The Influence Of The Bible

Posted on October 4, 2024 by heatonkent

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

The Influence Of The Bible

Lowell Thomas said, “The Bible is of vital importance in teaching freedom; dictators fear the Bible, and for good reason – it inspired the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence.” John Adams, a member of the original committee that drew up our Declaration of Independence, wrote these words in a letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1813: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” A little-known fact to most Americans today is that the Continental Congress voted to spend $300,000 on September 11, 1777, to buy Bibles distributed throughout the thirteen original colonies.

Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament between 1450-1400 B.C. The final piece of the divine canon, known as Revelation, was written by the apostle John while banished to the isle of Patmos in the late 80s or early 90s A.D. From Genesis to Revelation, spanning nearly 1500 years, forty different writers who lived in different parts of the world with a varied list of occupations in three different languages wrote what is called the “Bible.” The Bible contains writings on law (civil, criminal, ethical, religious, and sanitary), poetry, history, narrative, biography, prophecy, and apocalyptic.

There is unity in doctrine or unity of purpose in the Bible. What is included and excluded establishes the grand scheme of redemption designed by the Holy Spirit. God’s eternal purpose to redeem man in Christ is the theme, which includes the Biblical doctrines of God, man, morality, sin, salvation, and immortality. Jesus said the word of God was truth, confirming many Old Testament stories as true (Moses, Noah, Jonah, Naaman, and others). His followers wrote the New Testament based on divine truth.

An unknown author writes, “This old Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its histories are true, its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the sailor’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.”

“Here paradise is restored, heaven is opened, and the gates of hell are disclosed. Christ is its subject, our good, its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given to you in life, will be open at the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.”

The Bible is the complete revelation of God to man. There is no need for other books, and any book that seeks to compare itself or conflict with the Bible does so at its own peril and demise. God has revealed Himself through one book. His word is truth because it is the inerrant word of the Divine, showing the creation what he must do to be saved. The Bible cannot be ignored. It contains everything that will point the soul in the path of righteousness. The Bible is also a book that chastises the soul when man decides to serve his selfish needs. There is no book as wonderful as the Bible. Take time to read, meditate, and commune with its message. You will never be the same.

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Creation And The Word Of God

Posted on October 3, 2024 by heatonkent

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. (Proverbs 3:19-20)

Creation And The Word Of God

The universe is an amazing and beautiful place. There is in the heart of man the earnest desire to know all he can learn about his world and the unknown. In the early days of the earth, the heart desired to know what was beyond the horizon. Mountains were climbed to see what was on the other side. Oceans were conquered to unfold the mysteries of what lay beyond the unseen. In modern times, astronauts accomplished the impossible by walking on the Moon. Machines have moved upon the face of Mars, sending stunning pictures of a forbidden planet. The vastness of space and the depths of the oceans have intrigued man’s mind to know more of the unknown.

There is so much more to know about the world and the vastness of the universe. One of the constants of man’s knowledge of the world is the orderliness of its design and purpose. Early pilgrims learned to navigate using the stars. They recognized patterns in the sky that remained constant so they could discover lands beyond. Sailors in the open waters of lakes, seas, and oceans could rely upon celestial navigation, using the Moon, Sun, and stars to determine their position. The discovery of the compass changed travel on land and sea when it was used with tools such as the hourglass, astrolabe, and quadrant. Everything was based upon a creative design that pronounced a Designer establishing order in the universe.

God created the world in an orderly fashion. The days of creation were accomplished in the exact purpose of how each one relied upon the other for survival. Everything remains the same as the heavenly bodies created on the fourth day remain in the sky so that the world can see the glory of God in His wisdom. The universe is not a place of chaos but a testimony of God’s understanding of creating heavens in an orderly fashion that remains constant throughout the generations. When the rain comes upon the land, there is a purpose. Storms have a design to them. Wind serves the purpose of God. The four seasons will constantly change throughout the year because God ordained them. There will never be a time of complete heat or cold. After the flood, the Lord established His wisdom, understanding, and knowledge by promising that seedtime, harvest, cold, heat, winter, summer, and day and night shall not cease.

Everything about the world shows the wisdom of God. He created the heavens by His understanding. The fountains of the earth burst forth and the dew settles because of the knowledge of God. All of creation shows the glory of God. If God is so powerful, filled with wisdom and understanding, that He establishes the universe in a defined, purposed plan that shows His glory each day, how much more can we believe the book He has given to know and understand His will? The universe is God’s witness to His glory in the natural world, and the Bible is God’s testimony of His great love, mercy, grace, and glory, which gives His creation hope in a world yet to be.

When the Sun rises each morning, man’s heart should open the word of God and come to know the Son of life. The creation is the reason man can trust the word of God. Every testimony of creation turns the heart of man to seek the word of God. The Lord has revealed Himself through the natural world to show man the divine revelation of His grace. Jesus Christ created the world, and the Bible is the testimony of its Creator. The evidence of creation can lead a man to seek God but to know God’s character, the heart must accept the Bible as the divine word of God. Do you have doubts about the Bible? Look at creation. If God can establish a world so grand as found in the universe, how difficult can it be to give man a written testimony of His knowledge and understanding.

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The Never Ending Fall

Posted on October 2, 2024 by heatonkent

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

The Never Ending Fall

Satan’s tempting of Eve in the garden brought about the fall of man. When Eve took of the fruit and gave some to Adam, they both became fearful and ashamed. As a consequence of their disobedience, the Lord cast them from the garden, and the legacy of man’s fall began. From the beginning of time, worship has been the avenue of man seeking the grace and mercy of God. Cain and Abel offered sacrifices. Abraham was a man whose travels could be seen from the smoke of his altars. God gave the Law to the Hebrews, forming a holy nation to Himself. The blood of countless animals was shed for the remission of sins. With all the sacrifices offered since time began, the debt owed to God had not been paid.

Jesus came into the world to redeem humanity back to the Father. The Son of God lived a perfect and sinless life. Jesus became the author of salvation to all who believe in Him through His sacrifice of complete purity. All those who come to the Son of God can be justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Jesus made possible the avenue of grace that a man could be justified by faith, having peace with God in forgiving his sins. Peter declared on the day of Pentecost that if a man repents and is baptized for the remission of sins, he can enjoy the covenant grace of a loving Father. Baptism washes away all the sins of a person’s life as far as the East is from the West. God removes sin completely through His grace.

There is great joy in understanding the power of God’s saving grace. The Lord has promised eternal life to those who do His will and each soul can know they have everlasting life. No greater hope can a man find than what God promises in His word. Understanding God’s grace is understanding the measure of His grace. Paul reminds the Roman church that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The apostle affirms the knowledge of justification and righteousness gives a person hope in the face of a dark world. Paul said that all sin and fall short of the glory of God. This is not a one-time event, a localized problem, or a one-and-done type of relationship.

The reality for the child of God is to acknowledge that because of sin, the soul continues to fall short of God’s grace. Fighting the battle of sin is a life-long endeavor. The only time sin can be defeated is in the death of the child of God. All sin and continue to fall short of the glory of God. It is important to see sin for what it is and how great the mercy of God is to forgive sin, even though the heart of man continues to fall short. The nature of man is a never-ending fall. He can do nothing to redeem himself from the debt of sin. Jesus paid a price that can never be repaid. And yet – through the love and compassion of God, a man can be justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

When the publican prayed to God, he acknowledged he was a sinner. He asked God to be merciful because he was undeserving of the forgiveness of the Lord. The Pharisee bragged about his sinless soul, condemning himself more fully as an unrepentant sinner. Jesus said the publican was justified because he knew how much he needed God. I have sinned, and I struggle as I continue to fall short of the glory of God. The joy of salvation is found in walking in the light where the grace of God abounds. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but those who are in Christ are not condemned. Hallelujah.

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The Foolish Things Of The World

Posted on September 30, 2024 by heatonkent

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

The Foolish Things Of The World

The Bible is the most widely published book in the history of man. Nothing rivals the Bible’s historical narrative and impact upon societies in every generation. Nations have been founded on the principles of its contents. From its pages, the moral compass of humanity has been challenged that no other message could bring to bear upon the human consciousness. Critics have tried to discredit the Bible with no success. Often, those who try to destroy the Bible succumb to its eternal message and admit it is the most remarkable book.

What is ironic about the publication of the Bible in every language is that the Bible remains the least read and understood book of all time. Billions of copies have been published in every language under heaven. Access to the Bible has moved far beyond the printed word. Spreading the message of the Bible is the easiest it has ever been. The world remains divided when it comes to the content of the Bible. What is the message? Why are not all believers united as one? Where do all the different beliefs come from if only one book exists?

God chose the world’s foolish things to confound men’s wisdom. In the realm of human knowledge, wisdom is held in high honor and a noble sense of pride. Men want to find their accomplishments in the halls of higher education as they investigate the deep recesses of the unknown. This makes a man feel he is superior with an incredible intellect based on a higher IQ. When the intellect of human wisdom tries to understand why the death of a carpenter from Nazareth outside Jerusalem matters, it begins to bog down in the philosophical harvesting of intellectual acuity, concluding the whole story is foolish. It makes no sense and has no purpose. The carpenter deserved to die along with the two thieves on either side. The story of the empty tomb is a hoax, and the followers of Jesus were fools to believe the lies told about Him. That is what human wisdom does with the story of Jesus Christ.

God chose the foolish things to confound the wisdom of men. To the wisdom of human knowledge, the cross is foolish. The church is a useless organization. Twelve men establishing something that would last thousands of years is beyond the imagination of anything the human mind could create. Why celebrate the death of Jesus with some bread and juice? The provisions of grace found in Jesus Christ seem foolish. All of the intellectual genius of the human brain is incapable of excelling above the message of the Bible because the message of the Bible is about God, not man. The foolishness of the wisdom of God is so far above the highest acclamation of human wisdom there is nothing to compare it with.

Jesus said that unless a man becomes like a child, he cannot enter the kingdom. The reason is it takes a humble heart to accept and know the message of the Bible, which is the greatest testimony of wisdom the world will ever know. No man can create a character higher than himself, and the Bible testifies to that. A pearl of greater wisdom than anything a man can create is found in the basement of divine foolishness. When the heart accepts the word of God as divine, he will learn wisdom that can only come from the mind of God. It is then that man will glorify the Lord God as his Creator.

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Faith Starts And Ends With God

Posted on September 29, 2024 by heatonkent

Faith Starts And Ends With God

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

Moses began the testimony of God’s revelation to man acknowledging that everything in the world, about the world, and the future of the world, began with God. It is not incidental the Bible starts with “In the beginning, God.” That is the fundamental fact that if a man will not and cannot acknowledge, he has nothing to hope for. There is nothing left if God is denied. The problem that man has faced is that no one has seen God. Adam and Eve talked with God as He walked in the cool of the day but the visage of the Lord God was not visible. Noah heard the instructions of the Lord to build an ark, Abraham heeded the  voice of God telling him to leave his country, and Moses was allowed to peek at a glimpse of the glory of God. The only man who saw God face to face was the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Faith is the evidence of believing in God when no man has seen nor can see God. It goes against the nature of man to put his full trust in something that is not tangible. Human wisdom reacts best to the five basic senses of identification: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. None of these can be experienced with God. Because of this, many refuse to acknowledge God and deny His existence. Faith is the foundation of belief in something that cannot be seen, heard, taste, smell, and touched; and that is hard for man to grasp. The Bible is accepted on faith because no one living experienced its history. Three thousand years has not diminished the power of the word of God. The universe was spoken into existence because God said it did. Moses did not witness creation and his writings came many generations after the event.

Belief is measured by the amount of faith a person is willing to allow into his heart to accept what has not been seen. Faith begins with God because He is the cause of all things. When the sun rises in the morning, does man take notice and does he accept by faith the sun will rise? Science can predict exactly when sunrise and sunset occur in any part of the world because of faith in a process that is as old as the earth. If a man knows when the sun rises, why is he troubled to believe in the One who made the sun? Everything about the world is the handiwork of God which demands belief based on faith. The dominoes of unbelief will destroy the hope that is found in believing in the one true God. Faith creates hope as the knowledge of God grows in the heart. Trust comes from hope risen from the fragrance of faith. The essence of faith finds its power in the hope God instills in man and the promise that what is not seen, can be seen by the eye of faith.

Everything starts and ends with God because He is before time. God spoke the world into existence. What can man do that equals the marvel of creation? Without faith, it is impossible for a man to please God because that is where the relationship of God and humanity begins. Denying Genesis 1:1 denies everything else about God. Faith shows the reality of what is hoped for and the proof of what cannot be seen. That is how a man must come to God. Faith is the first step in the journey to discover God. He is first and He is last. Begin with God and the ending of the story will be glorious.

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They Knew Where Jesus Was Buried

Posted on September 27, 2024 by heatonkent

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56)

They Knew Where Jesus Was Buried

Joseph of Arimathea was a man of wealth who prepared his tomb outside of Jerusalem, where he would one day be buried. As a rich man, the tomb was crafted by masters who took time and attention to detail to prepare it for their rich client. A large stone was hewn out of a rock to carefully seal the tomb securely so that tomb robbers would not easily enter it to rob it of its contents. Everything Joseph wanted in his tomb was completed to his satisfaction. It would be an occasion of great pomp and circumstance when the man from Arimathea was buried.

Sometime in the past few years, Joseph had become a disciple of Jesus Christ. He was associated with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews and a Pharisee. Joseph was a prominent council member himself. Together, Joseph and Nicodemus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. This was a bold act for both men as Joseph, for fear of the Jews, secretly was a disciple of Jesus. Speculation is given on why Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night. Receiving permission from Pilate, Joseph and Nicodemus went to Golgotha and, with the help of the Roman soldiers, removed the dead body of Jesus from the cross. The soldiers pulled the nails out of the hands and feet of Jesus, and the two men wrapped the body and carried him to the garden where the tomb had been hewn out of solid rock. It was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

Joseph and Nicodemus bound the body with strips of linen with spices, planning to return after Sabbath to complete the work. As the two men took the body of Jesus from the soldiers and carried Him to the tomb, certain women were watching carefully what was being done. There were women who had come with Jesus from Galilee, and they observed the tomb, where it was located, which tomb Joseph and Nicodemus had placed the body, and how it was laid. Matthew and Mark detail that Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, observed where Jesus was placed.

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, Salome, and other women, bought spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They knew exactly where the tomb was in the garden. Many tombs were in the area, but they knew which tomb Jesus was buried. There was no doubt or hesitation as to where they had seen Joseph and Nicodemus bury the body of Jesus. They worried about who would roll the stone away, but when they arrived at the exact tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, they were shocked to see the tomb open. Three days earlier, they had carefully observed how the two men carried the body of Jesus into the tomb and how they laid the body in the tomb. They were not confused, nor did they make a mistake. The women knew precisely where the tomb was. What they found was an empty tomb.

Paul later wrote that after the resurrection of Jesus, more than five hundred people testified to having seen Jesus. The death of Jesus was not something done in a corner. Many people knew about how the Jews had demanded the death of the man from Nazareth and how the Romans had carried out the execution. The empty tomb stood as a monument to the testimony of Christ’s resurrection. There was no doubt which tomb was empty. It was a new tomb made of solid rock guarded by the elite Roman army. If anyone doubted the veracity of the resurrection story, certain women could take the unbelievers to the empty tomb to testify of the resurrection.

The women who observed which tomb Jesus was laid in and how He was placed in the tomb was one of many testimonies to the validity of the resurrection of Jesus. During the early stages of the New Testament church, critics of the resurrection had only to ask certain women what they knew. The testimony of the women confirmed that Jesus had risen from the dead. They knew exactly where Jesus was buried and where He was not found when they returned on the first day of the week. He is not here but has risen!

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God Is Not An American

Posted on September 26, 2024 by heatonkent

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him. (Mark 12:17)

God Is Not An American

When the fathers of the United States drafted the original constitution and amendments, they determined the inalienable rights of all citizens to freedom of speech, religion, the press, and the right to assemble peaceably and petition the government for a redress of grievances. The first ten Amendments went into effect on December 15, 1791. These Amendments, written by James Madison, were called the Bill of Rights and were the founding documents of the United States. They have become the cornerstone of almost two hundred fifty years of one of the greatest republics in the world. James Madison believed in God, framing much of his writings on his understanding of God. He was careful not to suggest that the government establish laws based on one religion.

Many of those who established the United States of America were devout believers of God as the all-powerful, wise, and good Father and that without a solid moral compass, would endanger the future of the infant land they had begun. Much of the history of the United States comes from the lives of myriads of people who believed in the Bible. They felt a kinship with God. Without a doubt, a belief in God formed much of the nation. The United States continues to have a strong presence of believers in God in one form or another. That number is shrinking with each generation.

Based upon the foundation of a Biblical view of history, sometimes the line is crossed when explaining the methods and means of government and the role of the Lord God. The lines are blurred when applying a characteristic of God to something that He never put His eternal seal on. A recent radio commentator observed that freedom of speech is a God-given right. One of the joys of being an American is the freedom of speech, whether it is criticizing the government or enjoying the blessings of faith in God. A day will come when the freedom of religious speech will be taken away, but that is not the case at present time. The ability to speak freely is a foundation of the United States of America’s Constitution but not a foundational freedom exercised through a relationship with God.

When pressed about paying taxes, Jesus was questioned about His allegiance to the Roman government. The Son of God established government and reminded the Pharisees and Herodians that whatever was required of Caesar must be paid and what was required of God must be obeyed. The two elements of authority, government, and God, were incompatible. God’s law superseded Roman law, but all citizens had to obey unless the government imposed a law contrary to God’s. Peter would later tell the Christians living under the rule of Caesar Nero to “honor the king.” That was not a choice but a command. Paul reminded the church in Rome that God established government.

What people confuse about the Constitution of the United States and the law of God is they are not identical nor compatible. There is no such thing as a ‘God-given right to free speech’ because God never authorized it. If the United States were under the rule of a dictator (like Nero or Domitian), there would be no freedom of speech. Christians would be subject to Roman law unless it conflicted with the law of God. Paying taxes is not a sin, but refusing to pay taxes can bring judgment from the One who established government. If the government suppresses freedom of speech, it does not break the law of God.

A God-given right is something based upon the word of God. It is a God-given right to love and forgive enemies. Salvation is a freely given God-given blessing of a benevolent Father. The forgiveness of sins does not come from the Bill of Rights but from the word of God. When a football team wins a game, God did not make that happen. Slugging a home run to deep left is not the power of God. Winning a gold medal at the Olympics is not an act of God’s kindness and love. There are things that God works in the events of the world. The wisdom of God builds nations up and brings nations down. He answers the prayers of His children and shows His power in their lives. Care must be taken when attributing things to God that He has nothing to do with.

The red, white, and blue are patriotic symbols of a great nation, but they do not share the morals, dogmas, and beliefs of the Almighty God. It becomes increasingly clear that America is less a nation under God and more and more a nation under attack by a godless society. God is not a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or a political party. He is not bound by the laws of the United States. Jesus Christ has been King of Kings for two thousand years, and that will not change with an event every four years in November. Regardless of what the laws of the land become, the only law that matters is the law of God.

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Praising The Lord

Posted on September 25, 2024 by heatonkent

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 148)

Praising The Lord

God’s glory is worthy of praise, whether you are created in His image like Adam and Eve, a creature inhabiting the world, or the inanimate objects that make up the earth. From the heavenly beings to the universe filled with the sun, moon, and stars, praise is given to the magnificent glory of the Lord. In the darkness of space, the stars are uncountable, and each one praises God. Every morning, the sun rises, and God is glorified. In the tranquil darkness of the night, the moon shines the glory of its Maker. The oceans of the earth are filled with creatures of all sizes. From the tiny plankton to the massive blue whale, God is praised.

When the earth reacts in seismic rhythms of weather patterns, the majesty of the Lord is seen in its power and form. Fire, hail, snow, and clouds all declare the handiwork of an amazing God. Even the trees of creation declare the wonder of their Maker. The animals of the earth all know who formed them and cares for them. From the smallest swallow to the largest beast, all of God’s creation bears the mark of their Creator. The creeping animals and flying fowl testify that God created and placed His glory upon them. All of creation resounds with the symphony of divine creation with marvelous detail that could only be found from the hand of a mighty Creator.

There is a reason to give praise to God. The psalmist issues the proclamation of praise thirteen times in his psalm of less than two hundred words. He emphasizes how all of creation lift their voices to the eternal throne of God to honor and praise Him. Animals praise God. The universe is a canvas of praise to the Lord. From the mountains, valleys, rivers, and oceans, all of creation shouts how much the Lord receives glory. The trees speak to the splendor of a divine hand that formed them. Nothing in the world and bound in the blanket of the universe denies the glory of God. The only creature that struggles with praising its Creator is the highest of all creation: man.

There is an irony that God placed within man the divine nature so that all men would glorify Him, and yet, man seldom gives praise to his Creator. God demands that kings and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children, praise Him. Man is the highest of creation because he is eternal. The animals have no eternal nature. Trees, rivers, oceans, mountains, and the universe filled with the sun, moon, and stars have no eternal nature about them, and yet they praise God every day. Man struggles with praise to God because man finds pride in praising himself. The Lord must be praised because His name alone is exalted, and His glory is above the earth and heaven.

God wants His creation to praise Him so that He can have a people near Him. When a man praises God, he draws near to God. The closer a man draws to the Lord, the greater God becomes and the smaller man becomes. Yet, in the insignificance of man’s presence before his Creator, God lifts him up to show His love by giving His only begotten Son to die for men. And that is why the Lord must be praised. Praise God. Let the voices of praise be heard for what God has done for the world.

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Which Way Are You Going?

Posted on September 22, 2024 by heatonkent

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Which Way Are You Going?

Tombstones tell great stories. One such cemetery had a tombstone that read, “Pause now, stranger as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so soon you’ll be. Prepare yourself to follow me!” Someone had placed a piece of wood next to the tombstone, “To follow you, I’m not content until I know which way you went.”

One of the certainties of death is it comes with direction. In other words, death sends an eternal spirit in one of two paths. To believe that death is final and nothing after death is a fool’s errand of eternal consequence. God did not create a world and form man from the dust of the ground for no reason. The nature of man declares he is an eternal creature demanding the acceptance there is something more to death than emptiness. Everything known about the unknown is revealed in the word of God. God created man in His image for His glory. The justice of the Lord demands judgment on the actions of men. If there were nothing beyond death, man would debase himself to be nothing but an animal.

Eternity is real because man is a creature formed to live forever. The purpose of creation was to form a creature that would worship Him and magnify the glory of an eternal God. Humanity is the highest of God’s creation because he is eternal. Jesus Christ came to save the world from the darkness of eternal condemnation. When the creation denies the power of his Creator, there must be consequences. God is not willing that any should suffer condemnation, but His righteousness demands justice against all that deny Him. What kind of God would He be if the Creator ignored the arrogance and pride of human wisdom? Righteousness demands accountability.

There are two paths after death. The Bible describes one place as the bosom of Abraham, indicating peace and comfort. For those who angels do not carry to Paradise, a terrible and horrific place exists. It is a place of torment, flame, darkness, suffering, agony, and eternal horror. That is the only choice given. Denying there is a place of torment does not take away its reality. Most people refuse to believe in Hell. Their belief will be changed when they experience its reality. God is a loving God but also a God of wrath.

He saved Noah and his family and destroyed everything with the breath of life outside the ark. How many millions of souls perished in the flood should be a question that drives the heart to believe in God’s judgment against unrighteousness. Jesus offers salvation through His blood. God’s love gave us His Son. The joy of salvation is found in death when the chosen path is eternal life. Do you know where you are going when you die?

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Six Examples Of Faith

Posted on September 19, 2024 by heatonkent

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Six Examples Of Faith

The power of a godly example in a world of darkness is how the glory of God is revealed to lost souls. People of faith have always lived separately from the world’s influences because they have followed the divine pattern of righteousness. Enoch was a man who pleased God and was spared death as the Lord took him. Abraham was chosen as the father of the faithful through his devotion to the word of God. Moses was separated by the will of the Lord to lead God’s people to the promised land. David showed great faith in defeating Goliath and became known as a man after God’s own heart. Daniel and his three friends are examples of courage in the face of danger because they trusted in the power of God.

Faith is manifested in the lives of the faithful through devotion to the will of God and a desire to show the glory of God to the world. Paul encouraged Timothy to present himself as an example of faith. There were six things the apostle wanted Timothy to consider in his life that would make him a proper example of godliness and faith. These attributes serve well to anyone who desires to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Each one has its own strength that fortifies the other to complete a man as the perfection of maturity in Christ. When a man follows the advice of Paul to Timothy, they will not only save themselves but help others come to know the power of God’s grace.

The first example of faith is found in the word of God. Faith comes from the word. Without growing in a knowledge of the divine will of the Father, faith will perish. Paul wanted Timothy to be an example of a man knowledgeable of God’s word. This requires time and effort to study and meditate on the word. The Bible is the fully revealed word of God. Its contents cannot be exhausted in a lifetime, but the more a man knows, the greater his faith is in fighting against the wiles of the devil. A man’s manner of life will change through a knowledge of the word. To be an example in conduct is to allow the word to change the spirit of the human heart to be like Christ. Forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and a host of godly characteristics become the nature of man as the word dwells in him.

A third example of having a godly heart is to show love. The world is lacking in love. Paul reminds Timothy of the power of an example of love towards others and God. Love is the bond of peace holding together all the elements of godliness. When a man loves God, he will know how to love others; even enemies. This is contrary to the world’s philosophy. In the body of Christ, love reigns in the heart, which is an example of the spirit of God. The word of God measures the passions of the heart. Pride and arrogance are displaced by humility and meekness. The spirit of the Christian is an example to the world.

Finally, an example of faith is found in those who spend time in the word, showing in their manner of life how much they love God and one another, proving their passions are for the Lord and not the flesh. Faith is a beacon whose light shines according to what is in the heart. Through the measure of faith, the heart purifies itself of the dross of sin, seeking righteousness over unrighteousness. To be an example of purity can only come from growing faith. Purity dampens the passions of the heart to show the love of God. When the world speaks against Christians, they see God glorified by the good works of righteousness and the examples of faith. Six examples of faith can change the hearts of all those who want to see God.

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