The Heaton File

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Change The Heart

The world can become a very dark place to live. Watching the news in the constant exposure of the frenzied world of media can change dispositions, attitudes, moods, and thoughts. The wise man said in the Proverbs the issues of life come from the heart and a man becomes what he dwells upon. Technology has brought the world into the home with a constant 24-hour daily intake of news to the point of ad nauseum. There is not a day that goes by the news outlets do not report on murder, rape, crime, hatred, and wars. Filling the airwaves with the filth of the world is like living in a dump and seeing nothing but garbage and waste all around; not realizing there is a beautiful world beyond the walls of the disposal of human filth.

Sin kills the mind. The world is fascinated with the struggle of human waste. Before the days of technology, news traveled very slowly and, in most cases, was seldom known or heard beyond the borders of one community. Sin has always filled the world with violence. The world of Noah was so wicked God killed every human being on the face of the earth. Only Noah and his family were saved from the wrath of God. Murder is the oldest crime in history when Cain killed Abel. There will be wars and rumors of wars as long as the world stands. There will never be a time when the knowledge of the unrighteous will not permeate the nostrils of the Lord God with the stench of a foul odor. Sin brings misery, pain, suffering, and the sewage of Satan’s vile hatred for God.

The fate of the world was sealed when sin entered. All of the darkness and torment of hell was unleashed upon man. The challenge for the child of God is to look beyond the putridity of hatred and see something different. It becomes too easy to begin each day with the news. Social media has pumped the incessant noise of a chaotic world into the home so loud that young children grow up in fear. Watching the news and filling the heart with the distress of the world embattles the faith of righteous people. The soul of man grows dark from the vile pictures of life. There comes a time when enough is enough and children of God must take a personal stand to be what God wants them to be.

There will always be sin in the world, but the child of God does not have to dwell on it. Paul admonished the saints at Philippi to change their view of life. It is doubtful they received a lot of news about what happened beyond their district and if they did, it was months or years old. They were unaware of what was happening in the far eastern world of China or the northern climes of Britannica. There were troubling stories in Thrace, Macedonia and Asia and travelers would fill the markets with the news of events in the area of Philippi. Paul wanted the Christians to change their hearts to think on things that were true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report. That list alone would exclude every news agency existing today and most of Facebook, Twitter, and whatever useless machine of mental destruction that is out there. Peace comes from God when the heart is anxious about nothing. That peace will not come from the garbage daily ingested in the heart of men.

We need to take back our hearts. The heart that fills itself with the filth of the world will find itself stained with the depression and disharmony of a world mad with sin. Filling the heart with the word of God, the fellowship of saints, and the communion of assembling with the people of God will dissuade the overwhelming tsunami of Satan’s siren call of sin and wickedness. A man will become what he thinks. There will be no joy, extreme fear, and trepidation if he allows the dribble of news to guide his life. In the past two years, many of God’s people have succumbed to the noise of a frantic world driven by the fear-mongers and God-haters of the world. Precious souls have turned away from the light of God’s word to the world of fear. It is time to take back the heart. Meditate on the things that exalt the heart to glory. Whatever things are righteous, dwell on them, think about them, and live with them. The first step to connect with the blessings of God is to disconnect from the curse of human wisdom. Turn off and turn on. Get rid of it. Refuse to follow. Disconnect. Turn the heart back to God.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

Jesus At That Moment

The resurrection of Jesus is the decisive moment in the history of mankind. Every part of the will of the Father came to fulfillment when God raised His Son from the dead. Hades was not able to hold Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus was not like Lazarus or Jairus’ daughter or any other soul brought from the grave. All those brought out of the realm of the dead again faced death again. Jesus arose and will never die. His death marked the end of the power of Hades, death, sin, the will of the devil and the fear of death. No sacrifice could atone for the sins of men but the blood of Jesus. The cross was the emblem of God’s love allowing His only begotten Son to suffer at the hands of the creation. Through the blood of Jesus, sanctification was offered to all who would obey the word of the Lord.

Jesus knew He would die on the cross. He told His disciples He would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes. They would kill him using the Roman execution of the cross. Jesus said He would be buried and fulfilling prophecy; He was buried in a new tomb. Like Jonah in the belly of the great fish, the Son of God would remain three days in the tomb. The greatest moment came on the first day of the week when God took His Son from the bowels of the realm of the dead and gave Him life again. Jesus rose on the third day according to the scriptures. Salvation was ushered in through the grace of God for all men to come to the Father.

The gospels all record the story of the empty tomb. Mark describes how Jesus rose early on the first day of the week. The Lord first appears to Mary Magdalene and then the disciples beginning with Peter. On the same day, ten of the apostles had gathered in a locked room when Jesus appeared to them. A week later, they have assembled again, including Thomas and Jesus appears a second time. The Lord will spend over a month with His disciples, teaching and instructing them concerning the kingdom of Heaven.

None of the gospels record the moment Jesus arose. The impact of the moment Jesus rose has eternal consequences and blessings. Jesus had emptied Himself to come in the form of a man although He was God. He was born of a woman as all men. His early life was filled with the same needs and challenges faced by everyone. At the age of thirty, the Son of God began His short ministry to bring the word of His Father to the world. In the beginning, the people were very receptive. As the teachings of Jesus began to sink into the hearts of men, they began to reject Him and persecute Him.

Jesus knew how He would die and why He would die. There was no doubt how His life would end. In Gethsemane, Jesus struggled as the shadow of the cross fell heavy upon Him. When He was arrested, He was treated contemptuously and with violence. They dragged Him from one place to another without regard to His needs. The soldiers beat Him and, before crucifying Him, scourged Him. Crucifixion was a precise instrument of the highest levels of torture invented by men and Jesus felt every shocking wave of pain. He endured hours of incredible suffering. One of the things the Lord was able to mumble before He died was His work was finished. Death was a welcome blessing for Jesus as the suffering of the mortal body ceased. Carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham, Jesus found rest and comfort.

Three days after His death, the time came for Jesus to rise from the dead. What a glorious moment for the Son of God. He was rejoined with His Father in the eternal glory of divine unity. Jesus knew the resurrection sealed the scheme of redemption firmly in the will of the Father. There was nothing that would change the grace of God. Finally, after the millennia of human struggle to overcome sin, Jesus had paved the way, declared the truth of redemption, and paved the way to eternal life. That had to be an incredible moment for Jesus as He walked away from the realm of the dead. He knew everything had been accomplished. The trepidation of Gethsemane was only for a moment. Glory awaited Jesus on the first day of the week. Jesus was free from death. He had accomplished the will of His Father. Is it possible Jesus smiled with eternal joy at what happened when He walked away from the tomb on that first day of the week so long ago? You and I can rejoice for the love of Christ to suffer and die and, by the hand of His Father, rise from the dead. May that day come soon.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. (Romans 1:8-9)

I Thank My God

Paul was a man full of thanksgiving. He enjoyed telling his brethren how much they meant to him and how thankful he was for their love, devotion, spirit, remembrance, and care for him and the work of the Lord. On numerous occasions, the apostle expressed his thanksgiving to God for individuals and congregations. It was a part of the language of Paul of Tarsus that he let others know how thankful he was of them. His thanksgiving was directed to God. He knew the joy of Christian fellowship was a blessing of being in Christ. Writing to the brethren in Rome, he calls them the beloved of God, called to be saints. His thanksgiving is given to God for the association of that beloved unity found only in the grace and peace of God the Father.

The church in Corinth suffered near-catastrophic problems of spiritual abandonment with petty divisions, carnality, immorality, legal disputes, questions of marriage, self-denial, and abuses in the worship services over spiritual gifts. Paul had to address some hard issues with challenging solutions that would have tested the metal of any congregation. He begins his letter with a message of thanksgiving. How do you find common ground to address the problems of Corinth? Paul tells them how thankful he is for their faith and belief in the coming of Jesus Christ.

In Paul’s letter to Philippi, he thanks God upon every remembrance of the brethren. In every prayer to the Father, the thankful apostle tells God how much the saints in Philippi mean to him and their fellowship in the gospel. The church in Thessalonica was on the prayer list of thanksgiving for Paul. He writes to them and tells them how thankful to God he is for their devotion to receive the word of God as truth and enduring suffering for the cause of Christ. Their faith grew exceedingly and the love of each one toward the others was well-known and Paul told them, “Thank you.” It was a hard letter to write to his friend Philemon, but Paul had some things that needed to be said about a slave named Onesimus. The apostle tells Philemon how thankful he was to God for his beloved friend and fellow laborer and that he often mentioned him in his prayers. Thanksgiving and prayer are bonded together with a heart of love.

A thankful heart is a joyful heart that is content with the blessings of the Father. Paul left a pattern of thanksgiving directed toward his Father as he prays for his fellow saints and brethren in Christ. Thanksgiving begins with an attitude of heart directed toward God. Paul would often say that he was thankful to God for others. He let God know of those he was thankful for. The register of prayer in the heavenly library was full of ledgers with Paul’s name on them. He constantly sent prayers to the Father for the church and the saints who worked tirelessly for the cause of Christ. “I thank my God” was a common theme of Paul’s writings because that was the common theme of his heart.

The joy of thanksgiving expresses gratitude through prayer. Paul told the Roman saints his prayers were without ceasing as he remembered them daily. The mind of Paul was filled with the love of his brethren. Thankful hearts are praying hearts and praying hearts thank God for all the saints who quietly work in their communities to let others see Christ. There is much to be downtrodden and depressed in a dark world, but prayers of thanksgiving are beacons of light reaching up to the throne of God. Be thankful. Pray. Thank God for the blessings of faithful brethren, courageous saints, and hard-working congregations that shine as lights in a perverted world. Thank you God.

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

Much Needed Clothing

The manner of dress says a lot about a person. Someone who wears little or revealing clothes shows the world their contempt for modesty. Wearing too many garments embellished with ornaments can be immodest. There are admonitions in scripture that men and women should clothe themselves with modesty without the pretense of outward adorning. The child of God is more concerned about the inward clothing than the world’s fashions. Peter writes about the chaste conduct of women to be the hidden person of a gentle and quiet spirit and concludes his letter with the admonition for all to clothe themselves with the garments of humility.

Modesty comes from an understanding of how God desires His children to dress. The clothing of humility is a spiritual garment that covers the person’s spirit, showing the world a character of godliness. Humility is not a trinket worn on the ankle or bracelet hanging from the wrist. It becomes a garment that shows the world the heart of the person is seeking the exaltation of God. The praise of men is a tempting garment, but the child of God molds their character to humble themselves before God and man. Humility becomes the nature of the soul. Arrogance and pride are dismissed as unworthy garments. Anger, malice, and hatred do not fit the style of the Christian. Having an unforgiving heart destroys the garment of humility. The apparel of humility can only come from the wardrobe of the divine when a heart is humble before the presence of God.

What a person wears says much about their character. The garment of humility expresses the desire of the soul to be like Jesus Christ. When the Lord walked among men, everyone knew the kind of man He was by the garments He wore. This is not the outward appearance but the inward man Jesus manifested to others. He was kind and understanding, forgiving and gracious. His humility was found in Him driving the money changers from the house of His Father. The rebuke against the Pharisees did not come from hatred but humble submission to the will of His Father. Jesus wore the garment of humility and those who walk in His footsteps must wear the same clothing.

The garment of humility is only one size, but it fits everyone. It cannot be tailored to the desires of the human heart and cannot be modified. God created the garment of humility to be the same for all. Pride cannot be a part of the garment. Human wisdom will not alter its character. Humility begins with submission to the will of the Father. It requires emptying the soul of what is desired in man to accept the rule of God first. Submission is the thread permeating the garment. Only when a man allows the kingship of Christ to rule the heart will the armor of God fit like a garment of humility. This garment will protect the child of God from the wiles of the devil, warm the heart with the love of God, and show the world the power of salvation in Jesus Christ. One final note about the garment of humility: it must be worn to have any value. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ with a humble heart and wear this garment each day. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.

Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. (John 21:11)

Why Were There 153 Fish?

After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His apostles, teaching and admonishing them concerning the kingdom of God. He was in bodily form and, on one occasion, enjoyed breakfast by the sea with His apostles. After a night of fishing, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, and two other disciples saw a man on the shore who asked if they had any food. They replied they had not, and the man told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat and they would find fish. So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. John, the apostle, realized it was Jesus and told Peter, who jumped into the sea swimming toward Jesus. The other disciples were about one hundred yards from shore and brought their small boat to land. They found breakfast waiting for them when they arrived—fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread. Jesus told them to bring some more fish. John records the haul that morning was one hundred fifty-three large fish. With such a load, the net did not break.

The Holy Spirit points explicitly out there were one hundred fifty-three fish. Nothing more is said about the number and no reference is made of such. It seems unusual to determine there were one hundred fifty-three fish, but the scriptures are exact on the number. Not less or more – exactly the number John stated. Why were there one hundred fifty-three fish? Men have tried to determine the symbolic meaning of this enumeration over the centuries.

Augustine observed that 10 is the number of the law and 7 that of the Spirit, which being added equals 17, and all the numbers from 1 to 17 when added equal 153, and thus the number practically represents all the elect. Hence, the one hundred fifty-three fish are explained. This is like the question, “Why are fire trucks red?” One answer is that fire trucks have four wheels and eight firefighters: four plus eight equals twelve. There are twelve inches in a foot. A foot is a ruler. Queen Elizabeth is a rule, and the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is one of the largest ships on the seven seas. Seas have fish. Fish have fins. The Finns fought the Russians. The Russians are red. Fire trucks are always rushin’. Therefore, fire trucks are usually red. Between Augustine and explaining why fire trucks are red, the wisdom of man strains under the weight of the ridiculous.

John does not explain any significance to the one hundred fifty-three fish. The fact remains the men put the net on the right side of the boat and caught a huge cache of large fish that, when counted, equaled one hundred fifty-three fish. It was quite a miracle to catch that many fish. Trying to understand the number of fish misses the point of the miracle or the opportunity of Jesus with His disciples. There is no significance to the number and no hidden meaning. The wisdom of men often clouds itself in the pursuit of silly fables and mysteries within scripture that have no relevance to truth. Men have failed to understand the simple truth of God’s word, exercising useless examinations of fables and genealogies. When the Lord wants to make a number lesson, He explains it. The problem with human wisdom is they seek after things beyond the scope of God’s word.

Many reject the Bible because they look too deeply for mystery or intrigue hidden treasures. Topics range from where Cain found a wife to whether Jesus had long hair and a beard. Hours are wasted over trivial matters that have no bearing on finding the truth. It is like digging for treasure with a toothpick discovering the microscopic evidence of a grain of dirt instead of seeing the vast field of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ. The result often is failing to obey the word of God. Baptism is rejected because it has been scrutinized and sanitized to the point of ridicule. Why is baptism necessary for salvation? Jesus said it was. There is a pattern for baptism explained by the New Testament writers, but the three thousand (why that number?) on Pentecost did not question what Peter said – they obeyed. Paul did not argue with Ananias – he arose and washed away his sins.

The Bible is written to direct the heart of every man to the eternal throne of God. If God cannot give a man a book he can read and understand, how great is His wisdom or power? It is human wisdom that worries more about the why of one hundred fifty-three fish than simply accepting the story and seeing God’s power. An open heart is necessary to accept the teachings of Jesus Christ. When a child reads the story, he does not ask about the number. He sees it more clearly than most. It becomes to him a story about Jesus eating breakfast with His disciples by the seashore. What a beautiful story. And oh, by the way – they caught one hundred fifty-three fish that day. That is a story they told again and again.

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. (Romans 16:1-15)

Everyone Has A Place In The Kingdom

The church of the New Testament was an amazing group of individuals who had different talents, functions, opportunities, and works that made them distinct yet familiar. Paul worked feverously to spread the gospel throughout the world and he did not do it alone. Luke tells the story of Paul’s journeys, listing a few of the fortunate souls who could travel with the apostle – including himself. It was not an easy life. When Paul spoke of hardships on the road, including shipwrecks and distress, there were disciples with him suffering the same things. Writing to the saints in Rome, Paul opens a door of thanksgiving for all the people that worked so hard for the kingdom. The list is not exhaustive and there can be little doubt the rollcall of the faithful was quite long. Paul shows in his exhortation how there is something for everyone to do in the kingdom of God.

Phoebe was a dear sister of Paul, a servant of the church. Paul commends her for the help she gave so many, including himself. Priscilla and Aquilla had the distinction of being fellow workers in the Lord with Paul. The exhaustive work of Paul was aided by saints like Priscilla and Aquilla, who were not passive helpers but co-workers enduring the hardships of preaching. The list of fellow workers included Urbanus, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis. To be a laborer is to be a hard worker. Joining Paul on any trip included hardship and some (like Demas) could not do the work. It is not known how Priscilla and Aquila risked their own necks for Paul but this couple was locked into a fervent dedication to the work of the Lord. Traveling with a man like Paul could be dangerous.

Epaenetus was a beloved of Paul who was an early convert when the apostle preached in Achaia. There was a woman named Mary who labored much with the group. Everyone wants to know her story. Andronicus and Junia labored with Paul and suffered imprisonment with him. It is possible these two were related to the apostle, but it is uncertain. What is certain is their dedication to the kingdom of God to suffer the hardships of prison. Among the apostles, their names were remembered. Amplias was among a list of beloved in the Lord, including Stachys. Apelles was a tried and faithful disciple of Christ. Whatever tribulation Apelles endured; it was for the love of God.

Several brethren used their homes for the brethren to worship. That would take a lot of energy and work to prepare the house and open their homes to others. Priscilla and Aquilla opened their home as Paul would later commend Nymphas (Laodicea) and Philemon for the same labor in the Lord. Paul greeted the families of Aristobulus and Narcissus who were in the Lord. He mentions Rufus and his mother and Paul commends his own mother (very interesting) along with the sister of Nereus. Families are essential to the work of the Lord.

Herodion was a countryman of Paul who was commended. Paul is thankful for Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with the apostle. Philologus and Julia are set apart for their faithfulness. As Paul concludes his letter to Rome, he commends Timothy, his fellow worker and is thankful for Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, Tertius, Gaius, Erastus and Quartus. It is quite a list – a list of names shows how each one did their part and helped the kingdom of God grow.

Two thousand years have not faded the exhortations given by Paul to the illustrious list of faithful saints. Most of the names are unknown but they are known to God. Everyone has a place in the kingdom of God to do what they can do. Not everyone can be an apostle like Paul, but the hard-working preacher of the gospel recognized the work of a host of saints that labored hard for the kingdom of God. Many more could be listed, but time would not allow. Paul commends the saints. God knows the saints. There is something for everyone to do. Let us all be busy and work and do all we can do for the kingdom of God.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-19)

Given The Keys

The ministry of Jesus was in its third year and the popularity of the carpenter from Nazareth was waning. John the Baptist had been beheaded. The pressure from the Jewish leaders had increased. Jesus knew His time on earth was quickly drawing to a close. Arriving in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked the disciples what people were saying about Him. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead or one of the prophets like Elijah or Jeremiah. Jesus then asked who they thought He was. Peter speaks up without hesitation, declaring that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. The Lord affirms the confession by Peter as a divine revelation and upon the authority of Jesus being the Christ, He would build His church. Jesus tells Peter that he would be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The will of the Father granted this authority to be given the keys.

Keys are used for unlocking doors. Until the time of Jesus, the mystery of the ages was hidden from the mind of men. Jesus came to make a way to the Father as He told His disciples Thursday evening when He was betrayed that He was going away to prepare the abiding place for the faithful. Entrance into eternal life was not open to all men. The invitation was given to the world, but only those who obeyed the will of the Father would be granted entrance. Peter would be instrumental in opening the doors of the kingdom of heaven for men to find salvation. That door was secured by the will of the Father and would not be opened until God permitted it.

After the death of Jesus and His resurrection, the Lord gave the commission to the eleven to preach the gospel to the whole world, beginning at Jerusalem. Fifty days after the death of Jesus, the apostles were in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began preaching the gospel of a risen Christ. Peter stands among the apostles and declares the sacrifice of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s purpose from the beginning. When the devout Jews were struck by the message of Peter, they pleaded with the apostle to tell them what to do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. The tumblers of the divine lock held by the authority of God opened up the way of salvation and three thousand people walked in. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven and he opened the floodgates of eternal life through the will of the Father.

A few years after the events of Pentecost, Peter is again the center of evangelism when God directs the apostle to go to the house of a Roman centurion in Caesarea named Cornelius. When Peter arrives at the home of Cornelius, the family and some friends are gathered together to listen to the words of Peter. As the apostle speaks, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles as it did on the day of Pentecost upon the twelve apostles. Peter recognizes the opening of the message of eternal life to the Gentiles and asks what forbids those gathered from being baptized. He commands them to be baptized in the name of Christ and the tumblers of the divine lock open the door of salvation to the Gentiles.

Jesus promised to give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. At Pentecost, Peter opened the door for the Jews to be the first recipients of the gospel. When Peter went to Caesarea, he opened the door for the Gentiles to be included in the gospel and now the world knew the will of the Father. Peter was only an instrument used by God to open the doors of eternal life to all men. God used men throughout the history of the Bible to open doors. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, to name a few. John the Baptist had a pivotal role in the kingdom. Peter had his part, and he was given the keys to the kingdom. He did not make the keys or have authority over the keys. The keys were given to him by Jesus Christ and now the door is unlocked for all who will enter in. Salvation is on the other side of the door. It is not locked. The blood of Jesus stains the door. Enter in.

So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 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.” But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:22-26)

What His Eyes Saw

The story of Lazarus and the rich man often focuses upon the state of the rich man who lived a life of luxury on earth but found horror and sorrow in death. Lazarus was a poor beggar living a life of squalor and filth with no animals pitying him but dogs in the presence of a fellow Jew with no compassion as demanded by the Law of Moses. The story also illustrates the truth the wicked cannot escape punishment. Through the story of Lazarus arises wonderful tones of eternal bliss and peace that for the human mind is difficult – if not impossible to fathom.

When Lazarus died, Jesus described his transition into the bosom of Abraham as carried by angels. Whether this is literal or figurative, the expression is incredible. Life for Lazarus was nothing but hardship and pain. Death was an experience of the peaceful transition of angels bearing the eternal spirit to the realm of the righteous dead. There is no grandeur image of God’s grace to think of how angels will carry the embodied eternal spirits of the saints to a place of rest. What is clear in the story is the cognitive awareness of everything around them. On the rich man’s part, he experienced searing pain that was unbearable. He did not ask for a glass of water but a drop to cool his tongue. He was tormented in flames. He knew and understood what was happening to him. His desire to send Lazarus back to his brothers suggests an awareness of life before. The contrast must also be seen for Lazarus, who was not experiencing pain and had no guilt or shame. In the bosom of Abraham, eternal beauty, peace, love, and the light of God shone all around. Lazarus was comforted now.

Hades is the realm of the dead. It is temporary and will be destroyed on the final day when, along with Hell, cast into the lake of fire, the second death. The bosom of Abraham is a place where the righteous dwell and see wondrous things. Death brings great sadness to the hearts of family and friends but on the part of the saint who dies in the Lord, death is a welcome rebirth into an indescribable world. What do they see? How do they feel? What do they remember? The details are sketchy, but the reality is clear. There is no more pain. Sorrow has left the soul. If the bosom of Abraham is where all the righteous dwell before the judgment, the company of people from Adam to Moses to Elijah and Peter and Paul share in the new arrivals daily from the earth below. What the eyes of the righteous must see when angels carry them to the bosom of Abraham.

Death is not the end of life for the child of God. It is the new birth into the eternal kingdom of God. All the aches and pains of life are gone. There is no sickness and there is no death. Is it possible to imagine a world without the burdens of life? When the righteous die, they see the glory of God. They feel His love and share in His grace. All of the saints gather together and they know one another. The full knowledge of God is endowed upon them to understand the plan of God. And then there is the image of Jesus Christ. They see Him face to face. He does not look anything like anyone thinks He does. The Holy Spirit is seen for the first time. All of the angels of God are visible. The image of God is all they see. Found in the bosom of Abraham, the righteous – like Lazarus – awaken to a world of untold beauty. There is grief for those who remain, but there is nothing to grieve for those who gain eternal life. My, what they must see right now.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (A song of ascents. Psalm 130)

Forgiveness

As the children of Israel went to Jerusalem each year, they sang various psalms as they ascended the hill to Zion. These psalms were hymns of praise extolling the grace of God, His abiding love for His people, the joy of going to the house of the Lord, and the relationship of a Father’s love for His children. Foremost among the themes is forgiveness. How can one come before the Lord God and not express praise for the joy of forgiveness? Worship helps to cleanse the soul of the dross of sin. Praising God in union with others strengthens the heart to fight against the wiles of the devil.

Sin overshadows the heart with the depth of darkness. There is no joy, no happiness, and hope when sin subdues the spirit. The joy of forgiveness is that from the depths of sin, God will hear the voice of the penitent. As the dispirited soul cries from the depths, God hears the shaken voice, listens to the frightful call of the fearful, and acknowledges the mournful supplications of the contrite. The reality of sin is that if God counted all the sins a man commits, there is no justification for the Lord to forgive. Who can stand before the great God and claim innocence? None! And yet God forgives the penitent heart that seeks the favor of the Lord. Fear drives one to seek the forgiveness of God. The fear of punishment and the fear of shame brought on by sin.

A prayer is offered to God asking for forgiveness. The quiet echoes the mercy of God as the answer of forgiveness is long for. Souls wait. Hope rises. The night of sorrow seems eternal longing for the sunlight of morning to dawn upon the darkened soul. Hope remains in the Lord. There is mercy with God and He is willing to give His mercy to those who repent and seek forgiveness. Abundant redemption is granted to all who come to the Father asking mercy. God will redeem the penitent from all his iniquities – not a few of them or certain ones – the Lord will remove sin as far as the east is from the west.

Forgiveness comes from a loving Father who knows the frame of man and that he is made of dust. No man has ever received the just reward for his sin, but God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to give the grace of forgiveness to a world that does not deserve it. The grace of God is without measure because the failings of men are unending. God forgives. He seeks those who come to Him asking to be made as hired servants, worthy of nothing. Wait for the Lord. Hope in the Lord. Watch for the forgiveness of God. It will come. There will be difficult days, but the mercy of God will come. God will forgive and the heart will be whole again. Thank you God for forgiveness. Mercy. Grace. Love. Compassion. Undeserved yet ready to be given.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

The Greatest Day

There is coming a day that will be the most important day in the history of the world. It is not the first day of creation or the day of the flood that destroyed all life except eight souls. The history of Israel filled with miracles, wonders, and signs is not the focus of the day that will take place. Two thousand years ago, the birth of Jesus heralded the unfolding of the mystery of God that would be completed more than three decades later when Jesus died on a cross. Through the resurrection of the Son of God, the Father’s love filled the earth, but that was not the most important day in the history of the world. There is coming a day that will be culmination, fulfillment, and completion of the divine plan of God when Jesus Christ descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God.

A day yet to come will be the greatest day in the history of man because it will be the fulfillment of God’s grace. Jesus is coming back the second time because He came the first time. The birth of Jesus was an incredible day of glory when God sent His Son into the world to live as a man of flesh. When Jesus rose from the dead, the mystery of the Father filled the earth with the gospel message of salvation. The world changed when Jesus came. Time is measured by the life of Jesus. The hope of the world is found in the only way, truth and life given to humanity. God’s word is the only avenue of truth that men can know. Still, a day is yet to come that will eclipse all of these events. Jesus is coming back.

The great day of the Lord will be when the Father sends Jesus Christ to the realm of men with a great noise. There will be no silent entrance for Christ as if an unknown rapture occurs. The shout of God will pierce the earth as no sound has ever been heard. It is not known what the voice of an archangel sounds like, but the nature of its description easily convinces men it will be something everyone will hear in deafening tones. The same can be said about the trumpet of God. A trumpet is a loud and piercing instrument. There is no trumpet made by men that will match the sound of God’s trumpet. Everyone from all four corners of the earth will hear the trumpet of God – vociferously.

Those who have died from the beginning of time that are faithful to the Lord will rise from their graves: Abel, Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Habakkuk, Dorcas, Timothy, and the innumerable hosts of God’s elect. Then all the faithful Christians living who have obeyed the word of the Lord will not see death but be caught up together with the dead to meet the Lord in the air. This will be the greatest day because that is where the saved will always be – in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God’s plan is complete. Jesus confirmed the will of the Father by His death. God glorified the Son in the resurrection. Finally, the world comes to an end, and all the saved gather before the Father, and eternal glory begins. What a day that will be. That will be the greatest day. Lord, come quickly. Are you ready?