The Heaton File

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:15-17)

In The Belly Of A Fish

The story of Jonah is one of the most familiar in scripture. Often told as Jonah and the whale (note is only says “a great fish”) it has volumes of lessons for the people of God. He was told to go preach to a Gentile city but refused. Trying to flee to the farthest place on earth he found himself the object of God’s wrath spending three days and three nights in the belly of a fish. Praying to the Lord for deliverance God spoke to the fish and the reluctant prophet was vomited up on shore (that had to be an experience for both fish and Jonah). Told a second time to preach to Nineveh the prophet brought the whole city to repentance calming the destruction from the Lord. The book closes with Jonah’s displeasure at God saving the city.

Being swallowed by a fish and surviving three days was a miracle. It is impossible to understand the impact this would have on any man. Jonah’s prayer speaks of his despair as the deep closed around him. There is a way of looking at the story as God’s punishment on Jonah in being swallowed by a fish but as Tom Hamilton pointed out in a lesson about the tomb of Jesus the prophet’s redemption was in the belly of the fish. When the sailors threw Jonah into the sea he should have drowned. He could have treaded water for some time but to stay afloat for any length of time would have been impossible. Death faced Jonah in the deep. The fish was Jonah’s salvation. His tomb became his deliverance. Remember when God spoke to the fish it vomited Jonah on dry land.

The tomb of Jesus is our redemption. The sting of death and the victory of Hades is not in the tomb of the righteous. Death is not feared for the child of God because we know our physical burial is not the end but the beginning of our life. Jesus tomb was empty showing our hope of an empty tomb. What man sees as a horrible pit of darkness the Christian sees as a portal of light to bring us to God. The fish was not punishment but salvation. Death is no longer to be feared but embraced as our redemption. Jesus died and was buried so that we can die and be raised up to everlasting life. Now that is a great story.

When we come to realize that death that crushes is but the tender clasp of God that loves, it loses all its terrors. (Vincent McNabb, Joy In Believing, 1939)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

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. (Ecclesiastes 8:11-12)

In His Time

Evil abounds in the world. There is a moral frustration that so much wickedness fills the news page. Innocent people gunned down by distraught coworkers on live television. What once was thought as places of safety and security have become war zones of death. Religious fanatics behead dozens of people, raping and murdering thousands. Heroes of men come from perverted lifestyles that honor that which is against nature. The halls of government are filled with the corruption of greed, power and lusts. Why is there not justice for evil?

It is difficult to see what is going on in the world and not desire a tinge of righteous judgment as in the days of Abraham witnessing the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. It comes to mind. There is also the strong desire to utter the common phrase in the early church, “Lord come quickly.” Yet the world continues and evil has its way.

Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. The evil that spreads like a cancer across our communities is not new. It has been around from the time Eve took of the forbidden fruit. The son of David pondered the same question we ask ourselves today, “Why does God not do something?” What we must understand is that God is not unaware of the suffering of men but He does things in His own time. We see evil and require speedy judgment. God sees the same evil and declares His righteousness in His own way.

If everyone knew the judgment of the Lord against evil there would be no sin. The reason men rebel against the law of God is there is no immediate penalty (often) for sin. Not seeing the consequence of their actions men plunge headlong into unrighteousness. It would be fair to assume that if the flames of Hell were attached to every evil deed sin would not be a problem. Let’s suggest the law of Pavlov. When every sin was accompanied by a “dip in Hell” it would be doubtful anyone would engage in sin. Because the judgment of God is not felt immediately men feel free to do as they please. Sadly this does not change the judgment but only delays it.

For the righteous there is hope that reward comes not in this life but the life to come. There are many injustices in this world. The judgment will be a day of bringing all matters of unrighteousness to the bar of God and penalty will be meted out in full. For the godly this will be a day of joy. Evil abounds but righteousness rules.

The problem of evil is not a necessary problem; it does not even exist for the unbeliever. (David E. Trueblood, Philosophy of Religion, 1957)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10)

A Perverted Gospel

The day of Pentecost was an amazing day for the early Christians. Peter’s sermon along with the eleven laid the foundation for the beginning of the eternal plan of God realized in the church. Three thousand devout Jews were baptized into Christ and the early church began in its purest form. This was a time of discovery as children of Abraham learned the new law of Christ. The Law of Moses was fading away and the first disciples were embracing a new pattern of salvation. But like everything God has created Satan set his sights on bringing death and destruction.

False doctrine was not new to man. From the temptation of Eve in the garden the devil has been challenging worship to God with “Has God indeed said?” In the first century church Paul was dealing with the early warnings of apostasy. The saints in Galatia were turning away from the gospel of Christ to a mixed message of Judeo/Christian dogmas contrary to the purity of the message preached by the apostle Paul. He was very concerned for them. The gospel they were embracing was a perverted form of truth. Paul’s warning was clear in the beginning. Any gospel than what the Holy Spirit spoke to them through him was to be treated with anathema. The emphatic tone of Paul’s message was that even if an angel preached any other gospel it should be considered depraved, corrupt, degenerate and warped. There was only one church and one gospel.

It would be well of us to read the book of Galatians and be reminded there is such a thing as a perverted gospel. Many people accept the idea that no honest person would teach something wrong. Why else do thousands of people follow any kind of doctrine given by man? Writing to the church at Corinth Paul reminded them of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Agents of perversion come in many shapes and forms. Satan himself comes in the form of religious leaders!

There is one gospel! One message of hope! A single road to walk! No other name! The Bible is the only book that can save you. Jesus Christ is the only Lord. No God but Jehovah. No church but the church patterned in the New Testament. One means of salvation. A single message of grace. Authority based on one foundation. Faith is singular not plural. One. Anything after the one gospel is a distortion, falsification, twisting – perversion! Now – what are you following?

Man passes away; generations are but shadows; there is nothing stable but truth. (Josiah Quincy, Speech, September 17, 1830)

Why Two Trees?
(Kent Heaton)

The first home for man was the garden of Eden. An amazing oasis of a fresh new world the garden must have been so incredibly beautiful. “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:8-9).

Man would be told that he could eat of every tree in the garden with the exception of one tree. Eve would later testify her understanding of the command was they were forbidden to eat or touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So why two trees in the midst of the garden?

One tree was a tree of life in a literal way. Man was created as a creature that would die. When man rebelled against the Lord he was cast out of the garden lest he take of the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 3:22). He could eat of this tree. The second tree was the tree of the knowledge of right and wrong. Forbidden by the Lord it was placed along side the tree of life.

The existence of man has always been about two trees. Choices made in life will either come from the the tree of life or the tree of sensual wisdom. The command to obey was simple and Satan tempted man by his own desires enticed to become his own god. “You don’t need God” is what Satan told Eve. She could have eaten all she wanted of the tree of life but she chose death. There were two trees in the garden: a tree of life and a tree of death.

We make the same choice today. We can chose to serve God and live eternally (the tree of life) or we can chose to serve Satan and die. He still whispers in the ear that we do not need God. He lies. Two trees. Two choices. One life. One tree. One God. Which choice will YOU make today?

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

Excuses For Not Going To Church

The art of making excuses is as old as the first sin. When the Lord came to Adam seeking answers why they were afraid the man tried to blame the woman. Nothing has changed since then as we make excuses for everything under the sun. Sin came about because man would not obey a simple law of God. There were many trees in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve could eat to their hearts content of every tree including the tree of Life. No prohibition. No boundaries. The only exception was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. One tree. Easy choice. Clear decision. Eat of every tree in the garden but one tree.

The commands of God are not hard to understand. Living under the grace of the law of Christ man is expected to keep the commands of God. The Lord has never asked us to do anything that we cannot do. Everything expected of us is within our power to do if we wish. Our hindrances come from our own failings and excuses. We are saved by grace and mercy but we are also saved by keeping the law of God. Jesus told His disciples in the sermon on the mountain that saying “Lord, Lord” will not save but doing the will of the Father.

The New Testament disciples understood clearly the need to gather on the first day of every week to worship God. This was not an option or a choice they could make or not make. The imperative to assemble with saints was embedded into the hearts and minds of the early teachings of the church. They wrote about it, they discussed it and they were challenged by keeping the law. Satan has done well in convincing many in the church today that Sunday is a day of options, not worship. Assembling with the saints is a convenience not a command. Failing to attend Sunday services is one of the most common sins among God’s children. We have decided that God is not interested in whether or not we can excuse ourselves from the assembly.

Jesus died a miserable death on a piece of wood. They spit in His face, beat Him, mocked Him, lacerated His back in scourging and nailed Him to a cross. He writhed in so much pain nothing we have can bring the horror of crucifixion to bear on our hearts today. He struggled for six hours for my sin. And then He died. Before His death (that He knew was coming) He commanded His disciples to remember His death. The institution of the Lord’s Supper is a holy convocation of the love of God expressed in the partaking of the meal of our sins being passed over. The early church practiced this feast each first day of the week.

To those who think you can miss the assembly for any reason: you have denied the Lord Jesus Christ. When you decide that ‘going to church’ is an option you have spit in the face of Jesus. He asked for you to remember Him and you said, “NO.” Paul’s letter to Corinth was to correct the misguided ideals of their view of the Lord’s Supper. It is one thing for those who gather on the first day of the week to take of the supper in a unworthy manner; when you miss the services because you do not want too you deny Christ. Many people take jobs that give them the ‘right’ to miss services. Vacations will be planned where services are missed. Laziness or disregard for the assembly keep many folk home. A lot of people who are ‘providentially hindered’ are hindered because they did not provide the heart to worship God.

It is time we face the reality of our assembly on Sunday. Can you stand before the Father and make excuses for treating His Son in an unworthy manner? Paul writes those who eat and drink in an unworthy manner eat and drink judgment to themselves, not discerning the Lord’s body because YOU ARE NOT THERE! Elders need to have the courage to admonish those who fail to come to the supper of the Lord. Congregations must have the faith to correct those who deny the Lord. The Hebrew writer expressed it this way: “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:29-31)

What else, indeed, is the judgment, as far as we can grasp it, but the naked setting of our soul as it is now at this moment in the sight of God? (Bede Jarrett, Meditations for Layfold, 1915)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Mark 3:1-6)

Kill The Healer

Suffering has been the curse of man since Adam and Eve were removed from the garden. Illness, disease, disfiguration, blindness and death have scourged the earth with its deadly tentacles with little relief. Cemeteries are filled with lives cut short because of sickness. Myriads of people live a daily struggle with maladies that cripple, maim and bring misery to life. Enter a physician that can cure any physical ailment of man. This man does not just heal little things He conquers the incurable. Those who have been lame all their life can now walk. The blind receive their sight and every disease inflicted upon a community is wiped away by the work of one man.

In an unknown town a family rejoices in the birth of their son. With great expectations a father reaches down to pick up his newborn son. But something is wrong. To his horror he looks upon a son who was born with a withered hand. Deformed. Maimed. A plague on a society that seldom accepts deformity. This child’s life will be filled with cruelty as children mock and laugh at this boy with a withered hand. Growing into adulthood he has learned the painful lessons of man’s prejudice.

The Sabbath has come and as he has always done the man with a withered hand makes his way to the synagogue. He mingles through the crowd excited about the arrival of a noted Teacher and Rabbi. Eyes seem to fall upon him for reasons he does not understand. The man from Nazareth is in the center of the synagogue and calls for the man to come to Him. He steps forward not understanding why he has become the center of attention. Jesus first looks at the crowd asking them if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Silence. The man notices the disposition of Jesus fills with anger. Turning back to the unknown man Jesus utters words this man will never forget. It was not a big deal with a lot of fanfare but four simple words: “Stretch out your hand.” In the millisecond of a lifetime of memory the man knows he has never been able to do anything with this hand. Yet in faith he does the impossible and stretches out his hand. To his astonished joy he watches his hand become a real hand. He feels the soothing relief of a whole hand with five beautiful fingers emerge from that withered stump of flesh. The shame of disfigurement has been taken away. His heart is so filled with joy it almost burst.

The healed man does not notice the crowd of men that immediately walk out the door. Many gathered around the man joyous of the occasion of a powerful miracle. They had seen this man daily with a hand withered and disfigured but they had watched with their own eyes a hand become whole. Nothing like this had ever happened before this Teacher had come into their city. How great God was. No one could doubt the power of the Lord that day.

Another miracle happened that day. The miracle of envy and hatred. In a negative connotation a miracle took place in the hearts of the Pharisees because they saw the same power as everyone else but contrary to the belief the healing was an act of God they saw it as an affront to their religious zeal. Plotting with the Herodians these religious leaders plan to destroy the Man who could heal any disease. Jesus could raise the dead and they wanted to kill Him. He could walk on water and they wanted to drown Him. The creation plotted to destroy their Creator.

Jesus was angered and grieved in His heart because He knew what He was going to do and He knew what they were going to do. He could have called twelve legions of angels at that moment but instead He called on the Finger of God to show His power and heal an unknown man with a withered hand. This man was a nobody and Jesus healed him to the dismay of those men who thought themselves to be something.

The Pharisees would succeed in killing Jesus. And then it dawned on the first day of the week and the tomb was found empty. This would be the greatest miracle man had ever seen. Remarkably there are still people walking out the door trying to destroy Jesus. But another day is coming. That will be most remarkable day of all.

Had it not been for the miracles, there would have been no sin in not believing in Jesus Christ. (Blaise Pascal, Pensees, 1670)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him … By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5)

He Had A Testimony

The story of Enoch is intriguing because so little is known of an incredible life. The father of a man who lived almost a thousand years would bear some note but all we know is that he was and then he was not. Only in the book of Hebrews do we get a hint into the life of a man that so pleased the Lord he did not see death. Jude mentions him as one who prophesied. The one kernel of truth we have in the life of Enoch was that he pleased God.

Worship. We gather today to present the sacrifice of our hearts to the Lord. Our assembly is not done begrudgingly. The command to assemble for worship today is clearly defined in scripture but our motivation is from a heart of love to please our Father. The spirit of Enoch must fill our minds today in knowing how much we love God because of how much He shows His love for us. John 3:16 is not the final word on God’s love; His love is every day. All that we have comes from Him. He holds our breath in His hand. We live and breathe because of Him. In every part of our lives the Lord fills our spirits with mercy and grace. There is so much to be thankful for

Worship. Today is a day to show our lives in sacrifice to please God. There is nothing in this world that we should want to do but to please God.

Man’s love of God is identical with his knowledge of Him. (Maimonides, Guide For The Perplexed, 1190)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:1-6)

Chick-Fil-A Religion

Man has an attention span as long as a second. Exodus is the story of the redemption of the Hebrews from slavery. The children of Israel had been in Egypt four hundred years but when a Pharaoh rose to power that did not remember the benevolence of Joseph they became an embittered people. Pharaoh had enslaved them to make bricks for his building projects; they were persecuted, beaten and treated harshly. God in His mercy sent Moses to deliver them. Ten plagues showed the might and power of Jehovah God upon the Egyptians. Crossing the Red Sea on dry land the Hebrews could see how wonderful and mighty their deliverance was formed by God. Time and time again the omnipotence of the Lord was manifested before the people.

From a rational point of view one would think no one would ever doubt God again. Shortly after the Jews leave Egypt they arrive at Mt. Sinai. Moses communes with the Lord for some time and the people get restless. They do not know what happened to their leader and they want action. Instead of asking for the power of God they want what they had in Egypt – gods. Aaron fails miserably as a leader of men. He does not encourage the people to wait on the Lord. He falls victim to the pressure of his peers and forms a golden calf. Here is the remarkable part: they proclaim this graven image their deliverer from Egypt. Aaron even has a “feast to the Lord” in honor of this cow.

I enjoy Chick-Fil-A for two reasons. First the food is always good. Second the marketing is very enjoyable. They have made a franchise on cows convincing people to eat chicken instead of hamburgers. Sadly this ploy has been used since the beginning of time. What happened at Sinai is a prime (not like beef) example of how Satan wants us to serve someone else. What did a cow have to do with the deliverance of the people from Egypt? How did the bovine part the red sea? Remember the people have only left the scenes of death and destruction in Egypt just a month or so previous. How soon they forget.

Aaron could have been a great leader but he failed. He allowed the people to pressure him into making a cow to worship instead of Jehovah God. The greatest tragedy is when men bow down to a golden calf and proclaim it delivered them from bondage. We have golden calves today. We believe in our wealth to deliver us. Our lives are so wrapped up in our stuff we do not have time for God. The world fills our hearts with golden calves we worship as our deliverer.

Three thousand people were killed that day because they refused to change. A plague swept over the people as punishment. Sin has consequence. Golden calf. Lessons to learn. This is a great story.

Man has thought to do without God. In those terrible words of Nietzsche’s he has proclaimed: “God is dead”; now he is discovering that it is he himself who is the first victim of this negation. It is he who is cast helpless into that abyss of nothingness into which he had designed to cast God. (Henri Daniel-Rops, Christianity and Freedom, 1952)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.

I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter–“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11)

The American Dream

Prestige. Popularity. Pleasure. Power. Possessions. The five pillars of the American dream. What do these things profit? According to Solomon – not much. The son of David may very well be the richest man that will ever live on the face of this good earth but his conclusion to the whole thing is telling. Education is a valuable tool but the brain will diminish over time in old age. The fame that comes today is lost in the dust of yesterday to a generation yet to come. Seeking after fleshly enjoyment is only temporary at best no matter how many pills, surgeries and vitamins are taken. Men can feel the rush of power for only a short time and then it will be taken away. The stuff we spend all our lives accumulating and hoarding is left behind in death. America is built upon a foundation of sand pillars dissolving before our eyes.

Solomon was not suggesting life is depressing. Education is invaluable and knowledge necessary. Men should always seek to better themselves in the field of learning. Finding a place in the world with notoriety does not have to be a bad thing if it brings about something good. So often in our idol driven world ungodly people are hailed for their physical appearance or talents that will fade away. Good people can do good things and find an element of success. The Lord created man to have pleasure and enjoy the fruits of life. Godliness exalts the joy of pleasure in the manner of His design. Later Solomon will tell young people to enjoy their youth because they are young and to know the lesson of sowing and reaping must be remembered. Our possessions are blessings we should use to help others. The New Testament disciples were taught to work with their hands so they could have something to give others. Earthly possessions are not the evil; the evil heart of covetousness is what makes hoarding stuff useless.

The book of Ecclesiastes is about life. Every part of life is dissected in this volume showing man the values of true living. Solomon can speak from experience because he experienced everything offered in life at the highest level. His conclusion about all the things we seek in our headlong pursuit of the American dream has little merit or worth. The old know the lessons well. Youth has a hard time believing it. We build bigger barns today and die tomorrow. Sad. Life is short. The American dream is only that – a mist of thoughts that have no tangible realities.

If you want to know what life is all about go to the end of Solomon’s book and see what he says. We are not supposed to read the end of the book before the beginning but in this case it will help. Read the last two verses. That is not the American dream. That is the Believer’s reality.

Fame is like a river that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid. (Frances Bacon, Of Praise, 1597)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:2)

The Faithful

A number of years ago during an introduction of a lecture speaker Colly Caldwell referred to the man as a “faithful gospel preacher.” The significance was not so much the man as the term “faithful” that resonated with me. It was not a suggestion this individual was of a better cloth than other men but a simple manner of describing the character of the person. Paul used the term often in his writing calling the brethren “faithful.”

Trying to define the character of faithfulness takes a broad brush. The manner of life is one that is consistently trustworthy and loyal. This is a spirit Christian’s should use in every part of their life. As soldiers of the cross we define our service with a devotion to live each day fighting the good fight. Disciples of Christ are students of His word daily implanting the riches of the knowledge of God in their hearts. Courageous men of God stand in the gap serving the King with courage. Women of God refuse to wear the mantle of this world clothing themselves rather in garments of righteousness.

Faithful brethren show loyalty by example. They do not shrink back from opportunities to serve Christ. To be a child of faith the saint is set apart in the manner of speech, dress, attitude, duty and examples before others. Jesus implored His disciples to be salt and light so that others can see the Father in them. Faithfulness springs from the salty lives of those who stand as beacons of light in a dark world. It is not enough to be brethren. There is a need in the church today to be filled with brethren that are faithful.

Faithful brethren struggle but they persevere. The race is long, battles hard but the faith is kept with a devotion of courage withstanding the constant assault of Satan. Being a child of God is not an easy task. Jesus illustrated devotion to the Father as bearing a cross. Daily there is a need to reinforce the spirit to be faithful. Consider the alternative: unfaithfulness. This is defeat, destruction, hopelessness. The Hebrew writer rallied the early Christians to fight on because they were not those who drew back to perdition but those faithful brethren who believed to the saving of the soul. Be faithful. Stand fast. Have courage. The victory is assured. We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There are many accolades given by men. To be called “faithful” is eternal. One of the greatest joys we will ever hear is when standing before the Lord we look into His eyes and hear Him say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Faithful. What else matters?

Devotion, which is a derivative of the Latin word for ‘to vow,’ means to yield oneself, to commit oneself, to consecrate oneself to the object of devotion, without regard to the sacrifice of suffering involved. (Douglas V. Steere, Door Into Life, 1948)