What Will Come Of Our Nation?

Posted on March 9, 2016 by heatonkent

american-flagOh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47; To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.)

What Will Come Of Our Nation?

Each political year comes with fear, frustration and concern for what will become of our nation. In the first place we should be thankful we live in a country that offers these feelings as many countries are locked in governments that do not allow the freedom of vote. Regardless of the form of government there is one single truth that has always overshadowed the rule of man – that is the rule of God. From the beginning of time the Lord has been the ruler of the world and only by His will have nations risen and His will have brought down nations. The Bible tells the stories of superpowers like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome who have been used by God for His purpose and then destroyed. The sons of Korah understood how the Lord works in nations declaring the glory of God as greatly exalted.

The ruler of earthly kingdoms is awesome, a great King, subduing all people to His will. By His power the nation of Israel was able to bring other nations under their control. The people of Israel lived under the grace of God. There is great reason to rejoice as the hand of the Lord is mighty upon all nations. His holy throne is greater than any power on earth. The shields or symbols of government belong to the Lord God Almighty and in everything God will be exalted. The sons of Korah understood the providence of Jehovah in the affairs of men. This has not changed in our political year.

A government exists today because of the will of the Father. They are established by his hand. Through the turbulent year of our political process we must see the power of God working to shape our lives to His will. This does not suggest we stand idly by without deep prayer and devotion to the word of God. So often the reason that things come about is because of the few who pray for a change. As Americans we are blessed with the privilege of voting. As children of God we have the greater privilege of prayer. Stepping behind a curtain does not match what happens when we bow the knee. Prayer affirms that we still believe that God works in the nations of men and His will is evident by His guiding hand. The Lord is not a Republican or a Democrat. He is the Lord God Almighty and what He does in our great country is the same thing He does in halls of power in Russia, China, England and Iran. God reigns over the nations – all of them.

Thank God for His wonderful grace. Thank God that He is in charge of the affairs of men. The people of God need to stop complaining and start praying. Trusting in the Lord is where our hearts belong. Seeking His guidance in our lives as a nation is where our minds need to be. Our voices should be proclaiming the praises of a mighty King who is King of all kings. Let God’s rule sound forth in this political year of decision. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.

God in His highest heaven holds the reins of all the kingdoms of earth. He holds the hearts of men in His hands. (J. B. Bossuet, Discourses on Universal History, 1675)

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Time Is Running Out

Posted on March 8, 2016 by heatonkent

199And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14)

Time Is Running Out

One constant of life is that time waits for no man. With each sunrise and sunset another day goes by never to be gained again. The sun has risen thousands of times but those morning beams of sunlight will pass away and no man will be able to see them again. Days turn to months, months to years and years to generations. Every second that ticks off the clock is a moment closer to death, eternity and the Lord. You and I are nearly two thousand years removed from Paul’s letter to Rome and we are closer to our salvation than ever before. That generation has found their reward; we await ours.

The principle of redeeming the time understands that what we have today cannot be regained. What happened last night cannot be changed for the night is spent. It is gone. History will record the deeds of yesterday with either regrets or joy. Today is the only day we have with no promise of tomorrow. Having a clear understanding of yesterday, today and tomorrow we should realize the importance of looking after our lives in the present. Often we determine to make changes in our lives tomorrow. “One day” we say we will make better decisions, choices and changes in life. That day never comes. The time is now. It is today we must seize the hour.

Living a life as a Christian demands action today. Many struggle in their lives to do what is right and what they believe God expects them to do. They always look for another day to do that and seldom make any serious changes. New Year resolutions come only once a year but Paul exhorts the disciple of Christ to make daily changes. Today we need to cast off the things of this world and be the kind of people the Father desires of His children. Today is the day we walk right, think right, act right, dress right and live right. Now is the time to know the Lord.

This is not a time to live like the frivolity of the world. All the desires of the flesh and mind will not bring lasting happiness. Christian’s need to stop living as if they can have one foot in the world and the other in the Lord. As the old preacher said, “You can’t have a bowing knee on a dancing leg.” The faithful need to grow up to spiritual adulthood and act like the people of God. Too many like to live like the world in drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling and jealousy and this is a shame on God’s people. Grow up! Be the Christian man or woman you are supposed to be.

Putting on the armor of God is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart. It is high time to wake up for the spiritual stupor we can easily find ourselves in and be people of God. The night is far spent. The church needs to be growing. Souls need to be saved. Lives need to be changed. Today is the day – not tomorrow – now. Let’s stop talking about restoring New Testament Christianity and start doing what the New Testament tells us to do. Stop mixing the pollutions of the world with the righteousness of the Holy God and live consecrated sanctified lives before Him. Wake up. Time is fleeting. Time is running out.

We ought to watch and pray because of the shortness of the time, the seriousness of the hour, and the shallowness of our nature. (Vance Havner, 1901-1986)

Posted in Christ, Christian, Church, God, Jesus Christ, Judgement, Romans, salvation | 1 Comment

They Spit In His Face

Posted on March 7, 2016 by heatonkent

jesus (1)Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” … Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. (Matthew 26:67-68; 27:27-31)

They Spit In His Face

The suffering of Jesus is never completely understood until a complete examination of everything that was done to Him is considered. Even then it is difficult to imagine the depth of anguish the Lord endured because of sin. The cross is a focal point with its own horrors. As if only a passing remark the gospel writers say Jesus was scourged. This was an event that was beyond the pale of human suffering. Prior to the scourging and the nailing to a cross were the things done to God’s Son by the Jews and the Romans alike. At the judgment seat of Caiaphas the high priest they spat in the face of Jesus. Not one person but a group of people gathered saliva out of their mouths and projected it on the face of Jesus. Spitting on another has always been considered an expression of the deepest contempt. This is a most disgusting thing to endure. There Jesus stood. Spit covering His face. The face of God’s Son. The holy Son of God is covered in frothy spittle. And He does nothing.

Not only are the Jews spitting in the face of the Lord they are slapping Him repeatedly. The pain of the beating courses through His head. His skin is turning red from the repeated blows from this person and that person. As the blows are administered the spit flies off His face. This way His head turns from a blow and then another. His hair is filled with spit. Voices cry out for Him to prophesy. Taunting the Lord God they mock Him to tell who is slapping Him. And they continue to spit on Him. His face now covered with the refuse of spit running down everywhere. Jesus does not call the twelve legions of angels to come to His defense. He stands alone for you and me.

Early on Friday morning Jesus is taken to the governor. Following His examination and scourging by the Roman soldiers Jesus is taken into the Praetorium where the whole garrison gathered around Him. The number of soldiers would be over 400 men with estimates being as high as 1200 elite men of war. Jesus stood alone. The might of the Roman army surrounded the Lord God and they began their sport. It is important to know this was after the horror of scourging. The body of Jesus is wracked with intense pain and blood loss. He is weakened. Ripping his bloody clothes off they place a purple robe on Him and a crown of thorns. They mocked Him with derision. And it happens again. The brutes of war begin spitting in His face. Time and again the phlegm of wicked men covers the face of Jesus. Taking the rod they strike Him repeatedly. Jesus reels from each blow. His head is drenched with mucus. Sweat pours down His face. He does not call the twelve legions of angels to His rescue. He allows this brutal treatment to continue. Finally tired of their sport they lead the man from Nazareth away and nail Him to the cross.

Spit. When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus down from the cross they washed His body. Tears filled their eyes as they cleansed the face of Jesus filled with spit. Wrapping His body in linen they laid Him in the tomb. God raised Him from the dead three days later. Man did all they could do to destroy Jesus but He suffered alone so that we could see His face. When glory comes and the Lord returns we will see His face. It will be the face of the Lord without the contempt of man covering Him. There will be no spit. It will be a beautiful face to behold. Thank you Jesus for suffering in every way that you did because of my sin.

It was not weakness which made Christ hang on the cross; it was obedience to the law of sacrifice, of love. For how could He save us if He ever saved Himself? (Fulton J. Sheen, Radio Sermon, April 6, 1941)

Posted in Angels, Bible, Character Study, Christ, cross, Forgiveness, God, Gospels, Jesus Christ, Mercy, New Testament, Pilate, Roman, salvation, suffering | Leave a comment

God Is My Shepherd

Posted on March 6, 2016 by heatonkent

Sheep with their shepherd, mat01285The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)

God Is My Shepherd

The twenty-third Psalm is one of the most visible passages of scripture. It is often quoted and numerous arrangements have been sung to the beauty of its simple message. David knew everything there was to know about being a shepherd and he could see how the heavenly Father was like a shepherd. Written in a brief style the psalmist captures the life of one who guards, protects, provides and sustains creatures that have no defense and no guidance. Sheep are animals that have many enemies. They do not have any form of defense and must rely upon the shepherds care for defense. The sheep are unable to find green pastures or still waters on their own and need a guiding hand to take them to where they will find life. Sheep are completely dependent upon the shepherd. Without the work of the shepherd the sheep will die.

Shepherds know their role is to care for every sheep in the fold. Unlike a hireling who is only in it for the money a shepherd will take the time to look after each and every sheep. He provides them abundant fields of greenery. Waters that rush across the rocks will not help the sheep so the shepherd finds still waters. When the roar of a bear echoes across the hills the sheep crowd close to the shepherd because they know he will protect them. There is no fear in the flock. From time to time a sheep will wander away. He is lost among the crags and valleys with no defense. His bleating will reach the ears of his shepherd and with great joy sees his protector coming to rescue him. What a wonderful feeling to know the arms of the shepherd will carry him to safety and back to the fold. There is peace with the sheep because of the shepherd.

David realized the God was the great shepherd. Living for God each day will bring a peace that passes understanding. Only by the hand of the Lord God are provisions given for daily food, raiment and the needs of life. Hearing the voice of God daily is a way to follow the path of righteousness. There is no fear in the hearts of a child of God because he knows the will of God will guard his life, protect him from the roaring lion and comfort him in times of storm. If life takes a difficult toll and one wanders from the truth he knows that a loving Father will forgive and receive back the prodigal son with great joy.

There are too many Christians who know the twenty-third psalm but have never known the great Shepherd of the psalm. David had a personal relationship with the Father and He could feel the joy of the great Shepherd in his life every day. Our Father is longing for us to know Him, trust Him, live for Him each day and He will take care of us. As we worship God today let us lift up our voices of praise to the Shepherd of our salvation. Thank you God for being my Father. Thank you God for being my Shepherd.

The highest lesson God wants to teach us is to “trust Him regardless.” If everything made sense to our understanding we would need no faith. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, David, God, Psalms | Leave a comment

Weeping Over A City

Posted on March 5, 2016 by heatonkent

tearsNow as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

Weeping For A City

The Mount of Olives offered a panorama view of Jerusalem. As Jesus drew near the city of David His heart filled with the tragic sadness of its history, the present condition of blindness to the Son of God and the final destruction that was less than forty years away. It was from the Mount of Olives all of the city could be seen with the Temple the central figure in the many buildings that dotted the landscape. The city of Jerusalem was the Holy mountain of the Lord, the city of Righteousness, City of Truth; the place Daniel had opened his window and prayed toward. Jesus was overwhelmed by what He saw. It was in Jerusalem that God had placed the Temple to show the children of Abraham His glory. The heart of the people did not long rest in the mercy of the Lord but turned the Temple into a place of wickedness. When Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives the once beautiful city of God had been destroyed by the Babylonians, rebuilt and seven hundred years later under the guard of the Roman Empire. The Jews were looking for the promised Messiah but could not see the Christ in a man from Nazareth.

Destruction would come in 70 AD when the Roman army under Titus would level the city and destroy its inhabitants. It is said that so complete was the destruction that Titus had the Temple plowed under. Jesus wept because He knew what was coming. He cried tears of sorrow because while the city went about its busy day of the hustle and bustle of life judgment was coming. A terrible judgment was coming. His Father had longed for the city to see the glory of the Son of God but to no avail. They rejected the prophets of old and they were about to kill the Redeemer of the world. Albert Barnes wrote, “The national wickedness is too great; the cup is full: mercy is exhausted; and Jerusalem, with all her pride and splendor, the glory of her temple, and the pomp of her service, ‘must perish!’”

Jesus wept over a city. There are many reasons to sorrow in life. Generally it is connected with a death of a loved one. Jerusalem was a loved one of God. But it was more than a city. It was a story. One that began in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day. A story of the destructive hand of Satan. Looking down on Jerusalem the Lord could see all the people busy about their lives and many unaware of the coming judgment. Sin had filled the lives of all men and there was a need for a Savior. Jesus knew as He looked upon the city what price would be paid to redeem Jerusalem. That price would be paid outside the city gates like a lamb bearing the sins of the people. He wept for their sins, He wept for their sorrows soon to be found at the end of a Roman sword and He wept because what was to happen was the will of His Father – and nothing was going to change what would take place.

There is a need to weep over sin. The world has changed the view of sin but until we gain the proper insight of its tragedy tears will never come to our hearts. Jesus shows the proper attitude toward rejecting His Father. Sin is separation from the grace of God. It destroys and kills the soul. The result of sin is an eternal damnation of unbelievable horror. There may be a brief time of enjoyment in the arms of sin but the end is death – every time. Sin has killed our loved ones. The mark of sin will destroy many more lives. Jesus wept over sin and we can do no less when we see its tragic results. Godly sorrow is where repentance comes from and godly sorrow must always be at the forefront of how we view sin. We need to weep over sin. This sorrow must lead us to share the good news of salvation with a world given over to sin. Like Jesus looking upon Jerusalem with tears we should look around our community and weep over the lost souls that have no hope.

Weeping brings joy when a sinner turns from his way. Tears of sorrow are turned to tears of joy. May we have a heart of compassion for lost souls. Look deep into the lives of those we know and ask the question: “Is there joy?” Can we look upon them with happiness or with tears? Judgment is coming. It will be worse than what the Romans brought to the Jews. This judgment is final and its consequences are eternal. A great day is coming. Weep. Mourn. Sorrow over sin. Change hearts. Lead others to Christ. That is the greatest story ever told.

The real trouble with our times is not the multiplication of sinners; it is the disappearance of sin. (Etienne Gilson, Ensign, March, 1952)

Posted in Bible, Character Study, Christian, God, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Judgement, Prophets | Leave a comment

The Angry Prophet

Posted on March 4, 2016 by heatonkent

AngerThen God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left–and much livestock? (Jonah 3:10-4:11)

The Angry Prophet

There are many ways for the Lord to work among men. In the book of Jonah an extraordinary story of a remarkable man is given of the providence of God working among the Gentile nations. Nineveh was a great city in those days. Founded during the time of the tower at Babel it would serve as the capital of the Assyrian empire in generations to come. In the book of Jonah we are told it took Jonah three days to walk its length and housed at least 120,000 people. The city was a Gentile city but God directed Jonah to go and preach to that great city. At first the prophet was reluctant refusing to go. As he fled to Tarshish he was cast into the sea and spent three days and nights in the bowels of a great fish. Receiving his second command to go to Nineveh Jonah went and preached the doom of the great city. Remarkably the king heard the message and sought forgiveness from God. Proclaiming a fast the Gentile ruler implored the whole city to turn to the Lord in the hope the city would not perish. God relented. This should be a time of praise and glory for Jonah but quite the contrary.

Jonah reveals why he fled to Tarshish in the beginning. As a preacher of truth his message to the people of Nineveh was powerful. Peter and the apostles were blessed to experience the new birth of three thousand souls on the day of Pentecost but the son of Amittai brought a whole city to its knees. It is easy to see why God choose Jonah to cry out against the wicked city. His preaching was the truth of the Lord and his presentation was like the brand of Amos. When the Lord told Jonah He had relented from His judgment Jonah was exceedingly displeased and he became angry. He fled to Tarshish (or tried to) because he did not want these people to be saved. His righteous indignation was hot against the wicked people. He decided that God did not know what He was doing so the prophet decided to go as far away to the ends of the earth as he could. The mistake of the man of God was to think he could ever go somewhere the Lord was not. He may have been an effective preacher of truth but his heart was not where it should be.

Jonah was angry. The Lord prepared the plant to cover Jonah and the prophet enjoyed the shade. When the plant died Jonah was again angry. When God spoke to Jonah the prophet replied to the Lord with anger. The book ends abruptly with the Savior of men reminding Jonah that as wicked as the people of Nineveh were; He, God,  had compassion on their hearts because they repented. Jonah could not see that. His plan was for the Lord to wipe out Nineveh in a blast from Heaven much like Sodom and Gomorrah. His anger blinded him from God’s grace.

Sin is ugly. It is easy for God’s people to hate the sinner more than the sin but while God hates sin He loves the broken lives of those who need guidance. The Lord never condoned sin because of His love for the sinner. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to go and sin no more. What is revealed in that story is the hatred of men for the woman detesting what she had done rather than try to save her soul. The grace of God is measured by our own lives. What Jonah needed to realize is there was no difference between his life and the lives of those in Nineveh. He had rebelled against God refusing to go to Nineveh. The Lord wanted to save Nineveh and gave him a second chance to do what he was commanded. Why would he be angry if the Lord relented from punishing this great city? Mercy extended. Grace imparted. Love shown.

Sin is ugly in my life. I have been redeemed from the stain of sin. My sin is no different than the sin of others. All men sin. Jesus shed His blood for every sin and every sinner. All men need the grace of God no matter whether they are murderers, homosexuals, sexually immoral or tell a small lie once in a while. Grace comes from the blood of Jesus Christ. Jonah needed to have pity on the people of Nineveh. He should rejoice that a city as wicked as Nineveh could come to the Lord. There are a lot of Ninevites walking among us. Are you angry or are you ….

When thinking of sinners we shall never go wrong to include ourselves. (Aelred Graham, Christian Thoughts and Action, 1951)

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The Joy Of Being Like-Minded

Posted on March 3, 2016 by heatonkent

agape_-_darkTherefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

The Joy Of Being Like-Minded

It’s not about me. The hardest part in relationships is to remember that it is not always about what I want but what is important for the other person. Marriage is not a one way road. It takes two people caring for the other person to make a marriage to find fulfillment. If jealousy sparks the heart to my wishes and my demands the other person will suffer. The deepest relationship we have in Christ is when we find a spirit of like-minded concern with my brethren. While the world hawks the wares of selfishness and self-centered arrogance the principles of God establish relationships of a lowly mind.

People of God are to love one another. This love is the same love for each member of the body of Christ. There is a union of spirit because we serve the same God. The mind is one in purpose as we live after the same word. So often the nature of quarrelling and hatred permeates within the fabric of the church causing division and discord. Brethren will strive with one another over trivial things holding grudges for years. Bitterness roots itself in hurt feelings. Anger lies just below the level of civility creating an undercurrent or resentment. God does not want His children to behave in such a manner. The joy of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is for the people of God to have a like-mind and learn to love one another.

The first thing that must be done is for self to be removed. Jesus died for our sins – not just my sins. God loved the world – not just me. When I seek to have my way because of my own selfish desires or party spirit I deny the purpose of God sending His Son. Paul exhorts the brethren at Philippi that nothing should be done through selfish ambition or conceit. Nothing means nothing. Not one thing. Nada. Everything I do is about my brother. Showing a mind of humility I esteem others better than myself. That is strong language for some to accept. Reading the text again and again will not change the force of the argument. Nothing is to be done for my own self-seeking gratification. Removing my will to the will of the Lord demands a humble heart. I cannot lift up my brother until I bow myself lower than him. That is what Jesus did.

Every individual has a need to care for his own good but we must never lose sight of the needs of others. Helping one another, praying for one another, exhorting one another comes from the language of one another. Marriage is about ‘our’ relationship and in the marriage of spiritual relationships in Christ it is about looking after the needs of others. Jesus taught His disciples that to be great one had to learn to be a servant. When we learn the principles of servanthood we learn how to serve others. It is not easy to serve. Hard work is involved. Patience. Love. Can I do less than what Jesus did for me? He left glory to die a servant on the cross. From His example I learn how to find the comfort of love in the body of Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit. Seek opportunities to serve others. That is the joy of being like-minded.

You must act in your friend’s interest whether it pleases him or not; the object of love is to serve, not to win. (Woodrow Wilson, Address, Princeton, May 9, 1907)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Jesus Christ, Philippians | 2 Comments

The Aborted Life

Posted on March 2, 2016 by heatonkent

tombstonesThere is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good–do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:1-9)

The Aborted Life

It is unusual to compare life to an aborted child but the reality of life without purpose is the same conclusion. The son of David makes a startling conclusion about the nature of life lived to its fullest but life empty of meaning. The single goal of most men is to gain every benefit in life possible. Wealth, power and pleasure is the Bermuda triangle of vanity that drives men to do whatever is necessary to have the trinkets of material desire. Lives will be dedicated to building up affluence. Position and prestige drive men to gain power in the business world or political ambitions. The flesh enjoys every sensual pleasure in reckless abandonment. From the view of the world these are successful and happy people because they have so much. The wise man observes this life is no different than a child that dies before birth.

Time does not change the truth of the vanity of life. If a man has a hundred children to establish some kind of dynasty he still will die in vain. It is amazing to think of those in the Bible that lived nearly a thousand years but the truth of life is no different to a man who lives forty years than a man who lives two thousand years. So often the view of life is tainted by the false belief that life is about the here and now. Men work all their lives to fill their pockets and dreams with empty promises and then they die. What then? Sadly it is no different than a child that never sees the light of day. Death comes to them both and both die with no worldly advantage than the other. In death they have a common end.

The lesson for the living is to take to heart the truth of man’s existence. Solomon’s conclusion at the end of this great book is for man to fear God and keep His commandments because that is all man has to gain. What else is there? Seeking all the frills of life is vanity. Seeking the Lord in righteousness is eternal. The nature of man does not change. Our world is filled with more glorifications of man’s wisdom, power and wealth than in many generations past. The simple truth remains the same: life without God is vain. Gaining all the wealth of this world will do you no good in the life to come. Attaining great measures of power and fame today will be lost in the dust bins of tomorrow. Pleasure is fleeting. Age takes care of that and death ends it.

There is one thing to note about the lives of vain men and aborted children. Those who spend their lives seeking salvation in worldly pleasures will lose their soul in eternal darkness. The stillborn child who never sees the light of day will find the light of God in death. They are neither rich in this world nor powerful and never enjoy the pleasures of life. What they do have is eternal life! And that is all that matters! Something to think about. Lessons to learn for living.

The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it. (William James; 1842-1910; quoted in Thought and Character of William James, by Ralph Barton Perry)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Ecclesiastes, Judgement, Morality, Psalms, Social Issues | Leave a comment

The Sadness Of Error

Posted on March 1, 2016 by heatonkent

errorTherefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:14-18)

The Sadness Of Error

When Peter was writing his second epistle he faced the sad reality of false teachers that were bringing their destructive heresies among God’s people. Satan has never rested in his efforts to malign, confuse, destroy and change the doctrine of the Lord from truth to his vile tonic of lies. What the apostle dealt with two thousand years ago is alive and well in our world today. False teachers abound. They flourish among multitudes of people who are deceived by their smooth words of scripture quoting Bible toting vibrant experiences of so-called spirit led worship. Predominate among the charismatics are the ploys of spiritual gifts deceiving thousands at healing services that are no more than carnival tricks of lies. Myriads of honest people are being taught the damning philosophies of error to their own destruction. Huge throngs of disciples blindly follow the antics of slick pressed con men (and women) who charm the world with doctrines of good feeling no judgment God is love dogma with no greater appeal than living anyway you desire lifestyles. Let’s face it: there is nothing more sad than the reality of what error is doing to the hearts of God’s creation.

The answer to error is found in our text. Peter lived in a world given over to false teachers but he exhorted the people of God to do a simple yet powerful thing: grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The sadness of error is – it is unnecessary. The truth has been revealed in the word of God. As Paul reminded the brethren at Ephesus we have but only to read and understand what is written. It is there. Error comes from those who appeal more to the fleshly lusts of pleasure rather than the spiritual ideals of knowledge. How sad to stand before God in the final day and realize that truth was revealed in written form yet rejected for the antics of a false teacher.

Ignorance of scripture will bring about an eternal destiny of horror. There is a need for diligence to be found in Christ without spot and to be found blameless. Steadfastness is the clarion call of the hour to realize false teachers abound and every soul must be found faithful to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Growing in this knowledge is what defeats false teaching. Earlier Peter had admonished his readers to be mindful of the words which were spoken by the holy prophets and commandment of the apostles of Christ. Scoffers were coming walking according to their own lusts. Stay to the Book. Anchor upon the words of truth. Do not let false teachers allure the faithful away from the hope of salvation by a gospel falsely called. Error is real and error is destructive.

The greatest sadness of error is the final realization of hopelessness when it is too late to change. There is nothing more paramount to the salvation of the soul than to examine oneself whether they are in the faith. Not because of what parents have said, favorite preachers have taught, society has embraced or how I think things should be. It is clearly whether or not I am growing in His grace increasing in His knowledge according to His will. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will be saved. Only those who do the will of the Father. Error brings sadness. Truth gives gladness.

Be not content to know the Truth; rouse your heart to love it. (B. W. Maturin, Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline, 1905)

Posted in Bible, Christian, Church, error, God, Judgement, obedience, salvation | Leave a comment

Which Seed Are You?

Posted on February 29, 2016 by heatonkent

wheat-shutterstockThen Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:36-43)

Which Seed Are You?

Jesus used mental ‘Power Point’ to impress upon His disciples the teaching of His Father. Through means of parables He was able to embed in the hearts of those who hungered for the word of God the deeper meaning of discipleship. The parable of the wheat and tares is a vivid account of the whole of man’s existence and the grace of God to save.

Jesus came to bring the message of redemption through His blood. His teaching was the good seed that would bring forth blessings in good hearts. All humanity would be offered this seed of grace as the word was spread to the four corners of the earth. When Jesus commissioned His apostles to teach the gospel He charged them to go into all the world and teach. Seeds of the gospel were spread in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. At the same time, Satan realized what this good seed would do to the hearts of men so he began a campaign of spreading the tares of his wares among the people. A tare is a noxious weed. It is useless, poisonous and destroys the ground. The agents of the devil spread these toxic weeds in the hearts of men destroying the goodness in their hearts.

The Lord is coming back to bring all men to judgment. Jesus pictured the day of judgment in many ways but in this parable it takes on the form of an agricultural story. When men sow good seeds of wheat the expectation is to receive a bounty of harvest. Their enemies, not wanting them to have such a harvest, sow seeds of tares among the wheat so they can grow up together. The servants want to immediately tear out the tares but for harming the good seed are prohibited. Instead the master waits until the day of harvest and separates the good from the bad. Jesus shows how the devil is the one who plants the seeds of error in the hearts of men but in the day of harvest the angels will reap the good plants from the bad. The evil hearts of men (tares) will be gathered together and cast into the fire where there will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. The good seed that grew to maturity in Christ will be gathered in the barn of God.

The lesson of the parable is simple. Jesus came to bring the good news and the devil comes to bring the bad news. As the world continues – the mixing of the word of God and the efforts of Satan to destroy the righteous are allowed to continue. There is a great day coming. A great day when the Lord in flaming fire will come with His angels to bring judgment upon the world. The separation of evil men from good men will be the judgment. Those who refused to know God and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ will be cast into Hell. Jesus teaches the severity of punishment as something very real. The angels will take the righteous to the promise of God for eternal life where they will shine forth in the glory of the Father.

Not everyone will be saved. Jesus taught that most men will be lost. There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who are the good seed and those who are the tares. The question you must answer (and you know the answer) is which seed are you? Only one seed goes to Heaven. Be the good seed. Follow the will of the Father.

The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. (William Jennings Bryan, Speech, 1896)

Posted in Angels, Bible, Harvest, Jesus Christ, Judgement, Matthew, New Testament, parable, salvation, Wheat | Leave a comment