The Birth Of Jesus Was As Follows

Posted on December 12, 2024 by heatonkent

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:6-8)

The Birth Of Jesus Was As Follows

It will surprise many people to learn the facts about the birth of Jesus. The problem with the teaching of men is how changes that occur over time go unnoticed and unheeded by what is real truth. Many believe Jesus was born on December 25 in a manger with shepherds and three wise men surrounding Him with a star shining above. Nothing is more foreign to the truth about the birth of Christ. What are the facts about the birth of Jesus according to the Bible?

The birth of Jesus is announced to Joseph in Matthew 1 and Mary in Luke 1. The birth of Jesus is found in Matthew 1 and Luke 2. An angel of the Lord announces to the shepherds the birth of Jesus the same night of His birth (Luke 2:8-14). The shepherds visit Jesus in the manger the same night of His birth (Luke 2:15-20). The “star” is not present at the manger, and there are no wise men from the East.

Eight days later, Jesus is circumcised according to the Law (Luke 2:21). At least 32 days later (40 days following birth – Leviticus 12:2-6), Jesus is presented at the Temple, and an offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons is given by Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:22-24). Jesus is presented to Simeon and witnessed by Anna at the Temple (Luke 2:25-38).

Almost two years later, wise men (number unknown) from the East came looking for Jesus – first going to Jerusalem inquiring of Herod – then journeying to Bethlehem (five miles from Jerusalem) to the house where they saw the “young Child” (Matthew 2:1-12). The “star” comes “over where the young Child was” – the house where Joseph and Mary are with Jesus (Matthew 2:9). We do not know the names or the nationality of the wise men. They brought gifts (Matthew 2:11).

Joseph is warned in a dream to go to Egypt by an angel of the Lord (Matthew 2:13-15). He was “there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son.'” Herod massacres all the male children from two years old and under in Bethlehem “according to the time which he had determined from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16-18). Following the death of Herod, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-40).

The story of the birth of Jesus is a powerful testimony to God’s will being fulfilled. What is remarkable is how many people do not know the real story of Jesus’ birth. The text of Matthew and Luke is clear. The wise men never saw Jesus in a manger, and there was never a “star” above the manger, as the wise men had seen. To an honest student of the Bible, the facts of Jesus’ birth are important.

Nothing is mentioned in the early church about the birth of Jesus. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mentioned as one of the early disciples (Acts 1:14). Disciples remembered the death of Jesus each week. We honor the birth of Jesus, and we commune in His death with the Lord’s Supper. That takes place on every first day of the week.

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We Have Access By Faith

Posted on December 11, 2024 by heatonkent

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

We Have Access By Faith

There are many buildings and places that are not accessible to the public. While there was a time any citizen could visit the President of the United States in the White House, open access to the President ended in the 1940s at the beginning of the Second World War. No one can enter the Pentagon without special permission. Businesses restrict access to the public in certain places. Access is prohibited in some parts of the country, such as military bases, scientific research facilities, and secret areas like Area 51 in Nevada. Coca-Cola does not allow anyone to enter the safe where the ingredients for their brand are stored. Fort Knox is regarded as one of the most secure places in the world. Access denied.

The security measures restricting access only allow those individuals who need to be there to go behind closed doors or gates. Entering some of these secure places requires special permission and extensive vetting. Enjoying the clearance to roam these prohibited places is only experienced by a few. Abraham Lincoln allowed politicians and diplomats to stand in line with woodsmen from the Midwest with muddy boots. Access to the President of the United States, one of the most powerful men on earth, is severely limited in the modern era.

There is one place greater than all the man-made secure locations on earth that the child of God can access. Paul writes the Christian has access by faith into the grace of God. There are many blessings in being called a child of God; one that cannot be appreciated enough is the divine blessing of allowing the creation to stand in the presence of the Creator. God invites men to seek His presence, and He will allow it. To have access is the act of bringing to God those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Not everyone has this access, but that is not the fault of God. He has opened the doors of Heaven for anyone willing to obey Him to come to Him through grace.

It does not matter if the person is rich or poor. Whatever nationality they are is permitted. There is no restriction to access with the Father when a person comes to God through the blood of Jesus. On the night of His betrayal, Jesus told the eleven He was going to prepare a way for man to come into the presence of the Father. He would make a way to abide (dwell) with the Father. Jesus said there were many rooms in the presence of His Father, meaning no one would be denied if they obeyed.

When someone obeys the gospel, they become children of God, giving them access to all the divine blessings of God. The greatest blessing God tells His children is that He desires for them to have access to where He dwells. A child of God is brought to the Father to remain with Him – forever. Access is granted to be in the presence of the Lord God and magnify His name throughout the eternal ages. The Christian has access to the Holy Spirit and the Father through Christ. This access comes with the boldness and confidence through faith in Him.

Jesus is the access to the Father. There is only one way to the Father, and that access is granted by the blood of Jesus. Only in the truth of Jesus Christ can one find God. Life is given to all those who seek access to God by doing His will. When access is granted, the heavenly storehouse of blessings opens up every day, leading to the final victory over death, being brought by angels to the bosom of Abraham, and seeing the Father God face to face. We have access! Praise God.

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Willful Sin

Posted on December 10, 2024 by heatonkent

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Willful Sin

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Since the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, man has struggled with the battle of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. From Adam to the final soul born on earth, all sin. The only man who never sinned was Jesus of Nazareth. Men have been drawn into wickedness for many reasons. Eve was deceived by the cunning serpent. Moses became angry with the people of Israel, failing to give God the glory. David was overtaken by his passions, committing adultery with Bathsheba. He compounded his sin by having her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Peter denied Jesus three times in the presence of the Lord.

The passions of men can overpower the will to produce sin. No one is immune from the tentacles of temptation among those who are the mind and age of accountability before God. There are many good people in the Bible, but all have sinned. The rich young ruler who came to Jesus assured his life was complete with good works, and then he failed to heed the warning of Jesus. Many are fooled into the deceitful desires of the flesh, falling victim. By the grace of God, sin can be forgiven with a humble and contrite heart. God’s mercy is everlasting to allow sinful men to seek forgiveness and then to grant cleansing through the blood of Jesus. What a joy for the broken man.

There is another type of sin that is found in scripture, which is a very dire circumstance that many find themselves in. The Hebrew writer describes those who sin willfully or presumptuously. These souls deliberately continue sinning after they receive the knowledge of truth. This is not a case where the heart is tempted and drawn away through deceit. The willful heart is determined to sin, making no effort to cease or draw away. This man has not backslidden but has taken a full course to indulge in sin. Like Cain, the heart is full of evil. It is turning its back fully on the saving grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ.

The gospel does not impact the heart of the willful sinner. A malicious spirit of rebellion does not allow the heart to be turned to the Lord. The tragedy is this happens to those who once were enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit. God’s children turning away from their father in a defiant act is the greatest eternal tragedy. There remains no longer a sacrifice to save them because they have abandoned the grace and mercy of the Lord. Their hearts are willfully turning away from God. As a result, there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment. The penalty of a willful heart is the fiery indignation of a wrathful God. Nothing is left but the second death, the lake of fire and brimstone.

Willful sin is an abomination to the nature of God and the grace given to sinful men. God has made every provision possible to save man from his sin, and the heart of man willfully turns away from the love of God. In the end, they hate God, refusing to obey His word. Jesus told His disciples to love God, they must keep His commandments. When the heart willfully rejects the truth of God’s word, the willful heart proves it hates the Lord God Almighty. The two are not compatible. God will judge the hearts of all men, but some hearts are already judged because of their willful rebellion. Never find yourself in that place. Repent before it is too late.

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How The World Thinks

Posted on December 9, 2024 by heatonkent

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:10-14)

How The World Thinks

John the Baptist served as the forerunner for Jesus Christ, preparing the way for the Son of God. His teaching was bold, abrupt, and left no questions about the need for repentance. He preached a message of change. The world stood at odds with John’s teaching as he preached sermons for the hearts and minds of men to stop thinking like the world. Repentance is a heart issue. John’s fierce message of spiritual revolution attracted the devoted among God’s people and influenced the Roman world because of its radical change.

The people who heard John were astonished. Some asked the forerunner what they needed to do to change. John’s answers were decisive and clear. He showed them how the world does not abide by the doctrines of God. The way the world thinks is based on pride. Covetousness is the carnal sin of the world because men are more interested in gaining possessions and hoarding everything for themselves. John preaches a message of benevolence. Tunics were a vital part of the Bible world. God always wanted the needy to be cared for. If a man had two tunics and someone was in need, they would give them a tunic. The tunics were important parts of the Bible times. They were used for protection, shade, and, on a cold night, warmth. Under the Law of Moses, the poor were always to be respected and cared for.

John compared the attitude of the world with the heart of those who serve God. The world did not care for the needy. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Lazarus was in need, and the rich man never shared his wealth. The rich man characterized the world view of covetousness and greed. Lazarus wanted only the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. John taught the people of God to help those who hunger and thirst. The abundance a man possesses is given to them by the Lord to share with others.

During the Roman occupation, Jews would be hired to serve as tax collectors. These men would be required to levy the tax prescribed by Rome. It was also the common practice of tax collectors to collect above the levied tax at their discretion. The Romans did not care as long as they received the tax required, which made tax collectors very rich men. John told the tax collectors to be honest and collect only the amount prescribed by Rome. This would have been a difficult thing to do. Learning contentment and honesty was not the common practice among tax collectors. The world taught men to take advantage of others, while the Lord taught His disciples to be honest and truthful.

Roman soldiers wielded great power over the populace. They could do anything they wanted without fear of retribution. All citizens were required to obey the soldiers except for Roman citizens. Soldiers would use intimidation to get what they wanted. If they falsely accused someone, they could take what they had. They could also steal from businesses and individuals with impunity. John told the soldiers to be honest and content with their Roman wages. This was a radical teaching for the soldiers accused of doing whatever they wanted whenever they wanted.

John was not only the forerunner of Jesus, but his teachings were also the preamble to the teachings of Jesus. The Holy Spirit taught the same message in the early church, where the contrast of the world is at odds with the virtues of the Christian. Disciples of Jesus need to be benevolent in their care for others. There must be an example of honesty and truthfulness in the lives of Christians. Contentment is the principle whereby the follower of Jesus shows the world what is important. These principles are taught throughout the New Testament so the Christian can let his light shine among men, and the world can see God and glorify Him. The child of God should not have the spirit or mind of the world. Their lives should be changed to be like Jesus Christ.

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Israel – Faith Overcomes Fear

Posted on December 8, 2024 by heatonkent

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)

Israel – Faith Overcomes Fear

After four hundred and thirty years, the Hebrews prepared to leave Egypt. The selling of Joseph by his brothers to a band of Ishmaelites set in motion the fulfillment of a promise God made to Abraham years earlier. God had told Abraham his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land and would be slaves under affliction for four hundred years. The promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would come to pass as Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt. After a series of terrible plagues ravishing the nation of Egypt, the people prepared to leave. They had witnessed the destruction of the power of God upon the Egyptians. On the night of the Passover, the Lord killed all the firstborns of the Egyptians, including their animals. God’s power was on full display.

The day arrived when the Hebrews left the land of Goshen, urged on by the people of Egypt. God had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians as the Hebrews heaped up treasures, plundering the Egyptians. The route to Canaan was not by the short way but by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. This would be a test of the faith the Hebrews had in God. As the people camped before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, Pharaoh and his army drew up in battle array to bring the people back to Egypt. Seeing the Egyptian army, the people were terrified and cried out to the Lord.

Faith in the power of God is how the heart can see the impossible and not fear. As the Egyptian army pressed against the Hebrews, they could see no way of escape. The Red Sea was a formidable barrier they were unprepared to cross. Their faith was tested as they stood between certain death and the impassible sea. Then God showed His power once again. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind that blew all night. A pathway of dry land appeared in the midst of the sea, so the children of Israel escaped the army of Pharoah.

It took a lot of faith for the people to walk across what had earlier been the Red Sea. Hearing the fury of the strong east wind throughout the night would have brought fear to the people. Moses commanded the people to cross the sea. To the right, a great wall of water stood in a heap. On the left, another great wall of water was held back. Faith gave the people the courage to walk between the walls of water on dry land through the night to safety. More than two million souls walked across the path of God’s grace to safety, never to return to Egypt. Their faith was vibrant in the promises of God.

The Egyptians saw the same escape path as the Hebrews, but they had no faith in God. Their gods of Egyptian mythology had not saved them from the plagues of the Lord, and those gods would not save them in the midst of the Red Sea. The Egyptians pursued the Hebrews into the sea, all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. As dawn appeared, the Lord troubled the army of the Egyptians, taking off their chariot wheels. The Egyptians tried to escape, but Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and the waters came back upon the Egyptians. Everyone died.

Israel was saved by their faith in the power of God. Egypt was destroyed as a nation that forgot God. The Lord delivers those who walk in the middle of the sea by faith. Faith is overcoming the fear that surrounds us. Without faith, fear rules. With faith, fear is destroyed. Have the faith to walk in the midst of the sea with God’s power all around. Believe in the power of God to keep back the waters of doubt, fear, and disbelief. God will deliver you.

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Savage Wolves In The Church

Posted on December 6, 2024 by heatonkent

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (Acts 20:28-30)

Savage Wolves In The Church

The wolf is a fierce and dangerous hunter in the animal kingdom. It preys upon smaller animals but will also attack and kill deer, sheep, and cattle. Because of its ferocious nature, it is the dread of the shepherds of Palestine. Jesus used the wolf to warn His disciples of their mission as sheep in the midst of wolves. The Lord spoke of those who would turn against the apostles and treat them cruelly. This is what the Jews did to Jesus, who, like savage wolves, cried out to Pilate to crucify Jesus.

False prophets are called wolves among the sheep. The imagery is very clear. Cloaked in the robe of righteousness, men would present themselves as innocent sheep to devour the faith of the simple-minded and unaware. Those who do not hold to the sound doctrine of Christ are ravenous wolves with an insatiable appetite. A wolf rends, tears, and destroys. Men who are false prophets rend the hearts of the weak in faith, tearing at them and shredding the souls of those who fall prey to the wiles of the devil. A wolf may look like a sheep but they are known by their fruits. The wolf cannot hide his true nature.

He exhorted them to guard themselves and the people of God by feeding and shepherding the flock. The members were the sheep, as the elders served as shepherds responsible for the care and protection of God’s flock. Paul knew there would be false teachers, like vicious wolves, ravenous wolves, who would come from the ranks of the elders to draw disciples away from Christ. The flock would not be spared by these men who acted like ferocious wolves. The imagery clearly shows the destructive power of false teachers.

There are Canis lupus (wolves) among the flock of God. These are not misinformed individuals growing in their knowledge of the word. The savage wolves in the Lord’s church are those who promote division, teaching doctrines not according to the word of God. They distort the truth to draw a following and do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Their smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. These are dangerous people whose mouths must be stopped. As enemies of the cross of Christ, false teachers are doomed to destruction. The greatest danger is not realizing the wolves are among the sheep. They look and act like sheep, but they are not.

Satan has worked hard to destroy the church. His most effective tool is to use those within the church to destroy the church from within dressed as sheep. As an angel of light, Satan deceives people to believe his lies and follow his pernicious ways to eternal destruction. The apostle John warned the early disciples to test the spirits. He did not want them to believe every spirit but to test the spirits to see whether they were of God. There is a need to test the spirit of men because many false prophets have gone out into the world – and they can be in the church of the Lord. Paul warned that if anyone teaches anything contrary to the doctrine of Christ, he is to be anathema or cursed. Beware of savage wolves in the church of the Lord.

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When We Make A Vow

Posted on December 5, 2024 by heatonkent

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)

When We Make A Vow

A little boy was at his first wedding. After the service, another child asked him, “How many men can a woman marry?” “Sixteen,” the little boy said. “How do you know?” his friend asked. “The preacher said it – four better, four worse, four richer, and four poorer.”

The wedding day is one of the most remembered and cherished days in a person’s lifetime. Photo albums fill endless pages with the preparations, the event, and the aftermath of the moment a man and woman make a covenant with one another and God to be inseparable for life. Weddings are planned months and years in advance. A man will spend thousands of dollars to marry his daughter off and read in the news the next day that he gave her away. The young man and woman begin their lives together with a great deal of naiveté, which is God’s plan for a successful union.

When the couple marry, they exchange vows as part of the ceremony. The vows are written by the couple or taken from a common book of wedding ceremonies, and on some occasions, the man and woman will recite from the heart words of endearment. A man will recite a series of words to his beloved, and in exchange, the woman will recite words of commitment to her groom. When the ceremony is completed, the official will pronounce the couple husband and wife and declare them united in the marriage bond. In most cases, the words spoken that day are buried in a wedding treasure box and seldom (if any) are looked at again.

Second only to the covenant made when one confesses Christ as Lord, the marriage covenant is one of the most important things two people can say to one another. Like the little boy who misunderstood what the preacher was saying, many take little regard to the seriousness of the words spoken on a wedding day. These words establish a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. This is a three-part agreement bound in Heaven by the Creator, who formed the family and established the holy character of a godly marriage. God does not take the words spoken lightly, nor should the individuals.

Marriages fail because someone cannot live up to the covenant made with God. Those gathered to enjoy the special day are witnesses to the covenant. God is present to establish the marriage as lawful. Many marriages are not lawful in the eyes of God because the broken covenants of marriages past have marred the promises made. A successful marriage is not characterized by the absence of problems but by the willingness of the parties to establish the words of the covenant made before God as binding.

Words are important. Understanding what is said is vital. Everyone will be judged by what he says. When we make promises to God, we must live up to those promises. Never take for granted the covenant of marriage because the Lord will not.

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The Angel Of Light

Posted on December 3, 2024 by heatonkent

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The Angel Of Light

Apostasy is not new. Satan is the master of deceit with a powerful influence without peers. No one has a greater influential sway over the hearts of humanity than the dragon of old. Jesus said that only a few would be saved from the innumerable souls standing before His throne. This declares the vast majority of people will face eternal destruction through the deception of the devil. The wiles of Satan are subtle, persuasive, tempting, and overwhelming. He makes sin to be something wildly exciting and fun. Simple hearts are lured by the easiest of temptations through the lust of the flesh. Pride is a sickness that comes from the lips of the devil. Lusting through the eyes engulfs the heart with unattainable desires.

The work of Satan is never bold or declarative. If the devil really dressed in red with a pointed mask, pitchfork, and flames surrounding him, everyone would know who he was. He knows he would be easily identified for who and what he is, so he comes in another form. His visage is found in the deceitful image of an apostle of Christ, a prophet of God, and even an angel of light. From the beginning of the world, Satan has transformed himself into an image that appeals to man. In the Garden of Eden, the dragon came in the form of the serpent described by Moses as being the most subtle, crafty, clever, cunning, and shrewd creature of any animal. Eve was not alarmed by the presence of the talking serpent. She listened to the smooth voice of the deceiver and fell to his charms.

Paul warned the early Christians that everyone who looks like a disciple of Jesus may not be one. There were false apostles and deceitful workers in the early church. These were men who looked the part and talked the talk but inside were corrupted by the wiles of the devil. Satan himself would transform himself into an angel of light. His followers would show themselves to be servants of God, preachers of righteousness, and teachers of the gospel with the corruption of the devil’s breath. God is not unaware of false teachers and those who show themselves to be His ministers and are not. Their end is utter destruction.

Truth is older than error. Satan likes to let people think he is an angel of good. He is the father of lies. Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. Tragically, he plans to take as many of God’s creation with him; and he is doing a powerful job of accomplishing that. The warning must be heeded: because a man acts like a servant of God, it does not make him such. Truth never changes, and the word of God is settled in heaven. If someone is teaching anything that is not according to the word of God, he will be condemned. Those who follow his pernicious ways will join him in perdition. Listening to an angel that teaches anything contrary to the word of God is apostasy. That angel has a name – Satan.

The sad reality is Satan has succeeded in making many people believe it does not matter how God is worshipped. Everyone can approach God in his own way. The proof is found in the churches that fill the earth, all proclaiming to follow Jesus Christ. If there is one church in the New Testament, how can there be so many today? Jesus is God’s Son, eliminating the need to follow any man. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not the teachings of men. Satan has convinced men today they should listen to an angel of light. And they do – by the thousands follow false teachers who lead them to destruction. Read the book, the word of God. Stop listening to the angel of light.

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When A Nation Forgets God

Posted on December 2, 2024 by heatonkent

A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the Lord their God. (Jeremiah 3:21)

When A Nation Forgets God

On March 4, 1797, George Washington left the office of President of the United States. His final address to the nation is printed in newspapers across the country. It has been a turbulent time as the infant nation begins its journey of uniting a people to become one country. Washington is keenly aware of the dangers that face the nation. He understands the importance of the nation’s solid moral compass that relies upon the Bible. His final address warned about the risks of building a country without God.

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality may be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

When a nation forgets God, it begins a downward spiral toward the implosion of self-destruction. A godless society is a world where God is less and man is more. History is the great educator that has repeatedly shown that when a nation becomes a humanistic society rejecting the principles of morality based upon the Bible, the depravation is severe. Morality cannot be governed by the whims of men who believe men can have babies and surgical sex changes are expected. When abortion is an accepted form in society, the morals of the consciousness miscarry. Marriage and family are the bedrock of civilization until the law of marriage is forgotten and families no longer resemble the plan of God.

Morality cannot be maintained if the Bible is rejected. Vance Havner observed, “It would take a moral and spiritual earthquake to undo the mistakes of the past fifty years in home discipline, education, and religion. One wonders whether we have reached the point of no return.” Political platforms are no longer about the economy, defense, and foreign policy. Listening to the talking points of the modern political machines underlines how the depravity of the nation has devolved into ungodliness. When the populous votes for morals based upon the dregs of societal immorality, the nation is destroying the principles on which it was built. George Washington would be horrified at the loss of the moral compass so prevalent today.

A strong belief in God and morality coming from the word of God is indispensable to protecting the nation. If there is no moral consciousness, there is no nation. It should not come as a surprise in the coming years of the fall of a once proud country that once had a semblance of trust in God and the Bible. The Lord declared the nation that forgets God is doomed. Read the history of the nation of Israel. They forgot God, and He forgot them. Will history repeat itself?

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Moses – Faith Is A Choice

Posted on December 1, 2024 by heatonkent

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. (Hebrews 11:23-28)

Moses – Faith Is A Choice

The faith of Moses began before he was born. Parents have the most powerful influence on their children’s future when they realize they stand at the headwaters of a child’s life, which can largely determine whether they believe in God. One of the great dangers of parenting is that the parents only get one chance to influence the child in the right way. Moses’ faith began first with the devoted love of his parents. Amram and Jochebed lived in a world of conflict. For hundreds of years, the Hebrews had become increasingly oppressed by the people of Egypt. Their lives were filled with toil as they became slaves to the political whims of the Pharaoh. Things would get much worse.

Amram and Jochebed were blessed with two children, Aaron and Miriam. When Pharaoh began to worry about the growing population of Hebrews in his country, the king made severe laws necessary to stem the tide of the Hebrew children. This profoundly impacted Amram and Jochebed’s lives when it was discovered they were expecting their third child. The lives of the Hebrews were made bitter with hard bondage. When Pharaoh decreed that every son who was born to the Hebrews was to be thrown into the river, the Hebrew people were filled with fear. It was not until their third child was born that fear entered their hearts when they saw they had another boy. What were they to do? It was the law of the land to kill the baby boy.

Amram and Jochebed’s faith was tested, but they did not hesitate. For three months, they quietly hid their infant son. They were not going to commit murder, even if it meant facing the wrath of the Egyptian government. Their fear of God was greater than their fear of Pharaoh. They could tell their son was a special child, and they trusted that the Lord would bless them. After three months, the baby boy could be hidden no longer. Jochebed put her infant son in an ark of bulrushes and placed him where the daughter of Pharaoh bathed. Miriam stood nearby to see what would become of the little boy. Jochebed’s faith in the care of God was evident in the courage she manifested to do such a thing.

Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the Hebrew child and took him to her home, where she adopted him. It was the daughter of Pharoah that named the little boy, Moses. Being raised in the palace of Pharaoh, Moses had the world at his feet. His mother cared for him in his formative years. He learned all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a man mighty in words and deeds. His life was better than almost the whole world, but he was unsettled. The faith instilled by his parents was a seed that found a bountiful harvest in his heart.

When Moses came of age to choose for himself, he made the remarkable decision to leave all the trappings of the Egyptian monarchy and accept the suffering of his people. After killing an Egyptian, Moses fled to the faraway land of Midian. He left as a prince and returned as a pauper. He remained away from his fellow Hebrews for forty years, working as a lowly shepherd. His days of riches, wealth, and power were nothing to him as he knew God had a greater purpose in his life. His faith was in the work of God, not fearing what Pharaoh might do.

Faith is seeing all that is unseen. His parents’ choice to be faithful servants of God instilled in the heart of Moses a love for God. There can never be enough said about how influential parents are in their children’s faith. The goal is to allow each child to make their faith their own, but they can make the wrong choice without the proper guidance in the early years. Parents must teach their children what faith means, what faith looks like, and why faith is necessary. Moses was said to be the humblest man on earth. He learned that from the faith of his parents. Moses made a choice based on his faith in the word of God. He looked beyond the rewards of the Egyptians and looked to his eternal reward.

When Moses forsook Egypt, he did so because he feared God more than the king. He did not understand how much his life would change. Faith is the reason Moses made his choices. He struggled with his faith and was often found wanting. On the night of the destroyer’s coming to kill the firstborn, Moses had faith in the promises of God. He knew they would live because they had obeyed the word of the Lord. Faith leads to obedience. Moses led the people out and delivered the faithful to the land of promise, knowing he would not be allowed to enter. It did not matter to Moses because his faith was in the eternal promised land. The life of Moses was a life of choices. He tried to make the best choice based on his faith. Faith is a choice. You will decide your destiny by the choices you make from your faith.

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