The Heaton File

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

When A Man Thinks He Is Wise

Pride is one of the triads of foolish mistakes all men make when they look at themselves in the mirror. Charles C. Colton wrote, “Of all the marvelous works of the Deity, perhaps there is nothing that the angels behold with such supreme astonishment as a proud man.” The apostle Paul reminded the carnal hearts of the Corinthians that their division of human wisdom was folly compared to the majesty of Jehovah God. Wisdom is much sought out worldwide as men seek to exalt themselves beyond measure. The world’s knowledge has built great monuments, achieved remarkable accomplishments, unlocked secrets of the unknown, and explored the vast universe as no generation before. There is much for human wisdom to boast but compared to the wisdom of God, there is not even a comparison at the atomic level. God’s wisdom is so far above the foolishness of human wisdom.

Men deceive themselves when they boast of their wisdom. Great men declare monumental truths. In every age, the wisdom of the world seeks to exalt itself above the nature of the Divine. And in every generation, the exaltation of human wisdom fails – without exception. The greatest wisdom a man can possess is when he sees himself as the fool that he is compared to the Creator and Maker of the world. What can man create or accomplish that can apex the work of God? Where has the vaulted wisdom of humanity made the plight of man one whit better than the smallest fragment of divine wisdom? Could the Shakespearean wisdom of man create the divine story of Jesus of Nazareth? What principles of human wisdom can find greater worth than the pages of holy writ?

Eliphaz the Temanite was correct when he answered Job that God’s and man’s ways are not the same. God can frustrate the plans of humanity, defeat their schemes, make void the counsels of human wisdom, and do so without any effort. The wisdom of the world is nothing but foolishness as the Divine potter forms the clay to His will. When can man make himself taller than God? The psalmist answers the highest thoughts of men are fruitless and vain. When a man thinks himself wise, he becomes a fool.

The wisdom of the world seeks to destroy the wisdom of God. For two thousand years, the world has rejected the final revelation of the Lord as useless. The Bible represents the complete mind of God revealed to all men for every generation in every place. Nothing can compare to the message of the sixty-six books of divine knowledge filling God’s heavenly library. Anything written by men is foolish and empty. There is only one divine truth, and that is contained in the Bible and the Bible alone. Adding to the divine word will fail. Taking away from the word of God will fail. All men will fail when they embrace the wisdom of the world over the knowledge of God. In the end, men are found to be foolish and God divine.

Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding— these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes. (Nehemiah 10:28-29)

The Nethinim

There is little known about a class of people called the Nethinim, which appear in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Hebrew tradition suggests that Ezra wrote the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles, which reference the Nethinim. Appearing only eighteen times in scripture, the Nethinim are included with the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and singers of temple worship. The function of the Nethinim was the menial tasks of servitude in helping the priests and Levites carry out their work. These were the lowly servants doing the common labor jobs in temple worship. Someone had to do the undesirable jobs, and the Nethinim were tasked with the work.

The Bible tells the stories of great men like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Isaiah. Families like the sons of Jacob fill the pages of holy writ. Everyone knows the stories about the flood, the Hebrews crossing the Red Sea, God giving the commandments to Israel, and the conquest of Canaan. David’s courage before Goliath is imprinted in the minds of everyone. Great prophets like Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah stir the souls of the people of God with power and victory. The return of Israel from bondage, the building of the temple, and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem complete the story of the people of God in the Old Testament. In the midst of all these great stories are a people called the Nethinim that God chose to preserve in the divine record. Their work was menial, hard, and lowly, but God knew them, and He kept their name for all generations to read and take note of.

Nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord. Without the divine record, the Nethinim would have never been known. Their knowledge in the world is firmly established in the record of God’s word. The work they did was not glorious or rewarding. It is doubtful that many Hebrews aspired to grow up and become a Nethinim. There were probably as many Nethinim who longed to be a Levite, priest, or someone of notable character. The lot of Nethinim was to serve, and God took note. Reading the Bible always brings fascinating revelations, especially when the nuggets of God’s hand strike across a page with a simple reference to the Nethinim. Who were they, and what was their story? So little is known about them, but after 2500 years, their names are still on the lips of those who read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

There are a lot of Nethinim in the church today. They may not have the more visible works in the church or names to be remembered. What is a joy to find are the quiet servants working in the kingdom doing what they can to help. It may be menial jobs of cleaning the building, printing and preparing class material, setting the Lord’s Supper in its proper place, working the vast array of electronics to carry the message to the world, mowing the grass, or sweeping off the sidewalks. There are many Nethinim that take food to the needy, help others make their doctor appointments, write cards and letters to the downtrodden, and show the glory of God by finding their place in the assembly every time the doors are open. God remembered the work of the Nethinim through the ages and knew the names of all His faithful who quietly go about their work in the kingdom. These modern-day Nethinim will not have their names listed in the Bible, but they do have their names written in the Book of Life. God knows who you are. Thank you.

And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. (Acts 7:9-10)

In The Face Of Trial, God Was With Him

Joseph is a story of incredible virtue with amazing courage to face life’s most difficult trials. The story of Job is examined for the enormous burden placed upon a man of God, but Joseph faced his reality at the age of seventeen. He was the favored son of a doting father, born into wealth and privilege and destined for greatness. Before Joseph could find his day in the sun, he had to face the darkest trials any man must face. Jacob sent his beloved son to check on the older brothers when they turned on him, wanting to kill him. Reuben interceded before the murderous plan could take place, but while he was gone, the brothers sold Joseph to a caravan of slave traders bound for Egypt.

The hatred of the brothers of Joseph came from their envy of him. He was the favored son and considered blessed because of certain visions and dreams he had received. They hated him so much that they could not speak peaceably to him. When the brothers found Joseph coming to them in Dothan, they planned to kill him and see what became of his dreams. Reuben interceded, hoping to return Joseph to his father. While the elder brother was gone, Joseph was sold for twenty shekels of silver, and Joseph was taken to Egypt.

Life for Joseph was hard and difficult. The journey to Egypt was an arduous journey chained as a slave before being sold on the slave market as a piece of flesh. His work at Potiphar’s house was demeaning and humiliating. Joseph kept his faith in God, believing the Lord had a plan for his life. In time, he showed his fidelity to honesty and was placed in charge of the household. After Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce the young man and failed, she accused him of attempted rape, and Joseph was cast into the king’s prison. He languished again in dark days, but faith helped him rise above his trials. He was in charge of the prison and had free reign to oversee the king’s prison.

One day, two prisoners were brought into the prison. The butler and the baker of Pharaoh had displeased him and were put into the prison where Joseph was. The butler and baker each had a dream, and Joseph was able to tell them the interpretation. As determined by the word of the Lord through Joseph, the butler was restored, but the baker was hanged. Joseph had begged the men to remember him and find a way to release him, but after two years, the butler had forgotten what Joseph had done. The butler remembered the man in prison when Pharaoh had a dream and could not determine its meaning. Joseph explained the dream to Pharaoh and, as a reward, was released from prison and made second in command of all of Egypt.

It was more than twenty-two years from when Joseph was sold by his brothers, and he walked out of the Egyptian prison. For much of his early life, Joseph lived under the dark cloud of trials that would have broken most men. But God was with Joseph. The blessings of the Lord overshadowed the heart of Joseph, who walked each day in his darkness, trusting in the will of his heavenly Father. Joseph would later recount to his brothers how he saw all that happened to him as the working of God in his life. Those dark days of trial made Joseph a stronger man because he trusted in the will of the Lord. Joseph’s trials were not easy, and he did not enjoy them. What makes the story of Joseph victorious is he never gave up on God, and God never gave up on him. Dark days come. Trust the Lord. There is always a bright day when the heart trusts in the power of God.

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1)

Teaching False Doctrine

The early church had to bridge a difficult challenge of doctrine. When the Lord appeared to Abraham to establish a divine covenant, circumcision was the sign of the bond between God and the children of Abraham. Under the Law of Moses, circumcision was required without exception. To be cast out of the favor of the Lord was to be uncircumcised. Every male child was circumcised on the eighth day. When Jesus was eight days old, He was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Only the Jews were required to be circumcised as recipients of the Law of Moses. Gentiles who proselyted into the Jewish faith were required to be circumcised, but only if they were willing to be subject to the Mosaic Law. Outside of the Law of Moses, circumcision was not required.

Jesus came to bring Jew and Gentile together as one. The Gentile was justified by faith, and the Jew found justification under the law. Both avenues of salvation could not take away the stain of sin. In the death of Jesus, the Son of God reconciled Jew and Gentile together through His blood, thereby establishing the gospel of Christ as the means of salvation. In the early church, many Jews could not let go of circumcision as a means of salvation. The controversy heated up to where many were teaching that without circumcision, there could be no salvation. This doctrine of salvation by baptism and circumcision was false teaching without God’s authority. For the Jew, circumcision was the sign of the covenant, and many were unwilling to accept that God had taken it out of the way. Circumcising a child on the eighth day was not a sin; binding circumcision as a means of salvation was a sin.

The controversy over circumcision illustrates the problem that faces the church in clarifying the reality of false doctrine. Binding law where the Lord never bound is sinful. Teaching doctrines that are not according to the gospel of Jesus Christ is false doctrine. Adding to the word of God is forbidden. The early Jews tried to bind circumcision as a covenant of grace that God never allowed. Paul never taught the necessity of circumcision for salvation because it was not true. He asked Timothy to be circumcised because the Jews in the region knew Timothy’s father was a Greek. Titus was not required to be circumcised. Convincing the first-century Jew that circumcision was unnecessary was a stern message to accept. It became equally hard to remind many of the Jews that teaching salvation by circumcision was false.

Satan tries hard to destroy the souls of those seeking after the Lord. He spins a web of false doctrine to convince the unprepared soul to believe in something untrue. The result is the soul is lost. Teaching false doctrine has eternal consequences. Accepting a false dogma can bring about eternal ruin. One of the greatest tools in the arsenal of the devil is to convince men he does not exist and that there is no such thing as false doctrine. He has effectively created a ‘religious world’ with as many beliefs as Breyers Ice Cream. Everyone gets to choose and pick what church they want to be a part of and how to believe the Bible. In a world of religious diversity, there is no unity among believers in Christ. Churches bear different names by followers who wear distinctive names accepting doctrines not found in the word of God. And no one seems to believe false doctrine is real.

The early church faced the false doctrine of salvation by circumcision. There are many teachings today that are untrue. The eternal result of false doctrine is false hope and a false promise. There is one truth, and that truth must come from the pages of God’s word. Men may say that a difference in interpretation is a blessing from God, but that is the siren voice of the deceiver who placates the unsuspecting soul to accept what is clearly false. Does it matter what a person believes as long as he is honest? There were none so honest as the Jews who said that they could not be saved unless a man is circumcised – and they were wrong. Do not believe something because of what a man says or what you have believed all your life. Believe what God says and demand nothing less.

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.