The Heaton File

Which Ones?

When the young man of Matthew 19 came to Jesus asking about eternal life, he had an opaque view of what was really needed to be a faithful child of God. He came to the right source and it is clear he realized that Jesus was not just a carpenter’s son but the Son of God. “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life” (Matthew 19:16). No other question is so important than what happens in the eternal realm of man’s existence. The answer from Jesus was rather simple and direct. “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). The Law of Moses was sterling clear of God’s requirement to keep the statutes and laws of the Lord. “You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord (Leviticus 18:4-5).

Matthew is the only writer that records the response of the ruler: “Which ones?” (Matthew 19:18). The heart of the young man was not truly seeking an honest answer to the question of eternal life but rather as so many people do when they come before God seeking salvation he wanted to know the minimal amount of service given to receive eternal life. Consider the reason he would ask this question. Which laws did he think he did not have to keep? What reason would there be to exclude any law as applicable to his life? Did he view the law as a buffet to be chosen on the whim of the moment?

Jesus summed up the fullness of law keeping in Matthew 19:18-19 and feeling gratified he had successfully passed the litmus test the young man boasted he had kept all these laws from youth and “what do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20). An arrogant spirit drove the heart of this young man. He first wanted to limit the commands of God to a select bullet-list of do’s and don’ts; he then proclaimed his commandment keeping virtue of suggesting he had been a noble servant of the Lord since birth; and confidently felt eternal life was his. It was then the Lord spoke directly to the root of the problem. “’If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:21-22).

His first question was the right question: “What shall I do to have eternal life?” The next two question’s he tried to corral the commandments of God into a neat package of limited responsibility by asking which commandments must he keep (as if there was a limitation) and since he had kept all six of the specific laws illustrated by Jesus then what would he lack. Self-confident to a fault. Limiting requirements of law to only a few chosen commands. His heart was not prepared to give up his riches. He served God faithfully but only so far as he had to do what was required of him and nothing else. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:23-24).

The story of the rich young ruler is a story for the religious man today. Many are seeking the answer to eternal life. Most would believe that when they die they want to go to Heaven. Everyone wants to go to Heaven but few are willing to pay the price. When the ruler asked Jesus, “which ones” he had to look at the Law as a minimal code book. “What little can I do to be saved” is not what the people asked on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37). Noah did not want a smaller boat; David did not let someone else step into the valley of Elah; Paul did not bear a cross with wheels; and Jesus did not seek another way but only the way of His Father!

Cross bearing is hard business. “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me … If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple … whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple’ (Matthew 10:38; Luke 14:26-33). What do you mean “which ones”? What commandments of God are not needed in my life? Can I pick and choose which commandments I want to follow and expect the Lord to be pleased? Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I want to ask “which ones?”

Too often people complain about what the Lord requires of them. This comes from a spirit not unlike the rich young ruler who agreed to serve God on his terms and not God’s terms. I will obey you but only so far as it does not make me uncomfortable. Don’t expect too much from me, Lord. Expecting me to assemble with the people of God on a regular basis is asking too much. Having to give of my wealth is pushing the envelope far beyond reason. Making me sit for more than 20 minutes to a sermon is not fair. Letting people see God living in my life is too awkward and don’t expect that. I WANT TO DO AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE PLEASE!

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). When did Jesus say to His Father, “which ones”? He gave His all that we may be all with Him. The Lord paid our salvation with His blood. HIS body was nailed to a cross. Glory was given up with the Father to humble Himself as a man and became obedient to the point of death. And I worry that the Lord is asking too much for me. Shame on me. Shame on my arrogance. What right do I have to complain about anything? What will I ever do to repay the Father and the Son for the sacrifice at the “Place of the Skull?”

The Philippian Jailor did not ask for the minimal. He came “trembling before Paul and Silas … and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29-30). He did not ask ‘which ones” but with fear in his heart and a desire for salvation willing to do whatever was commanded of him. “Thy will be done” excludes the idea of small minded salvation. “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9).

A Greater Challenge Than Ice

There is a phenomenon sweeping the nation where people are pledging their money to help raise funds for patients and organizations with ALS, a neurodegenerative disorder. It is commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after the baseball player who had it. Originally started in the professional golfing world to raise money for various charities, it has become an internet sensation with people challenging others to douse themselves with ice water sending millions of dollars in donations to the ALS Association. Many have done this (including this author) showing solidarity and support for a worthy cause. There can be no doubt to the impact in years to come as this most ingenious way to bring awareness to the challenges many people face in life and a simple means to raise money. The key element in the success of this program is the amount of people who are not contributing millions or thousands of dollars for the cause but rather the small donations that add up to millions of dollars.

Everyone knows the fury of an avalanche is not because one snowflake but millions of snowflakes joined together as one that creates a force that is able to move anything in its path. A rainstorm has its greatest power when all the drops of rain become a torrent of rushing water. The principle is simple: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). The power of what a single element of leaven can do to the whole lump is the impact such a small thing can have. Who would have dreamed that a simple act of pouring ice water over the head would raise millions of dollars? What a worthy and noble cause. How important these acts of kindness are goes without saying. But let’s take this story a little further.

Consider the power of salt and light. Small grains of salt can change the taste of food and a candle light can be seen for miles. Combining the impact of single grains of salt and a single candle can bring great seasoning to foods and light up the world. Jesus taught, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt is used for seasoning and as people of God we bring a spiritual flavor to our community. As people of light we shine forth our lights to show the glory of God living in us. The challenge before us is to take the salt out of the shaker and let its influence spread to those we come in contact with. Our lights are not to be hidden but shining brightly to let others see Christ.

If we could instill in our hearts the same devotion and interest in bringing someone to Christ as pouring ice water over our heads what a difference the world would be. Please understand the difference of the two: the cause for ALS is a most honorable and worthy pursuit and we should encourage everyone to be a part of the community of those who can help – but think of what we can accomplish in the body of Christ if we were committed to help bring one person to Christ this year. The leaders of the ALS organization were stunned at the amount of money raised by such a simple act of pouring ice water on the heads of thousands of people. Think what the church would be if everyone would make it their desire to help bring one person to Christ each year. You can do the math and you will be stunned.

There is a question that begs to be asked: how many souls have been influenced to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ by our lives? It is easy to look at the world and think that saving the world is impossible. Jesus did say that only the few were going to be saved (Matthew 7:13-14) and often we may decide that the few are going to be saved by others. The sad reality is that if half of us would help bring one person to Christ what a difference the world would be. Sometimes the greater challenge to evangelizing the world is the silence of the few who could speak to the many and fails to do so. Many are lost not because of the roar of the world but the silence of the saints.

Can everyone sit down and unfold the pages of God’s word with a full explanation of what a person must do to be saved? Sadly, no. But the admonition is to be a ‘helper’ of winning souls. Homes can be opened to Bible studies where individuals are brought together to share the saving news of Jesus Christ. Contacts are made to connect people with others helping them come to a full knowledge of truth. Invitations are given to visit with the local congregation and offering transportation making it possible. Encouraging young people into the home and letting them be involved with inviting others to Christ. And then learning how to talk with others about the salvation found in Jesus Christ. Sometimes people say they don’t know what to tell someone about how to become a Christian. It is simple – tell them why you became a child of God and how it has changed your life. Everyone can tell that story!

There are millions of dollars being raised by random acts of people pouring water on their heads. There can be many people in our community who can come to know the saving power of God by the selfless act of one person inviting one person to sit down at the dining room table and studying the word of God. Raising money for ALS is a noble cause. Saving souls for Christ has an eternal reward.

A Little Boy Named Robin

Every generation has its heroes and villains that identify the feelings and emotions of the historical river flowing through its years. The death of Robin Williams marked a few generations for the laughter he brought with his wit and ‘alien’ humor that for so many was refreshing and fun. He had a side of humor that was not clean but the image he portrayed in much of his work left an impression of comical relief enjoyed by all. His method of death is troubling for the causes and effects that led him to take his own life. There is sadness in the disease of the mind leading to one’s personal destruction. For all his laughter Williams shared a dark side of alcohol and drug abuse and continually battled alcohol throughout his life. The cause of his mental state has revived the need to understand depression and its impact upon a frail life. Debates will continue as to how he could take his life and the impact on so many levels. The real tragedy of Williams death is just that – he died.

Every day millions die from natural causes, violence, consequences from place and time, war, famine and neglect. The reasons are myriad as hatred continues to fill the corners of the globe with its tentacles of evil. Disease ravages populations without mercy to age, wealth, power or influence. Wars will always be fought as the arrogance of man compels him to destroy his neighbor. Natural calamities befall communities without warning taking untold lives. Mental illness also answers for many of those who die every day. To understand the real nature of the problem is to realize the true character of living. This can only be found in the word of God.

There is a profound sadness in the death of Robin Williams when a complete perspective is given of what his death means. It is not about the millions of dollars he gained in his life. The fame he enjoyed by the world is not the issue. His influence over generations of audiences pales in comparison to the real tragedy of his life. In dying the pleasures of life (alcohol and drugs) meant nothing. The news of Robin Williams dying is that Robin Williams died.

Sixty-three years ago in Chicago, Illinois a little boy was born. There was nothing unusual about his birth as millions of children were born in 1951. But what happened in July of 1951 was a little boy was introduced into the world that was created in the image of the Creator. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

Robin Williams was created in the image and likeness of God. His death did not end his existence; it changed the body. Mortality ended and the continuance of the eternal body transformed to beyond the grave. “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave” (Psalms 89:48)? The rich man and Lazarus tell us that death is only a transition from a frame of flesh and bone to an eternal existence of joy or sorrow (Luke 16:19-31). The tragedy of August 11 was not the manner of his death but the reality that another soul stands before his Creator in eternity. His eternal state is in the hands of the Almighty. There are no more opportunities to live another day, say another word, change a decision made or hope for a better outlook. Death is final. It seals the soul in the expanse of eternity that never will be changed.

Turning the camera back to the 1950’s we find a little boy named Robin that was innocent of the dangers of the world. Bound in his heart would be the same feelings as all boys and girls who begin life in purity and free from the dregs of evil. There was a time in Williams’s life that he was not burdened with the weight of his decisions. Time changed this character. Sin marred his soul. He followed a path that would give him fame, fortune and pleasure but seemingly without the lasting joy found in early innocence. But that is the plight of all men. We all bear the mark of innocence in our childhood and battle the raging forces of Satan gaining hold of our lives. The greatest sadness in death is the power Satan has over so many lives that began in the humble character of children. Our greatest victory can only be embraced from the cross of Jesus Christ. The sadness in death is to see lives ruined by the trappings of the lie fueled by Satan in the Garden of Eden. “Has God indeed said” (Genesis 3:1)?

Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). The stark reality of life and death is whether one is going to seek wisdom and pleasure in the world or the eternal grace of God through His Son. It matters not how men view you in this life but how the Son of Man sees you in the final day. All men come into the world clean from the filth of sin. As little children their hearts are humble and pure and like soft clay waiting for the love of God to be inscribed on their hearts. Jesus sadly reminds us that most hearts will be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin and marred throughout eternity (Matthew 7:13).

Death is sad on many levels. It is especially sad as another spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7) and the weight of one’s soul is measured on the scale of righteousness. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works’” (Matthew 16:24-27).

A little boy named Robin is in the hands of the Almighty. He will be in that great thong of humanity that stands before the bar of Jehovah in the day of judgment. In Athens the apostle Paul declared, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). The real story is not how Robin Williams died but how he lived. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Today is Monday. Reading a book about the parables of Jesus I came across a statement by the author commenting on the parable of the lost sheep and lost coin (Luke 15). He reflected on how these parables (along with the prodigal son) express the attitude of Jesus toward the lost as one of boundless hope. The author quoted Luther Burbank who said, “Every weed is a possible flower.” My mind immediately raced to the conclusion of the impossibility of a weed being a flower because no matter what one may say about a weed; a weed is a weed is a weed! God made them that way. Weeds are undesirable and of no value. But then I realized that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). The Lord could take Kudzu and make it to be the most desirable flower in the world. He could take the most vicious thorn bush and make it a flower of grand beauty. Monday’s sometimes feel like Kudzu don’t they. But with God’s help every Monday is a possible beginning of a wonderful week filled with the flowers of kindness, thanksgiving, love, charity, and showing the fragrance of Christ in the lives of others. “Jesus believed that every sinner was a possible saint, that every coward might become a hero, that every defeated man might yet stand upon his feet in the consciousness of moral and spiritual victory” (Clovis G. Chappell, “Sermons from the parables”, page 176). Every Monday begins with Sunday reminding us that each week begins with the Lord.

Would You Fellowship Corinth?

The apostle Peter exhorted the pilgrims of the Dispersion to “love the brotherhood” (1 Peter 2:17). This is sandwiched in a passage that also instructs Christians to honor all, fear God and honor the king. The brotherhood mentioned by Peter is a reference to all Christians or saints as “all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2). An appeal is made for unity in the body of Christ for a love to permeate the brotherhood of royal priests in a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). It is sad to hear brethren more often quote Jesus in Matthew 5:44 when He said “Love your enemies.” Because of divisional partying among the people of God the love of the brotherhood can only be presumed from a narrowed view of whatever “soundness” is. Most often this is defined in terms of modern theology or self-evident interpretation of scripture that instills a sense of moral courage to stand against the tides of apostasy. Sermons elevate the moral code of purity denouncing any deviation of “truth” to be evident only by the fervor of a single group. And then there is the church in Corinth.

It is a good thing the church Paul wrote two (or more) epistles too is no longer in existence. Imagine the furor raised by the zealots of self-defined moral excellence upon a church that was filled with carnal minded people dividing against one another. Yes, they had some serious problems at the church in northeastern Peloponnesus. A member of the congregation had his father’s wife and nothing was being done about it. No one should fellowship that apostate church. It has been told the members are suing one another and taking one another to court before those of the world. How could anyone endure having fellowship with a congregation of rabble raisers? Mark them. Were there problems with the marriage question and what was to be done with the unmarried and widows? The church at Corinth was an insensitive group against those concerned over the eating of meats. And the role of women was being turned upside down with women rebelling against the culture of the day. We should not announce gospel meetings for such a congregation as this.

Someone reported as they visited the services at Corinth the Lord’s Supper was being abused, at times the services in chaos concerning the spiritual gifts with too many people trying to get their way and visitors thinking the whole lot of them out of their mind. We should not fellowship a congregation that has such disorder and disarray in the services. It has also been reported there are members of the church at Corinth that may not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Immediate marking and disfellowship of such a place should be undertaken. They have taken the off-ramp to apostasy and stand condemned to perdition. It would seem clear that for many today the church at Corinth would never be allowed within the arms of fellowship because of these egregious errors.

There is no doubt the purpose of Paul’s writing to the church at Corinth was not to praise them. He was very concerned for the problems they allowed to continue in this congregation. His writing was forceful, direct and with clear ramifications of consequences if action was not taken. The joy of his second letter is to see the growth of the brethren in dealing with their calamities outlined in the first letter. But it should never be lost on the student of scripture that before Paul laid ‘pen to paper’ in his first letter he said, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:2-9).

The Holy Spirit said the Christians at Corinth were a “church of God.” Paul understood by this designation the brethren were in fellowship with God and He with them. The apostle also referred to the brethren as “sanctified” and “saints” indicating a communion. It seems incredulous that an apostle of Jesus Christ would extend a greeting of grace to a church like Corinth (unlike what may happen today). Further, he is thankful for these brethren as they were enriched in knowledge and the “testimony of Christ was confirmed” by them … the church at Corinth. His closing introduction includes a salutation of their being called into the “fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (v9). I wonder how well that would go over in some circles of the brotherhood today? How should we label Corinth: liberal, apostate, conservative, immoral, reckless or some other self-serving label? In his second letter to Corinth Paul refers to these brethren as “the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:1-2). It seems he is still in fellowship with the brethren at Corinth.

Examining the churches in Acts a person could develop a cold shoulder of fellowship to churches who have liars and greedy people in them (Jerusalem – Acts 5). This church also had folk who were prejudice, murmuring and neglecting their own people (Acts 6). The churches in Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, Thessalonica and Create had people who would raise the hair on the head of a lot of brethren today because of their practices. Even the seven churches that were in Asia would have been prime rib for target practice today because of their lack of love, lack of works, and lack of faithfulness; and yet the candlesticks had not been removed as yet. One of the important lessons of scripture is to know that only God removes candlesticks – not man (3 John 9-11).

Do churches have problems? The church at Corinth was a train wreck but Paul did not write them off and treat them as enemies because of their own ignorance to uphold the perceived truth held by the majority few. Loving the brotherhood deals with the challenges that can destroy the church from within with the true word of God. Ironically the problem at Corinth was division and we share the same problems today. Churches are divided over major and minor issues that separate us from camp to camp. A spirit of distrust hangs over the feelings of many who may hear that so and so is from a particular group that practices such and such. The poison of division will do more harm that the “outside forces” we so often pray about. I suspect the devil often does not spend so much time bringing harm from the outside to destroy the church. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:13-15).