The Heaton File

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

How To Run The Race

Life can be filled with many struggles that test the faith of the strongest disciple. The first century Jewish Christians faced a great many challenges as they learned to leave the trappings of the Law of Moses for the blessings of the covenant of Christ. It was not an easy road to travel as their fellow countrymen turned their backs on them, ridiculed them, and brought suffering to their lives.

The writer of Hebrews attempts to encourage and lift up the spirits of the downtrodden by reminding them of the many examples of faith that preceded them. They faced trials but did not give up their faith. Many of the unnamed suffered death by stoning, the sword, and the saw and suffered afflictions and torments. These faithful saints never lost their faith as they looked to a city prepared for them by God.

A testimony of saints who have received their reward reminds the disciples of the hope in Christ. As a crowd of witnesses, the saints who have died stand as pillars of faith to those who continue to fight the good fight and never give up. Those in the race of life are spirited on by the shouts of the faithful, pushing them forward to maintain their faith. There is no reason to give up when so many have shown faith in remaining steadfast.

What does it take to run the race of life with a faithful spirit and love for the Lord? Runners need to eliminate any encumbrances that hinder their running. A runner would not attempt to run with a heavy coat or armor. The runners of faith must learn to run without the trappings of the world holding them back or making their run ineffective. Faith must remove anything that would hinder the race of a saint.

Sin must be removed from the heart of a man running the race because it is the heaviest weight that hinders the Christian runner. Evil habits, immoral practices, whatever part of sin there may be, will only impede the race of the child of God. These things must be eliminated. Trying to run the Christian race with one foot in the world is impossible. It takes both feet to run the race that leads to eternal life.

Running is hard and exhausting. To run the Christian race requires running. This is not a cakewalk or a stroll. There is running involved in the actions of the Christian. With that running comes endurance and perseverance. Having a spirit of faith and devotion to God, the Christian runs with purpose and the fortitude to run the entire race without giving up. Many will be the time when the spirit becomes discouraged. Don’t give up, and do not stop running. Look to Jesus as the hope of what is found in eternal life and the joy of heaven. He ran His race and lived without sin. All sin and fall short of the glory of God, but the Christian is a runner who keeps his focus on Jesus Christ and runs away from the world.

The race that is run for the Christian ends at the throne of God. It is a glorious race filled with other runners who struggle. The company of runners share a common road with a common goal in mind. Those who have died are a cloud of witnesses that the race can be run faithfully. The runners on the course with us also witness the joy of ending our race in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Run good today. Help someone else run good today. Above all – keep running.

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:27)

A Cross Without Wheels

The hangman’s noose is an offense to most people and is considered a hate crime in some circles. It would be disturbing to see a man walking around trailing a strand of rope with a hangman’s noose tied around him. The last public hanging in the United States was August 14, 1936, attended by a crowd estimated between 10,000 to 20,000. Jewelry stores do not carry gold hangman’s nooses for people to wear, and it would be offensive to see shirts emboldened with the noose.

If a First-Century Roman citizen were alive today and saw the jewelry of golden crosses people wore, they would be horrified. It would be incredulous to see crosses emblazoned on clothing. Nobody in the first century would put a cross (or three crosses) in their front yard or on a hill or field. The cross was a symbol of horrendous torture and suffering. Citizens of the Roman Empire were all too familiar with crucifixion as the Roman government punished thousands of people with crucifixion. Crosses with bodies in various stages of decay lined many streets.

For the Jewish mind, the cross was a despicable curse. No glory and honor was given to a man who was nailed to a tree. Everything about the cross was humiliating, agonizing, painful, and final. For a Jew to be crucified was the most horrible manner of death. The Law of Moses required a man who was crucified not to remain overnight, defiling the land that God gave Israel. He was to be buried that same day. The crucified man is accursed of God. There was no gold jewelry to bring honor to the cross.

Jesus taught His disciples to bear a cross to show allegiance to the King of Kings. Using this kind of language in the Roman Empire was radical and offensive. When the modern mind hears Jesus encourage men to bear a cross, there is an immediate softening of the image of the cross to be something glorified as a symbol of purity and righteousness; something with diamonds encased on it. It was anything but those images. To bear a cross was to remove self and accept the will of God completely. It was the highest level of suffering and cruelty.

Men try to show piety by carrying a cross through the streets of Main Street, USA. Most often, it is the entire cross, made out of soft wood, easy to carry, with padding for the shoulder and probably a wheel at the base. The man wears comfortable shoes and likely has a backpack for water and snacks for his journey. Ironically, the man portrays a complete misunderstanding and vivid misrepresentation of what Jesus did. Jesus carried an eighty-pound piece of timber on a back that had been severely beaten by the scourging. The Lord was abused, spit upon, slapped, kicked, prodded, and beaten on the head with a crown of thorns.

Jesus did not have a wheel on His cross. His ordeal so weakened him that he fell beneath the load. The Romans made Simon of Cyrene carry the cross. Then they nailed the Son of God to the timbers and watched Him die a miserable, horrible death. Men have replaced the cross of Jesus with a padded cross with a wheel. They should be ashamed of themselves. Jesus never intended for anyone else to bear that cross. He was the Son of God, and only He could bear that cross. Jesus suffered so we could rejoice in what the cross accomplished.

The glory of Jesus is found in the resurrection. Jesus took on the wrath of God to die for the sins of the world, and the Father raised Him from the dead. To bear a cross is not to take a piece of wood and try to be like Jesus. No man can be like Jesus! Bearing a cross to be a disciple of Jesus is to devote one’s life totally to Jesus Christ without turning back. A. W. Tozer said, “To be crucified means, first, the man on the cross is facing only one direction; second, he is not going back; and third, he has no further plans of his own.” And to add a fourth – he does not request a wheel.

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” (Acts 24:25)

It’s Not On The Clock

There are sixty seconds to the minute and sixty minutes to an hour. The clock measures the time that is real. Most people wear a device of some type to tell time, helping them plan and organize their day. Clocks and timekeepers can be found everywhere. There is one thing a clock does not have on its dial – a convenient time. What makes a convenient time so amazing is how many souls believe they have a convenient time to obey the will of God.

Plans are made with precision to know when to awaken, go to work, see a doctor, when a game begins, and the constant ticking of the clock governs every facet of life. Calendars fill with necessary appointments. It becomes a hectic race of running from place to place in life’s unending, busy hustle. People still believe they will devote themselves to the Lord when a convenient time happens.

What is a convenient time? It is when all things are in order, life has slowed to a snail’s pace, and the heart is ready to accept the will of God on human terms. The mistake is forgetting that while man creates the clock, the Lord creates time. In the beginning, God set the sun, moon, and stars for signs, seasons, and days and years. Men created time devices like sundials, obelisks, water clocks, candle clocks, the hourglass, and spring-driven clocks into the sophisticated electronic devices of today. These are instruments that measure what God created. Time comes from the hand of God. What God did not create is a convenient time.

Felix was a man who lived on time he did not have. He was a powerful man of influence and position as a Roman governor. The apostle Paul was placed under his care after the Jews charged Paul in Jerusalem. Paul had the opportunity to preach the gospel to Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Felix was well-versed in the activities of the early church. Paul preached faith in Christ, righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. The preaching of Paul caused the governor to become afraid. His heart was responding to the message of the gospel.

As Felix heard Paul’s message, he recognized the truth of Paul’s words. Responding to the preaching, Felix tells Paul to go away, and when a convenient time comes, Felix will have him back to continue the message of Christ. Felix said he wanted to wait until it was more convenient. That day never arrived. He sent for Paul often, but it was to get money from Paul. After two years, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. The convenient time for Felix to obey the gospel never came.

The ticking of the clock should remind those seeking a convenient time that life is short and that today is the day of salvation. Many people who believe they will die at the midnight hour face death at 11:30. It comes suddenly, swiftly, and without warning. The sad reality of the convenient time is that most people die unprepared. There is no convenient time later; it is only now. Felix would have regretted his lost opportunity to serve Christ. When he died, he realized time was over.

People put off doing what they should do for God for many reasons. The list is endless as to why someone will not repent, change their life, obey the gospel, and serve the Lord. What makes their story more tragic is that they were looking for a time not found on clocks or watches. Time is real, and it disappears quickly. If you are looking for a convenient time to change your life, you are following a fool’s errand. Today is the only day you have. It may possibly be the last and final opportunity you have. Make the best of it. Obey God. Serve the Lord. Now.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Walking Worthy

Paul was a remarkable man who could take his dire circumstances and turn them into encouragement for others. He spent many hours in jails and prisons for the cause of Christ. Men tried to kill him on more than one occasion. His life was arduous in journeys from many points on the globe as he preached the gospel of Christ. Many churches were encouraged by the preaching of Paul. As the apostle sat in another Roman prison, he wrote a letter to his beloved brethren in Ephesus, reminding them of their character in the body of Christ.

Being a Christian, it is not difficult to understand the rudimentary principles of discipleship. Paul deals with many issues among the churches and doctrines, but he never forgets to remind the people of God how they should live daily. There were men like Paul and Barnabas who could travel to share the gospel with lost souls. Most people lived in small communities, working for their families to provide and care for them. Their lot was a time of raising families, being subject to the governing authorities, enjoying occasional recreation, and working for a living. To them, Paul writes to show them the character of heart found in the kingdom of Christ.

A Christian is a person who has a lowly and gentle heart. With humility, they show Christ living in them with a gentle spirit. Not everyone can so easily come by these traits. Learning to be humble and acting with a spirit of gentleness must be learned. That knowledge must come from the word of God because the Christian wants to let the world see Christ. The people of God must be known as patient and kind in their dealings. When they labor in their jobs, they are known to be unlike the world through their lowliness and gentility. As families seek the glory of God, a Christian husband and wife show fidelity in their character.

It was not an easy life to live for Christ in the city of Ephesus. It was the capital of proconsular Asia, which was the western part of Asia Minor and was known as a great metropolis. The Temple of Diana was there, boasting a theatre seating 50,000 spectators. Idolatry was a principal character of this great city, and there were Christians who lived in the shadows of its immorality. Still, Paul exhorted the saints to be patient with others, showing the spirit of love and humility, keeping the unity of the Spirit in peace. The shepherds of the Ephesian church had their work cut out for them in helping their flock maintain purity.

Ephesus is in ruins, and the Temple of Diana is destroyed. The church of Christ remains, and the people of God fill the earth, humble, gentle, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and keeping the unity of the Spirit of grace. When someone wants to know how to walk worthy of the name of Christ, Paul offers a few traits that will show the world the love of God. The church needs more saints who demonstrate these traits so that others can see Christ living in them. Walk worthy.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?” (Proverbs 23:29-35)

The Foolishness Of Alcohol

Solomon observed there was nothing new under the sun. Since the beginning of time, humanity has repeated the same mistakes and faces the same challenges as any other generation. The “modern man” is relative to the time it is said, and everyone thinks their generation is the updated, new, modernized form of human wisdom. What makes the spirit of man humorous is the belief that his generation is smarter than the previous.

The consumption of alcohol is as old as the world filled with sin. Fruit trees were created on the third day of creation. After Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, it did not take long for man to understand the process of taking various kinds of fruit to create beverages. The first suggestion of the abuse of alcohol can be assumed when the Lord looks upon the world and saw that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was evil.

Drunkenness has always been at the top of the list of sinful behavior. After the flood, Noah planted a vineyard and drank the wine and was drunk. He exposed himself to his sons, leading to the curse of Canaan for laughing at his father. After God destroyed the cities of the plain, including Sodom and Gomorrah, the two daughters of Lot got their father drunk and committed incest to bear children. Alcohol has destroyed many lives.

Solomon presents some practical wisdom about the dangers of drink. The foolishness of alcohol is the anguish it brings, the sorrows it creates, and the fighting that comes as a result. How foolish. Alcohol brings about destruction. Wounds are unexplained. The eyes are bloodshot. It is utterly foolish for a man to be enthralled by the poison of alcohol, and yet it has always been one of the strongest temptations known to men.

Families are destroyed by the foolish nature of those seeking out the conjuror of evil. Countless innocent lives have been snuffed out because of the uncontrolled effects of its power to kill. The irony of its poison is that it looks inviting as it sparkles in the glass, glistening in the siren call to find happiness at the bottle of the bottle; and in the end find nothing but death. It is a poisonous snake that stings like a viper. Solomon shows the futility of dealing with evil as a man who takes fire into his bosom, expecting not to be burned. If a man plays with fire, he will be burned.

A greater foolishness of alcohol is the degradation it brings on a man who will see strange things, hallucinations, and say crazy things, staggering as a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. What a fool he makes of himself. A drunk can feel no pain and will not realize he is being attacked. When it is all over, he will stand up and go looking for another drink. What a fool. How great a fool he makes of himself.

Defending the practice of ‘drinking’ is a fool’s errand performed by fools who believe they are smarter than the Lord. Nothing is new under the sun because there were fools in the days of Solomon, just as there are fools today. Who has woe? Foolish people who think they are stronger than temptation and smarter than the evil one. How sad to see lives destroyed over a liquid, a substance of no value but of eternal consequence. The wise man abstains from every form of evil – including what sparkles in the cup. Don’t be fooled into being a fool.

When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” (John 13:21)

Jesus Was Upset

The humanity of Jesus is declared throughout scripture. He came into the world as all men. As a little child, He learned how to speak, dress Himself, do chores, learn about God, and everything his brothers and sisters had to learn. When He was hungry, he ate; when He was thirsty, He quenched it with water. Jesus watched the sunrise and the sunset in awe. He was subject to His parents in all things. Jesus was like any other man in the town of Bethlehem, but He was unlike any man on earth.

Many passages speak to the emotions of the Son of God. He was frustrated with His disciples, angry with the Jewish leaders, and compassionate to the dispossessed of society. The final hours of His life were a bundle of emotions pouring out of Jesus as the will of His Father unveiled its divine will. Jesus celebrated His last Passover meal with the twelve apostles. This was unlike what He had done all of His life. The Passover this night would be the most impactful celebration of the life of Jesus.

The Son of God knew His hour had come. He understood the significance of the final Passover, using it as the backdrop to establish part of the foundational teachings of the coming kingdom. The apostles did not know what Jesus meant when He took the bread and the fruit of the vine as symbols of a new covenant. This would only become clearer in a few months. It was the will of God that the memorial feast of the Lord’s Supper would be established on the night Jesus would be betrayed. Passover was a profoundly emotional experience for the participants. Jesus knew that night that Judas would betray him.

As the evening unfolded, Jesus rose and washed the feet of the twelve. Peter would detract from the Lord’s work for a moment, but the hour had come for Jesus to identify the man who would betray Him. Jesus knew Judas had planned on betraying Him to the Chief Priests. John records that after Jesus washed the apostles’ feet and explained what He had done, His mood changed. He was troubled in His spirit. It grieved Jesus for the suffering He was about to experience, but it also grieved Him for what His friend was about to do.

Judas was about to make the greatest mistake of his life. He had agreed to lead the chief priests to Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. It never entered his mind how his actions would turn out. But Jesus was upset at what Judas would do and the sad place Judas found himself. It hurt the heart of Jesus for Judas, a trusted and beloved disciple. Even in His greatest hour, Jesus is concerned about Judas. What was Jesus thinking as He washed the feet of Judas? How could Judas live with himself as the hands of Jesus took his feet and gently washed them and dried them? Judas left that night to betray Jesus – with clean feet.

Jesus tells Judas to do what he must and do it quickly. How sad as Jesus watched Judas stand up and walk out the door. The Lord knew why Judas left, but the eleven thought he had left to buy more food. Jesus heard the steps of Judas go down the stairs and fade into the night. The heart of Jesus wept for Judas. Jesus was troubled in spirit, knowing what was coming.

It is important to see the humanity of Jesus so that men can see the nature of His divinity. God loved the world so much to give His Son as the lamb sacrificed, and the Lamb of God had empathy for sinful men – even Judas. Jesus was fashioned in the likeness of men to show how He can understand our emotions and feelings. He loves you. Jesus died for you. God loves you to offer His Son for your sins. Jesus will rejoice if you obey the word of His Father.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:28-30)

Sleeping In Church

The Corinthian church had many problems as Paul writes in his epistle. Among the challenges the New Testament church faced, the saints began to abuse the memorial of Christ’s sacrifice. Somehow, the Lord’s Supper had become a common thing that was treated like a meal rather than a time of reflection on the death of Jesus. The brethren did not recognize the importance of the bread and fruit of the vine, which symbolized the suffering of the Son of God.

Jesus instituted the memorial on the night of His betrayal. The Holy Spirit directed the early Christians concerning the weekly remembrance of the supper. There was an emphasis on the holiness of the feast, much like the Jews remembered taking the Passover. Jesus used His final Passover to establish the memorial as an anti-type of how the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt. On Passover night, a lamb was slain, and blood was sprinkled on the doorpost and lintel for the eyes of God to see. The Lord promised when He saw the blood, He would “Pass-over” and not kill the eldest in the home.

The Lord’s Supper is the solemn remembrance of when Jesus gave Himself as the Lamb and sacrificed for the sins of the world through His blood. God instituted as part of the early church pattern that on the first day of every week, His children would gather to remember and reflect upon the death of His Son. This time of reflection was part of the worship. It was not to be viewed as an option but a command. Failure to take of the memorial would bring severe judgment from the Lord.

As the Corinthians began to take the memorial as a common thing, the spirituality diminished. The Holy Spirit has shown the memorial was a time for a man to examine himself considering the grace and love of God and the incredible sacrifice of Jesus. Taking the memorial as a part of worship on the first day of the week was a life-changing experience. Failing to take of the supper would bring on the vengeance of the Lord.

The result of the Corinthians abusing the Lord’s Supper is the members began to die spiritually. It is difficult to take of the Lord’s Supper and not be impacted by God’s immense love to give His only begotten Son for ungodly men. Encompassing the whole message of the memorial was to change the hearts of the worshippers. The Corinthians were dull of heart and disinterested. As a result of their hardened hearts, the spiritual vitality of the brethren grew cold and unfeeling. They had become weak in faith, falling ill to the malady of spiritual apathy. The final blow to the heart of the Christian is the complete insensitivity of the memorial, leading to their spiritual death. There were many who were going through the motions of taking the bread and fruit of the vine but were dead inside. The sacrifice of Jesus meant nothing to them. They barely gave a thought to what the memorial should mean.

The danger of sleeping in church is not about dozing off during a sermon. What becomes a greater danger are the hearts of God’s people who gather on the first day of the week and worship with a dead spirit. They are as cold as a dead fish. There is no joy in their worship. When the emblems of the Lord’s Supper are passed, they take the bread and drink the juice and never give a thought to Jesus Christ and His death. They are weak. Some are sick. Many are dead.

God did not give the Lord’s Supper to pass the time of day during an hour of worship service. Those who eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy (sleeping) manner will be found guilty of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is not a place where someone wants to find themselves. Standing before God with that kind of guilt is an awful place to be. The memorial is a time of reflection, rejoining, recommitment, and resolve to serve God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is high time many awake from their sleep.

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18)

Who Told Ananias To Baptize Saul?

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was one of the remarkable stories of the early church. For a time, Saul was anything but a disciple of Jesus Christ. He was vehemently opposed to those of the Way, persecuting them to foreign cities, delivering men and women to prison, casting death sentences upon the people of God, and was enraged against the early church. It was Saul who consented to Stephen’s stoning. Saul was feared by all in the church as a scourge of persecution.

Damascus was the next city on the list of Saul to find and arrest Christians. As he drew near the city, the Lord appeared to him and told him to go into the city to be told what to do. Blinded by the light, Saul was led to Judas’s house, where he remained without eating or drinking for three days. The Lord appeared to a devout Christian named Ananias and told him to go to the home of Judas to find Saul. Hesitant, Ananias had heard terrible things about Saul. The Lord assured him that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear the name of Christ before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Ananias obeyed the Lord’s word and went to Judas’s house. He found Saul blinded, praying, and refusing food and drink. Ananias tells Saul the Lord Jesus sent him to give him his sight back and to fill him with the Holy Spirit. As the scales fell from Saul’s eyes, Ananias told him God had chosen him to know His will, see Jesus, and hear His voice. Saul would be a witness of Christ to all men. Ananias then asks Saul a question. “And now, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Saul immediately obeyed.

Why did Ananias tell Saul to be baptized? Luke does not record the Lord telling Ananias to tell Saul to be baptized. Why would Ananias encourage Saul to be baptized and wash away his sins immediately? Ananias told Saul to be baptized because that was the gospel of Jesus Christ preached and taught in the early church. Every case of conversion in the Book of Acts demands baptism. Ananias did not take it upon himself to tell Saul he did not need to be baptized. He could have told Saul to call on the name of the Lord to be saved, to accept Christ as his personal Savior, or to pray a sinner’s prayer. None of these happened because they have never been part of the New Testament gospel of salvation.

Saul later recounted what Ananias said for him to arise and be baptized, washing away his sins. Ananias told Saul to be baptized because Ananias knew that sins had to be washed away in the waters of baptism. Grace alone could not do that. Faith only would not accomplish that. A prayer never washed away sins. The language of washing is the language of baptism. Ananias told Saul to be baptized because that is the only place sins are washed away. Luke does not record the Lord telling Ananias to tell Saul what to do to be saved because Ananias already knew what Saul needed to do to wash away his sins.

There are so many people in the religious world who do not believe baptism is necessary for salvation, and they are wrong. Sins cannot be washed away until a person comes in communion with the blood of Christ. Forgiveness is never possible without the blood of the Lamb. The only place (no exception) the sinner can find the blood of Jesus Christ is in the waters of baptism. Grace, mercy, love, faith, confession, etc., are necessary leading up to the obedience in the waters of baptism. Without the cleansing found in the waters of baptism, there is no remission of sins.

Baptism is likened to circumcision under the Law of Moses. If a man was not circumcised, he was not in covenant with God. Every Jew understood the necessity and importance of circumcision. Abraham was given the sign of circumcision before the law as a sign of the promise from God. Baptism is the spiritual circumcision of the heart. No circumcision, no covenant. Without baptism, there is no remission. Ananias understood that. He took Saul and baptized him for the remission of his sins. Why? Because that is what the New Testament Christians taught, believed, and followed in accordance with the word of God.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. (James 1:13)

God Always Seeks Our Good

The character of God demands that men see everything God does is for the benefit of humankind. When God put Adam and Eve in the garden, He provided all they needed for happiness and fulfillment. In the days of the Patriarchs, God instructed men how to find Him and worship Him. Under the Law of Moses, the nation of Israel was promised innumerable blessings if they would obey. The greatest provision given by the Father was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Sin came into the world because man believed God did not give him all he needed. Satan convinced Eve that God was unfair and unjust, prohibiting the forbidden fruit. The reason Eve took the fruit is because she believed God had withheld all she needed. Acting on her pride, the woman took of the fruit and gave it to Adam. When they went beyond the word of God, they immediately knew shame and fear and hid from God. The sadness in God’s heart was that with all he had given them, Adam and Eve demanded more.

God has always sought the good of His creation. Temptation comes from the lusts of the heart when men turn their hearts away from the bounty of God’s love. Sin brings its own destruction. Because of their rebellion, Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden without the Tree of Life. Eternal life could only be given in the garden, where God provided all things good. Disobedience to the will of the Lord brought about consequences. Pain, suffering, sorrow, and trials come about because of sin. God did not abandon man but provided the best of all things so humanity could find its way back to the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the answer to how a man finds God. There is no greater gift. Salvation is given by the grace of God to redeem sinful man. The consequences of sin come from the actions of humanity, not God. Temptation does not come from God because sin comes from the evil one. No man can blame God for sin or temptation because the Lord cannot be tempted by evil. When men suffer, they realize their sorrow to their own shame. It is man who is to blame for falling prey to temptation. God does not and will not tempt anyone.

Everything God does is for the good of humankind. The sun rises on the just and the unjust, and rain falls on the land of the righteous and the unrighteous. Life is given by the hand of God to all people in all nations, regardless of who they are. The word of God has always been given to man to show him the way to the Father. No man can stand before God and blame the Divine for not knowing the word of God. The evidence of the Creator is clearly seen in the invisible attributes of the world and then through the written word. Contained within the Bible is everything a man needs to know to be saved.

God is a merciful, compassionate Father who does not want anyone to perish. He longs for His creation to seek Him and obey him. Everything God does is for the good of man, but that day will come to an end. Salvation is found in the now because a day is coming when the Father will no longer be the Savior but the judge. In the day God becomes the judge, He will announce to the unrighteous they are condemned. The sentence of eternal punishment is because of the sin of man, and no man will blame God. All the condemned will know the righteous judgment of God and that punishment is just. The redeemed will enjoy the pleasures of eternal glory prepared by a loving Father to those who obey Him. God seeks your good. Obey Him and receive His goodness.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

Taking Time In The Morning

David was a man of prayer. He was also a man who used each day with purpose and design. David lived three thousand years ago, but his life was not unlike what men find today in the busy rush of life. The challenge of life is how best to run the ‘rat race,’ meaning there are so many things that vie for time and energy. Being the king of Israel would be no exception. Tending sheep for his father was consuming. David was a busy man. What made a difference in his life was how he began his day.

God created the world in days beginning with morning and ending with evening. Every morning is a fresh page of opportunities, challenges, battles, victories, and plans. Satan begins his day earlier than man begins his. The devil has plans and schemes to destroy the souls of God’s people. Anyone who begins the day unarmed is preparing to die. Satan is a formidable foe that must not be underestimated. David began his day with morning devotion to God. The morning was the key element to his defense and attack against Satan. He would spend time in the word of God and prayer. While Paul would not fully describe what David was doing until he wrote to the church at Ephesus, what David was doing was putting on the armor of God.

The morning is the beginning. It is the time of preparation. David knew the value of preparing himself for the day. There would be challenges in his life. Decisions must be made to glorify God. Temptations will be battled. Most days will end in victory, but the days of defeat will cost the most. David began his day in the morning with God. The morning is when the face opens to the grace of God, seeking His divine blessings. There is no better time than the first rays of sunlight gleaming on a new day to seek the Lord.

David promises God that he will petition him in the morning. His voice will be heard in the halls of the eternal presence of God. Everything in his life will be directed toward the Lord. Through prayer and devotion to the word of God, David tuned his heart to be ready for the day. As he walked through the activities of his life, he looked up to the Lord for guidance and direction. He begins this process in the morning so that he can thank God for his love and protection in the evening. Without the morning, there would be no joy in the evening.

The challenge for the child of God is to know the peace that comes when the day begins with God. Like David, many things consume our lives with busy schedules, kids going to school, tasks to be completed, projects to work on, and a lengthy list of things that overwhelm the soul. Beginning the morning without God is planning to fail. Satan is no different today than when he attacked David. The devil’s ploys are just as vicious now as they have always been. If a man leaves his home in the morning without putting on the armor of God (not sure why he would ever take it off), he will die, and he will die ugly.

Pray the prayer of David. Tell God He will hear your voice in the morning. Assure the Lord you will direct your life to His will on this day. Promise your Father that you will look to Him for guidance and direction as you go through your day. Talk to God throughout the day. Meditate on the word of God throughout the day from what you considered that morning. Spend the day seeking opportunities to glory God. Share your faith so that others can see Christ living in you. Begin the day in the morning with God. Then, God will carry you through your day.