The Heaton File

Lovers Of Themselves

Standing in the express lane at the local grocery I noticed the man ahead of me with a large number of items to check out. A quick review easily detected this man was way over the limit of ten items reserved for this lane. He seemed aware of this and also seemed oblivious to care what anyone thought. It crossed my mind to say something to him encouraging him to find another aisle but decided it was not a matter of great importance. As the cashier began checking the groceries she noticed the large number of grocery items and pointed out to the man his discretion. He ignored her and bagged his own groceries and left without a word. She apologized and I acknowledged that I felt that many people feel empowered to impose their will on others without concern. It did cross my mind that had I said anything to the man or the cashier that with what is heard in the news he could just as well go to his car and bring a gun back.

More and more stories are filling the news with arguments in movie theatres ending in the shooting death of a patron. A lady makes a comment to a man who brushed her car with his wheel-chair and he pulls a gun and kills her. Road rage has led to people being shot over arguments and angry feelings of retribution. Many states have legalized the carrying of weapons in public which is not the issue in itself but now it is much easier for someone to become angry and shoot first without asking questions. Recently my wife, daughter and I were the victims of a man shouting and screaming at us because we pulled in front of him at a McDonalds drive-through. He walked back to his truck cursing us. Had he been a rational person to talk too we could have easily shown how we did not see him stopped in the parking lot behind us (and there were two lanes available). In today’s climate I chose to drive away.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). What is happening today is not new. Perilous times have been around since the serpent deceived Eve. But there seems to be times in history with heightened peril and our world is a perilous place to live. Paul illustrates the problem when an examination is given to the character of people. The man who ignored the express lane is characteristic of those who are lovers of themselves. They care not what others think or do because they are empowered to live above what others think. Pride fills their hearts in their arrogance. The anger that flows over to killing is rooted in unholy people who have no love and regard for human life. Our society is ruled by the lack of self-control. Men have become brutal in their thoughts and actions. Pleasure is at the top of the list and what I want I get is the religion of the day. We live in perilous times.

As the people of God we must be aware of our surroundings. Caution would dictate the better course of action is what the wise man said – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness … The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:1-2, 28).” A ten item express lane is not worth dying over or a spot in a drive through. The judgment of God will be the final answer and I am greatly satisfied to know He will mete out the proper answer. Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies and sometimes they come in the form of loud mouth, cursing and prideful people. Sadly these folk do not know the true happiness and peace found in Christ. May God grant them the time to come to know Him who has a greater answer to life than what they find in themselves.

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalms 37:23-25)

The Righteous Are Not Forsaken

King David had reached the golden age of life. He reflected on the challenges he faced and remembered how God had been with him through them all. He had some serious defeats in life; he had some moments of greatness in life. Through it all he was never forsaken by God. Standing in the valley of Elah God gave him victory over Goliath. Sorrowing in his despair over Bathsheba he felt the presence of God’s grace still around him. As a result of his sin with the wife of Uriah his family was nearly destroyed. There were many things that David could regret in life but he could never regret ordering his life after the Lord.

There are many blessings in being a child of God. Not only does the Lord promise to give us eternal life He promises to take care of us here. We can believe that no matter what comes upon us in life God will be there. We keep our lives ordered to His way and He will never forsake us. When we fail the Lord He is faithful to not forsake us. David could see in his life that he was never forsaken by the Lord. Can you see it? Look closely and you will find many times. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

The Bible says “God is.” To believe this is the first requisite in finding God. (E. S. Williams, Systematic Theology, 1954)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)

He Really Is Like Me

He can walk on water, raise the dead, heal any disease, cast out unclean spirits and refute the wisest of any ruler and yet He gets tired. The Son of God felt fatigue. Jesus had worked Himself into a state of needing to rest from a full day. Sitting down at Jacobs well He just wanted to sit and let His body take some ease. He was bone tired. Exhausted. The disciples left to go into the city leaving Jesus alone for some much needed respite. A woman from Samaria comes and her story takes center stage but go back and read again that Jesus was wearied. He really is like me.

Isn’t that great to think that God’s Son experienced what it is like to be tired? Jesus loved, cried, got angry, and became hungry and thirsty and probably laughed about something in life. He really is like me in every way. The Hebrew writer reminds me that Jesus had to become like me to die for me that I could live in Him. Jesus was a man. He came into the world through the womb of Mary, learned how to walk, listened to the stories of old from Joseph and Mary and learned to work in his father’s occupation of carpentry. He was taught how to spell, multiply and divide and the history of the Jewish people. Temptation confronted Him daily and that is what set Him apart from being exactly like me. He never sinned. But He felt that sting of temptation and resisted.

As we begin our day today let’s put our minds in the focus of who Jesus was. He was just like us and had to endure the same challenges of life we do. This will be a great week to serve God because we know we have a King who has ‘lived in our skin and yet without sin.’ He felt the issues of life like me and like you. Sorrow filled His heart when someone died; laughter came from His mouth when Mary said something funny. My Savior died for me so that I can see Him for who He really is: just like me and by His example I can overcome anything. If He can do it – so can I!

The immanent Spiritual Life of God focalized in a human personality. (Peter T. Forsyth, Positive Preaching and the Modern Mind, 1907)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Worship In Song

Eve must have had a beautiful voice. Was she the first one to sing or was it Adam? Knowing men I suspect it was Eve. When Cain was born she probably sang soothing songs to him and then to Abel. It is a natural part of being a mother I guess. Music was an early part of the new world. Moses tells of Jubal who created harps and flutes. The world would be filled with music as instruments were created and songs were remembered from generation to generation. The Jews worshiped the Lord with music in almost every part of their lives. Matthew and Mark tell us Jesus sang. That must have been some kind of voice.

When God created man He placed in his heart a majestic ability to praise with song. One of the foundational parts of the early church was singing. The first converts were Jews accustomed to worship with instruments but the first Christian’s never used them. This shows the authority of singing only with the instrument created by God – the heart. When men use instruments they glorify themselves. Singing with the heart glorifies God alone. Singing and making melody in our hearts comes from a love we have from God without the accreditation of the ear of man. I know people who have beautiful voices and what a blessing they enjoy. But the wisdom of God is He never suggests that worship is based upon the ability of the voice. I know people who do not have beautiful voices – at least to the ear of man – but my-oh-my do they have beautiful voices to the ear of God. And that is praise.

God loves to hear music when it comes from our hearts. Today is a day of worship. This is a day we gather with the children of God and lift up our voice and sing. God loves a cheerful singer. He wants to hear our hearts regardless of what the mouth may produce. Please know that singing is a joyful thanksgiving to tell God how much we love him. It matters not what we sound like but what we feel like as we stand before the Almighty and sing. Sing – sing – sing. Praise God with your heart today. Praise God with song today. Let us all lift up our voices with joy in our hearts and sing to our Lord.

What is to reach the heart must come from above, if it does not come thence, it will be nothing but notes – body without spirit. (Beethoven to J. A. Stumpff, 1824, quoted by Marion Scott in ‘Beethoven’)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border. Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!” So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites. Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it. And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land. (2 Kings 3:14-27)

The Valley Full Of Blood

This is a great story. Elisha is a lot of fun to read after. He is not afraid of any king. He speaks plainly. His trust is in the Lord and he does a lot of powerful things to show God’s supremacy. After Ahab died the king of Moab rebels and so the three kings come up to fight against him. After three days without water they decide to check in with Elisha and see what the will of the Lord will be towards their battle with Moab. Elisha tells Jehoram (Ahab’s son) to go ask his own gods if he wants to know anything. Then Elisha relents and says if it were not for Jehoshaphat he would not waste his time.

A great miracle happens. The armies dig ditches and without wind or rain the valley fills with water. This will serve two purposes: to quench the thirst of the large army and to trick the Moabites. I like what Elisha said to them. “This is a trivial thing in the sight of the Lord.” What Jehovah does is not a big deal but the task given to the three armies is to utterly destroy the Moabites. This is called a ‘scorched earth’ policy.

The Moabites hear of the approaching armies and prepare for battle. Early the next morning they look out over where the opposing armies are camped and the early morning sun shines on the valley full of water as if it were blood. Thinking the three armies have fought one another and slaughtered each other the Moabites rush to take the spoil left by the defeated armies. To their great surprise no one is dead and before they can regroup into an armed force the camp of Israel rises up attacking them to their defeat. The abomination of the Moabites is seen in the king of Moab offering his eldest son as a burnt offering on the wall.

Elisha shows the power of God by giving victory to Israel over Moab. The battle is won only through the grace of God. We have the victory today through the blood of Jesus Christ. When the armies of Satan attack we are to rise up and defeat the devil with the scorched earth policy of allowing no residue of his influence to remain. Nothing is to remain. The Moabites thought they had victory when they saw the blood but the blood was their defeat. Satan must have thought he gained the victory when he saw the blood of Jesus on the cross. Three days later he realized that blood was his defeat. Praise God. That is a great story.

There is no devil in the first two chapters of the Bible and no devil in the last two chapters. Thank God for a Book that disposes of the devil. (Vance Havner)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:7-10)

When He Prayed For His Friends

The more you read the book of Job the more you are amazed at the character of this man. There is great worth in what Jehovah said about His humble servant: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Job was the most amazing of people. He honored God in his days of goodness and trusted in Him in the nights of darkness. The tragedies that befell him challenged his faith in ways few can even imagine. He struggled. He fought hard to understand. But a large part of his suffering came not from his body but his three ‘friends’ who sought to give him counsel. With friends like that who needs enemies.

When it was all over and Jehovah spoke to Job out of the whirlwind this humble man repented of his words and thoughts. Then the remarkable continues to happen. The Lord demands Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar to make sacrifices as Job prays for them. As the three make penance for their actions the man who suffered the most is praying for them.

What a life lesson for me today. I need to pray for those that frustrate me and even anger me. It is easy to strike out at people like that but Job shows a humble heart of prayer. His friends could not be blamed. They were trying to help but did not know how. I have tried to help others and struggled to know how. I hope people pray for my failings.

Jesus is the Master example of praying for everyone. He taught us to pray for our enemies but sometimes we need to pray for our friends who are trying but probably not doing a great job. As with Job we will receive a greater blessing when we have a heart of humility in prayer. That is one of the most wonderful feelings of talking to God. Thank you Father for letting me speak to you about my friends.

Our motive for prayer must be the divine will, not our own. (D. Laurence Scupoli, The Spiritual Combat, 1843)

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:1-5)

Who Is Building Your House

The psalm is simple in its perfect message: Building a home without God is foolish. But so often that is exactly what is done. Our lives become so intertwined with the pursuit of work, recreation and self-interest that God is not the center of the home. We go to church on Sunday and Wednesday but that becomes nothing more than a prosthetic we remove on Monday morning and God is seldom seen in the home. Without God as the center of our homes we build foolishly.

Homes should be filled with the praise of God. Children are a heritage from the Lord. The Hebrew word suggests something inherited. Those little people are special because God loaned them to us to nurture and grow in Him. Parents are given the task of molding their hearts under His care. The family should be built upon singing songs of praise to God in the home. Daily prayers with the children teach them to talk to God daily. Bible study around the table fortifies the faith of their hearts in the Lord. Sharing their life with the word of God is building a home that is glorifying Jesus Christ.

So many parents try to give their children everything but the one thing they need: God. Hectic schedules forbid eating meals together and the result is a dysfunctional home of passers-by in the day and night. School work is required to be completed so children get good grades in school and Bible class lessons are barely scratched at leaving their souls failing. Recreation with electronic devices and emphasis upon excelling in sports drives the passions of many homes while learning about the old stories of holy writ vanquish in obscurity.

Here is the lesson of the psalm: if God is not the center of the home the home is rotten to its core. Without God the work of the home is vanity. The home will only stand when the Lord is the rock of its foundation. Otherwise the home is built on the sand of passing time and great will be its fall.

One of the most important pieces of furniture for the home is the family altar. (Selected)

What Must I Do To Be

There are a lot of ways to end a sentence. We can make a statement of fact or ask a question. The sentence can be left open. It can mean nothing and it can mean something. A sentence is a powerful tool to build or destroy. Consider the sentence, “What must I do to be.” Is there more to it than that? Is it a complete sentence? What word would I add to the end of that sentence? How is it best to craft an answer to the dilemma of the uncompleted sentence?

“What must I do to be” is one of the most powerful questions inquired by the mind of man. From the beginning of time the answer has been sought in the carnal pursuits of fleshly desire, pride and arrogance and greedy gains of wealth. All of those roads led to destruction of man’s character. Even today men ask the question finding their answers in the same muck of misery humanity before them found. The reason they could not find happiness in life is because that is all they asked. There was nothing at the end of the sentence and yet it was the end of the sentence that gave them nothing. Man could not answer the question nor complete the sentence because he was asking the wrong question and seeking the wrong answer.

There is only one word that will fit at the end of the sentence plaguing man. From the first words of the Creator speaking life into existence until the final days of utter destruction the only word that can complete the sentence is: SAVED – WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED! All mankind seeks to finish the sentence by asking what they must do to be happy; to be rich; to be powerful; to be young; to be themselves! But all of these things are futile. Until man comes to the knowledge that he is lost he will continue to find all the wrong answers in all the wrong places.

One word makes the difference! On the day of Pentecost as the crowd listened to the stirring sermon by Peter they were moved to ask what to do. The apostle told them to “REPENT” showing themselves apart from God (Acts 2:37-38). They were not told to find happiness or wealth or popularity but to recognize that if they did not see their lost condition no hope was given. Peter would later announce this same appeal following the healing of the lame man (Acts 3:19). The early disciples preached the resurrection of Jesus requiring belief in the purpose of the resurrection – salvation. In a Philippian jail a man would stumble into the place Paul and Silas were imprisoned begging them to tell him what he must do to be saved.

Man can never come to salvation until he knows he is lost. Many will follow the broad way to destruction because they do not believe there is anything to condemn them. The lie of the devil is making men believe there nothing more after life. Death is final. Death is complete. There is no need to be saved from anything in this life. Why fear? Why worry? Life is about living and living is about life.

John describes the work of Jesus when he writes, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). The Lord reminds us that people will perish. Eternal life is in contrast to eternal ‘perishing.’ There is more to life than this world. Until man comes to an understanding of the end of the sentence of his condition there can be no hope.

Sin has clouded the mind of man to accept his nature as good when in fact it is in danger. A drowning man knows he will die. All men must realize they are lost and salvation can only come from Jesus Christ. This is the moment of change. The Jews on the day of Pentecost were “cut to the heart” like a piercing or a sharp sting. They knew where they were before God – lost. Realizing they were condemned they asked what to do. Peter responded.

Nothing else can be done until a man comes to the knowledge of his condition before God. ‘What must I do to be’ is a sentence that must be answered in only one way. The acceptance of where we are and where we need to be must be embraced by a heart willing to find peace. Without this knowledge there can be no hope. Failing to act upon this knowledge will bring certain destruction. The joy of realizing one is lost is found in the answer of being saved.

Long ago in the city of Damascus at the house of a man named Judas, two men met and talked about the question, ‘What must I do to be.’ The preacher said to the blind man, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). The blind man knew he was lost and he knew what he had to do. He obeyed and received his sight physically and spiritually. He knew the answer. He finished the sentence in the right way. What is your answer? Will you still seek for answers among men or will you come to Jesus Christ and find the word of truth, the way of salvation and the promise of eternal life. The sentence is a short sentence but upon the end of that sentence eternity depends.

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)

Qualities Of Leadership

The New Testament pattern of leadership is found in the position of those charged to feed the flock of God. When Paul talked with the elders from Ephesus he charged them to watch among themselves, oversee the church as shepherds and remember the blood of Christ purchased the body. No greater task is given to men than to tend the family of God. Paul’s list in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 clearly define the will of God for these men to be of a certain metal. Not everyone can lead the church of God. Watching out for the souls of the brethren suggests an eternal consequence that this noble work.

Bishops are men who possess certain qualities that define their work. The heart of the man is the work of saving souls. Clearly found in these qualities is the nature of the man’s heart and his willingness to undertake a work like no other. His life is without charge in reputation so that his work is not marred by distrust. He will be a man acquainted with the challenges of marriage giving him insight to feed the marriages of God’s people with proper counsel and wisdom from God. His spirit is one tempered by God’s grace, sober in mind to deal with the challenges he faces, character portrayed by a good example and friendly to others. Often he will be called on to talk of the Bible to others sharing his knowledge in private settings and if need be but not limited to public discourse.

A shepherd will be the light of Jesus Christ in his demeanor of gentleness and kindness. His life will not be seen as haughty, arrogant, greedy or quarrelsome. As a father he will understand the challenges of parenting preparing him for the counsel needed to families struggling to train their children. Fathers and mothers will respond to his teaching as they witness his example as a father. One clear motivation of his leadership is seen in His guiding the hearts of his own children to the throne of God. His knowledge and faith will be seasoned with experience to refute the wiles of the devil. The name of this man will be held in respect among those who know him including those of the world.

Doctrine. The leaders of the people of God are vital to the teaching of truth. May the Lord raise up more men willing to take the mantel of leadership as bishops of the Lord’s church to feed, protect and nourish His flock.

Leaders must see what others do not, act when others wait and work while others watch. (Bob Andrews in seminar on Leadership)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

Jesus loves the little children

One of the most amazing scenes to me in the life of Jesus is how often He interacted with children. You would think a man on a mission like the Lord would have little time to be distracted by children. But Jesus loved children. He often would take them and use them as examples for His disciples to learn humility and who will be greatest in the kingdom.

On this particular occasion little children were brought to Him and the disciples thought He was too busy to worry with children. An important teacher like Jesus should not be bothered. You can imagine how the disciples stepped in forbidding the parents to bother the Teacher. Mark says Jesus was greatly displeased. Robertson Word Pictures suggest Jesus was indignant at the action of the disciples and reacted with a strong emotion. I like that so much. Here is the Son of God rebuking the disciples because He wanted to see those children.

The Lord used the event to teach a lesson but then He taught a sermon: He took them up in His arms. The Savior of the world was holding children in His arms, touching them and blessing them. Could the children see what others could not? Could they see who Jesus really was? What a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ.

We should spend time with children. They should learn about Jesus from us. What greater work can we do that to let children know the blessing of God? It is true they can become noisy and bothersome at times but children are the examples put forth by the Lord as to citizenship in the kingdom. Spending time with children will remind us of a humble character, trusting in God and finding happiness in life.

Spend time with your children today without the intrusion of television, smart phones, IPads and computers. Put those things down and pick up a child. Hold them and talk to them about Jesus. We only get one time with children with they are small enough to pick up. Be a friend to other children. Say nice things to them. Show them Jesus in your life. They will not forget it. I have not forgotten those who picked me up and taught me about God. Those wonderful people at 803 W. Mahoney Street, Plant City. Jesus loved the little children. So do I.

For this generation, brought up on movie thrillers and silly comics, I covet a childhood nurtured on the Word of God. It might seem the depth of boredom to a modern youngster fed on trash and jaded from worn-out excitements, but life was happier before the AMEN age gave way to the era of SO WHAT. (Vance Havner)