The Heaton File

Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7)

Why Am I Here?

The question of man’s existence has been the great question men seek answers to. Adam and Eve began the conversation while trying to understand their relationship with God. Satan convinced them they did not need God. Cain thought he knew why he was on the earth. The world of Noah became so evil as men fulfilled their desires for their gratification to define their purpose in life. Noah had a different vision. He understood why he was there, and he honored God with his worship.

God called Abram to go to a land he would receive as an inheritance, not knowing where he was going. He dwelt in a land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents and waiting for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker was God. That is what motivated Abram. He saw something more than the trappings of the world around him for his purpose in life. Moses was called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and accepted the affliction of his people instead. He looked for an eternal reward. Moses knew why he was on the earth.

Men like Pharoah thought they were gods on earth exercising all authority and dominion. Kings like Ahab and Herod wielded significant power over the masses. They all believed their purpose in life was to rule over mankind. The great Ceasars of Rome demanded statues of their likeness to live for ages. Despots have risen in modern times, seeking to define their mark on history. They all share one thing in common. From Pharaoh down to those today who fill their coffers full of the wealth and pleasures of the world is – they die.

Pharoah died, and his treasures were lost through the sands of time. Robbers took some. Scholars found many and put them in museums. The statues of the Roman leaders remind the world of a day long ago and forgotten. All the despots of today toil for the vanity of something they will never possess. What they fail to know and understand is why they are here and what is their purpose in life.

The child of God has a distinct advantage over all men. Through the knowledge of the word of God, the disciple of Christ knows precisely why he is here and his purpose. Isaiah explained the purpose of man when he wrote seven hundred years before Christ. God created man for His glory. The purpose and function of man is to glorify God in his life by molding his character after the image of the divine. God formed man in His own image, the image of the divine nature.

Every man is a dual creature. He is first eternal, and then he is mortal. The preeminence of man begins with his eternal nature, not the physical. When men put more emphasis on the physical, they miss the reason God created them. God put man on the earth to show His glory. As the Master Craftsman, the Lord formed man as the image of Himself so that man would honor his Creator and Maker. That is his first and foremost purpose in life. It is not to gain as much money as possible. God did not create man to waste his life on the sensual aspects of life. The knowledge God desires is not of the world but of the Word. In the Word, man learns of his purpose in life.

Many struggle to find a design for their lives, walking aimlessly through the day without hope and without peace. God had given His word to direct the heart to Him. He desires for man’s heart to seek His glory through the knowledge of His word. When a man learns about his relationship with the Creator, he finds the story of Jesus, the Son of God. Understanding his complete worth is when the heart of man finds himself at the foot of the cross of Jesus. It is then he understands his purpose. Jesus died for you. You mean that much to Him. Honor Him with your life. Find your reason for living in Jesus Christ.

The king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah. (Numbers 21:1-3)

Lessons From Hormah

Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness as punishment for their rebellion at Kadesh Barnea. When they came to the land of Edom, the king refused to allow the Hebrews to pass through. The king of Arad attacked the people and took some prisoners. Israel made a vow to the Lord that if He would deliver the Canaanites into the hands of Israel, they would, in turn, utterly destroy the people and their cities. Heeding the vow of the people, God allowed Israel to kill all the people and raze their cities to the ground. Hormah is the word for the land’s destruction and the inhabitants’ banishment.

There are many examples of the story of Hormah in the Bible. On a human level, Israel marched against the king of Arad, the Canaanite, and slaughtered all the people: men, women, and children. The cities were burned, pillaged, and torn down. There was nothing to be left. Joshua would accomplish much of this destruction some years later. Still, the judgment of God had come upon these people for their wickedness and iniquity.

Hundreds of years earlier, God promised Abraham that his descendants would be given the land. The land couldn’t be given yet, for the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete. The Lord told Abraham the people of the land would be driven out, including the Kenites, Kenezzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaim, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites. Later, the Lord told Moses that the Angel of the Lord would go against the Amorites and the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites to cut them off. When Israel destroyed the people of Arad, they completed the word of the Lord.

God keeps His promises. The promise to Abraham justified God’s righteous punishment for those who rejected Him. There would be many generations before the fulfillment of the word of the Lord came true, but it would not fail. The sinful nature of the people became so corrupt that God destroyed them. This is not unlike why God destroyed the world in the days of Noah. When Israel destroyed the people, they carried out the divine promise of God.

The people acted from the viewpoint of God’s wrath, not their own. It was not vengeance on the part of Israel to destroy the people. They first asked God’s blessing to attack the Canaanites because it was God’s will that must be accomplished. Killing all the people of the land came from the mind of the Lord against all ungodliness. As agents of God’s wrath, Israel acted under the banner of a righteous judge, executing judgment against those who were void of righteousness. It was clear Israel understood God’s role in the destruction of the people.

God is a God of wrath against ungodliness. It seems heartless to kill the Canaanites, but when a man understands what the wrath of God means, he will see the righteous judgment of the Lord. If a man commits horrible crimes against others, society deems him unfit to remain in the community. The Canaanites should not be thought to be good, righteous, loving people. They refused to retain God in their knowledge, worshipped idols, including human sacrifice, committed heinous crimes against one another, and lived immoral, decadent, sensual lives filled with sexual immorality. God’s wrath was complete when they were destroyed.

Hormah is a reminder of the promises of God, the righteous judgment of the Lord, and the reality of the eternal punishment of those who refuse to acknowledge God as Lord. Jesus told us about the day of judgment when all men bow before the great I AM to be judged according to their works. God has promised salvation to those who obey and condemnation to those who disobey. The promises of God always come true. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. There will be no one who will get away with evil in the sight of the Lord. All evil doers will be punished. Jesus said more about eternal punishment than any other. There is a place of everlasting Hell, which is fittingly called the lake of fire and brimstone. Hell is not temporary. Whether a person understands the meaning of eternal or not, they will when they find themselves in the darkness of perdition.

There are lessons to learn from Hormah. Believe and repent. Live for God. Obey His word. Now is the day of salvation.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (1 Timothy 1:12-13)

What God’s Mercy Will Do

Saul of Tarsus was a very angry man with a religious jealousy unmatched by anyone of his day. Many of the Jewish leadership wanted to destroy those who followed after Jesus of Nazareth. Still, Saul made it his life’s work to exterminate men and women who gave their allegiance to the man from Nazareth. As an influential man with great authority, Saul traveled from city to city seeking out the disciples of the Way. He placed men and women in chains with no regard for their lives. The historian Luke says that Saul wreaked havoc on the church. It was a perilous time to be a follower of Jesus.

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, he recounted his life story as a young man dedicated to the Law of Moses. He was zealous for the law as a devoted Pharisee with few men his equal. The tribe of Benjamin was always known as fierce warriors. Saul honored the tribal example of zealousness. He believed himself to be blameless concerning the righteousness that is in the law. No one could stand in his way. Saul punished the disciples of Christ often in every synagogue, compelling men and women to blaspheme the name of their Savior. No Christian was safe in a foreign city because Saul went after them there.

The first victim of Saul’s terror against the church was a disciple named Stephen. Saul listened to Stephen’s defense before the council until he and others could take no more. They gnashed at Stephen with their teeth in pure anger and hatred before bodily dragging the innocent man out of the city and stoning him to death. As each stone broke the bones of Stephen and slowly murdered the saint of God, Saul stood to the side, holding the garments of the executioners with an approving and authoritative posture. He felt justified in killing this man. After the death of Stephen, Saul found any opportunity to vote for those condemned to die. And many were sentenced to death. Then, he turned his attention to the church in general.

With threats and murderous intent, Saul went to the high priest in Jerusalem, seeking authority to travel to the northern city of Damascus to root out the many Christians found in the city. Receiving letters of authority, Saul assembled his soldiers and prison wagons to bring back from Damascus those who gave allegiance to Jesus. He was ready to arrest any man or woman who defied him. His plan was working to destroy the remnants of the followers of Jesus. As he traveled along each day, his desire grew more to end this blasphemous movement of followers who taught Jesus of Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah.

Just outside the city of Damascus, the life direction of Saul took a remarkable turn. He met the One whom he had been persecuting. Obedient to the heavenly vision, Saul went into the city and remained in the home of those he came to arrest for three days. On the third day, Ananias gave Saul something he would never forget – mercy. It was not mercy from Ananias or the disciples of Christ but the joyous mercy of a forgiving God. Ananias told Saul to arise and be baptized to wash away his sins. And his sins were numerous and public.

Luke does not say where Saul was baptized, but it was a body of water. Rising from the waters to the joyful faces (and shocked faces) of the Damascus Christians, Saul realized what had occurred moments before. Through the grace of God, Saul of Tarsus was given an opportunity to repent of his sins. Confessing his allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ from the town of Nazareth, Saul was baptized in water, and all his sins were washed away. He never understood completely how that happened because of all he had done against the church, but he had experienced the mercy of God without measure.

Paul would later write that he was the chief of sinners, but he knew that was an exaggeration. All sin and fall short of the glory of God, but Paul viewed his life for the terrible things he did against the kingdom of Christ, and the Lord gave him mercy. What God’s mercy did for Saul was to remove all he had done as far as the east is from the west. God would remember the sins of Saul no more. As the man from Tarsus rose from the watery grave, he felt the power of mercy overflow with eternal blessings of peace.

There is nothing that God will not forgive if a man is willing to repent and change his life. Saul, or as he is known as the apostle Paul, had much to forgive, but mercy cleansed him from his sins. He knew when he died, he was saved. The man who persecuted the Christians was saved. Mercy. How great the mercy of God. Embrace it. God is willing. Repent. Find the mercy of God.

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Colossians 3:8-10)

A Speech Problem

One of sin’s most prolific agents is the tongue’s misuse. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it causes more trouble than anything else. When the Holy Spirit made lists of sins, it was clear the sins of the tongue dominated the top of the list. Paul exhorts the Christians at Colosse to set their minds on things above whose lives are hidden in Christ Jesus. Troubling lips and praying knees do not go together. The letter is addressed to saints who must learn to put those things that defile the mind and body to death. This is not a letter designed for the unbeliever. Paul emphasizes that people of God should not allow these sins to be part of their lives.

As the elect of God, Christians should rise above the practice of the world where the uncontrolled tongue is common. The new man of Christ is renewed in the knowledge of God to season their speech with the grace of God. This means getting rid of certain habits and putting off patterns of speech that do not describe the heart of godliness. Among these are the sins of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. These are not attributes of the child of God. It is easy to fall prey to the uncontrolled tongue that lets loose with angry words and rage. God is not glorified when the loose tongue spews anger in an uncontrolled volume.

A recent term that has become common is “road rage.” This is where people in traffic situations become entangled somehow, and one or more people become enraged against another. There are multiple times when road rage has turned deadly when men kill other men over some slight or aggressive act while driving. This comes from people who fail to control their spirits and often ends with deadly consequences. And to what end? Someone dies over a traffic incident? Anger is one letter short of danger; when anger is uncontrolled, sin is the consequence, and the consequences can be eternal.

It is easy to look at sin as something large and something small. Murder and adultery may be considered big sins, while people view anger as a small, insignificant part of personality makeup. That is not the way God views anger. Paul does not suggest (as an option) that anger and rage should be removed from the heart of the Christian; those who embrace Jesus Christ are expected to follow these commands. There is no place for anger and rage in the heart of a Christian. It may take time to cleanse the heart of such things, but with the love of God, it can be done.

Malice is malicious behavior or conduct that is evil and cruel. Getting back at someone over an insult can be malicious behavior. Slandering someone’s good name or character is a sin of the tongue that will not go unpunished. One sin of the tongue that many do not seem to be concerned about is filthy language or shameful speaking. Telling dirty jokes, cursing, and allowing the same to be a part of one’s life is sinful. Sins of the tongue are dangerous things that, if left unchecked, can destroy a soul.

Lying is one of the most common sins. Convenient, compromising, blatant, and purposeful lying are all lies, regardless of their color. God hates lying. The Christian must be a person who tells the truth. Telling a lie comes from a heart that is filled with deceit. One of the things John wrote about those who will have their part in the lake, which burns with fire and brimstone, are those who lie. God hears all the words a man speaks and never misses a lie. Tell a lie, and a man will die. God is not mocked.

When a man has a speech problem, he finds a way to correct his speech. Filling the heart with the word of God and His grace will temper the spirit of sinning with the tongue. An unruly tongue comes from an unruly heart. A godly heart will speak words of godliness and truth. If you have a speech problem, change your heart. Seek help to mold your heart with the purity of the love of God. When you speak the truth, people will notice.

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)

A Bath Will Not Save You

There is something that will save a man, and there is something that will not save a man. Peter shows that baptism will save, but taking a bath is not the same thing. One has the power to cleanse sins, and the other can only remove the filth of the flesh. When a man works by the sweat of his brow, he becomes dirty and covered with sweat. He may decide to bath to remove the dirt and sweat, and when he has done so, he is clean on the outside. Trying to look at baptism in the same way a man takes a bath has eternally different consequences. A man can bathe as fanatically as Adrian Monk, but he is only clean on the outside.

The act of baptism is not taking a bath. When Naaman was told to dip seven times in the Jordan River, the prophet did not suggest that all lepers should bathe in the muddy Jordan and be clean. There are no healing properties in the Jordan. Faith finally led Naaman to obey the word of the Lord, and he was cleansed of his leprosy. Many argue against baptism as essential for salvation because they think a man is taking a bath. Peter shows that salvation does not come from the removal of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God.

Baptism is an act of the heart and mind struck down by God’s overwhelming grace and mercy. The Jews on the Day of Pentecost were pricked in their hearts for the murder of the Son of God. In the sermon Luke records of Peter, the apostle never mentions baptism. Peter’s sermon convinced the people to do something to save themselves. When pressed by the crowd to tell them what to do, Peter did not tell them to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. That is where the blind man was healed. He did not ask them to take a bath. Peter told the crowd to “repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins.”

In response to the command by Peter and the eleven to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, three thousand people were moved by their good conscience to obey the word of the Lord. They answered with a good conscience toward God and were baptized. Peter did not contradict what he told the multitude on Pentecost with what he wrote the pilgrims of the Dispersion in his first epistle. One of the curious things missing from the conversion stories is the arguments people make today against baptism. Where in scripture does anyone say they will refuse baptism because they believe a sinner’s prayer can save them? Three thousand people did not argue with the words of the twelve.

When a man refuses to accept that baptism saves, he shows his evil conscience. There are only two kinds of minds: a good mind and an evil mind. Peter said that baptism saves. He parenthetically observes that he is not talking about bathing but about having a good conscience. The apostle said, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” If you reject this, you turn away from God’s grace. Believing baptism is not necessary for salvation comes from an evil heart of unbelief. When you accept the word of God, your good conscience will act accordingly. What hinders you from being saved?

The city had no need of the Sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the Sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:23-22:5)

The Eternal City

John makes a valiant attempt to describe eternal life, but it seems unimaginable to grasp the full meaning of how glorious the city of redemption will be. Light was created three days before the Sun and moon. The city of God will not be a physical place where the heavenly hosts cascade their light upon the surface. God’s glory will illuminate the righteous dwelling place, and the Lamb of God will be the source of its light. The eternal city will never be a closed place. It will be full of the bounties of God’s mercy and grace. There will never be a time of night or darkness because the purity of the light will dispel any fragment of shadows.

The inhabitants of the eternal city will be the redeemed and the separated. There will be a great harvesting of souls on the day of God’s judgment. He will take the unrighteous and remove them from His presence. Sadly, most will find themselves in unrighteousness and eternal darkness, where there will never be another shimmer of light. The eternal city will be filled with the saved of all time who have obeyed the will of the Father. No one who defiled the word of God will be allowed to enter, including the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. The eternal city will be a dwelling place of the righteous.

John describes a pure river of water proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The refreshing and nourishing waters of life will fill the image of the eternal city. A large tree will fill the middle of the street and on each side of the river. That tree is called the tree of life. Like the Garden of Eden, the tree of life shows the eternal glory of eternal life in the eternal city for those who have accepted eternal life.

There will be no tears in the eyes. Death will be destroyed. Is it possible to imagine a place where there is no death, crying, or sorrow? The Godhead will be there as the saints serve and worship them. Pure joy, happiness, contentment, and peace will fill the hearts and minds of the faithful. The eternal city is a place of eternal fulfillment in the bosom of God. For the first time, a man can look into the face of God and live. What an incredible sight to see the face of God and behold His glory with no fear. The name of the Lord will be emboldened on the forehead of the saved, showing their redemption from sin through the blood of the Lamb. What an incredible day that will be when we enter the eternal city.

What is more remarkable is how many are not preparing to enter the eternal city. Many live each day without thought of eternity. Their thoughts will turn to the eternal reward when it is too late, but there can be none. Not everyone who claims to know Jesus will be saved, but only those who do the will of the Father. You will not be allowed in the eternal city if you are not doing God’s will. Your eternal fate will be sealed in darkness and without God. God prepared an eternal city for salvation, desiring for none to perish. He also prepared a place for all those who refuse His grace. Where will your eternal dwelling place be? Light or darkness?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)

Preaching Jesus

The work of an evangelist is simple in form, basic in nature, and powerful in transmission. When Philip joined the man from Ethiopia in his chariot, he asked his student if he understood what he was reading. The man had been examining the book of Isaiah when Philip joined him. Seeking the help of any who would help him know further the mysteries of God, the Ethiopian implored Philip to join him and explain the meaning of the text.

There is an important bridge that Philip used to teach the lost sinner what he needed to do to be saved. He recognized the Ethiopian’s desire to know the truth from the word of God (the book of Isaiah). Philip saw an open heart (belief) to accept what was taught in scripture. The hope of Philip was to convict the heart (repentance) in obedience to the gospel of Christ unto salvation (baptism).

When Philip began to teach the Ethiopian, he did not discuss the modern views of religious opinions of the Jewish leadership or interpretations of the Law of Moses. He did not seek to soften the responsibilities of what the Ethiopian must do to be saved. The Ethiopian was a curious student of scripture who knew the importance of following the word of God with respect for the authority of scripture. Philip did not offer some plan of human wisdom to make it more palatable for a man from another country to accept. What Philip did was to preach Jesus. That is what the man needed. The story of Jesus is what must be told. There was no other avenue to take the man when teaching him the word of salvation.

There is little known about what Philip shared with the Ethiopian. Only three things are certain. First, Philip began where the man was in the book of Isaiah. He started with the word of God. Philip did not bring the books of men into the discussion. Beginning with the message of Isaiah, the evangelist opened the teachings of God to instruct the student. Second, he preached Jesus. Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah was fitting to begin telling the story of Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God by miracles, wonders, and signs. Philip would tell the eunuch that the man Jesus was raised by God to be both Lord and Christ (Messiah). There is nothing more to preach than Jesus.

The third certainty known of the teaching of Philip was baptism. As Philip was preaching Jesus, the student asked about baptism. The response by the Ethiopian is profound when he tells Philip, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” It is clearly demonstrated that beginning with the word of God and preaching Jesus, the heart of the honest man will see the need to wash away sins in the waters of baptism. The eunuch is the one who pointed out the necessity. After confessing his allegiance to Jesus Christ, both the eunuch and Philip went down into the water, and the eunuch was baptized.

Philip preached Jesus. It is hard to find many churches today where Jesus is preached. Unlike the disciples of the first century, most pulpits talk about social issues, political controversies, and messages soothing to the ears of the listeners. If Jesus were truly preached in most pulpits, the preachers would not be popular. Modern preachers will not preach about sin. How can you preach about Jesus and not preach about sin? The pulpits of today spout human philosophy instead of preaching the Bible. Most people can attend a church service and never open their Bibles for all the good stories and feel-good sermons they hear.

When men stop preaching Jesus, they build a house built on sand. Religion becomes a social club with elite members ignorant of the basics of God’s word. If Philip were alive today, he would be shocked at the depravity of those who claim to follow Jesus and are not even close to being on the same page. If a man will not preach Jesus, he is not preaching truth. Jesus must be the central figure in preaching the gospel because the gospel is empty without Him. The heart of the message of salvation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Take Jesus out of preaching, and you will have a crossless message. Without preaching Jesus, the blood of Christ becomes water. Convincing the audience they can be saved without obedience to the word of God is a loveless dedication.

Preach Jesus.

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.” (A Contemplation of David. A prayer when he was in the cave. Psalm 142)

No One Cares For Me

The life of David was an ideal time for a shepherd boy in a big family with godly parents. As a boy, he was entrusted with keeping and protecting the sheep. He learned early the rigors of shepherd life with a trust in God to defend himself and his flock. This faith would serve him well as he stood in the valley of Elah against the giant Goliath. His life would change when he was taken to serve the king of Israel. Saul enjoyed the musical talents of young David. The son of Jesse would excel in combat, receiving the praise of the people. It was this praise that caused King Saul to become jealous of David to the point the king tried to kill David on numerous occasions.

Saul’s hatred of David grew into intense jealousy. Because of Saul’s rashness in disobeying the word of the Lord, he was rejected as king. Saul would spend much of his life chasing David like a flea in the wilderness. David loved his king and would never harm him, even when the opportunity arose. The constant running from the army of Saul exhausted David. On two occasions, David hid from Saul in the caves of Adullam and Engedi. It is not known if the psalm David wrote about his hiding in the cave is from these two stories, but David was familiar with hiding in caves to escape the soldiers of Saul.

The prayer in the cave is a cry of distress. David is seeking refuge, but there is no way to escape his enemies. He is overwhelmed by those who seek to harm him. His friends have forsaken him. He is alone with no one to help. He cries out to the Lord with tears of anguish. His spirit is overwhelmed by enemies who have set traps for him. David finds himself at a low point in life when he cries out to the Lord that there is no one to help him and no one cares what happens to him.

Abandoned by everyone, David seeks the refuge of the Lord. God is his sanctuary, his dwelling place. David is low, but through the Holy Spirit, he is exalted to the presence of the One who will never forsake or leave him. There is hope in God and God alone. He knows that the Shepherd of his life will bring him out of the prison of despair so that he may praise the name of the Lord. Mixed with the fear of betrayal and enemies seeking his life, David knows the power of God’s saving grace to lift him up. The joy of the presence of God gives David hope as he dwells in the cave of fear. There is nothing to fear when God is surrounding him.

Life is filled with many caves where the heart is overwhelmed with despair, sadness, heartbreak, loss, and fear. David learned in the cave that God is there. No cave is so dark God cannot light the heart of the oppressed. The world may be careless and cruel, but God is always faithful. David said no one cared for his soul. God cared for and blessed His servant. Never give up hope that God knows your grief and pain and understands your sadness. When you live in the caves of despair, trust in God, who will never fail you. He will never forsake you. Praise His name. Surround yourself with the righteous. God will deal with you in His bountiful care.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes—keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:21-24)

How To Sleep In Peace

The creation of the body is an amazing testimony to the wisdom of the Creator. Thousands of things going on in the body go unnoticed unless there is an event attacking the body. Eyes blink without notice, the heart beats its rhythmic patterns about 100,000 times a day, breathing fills the lungs with air followed by exhaling, and the brain processes millions of pieces of data each day. The body is an exhaustive creation that is limited in function if it does not get rest and sleep. Sleep is an essential part of life; without it, the body will destroy itself.

God created the body to require sleep. Everyone requires sleep, whether they are kings or common people. All the wealth in the world will not keep a man from needing sleep. While all men will have to sleep, what becomes a greater challenge is to sleep in peace. There is nothing more powerful than a peaceful night’s sleep; many experience sleepless nights with restless nights over worries, concerns, and fear.

Solomon offers advice for those who have trouble sleeping. One of the causes of sleeplessness is the guilt of sin and worry about the consequences of bad decisions. Throughout the Proverbs, Solomon urges his son not to forget the law of God and the value of divine wisdom. The heart must keep the commandments of the Lord to find happiness. Trusting in the promises of God will give value to life. Fearing the Lord and departing from evil gives strength to the body. A generous heart will reap many blessings from God.

The happy man is the one who finds wisdom and understanding in the word of God. Like a tree of life to those who take hold of her, the word of God will bring hope to the weary heart. Believing that God created man for His glory will help the spirit of a man direct his paths in the light of righteousness. Common sense and discernment will refresh the soul. The value of knowing the will of the Father is how the words of God will keep the heart safe on the journeys of life. Following the righteous commandments of the Lord will keep the feet of trouble far away. And when it is time to sleep, the head can fall upon a pillow soft with the knowledge there is no guilt to trouble the mind because of sin.

The greatest remedy many need to get a peaceful night’s sleep is to remove sin from their lives. Going to bed without fear comes from a deep relationship with the Lord. There are many reasons why some people are troubled with sleep. Do not let the guilt of an ungodly life be the reason. Sleep is essential for good health: the health of the body and the health of the soul. Solomon gives good advice that is sound even after nearly three thousand years. Listen to God. Sleep in peace.

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

The Moment Of Redemption

When a child is born, the medical staff will log the exact time of birth, including the day and time. This will show when the child is born and often can make a difference between one year and the next or one month to the next. A child born on February 29 will be a leap-year child, but the time must be recorded to determine if the child is born on the 28^th or the 29^th. Whether a time is recorded or not, there is a moment in time when everyone leaves the womb to enter the world. That is the time of birth.

In the spiritual world, a time of birth translates a person from being a slave of sin to being a slave of righteousness. When the heart becomes accountable to God, and sin begins to dominate the spirit, the person is a sinner lost with no hope. There is a time when the heart becomes accountable to God for righteousness. They will be judged when the influence of sin enters the heart, corrupting it and seeking to bring it to the subjection of the devil’s wiles. Over time, a person will come to know the love of God offered through Jesus Christ and the redemption of His grace. The heart will respond to the gospel call of the word of God to be obedient to the will of the Father.

There are many things needed to change the heart of a sinner. Knowing God’s love is where the heart learns of sin’s consequences. Hearing the word of God impresses on the soul God is real and willing to forgive. Recognizing the love of the Father, a man begins to process the gift of God in accepting the incredible gift of grace and mercy. When the heart is moved by the message of Jesus Christ, the need to know what to do becomes paramount.

On the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, a large crowd heard the preaching of twelve men, showing how Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah. Through the evil hands of the Jewish leaders, Jesus had been killed. The message of hope was shown that Jesus was buried but then risen by the power of God to be King of Kings. Jesus was Lord and Christ. Hearing this, the crowd cried, “What must we do to be saved?” Peter responded that they needed to repent. Three thousand souls repented that day in obedience to the word of God.

Peter not only told the crowd to repent, but he also told them what Jesus had instructed them to preach to the whole world. Jesus instructed His apostles to teach that all those who believed and were baptized would be saved. Peter told the crowd to repent and be baptized, just like Jesus commanded. Three thousand people were born again that day when they were baptized in water for the remission of their sins. All through the book of Acts, people like the citizens of Samaria, a man from Ethiopia, Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius, Lydia, a jailor from Philippi, and multitudes of souls obeyed the word of God. In every case of conversion, there was a moment when the people left the slavery of sin and became the servants of the Most High God.

What is constant in all the conversion stories is when the moment of birth takes place. Believing the word of God is vital, but that was not the moment of birth. Accepting God’s grace and mercy shows the heart’s willingness to move on to God’s love, but that was not the moment of birth. Repentance is mandatory; as Jesus said, without it, one would perish. Many things precede the moment when a person is born again, but the moment of birth into the kingdom of God takes place in the waters of baptism. Not before. Jesus did not become Lord and Christ until God raised Him from the dead. In like manner, a person is not a blood-bought child of God until the moment of birth – water baptism.

To deny the importance and necessity of water baptism is to suggest a child can be born without birth. Spiritual birth takes place when the command to be baptized is completed. Like the physical birth, a day and time can be determined when a person becomes a child of God. As they rise from the waters of baptism, that singular moment transforms them from being lost to the joy of salvation. That is the moment God’s grace is fulfilled in the person’s life. Until sins are washed away, there is no birth. Sins can only be washed away in water. Paul instructed the brethren in Rome that salvation came in the spiritual resurrection. No burial means no resurrection. The new birth takes place when a person obeys all that God commands.