruitful for a moment and then death. When awakened in eternity, they learned there was no queen of heaven – only the Lord God Almighty.

Reading the prophets has always been the historical reference to our present day. Pleading to a lost and dying world to follow Jesus is ignored because men see that living a life of godliness is oppressive. Enjoying the gusto of life with all of its trappings of immorality, parties, free spirit of doing whatever pleases the flesh is the same language of worship to the queen of heaven. Life is better when the flesh is satisfied. Joy comes from a bottle or drugs. Sexual prowess is the badge of lustful pleasure. Money brings the happiness of the soul. “Do not listen to the word of the Lord,” they cry. “It does not seek the good of man’s needs in the flesh,” they pronounce. And then – like the days so long ago in the land of Egypt – judgment comes. The party ends. Flesh is corrupt. Desire has faded. Death opens the eyes of the deceived. God is real. His word is true. Too late. Sad.

If God lived on earth, people would break His windows. (Proverb)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

A Simple Guide For Life

In a world seeking simple things to make life easier, the gospel of Christ is filled with easy patterns to follow. The life of the Christian is to be a joy. There are so many blessings it would take more than a lifetime to count them. Lost in the confusion of an oppressive world the child of God can lose their focus and reason to rejoice for all God has done for them. Those little gems of God’s grace sprinkled throughout His word will help to strengthen the heart and give a joyful attitude to the life of a Christian.

The new man in Christ is a person who seeks to do everything in his or her life by the pattern of Jesus Christ. To do something in the name of the Lord is to walk along His path following His direction. As Creator, the Lord knows everything that is good for man. The purpose of the will of God is not to oppress the spirit of man but to set it free for what it is designed to do. Filling life with the thanksgiving of God’s grace is where true happiness and contentment are found. Paul exhorts the people of God to live each day seeking to follow the pattern of Jesus Christ. The application is where the lesson is found.

Jesus is a wonderful example of love and kindness. He stood firm for the truth of God. His teaching was from the mouth of His Father. Prayer filled His life. Sharing the good news of the living water with others was a constant source of strength for Him. He loved people. His message was stern against the religious hypocrisy of the day. In every part of His life He lived to please the Father above. Whatever we do in life, we should follow the pattern of Jesus. Let His name be on our lips when we speak. As we talk with others, let the spirit of Christ grace our tongues. This is where kind words are found and forgiveness is seen. When we go to work, people should see the spirit of Christ living in our work place. Our demeanor is the character of godliness. We should always remember that we serve a greater master than those who sign our paycheck. Our work ethic is governed by the Lord God.

Husbands and wives fill their homes with the name of the Lord Jesus. Prayers are often, the Bible is the focus of the home, and love is bound with the presence of God. Mothers and fathers are teaching their children that whatever is done should be done in the name of the Lord. Decisions are measured by what pleases the Lord. An example is impressed upon the community that our homes are filled with the grace of Jesus Christ. As the lights in the world, our friends and neighbors see Christ living in us. We are not people who grumble and complain all the time. People of God are thankful people. There is much to be thankful for and we acknowledge that every day of our lives. Whatever we are going to do today is going to be showing the name of Jesus Christ in our actions and the thanksgiving of a loving God in our hearts. You want joy? Live life with the name of Jesus Christ embedded in everything you do.

When we serve with joy, we promote His honor and glory; because we show that we do it with affection, and that all we do is nothing compared to what we would wish to do. (Alphonsus Rodriguez, On Christian Perfection, 1611)

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. (Romans 16:1-6)

Women’s Work

The early church was a beehive of activity. From the beginning of the first converts in Jerusalem, the saints worked together in building one another up and enduring the persecutions of those opposed to the gospel. Luke recounts the work of the apostles in the Acts showing much of the work of Peter and Paul. Men like Stephen are given as examples of strength who suffered death for Christ. Philip taught the man from Ethiopia,  Ananias baptized Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius and his household learned the gospel and Apollos was shown the way more perfectly by Aquila and Priscilla. As Paul closes out his letter to the church in Rome, he acknowledges over thirty people who have had a great impact on the work of the church. Many of these godly saints were women busy in the work of the Lord.

It is easy to assume that because scripture forbids the woman from taking a leadership role in the church there is nothing for them to do. On the contrary, Paul commends a number of women for the efforts they put forth in working for the Lord. Phoebe is the first on his list when he begins to close out his epistle. She did not hold any office within the church but she was a diligent servant or worker for the Lord. There is a lot of work to be done in a local congregation. Women are not forbidden from doing the work of the Lord. They are encouraged to be a vital part of the kingdom of Christ in the diligent effort of leading souls to Christ. Like Priscilla, Phoebe would have been a great influence in sharing the gospel of Christ. Paul would later write to Timothy that older women are to be teaching the younger women and guiding them in the instructions of the Lord. This did not take place during Sunday morning or Wednesday night Bible class. Teaching the younger women was a daily activity of being mentors to young women in their homes.

Phoebe was a hard worker and Paul commended her for the exhaustive efforts she put forth to help the church grow in grace and knowledge. Priscilla is a wonderful example of a wife dedicated to helping her husband do the work of teaching others. They had taken Apollos aside and helped him learn the way of truth more clearly. It was Priscilla and Aquila that had risked their necks for Paul. They were both workers in the kingdom. Their home was where the church met and it would be certain Priscilla’s role was vital to make that happen. Paul mentions Mary who labored much for the Lord. Whether this is the mother of Jesus is not known as there were many women named Mary. The Roman brethren would have known whom Paul was speaking but the point is that Mary was a busy person for the kingdom of the Lord. Other women are mentioned. Workers all of them.

The scriptures plainly show the woman cannot take a position of leadership within the church but let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater in suggesting there is nothing for them to do. There is a lot of work for women like Dorcas to do, the mother and grandmother of Timothy, those godly women who seek to direct the hearts of younger women and the wives of those men who take on the role of leadership as God designed. Preachers need wives who encourage, exhort and bless the efforts of their husbands. Older women have much to offer in showing grace in their lives as Christians. There is a lot of work for women to do. God bless them each one for the spiritual legacy they leave on the hearts of others.

Let it be said to the credit of womanhood that there is no record in the gospel of any woman ever opposing Jesus. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

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)

The Blessed Life

Jesus taught the multitudes in a manner that was very different from what they heard from the scribes. His message was a radical change from the stoic form worship so common. The Jewish leadership had made much of the worship to God a matter of salvation by works with its liturgy of keeping the traditions of the fathers rather than heartfelt worship. As the multitudes came to the Lord on the mountain, He began with a startling view of a follower of God. The disciple of the Lord would have a heart that sees how wretched they are before a merciful God. Entering the kingdom of heaven begins with the removal of self and acceptance of the dire state of sin found in every man. Poverty begets the riches of God’s glory. This brings about a spirit of sorrow in knowing how great the Savior is and how much we need Him. Living under the grace of Christ we see what our sin did to God’s Son in dying on the cross.

People of God are meek souls who know how much God loves them and how much life is dependent upon the love of God. This spirit removes pride and arrogance. Man has a tendency to serve himself first. Followers of Christ submit their whole spirit to the will of the Lord leaving nothing for man to boast. “Thy will be done” is on the lips of all those who seek Him in meekness. It is not about the worship of self but the praise of how much God has done for man through His Son Jesus Christ. Hungering after righteousness is the passion that drives the heart to long for a deeper relationship with the Father. In the physical body, hungering and thirst are powerful motivations. Jesus illustrates the need of having a desire to follow those things that are right and true. This does not happen on occasion but like hunger and thirst – daily.

Disciples of Christ are filled with the mercy of the Father. No man can fully grasp the measure of mercy given to man. We show mercy to others in the same manner the Father extends mercy to us. Forgiveness from God is seen in our forgiveness of others. Kindness, love, compassion and all the characters of mercy received from the Father live in our lives as we show the same attributes toward others. Born from a pure heart we see clearly the face of God. Longing to have a heart free from sin will only come with the heart is filled with poverty, sorrow, meekness, hunger and mercy. Purity of heart is derived from the desire to look deeply into the eyes of the Father and find the peace that passes all knowledge. Sons of God are those who seek peace, make peace and show peace. Persecution will not hinder the spirit of God’s child because he knows the reward to living a blessed life is found in the words of Jesus on a mountain long ago.

Be happy today. Do not let this day be a day of gladness – let it be a day of exceeding gladness to know the blessed life of serving an awesome God. Be blessed. Be a blessing.

To some, Christianity is an argument. To many, it is a performance. To a few, it is an experience. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)

The Unseen Army

It was a frightful scene. A huge army surrounded the city with horses and chariots and there was no hope in sight. The king of Syria had sent his army to Dothan to capture one man – Elisha. Under the cover of darkness, the Syrians had taken up positions around Dothan waiting for the morning to dawn. Frustrated by the word of Elisha warning the king of Israel about his battle plans, the Syrian king had put a bounty of the head of the prophet. As morning dawned, the servant of Elisha looked out beyond the city and saw the great army encamped throughout the land. His heart was faint with fear as he faced what he thought was certain death. Anxiously he asked Elisha what they should do. It would be a good time to leave or to barricade themselves in a secure place and the servant knew that time was of the essence.

The spirit of the servant and the spirit of Elisha were very different. What Elisha knew filled the mountain – the servant had not seen. The prophet of the Lord was not concerned about the Syrian army for there was a greater army that Elisha belonged that would defeat any army of man. He tells his servant the army of the Lord is greater than the Syrian army. Praying to the Lord, the eyes of the servant are opened to see a wondrous thing. All over the mountain stood the army of God full of horses and chariots of God’s ministering angels ready to do battle for the righteous. When the Syrians attacked, Elisha prayed for the Lord to strike them with blindness. Leading them to Samaria the prophet showed mercy to the enemy and let them return home unharmed.

We fight a great foe daily that is a defeated adversary. Satan has no power if we stand against him. What Elisha saw on the mountain has not gone away. The army of the Lord will still fight for us if we but call upon the commander of the Lord’s army. Before Joshua went against Jericho the commander of God’s might stood before him giving him assurance. Our Father in heaven has given us the armor of God to fight against the wiles of the devil and to defeat him time and time again. We are joined in battle by the horses and chariots of the unseen army in Elisha’s day to cause Satan to flee from us. Faith will open our eyes to see this army and implore the Lord God to send His army to vanquish the forces of evil that seek our destruction. Knees bent in prayer petitions the militia of holiness to rise up against the foes of God. Prayer is the power of the army. Faith is the sight of our trusting in the Lord to fight our battles.

Elisha exhorted his servant to remember the power of the Lord is greater than any power man has. The power of Christ within us is greater than the power of the devil. Let us call upon the power of God to fill our lives each day. Never allow the forces of Satan to defeat us on the battlefield of faith because our Lord is King of Kings and Lord of Lords leading a victory parade of white horses to the throne of our Father. Open your eyes to the power of God’s might.

Satan, the accuser of the saints, takes great delight in worrying feeble believers who sigh when they should be singing. (Vance Havner, 1901-1986)

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Remember The Basics

1. Faith is necessary for salvation. Without faith, there is no hope, no joy, no knowledge, and no promise. Faith guides us, fills us, moves us and keeps us. It is the foundation of our relationship with an unseen visible God. Faith.
2. Birth does not grant faith; it is born from hearing. When we come into the world, our hearts are pure and undefiled. The ravages of sin mar the landscape in time and we need salvation. Hearing is the action of receiving faith on a heart filled with sin. Without hearing, there can be no faith and without faith, there can be no redemption. Hearing.
3. The word of God is the lock-pin of the hope of salvation. Grace is found in the mind of God revealed to man through the written word. Without the written word, man would be hopeless. It is not in man to save himself. The word of God is the only means that man can find the knowledge of redemption. Found in the word of God is the nature of man, the failing of man, the need of man and the answer for man. This is not revealed in the world. It is only found in the Bible and the Bible alone. The question of what a man must do to be saved is found in the written word. God’s love in sending His Son fills the pages of the written word from cover to cover. The word of God.
4. Faith comes from hearing and hearing will only come from the word of God. The degree of faith is first measured by the knowledge of God’s will. Without a loving relationship with the word of God, faith diminishes. If faith is a fire, the word of God is the wood that builds that fire. How much wood you have in your heart will determine how much faith you have in your life. More wood – more fire; more faith. Faith + hearing + the word of God = joy and peace.

Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. (Ecclesiastes 8:10-13)

Delayed Justice

The Lord does not desire that anyone perish extending a longsuffering spirit for men to change their lives. Since the beginning of time, the grace of God has allowed men to continue in their rebellion with the hope of repentance. In the days of Noah, the kindness of God’s love allowed the earth to remain for many years while Noah preached the message of salvation. In the end, only eight souls were saved. Through the prophets, an appeal to repent was given to the nation of Israel before calamity came but largely went unheeded. The northern tribes were destroyed with the southern tribes enduring seventy years of foreign captivity. When John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Christ, his message was simple: repent. Jesus preached the same message. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles declared remission of sins began with repentance. The early church spread the news of God’s longsuffering to a lost and dying world.

One of the reasons that so few repent is because they mistake the forbearance of God as saving grace without any future retribution. The wise man exhorts his readers to embrace the kind mercy of God but not be lulled into believing that judgment will not come for their rebellion. Sin has a price to be paid but for many the cost is not realized until judgment. Warnings are posted of the danger of sin but no consequence is experienced in this life. For many who live without God they do not understand why anyone would fear punishment for sin. Living a full life with all the gusto of a reckless life has no serious consequence so why worry? What they fail to realize is that while no penalties may be incurred in this life there will be a reaping in the everlasting.

The law of sowing and reaping is an absolute. What is different is the timing. The sentence against evil may not be seen until after death but it will become clear when death surrounds the soul. Whatever a person sows in life, he will reap in eternity. If evil is his way of life there will be a consequence when he awakens in eternity. Satan lulls us into the belief there are no consequences to sin. He convinced Eve and he was found to be almost true when he told her she would not die. When she ate of the fruit, she did not die – physically. What he failed to tell her was the whole truth. The nature of sin has always been the same. Sin is like a credit card with no limits – what you buy now you pay for later. Because there is no immediate consequence to sin in this life men fully set their hearts on drinking deeply from the deceitful cup. Too many people think they can charge their life will all this sin and declare bankruptcy without any penalty of payment. That is a lie. Payment will always come due.

Sin will not go unpunished. There will always be a payday. The heart of men can be fully set to do what they desire to do but there will always be a judgment day. Two things are certain in life whether men believe them or not: there is a day of death and there is a day of judgment. All men can see the reality of death but few believe that beyond death another day awaits. Denying the judgment does not dismiss the reality. It will be well with those who believe in death and judgment because they know a loving, caring and forgiving God. Sin does not have to have dominion over the soul because through Jesus Christ it can be defeated. The victory we have in Christ is that perfect love casts out fear. There is nothing to fear in death because judgment is glory. Sadly, for most men, death will be the final realization that while evil was not punished in this life – there will be a day of recompense. Then it will be too late.

In this day, when law and order seem on the way out and criminals get only a slap on the wrist, it is well to remember that the wages of sin remain the same and what men sow they will reap. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)