A Hard Thing To Say But True

Posted on February 13, 2025 by heatonkent

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22)

A Hard Thing To Say But True

The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. Reading the epistle, it is a wonder why God had not removed the candlestick from the divine room of blessings. The church was divided by carnality, prejudice, hatred, false teaching, immorality, infighting, division, and chaotic worship services. Paul addressed each one head-on with the force of divine authority. No quarter was given for the sin that plagued the church of God at Corinth. The apostle put the church and its problems in the cross-hairs of divine truth. When it came to the end of his letter, Paul left it in the hearts of the saints with perfect clarity and simplicity.

After writing about all the problems plaguing the church, Paul summed up the need of the hour. In one simple yet powerful sentence, the apostle laid it all on the line. Yes, the church had a problem with brethren exalting preachers above Christ. That was not the problem. The church acted like a bunch of babies in their relationships with one another. That was not the problem. Some of the saints had written Paul about morality questions, and the apostle addressed each one. That was not the problem. Every story Paul outlined in his letter was of great significance to the corruption of the church, but none of those things was the problem. The underlying problem with the church at Corinth was by their actions; they let the world know they did not love Jesus Christ.

When it came to the deep-seated problem in the church, Paul reminded them the greatest commandment of all is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and body. The Corinthians saints had failed miserably in this matter. Their problems veiled the deeper issue of failing to love God as they should. Paul’s statement was harsh and to the point. If a man does not love God first, he will be cursed. He does not suggest cursing in the worldly view. Paul wanted to turn the minds of the Corinthians away from the petty issues of brotherhood to the greater command of love to the Lord. Churches filled with strife have failed to remember who the church belongs to. A judgment will be brought against such unloving brethren.

Paul’s statement also highlights a problem on the individual level. When brethren become weak and refuse to follow the will of the Father, they fall out of love with God to a place where they no longer love God. The reason the man at Corinth with his father’s wife needed to repent was not because of social status or influence. It was foundationally because he did not love God if he continued in his sin. The way to demonstrate a love for God was to repent. By God’s grace, the man repented when he put God first in his heart. That is the problem and the solution to sin.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he jeopardizes his soul and eternal life. That needs to be clearly stated to those who trifle with God’s word. How often are brethren acting in sinful ways with only kind admonitions to repent without the reality of their actions explained? Paul’s letter to Corinth is an example of how to have a godly conversation with people about sin. The first thing Paul said was he was thankful for the brethren. He then illuminated each problem the church faced with the proper use of authority. Near the end of his letter, he appealed for unity as a body of Christ. Paul showed them the hope of heaven and the promise of eternal resurrection. As he closed out his letter, he sternly warned that the church at Corinth needed to love the Lord God.

If you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be accused in a lake of fire forever. Jesus told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would keep His commandments. If you are not keeping the commandments of the Lord, you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, and you do not love God. Stop kidding yourself. A great day is coming. Only those who love the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Heed the warning of God. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be accursed.

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Tears In A Bottle

Posted on February 12, 2025 by heatonkent

You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Tears In A Bottle

God created man with tear ducts before there was a need for tears. As the result of sin, grief, and sorrow darken the world with its infusion of grief over the loss of loved ones, sin, regret, and the trials of life. Part of the consequences of sin was the pain of childbirth placed upon the woman. Adam and Eve mourned the loss of their son Abel, who was killed by their firstborn son, Cain. Shedding tears are a part of the fabric of life that will never go away until the coming of the Lord. The psalms are filled with grief. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet and wrote a book about the sorrow of divine judgment. “Lamentations” is derived from the caption in the Latin version or Vulgate.

The Holy Spirit made a significant point to show the Son of God weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus had delayed his arrival at the home of Lazarus, arriving after Lazarus had died and was in the tomb for four days. The power of the resurrection was affirmed when Lazarus came out on the fourth day completely whole. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, and yet He still wept openly before a family He had drawn especially close to. Death is filled with sorrow and crying. The consequence of sin can bring tears to the eye. Jesus wept.

The psalmist David wrote about an experience when fleeing the wrath of King Saul when he sought refuge with Achish, the king of Gath, a Philistine city. David became fearful of Achish and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His fear was well-founded. The experience left David troubled, and he sought comfort from the Lord in his prayers and psalms. When he became afraid, David trusted in the Lord. He knew that God watched over him and protected him. David also described a beautiful relationship he shared with the Heavenly Father, that God would take his tears and place them in a bottle.

The joy of God’s comfort is knowing that the Father knows all the cares and worries of His children. When His children cry, the Lord God collects their tears in a bottle so they will not be forgotten. David had enemies all around him, from Saul and his army to the Philistines. He knew that his sorrow was heard in Heaven by the great Shepherd who would never forsake him or leave him. It was a joy to David to think of God taking his tears and keeping them in His divine care. The reassurance that God knows and cares about the sorrows of the heart is beautifully described as tears in a bottle.

David’s lament shows the power of God’s love to remember the suffering of His people. The suffering of Jesus is the divine story of love from a Father who knows the pain of His children. There is nothing that God cannot soothe and bring peace to in man’s experience. Grief is a natural part of life and serves a purpose. Often, the feelings of loneliness overwhelm the heart, burdened with sadness, but God knows and understands. When His children cry, He takes their tears and puts them in His bottle to remember and bestow blessings upon them. It is of great comfort to know that as God “looks into” the bottle of our hearts and sees our tears, He remembers our grief and knows our needs.

There are many ways the Holy Spirit describes eternal life. It is called a paradise, a place of immense beauty, everlasting life, and eternal joy. In the Revelation of John, one of the profound descriptions of eternal life is when God wipes away the tears from the eyes of the faithful. Death is destroyed. There will be no sorrow and no crying – and no more need for tear bottles. All of those bottles will be taken away. Until then, the faithful, like David, know that God numbers their wanderings, putting their tears into His bottle and writing their names in His book. Put your trust in God, and do not be afraid. Walk before God in the light of the living. Let God put your tears in His bottle.

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The Problem With Patience

Posted on February 10, 2025 by heatonkent

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

The Problem With Patience

James has a positive view of life when he suggests having joy in the face of various trials, testing the faith of the faithful. This would be radical language in a time when the persecution of the church was a reality for so many. James addresses his letter to the saints that were scattered abroad. There were many undergoing the trials of persecution because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ. James wants them to have joy in the face of such trials, letting it produce the character of patience in them. The need for steadfastness has always characterized the people of God. Enduring life’s hardships and remaining faithful to the Lord was why Jesus told those who desired to follow Him to take up a cross. There is a price to be paid to be a Christian.

It is impossible for trials not to come when one desires to live godly in an ungodly world. James wants Christians to have a proper view of the trials of life. Trials will come, and the people of God must accept the character-building trait of their trials, producing patience. Then, patience should have its perfect work in the heart of the faithful to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. So, the conclusion is that trials are good for the soul. Suffering for the cause of Christ is not only expected but desired. Patience comes from the trials of life so that the heart can be made stronger than it was. That is the problem with patience. It comes from trials.

Vincent’s Word Studies defines patience as “the heroic, brave patience with which a Christian not only bears but contends.” The trials that come upon the faithful develop a character of joy to face whatever the world brings against them. Jesus did not stoically go to the cross. He bore the cross with faith and courage, knowing the end result. His suffering was but a brief time compared to eternity. Death was the door that opened the miracle of resurrection. Suffering for Christ is a brief trial compared to eternity. Facing the trials of life with faith and courage and knowing what fruit is born from those trials is where joy comes.

The problem with patience is that it requires trials so there can be a perfection that molds the heart and soul to the love of God. Those who endure the trials of life with faith find their lives complete, not empty. There is a fullness of God’s grace that fills the heart of the suffering to know that God has not abandoned them. No greater love can one find than that given by the Lord God. During those trials, wisdom from God is liberally given to those who seek the favor of the Lord. There is a crown of life promised to all who endure temptation. God has promised a crown to those who love Him. Courageous faith moves the soul to trust in God’s will to endure life’s trials. Finding joy in patience is not easy, but the reward is eternal. It puts life in perspective to know the true value of living for Jesus Christ. The problem with patience is what it takes to get it. Thank God for His grace that rewards those who wait.

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Facing Criticism

Posted on February 9, 2025 by heatonkent

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:28-29)

Facing Criticism

Skeptics are never satisfied. When Robert Fulton first showed off his new invention, the steamboat, skeptics crowded the riverbank, yelling, “It will never start.” It did. It got going with a lot of cranking and groaning, and as it made its way down the river, the skeptics were quiet for a moment. Then they started shouting, “I will never stop; it will never stop.” If Fulton had listened to his critics, he would have never changed the course of travel and industry.

One of the great stories of the Old Testament is how David defeated Goliath. As a shepherd, David was unaccustomed to the battlefield and had no formal training in combat. He was a shepherd, a tender of sheep. Being a shepherd was not a passive job and came with many dangers. When David went to the battlefield to find his brothers and bring them provisions, the young shepherd saw and heard Goliath bellowing his challenges to the army of Israel.

Goliath was a giant of a man. He stood over nine feet tall and wore a bronze coat of mail weighing one hundred twenty-five pounds. The iron spearhead at the end of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. He was the champion of the Philistine army while not himself a Philistine. When David saw Goliath, the giant had presented himself for forty days with no one from the army of God ready to fight him. David took issue with Goliath’s conduct and asked those in the army who would kill the challenger. Elias, David’s oldest brother, was angry at David, accusing the shepherd boy of pride and insolence.

When Saul, king of Israel, heard of David, he sent for him. Saul was also surprised at David’s insistence to have Goliath killed. The king reminded David he was no match for the might of Goliath. David was a young man, and Goliath was a seasoned man of war. David told Saul that he may have been a shepherd, but he had protected the flock from predators in these duties. On one occasion, a bear took a sheep out of the flock, and David went out after it and struck it, saving the sheep. When the bear rose against David, the shepherd boy took the bear by the beard and killed it. Shortly afterward, David went out and killed Goliath.

Skeptics and critics can keep us from being the people we need to be in Christ. If David had listened to his critics, he would never have gone into the valley of Elah. When we have God on our side, we have a majority of One. God can do all things through our lives when we open our hearts to His will. We can make Satan flee. Temptation can be overcome. Prayers can embolden our lives to greater service. Nothing is impossible with God. Do not let the world hinder your growth in Christ. Be a David and have courage to stand for truth.

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A Notorious Prisoner

Posted on February 7, 2025 by heatonkent

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. (Matthew 27:15-16)

A Notorious Prisoner

The Romans, who subdued Jerusalem’s Jewish population, knew the need to keep the city pacified to maintain peace. There were many conflicts erupting in the city and around Judea when Jewish patriots fought against the Roman occupation. Many of the criminals had been caught and crucified. The prisons were full of insurrectionists accused of sedition and treason. A custom developed by the Roman authorities to release one prisoner of the people’s choosing during the feast of the governor sought to pacify the population.

Jesus was brought before Pilate, governor of Judea, by the Jewish council seeking to have the man from Nazareth executed. Pilate knew there was no legal basis for the claims made against Jesus and that only for envy had the council delivered Him for crucifixion. In an attempt to appease the people, the leaders, and possibly his own conscience, Pilate reminded the crowd of the custom to release anyone they desired. He offered them a man called Barabbas, a known criminal and murderer, or Jesus, a man claiming to be the King of the Jews.

Nothing is known about Barabbas apart from holy writ. He appears briefly in scripture but at the most pivotal time in history. Barabbas was a well-known prisoner who had committed robbery and was accused of murder in a rebellion. He languished in prison with his fellow conspirators, waiting for certain death on a cross. Every day drew closer as others were led off to their deaths. The day of execution had come for Barabbas as he waited for the Roman guard to lead him to the place of scourging before being nailed to a cross. The Roman guard went to the cell where Barabbas was kept and called his name. Barabbas knew his time had come. He had heard the shouts of the crowd but probably could not discern the meaning.

The Roman guard took Barabbas out of the prison and, to the shock and surprise of the murderer, set him free. Another man was scourged and led to Golgotha, where He was crucified between two thieves (possible accomplices of Barabbas). He would die that day and be buried in a rich man’s new grave. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. A little over a month later, the New Testament church began in the city of Jerusalem. The silence of the scriptures would suggest that after Barabbas was released from prison, he returned to his fellow robbers and continued his life of crime. Nothing is said in the books of the New Testament about the man who was released in the place of Jesus. Whether he knew Jesus or cared is not known.

Barabbas was a man of the world who lived preying on others. He did not have a jailhouse conversion and became a disciple of Jesus. From the world’s view, the man in the middle of the three crosses was a convicted criminal who deserved to die. The disciples who gathered around the cross and the Roman centurion recognized Jesus as more than man but not Barabbas. Like the world, he could have cared less about the man from Nazareth. There was nothing special about the death of Jesus from a worldview. A man died, and they buried Him.

The story of Barabbas is more revealing of the worldview than many want to admit. Jesus took the place of a robber and a murderer. Barabbas did not care. He only wanted to be free. His life was not concerned with Jesus of Nazareth. It would be fifty days before Peter preached a sermon about the risen Messiah. Those who responded to the gospel were devout men. Barabbas was not a devout man. There are more than eight billion people on the planet, and the vast majority of them are not devout, not concerned, and care nothing for Jesus Christ. Like Barabbas, they do not care that Jesus took their place to save them from the wrath of God. It would be heartwarming to think that Barabbas became a Christian, which is the same feeling God has about the world. He is not willing for anyone to perish. But too many people care nothing for Jesus and will never know how Jesus set them free until it is too late.

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Sleeping In Church

Posted on February 6, 2025 by heatonkent

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30)

Sleeping In Church

The early church experienced phenomenal growth in the first days of the kingdom. Three thousand souls were added to the church on the day of Pentecost; later, the number of men came to be about five thousand. The first converts devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, and worship. Fear came upon every soul as the apostles showed the power of God with miracles. If anyone lacked the basic necessities of life, the saints helped other saints, praising God and having favor with all the people. Men like Barnabas sold land and brought the proceeds to the church. The first days of the church were filled with unity and love. But that would not last.

Luke describes the early church as united, but trouble was brewing, and Satan was beginning to work his evil in the hearts of the saints. Problems with members of the church brought division. In the church of God at Corinth, the body of Christ was plagued by many problems, such as allegiance to certain preachers, carnality, sectarianism, open sexual immorality, brethren suing one another, questions of marriage, refusal to abide by cultural norms, mockery of the Lord’s Supper, division over spiritual gifts leading to chaos in the worship services, and teachers denying the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What was the reason for such problems? The answer Paul gave pointed to those who were asleep in church.

Jesus died to build His church. The Holy Spirit warned of the apostasy that would come as men left the teachings of Christ for their own doctrines. When Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for abusing the Lord’s Supper, he gave a reason why the brethren had failed in their worship. The Lord’s Supper is a hinge-pin to the problems that plague the local church. Instead of the reverent communion of discerning the body of Jesus Christ, the Corinthian Christians were creating an unworthy atmosphere of worship. This was caused by brethren who were spiritually weak and sick among them. Many of the saints were spiritually dead. Paul was not talking about physical weakness, sickness, or death. He reproved the brethren for the weakness of their faith. The worship service at Corinth had become a three-ring circus by brethren who failed to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. They were spiritually asleep and nearing spiritual death.

Sleeping in church has always been a problem when the members doze off (some even snoring). A greater problem is the unseen number of people sitting in the pew with their eyes wide open who are spiritually weak and asleep. They have little or no interest in the things of God. Their lives are empty shells of materialism, pleasure, and recreation. When the Lord’s Supper is passed, they have no feelings of guilt or remorse over the death of God’s Son. They take some bread, drink some juice, and go about their lives like always. Paul warned the Corinthian church about those who were sleeping in their faith. God will bring judgment upon those who sleep.

When people sleep in church, they fail to realize how close the judgment of God draws near each day. It is time for brethren to awaken from their spiritual slumber and grow in Christ. Sleeping in church comes from not knowing God in the heart. Righteousness is a learned character that comes from study and application. Paul would use the sleeping metaphor to arouse the saints from their spiritual lethargy to “arise from the dead.” If someone sleeps too much, they will die (spiritually). When the Lord returns, do not be found sleeping. Spiritual slumber will lead to the wrath of God. Wake up. Be alert. Watch and pray. And again, watch.

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A Prepared Place

Posted on February 5, 2025 by heatonkent

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”… Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:34,41)

A Prepared Place

It has been observed that Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Before God created the world, He prepared to receive to Himself His creation He was about to form. The eternal plan of grace was formulated and set forth long before Adam and Eve were created. When the man and woman disobeyed Him, the Lord removed them from paradise but offered them salvation. The central theme of human history is the revelation that God wants His creation to worship Him and prepare themselves to dwell in His eternal glory. Through the Holy Spirit, the word of grace was given to man to know what must be done to be saved. The problem humanity faced was what to do with sin. Only God had the answer.

For many centuries, the Creator spoke to His creation, revealing His word. To save the seed of Christ, God formed the Jewish nation of Israel and gave them a law. Through the Law of Moses, the Jews found grace before the Lord. When Jesus came, the Gentiles had proven they could not save themselves as a law to themselves, and the Jews showed they could not be justified in keeping the law. Eternal life came through the sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Before His death, Jesus promised to open the way to everlasting life. He told His disciples He would prepare a place for them to find salvation. Jesus was not going to prepare Heaven because it had already been prepared before the foundation of the world. The Son of God was setting in place the final part of God’s plan to prepare eternal life for all those who believed in Him.

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day to prepare the way to a prepared place. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, anyone can find the grace of God to chart their path to eternal life. Faith without works is dead, and by finding the grace and mercy of God and obeying the will of the Father, those who prepared their lives with the blessings of God could look forward to receiving the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Paul wrote about the crown of life that was prepared for him (he had his name on it). Peter spoke about the assurance of making the calling and election certain for the faithful. The New Testament church believed in a prepared place where God dwells as a promise given by God – who cannot lie.

There is another prepared place. This place, like the home with God, was prepared before the world began. What makes this place different is the character, makeup, and purpose for which it would serve. Satan and his angels existed before the creation of the world. In God’s eternal plan, Jesus would become flesh and walk as men on the earth. He would be killed by the ruthless hatred of men and buried. What changed everything eternally was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When God brought Jesus out of the grave, the Son of God conquered death, Hades, and Satan. Now, the purpose of Hell was revealed.

Jesus says the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. In truth, the lake of fire and brimstone was not purposed for humanity but the devil and his angels. The judgment of the Lord demands a righteous accounting, and all those who follow the wiles of the devil will suffer the same punishment. A greater tragedy takes place when a man refuses to honor God and chooses rather to follow after Satan. There is no doubt in the mind of Satan what his eternal destiny is. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that Hell is real. In the time before the final judgment, the devil is trying to take as many of God’s creation with him to the place of darkness. The evil of Satan is heightened by the bloodthirsty desire that if he is damned to Hell, he will take as many as he can with him.

Heaven is a prepared place, expecting the faithful of God to dwell with the glorious hosts. God created the heavenly paradise to bless the godly with eternal life. Heaven fulfills its grand purpose by filling itself with the praises of glory and honor to God. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. It grieves the heart of God to send men to Hell when that was not His plan. His grace demands it. Divine mercy requires it. Justice will be meted out, and the boundaries of Hell will fill with the devil, his angels, and all humanity that does not do the will of the Father. As they languish in eternal torment, someone may say, “I am not meant to be here.” And they will be right – too late.

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The Miracle Of A Global Flood

Posted on February 4, 2025 by heatonkent

For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. (Isaiah 54:9)

The Miracle Of A Global Flood

The Bible is a book of miracles. From the first page of Genesis to the conclusion of John in the Revelation, God’s handiwork through the power of miracles is established time and again. Everyone who comes to the Bible is faced with the choice of believing the miracles or denying them. Genesis 1 is the beginning of all miracles as Moses tells the story of creation. God spoke the universe into existence in a series of six days from nothing. The power of the spoken word illustrates the magnitude of God’s divine power. Many centuries pass from Adam to Noah, and the second greatest miracle happens when God brings a flood of water upon the earth that covers the tallest mountains more than twenty feet. How is that possible?

Nothing has changed in the size of the earth from its beginning. The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid with the widest points at the equator (3,963 miles) and a polar radius of 3,950 miles. Measuring through its center, Earth is 7,926 miles. At present, the land mass of Earth is 57,308,738 square miles out of a surface mass of 196,900,000 square miles. Contrary to a popular song, it’s not a small world after all. Earth is a massive sphere where God placed Adam and Eve, and humanity began to thrive. In the days of Noah, God covered 196,900,000 square miles with water to a depth covering the tallest mountains by more than twenty feet. Using present-day Mt. Everest as a guide, the water would have been approximately 29,052 deep, covering the whole earth.

The creation of the universe was an impressive miracle, and the second miracle of scripture is no less impressive. It is beyond the wisdom of man to imagine a flood so extensive to cover the face of the earth with such force, volume, and destruction. Isaiah declares the flood covered the world because that is what God did. The Lord speaks through the prophet to tell His people of His power. Many more miracles follow in holy writ, leading to the greatest miracle in the resurrection of God’s Son from the dead. If a man does not believe in the power of the flood in the days of Noah, he will not believe in the power of the resurrection of Jesus. Faith requires the belief and acceptance of the word of God to the magnitude of the flood to cover the earth.

Moses did not witness the flood. He wrote about it with stunning words of divine revelation. He had heard the stories of the flood all his life, but when the Lord revealed the details of the flood through revelation, it must have astounded the mind of Moses. How could such a flood take place? Without knowing the scientific analysis of the earth’s size, Moses could appreciate the volume of water required to cover the earth. Men like Isaiah read about the flood and believed God had the power to perform such an act. The flood covered the earth. What a concept. It proved to hearts of faith the divine power of a God full of grace.

To deny the flood is to deny Jesus Christ. During the ministry of Jesus, the Son of God spoke of the days of Noah as the days before the flood. Jesus said the flood came and destroyed all those outside the ark, and only Noah and his family were saved. The flood that Jesus spoke of covered the earth. If God has the power to cover the earth with a flood, He has the power to save the world through His grace. Noah and his family were saved by God’s grace and mercy. Believing the word of the Lord and obeying the command of God, Noah saved himself and his family.

The story of the flood is the story of the gospel. God’s grace warns of a coming destruction. It will never be a flood, but a judgment of fire is coming. God has told the world it is coming. The Lord has also instructed men what to do to be saved. Through the knowledge of the Bible, the gospel of salvation has been preached, showing all men how to save themselves. Like Noah, those who believe in the gospel must respond to the grace and mercy of God by being obedient. Peter likens the flood in the days of Noah to salvation through Jesus Christ, where eight souls were saved through water. In Jesus Christ, baptism is where one is saved from their sins. When a man believes God can cover the earth with a flood, he will accept the word of the gospel and obey.

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Our Twelve Stones

Posted on February 3, 2025 by heatonkent

That all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever. (Joshua 4:24)

Our Twelve Stones

The crossing of the Jordan River was a powerful statement for Israel and their new leader, Joshua, son of Nun. Like the crossing of the Red Sea, God showed His power when the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant dipped the edge of the water; the waters that came down from upstream stood still and rose in a heap. The act of dividing the Jordan River was proof of God’s promise to drive out the people of the land. God instructed Joshua to have the priests bearing the ark of the covenant stand still in the midst of the Jordan, letting the children of Israel pass over on dry land. After the people crossed the Jordan on dry land, the Lord instructed Joshua to take twelve men who would gather twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan. These men would carry the twelve stones across the Jordan to where they would lodge that night.

Joshua set up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan as a sign and memorial to the events of the Red Sea forty years earlier and the crossing of the Jordan River before the conquest of the land. Twelve stones represented the mighty hand of the Lord and brought about fear in the minds of those who saw the stones as a reminder of the Lord’s greatness. God wanted the people to have a memorial to remember the great things done through divine grace and mercy. Israel did not deliver itself from Egypt. The promised land was given to the Hebrews by the hand of God. No man could claim the power to possess the land without the will of God. The twelve stones became a memorial of the inability of man to save himself and the divine power of God to carry out His will.

A memorial is established to turn the mind back to a person or an event. Twelve stones served the purpose of turning the hearts of the people back to how God delivered them. The stones remained for a long time to remind Israel of the grace of God. Jesus became the symbol of hope and grace when He offered Himself as the lamb before the slaughter. He was the metaphorical twelve stones reminding all men they could not save themselves. Only through God’s divine will and the grace of a loving Father can man find salvation. The Bible is a grand memorial declaring all God has done for His glory. Reading the text of holy writ tells the story of God’s deliverance. The conclusion is determined that man could not save himself. It took the grace and mercy of God for man to find salvation.

The Lord’s Supper is a direct memorial to the reminder that man could not save himself, and there is nothing man can do to repay the debt owed to the Father in heaven. Like the twelve stones, the Bible and the Lord’s Supper are testimonies that all the people of the earth may know the hand of the Lord is mighty, and there is a need to fear the wrath of God. The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man to understand who God is and what purpose man has on earth. God created man to glorify Him. The Bible reveals this glory. Taking the Lord’s Supper is a proclamation that God loved the world and sent His only begotten Son. It is called a memorial because it will remind the child of God of His saving grace. Israel crossed the Red Sea and the River Jordan by the power of God. The child of God is forgiven of his sins by the power of God.

No one can argue ignorance on the final day. All the peoples of the earth can know the will of the Father. The Bible teaches the fear of God. As memorials, the Bible and the Lord’s Supper declare the message of God to give His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to save them from their sins. There is nothing more God will give the world than the revelation of His word and the revelation of the Word, Jesus Christ. These memorials testify that God is mighty. He is powerful. The Lord is full of love and grace. Embrace the twelve stones of God’s memorial contained within the pages of the Bible and the remembrance of the death of Jesus.

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The Bible Is All Truth

Posted on February 2, 2025 by heatonkent

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Bible Is All Truth

The Bible is the only source of truth given to the world. Written over a span of 1500 years by forty different men living in different times of history, the Bible is a complete record of the mind of God telling man what he must do to be saved. Many books are written that inspire men and explain the questions of life, but none are as sufficient as the sixty-six books that make up the Bible. God is the author of the book. The fall of man is the subject of the book. Jesus Christ and salvation is the message of the Bible. Everything a man needs to know about life is found on the pages of the Bible.

In a world starving for hope and answers, few souls will venture into the pages of the Bible. It is the most popular book published in the history of man and the least read. Many preachers never mention the Bible in their sermons. Instead, they soothe the guilty hearts by caressing and cajoling the people with great stories and positive messages with little or nothing to save their souls. Fresh from the seminary, a young man said, “Must I confine myself in my preaching to the Bible?” That is like a shrimp asking, “Must I confine my roaming to the Atlantic Ocean? Imagine a minnow saying, “Must I confine myself to the ocean?”

The Bible is the message of salvation given to the world to explain the questions of life and death. Reading it will not make one rich or bring better health, but it will enrich the soul with eternal truths, heal the broken spirit, and mend the troubled heart. Paul told Timothy the value of the scriptures is eternal when he writes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Seeking the answers to life begins with the Bible. Learning your purpose in life begins with the Bible. Reading and meditating on the words of the Bible will bring hope, peace, and joy to life. The Bible is written to comfort the afflicted and it is written to afflict the comfortable. God also wants the world to know the dangers of disobedience and failure to follow His word. There are many stories of God’s love in the Bible and many more stories of God’s wrath. The Bible is written for our learning.

The Bible is the compass everyone should have to guide them in the way of truth. God’s word is the only truth. To reject the Bible is to turn away from the only ark of safety in the ocean of life. God did not give us a book we cannot understand. Read it to be wise. Neglect it to the danger of eternal condemnation. The Bible is the only revelation given to the world to know what a man must do to be saved. Jesus is the message of the book and, through His death, established the eternal scheme of God’s plan for salvation.

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