The Heaton File

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

What You Know Perfectly

The expectation of a child is an incredible experience. For nine months, the child grows inside the womb in a marvelous and wonderful way. There are the initial signs of pregnancy, some good, some bad. The woman’s body begins to change as it adapts to the miraculous birth process. As the child grows to full term and begins to move around with little kicks and hiccups, the wonder of the new birth intensifies. One of the certainties of pregnancy is the uncertainty of when birth will occur. Doctors will make predictions of when the child is to be born, but the timing of birth is unknown. And then it happens. Pain begins to set in, and birth begins unexpectantly, suddenly, and forcefully. There is no turning back. Without warning, a child enters the world.

Before the advent of modern medicine, birthing was not as predictable. It came suddenly, and it came with pain. Lots of pain. The cycle of life has continued unabated since Adam and Eve witnessed the birth of the first human being and called his name, Cain. Nothing has changed the process in its simplest form as life comes through the avenue of birth. God created woman to be the only agency that birth can happen in the human condition. The apostle Paul uses a woman’s pregnancy to show the sureness of another great and unexpected event – the second return of Jesus Christ.

There have been myriads of pundits who have declared they know when the Lord will return. In the centuries since the resurrection of God’s Son, men have tried to determine the time of Christ’s return. All have failed because Jesus said that He does not know. If the Son of God does not know when He is to return, how futile a man to exalt himself above Christ. The coming of Jesus will be like a woman with child who cannot know the moment of birth. Interestingly, Paul tells the saints at Thessalonica they knew perfectly when the day of the Lord would be. He does not suggest they knew of the timing of the return since two thousand years have passed and the Lord has yet to return. The Thessalonians knew perfectly that the coming of the Lord was without warning.

In the analogy of pregnancy, everyone knows perfectly well that the day of birth comes suddenly, like a thief in the night. When a person least expects a child to be born, labor starts. The saints knew that Jesus would come without warning. There will be no sixth sense like the animals possess when something cataclysmic is about to happen. Even the animals will not know when Jesus returns. The certainty of the coming of Christ is uncertain, making the knowledge of His unexpectant coming a certainty. When everyone lives in a manner that all is well and nothing can change the world, that is when the Lord comes. They will say everything is peaceful and secure, but then disaster will fall on them because they were unprepared for the coming of the Lord. A pregnant woman knows her day of delivery will come, and that day is certain. She will not know when that day comes, but she lives every day with the evident knowledge that day will happen.

Christians must impregnate their hearts with the reality that Jesus Christ will return one day, and that day will be sudden and without warning. A woman prepares for her day of delivery. The child of God prepares his life to accept the day when the Lord returns. There is a sense in which the Lord returns more often than many know. God will destroy the world one day, and everything known to man will be gone. Jesus will return, and judgment will be given. However, the day of the Lord also can be described as the day of death when the final chapter of life is written. Death is unexpectant and final. Every man and woman should live for the coming of Jesus Christ, but they must also live for the reality of the coming of death. Both will happen, and both will have eternal consequences. Regardless of whether the Lord comes today or death takes life – be ready. The times and seasons of life are known to all men. You know perfectly well the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

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

Confidence In The Saints

There are many traits desired for the children of God, and Paul illuminates three of those in his letter to the saints in Rome. While the letter is a heavy, doctrinal treatise of difficult subjects directed toward justification by faith in the atoning work of Christ, the apostle finishes his letter with strong admonitions to offer one’s life as a living sacrifice to God. Included in his final thoughts are three commendations that should frame the life of every Christian. Paul is confident in the Roman saints to exhibit three characteristics that will help build up the local church and help saints grow in Christ. It is important to identify a sense of confidence in others to exhort them to keep the faith. Many things are seeking to discourage the spirits of God’s people. Satan knows that if he can cause despair in the hearts of the saved, he can have sway in their lives. Paul would have none of it. He was confident in the Roman Christians. In his letter, he told them he was persuaded and convinced they could be examples of faith. The Roman saints needed to know that Paul had that kind of trust in their measure of faith. Emboldened by this courageous spirit, the church in Rome could abound in good works.

Paul uses three admonitions to strengthen the faith of the Christians. He knew they were full of goodness. The saints in Rome were kind, benevolent, and ready to do the work of the Lord with love. There was a spirit of unity in the Roman church because of the goodness they had for one another and their concern for others. The gospel spread to the household of Caesar as a direct result of the goodness of the Roman brethren. Paul does not commend the brethren because of their goodness but how full they were to show goodness to all men. The world is dark and foreboding, with little kindness and goodness shown to one another. One of the hallmarks of the Christian faith is the goodness that fills the hearts of its people. The world needs to see a congregation filled with love, goodness, benevolence, and concern. Individual Christians in a community can do much to bring people to Christ when they show goodness at the workplace, in stores, in the neighborhood, and in family life.

Secondly, Paul commends the Roman saints for being filled with all knowledge. He did not suggest they did not need more knowledge, but they were known as ‘people of the book.’ It was evident in the Roman church that the saints loved God’s word and thrived upon its precepts and principles. The spirit of devotion was fully evident in their knowledge of the truth. They continued to hunger and thirst for the word of God. Paul’s letter was a tough discipline of divine law, but these saints had proven themselves worthy of taking his letter and making themselves better because of it. Paul wrote a challenging book in the Roman letter, but he had confidence in how the brethren would receive his letter. There was a time the Lord’s church was known as people of the book who knew much about its content. Sadly, that no longer seems to be the case. One of the great needs in the church is for the members to be filled with all knowledge. The Roman church must be a pattern for the modern church to follow.

Finally, Paul commends the Roman saints for their love for one another. He commends their spirit of admonishing one another. Being filled with goodness and all knowledge, the saints showed the love of God with their love for another. At the end of his letter, Paul mentions thirty-five saints who had encouraged and exhorted him. He knew how important those relationships of congregational unity are to the cause of Christ when brethren dwell together in harmony. The church in Rome was made up of people who did not get easily offended by others. They enjoyed helping one another grow in Christ, building one another up in the faith, and sharing the gospel with others. If there was a need for correction, the saints accepted the admonition gracefully. Teaching was done in love, and the acceptance of instruction was received with love. The Roman church was a spiritual bastion of goodness, knowledge, and love. Something we should all strive for.

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore! (Psalm 105:3-4)

Seek The Lord

God created man in His image to be near Him and to draw men to Him. As a loving Father, the Lord God longs to be with His creation and fill him with all the divine blessings of mercy, grace, and love. When God formed man from the dust of the ground, He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Man was alone in the garden, and the Lord created the woman. Eden was a paradise with every need of Adam and Eve fully met and overflowing. Nothing was lacking. The seasons change the face of the earth with each passing year as the sun, moon, and stars dominate the heavens. Life is a cycle put in motion by the hand of God to give humanity all they need to be happy and find joy.

Through the grace of God, the Son of God came to earth to become a humble servant. Jesus lived as all men sharing in the fleshly body, experiencing all the trials and temptations of the carnal spirit. He brought healing to untold multitudes and instilled a spirit of devotion to those who would follow His Father. Unjustly, Jesus was rejected by the Jews and killed on a Roman cross. Jesus never sinned. He never failed in His relationship with His Father. Jesus finished the work God sent Him to do. Through the power of the resurrection, God promised that salvation would come to those who believed Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Luke records the story of the acts of the apostles where thousands obeyed the gospel call of the resurrection message. After two thousand years, the same story and the message of hope are found in Jesus Christ.

The Son of God came to earth to open the way of salvation to all who would come. It is here that the real story of humanity begins. God has always provided a means of salvation, whether in the days of Noah, Abraham, Moses, or the prophets. Jesus came to open the doors of eternity to those who would accept His blood as the sacrifice of redemption. The Bible declares the whole counsel of God without reservation. What is lacking and why so many souls have not accepted God’s saving grace is they refuse to seek the Lord. God has provided everything a man needs to be saved, but without the heart of the man seeking the way of the Lord, there can be and will be no salvation.

Salvation does not come without seeking. The glory of the name of God is when hearts rejoice in seeking after His will—seeking after God means to search for Him and to seek to do His will. It is not a passive activity where God will come to man. It is man that must come to God. There is nothing left for God to do than what He has done. Truth and righteousness will only come to those who seek the Lord and His strength and seek the face of God. A spirit of longing moves the heart to seek after God. If a man is apart from God, it is man that has moved, not God. Seek the Lord and find the blessings of eternal life. Refuse to seek Him, and He will refuse you.

And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem but did not see the king’s face. Therefore, Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. So, he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ‘ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.” So, Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom. (2 Samuel 14:28-33)

Set The Field On Fire

King David had more than twenty children. His son Absalom, whom he bore by Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, was one of his most troubling sons. Much of the conflict in the family of David came as a consequence of the sin with Bathsheba. Absalom’s trouble with his father was pride and arrogance as he sought to overthrow his father from being king. He was a remarkable specimen of a good-looking man, praised by others and recognized for his beautiful long hair. He only cut his hair once a year, and when he weighed it out, it weighed nearly five pounds.

Absalom had a sister, Tamar (the only named daughter of David). One of David’s sons by his second wife, Ahinoam, had raped Tamar and cast her out. His name was Amnon. David was very angry at what Amnon had done but took no action against him. After two years, Absalom arranged with his servants to kill his half-brother when the men were gathered for the shearing of the sheep. Absalom fled to Geshur, home of his mother’s people, where he remained for three years. After this time, David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, but the king did not want to see his face. For two years, Absalom lived in Jerusalem and never saw his father. He had three sons and a daughter whom he named Tamar.

After two years, Absalom desired to see the king. He sent a message to Joab to seek an audience with the king. Joab refused. Absalom sent a request a second time, and Joab again refused. After the second denial, Absalom instructed his servants to burn Joab’s field of barley, which was next to his own. The plan worked as Joab came to Absalom seeking answers for the burning of his field. Joab went to David, and Absalom was allowed to stand in the king’s presence when David forgave his son. All of this was a ruse to allow Absalom to return to the graces of his father so he could overthrow him. The treason of Absalom deeply grieved David and caused the king to flee Jerusalem. Absalom’s attempt to overthrow his father failed, and he was killed by Joab when his long hair was caught in the boughs of a terebinth tree, and he was unable to free himself.

There is much to be said about Absalom and his vain attempts to find glory among men. His intense vanity would lead to his death. But Absalom understood the nature of men and how to get their attention. A small part of the story is when he burns Joab’s barley field. Joab had a good reason is ignore the son of the king. David had forbidden Absalom to come into his presence. Joab’s actions were probably not noble or devoted to his king, but he refused the request of Absalom on two occasions. It was not until Absalom burned his field of barley that Joab acted.

Whether for good or bad, sometimes it takes the burning of a barley field to get the attention of men. Barley was a much-desired commodity, and burning the field would have substantial economic consequences. It would also demonstrate the resolve of Absalom. The story revolves around the vanity of Absalom and his pride, but there are lessons from the burning field. Joab refused to acknowledge Absalom until the field was burned. That event sent Joab into action. There are times in life when nothing short of a field burning will men turn and see the message of God. But not always. Some have experienced life-changing events that should lead them to the Lord, but it does not.

Everyone needs a few fields burned in their lives. While there is a high cost to losing a barley field, some good can come from it. Life can be filled with things that challenge the soul. There are stories of great men and women of God who faced insurmountable odds and made their faith stronger. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah faced a furnace of fire and stayed faithful to God. Peter faced his barley field and failed when he denied the Lord three times. However, the experience did not destroy him as it did Judas. Peter grew from his barley field and became one of the most devoted saints of the early church. Saul of Tarsus thought he was doing the will of God until the Lord set his field on fire. Then Saul set the world on fire as an apostle of Jesus Christ. What fields are burning in your life? They are difficult trials, but God wants us to use our fields to draw closer to Him. Sometimes God calls His people with a gentle voice, and then there are times when the barley field is lit. Trust God. He loves you.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

The Constant Change Of Life

If there is one thing certain about life, it is that life is not certain. Some days go as planned, and some days fall off track. The best-laid plans of mice and men often favor the critter rather than the creation. Life is filled with change. What one expects on this day will not happen on the next. A purpose in life can be changed in a heartbeat. The advice of Solomon is not that life is without meaning, but the wise man will see that life changes are for good. Most people want constants in their lives, and few find them. Not all changes are bad. There is a time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted, which shows the evolution of life that harvest cannot come without planting. Some changes are hard. There is a time to be born, and there is a time to die.

Change is real. There is nothing that can be done about the changes in life because it happens. The body experiences transformations, and all the vitamins, exercise, and healthy eating will not keep a man from disease and death. Fortunes can be lost in a moment. Jobs thought to be secure are destroyed. Joys come suddenly in the announcement of an unexpected pregnancy. Greater opportunities are realized. Loveless lives find love. Unexpected reconciliations find peace in one another. Life is a constant roller-coaster of change, from good to not-so-good things.

The examination of life by Solomon was to remind men that life is never the same and seldom what is expected. Viewing life from the lens of divine understanding helps a soul maneuver the constantly changing river of life. God created man to live in a changing world. Without change, man is nothing. Learning to cope with the many parts of life builds the character of strength. It gives purpose to living. True peace is found by those who embrace change and make life a better place because of change, not in spite of it. The gospel is based on change. If a heart cannot change to accept the grace of God, there can be no hope. Each day is a measure of molding the heart to fit more closely to the will of God – change. When life takes a dark turn, God gives direction and purpose. The man Job experienced incredible change, but he never cursed God and blamed God.

When the winds of change blow across the bow, adjust the sails and allow the Lord to guide the heart to new lands and opportunities. Always look for the good that can come out of any situation. Let change positively influence your life to be a better person and a devoted disciple of Christ. Nothing that comes upon the world will change the love of God. The Lord is always faithful and will never forsake His people. Life may change but not the Lord. He is the only true constant and truth that will never change. There is a time for everything under the heavens, and there is a God who holds time in His hand. Trust in Him and allow His love to guide your heart.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. (1 Samuel 1:1-7)

She Never Gave Up On God

One of the great heroines of scripture is Hannah, mother of the last judge of Israel, Samuel. The life of Hannah was filled with disappointment and pain. She was one of two wives to Elkanah, which by its nature would gender jealousy. To make matters worse, Hannah could not bear children. Her rival, Peninnah, had sons and daughters, but not so for Hannah. She desired to give her husband a child, but the Lord had closed her womb. Peninnah was a vindictive woman who continually gave grief to Hannah for being childless. A woman’s identity was rooted in the blessing of giving her husband a child. To be childless was considered a shameful thing. Elkanah loved Hannah more than Peninnah and showered a double portion on Hannah. Still, Hannah had no children.

It was difficult for Hannah to see the children of Peninnah running around the home when she was barren. Peninnah made a point of making Hannah’s life miserable with taunts about her being barren and making fun of her. The grief of being childless did not diminish Hannah’s love for God. She wept over her condition, but she did not blame the Lord. Her life was filled with misery and complaint. Walking around the market, Hannah would feel the piercing eyes of those who looked upon her childless condition. Tongues would wag from gossipers who whispered unkind things about Elkanah’s wife, who could not give her husband children. Hannah endured societal shame and remained faithful to her love for God.

Elkanah tried to reassure Hannah, but he did not understand why Hannah was childless. Her affliction was tragic, and Elkanah tried to be a loving and kind husband. Nothing seemed to change the story. Hannah remained barren. In the face of her trial, Hannah went up to the house of the Lord year by year. She pled her case to God. Her faith did not waver in believing God would bless her. There was no guarantee she would have a child. Many women remained childless and died, never giving their husbands an heir. Hannah was unsure if God would bless her with a child. She kept her faith. Worship was very special to her; she kept her faith and love for God. Her life was hard, empty, and filled with adversity, and she never turned away from the promise of the Lord. God would bless Hannah with four sons and two daughters. Her first son, Samuel, was dedicated to the Lord, becoming one of the great judges of Israel. Hannah’s faith ‘won the day’ as she continued to worship the Lord and praise Him.

It is easy when life is unfair to turn away from God. Many have faced great adversity and seek solace in the world rather than drawing closer to God. Hannah faced the greatest challenge of her life and never turned away from God. Nothing guaranteed she would have children. She kept her love for God. Her faith did not waver. She worshiped the Lord year by year at the house of God. Faith is strongest when times are hard, and answers are unknown. The Lord does not change. He promises blessings to the faithful, but sometimes those blessings have to wait for eternity. Hannah did not give up on God, and He did not give up on her.

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)

Judgment And Praise

The desire to please others derives its seed from the carnal nature of man’s need to be accepted. It is important what others think. Peer pressure comes from a yearning to belong, to be accepted as equals, and to be judged favorably through the eyes of others. Many spend their whole lives trying to please others, fearful of what the world thinks of them and how the world judges them. They are never true to themselves as they seek to mold every fiber of their identification to what the world wants. At the end of life, they realize too late that the finicky vacillations of the world can never be pleased, and all they seek to gain is lost. All that is left is a life wasted on the altar of pride to please a world that cares very little and just as quickly dismisses them. Seeking judgment from the world is an exercise in futility and despair. Desiring praise from the world is but for a moment and then forgotten.

Paul recognized the only true worth of judgment and praise comes from God. Many judged Paul harshly, attaching him as an apostle, preacher, and steward of the will of God. The world’s judgments mattered little to Paul because he knew the proper judgment of his worth came from the Lord. The apostle tells the Corinthians it mattered little what they thought of him as he wrote a very difficult letter to a church filled with carnality, division, immorality, and rebellion. His letter was firm and decisive, with hard teachings that would offend most. Paul did not shy away from telling the Corinthians what they needed to hear and boldly addressed the glaring problems at Corinth. If harsh judgments were to be leveled against the apostle, he would only accept what the Lord judged.

The apostle Paul also recognized that he was not the authority for judgment for himself. It is easy for a man to judge himself righteous by his own standards, but this is a failed theology. Paul said he did not trust his judgment of himself. He knew his judgments were flawed. What he may think is the right way may not be what the Lord desires, so Paul admitted he could not make those decisions apart from God. It takes a lot of courage to acknowledge that self can be wrong. Paul would not be judged by others, and he did not rely upon his own wisdom to justify himself. He knew that righteous judgment could only come from the Lord. No matter what a man thinks of himself, God judges without partiality. It is the Lord himself that will examine a man and decide whether he is righteous or not.

True righteousness comes from the will of the Lord, and all righteous judgment will come from the Lord. When all things are considered before the throne of God, the hidden things will be revealed, and all the private motives of the heart will be laid bare before the divine Judge. If any praise is given, it will come from God. There will be no man standing on the final day to give an account of praise to another. All men will bow before the great I AM, seeking His praise and praise alone. Kings and servants will be the same, rich and poor will be judged, and all men will be equal before God – they will be considered unprofitable servants. Praise comes from God, who knows all and understands the heart of every man. Only God will give men the praise they deserve. If they do not receive praise, they will receive condemnation. The judgment of God is pure. No one will be judged who will not deserve what they receive.

Never fear what other men judge and determine to be right or wrong. Seeking the praise of men is an empty life. The only judgment that matters is what the Lord thinks, and the only praise worthy of consideration is the praise that comes from God. Living for the praise of men will bring heartache. Seeking the righteous judgment of the Lord and living for the praise of God will give eternal life. Judgment and praise must come from God.

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:11)

The Scythians

Colosse was located in the southwest part of modern Turkey, near Laodicea and Hierapolis and about one hundred miles east of Ephesus. It is possible Paul established the church during his third missionary journey. In the New Testament times, the city of Colosse was a relatively insignificant city with nothing to claim as special to the Roman world. What made Colosse important were the saints and faithful brethren that made up those in Christ in Colosse. Paul’s letter to the Colossians is the most Christ-centered epistle of the New Testament. One of the key messages of the letter is how the church of Christ is made up of contrasting people who seem unlikely to unite under one cause.

Paul encourages the saints at Colosse to seek those things above and put on the character of Jesus Christ. The world was filled with sexual immorality, evil desire, covetousness, and the things of the flesh. Saints must hide themselves in Christ to show Christ in their lives. Setting oneself apart from the world means stopping acting like the world. Christians should not be known for wrathful, angry, and crude language. Their behavior rises above the sensual nature of the pagan world. In the church, relationships are bonded together as one that could never be accomplished outside the grace of God. In the body of Christ, all men are one.

It is hard to understand the change in the early church. Paul reminds the saints that in Christ, everyone is the same. When the church assembled in Colosse, Jews and Gentiles would sit next to one another and sing together. That was unheard of in the world. Jews had little dealings with Gentiles, and the Gentiles refused to acknowledge the Jews. In the church of Christ, racial distinctions are removed. This is further clarified by Paul’s reference to those circumcised and uncircumcised. The new man makes no distinction. Racial and social differences are eliminated. All are the same in the body of Christ as the new man of grace loves men for who they are: fellow sinners in need of grace.

Paul mentions the barbarians who were part of the church. A barbarian was someone who spoke a foreign language from the far reaches beyond the Roman empire. There was contempt for the hordes that lived outside the spread of Roman civility. In the church of Christ, no distinction is made. Is it possible Paul refers to something that happened in the church at Colosse, that people from the outskirts of the empire were part of the kingdom? Was it possible to worship with a barbarian? Paul includes the Scythians from the southern steppes of Russia. Could they have been part of the church? Whether they were or not, in the kingdom of God, Jews and Gentiles, barbarians and Scythians, and civilized and uncivilized, could worship together in harmony and truth.

A modern twist to the reference of the Scythians is that in 2022 the region referred to by Paul is highlighted by the conflict between the Russians and the Ukrainians. In other words, it is possible, in the grace of Christ, to have Russians worshiping with Ukrainians under the umbrella of God’s mercy and forgiveness. The power of the gospel can make that change. In the wisdom of men, the only thing that can be found is the spirit of conflict and war with the Russians and Ukrainians. The relationship between the two countries is hatred and death. In the church, united under the blood of Christ and the power of forgiveness, the church in Colosse could see Russian and Ukrainian joining spiritual hands in worship as they sang together, prayed together, remembered the sacrifice of Jesus, and listened to the word of God together. Scythians can go to heaven. That is how much God loves all men. Amazing.

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:12-13)

Leaving A Legacy

Great men seek to leave great legacies. From the ancient Pharoah of Egypt who built colossal works preserved for thousands of years, to philanthropists of the modern age who leave millions of dollars to develop and maintain museums, theatres, charities, and parks, the obsessive need to leave a lasting legacy is found in the futile attempts for human immortality. The Pharaohs built pyramids, ancient kings constructed vast cities, despots created statutes and temples to honor their accomplishments, and museums filled with the antiquities of legacy-seeking men wanting to leave a part of their lives for generations. Sadly, in time, few people know the names of those who sought to establish a dynasty of remembrance for what they accomplished in life. Museums and temples crumble and fall, names are forgotten, and one man’s efforts to be remembered are lost in the dust pile of history.

What is a legacy? The heritage of a man’s life is limited to a small frame of time that is quickly forgotten. He can leave millions of dollars to preserve his memory, but he is soon forgotten. The futility of the human pursuit of immortal glory is the inability of humanity to maintain the story. Time washes away the name, the influence, the contribution, and the legacy. Everything a man works for is lost. J. Paul Getty left $661 million to a museum that bears his name that one day no one will know who he is, and the buildings housing his artwork will be destroyed. That is the fate of all things men build, and there is no lasting legacy. The Vanderbilt legacy of the Biltmore House will be gone one day, as will the legacy of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Hall. All of these philanthropic contributions have value but only for a short time. Legacies are short-lived.

John writes in the Revelation of a legacy that never dies. The early saints suffered under the oppressive hand of persecution. It seemed hopeless for the people of God, but there was a brighter day for those who remained faithful. Death did not diminish the power of the gospel but only enhanced it. Many of the early Christians died at the hand of persecution. Their faith and devotion to the Lord became a legacy that lived on in the lives of the church. Like the great chapter of faith in Hebrews, names became testimonies of faithfulness, devotion, holiness, and love for succeeding generations that still resonate today. Noah died thousands of years ago, but his story is on the lips of children who marvel at the story. Abraham has been buried for eons of time, and his story gives hope to troubled lives. The early Christians faced a harsh world, and yet the voice of Stephen still echoes in the halls of faith, and Paul’s courage to face death with a godly resolve is a lasting legacy.

All men must die. Many chose to fill their lives with building a legacy of human accomplishments, which is vanity. The greatest treasure a man can leave is the image of Jesus Christ. A father and mother who teach their children about God to serve the Lord all the days of their lives leave the greatest legacy a man can possess. There is a heavenly host of godly saints who, in death, left a lasting mark upon the hearts of God’s people through their legacy of faith. Many names are lifted up in honor that few people will know, but for the chosen few that were guided to Christ by that man or taught the Bible by that woman, a divine legacy of truth will never leave their hearts. Life insurance will only leave a monetary blessing that will be wasted and forgotten. The greatest gift given in death is the legacy of Jesus Christ. Their works will follow them. For many generations.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)

Miracles Were To Confirm The Word, Not Entertain

The age of so-called “Faith Healers” is not a new phenomenon. Deceiving the people with the allurement of the impossibility has always enticed the simple-minded to believe. There have been multitudes of men and women made famous for their trickeries and delusional antics of healing people through the work of the Holy Spirit. Charismatic churches thrive on the allure of speaking in tongues, casting out demons, and removing disease. The lame walk, the blind sees, and the troubled spirits are cast out; or so it seems. Events called “healing services” draw people in. Miracles are said to be done. Churches fill to capacity. The professional miracle wranglers become wealthy at the expense of the common man.

Jesus commissioned the eleven after His resurrection to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The apostles would become the tip of the spear in the work of evangelizing and establishing the church and kingdom of Jesus Christ. Twelve men would begin the global enterprise in the city of Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were endued with power from on high. This was not the first time they had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. During the ministry of Jesus, the Holy Spirit worked through the apostles to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. As Jesus returns to the Father, He sends the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide the apostles into all truth. Luke records the story of the acts of the apostles as they take the gospel to the world using miracles as confirmation the word.

Before Jesus returned to the Father, He told the eleven to tarry in the city of Jerusalem, where they would be endowed with power from on high. The eleven tarried in Jerusalem as instructed by the Lord; when on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the eleven and the newest apostle, Matthias. They began to speak in languages preaching the gospel to a multitude of devout Jews from every nation under heaven. The church had begun. Miracles were done. People believed. Souls were saved. Miracles were not the focus though. There were many miracles done by the hands of the apostles and those granted the power, but the emphasis of the early church was preaching the word. As the years progressed, fewer miracles were done because the gospel was becoming embedded into the world – until one day, the power of the Holy Spirit was removed from the hands of men. Miracles ceased. They no longer had a purpose.

The life of the apostle Paul best explains the purpose of miracles. He was a chosen vessel of the Lord to take the message of salvation to the Gentile world. Paul preached everywhere. He was relentless in his pursuit of lost souls. There were occasions when he would confirm his teaching with a miracle. But there were many instances where Paul could have used the power and did not. In the letter to the church at Philippi, Paul mentions Epaphroditus, who was sick almost unto death. God had mercy on Epaphroditus, and he recovered. Why did Paul not use his power to heal his dear brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier? Timothy had stomach problems, and Paul did not heal him. He advised his young protégé to seek medicinal relief. Paul suffered from illness. He tells Timothy he left Trophimus in Miletus sick. All these close friends and fellow workers of Paul and he would not heal them. Why? Miracles were limited to proving the word, not for the entertainment and benefit of others. There is no purpose to miracles today because God has delivered His will through one of the great miracles of divine grace: the Bible. Miracles do not save – the gospel of Jesus Christ does.