The Heaton File

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:21-23)

The Art Of Listening

The twelve apostles of Jesus were courageous men who dedicated their lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ, with eleven suffering a martyr’s death. Tradition describes how each of the eleven perished, with John, the only apostle who died of natural causes. There was a rumor going around in the early church that John would live a very long life. In fact, John would live so long that he would be alive when the Lord returned a second time. Considering Jesus has not returned in two thousand years, that would make John the oldest person who has ever lived. The only question is, where is John today?

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Lord spent forty days with His disciples, preparing them for the coming kingdom. On the night of His arrest, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. That night, Peter denied Jesus three times. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep and told Peter how he would die. His death would glorify God. As Jesus talked about how Peter would die, Peter looked around and saw John sitting nearby and asked the Lord how the beloved apostle would die.

Jesus could have told all the apostles how they would die. His answer to Peter was for Peter to mind his own business. Jesus replied that it was no concern for anyone and that if it was the Lord’s will for John to live until the second coming, that was God’s business. It was a simple answer. If it was the will of God that John lived until His return, it was of no concern to Peter. What Jesus wanted the disciples to focus on was following Him. From this answer by Jesus on the death of John, the early church spread rumors that John would not die. The saying of Jesus was turned around by the brethren, who believed that John had been given a passage of life much like Enoch and Elijah. Nothing was further from the truth.

The art of listening is the ability to listen. There was nothing ambiguous about what Jesus said. Peter learned how he would die and asked the Lord how John would die. The news of how Peter would die should have been the object of the discussion, but in the impulsive fashion of Peter’s scattered-brained approach to listening, a story went out among the brethren that John would not die. This false rumor had been spread in the church for almost fifty years when John wrote his gospel.

Listening is what is heard in the ear and what is accepted in the mind. Many religious people today read the Bible and deny what it says. Peter told the people at Pentecost to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. The apostle would later write that baptism saves. Many people deny baptism has any merit to salvation and that it does not save. The Bible clearly teaches that it does. Many in the world deny there is eternal punishment for the ungodly, and yet Jesus taught frequently on the subject. It is sad when the Bible clearly states a matter, and the heart denies what it hears.

A lie can be told long enough that it is accepted as truth. It will never be truth because lies will always lie. For many years, the brethren circulated the story that John would never die. John died after a long life of service to Jesus Christ. What was accepted as truth was false. Many teachings are accepted as truths not found in the Bible but believed to be true. The art of listening to the word of God is the responsibility to accept without question the word of the Lord as truth. Men will lie, but God cannot. Listen. Listen. And then listen again.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Faith Leads Us To Jesus

Faith is the evidence of things that cannot be seen and has always been the core principle of man’s relationship with God. No man has seen God at any time, and yet the invisible attributes of God are clearly seen. Faith gives an assurance of something that is not tangible but becomes a belief that brings hope and peace. The faithful people of God have always believed in the promises of God without visible proof because they look far beyond the moment to a time yet to come with greater blessings.

Man was not created until the sixth day and could not witness the creation of the world. Faith drives the human spirit to believe how the worlds were framed by the word of God. Abel did not have to understand the will of God to offer sacrifices, but unlike his brother Cain, Abel obeyed from the heart. Enoch lived with the hope of eternity to please God in everything. Noah could not imagine a flood that would destroy the world. What is an ark with animals going to do to save humanity? Noah obeyed because he believed in the promises of God. Abraham is the father of faith to leave his homeland for a place he did not know. When God told him he would have a son, could he have imagined it would be twenty-five years later when he was one hundred? He saw afar off the promises of God and embraced them. Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses all exemplified those who called to mind a greater country in the divine with greater promises.

Faith is measured by looking beyond the world to a better place in God’s abode. The knowledge that is not about the here and now but the life that is to come. Everything dies here and remains. The eternal spirit never dies. Faith creates a desire to receive a heavenly place where God is. The Lord has made ready a place, a city, a habitation, and a promise that all who are faithful will receive. There is a blessed assurance that while life is a pilgrimage, a greater day comes when the eternal homeland is found. Faith is a desire. It is a longing to be apart from the trappings of the world. Dying in faith is living in hope.

The Bible is filled with the stories of those who are the faithful, who trusted in God, and who lived with the full expectation of eternal glory. As a great cloud of witnesses, their lives lead all men to Jesus Christ. From time eternal, Jesus is the author and finisher of faith. Abraham shows the way to Jesus. Moses leads the people of God to understand the eternal promise land made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets all testify to the story of God’s only begotten Son.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Faith is assured because Jesus is conqueror. There is no fear in love. Faith is confirmed by the sacrificial love of Jesus to die for all men, taking away the dread of death and the sting of sin. The victory in faith is found in looking for an eternal home. By faith men understand the will of God, embrace the heavenly hope, and live with a view toward a city prepared for them. Live for Jesus.

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19)

Wise In Good And Innocent Concerning Evil

There is a simple plan to deal with evil that has always been true. The man Job was a righteous man who was blameless and upright, feared God and shunned evil. He planned to stay as far away from evil as he could. He refused to be part of anything that was evil. The appearance of those things unrighteous would bring an immediate reaction from Job. He ran away from it. The simple plan to deal with evil was to stay away from it. Job was not a sinless man, but he had learned the art of sinning less. Evil was not in his language or behavior.

The wisdom found in righteousness not only has benefits in the life to come but also serves as a model by which to live in this life. Godliness is a better way to live with greater benefits than following the way of ungodliness. Paul wanted the Roman Christians to be wise in all things good and to have an innocence of evil because of their unfamiliarity with such things. To be wise in the world is not always a good thing. The spirit of temptation can become stronger with greater knowledge of evil. Paul’s commendation was to stay far away from evil and embrace goodness and righteousness.

Trying to live a holy life requires training the mind not to be disposed to do wrong. Filling the heart with the goodness of God’s grace will incline the heart to be more holy and pure. If someone lives so close to the line of evil to prove their courage, they show their weakness in not understanding the power of sin. The wise man suggested no one can take fire into his bosom and his clothes not be burned. Playing with fire will lead to injuries by fire. Learning to be wise in the word of God will help the heart find fewer consequences to the ravages of sin.

Being disposed to righteousness is planned. Refusing to yield to wickedness is also planned. The heart must be determined to seek every good and reject every evil. There must be a concerted effort of the heart and mind to hate those things that are evil, despise the wicked way, and repudiate the nature of the devil’s wiles. The children of God must always seek to place themselves apart from the influence of the world. Being a friend of the world makes one an enemy of God. Jesus taught that it is impossible to serve God and mammon because one will be loved and one will be hated.

To be wise in goodness is to learn everything there is to know about what defines goodness. The Bible is the only message from God that describes the true nature of goodness. Faith comes from hearing the word of God because the wisdom of holiness is established in the divine book. Reading the Bible will help the heart find the goodness of God. Growing in faith from the message of the gospel elevates the heart to serve God and deny the trials of temptation. Being wise in that which is good and innocent of those things evil is the pure heart desired by the Lord.

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Romans 15:14)

Full, Filled, And Able

Character is defined by a person’s decisions that identify them as an individual. Reputation is what others perceive of the character of another. The reputation of a person is often a reflection of the perceived character of the individual. Paul’s message of encouragement to the saints in Rome was based upon what he had heard of them because he had never met them or visited the church in Rome. As he finishes his letter to Rome, he confides in them the confidence he shared with them at the beginning of the letter.

Paul’s great desire was to visit the church in Rome to impart some spiritual gift to them. He wanted to establish their faith further as he had heard of their work in the kingdom. Having never met them, he knew their struggles, commending them for being examples of faith. In the letter, Paul admonished the brethren to seek peace and hold fast to the promises of God. Showing that both Jews and Gentiles needed the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Only the righteous act of God in giving His only begotten Son was salvation made possible. Living for Jesus required a life of living sacrifice.

Though he had never seen them, Paul had complete confidence in them for three reasons. First, they were full of goodness. The saints in Rome had a spirit of devotion to the work of the Lord. Paul’s letter to Rome was a difficult treatise to read and practice. He knew they would accept the letter with a spirit of love for God and willingness to obey. Abraham is an example of someone who never questioned the word of the Lord. He obeyed immediately because he trusted in God. The Romans understood that character because they believed in the word of God as divine truth. There would be no hesitancy to follow the commands of the Lord.

To be full of goodness is to accept the word of the Lord with an unquestioning heart, soul, and mind. Too often, people want to argue about what God says, but how often will arguing with God change His word? The Roman saints accepted the letter of Paul as the divine truth that would answer the question of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. They would see the power of God’s glory in the gospel as it united Jews and Gentiles together.

Second, they were filled with all knowledge. Paul reminded the saints that faith is born from hearing the word of God. Centuries before, Hosea the prophet brought the charge of the Lord against Israel because they had rejected knowledge and forgotten the law of the Lord. Israel was destroyed for lack of knowledge. Faith comes from the word, and the Roman saints were filled with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The work of the kingdom would grow with saints filled with knowledge. Jesus defeated Satan with the word of God. The Romans would defeat Satan with the same word.

Finally, Paul says they were able also to admonish one another. Knowledge is a vital part of the Christian’s life and the work of the church. What is also important is the relationship between brethren. What made the work of admonishing one another more challenging was the mixture of Jew and Gentile. Paul’s letter shows the unity of the body of Christ regardless of Jew and Gentile. He had full confidence in their desire to accept all those who came to Christ and were cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. There are no distinctions in the kingdom of Christ. In a divided world of Jew and Gentile, slave and free, and male and female, the church of the Lord was a unit of cohesion for the glory of God. Admonish one another. Build one another up in the most holy faith. Instruct others in the way of the Lord.

A church family would do well to be known as a full, filled, and able church. These traits do not come easily, but they can be learned. What made the church in Rome an example for the other churches was its reputation, which came from its character. Paul had never met these brethren, but he knew them. If Paul were living today, what would he say about my church family? The work of the church is many things. Paul offers a three-pronged approach to church work. Learn how to be full of goodness, fill the family with knowledge, and be able to admonish everyone.

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

We Have Access By Faith

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

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

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

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

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

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