The Heaton File

Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So, Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7)

Ungrateful Hearts Filled With Rebellion

The Hebrews were a chosen people delivered by the Lord from Egyptian bondage with great and powerful signs. Moses brought the ten plagues upon the Egyptians, which the Hebrews witnessed. At the Red Sea, with no visible path to escape and the Egyptian army pressing hard against them, the Hebrews thought they were to be slaughtered. Moses showed the people the saving power of God by parting the waters of the Red Sea and commanding the Hebrews to walk across on dry land. When the Egyptian army followed the multitude into the sea, God brought the waters upon them and destroyed them.

Witnessing the signs of God’s power and wrath against the nation of Egypt was supposed to prove to the children of Abraham that the Lord would never forsake them. On the night of the tenth plague, God demonstrated his goodness and wrath when He saved all the Hebrews who placed blood on the doorpost and lintel and killed the firstborn in all of Egypt, including the animals. Death filled the land of Egypt except where the Hebrews lived. Faced with hopelessness, God again showed His power to save by delivering the Hebrews and destroying the greatest army on the earth.

It did not take long for the hearts of the Hebrews to forget the power of God. Shortly after crossing the Red Sea, the people (nearly two million souls) camped in Rephidim between the Wilderness of Sin and Sinai. There was no water there, and the souls of the people became discouraged. They would have known the Lord would provide for them if they had great faith. The images of the plagues and the bodies of the dead Egyptian army on the seashore were fresh in their minds. At that time, they feared the Lord and believed in Moses. When the people came to Marah, they found the waters bitter and undrinkable. God provided them with water. They later complained of not having enough food, and the Lord gave them manna.

At Rephidim, the people became so agitated that they demanded that Moses provide them with water. They accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them and their children and livestock with thirst. God told Moses to stand before the rock in Horeb and strike the rock to bring water to the people. Moses did as the Lord commanded, and the two million souls were satisfied. Moses called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the contention of the people and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

How ungrateful the people are toward God. They had forgotten all the Lord had done for them in the past few weeks. How could a powerful God not have the desire to care for His people? The hearts of the Hebrews were filled with contention and disbelief because God did not serve them for their pleasures and wants. When God gave them the Law, He began by reminding them it was He who brought them out of the land of Egypt. The Sabbath was established to remind the people of their deliverance by the hand of God. Celebrating the Passover memorialized the dreadful night death swept over the land, killing all those not under the covenant of blood. The Hebrews were ungrateful for all that God had done.

There is a spirit of ingratitude when people question whether God is among them. In many cases, God is not among the people because of sin. Sometimes, people of God question whether God answers prayers or not because He apparently does not understand how important the requests are that come before Him. Prayers are demanded, not offered as petitions. How dare the people suggest that God was not among them after He had done so many incredible things in their presence? This same spirit can be found in those who complain to God. They think God should serve their every whim. The Bible is the testimony of the power of God, and from its pages, a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude comes to show how much He cares for His people. Stop complaining. Trust in God. Pray.

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)

The Spirit Of Compromise

James Lowell said, “Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof; it is a temporary expedient.” The spirit of compromise is to deny what one believes in in the face of an opportunity to show loyalty. It happens to everyone. In a moment of weakness, peer pressure afflicts the soul, and rather than standing for what one believes to be right, the heart caves in to allow what at one time was wrong. Moral standards change due to compromise. Societal norms established certain principles of right and wrong, which, over time, eroded because of the spirit of compromise. What was once held as a lofty example of morality has quickly turned into accepting the moral opposite.

Compromise is not new to the modern man. It has been the cornerstone of the deception since man was removed from the garden. There was a time in America when the Bible was respected, revered, and read for its message of divine truth. Through the influences of society, the Bible is viewed less as an authority than just a message out of date with the modern mind. The world has gone from the shame of sexual immorality to the acceptance and propaganda of transgenderism, homosexuality, and pornography. There is no shame anymore. The spirit of compromise is alive and well in the human mind.

Marriage used to be viewed as an institution of sanctity where the bed was undefiled. Through the dogma of compromise, divorce is common, living together is expected, and having a child out of wedlock is considered normal. Compromise has allowed ideals once held as a part of the fabric of society to become a byproduct of an out-of-date morality.

James Lowell correctly understands how the compromise of morality is a temporary expedient. It cannot last. When society begins to follow the path of conceding the truth of God’s word for the carnal desires of the flesh, the only end is chaos and ruin. It never has worked. The greatest failure of the human experience is the continued failure to learn from past mistakes. There is an advantage for modern man to peer back in time through numerous centuries and see the successes and failures. Everything presented as a new morality is nothing more than an old sin wrapped in shiny paper with a bow. Man never learns from his mistakes.

The Greeks and the Romans thought they had all the answers. Compromise destroyed them. The revolution of the 1960s was to enlighten the world. Instead, it turned the world dark. Truth compromised is where man becomes his own worst enemy. The only answer is found in the truth – the uncompromised word of God. There is only one truth: the word that comes from God. The Bible is the divine word of God that remains unchanged. When a man compromises the word of God, he invites the judgment of God. It makes a difference in what we believe.

And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

God’s View

Success in the mind of man is measured by the greatness of human wisdom, accolades of praise from others, and the monetary worth of the individual. A man who achieves the highest level of accomplishment in the educational world is considered a great man with a higher level of knowledge. The world has always had its heroes: athletes, actors and actresses, musicians, and superstars. Men and women of great wealth are vaunted in the world as great industry leaders whose wisdom is sought. Cities, buildings, parks, schools, and memorials are named after great leaders in every field of human wisdom—men like to esteem others for their accomplishments.

There is value in success, and honor should be accepted for the diligence of industry in accomplishing great feats in life. The reality is that what men lift up as great accomplishments do not impress the Creator of the world. What great feat has humanity accomplished since its beginning that can rival the work of God? A great man can lead a nation to prominence from a historical point of view, but how long does that last? Alexander III of Macedon is remembered as Alexander the Great. Hundreds of monarchs, aristocrats, military leaders, and Christian leaders were labeled “the Great.” Who is really the greatest? It is not man.

Jesus was despised by the Jewish leadership of His day. They derided the man from Nazareth as nothing more than a carpenter’s son. The Pharisees were lovers of money, which gave them a false sense of superiority over others. They felt empowered over men like Jesus of Nazareth. Their justification was found in how men held them in esteem, granting them great powers. In the eyes of God, they were fools. God knew their hearts. It did not matter what men saw on the outside. What matters is what God sees and knows. The Pharisees appeared righteous in public, but God knew their hearts. Jesus reminds them what the world honors is detestable in the sight of God. 

The great tragedy of the human story is when men seek to attain fame and fortune to be successful; they make themselves fools before the Almighty God. There is nothing that humanity can match for the power and majesty of the Lord God. Who makes the sunrise and paints the sunsets but God? The universe is a drop in the bucket in the presence of God. Man is nothing but a speck of dust, and this atomic particle of dirt exalts itself as something great? God sees the heart and is comforted when the heart humbles itself before Him. A small child who believes in God is greater than the wisest man among men because she loves God. If a man wants to be exalted, let him allow God to exalt him. What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. It comes down to whose viewpoint is followed.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Doris Day Had It Wrong

In the 1950s and 1960s, Doris Day was a successful American actress and singer. She starred in numerous movies and made many music recordings. In the Alfred Hitchcock movie, “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” starring opposite Jimmy Stewart, Day sang what would become her signature song, “Que Sera Sera.” The English-language phrase suggested a “cheerful fatalism” as whatever was going to be would be. While the song is a pleasant melody made popular by the charming Doris Day, the content of the song suggests a fatalistic view of life that is out of the person’s control. In other words, whatever will happen in life has been predetermined.

The philosophy of fatalism is rooted in the doctrine of Calvinism. Calvinists believe God establishes the future and is unmovable. John Calvin taught all men are totally depraved in spirit with no hope of redemption. If a man is to be saved, it can only be done by the unconditional election of God, forcing the individual to receive salvation. When Jesus died on the cross, His death was limited to only those who God had chosen before the foundation of the world. There was nothing a man could do to be saved if God did not choose him. Through the irresistible grace of God, a man is given eternal life, and once he is saved, nothing can change his state of salvation. This is better known as “once saved, always saved.”

Calvinism is a predominate philosophy found in many forms in almost all faiths. Some religious groups embrace the full doctrine of Calvin, while others only accept a few. There are those in the Lord’s church who unknowingly follow a Calvinistic doctrine of “Que Sera Sera” that God controls everything and determines everything that will be done in life without the approval of the human heart. Whatever is to be has been determined. If a man dies, God made that happen. Language such as “It was his time” or “His number was up” follow the Calvinistic model of God’s omniscience.

The Bible teaches that every man possesses self-determination or free will. God works His will in the affairs of men as he chooses, but He will not and cannot force His will upon the human heart without denying His righteousness. Whatever the future will be is determined by the free will of a man’s heart to serve God or follow the devil. God does not predetermine salvation for individuals. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” That is a choice of man. He can say yes or no. If a man finds himself in the torments of eternal condemnation, he can only blame himself.

God sends His rain on the just and the unjust. The blessings of life can be enjoyed by anyone who receives those blessings. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, God revealed Himself to man in the written word to bring the heart to an obedient faith. Jesus said those who are saved are those who do the will of the Father. Salvation is a choice. No one can be saved by being only good or religious. God cannot save a heart that refuses to accept His will. What the future holds is in your hands, and you will decide. That decision will be yours to take with you when you stand before God. What is your eternal future? That will be your choice.

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, ” ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “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 19:16-22)

The Greatest Sadness

An unnamed young man was good and devoted to keeping the Law of Moses. He came to Jesus seeking spiritual guidance and hope. His life was filled with the regulations of the law and the commitment to keep the commands of God with sincerity. He was blessed with abundant wealth, allowing him to live a very privileged life. His home was large and spacious, with servants at his beck and call. He wore the finest garments money could buy. There was never a time when there was a lack of food and drink. Many festive gatherings took place at his home with his many friends. The life of the young man was nearly set to perfection.

Jesus had finished instructing the Pharisees with their testing questions and had spent time with little children. The young man approached Jesus and honored Him by calling Him a “Good Teacher.” Jesus deflected the compliment to honor His Father. The young man wanted to know what to do to have eternal life. His question was a business proposition of what good thing he needed to do to be saved. Jesus reminded him to keep the commandments of the Lord. Nothing is more primary than a man obeying the word of God to be saved.

If the young man wants to enter eternal life, he must keep the commandments of God. He understood that but then asked Jesus to explain which law he needed to keep doing as some good thing to have eternal life. Jesus had answered his question, but he wanted to have a more specific answer. Quoting five of the Ten Commandments, Jesus summarized the law to show the young man that obedience to God’s commands was necessary. Proudly, the young man said he had kept all those things since his youth. He probably did to a great degree, but he lacked one thing.

Jesus astonished the rich young man and the disciples who witnessed the interaction when the Lord told the very wealthy young man that eternal life would come at the cost of every part of his wealth. To possess eternal life, the man must dispose of everything he had, give all to the poor, and follow Jesus. The young man was stunned. He came to Jesus thinking his life was as perfect as possible. His view of his relationship with God was firm with conviction. He only wanted to know what good thing he would need to do to obtain eternal life. The answer of Jesus crushed him.

One of the saddest scenes in Biblical history is when the rich young man turned and walked away from Jesus. The man had come to the right person with the most important question a man can ask. What destroyed the man is the answer that would cost him all his earthly wealth. He had great possessions, and he was unwilling to give them up. As he walked home, he weighed in the balance the words of Jesus of giving all his wealth to the poor; or keeping his money and enjoying the best of life. He chose the latter. The appeal of wealth was greater than his love for God.

The story of the rich young man repeats itself constantly in the story of salvation. Many want to go to heaven, but few are willing to pay the price. The desire for the pleasures of life is too strong to give up. When given a choice to serve the Lord and follow Him or to keep living in the worldly pleasures of life; the choice is made to walk away. The rich young man lived a carefree life spending his great wealth. Then he died. It was then he remembered the words of Jesus and how much he wished he had listened to and heeded them. What good are all his riches now that he is in torment? It is too late.

A heart filled with the world’s cares cannot see God. There is no desire to think about eternity. The only thing that matters is the pleasures of the here and now – but at a terrible cost. There is no value for a man to lose his soul over anything on this earth, but it happens every day. How sad the heart cannot see the consequence of pleasures that last for a short time. A life will be crushed with the refusal to follow the will of God. There is no greater sadness than those who turn away from God.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

The Race Is In Your Lane

Tom Adams coached the girls’ track team at Kankakee High School in Wheatfield, Indiana. Right before an important race, he often told his team, “The race is in your lane.” For each runner, that is all that mattered to have victory. They would lose the race if they were distracted by where other runners were, what they were doing, and how fast they were running. The runners needed to focus only on their lane. What they were doing and how they were running determined their success.

Life as a child of God is learning to run in the lane that belongs to us. Paul focused like a runner who could only see where he was running. Paul had a prize in mind; that was all he focused on. He did not look behind. Many things in Paul’s past could hinder him. He would later remark to Timothy that he considered himself the worst sinner of all. Paul did not dwell on his past, where he persecuted the church with a fierce vengeance. The life he lived as Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the church, was in the past. He put that aside to run in his lane.

The only race that matters is our own. This reminds us that judgment is completed in a singular process where the only person responsible for me – is me. I can’t blame my parents, teachers, friends, or the state of the world for anything. At the end of the day, what I do in my lane is where I find my worth before God. My lane is my lane to run. I will stand before God, who will ask me how I ran my race – in my lane.

Accountability is a hard lesson to learn. It is easy to blame others for our failures. What I do and what I don’t do is in my lane. Our goal should only be to please God and press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Everything in my life is focused on that purpose because that is all I have in my lane. Running the race of life takes perseverance and determination. The race is what I have before me: to win or lose. Running on the narrow path is difficult and leads to life. Trying to run on the broad path is a crowded road where no one cares what lane they are in, leading to destruction.

But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. (Acts 20:6-7)

Sunday Is Sacred

Under the Law of Moses, the seventh day was hallowed and holy, and it was called the Sabbath. The Sabbath was instituted when God gave His law to the nation of Israel as a day to keep holy. Strict regulations were included in the law to enforce the law. While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Uncertain what to do, they brought the man to Moses, who in turn inquired of the Lord what must be done. According to the word of the Lord, the man was to be stoned to death for violating the Sabbath. He was taken outside the camp and stoned to death.

The Jews understood clearly the meaning of the Sabbath. It was observed every seven days. God wanted to teach the Israelites the value of trusting Him for everything they needed. The Lord reminds them through keeping the Sabbath that He delivered them from Egypt, and He wanted and demanded they observe the Sabbath for that remembrance. Failure to keep the Sabbath brought the wrath of God. It was a sign between God and Israel. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, according to Jesus. Since Jesus was born under the Law of Moses, He faithfully kept the Sabbath for more than thirty years.

Understanding the law of the Sabbath helps to clarify the nature of the law of Christ and the observance of another day, which is significant to the memorial of God’s Son. Jesus abolished the Law of Moses, including the keeping of the Sabbath. There is no requirement to observe the Sabbath as it has been done away with. Has God left His people without a day of remembrance? The pattern of the New Testament church is the saints met on the first day of the week, the day following the Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. The first converts were added to the church on the first day of the week. In the historical book of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke shows how the early church gathered on the first day of the week to worship and praise God. There is no reference to keeping the Sabbath, although the first converts were Jews. The New Testament church observed the first day of the week as the day of the Lord.

Before Jesus was betrayed and killed, He instituted the memorial feast of the Lord’s Supper. He commanded His disciples to observe the memorial until He returned. In the New Testament church, the early saints gathered on the first day of the week to remember the memorial of Christ’s death. Paul reminded the saints at Corinth of the essential nature of taking the supper worthily or facing the wrath of God. The Hebrew writer warns of those who would trample underfoot the Son of God, count the blood of the covenant a common thing, and insult the Holy Spirit.

Sunday is what is called the first day of the week. This is the day the saints of God assemble to worship and remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Like the Sabbath under the Law of Moses, this is not a day with options. For too long, brethren have viewed Sunday as a day to worship unless something “more important” comes along. They will allow their jobs to keep them from their obligations on the first day of the week. Sometimes for weeks on end. During the summer, vacations are seldom planned with Sunday services in mind. When company drops in, there is no time to attend worship. Of course, God will understand that these things happen, and He will understand. Will He? Does He?

The problem in the church has become rampant that Sunday worship services are optional. On the one hand, the church teaches the necessity of taking the Lord’s Supper every week in contrast to the religious world taking the supper once a month, quarterly, yearly, or never. Standing on Bible authority, the plea is made for every week; but not applicable to all members, as some show up to services as long as nothing else gets in the way. So much for putting God first in all things. Jobs are more important than God. Planning trips where the first day of the week is not assembling with saints is accepted.

Sunday is sacred to God. It is not a matter of how often on the first day, but the essentiality of the first day of the week is abundantly clear in scripture. It seems the church is afraid to practice Biblical truth when it comes to the necessity to assemble on the first day of the week. It becomes easier to pay no heed to flagrant disregard for the memorial of Jesus Christ. The cross means something if I can make it to the assembly, but if the boss wants me to work, Jesus has to wait. But how long will He wait? Sunday is either necessary or it is not. Choose.

For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. (Malachi 3:6)

It is difficult for the human mind to understand the immutable nature of God’s character that He does not change. The need for change is vital for human existence, but not so with the Creator of the universe. God has not changed from the moment He spoke the world into existence and formed man from the dust of the ground. All of His commandments and laws remain rooted in the same principles. The laws may change, as with the nation of Israel serving the Law of Moses, but the essence of obedience to law has never changed. God spoke to men directly in the days of Adam and Noah. When the Lord separated the Hebrews as His own special people, He spoke to them through Moses. Now, God speaks to all men through His Son Jesus Christ.

The Law of Moses has been abolished, and the path of faith for the Gentile is gone. Salvation comes through the blood of Jesus and obedience to the will of the Son of God. The elements of the law change, but the approach to the law remains the same. God expects and demands that men obey Him and keep His will. There is no partiality with God because He cannot change. God is never outdated, and some falsely argue that the word of God no longer applies to “modern man” (whatever that means). The character of God remains unchanged.

God’s unchangeable nature does not suggest He will not change His mind. Several examples in scripture show the Lord relenting from something He said He would do. This does not change the character of God. It affirms it. All that God does is righteousness. That is what separates the unchangeable nature of God and the imperfections of the human heart, which change constantly. Change implies imperfection.

The character of humankind is the change of will and purpose. Laws are written today that can be changed tomorrow. A decision established by one generation will be overruled by another. Man’s wisdom is imperfect to its core. God’s wisdom is perfect in its completeness. The joy of serving the Lord powerful is the knowledge that while men change, God does not. God is “He who is,” showing He does not change.

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Jesus is the embodiment of the Father because He is unchangeable. From the gospels, the teachings of Jesus are united under the banner of God’s unchanging will, and through the epistles, the early disciples followed the word of the Lord as authority without change. There were going to be the change-makers who sought to teach another gospel. Paul warned that if an angel taught something different than the gospel, they would be anathema or cursed by the Divine. Imagine how much more the man who changes the word of God to fit his own design.

The Holy Spirit inspired the book that is called the Bible. God warned Israel against changing His word, and at the end of the Revelation, John wrote a warning against those who would add or take away from his letter. The Bible is the inspired word of God revealed through the Holy Spirit so that when men read its contents, they can know what to do to be saved. God’s unchangeable nature is declared in the Bible. Over the past two thousand years, men have tried to change the immutable word of God from the teachings of Jesus to their own itching ears. The result has been religious division.

God does not change. What He established in the first century as His church, His word, His worship, His doctrines, and His practices remain unchanged. Men have created churches that do not reflect the word of God because they are agents of change. God is not. Any man who takes the word of God and changes it to fit his narrative will find the unchanging nature of God condemning him. Do not change the word of God. His word is settled in Heaven. God does not change.

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

Our Aid In The Face Of Temptation

The wiles of the devil are endless, persistent, and without mercy. There is no backing away from the attempts of Satan to gain a foothold on the heart of God’s people. The devil will try any means necessary to bring about sin. He knows if he is successful enough, the sins of the person will draw him away from God and ultimately damn his soul. That is what he wants and desires the most. He knows he is condemned to Hell, and there is nothing that will change that. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, but the adversary wanted to take as people of God’s people with him. He is relentlessly seeking after the hearts of the holy. His single weapon is temptation.

There are only three elements to temptation. The apostle John illustrated temptation as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Satan’s three-pronged attack is the only way he tempts the human heart. Jesus overcame the wiles of the devil, living nearly thirty-three years without any sin. The Son of God was tempted by the lust of the flesh. He was tempted with the lust of the eyes. Satan attacked Jesus with the pride of life, trying to get Jesus to abdicate the will of the Father. In all points, Jesus refused to succumb to temptation and died a sinless man. One of the blessings of the sinless life of Jesus is to leave a pattern of assistance for all men fighting against temptation.

Jesus was made like His brethren so that He could understand and help all those who bore flesh and blood to learn how to overcome sin. The reality is that no one can live a sinless life. This does not excuse the need to sin less and learn how to overcome sin. The word of God guides the heart on how to have victory over sin. Jesus is the aid of all those seeking holiness in their lives because He lived it, experienced it, and faced it all while in the flesh. Jesus is an aid through the translation of Himself to the mortal flesh of man.

If there is one thing everyone needs, it’s help against the wiles of the devil. God offered His Son as a sacrifice to die for the sins of mankind and to become an aid or helper to those who are tempted. Everyone is tempted, and Jesus is the one who helps overcome temptation. There is no temptation that Jesus cannot help with. He stands ready to assist the hearts of those who face the daunting trials of the darts of the evil one. Every attempt to bring the heart into subjection to the evil one is met with the aiding hand of Jesus Christ.

Jesus suffered to become the aid against temptation. He was able to live sinlessly, but every man struggles with sin. The answer to overcoming the temptation of the devil is to abide in Christ Jesus, and the devil will flee. What helps man know the power of Jesus is remembering that Jesus felt all the temptations of the flesh and mind. He was impacted by all the wiles of the devil and remained sinless. When a man goes to Jesus seeking aid to overcome sin, the Lord can say, “I understand,” because He does.

There is nothing men face that Jesus did not face. He was tempted in all points. Satan attacked Jesus of Nazareth for more than thirty years and failed every time. What greater helper can a man desire than the Son of God, who understands the nature of temptation and how to overcome it? Victory is found in Jesus Christ. When you are tempted, let Jesus aid you. He is the Great Helper.

For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12)

Seeking The Good Life

There is always in the heart of a man the desire to have the best things in life. This does not have to be measured with possessions and fame but can be found in the life of someone seeking the character of Jesus Christ. Seeking the good things in life is the goal of all those who profess devotion to God. What they want out of life is to please God above all things. The path to peace is paved with the willingness to be set apart from the world in character, consciousness, and commitment to a higher purpose.

Peter and the saints, who were dispersed in the First Century, faced daunting persecution against their beliefs. The early Christians led quiet lives of service to the Lord, but the world could not abide by the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Fierce persecutions arose against the church, destroying the faith of many. The aged apostle exhorted the saints to remain faithful and live so that as they faced trials, the world could see the light of God shining in their lives. His advice was simple and direct: live holy before the world regardless of how the world treats them.

Seeking the good life in the First Century was to present oneself as an example of piety to the service of Jesus Christ. If the world judged the saints by their speech, they would have nothing to charge them with. A powerful lesson of Christian faith is found when the people of God know how to possess their speech to glorify God. Seeking the good life and good days is done by not allowing the tongue to speak evil of anyone and refraining from telling lies. This character is a prime example of how the Christian is set apart from the world.

Following evil will never bring happiness. God watches over all of humanity, and when He sees His children speaking evil, telling lies, and doing evil things; it displeases Him. The prayers of the unrighteous do not avail much. God turns His face away from those who do evil. Finding the good life comes from a relationship with the Lord. Learning how to season speech with the salt of grace comes from God. Doing good things is developed from the word of God. Searching for peace and working to maintain it with the world is learned from the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The qualitative measure of character is found in whether a person wants to enjoy life or not. Peter says if a man wants to love life and see good days, he will follow the will of God. That is the defining point in life. Obedience to the will of the Father always brings about the best result and the most satisfying life. Christians face criticism from the world, but all that matters is that God is pleased. He sees, and He knows. If you love life and want to see good days: refrain, turn, do, seek, and pursue. You will find life is much better and filled with more peace than following the world.