The Heaton File

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

The Church Of The Living God

Idolatry is the religion of dead gods. Carving images out of stone and wood are gods created by the hands of men who foolishly create a totem to become their master. The god cannot save, it cannot speak, and it has no power. Folly is the foundation of idol worship because man is greater than his own god. The body of Christ is the church of the living God. Human wisdom did not create Jehovah God. Nothing in human wisdom can create a theology larger than themselves, yet the teachings of the Bible are far beyond the imaginations of any man. The church of Christ was established on the Day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem through the power of the Holy Spirit. Twelve men stood before a hostile crowd of devout Jews and accused them of killing the Anointed of God, the Christ. Three thousand repented that day and were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins. The church of the living God had begun.

Luke records the spread of the church as disciples multiplied and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman world. Two thousand years removed from its beginning; the church of the living God lives in every corner of the world. Communities spread across the globe will find groups of devoted saints meeting as the people of God in simple worship, dedicated lives, and devoted hearts. There has been an unceasing line of disciples from the day in Jerusalem until the coming of the Lord, who make up the church of the living God. It is the church that thrives on the gospel of Christ, changing lives and saving souls.

The church of the living God is the church of the living. It is made up of those who have been born again. Those who were dead in their sins are made alive through the blood of Jesus Christ. Sin destroys, but grace saves. The church of Christ is a place of life, abundance, hope, and joy. Jesus died to bring those who are willing to obey the Father into the new covenant that gives life to hardened souls, hope to desperate hearts, and joy in the fellowship of God’s Son. Those who are members of the church of the living God are alive in Christ. There is a vitality not found in the world. Christians face hardships with greater promise. Children of the living God know that death is life. Those made alive in Christ live in the knowledge that God has redeemed them from death.

Life is found in Christ. There can be no union of man and God outside the church. On the Day of Pentecost, God added to the church those who were saved because that is where life is found – in Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or they would die. Satan lied and told them they would not die. They disobeyed God, ate the fruit, and died. Satan knew what God meant and deceived Eve. Adam and Eve did not die physically but were separated from the living God. When Jesus came into the world, the Son of God brought the man back to the living God to give him life. The church of the living God is where life is found, and death is overcome. Without the church of the living God, there is no life. Satan has fooled many souls into believing they can worship God any way they want. Sadly, most believe the lie that life is found outside the church of the living God. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Salvation can and will only be found in Christ, in the church of the living God. Do you have life?

When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5)

Matriarchal Heritage

Family heritage is very important. The lineage of one generation to another can be a powerful influence in the world for change. There are families that established an economic heritage that changed nations. Some families have a heritage that is centuries old that continues to influence world affairs. Political legacies are found throughout American history. While economic, political, and societal influences are rooted in the fabric of society, none surpass the influence of godliness from one generation to another. All generations will fade away and riches lost, names forgotten, and influences cast aside in the passing winds of time, but the families that give each other the gift of God find a lasting reward that is incomparable.

Lois was a woman growing up in a Roman world. She had a daughter called Eunice and they lived in the city of Lystra. Paul had visited the Asia-Minor city on his first missionary journey. It was a place given over to idolatry and pagan customs. After Paul healed a cripple, the people called him Hermes and Barnabas, Zeus, after the gods of men. They could scarcely constrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Later, Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and, stirring up the crowds, had Paul stoned and left for dead. He survived the stoning and the next day departed for Derbe. On his second preaching trip, Paul found Timothy, the son of Eunice, at Lystra and wanted the young man to go with him on his journey. After circumcising Timothy, Paul and his companions continued their work of preaching in all the cities.

Luke writes that Timothy’s father was a Greek married to Eunice. Lois and Eunice were devoted to the word of God in a world filled with all things ungodly. Lystra was not just a city with idols but also a society given over to the influences of idol worship. Paganism and immorality were the same things. As a grandmother and a mother, two women worked diligently to embed in the heart of an impressionable young man the faith of Jehovah God. Sometime before Paul’s second arrival in Lystra, Timothy was baptized for the remission of his sins. He thrived in the work of the Lord as the brethren spoke highly of him to Paul. The apostle was so taken by Timothy that he begged him to join in the work of preaching throughout the Roman world.

Faith must begin at home. Timothy grew up in an idolatrous city, but his home was a bastion of godliness, purity, fidelity, truth, the word of God, and the influence of two women who made certain he stayed faithful to God. Lois and Eunice were matriarchs who taught Timothy to love God by word and by example. It was important for the influence of their faith to find itself in the heart of Timothy. When Paul told Timothy he needed to be circumcised, the young man did not disobey. His faith was not weak but devoted to the work of the Lord. It was hard for Lois and Eunice to hear Paul ask to take Timothy with him on his journeys, but the women gave their grandson and son to the work of the Lord. It was a sacrifice they were willing to give.

A godly woman’s work is never done. Lois learned the truth of Jesus Christ and she taught her daughter to love Jesus Christ. Eunice spent many hours teaching little Timothy to love the Lord with all his heart. When Timothy grew to manhood, he kept those teachings in his heart. How often he must have reflected on the voice of Lois and Eunice as he traveled with Paul throughout the Roman Empire. The matriarchal heritage of Lois and Eunice shows the work of a grandmother is never done and the teaching of a mother does not end. Timothy was blessed with two godly women who taught him to love God in a world filled with ungodliness. May God raise up more women like Lois and Eunice, who are women of God passing on their love to the next generation.

And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’” (Luke 16:23-24)

Most People Will Scream After Death

The story of Lazarus and the rich man is an astonishing examination of a reality that few are willing to accept. Jesus relates the story of two men who had stark differences in life. For one, life was filled with life’s joys, prestige, and blessings. The rich man was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and lived each day in luxury. At the rich man’s gate was a poor man who knew nothing but misery in life. He was diseased, destitute, and had only dogs who would like his open sores. The contrast is not so much how different their lives were before death but what happened after death. When Lazarus died, he was carried by angels to comfort. Immediately upon death, the rich man started screaming. There was no relief, no joy, no comfort, and no hope. As the family prepared the funeral for the rich man, no one thought of their brother and friend as suffering. There were five brothers who lived much like the rich man. The screams of the rich man could not be heard, but scream he did.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus made another startling statement of truth. Most people will not be saved. This is hard for the world to accept. It is easy to think that everyone that dies finds comfort. Often the expression “RIP” shows how sadly people view death. Resting in peace is not something most people find in death. Most people see darkness, horror, eternal pain, and screaming in death. Jesus was asked by one of His disciples if few were saved. The Son of God said there was a narrow gate to eternal happiness, and many will seek to enter and will not be able. Think deeply about that statement. Jesus says that most people will scream after death. Many will plead for God to admit them, but He will tell them He does not know them. They will say to Him they were good people, religious people, and honest people. It will do no good. They will be in a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It will be eternal horror.

Most in the world do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They will be screaming after death. Many more who believe Jesus is God’s Son refuse to obey His will. Tragically, they will be screaming after death also. Being religious does not guarantee eternal life. Many will tell God how religious they were and how they followed in the name of His Son. The problem they face immediately in death is they will be saying these things through screaming. Jesus will tell many religious people He never knew them. It will be too late. Refusing to obey the will of the Father will cast the soul into outer darkness and screaming.

Denying eternal punishment does not make reality go away. There is joy and peace in knowing the grace and mercy of God, but the Lord is a wrathful judge who will punish those who do not obey His word. Jesus taught that most people who live on the face of the earth would scream after death. The screams will come from a lake of fire and brimstone, unimaginable darkness, and eternal hopelessness. There will be no relief. Satan will be with them, screaming as the author of eternal damnation. Life is important, but life determines eternity. If you do not obey God’s word, you will scream after you die, and you will never stop screaming. Believe it to be true – Jesus said you will.

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. (Ezekiel 1:1-3)

Biblical Dating

The Bible is a book with many internal pieces of evidence proving the veracity of its claims. Critics of holy scripture must contend with the content of the book, examining the harmony and consistency of the Bible, the unity of diversity, its profound and rational doctrine of God and man, purity of ethics, and agreement of archaeological claims. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the strongest arguments proving the Bible to be divine. Another means of showing the Bible to be authentic is the frequent use of dating Biblical events. There are many instances of dates proven accurate in a historical setting. Others are sometimes vague for modern man in their setting but nonetheless are used to establish authenticity to those who were the first readers of the word.

Ezekiel begins his book by dating the message as the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month. He further says the word of the Lord came to him on the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. Scholars disagree on the setting of the thirtieth year. Different views are presented to determine what year this signifies. The setting of the book of Ezekiel follows the captivity of Judah in Babylon. Judah was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in 606 B.C. Jerusalem was captured, and a second group was taken into captivity in 597 B.C. In the year 586 B.C. Jerusalem was destroyed along with the Temple. It would be seventy years (536 B.C.) before the people of God returned to their homes. Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in the first days of the Babylonian conquest. The first part of his book warned the Jews of the impending doom of Jerusalem due to their sinfulness. When Ezekiel heard Jerusalem had fallen (586 B.C.), he proclaimed a message of hope and restoration through a remnant that would return to Israel.

The audience of Ezekiel understood the significance of the dates. Using the road signs of time, Ezekiel impresses upon the hearts of the people God’s plan to punish Israel and to save His people. The prophet Jeremiah declared the captivity of Israel would only last seventy years. Daniel would later realize the time was drawing near for God to fulfill His promise to return His people to Israel. In the first year of the reign of Darius, Daniel learned from reading Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. The time was drawing near for God’s word to be fulfilled. Daniel knew this because of the biblical dating embedded in God’s word.

Luke would use extensively the art of dating to validate his book. He begins with the days of Herod, the king of Judea. The birth of Jesus was during the days of Caesar Augustus. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth but had to go to Bethlehem to be registered according to the census that took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. John the Baptist began his ministry in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene. Luke is the only writer that says Jesus was thirty years of age when He began His ministry. Dates were important as road signs to show the validity of scripture on the history pages.

Isaiah prophesied during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Jeremiah lived in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. Jeremiah continued to preach throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. His work continued up to when the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. The book of Daniel begins by dating the events in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

Biblical dating is not arbitrary. There are many references given in scripture confirming the stories of the Bible are not myths but events based on historical, geographical, and archeological significance. The Holy Spirit places these road markers throughout scripture as silent witnesses to the proof that the Bible is God’s divine word. These dates are part of the complete package of knowing God has revealed His word, and it is true. Take time to examine the dates. It will help to affirm your faith.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:28-33)

Remember Lots Wife – Now

There have always been cities filled with immorality and wickedness since the fall of man. The world became so wicked in the days of Noah that God destroyed all life with a flood. Only Noah and his family were saved from the wrath of judgment. During the days of Abraham, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so wicked they became the focus of God’s wrath. It takes a lot of cruel wickedness to bring the Lord to the decision of obliterating a place on earth. Sodom and Gomorrah came into the periscope of the anger of the Lord, and He determined to destroy them. The only thing standing in the way of God’s judgment was the mercy the Lord extended toward Abraham and his nephew, Lot.

Lot and his family joined Abraham on their journey from the Ur of Chaldee. When Abraham came into Canaan, he pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai. Both Abraham and Lot were very rich in livestock, flocks, and herds. After a time, the land could not support both herds, and Abraham allowed Lot to choose the choice land. However, the plains of the Jordan had the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities were already known as very wicked. Lot would eventually move his family into the city, and this decision would cost him everything dear to him. He was vexed about the city’s immorality but never removed his family. The influences of Sodom and Gomorrah began to break down the righteousness of Lot and his wife.

One day, two men appeared in the city of Sodom. Lot was a leading member of the community as he sat at the gate of Sodom. Realizing the danger for the two men remaining in the city unprotected, Lot took them into his home. Later that night, the men of the city surrounded the house demanding the visitors be given to them. It was the intention of the men of Sodom to rape the visitors and use them for their pleasure. God delivered Lot and his family through the hand of the two men who were angels of the Lord. After striking the men blind, the angels warned Lot of the impending doom, telling them to flee the city. Lot lingered. He and his wife hesitated. They were conflicted about what to do. Finally, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city. Only for the mercy of the Lord were Lot and his family rescued.

The angels warned the family to escape to the mountains and not look back. God was going to destroy Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities of the plain. When Lot and his wife fled from the destruction, she looked back, and God killed her. She turned into a pillar of salt. Disobedience cost Lots wife her life because she looked back when the Lord commanded her not to look back. There was nothing of value to look back for, but she did not obey. The immediate destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah came as sudden upon the people of the city as it did for Lot’s wife. There was mercy given to deliver Lot and his family, but that mercy was denied when she disobeyed God. A warning of disobedience is engrained in the story of Lot and his family.

Jesus tells the story of Sodom and Gomorrah to reveal the manner of God’s destruction of all humanity. There was no warning to the people of the cities. They went on with their lives of drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building as if they had many years left to enjoy life. Then suddenly, without warning, the sky rained fire and brimstone, and they were dead. When the Son of Man returns, life will continue as it has for centuries. Then suddenly, the brilliance of the Son of God appears in the heavens, and the world is destroyed. Judgment begins. Souls saved and souls lost. Sadly, Lots wife looked back to something of no worth and value. She had set her heart on things of this earth, and it was destroyed. Lots wife was killed because her heart longed for the world.

So many people live every day seeking possessions that will be burned up in a greater conflagration than what rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. When the Lord returns, all the lost will be looking back, wishing for another moment to find salvation; but will find none. The peril of looking back is believing that life is found in the abundance of things we possess. What will it profit a man when he gains all the world has to offer and lose his soul? The mercy of God has provided a way of escape. Without taking hold of the hand of Jesus Christ, there is no hope. Looking back to this world will destroy you. Look to Jesus. He will save you.

Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:19-20)

Jesus Was Homeless

Located about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean, Nazareth was a small town in Galilee of no importance. One of the disciples of Jesus, Nathanael, remarked that nothing good came out of Nazareth indicating a view many of Israel had about this southern town of Galilee. In Nazareth, Gabriel appeared to Joseph and Mary to declare the birth of God’s Son. Some months later, near the time of her delivery, Mary joined Joseph for the trip to Bethlehem because of the census required by Caesar Augustus. Arriving in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable because there was no room in the inn. Shortly after that, Joseph secured a house where the family stayed for a few years.

When Jesus was around two years old, wise men came to bring gifts and worship the young boy. After the wise men returned home, an angel of the Lord warned Joseph that Herod would try to kill Jesus. The angel of God told them to flee to Egypt and remain until the word of the Lord came. Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they stayed until the death of Herod. The family wanted to return to Bethlehem but hearing the son of Herod, Archelaus, was reigning over Judea, Joseph returned to Nazareth. The first few years of Jesus’ life were filled with a king trying to kill him, the long trip to Egypt, and growing up in a foreign land. All of this was according to the will of the Father, who spoke of the travels in the prophets. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, raised in Egypt, and grew up in Nazareth. He would become known as Jesus of Nazareth.

Joseph and Mary had other children. Jesus had four half-brothers and at least two half-sisters. As a young man, Jesus grew up in Nazareth following his earthly father’s trade to be a carpenter. His other brothers probably followed a similar trade. Life for Jesus was as placid and peaceful as any other Jewish boy growing up in the Roman Empire. There was a uniqueness about Jesus that was evident to all, but only Joseph and Mary knew the real reason. Sometime in the life of Jesus, it seems clear Joseph died. As the elder son, Jesus would have taken the family’s leadership role.

Luke is the only writer that tells the age of Jesus. The Lord was thirty years of age when He began His ministry. This would be a remarkable change in the life of Jesus. For three decades, He had lived with His earthly family in the relative comfort and security of a home. Jesus had a place to lay His head, a place at the table to eat His meal, and a place in the community. His custom was to go to the synagogue every Sabbath and read from Moses’s scrolls. Everyone in Nazareth knew Jesus. He was one of five sons of a carpenter.

When Jesus began His ministry, He never had a place to call His own. Capernaum would become a central part of His ministry, but the ministry of Jesus took Him from one end of Israel to the other. For nearly three years, Jesus walked, rode, shared a boat, and traveled the length and breadth of Israel. He was known as a man from Nazareth, but His fellow citizens became enraged at His teaching and tried to kill Him. The preaching of Jesus was nonstop. He seldom had time to Himself. Often He would escape to a mountain to talk with His heavenly Father. Traveling by ship was more relaxing for Him as He had a respite from the surging crowds. Jesus had no home, a place to lay His head, a place at a table that was His, and the security of belonging. The pace of His work was frantic, unending, and grueling. Following Jesus was not an easy life.

The purpose of Jesus’ ministry was not to establish a home, and pray men would come to Him. Jesus went out among the people, walked with them, talked with them, healed their sick, comforted them, and took children in His arms to bless them. The animals had dwelling places but not the Creator of the world. Jesus had come to provide a spiritual home, and He had no time for a home of His own. The Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head. Understanding the life of Jesus is to see Him from the viewpoint of a homeless man on a mission. His sacrifice was not just at the cross. The ministry of Jesus was a sacrifice. A homeless man died for all men to give them a home with His Father.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:1-4)

She Gave All

The Law of Moses gave protection for widows not to be treated unjustly and to be cared for through tithes. It was very difficult to be a widow in Biblical times. Protected under the Law of Moses, widows still faced a difficult and uncertain future. Without a source of income, the daily lives of widows were a meager existence. Jesus was in the Temple observing how the people came in to offer their tithes into the treasury. Men of wealth deposited their tithes, and the common man put in much less. It was the widow that caught the eye of the Lord when He saw her putting her two mites in the treasury. The sound of her coins was barely heard. No one took notice of the poor woman in torn clothes hobbling along quietly, putting in her small gift.

Nearly a millennia before, when the prophet Samuel was seeking to anoint the next king of Israel, God reminded the prophet that He does not look at the outside of a man but rather what is in the heart. As Jesus stood watching those who brought their gifts to His Father, He saw an offering of poverty as a gift of immeasurable treasure in the poor widow. The rich people dropped their gifts in the collection box, but it was a poor widow that became the object lesson of the day. Out of her poverty, she put in all the livelihood that she had.

The poor widow’s story is not about the two mites or the coins of the rich. It was about the heart of a woman who was so fully devoted to the Lord she gave more than anyone. Wealth is not determined by the size of the bank account but by the abundance of the heart that is seeking the favor of God. Nothing is known about the woman after she returns home. Her stomach may not have been full, but her heart was overflowing. God is not interested in the size of the gift. The rich gave much out of their abundance, and that was easy. There was much remaining after they gave their gift. The poor widow was poor before she gave and remained poor after giving. What made her story different is she was rich before she gave and remained rich after she gave. Her treasure was in heaven.

Men measure success outwardly. God seeks loyalty from the heart. The widow’s story does not suggest all men must divest themselves of all of their wealth to prove faithfulness. Giving two mites did not make her righteous no more than a rich man giving twenty gold coins made him righteous. God looks on the heart when it comes to worship. He seeks what is in the spirit of a man to know his worth. Everyone is measured by the willingness to devote themselves to the Lord fully. What Jesus saw in the woman was complete, unfailing, total devotion. That is what made her gift so amazing. The Lord is seeking such to worship Him.

Honor for God is found in the humble hearts of fully devoted people, putting God first in every part of their lives. Nothing comes before their service to the Lord. They are not seasonal warriors in the cause of Christ but dedicated soldiers for the kingdom of God. The poor widow trusted God would care for her, and He did. Trust comes from knowing the Lord will care for His own. This releases the worries of men to trust in themselves or their own power. All things can be accomplished through the power of God when we allow the power of God to work in our lives. Have a trust like the widow. It’s not the amount. She had the heart to serve her Lord. That is what Jesus saw. What does He see in you?

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Freedom Of Religion Means Any Religion

Democracy is a wonderful experience enjoyed by few in the world and seldom found in the history of men. The early colonial days of America were not tolerant of other religions. Long before the Pilgrims arrived in America, a group of French Protestants established a colony at Fort Caroline (Northeast Florida). Florida was governed by the Spanish, who were predominantly Catholic. In 1565, Spanish troops massacred everyone at Fort Caroline for being followers of the “odious Lutheran doctrine.” In 1791, the First Amendment was passed that reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Freedom of religion is a valued part of the American culture. As a melting pot of many cultures and races, the United States is a place where freedom of religion allows anyone to worship in any manner they desire. A recent bumper sticker touted the ideal of religious freedom, meaning any religion. It is clear the author of the phrase seeks to impress upon others the fundamental right under the constitution of the United States to worship after any religion they may choose. Legally, they would be correct in their assessment. Religiously they are blatantly wrong.

Religion is the idea of man worshiping a higher being, whether singular or plural, including a system of belief and a body of faith. Everyone has a religion. The atheist may deny the existence of a living God, but his religion is the worship of self. His god is what he makes himself to be in his own image. Some religions have multiple gods, like the Greeks and Romans. Buddhist worship Buddha. Hinduism includes an assortment of gods with diverse beliefs and practices. Islam follows the teachings of Muhammad and the teachings of the Koran. Judaism still maintains a devotion to the Old Law but varies with the traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological discourse. One source puts the number of 4,300 religions in the world.

God created man to be a creature of worship. Cain and Abel evidenced the first record of worship when they offered sacrifices to the Lord. Noah built an altar to the Lord after the flood. Abraham can be traced by the smoke of his sacrifices to God. The Lord established a law through Moses to fulfill the Seed promised in Christ. Jesus came and established His church and, after His ascension, ordained the apostles to establish the church in the city of Jerusalem. During the ministry of Jesus, the Son of God made a shocking statement. The night before Jesus was crucified, the Lord told the eleven there was only one way to the Father. Jesus said He was the only way to God, the only eternal truth, and He was the only life whereby men could be saved. That eliminated all others. Jesus declared there was only one way to God.

Freedom of religion is the freedom to follow any religion but the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. The United States will allow a man to follow any religion he chooses because that is his democratic right. However, the One who established worship (religion) determined there was only one way, one path, one truth, and only one Savior – Jesus Christ. There is no democracy in the kingdom of God. A man can choose to attend whatever church he desires, but there is only one church where the saved are found. On the Day of Pentecost, three thousand souls were saved and added to the church (the only true religion) by the grace of God. There was no freedom of religion. It was either the church of Jesus Christ or none. Jesus died for His church, His Kingdom, and His Bride. Freedom is in Christ, but there is no freedom to worship any way a person may desire.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

As The Deer Pants For The Water

Water is necessary for life. It is possible to survive without water for only a few days, after which the effects of dehydration begin to shut the body down and then death. Seventy-one percent of the earth is covered in water. God created the world to sustain humanity with a sufficient quantity of water. Earth is a unique planet for the survival of the human race because of the presence of the nourishment essential for life. The body has mechanisms protecting the body from harm like thirst. The warning of dehydration is highlighted by the intense thirst created when the body does not have enough water. Studies have shown men need to drink at least 15.5 cups of water daily and women 11.5 cups.

Among the animals, water is an essential ingredient for survival. The sons of Korah used the deer or the antelope to illustrate a heavenly message of depending on the Lord for survival. A deer will seek water after being chased or hunted by predators. In the heat of the day, the watering hole becomes the assemblage of many different types of animals seeking the same relief in the cooking water. The deer will pant or cry for the water, knowing his survival depends on it. Drinking deeply from the water, the deer is refreshed, renewed, and full of life. There is a need for the people of God to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of the Lord because it becomes a matter of survival. Like the deer who pants for the water, so must the child of God earnestly desire for the water of eternal life.

Thirst is a strong desire for the quenching waters of relief. It is a craving, a hunger, a deep desire for water. Seeking the Lord can never be sipping water; it must be a thirst that is never satisfied. The physical body can drink plenty of fluids one day but will require more the next. There must be a constant flow of water to sustain the bodily needs of hydration. Without the constant awareness of quenching thirst, the body would shrivel and die. So it is with the heart when it does not grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Many souls are dying from spiritual dehydration without the nourishment of God’s water. Thirst cannot be filled unless the man comes to the water of life. God will not force the spiritual water upon anyone. He has provided the abundance of spiritual nourishment that will satisfy the soul, but men must come to the fountain to drink. God will not sustain men intravenously. They must long for the manna and come to the fountain to drink freely.

As the deer pants for the water, so must those who seek the Lord come to Him, desiring the only source of spiritual nourishment. The world is a dry land without anything to sustain or hydrate the soul of man. All the enticements of refreshment in the world do not quench the soul. They only make the heart of a man drier and emptier. Jesus came to bring the abundant life, and that life is found in Him, the true water of living life. All men must come to Jesus and receive the fountain of life flowing from His side. Nothing in this world can sustain or replenish the need of men who seek their own wisdom. Jesus is life because He is the fountain of life. As the deer pants for the water, I must thirst for God and long for His word to dwell in me. I’m thirsty – how about you?

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

The End Of The Devil

Reading a historical record of wars comes with the knowledge of how the conflict ends. The patriots of early colonial America defeated the British Empire. After the conflict of the war between the States, the northern army was victorious. The Allies defeated the Axis powers in the Second World War. North Vietnam soundly defeated the American forces and the South Vietnamese army. The Gulf War was a campaign where the United States destroyed the forces of Saddam Hussein. History tells the outcome of wars that have plagued the landscape of humanity since the beginning of time. Nothing will change the outcome of the battles fought as they remain locked in the historical archives of yesterday.

The greatest battle in history occurred two thousand years ago when God defeated Satan with an eternal blow sealing his demise and future. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, arose from the realm of the dead and reigns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. With the victory of Christ over death, Satan’s future is secured. His power remains in limited force as he has been adjudicated and sentenced for his crime. There is no doubt what the future has for Satan. God has clearly determined the destiny of the devil. The serpent’s punishment is spelled out in indisputable language when John declares the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. His end is certain. Satan knows his fate. There is no changing what will happen to the tempter of all men. The devil is walking a condemned path without mercy, void of grace, and filled with the wrath of the Lord God. His eternal plight is a place of unrelenting torment without end and without relief. Satan will be cast into Hell.

God has declared the end of Satan with certainty. That is not the case for those who walk on the face of the earth. The great paradox is that while the devil knows without reservation, he is going to Hell, men have a choice to seek eternal life, yet they refuse to seek the grace and mercy of God. Everything needed to avoid Hell is given by the Lord through His only begotten Son. Jesus died to save men from the horrors of eternal fire and brimstone. The word of God instructs men to know the will of God and to save themselves. Throughout history, the providence of the Lord has blessed humanity with the opportunity to find redemption in the blood of Christ. Every day is a blessing of a benevolent Father to offer salvation to sinful men. The reality is that most will go to Hell with Satan, and they do not have to follow his path. Satan knows he is condemned and is attempting to take as many souls with him as he can. His work is tireless. It is effective and powerful.

A condemned creature is destroying as many of God’s creations as possible so that Hell will be filled with humanity. The devil, who has deceived all men, will be thrown into a fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Along with Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, countless men and women will scream in eternal horror in the darkness of Hell. There will be no relief and no rest. The devil knows his eternal destiny. You must know your eternal destiny. If you do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, you will go to Hell with Satan. He has no choice. YOU HAVE A CHOICE!