The Heaton File

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Nothing To Brag About

There is a little rooster in all men. The temptation to overvalue self-worth is a constant battle of the heart. Men look at themselves as self-sufficient and self-reliant upon their own merits without regard to others. Society touts the character of independence. There is a badge of honor to achieve success and to claim glory for achievements. Awards and commendations are given for great men accomplishing great things, which measures the wisdom of the human gene as superior. Pride creeps into man’s relationship with God, convincing a man’s heart that he is independent without the need of God. If there is anything to be accomplished and any glory to be achieved, man does so by his own power.

Salvation is a subject that few men understand, and fewer still see the need for. The persuasive power of a prideful heart is to believe that all is well on the Titanic. Since the fall in the garden, the human factor has been measured by disaster, decay, and despair. Everything tried by men failed. Human wisdom could not solve the human problem. The laws of men are empty vats of failed philosophies that never solve the issues of the world. Every generation seeks answers, and they come up empty. Jesus Christ came into a world of darkness and became the light of the world. He allowed humanity for the first time to see hope and believe in the impossible. Through His teaching, the wisdom of man was shown as folly. When Jesus died on the cross, human philosophy railed against the futility of a man dying on a tree. The cross became foolishness to the wisdom of the world. And then Sunday came, and the world was never the same.

On the first day of the week, God raised up His Son, Jesus Christ, and gave all men the one thing they desperately needed and desired: hope. Jesus overcame death and ushered in the path of righteousness to the throne of God. He lived a sinless, perfect life and was murdered by His own brethren. The chains of Hades could not hold Him, and God raised Him up to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, willing hearts could some to the cleansing blood of Jesus and have their sins washed away. Jew and Gentile alike could find salvation in the death of a man from Nazareth. The portals of heaven burst open by the power of God. And man had nothing to do with it.

Salvation by grace is the perfect gift of God. It is only because of a loving Father that anyone has any hope. There has never been a redeeming quality of man to suggest he could save himself. After the fall of man and the world began to fill with humanity, man left to himself destroyed himself. Only eight souls were saved when God brought judgment upon the whole earth. The grace of God saved Noah and his family. Noah would have perished with the world without the knowledge of the coming flood and what to do to be saved. God’s grace opened up a way of salvation, and eight souls obeyed.

No man could have created Jesus Christ. It is beyond man’s wisdom to create a character larger than himself. The Son of God is so far beyond the philosophies of men that there are no comparisons. Where in all the wisdom of humanity could a dying Savior find a place? There is none. God’s grace abounded toward men as His gift of love for His creation. What God did takes away anything man could brag about. What has any man done that deserves boasting? Nothing! The only way to salvation is grace, and without obedience, there is no hope. Faith without works is dead. When men stand before God in judgment, they will not be beating their breasts in boasting. They will be on their knees, thankful for the grace of God.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

Sheep In Need Of A Shepherd

It was not uncommon for multitudes to follow Jesus. On one occasion, there were five thousand men, not counting the women and children. The work of Jesus was exhausting. He traveled from the towns and villages dotting the landscape, teaching and preaching to the people. He would enter the local synagogues and teach the people. Not only did Jesus talk for endless hours, sharing the good news about the kingdom, but He also healed every kind of disease the people brought to Him. A man would come to the Lord imploring healing from a lifelong disease. He was healed immediately. Women would come with ailments, and they were cured. Mothers and fathers brought the children to be healed by the man from Nazareth, and the children returned home whole. Lepers were cleansed. The blind received sight. Jesus healed them all.

The work of Jesus was exhaustive. Thousands flocked to Jesus to hear his teaching and receive the wonder-working power of God’s healing. As the crowds came to Jesus, He looked at the multitudes filled with despair and hopelessness. They seemed confused and helpless. Jesus would spend hours teaching about the kingdom and healing all diseases, and the people kept coming. In a reflective moment of the work He was doing, Jesus realized the enormity of human suffering and the need for humanity to find hope. Jesus saw the multitudes as a flock of sheep that had no shepherd.

Sheep are defenseless creatures that cannot protect themselves and cannot provide for their needs. People are like that. No matter the advancement of human wisdom, the multitudes Jesus saw were the same as all creation. Sin took away the joy of life. Without guidance, the world implodes into chaos. The world of Noah had turned so far away from God because they sought to find answers within themselves. Jesus looked at the multitudes coming to Him filled with anxiety, despair, hopelessness, and disease. The Roman government offered no solutions. In the remnant of Israel, there were no answers. The wisdom of Plato and Socrates was empty. What could the world turn to for hope and answer? It was the man teaching in the cities and villages of Palestine who healed everyone of all sickness.

Jesus did not come to cure poverty or take away disease. The sympathy Jesus had for the multitudes is how lost they seemed to be – seeking answers in all the wrong places. God sent His Son into the world to bring light, dispel darkness, and deliver the way, the truth, and life. No man before Jesus and no man after Jesus would bring hope. There was much work to be done to convince helpless man his hope rests in the Son of God. Jesus prayed for helpers to labor in the vineyard of truth to show the multitudes the grace of God. There is no way but the way of the Lord for men to find peace. Only in the truth of Jesus Christ can answers be found. The world is in need of God. God is in need of those who will see the world for what it is and take the gospel of the kingdom to hungry men. The harvest truly is plentiful. Sadly, the laborers are few. The first prayer should be to find men and women willing to take up the banner and share the gospel with their neighbors. Take a look at your neighbors – they – like you – are sheep in need of the Shepherd.

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)

Why Are You Waiting?

Saul of Tarsus had come to Damascus to arrest and imprison all those who were followers of Jesus Christ. He had brought serious persecution against the infant church following the stoning of Stephen. Saul was filled with rage against those who preached against Moses, claiming Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God. He determined to do everything within his power to destroy those who were of the Way. Because of his persecution, the disciples were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. As Saul approached Damascus, he was struck with a brilliant light and fell to the ground. A voice cried out to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Inquiring who the voice was, Jesus declared Himself to the persecutor, telling him to go into the city and he would be told what to do.

Blinded by the light, Saul had to be led into the city by the hand of those who traveled with him. Three days later, Saul was blind and did not eat or drink. A devout man named Ananias came to Saul, explaining the purpose of God’s plan for his life. Saul would become a witness to all men of the testimony of Jesus Christ. Then Ananias implored Saul to become a Christian. Saul was a devout Jew, but he had not obeyed the gospel of Christ. He believed in the voice he had heard three days earlier and accepted the instructions of Ananias, but he was not saved. His sins remained, and he needed God’s grace.

The message of Ananias to Saul was immediate and demonstrative. Ananias asked Saul why he was waiting. What purpose would any delay have to the will of God? Obedience is not something that can be delayed. The urgency of conviction grasped the heart of Saul. He faced the realization he was lost in his sin and needed the mercy of God. Ananias told Saul to be baptized to wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Remission of sins does not come by faith alone. Believing in Jesus alone does not wash away sin. The pattern of salvation as given to Saul was obedience was immediate and that only through the waters of baptism can sin be washed by the blood of Jesus. There is no reason to wait for another revelation. God delivered once the faith that would save men. Delaying for another purpose of the Lord to be revealed is futile.

There are many religious hearts today who are delaying salvation. They believe they are Christians when they have never had their sins washed away. The common doctrine in the religious world is salvation comes by faith only. It is best described by the idea of accepting Christ as a personal Savior, and salvation will be given. This is not what Ananias told Saul. There is never a record of anyone being saved by faith alone. Ananias was responsible for telling Saul what he needed to do for salvation. His message was not to wait and to be baptized. When Saul rendered himself to the will of God in baptism, the Lord would take away his sins. Calling on the name of the Lord was the declaration of allegiance to the will of God.

Do not wait to be told what you must do to be saved. Reject the teachings of human wisdom that deny the essentiality of baptism. Salvation in any other manner will not wash your sins away. Ananias told Saul precisely what he needed to hear, and Saul did not hesitate to do what God told him to do. He arose and was baptized. His sins were washed away. He called on the name of the Lord. God granted His grace and mercy to Saul, and the former persecutor became the great apostle to the Gentiles. There is little doubt as Paul told the multitudes not to tarry and wash away their sins, he remembered that moment in the house of Judas when Ananias told him the same thing. Why are you waiting? What reason do you have to deny the will of God? Arise. Be baptized. Wash away your sins in the blood of Jesus. Call on the name of the Lord.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

The Moon And The Fireworks

Every Fourth of July, the sky in America lights up with brilliant displays of fireworks screaming across the night sky. It is breathtaking to behold the beauty of an ancient Chinese invention that generations have thrilled to watch in great anticipation. There will be a lot of noise, lights, smoke, and often an abundance of confetti with each explosion. Dogs will howl, children scream, and couples embrace under the warm sky of color, bursting on a dark canvas. The sadness of a fireworks display is the length of its pyrotechnic demonstration, which is limited to only a few seconds or minutes. In 2014, New Year was announced in Norway with a fireworks display lasting one hour, one minute, and 32.35 seconds. A total of 810,904 individual fireworks were used for the record-breaking event.

When peering into the night sky, watching the splendor of colors exploding across the darkened sky, one solitary element continues to keep watch. Couched in a fog of cloud is the soft glowing circle of the moon. Its muted color of radiant glow from the sun creates an eerie world of shadows and mystery. The fireworks scream across the heavens and explode, leaving a path of smoke and dust. All of the energy of the firework is immediately dissipated, and it falls back to earth. Crowds are thrilled for the temporary pleasure of a moment’s glimpse, but it does not last. When the smoke clears, the resilient moon continues to watch over the night as it has done since the beginning of time.

The image of the moon becomes more incredible when the mind realizes what the eyes behold is the same orbiting celestial rock that Adam and Eve first beheld on the sixth night of creation. On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars and set them in the heavens. The moon would be the lesser light and would rule the night. It has steadfastly guided the history of humanity through every generation remaining resilient and trustworthy every night. Abraham used the moon to guide his journeys. David spent many nights peering into the depths of the heavens created by the hand of God. Jesus ventured out of his home in Nazareth, looking up into the starlit sky guarded by the moon. The moon will remain in its place until the end of time, as the promise given to Noah that while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night, shall not cease. And the moon still hangs in the night sky as it has for thousands of years.

Fireworks are the invention of man, and they are, in their own right, an amazing creation of the human genius. But like everything created by man, it never lasts. There is a momentary enjoyment. The sound and visage of colors exploding in the night are exhilarating. And then comes the quick demise and silence. In the morning, the show will be over, and the confetti remnants of the night’s pleasure are strewn across acres of the landscape. The sun rules the day and the moon rules the night, remaining vigilant and constant every day and every night. They never fail, and they never diminish. God created them, placed them in the heavens four days into creation, and they have never changed.

The contrast between fireworks and the heavenly beings is a testimony to the failure of human wisdom and the greatness of God’s word. Fireworks are a work of beauty. The moon is a work of eternal glory. Everything the human mind imagines pales in comparison to the incredible works of creation ordained by the divine Creator in six days of creation. Everything remains in its constant place because God determined the habitation of all life. Man is the highest of God’s creative work and struggles with seeing God in creation. The tragedy of the fireworks display is the glory fades so quickly. So the wisdom, desires, and pleasure of life – only for a moment. When the fireworks settle down, spend some time with your family with the moon. You will be amazed at what you learn from that very ancient sphere that hands so beautifully in the sky. Thank you God for the moon. It is constant and true – like You.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146)

Freedom Is Of God

The desire for freedom has always been the pursuit of men. Nations subject their citizens to the despot’s whims and oppression that God never intended for the world. The Lord created all men with the innate desire to have freedom. The blessing of self-choice is what enslaves men to the bondage of sin. Freedom is not just the idea of being free, but true freedom sets the heart free from the bondage of oppression. A dictator may tell his people they are free when they submit to his rule, but when that freedom is based on carnal pride and arrogance of those in power, freedom becomes suppression. There is nothing free about the evil of men forcing their wills on unwilling people.

True freedom is when the individual’s potential is exercised for his good. There is no greater freedom than what is found in the grace of God. The Lord gives freedom to all oppressed by sin’s bondage. Praise must be given to the Lord because His freedom gives all men the full release of what oppresses them. Putting trust in the wisdom of men is foolish. Every generation believes they have the better answer. History is filled with the ruins of man’s failures as he seeks to be his own God seeking his own way. Humanity is incapable of having sufficient wisdom to make the right decisions. Every loss of the human spirit has come when trust is put in men.

Trusting in God bridges time, culture, and wisdom throughout the ages. God made the heavens and earth and, through His great power, ordained such wisdom to guide the thoughts of men. Truth can only come from God. Justice is established by divine wisdom. The blessings of life are best served from the table of God’s abundance. Freedom is found in the word of God. Men seek to be free and can only find true freedom when they submit to the will of God. When men accept the will of God, their eyes are opened, and the Lord raises those who are bowed down. God’s love is shown to the righteous. He watches over the strangers and relieves the fatherless and the widow. Real freedom comes from the gracious hand of the Lord. Not all men accept the freedom offered by God. The way of the wicked He turns upside down. Sadly, they reject the freedom given through the blood of God’s Son.

Celebrating freedom is realizing the joy of serving the one true and living God. There is a need to praise the Lord because of His eternal blessings. Life is filled with daily praise of God’s grace and mercies. What does the psalmist proclaim? “I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.” Freedom came through the death of Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. Hope can only be found in the one who made heaven and earth. Thank God for freedom. Its only color is red!

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Trusting God With The Big Things

Following His sermon on the mountain, great multitudes follow Jesus. A leper approaches Jesus pleading with Him to heal him. The leper shows remarkable faith in Jesus, suggesting that the Lord could take away his leprosy if He were willing. Jesus reaches out touching the man, and his leprosy is gone. When Jesus comes into Capernaum, a Roman military officer seeks the blessing of Jesus to heal a servant of his. The Lord marvels at the faith of the centurion and his compassion for the servant. Jesus tells the centurion that He will go and heal the servant, but the centurion believes Jesus can heal him without being there. The servant is healed that very hour.

Arriving at the home of Peter, Jesus sees his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. Jesus heals her. That evening, many who were demon-possessed came to Jesus to be healed. Jesus healed all manner of sickness as the people sought the grace of His healing power. Everyone who came to Jesus was healed. No one left who desired to be healed without the healing power of God. The disciples of Jesus witnessed the power of healing as few men could experience. Traveling with the Lord was filled with multitudes surrounding Jesus, and all the sick were cured of their ailments. The stories of healing should have impressed themselves on the disciples’ minds.

After healing the multitudes, Jesus and the disciples got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Four of the disciples were experienced seamen. Suddenly a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm came. Frantically, the disciples secured the boat as best they could in the face of the storm but to no avail. All of their efforts seemed to be pointless, and their concerns were they were going to drown. Fearful of their lives, they woke Jesus pleading for help. Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and sea, and suddenly the storm ended, and everything was calm. The disciples were amazed at the power of Jesus.

From an outside perspective of the fearful disciples in the boat with Jesus, it would seem confusing that earlier, they had seen incredible miracles performed by Jesus, and when the storm threatened their boat, they thought they would die. Jesus sleeping during the storm should have been the first sign there was nothing to worry about. The disciples saw Jesus heal a leper. Leprosy was a death sentence with no cure. Jesus touched the leper, and he was cleansed. That was a visible miracle telling all who saw it the great power of Jesus. When the multitudes brought demon-possessed people to Jesus, and He healed them all, the disciples should have realized the power of Jesus reached into the demon world. All of the diseases that people had were healed. None walked away without the grace of God taking away their infirmities and sicknesses. Jesus healed everyone, and the disciples witnessed his power.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were seasoned fishermen who knew the dangers of the open sea. They had probably experienced the quick storms familiar to the Sea of Galilee. The storm that beset them seemed especially harsh, and they all thought they would drown. Jesus was not disturbed by the storm and was asleep; which should have been a strong message there was nothing to fear. Faith struggled in the hearts of the disciples of Jesus; they trusted Him in the small details but could not trust Him in the larger issues. If they had learned the lessons of healing a leper, demon-possessed, and all the sick, they would never have feared in the storm. Did they take for granted the power of Jesus and become jaded to its power to transform their lives? The storm became personal to the twelve, and they got scared. It was then that they cried out to the Lord. They should have tied things down and hung on because being with Jesus meant there was nothing to fear.

It is easy to point the finger at the twelve for being afraid in the boat, but so often, the child of God will trust God for the small things but struggle in faith when the big storms come. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and He will be the same tomorrow. Yesterday may be filled with great little victories here and there. Today may bring a storm that seems to overwhelm, overcome our spirits and cause doubt to fill the heart. If Jesus can heal a leper one day, He can calm a storm the next day. The small victories teach us that God is faithful, so when the big storms come, we have the assurance that God is still the God of victory. Tie everything down, hang on, and know that while the storm rages, God is in control. He will never leave nor forsake His children. Whatever life brings, Jesus is there, trusting His Father. Follow the lead of Jesus – remain calm. God has got this. And He really does.

Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Keep Your Distance

There is a lot of evil in the world, and it has been around a long time. Whenever evil is discussed, it is a cornucopia of things like murder, rape, stealing, torture, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia, incest, anger, drunkenness, envy, sorcery, jealousy, and the list goes on. Evil is also relegated to the ungodly underworld of criminals and misfits who engage in the heinous crimes of passion and lust. Good people do not consider themselves evil folk. If they can live without any of the identifying marks of evil (see list above), then they feel pretty good about themselves; they have accomplished a level of righteousness and godliness. Sin is often defined by the characteristics of the preconceived major lists of evil things. The heart can believe that without the accusations of evil, goodness will merit acceptance before God.

Paul presents a puzzling challenge to the idea that evil resides only in the major act. After exhorting the saints at Thessalonica to warn the unruly, seek peace with all men, rejoice and pray often and give thanks for all things, he tells the Christians to keep away from evil. A careful reading of the text will show Paul did not warn the saints to keep away from evil but to distance themselves from every form of evil. There is an eternal difference between believing that evil alone will condemn and the reality that forms of evil will also bring judgment. Paul tells the Christians to stay away from anything that looks like, walks, and talks like evil. Every kind of evil needs to be abstained from with the greatest prejudice. He wants the people of God to remember that evil has an allurement that can draw a man to sin if he does not run away and stay away from evil.

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, the young son of Jacob was faced with a terrible situation. He had been sold as a slave to a man in charge of the king’s guards. Potiphar’s wife began to lust after Joseph and attempted to lure him with sexual immorality. Joseph refused, but she continued to put pressure on him daily. One day, she grabbed Joseph, demanding satisfaction, but Joseph ran away. He stood accused of attempted rape, and Potiphar placed him in the king’s dungeon. Joseph could not change the circumstance of being a slave, but he knew the only way to deal with the evil of Potiphar’s wife was to run away. He immediately removed himself from the seductions of Potiphar’s wife. Falsely accused, Joseph did not lose his faith in God but reaffirmed the lesson of dealing with sin in any form and how to react to sin.

The trouble with temptation is that often the greatest allurement is not the act itself but how near the heart gets to the fire. Sin is viewed from the vantage point that being warmed by its coals does not account for sin. The command of God is for His people to stay clear of sin, remove themselves from the presence of evil, and not put themselves in a compromising circumstance that can (and often does) lead to more sin. When a man plays with snakes, it should not come as a surprise if he gets bit. The likelihood is greatly reduced (magnified) that not handling snakes will guarantee the person will not be bitten by a snake. Christians mistakenly believe they can hold sin, and when sin bites, they are shocked and dismayed. Examining why a person falls into sin can be traced to the heart going places and being places they should not have been in the first place.

Adultery begins in the heart. Compromising situations and circumstances develop innocent enough, but then evil abounds because the man void of understanding walks along the street near the temptation. He has gone to the wrong place at the wrong time with good intentions that turn sinful because he did not distance himself from an obvious conclusion. Like a bird seeking a morsel, he is caught in the trap and dies. Drunkenness always begins with the first drink. Believing the first drink cannot lead to sin is folly. If the heart abstains from the evil of drunkenness, the first drink will never happen.

It is possible to live a sinless life if we keep a distance from sin and draw near to God. The reality is the carnal spirit fails so often to measure itself away from the temptation, and the heart is drawn away. Jesus lived a sinless life because He always kept His distance from sin. Every time a man sins, he does so because he is in the wrong place. A man will sin less in life when he can identify the alleys and byways of sin and refuse to travel those roads. Through the grace of God and the knowledge of His word, evil can be more readily identified. It is possible to walk through the woods and get bitten by a snake. Staying far removed from snakes will increase the odds. Sin will catch the heart unaware but exercising discretion and wisdom to refrain from evil will give a greater purpose in life to live godly. Abstain from sin and also abstain from every form of sin.

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” (John 11:47-48)

Denying The Miracles

No one denied the miracles of Jesus. The remarkable thing about how the enemies of Jesus viewed the signs He did was they could never and never did suggest a miracle did not happen. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead four days after he died, no one said the miracle of resurrection did not occur. Many of the Jewish leaders plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus. What is ironic about their plan to kill Lazarus was the acceptance that Lazarus was alive and he needed to die – again. Jesus healed a woman with an infirmity that crippled her for eighteen years, and all the ruler of the synagogue could say was that Jesus should not heal on the Sabbath. On another occasion in a synagogue, Jesus healed a man with a crippled hand. The scribes and Pharisees were enraged at Jesus and discussed what they might do to Jesus.

Raising Lazarus from the dead was a powerful demonstration of Jesus over death itself. When Jesus told the men to remove the stone from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha feared the stench of death would be unbearable. The Jewish custom was to bury a loved one on the day they died and visit the tomb for three days. On the fourth day, the body began to show external signs of decay, and the stench of death increased. The tomb would be sealed before that decaying process began and became noticeable. Martha was horrified at what her brother would be like coming out of the tomb after four days. Her fears confirmed how dead Lazarus was. Many Jews who had come to Mary and comforted her and Martha in the death of Lazarus believed in Jesus. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what had happened.

The reaction of the chief priests and the Pharisees was not excitement over the resurrection of Lazarus. They did not seek Jesus out to know what power He manifested to overcome death after four days. There was no appeal to honor God with the miracle of rebirth. The only thing the religious leaders feared was that the popularity of Jesus would overshadow their hold on the people and lose their influence; the Romans would remove them from the limited power they enjoyed. What was historically ironic about their pride was the refusal to believe they were in bondage to the Romans. The last time Israel was a united nation was when Solomon began to rule in 970 B.C. In 722 B. C., the Assyrians captured Samaria and carried off most of Israel. When the Babylonians came in 606 B. C., the long bondage of Israel began and would last until nearly forty years after Jesus died. In 70 A. B., the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and effectively ended the nation of Israel.

After the raising of Lazarus, the Jewish leaders feared Jesus would take their place among the Romans and destroy their nation. Jesus did not come to dismantle Israel. The son of God came to save men from sin and offer His blood as the means of redemption. The Jews destroyed themselves in 70 A. D. and have never been a nation again. Jesus warned them of the Roman carnage, but they would not listen. Lazarus was raised from the dead, and the chief priests and Pharisees were blinded by their own pride and arrogance, refusing to give God the glory through the signs done by Jesus. The old saying goes, “There are none so blind as those who cannot see.” Everything the world needed to find the love of God was embodied in the man from Nazareth, and the world killed Him. Israel has faded into the dust bowl of history, never to be the nation of God again. Jesus established a kingdom on Pentecost that has spread throughout the world and ruled for over two thousand years. His power and signs prove He is the Son of God. John testifies there were many other signs Jesus did in the presence of His disciples but what is written is proof that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God. You have a choice – react like the Jewish leaders who denied the power of God through Christ or accept that Jesus of Nazareth is the divine Son of God. In the final analysis, denying the miracles of Jesus does not deny the miracles but only denies the heart eternal life.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:25-29)

The Way Of The World Is Not The Way Of The Christian

When a man draws close to God, he will find himself further away from the world. The life of a Christian is in contrast to the way of thinking characterized by those not bound by the will of God. Israel was destroyed when she became like the nations around her. God had declared His people should remain separate from the world, but they rebelled and modeled their hearts like the nations around them. Jesus taught those who would follow Him must pay a price of separation. Bearing a cross was an individual decision that showed the world the disciple had committed himself fully to the kingdom of God. Throughout the epistles of the early church, the importance of being different from the world is emphasized.

The city of Ephesus was the capital of proconsular Asia, which was the western part of Asia Minor. It was noted for the Temple of Diana, with the largest theatre in the world, capable of seating 50,000 spectators. The Ephesian church faced a hostile influence from the pagan world. Lying, cheating, immorality, and the base nature of the flesh were common, and being a Christian was not easy. Paul exhorts the saints to refrain from the temptations of the world. Lying may have been an accepted way to do business, excel in the community, and treat neighbors, but not for the Christian. As a follower of Jesus Christ, lying was to be put away. The Christian was to stop telling lies. Truth must be on the lips of those who profess Christ. Speaking truth to neighbors was an example of godliness and holiness.

One of the characteristics of a godless world is the increase in anger. People get angry about almost anything. In the modern world, road rage is rising because of the godless nature of hearts filled with wrath, bitterness, and anger. People shoot one another because they get mad. The city of Ephesus was no exception. They followed the wisdom of men that glorified the angry spirit of retribution. Living in a world where everyone seemed angry about everything was challenging. The Christian learns to control his anger and not allow the sin to overcome them. In contrast, saints of God are kind, forgiving, and possess a spirit of love for all men. Anger is not a badge of honor but shame for those who follow Jesus Christ.

Paul tells the saints they should not be accused of stealing. He does not suggest the Ephesians saints were thieves, but the acceptable practice of the world was to take what did not belong to them. Stealing is as much a sin as murder or adultery. An employee will justify stealing from the company, but there is no justification before God. In the Ephesian world, one of the greatest attributes of a Christian is the man and woman who works diligently with their hands to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wages. Christians are to be the best employees and employers because they serve a higher Master, Jesus Christ. Not only does the Christian work hard and honestly, but he also shares what he has with those in need. Few people look at their jobs considering how they can help others. In a greedy world, it all belongs to the selfish heart. The Christian works to share with others.

Finally, one of the differences between a Christian and those in the world is learned by the speech of the child of God. It is common for the world to cuss, use profanity, slander, gossip, and maliciously destroy others. Paul told the Ephesians not to let any corrupt language come out of their mouths. The words of the saint of God are filled with grace, beauty, and love; unlike the world. Christians speak words that are fitting to the word of God. They are known as people of truth and honesty. Everyone that knows the Christian hears words that are not idle or foul. There is a difference in the speech of the child of God and those of the world.

Paul wanted his brethren to see the impact of their lives on the world around them. As lights in the world and the seasoning flavor of salt, the disciple of Jesus Christ stands above the world and its lying, anger, stealing, and corrupt practices. Being set apart from the world is learning to remove these things from the example of the Christian. One of the great tools of evangelism is the example of purity and the child of God continually learning to frame their life upon the graces of godliness. Put away lying and anger, steal no more, and clean up the language. Sound advice. Life-changing.

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2)

The Vanity Of Life

There are many ways to begin the writing of a book. The first sentence will set the tone for the rest of the book in capturing the reader’s attention. Solomon begins his thesis on life with the statement that everything is vanity – everything. The book is called Ecclesiastes, after the Greek word for the term “preacher” or “teacher.” Solomon refers to himself as one who calls an assembly. He wants to direct his readers’ attention to the complexities of life and the final analysis of the futility found in seeking worldly happiness. The nature of man is to expend himself completely in seeking after all the things life has to offer, and when he dies, he finds all he gained is lost. Life is not pointless, but it is vanity if a man seeks to gain the whole world and lose his soul.

The vanity of life is the failure of the human heart to know who he truly is. Everything about the world fools the man into believing he will never die. Happiness is found in the things of this world. Life is about getting all the gusto, and the man with the most toys wins. Knowledge is exalted as the god of wisdom. Albert Einstein was one of the smartest men that lived in the past few years, but that knowledge did not keep him from dying. Henry Ford was worth $200 billion, but on April 7, 1947, his net worth became zero when he died at 84. Hugh Heffner created an empire built on the sexual pleasures of the flesh, which all ended in 2017 when he died at 91. No one has reached the apex of gaining all the world has to offer than found in the life of Solomon. He became great and excelled more than any man. Solomon reigned in Jerusalem for forty years, and he died.

Why is life vanity? After examining every aspect of life, Solomon concludes his book with why life is a vain pursuit. Jeremy Taylor said, “Life is short, yet upon this short life, eternity depends.” Life becomes vain when every effort of man is directed to what is here and now. God created man as an eternal creature that inhabits a body that begins to perish upon birth. No man can live forever in the flesh. Death is the consequence of sin, and all men die. Life is only vain when the focus is only on this world. There is nothing vain about a life that knows there is a God, seeks His wisdom, and prepares himself for the judgment. A day is coming when everything a man does in life will be brought before the throne of a righteous judge. Vanity is the sad reality most find in death because they realize too late there is more to life than riches, wisdom, and pleasures.

Solomon found too late in life the failings of his own decisions. He began as a man seeking after the Lord. Later in life, the foreign wives he desired led him away from God. If the book of Ecclesiastes is a testimony to the vanity of life, Solomon defined in absolute terms what happens when someone seeks everything in this world and fails to prepare for the life to come. All that is gained in this life remains but what remains in a life of vanity is nothing. To make life meaningful, full of purpose and hope, turn to the word of God and live for Jesus Christ. At the end of life, it will not have been a vain life but a gained life.