The Heaton File

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:29-31)

Do You Understand What You Are Reading?

The treasurer of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, was traveling home after journeying to Jerusalem to worship. This would be nearly six thousand miles for the official to travel by chariot, accompanied by his escort. Nothing is known of his background except that he was a believer in God and possessed copies of the Old Testament. As a well-educated man, the treasurer enjoyed reading the old texts of the prophets and was reading through the prophet Isaiah when a stranger approached him.

An angel of the Lord had spoken to the evangelist Philip, instructing him to go toward the south along the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. According to Luke, this area was desert. When Philip found the Ethiopian, the man was sitting in his chariot reading from the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit told Philip to join himself with the Ethiopian, which Philip eagerly did. Approaching the man, Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading.

Reading the word of God is a vital part of seeking God. The Jews were the caretakers of the oracles of God as given by Moses to the people. Over a period of fourteen hundred years, the scriptures of the Old Testament were developed by inspired men as the Holy Spirit moved them. It had been four hundred years since the Lord had revealed Himself to man, but the complete record of God’s dealings with the world and the Jewish nation was complete in the Old Testament scrolls. The Ethiopian had a copy of Isaiah and was reading it in either Hebrew (the original language) or Greek (a translation made ca. 280 B.C., called the Septuagint or LXX).

Philip’s question is the heart of the matter when it comes to the word of God. Men can read the word of God without seeking to understand it. The Ethiopian was a diligent student of the word who longed to know as much as he could about the will of God. When the stranger approached him, the eunuch did not hesitate to invite the man to explain what Isaiah meant. He was hungry to know the truth. Reading Isaiah’s words created a thirst in the Ethiopian’s mind to understand the scriptures fully. Through the Holy Spirit, the divine guidance of bringing Philip to this man of a foreign nation would help to spread the gospel throughout the whole world.

When Philip joined the eunuch in his chariot, he began to expound on Isaiah’s writings by preaching about Jesus to him. The core message of the gospel from the beginning of time is Jesus Christ. It is not known how much time transpired from Philip joining the Ethiopian until they parted, but Philip opened up the scriptures to reveal the divine plan of saving man. The Ethiopian was keen to understand Philip’s teaching as the evangelist told him the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There was a time when the group traveled down the road, and the eunuch saw a body of water and realized something he had learned from Philip. Jesus commanded baptism for the remission of sins. The eunuch commanded the chariot to stand still and asked Philip, “What hinders me from being baptized?”

Reading the scriptures helped lead the Ethiopian to the gospel, but understanding moved his heart to act upon the will of the Father. He knew Isaiah was writing about the suffering servant, Jesus Christ. Philip opened his heart to the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God. In his teaching of the Ethiopian, the evangelist told his student the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Understanding the words he had been reading, and hearing the preaching of Philip, the eunuch responded the only way he knew – he wanted to be baptized. His reading led to his understanding, and by the grace of God, brought someone to explain the scriptures. The eunuch did not argue or deny baptism. He did not suggest he believed already, and that was all that was necessary. Having read the scriptures and understood their meaning, the eunuch obeyed.

The lesson of the eunuch is needed today. Many religious people read the scriptures and learn the story of Jesus, but they refuse to understand the meaning of what the word teaches. Unlike the eunuch, they deny the need for baptism. The only way to reject baptism is to reject Jesus. Philip preached Jesus – the eunuch wanted to be baptized. The eunuch had been reading, but he needed someone to help him understand, and Philip opened his eyes to the grace of God. Truth is more than reading; it is understanding. When a man reads and understands, he will have but one thing to do. “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. (Nahum 1:2-3)

The Nature Of God

There is a reason men must fear God. It is not the kind of fear that brings about cowardice. To fear God is to respect who He is, why He is, and what He will do. The failure of the human race is not putting the nature of God in proper view of the meaning of life and the reality of eternity. God has many names attributed to Him, including the name Jealous. He is a jealous God and will not accept when men worship another god. There is only one true God. He is the God found in the Bible, the divine word of God. His names include “God Almighty,” “I Am Who I Am,” “I Am The Lord, The Lord Of Hosts,” and many others that express the nature of who God is.

God’s name is Jealous because He is a jealous God. When the world refuses to honor His name as Jealous, He takes revenge by His wrath. Why did God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden? They failed to honor His name. Why was the world of Noah completely destroyed in a flood? The world had become so corrupt that they refused to honor the name of God. Bringing the flood upon the earth avenged the nature of God’s righteousness. One lesson clearly defined in scripture is that the Lord will take vengeance on those who oppose Him. The adversaries of God will not stand. He reserves wrath for His enemies. The nature of God is a jealous reaction to all who refuse to do His will.

Grace is the mitigating factor in the wrath of God because He is slow to anger. The world of Noah was not destroyed at the whim of God. Through many centuries, the grace of God allowed man to walk on the face of the earth, but when the longsuffering of a Jealous God ended, so did the world. Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, but mercy ended when God sent His angels to rescue Lot and his family. Why did the Lord destroy those cities with fire and brimstone? He is a jealous God who avenges sin by His fury. The Lord will not exonerate the wicked. Nahum the prophet declared the Lord has His way in the whirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. That is the nature of Almighty God.

The nature of God remains unchanged. In the modern world of human philosophy and humanism, God is still Jealous. Wickedness will not go unpunished. Disobedience is not overlooked. Rebellion against the word of the Lord is not tolerated. Immorality will be rewarded with the wrath of God. Everyone who refuses to do the will of the Father will face the second death, which is the lake of fire and brimstone. Why will the cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sexually immoral, fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, sorcerers, and all liars have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone? Because God is jealous and He avenges those who practice wickedness.

Jesus came to take the cup of God’s wrath away from the plight of man and to offer the only way to the Father by which men can find salvation. Through the blood of Jesus, anyone can turn from sin and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ if they are willing to change their lives. By God’s grace, love, and mercy, sins are washed away. He remains a jealous God. The greatest joy is to know that God is a jealous God, but He is slow to anger. Thank God for His longsuffering.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’ Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another’s wives. Should you then possess the land? ”  (Ezekiel 33:23-26)

Who Is To Blame?

Ezekiel was a prophet of God who lived with the captives in Babylon following the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. It had been three hundred forty-five years since Solomon died, and the nation of Israel was divided in civil war. The ten northern tribes were destroyed in 722 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar brought his Babylonian army into Jerusalem a final time in 586 B.C. and destroyed the Temple built by Solomon. Now the people of God faced seventy years in a captive land. A remnant would return to a destroyed Jerusalem in 536 B.C., but the Jewish nation would always be a captive people until the Romans again destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

There was no one to blame for the plight of the Jews but the people of God themselves. When Moses gave the law to the nation at Sinai, he warned them of the dangers of turning away from God. If they forgot the law of the Lord, the wrath of God would destroy them. History proved the word of the Lord correct when the people went after the gods of the nations around them. Idolatry filled the land with its abominations of sexual immorality, hedonism, wickedness, and debauchery. The prophets warned the people, but they refused to listen. When the Assyrians took the northern tribes of Israel, God warned the remaining two tribes to take heed to the punishment against their brethren. Judah refused to listen and learn.

As the news of the fall of Jerusalem came to the Jews in Babylon, Ezekiel reminded them why they were in bondage. The people tried to blame their forefathers for their predicament, but only themselves were to blame. Judah thought that because they were the people of God and the people of Abraham, God should show mercy. Ezekiel reminded them that they sacrificed to idols with blood meat and followed after the ways of idolatry. Should they possess the land when it was their hearts that had turned away from God? They deserved all that God brought upon them.

When Judah was attacked by her enemies, they did not seek the counsel of the Lord for help. They sought alliances with other nations to save them. The land was filled with the abominations of idolatry and sexual immorality. Judah was not a nation of godly people but a people like the nations around them that lived with fleshly pleasures, abuse of the poor, cravings for worldly possessions, and the pursuit of drunkenness, revelry, lewdness and lust, strife, and envy. Israel did not deserve the mercy of God, but the Lord kept His word to retain a remnant of righteous people to preserve the Seed promise made in the Garden of Eden.

Jerusalem was destroyed because of the sins of the people. The arrogant strength of the people led them to their destruction. Like the wilderness journeys of Israel leaving Egypt, a generation of people died because of rebellion. Those who went into captivity would never return home again. The Babylonian captivity removed a whole generation of people because of their wickedness. Only the people could blame themselves for their punishment, because they were guilty of rejecting God’s mercy and refusing to repent.

God’s wrath served the purpose of punishing His people and letting the world know the penalty for sin. Israel’s captivity revealed the majesty of the Lord God. The land was desolate because of all the abominations of the Jews, which they committed. God’s justice is pure and right. The world in the days of Noah was destroyed because it was the right thing to do. God destroyed nations because it was the righteous thing to do. Sin comes with a penalty because it is a righteous thing.

The example of Israel is a warning to a world that rejects the word of the Lord. God has revealed His complete truth in the words of the Bible. Rejecting the word of the Lord will bring judgment upon the unrighteous. Filling life with the abominations of the world will end badly. God will not forget His word. Everyone who stands before the Lord God Almighty will know that He is Lord and He is Lord alone. Is it possible to live a worldly, ungodly life and expect to find eternal life in death? Can a man reject God and expect God to receive him in eternity? The righteous judgment of God is against all wickedness and rebellion. Who is to blame when someone loses their soul? The responsibility lies squarely upon the shoulders of the individual. God is not a respecter of persons. Sin will be judged and punished.

Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)

Do Not Be Ignorant Of The Enemy

Satan is a formidable foe. He wields great power and influence but is limited in what he can do. When Satan came to Eve in the garden, he presented himself as the cunning serpent who challenged the spirit of a human heart to disobey God. He never forced the woman. His tactics were subtle. He succeeded in convincing the woman she could be like God, and she willingly fell victim to his lies. His deception was so complete that Adam was taken in.

David was a man after God’s own heart who knew the word of the Lord with great devotion. His eyes were cast upon a beautiful woman, and the devil tempted him to commit adultery, lie, get Uriah drunk, and then have his loyal servant murdered under the cover of war. His remorse outlines the way Satan brought him down. Peter fell victim to the wiles of the devil to denounce the Man he loved with all his heart, soul, and mind. If there was a fully devoted and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter was the poster child. Yet, through the subtle whispers of the adversary, Peter three times declared with cursing that he did not know Jesus.

Satan is powerful and has destroyed many lives. Paul reminds the followers of Christ that while the devil is a very powerful foe, his devices are clearly seen. What that suggests is that to battle the devil, his devices and tactics can be learned and defeated. The Christian must know how empty and frail the devil is. Through the power of prayer, Satan will run away. He comes at the heart like a roaring lion, but he can be killed. John describes Satan as a great, fiery red dragon, which would bring fear to anyone at the image of such a beast. The aged apostle concludes the Revelation, showing how the dragon is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.

Paul reminded the church at Ephesus that God has provided a heavenly armor that can withstand the fiery darts of the wicked one. Satan can be withstood. There is no reason to fall under his deception. God has provided the armament to destroy the influence of Satan. To be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might defeats the enemy of God at every turn. The song of triumph must be sung that Satan is a defeated creature bound for eternal Hell. He knows his eternal destiny and can do nothing to change it. What the Christian must know is that they can change their lives and not allow the influence of Satan to destroy them.

God has placed a hedge of divine protection around His people. Satan will attack that hedge and cause damage, but by the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness of the Almighty Lord God, he will never have power over the faithful heart. The Christian must know the devices of the devil and act accordingly. Faith not only comes from hearing the word of God, but the evil devices of Satan are also clearly exposed for all to see. Knowing the tactics of the wicked one will prepare the heart to fight against temptation. Knowledge is power. Through that knowledge, the devil runs and will flee away. Stand strong.

I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also, when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. (Psalm 71:16-18)

Enjoying Growing Older

Growing older is a natural part of the aging process. God designed the body to change over the years from the spring of youth to the winter of old age. Aging is a result of sin because God took away the tree of life that was in the Garden of Eden. Physical decay ravages the body until the day of death. Methusaleh lived to be 969 years, but he aged and died. Solomon described the aging process in great detail in the book of Ecclesiastes, which explores life, living, and dying. Everything seems to change from eyesight, strength, stability, desire, and weakness. Solomon’s admonition is to remember the Creator in one’s youth to prepare for the inevitable changes of old age.

The aging process takes place in the physical body, but for the child of God, a renewal takes place within. Seeking greater faith in old age reminds the person that the soul can be as young as desired. There is a greater maturity that comes with old age, having been spent in studying the scriptures and learning about the grace and mercy of God. Growing older can be a struggle. The afflictions of the body can cause some to be discouraged and resentful that youth has vanished. Having faith in God and knowing that aging is a natural and purposeful process should direct the mind to the eternal. As a person grows older, the reality of death and eternity becomes clearer. God wants and expects the older generation to continue fulfilling their work and responsibilities so that future generations may know Him.

Growing older is a significant time for one generation to pass on the strength of the Lord to the next. The greatest legacy someone can leave another is faithful devotion to God. Learning to love the Lord God with all the heart, soul, mind, and body is a message of hope that the next generation must accept. Generational faith is passed down from one generation to the next. The body grows old, but the mind remains steadfast in its focus on God’s will. Seeking greater faith in the winter days of life is a vital time of transition. The old saint is preparing to possess his eternal home, and the young saint has just begun their journey. Faith is the baton that must be passed from one generation to the next. It is a time of rejoicing to see the older saints still showing their love for the Lord, and it is a time of expectation for a new generation that will continue the fight for righteousness. This transition is necessary for the growth of the church.

The church is blessed with many older saints whose armor is battered and worn from years of battle. They are the heroes of the kingdom who never give up. As examples of faith and duty, older saints have promised King Jesus that they will not lay down their armor until they have declared the strength of the Lord to the next generation. They fight until the end. Their faith is what inspires the next generation. Never give up. Fight on with faith. Show the generations that follow the love of God and the promises of eternal life. Leave a beacon of light for those who follow, so that they may one day become the older generation, leaving a legacy for the next. The church is blessed beyond measure with faithful, older saints who continue to fight the good fight. Thank you for your service. The younger generation would do well to heed the counsel of the older saints, who have fought the good fight and kept the faith.

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

He Who Believes

Jesus spoke plainly. There was never a time when Jesus was at a loss for words. His teaching was so direct that the audience was struck by His authoritative tone, clarity, and no-nonsense approach to the Jewish leaders who ridiculed Him. It did not take long for the people to see that Jesus did not care for the opinions of men if they did not follow the will of the Father. The Pharisees and scribes continually attacked His teaching, and He rebuffed them every time. Lawyers tested Him and failed. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with political questions, but they were put to shame. Reading the gospels clearly defines the language of Jesus as simple yet profound; direct, yet with love; and never leaving any room for what Jesus taught from His Father.

Before ascending to the Father, Jesus spent forty days with the eleven, preparing them for what would be the spreading of the kingdom of God throughout the world. Jesus would not be with them as they began preaching the gospel of salvation, but the promise of the Holy Spirit would guide their hearts and minds to open the door of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The underlying message of the gospel was what a man had to do to be saved. Jesus did not come to answer the political or economic question of the day. His message was defined by telling men what they needed to do to be saved. Nothing was of more paramount importance than directing lost souls to Christ.

As Jesus prepared to leave the eleven, He gave them specific instructions that served as the overriding theme of the gospel. Jesus told the eleven to preach the gospel in every part of the world they could go and to send others across the globe to open the door of grace to a lost and dying world. The first thing Jesus wanted them to do was to go out and preach the gospel. As a result of the preaching of the gospel, honest hearts will cry out wanting to find salvation. They will ask what they need to do to be saved. What comes next has eternal consequences.

Jesus said that everyone who believes that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and is baptized, will be saved. Belief is necessary for salvation, through and by the grace and mercy of God. When someone believes in the message of the gospel, they will desire to be immersed in water (baptism). That is a natural response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Phillip taught the man from Ethiopia the gospel of Jesus, the Ethiopian asked why he could not be baptized. It is impossible to preach Jesus without teaching water immersion. If someone does not preach baptism, they are not preaching Jesus. The Holy Spirit declared that truth with Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch. What Phillip was doing was what Jesus told the eleven apostles to do.

Everyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. That is gospel truth. There can be no deviation from that sentence. It can be ignored, but to the eternal peril of those who reject baptism as necessary for salvation. Teaching that baptism is not necessary contradicts Jesus’ teaching. Everyone who hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and is not baptized will not be saved. They will be lost, condemned, and suffer the second death. The scriptures are clear: refusing to be baptized for the remission of sins condemns a soul to perdition. There is no other answer to the question of salvation. Through the grace and mercy of God, sinners can have their sins washed away in the blood of Jesus.

Jesus did not say that a man must accept Christ in his heart to be saved. That is never found in scripture but in the book of lies told by the wisdom of men. Too many souls believe they are in a covenant with Christ because they have been saved by faith alone; not realizing they stand condemned before Jesus, who said a person must believe and be baptized to be saved. A man who does not believe will be condemned. Jesus said that plainly. It is printed on paper to emphasize its importance. Two thousand years have not changed what Jesus said.

Everyone has a choice to either believe and accept what Jesus said a man must do to be saved, or to take the doctrines of men that will condemn them to the outer darkness. When baptism becomes an outward sign only without repentance, there is no salvation. Sins are washed away in the waters of baptism and in those waters alone. No baptism – no salvation. Salvation is made possible by the grace of God through His love and His divine mercy. What must I do to be saved? Believe and be baptized for the remission of sins.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:12)

The Importance Of Example

An example is something that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated. It is much like a tool die used to strike an image into metal in stamping. Jesus taught the disciples to be lights in the world and to be like the salt of the earth, seasoning the reasoning of human wisdom with divine examples. Examples can be good or bad. To follow a bad example is to go down the wrong path and lead others with you. It is more difficult to follow the examples of the righteous because this wisdom is opposed to the wisdom of the world. There is an innate nature of man to follow others, and the decision must always be whether the outcome is good or bad.

Paul wanted Timothy to be a good example. He exhorted Timothy to be an example to the believers. An example is best served when it knows which direction to take. Believers need examples of others living righteous lives. It is obvious that Timothy’s example to the believers would extend to non-believers, but the focus is on the work of the church. Timothy needed to be an example to the family of God. His pattern of life would benefit the work of the church, helping everyone struggling with faith to be more hopeful about the promises of God because of Timothy’s life.

The apostle did not leave the suggestion of being a good example without direction. Paul points out areas Timothy needed to focus on. He needed to be an example to the believers in word and deed. A man is judged by his words. How a man presents himself says a lot about his character. Timothy needed to show a pattern of good words seasoned with the salt of divine knowledge. There is no place for idle talk, gossip, lying, or murmuring. A child of God must be known as a person of his word. They should be viewed with the respect of an honest word.

The conduct of Timothy must be beyond reproach. A person’s manner of life reflects the fruits of his labor. The general demeanor of Timothy’s life would be a pattern any would be willing to follow. Being a good example is about living life outside the framework of a building on Sunday. The Christian life is not a prosthesis that is worn on Sunday and removed the rest of the week. An example of a godly life can only come from someone living a godly life (and the reverse is also true). The fact should be apparent that every Christian lives in a glass house. His life is under the microscope of a perverse world. Like Daniel, there is nothing to find because the word of God measures the example of life.

Love is the central part of Timothy’s heart. Not only does Timothy have a love for the Lord, but his life also shows it. Forgiveness is a key part of Timothy’s life. Showing love to others is an example of how Christians show the world God’s love for them. He is not an arrogant or rude person. The example of Timothy is love, bearing with others, hoping in God, and enduring the trials of life with a positive, godly demeanor. People of love are known as people of love. What a powerful example for believers to see a brother or sister in Christ who loves God and shows that love in their lives.

To be an example in faith is to be a person of faith. Jesus taught the disciples that a man is known by his fruits. Godliness and faith are evident in a person’s actions and are clearly defined by a person’s life. Faith is central to the core message of the Christian to the church. His faith is evident in how he engages with the work of the Lord and helps the church grow. Faith is found in action, not just in words. Those in need are cared for by brethren filled with faith. Those who are struggling are strengthened by the faithful. Timothy needed to be an example of faith for others to follow.

Finally, Paul exhorts Timothy to be an example of purity. The challenge of sin lies in its attack on the purity of the heart. There is no greater work of Satan than to corrupt and defile the heart with impurity. Timothy’s life must be above reproach. His example of purity is a pattern for others to follow. The Christian has a great influence on others when they follow the pattern of purity. It not only cleanses the individual’s heart but also helps others who struggle with impurity remain pure. Patterns are important to follow. Godliness is a pattern that must be desired to be emulated.

Being an example to others and showing oneself as an example to believers comes at a high cost. It takes much faith, prayer, and meditation on the word of God. What the church needs are more examples like Timothy – at whatever age. Everyone needs to be an example to the believers so the work of the church can grow and the world can see the glory of Jesus Christ. Be that example.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:14-17)

Rooted In Christ

In the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, some of the largest trees in the world grow. The huge sequoias tower almost 300 feet into the sky. The largest tree, called General Sherman, has a circumference of 102.6 feet at its base and a height of 274.9 feet. Botanists now know that some of the biggest sequoias are almost 4,000 years old – which means that at the time of Jesus, they were already more than 100 feet tall. But even these giants wouldn’t be able to stand against the California winds without a strong root system. Not only do their roots sink into the soil, but they also intertwine around the roots of other trees.

When God created Adam, He knew it was not good for man to be alone. Eve was created, and the family was established. Soon, the world was filled with the offspring of Adam and Eve. People need other people. God did not create humanity to depend on itself but to embrace a community and a nation. When the Lord confused the language of the people at Babel, He created the national footprint of the world where communities were established and formed. The stronger the bond between the citizens, the stronger the nation. Communities that banded together as one had more strength.

In the animal kingdom, the principle of protecting one another is seen in how animals band together to defend the defenseless. Chimpanzees, elephants, otters, and dolphins are a few species that work together to protect one another. The sequoia trees illustrate how strength comes not only from establishing a deep root system but also from tying that root system to other trees. Humans would learn well from the giant trees how to rely on others for protection, encouragement, and unity.

Too many people want to go their own way, do their own thing, and be an individual. One of the qualities God created when He established the church was the need for a community of brotherhood. The scriptures refer to those of like precious faith bonding together for a common cause. Jesus established His church as a community where everyone cares for one another, keeping them strong in the face of trials. A strong church comes from strong arms embracing others to put a united face against the wiles of the devil.

Homes must have a strong base where husbands and wives are embraced in their love for God. Parents must be united together in the word of God, teaching their children to be enraptured by the grace of God. A family united in God is a family at peace. It takes effort and it takes work. God has given His word to show the world how to establish a solid foundation in Jesus Christ. When the storms of life come, trees rooted deep and intertwined with others will be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. Having deep roots in Jesus Christ will guarantee the hope of the promise God gives to encircle His people. Let Christ dwell in the heart through faith. Be rooted and grounded in love.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (Hebrews 10:12-13)

The One Sacrifice

The Garden of Eden was where the grace of God was first realized after the fall of man. Before the Lord expelled Adam and Eve from the garden, He clothed them in tunics of skin. This required the death of some animals to clothe Adam and Eve. From the beginning of time, animal sacrifice has been necessary to establish a covenant between God and man. Since the first sacrifice of Abel, the firstborn of his flock and their fat, untold millions of animals have been offered up for the atonement of sin.

After the flood, Noah took of every clean animal and every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the Lord came to Abraham to reaffirm the covenant, animals were sacrificed. Moses established the Law with the Hebrews at Sinai with sacrifice, sprinkling the blood on the people to remind them of the blood covenant which the Lord made with them. Under the Law of Moses, compulsory sacrifices could number more than 1,269 a year. The numbers would be in the tens of thousands, reflecting offerings from special feast days and sacrifices by individuals.

When Solomon was anointed king of Israel, they made sacrifices to the Lord and burnt offerings, including one thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and one thousand lambs. At the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep were sacrificed. Earlier, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the Temple, sheep and oxen were sacrificed that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. During the reforms of Asa, seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep were sacrificed from the spoil of war against the Ethiopians.

Animal sacrifice has represented the atonement of man to God for generations, leading up to the death of Jesus Christ. With all of the millions of animals killed and sacrificed for the sins of the people, the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. There had to be a greater sacrifice. An animal is not made in the image of God. Its blood is not made in the image of the Divine. Man is the only creature made in the image of God, sharing an eternal nature. Among all men, none could be sacrificed who were unblemished. God required sacrifice from the unblemished and unbroken. Great men of faith were blemished. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, tainting the sacrifice. What was needed was a man who was without sin.

Jesus Christ became a man to live under the Law of Moses and to live a sinless, perfect life. He began His ministry at the age of thirty and some three years later was murdered by the world. In the totality of the life of Jesus, He never sinned. He prayed for those who were killing Him. His work from the Father was complete to bring about the ultimate sacrifice to redeem man. The power of His sacrifice is that men are justified before God through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. By one offering, He perfected forever those who are sanctified. Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. The high priest had to enter the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of animals. Jesus suffered once at the end of the ages to put away sin by His sacrifice.

There is no more need for the sacrifice for sin because Jesus made His life the atonement for sin as a gift to all men. His one sacrifice redeemed man. The one cross united God with man. There can be no salvation in the blood of animals. Jesus came once to earth to open the way, to show the truth, and to give life. There will be no other way to the Father. He is the only Word. His blood is the true path to eternal life. That is why there is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. Thank you, Jesus, for the one sacrifice.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

Striving To Raise Godly Children

One of the greatest gifts given to man is the ability to create life by the power of God. Children are a heritage from the Lord, a divine gift. Through the power of childbearing, a man and woman declare the glory of God in His creative wisdom to form an eternal being that will never cease to exist. God gives the body life and creates the child in His image. When a child is born into the world, they enter a physical world that will be temporary for a span of years. As a created being from God, the heart, soul, and mind must be formed to recognize their Creator and to find their purpose in life to the glory of the Father. Children are created for God’s glory.

In the creation, the Lord told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. It was God’s design to bring children into the world by the union of a man and a woman. In the beginning, man was created for the glory of God, and that glory should continue in the children. What Satan accomplished in the garden was to deceive the woman into following his wisdom, and sin entered the world. This impacted the family structure immediately. After being expelled from the garden, Adam and Eve bore children. Their first son was Cain, and then Abel was born. The power of sin destroyed the family when Cain killed his brother Abel. Adam and Eve experienced the consequence of sin in its most terrible form – death.

The challenge of parenting has always been the desire to raise godly children. For most of the world, the primary purpose of parenting is to bring children into the world for selfish reasons and teach them to live for selfish reasons. God is not taught in the home, the word of God is not honored, and the lives of the children are measured by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The people of God strive to instill in their children the presence of God in their lives. Having godly children does not happen easily; it is not about being lucky parents, and it is not accomplished without great effort. Godly children do not just happen – they are formed in the schoolroom of the divine word of God on a daily basis. Godly children come from godly parents who demonstrate godly character in their daily lives.

Seeking greater faith involves instilling that faith in the hearts of children to be godly. Godliness is profitable for life to keep children from the harmful darts of Satan. Children must be taught to love the Lord with all their hearts to keep them from the evil one. Time must be spent in forming the heart to love God and His word. The Bible must be a constant source in the lives of the children as they see how much their parents love the Lord. Each generation is taught the grace and mercy of a loving God who desires for them to enjoy eternal life. Ultimately, the role of the parent is to instruct their children into everlasting life. Children must develop their own faith, but parents must lay the foundation for the child to build upon.

Raising godly children begins with godly parents. Satan desires to have our children in his world of lust and immorality. Being a parent is not for the faint of heart. Moses told the people that it required a daily regimen of diligence in the word of God and learning how to love the Lord. Parents who want their children to go to Heaven will do everything in their power to nurture their children’s hearts to serve the Lord, because that is all that truly matters. Riches, popularity, and pleasures are fleeting. Godliness is eternal. Faith begins in the word of God. Build the home on the foundation of God’s word, live according to the word, and let your children see how much you love God and His Son, Jesus Christ. So often, children tend to grow up to be just like their parents, despite their best efforts. Where are you leading your children? Teach them godliness. Show them Christ. You are the first impression of who God is in their life. Show them His glory.