If We’re In Heaven And Know Some Of Our Loved Ones Aren’t There, Will We Be Happy?

If We’re In Heaven And Know Some Of Our Loved Ones Aren’t There, Will We Be Happy?                                            January 21, 2024

Perhaps a bigger concern for the moment is, how unhappy are we right NOW about our loved ones who are not Christians or unfaithful Christians?  I’m not happy about it, are you?  But, that does not prevent me nor hinder me from serving and worshipping God acceptably.  How much effort are we exerting to teach them and encourage them to obey the Gospel?  If we were more unhappy about it, would we do more to teach and warn them?

It’s not possible for us to have control over others.  Nor can we make them obey the Lord and live faithful Christian lives.  We certainly can teach, counsel, advise, warn, beg and plead and pray for our loved ones (and everyone else) to obey God.  But, we can’t make them obey.  What we can do is be a good example and influence for them.  We can pray for them.  But we cannot live their life for them.  God made it that way.  Each one is responsible for him/herself and no other.  Would you like for someone to have control over you and make all your choices for you?  I wouldn’t, and I don’t think you would either.

The Scriptures are clear concerning our state of mind in heaven. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).  How God will make this happen is not my concern.  The Bible simply says that is the way it will be.  God will take care of it.

I John 3:20 has some bearing on this subject as well.  “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”  God will take care of it.  We often may feel inadequate and down on ourselves, but we need not be.  God wants us to be saved and has provided what is necessary so we can be saved.  When we comply with His commands, He will take care of the rest.

Another thing to consider is that our relationship with one another will be different in heaven than it is on earth,  Jesus said, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).  What God has in store for us, we do not completely know right now, but we do know it will be wonderful and beyond our imagination.

The time is NOW that we prepare for that day.  Are YOU ready? 

By Garland M. Robinson

Following the Pattern in the New Year

Following the Pattern in the New Year          January 14, 2024

What do you suppose God’s people were doing on New Year’s Day roughly 3500 years ago?  Would you believe they were putting up the tabernacle?  “On the first day of the first month, you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting” (Exodus 40:1-2) and “And it came to pass in the first month of the Second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up” (Exodus 40:17).

Earlier in Exodus (chapters 25-31) God had given Moses explicit and detailed instructions about the tabernacle and all of its furnishings. Beginning with this exhortation: “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so shall you make it” (Exodus 25:9).  The Lord repeated this command several times as He specified the dimensions, materials, design, etc., of the tabernacle and its furnishings, “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain “ (Exodus 25:40), “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain” (Exodus 26:30), “As it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it” (Exodus 27:8).

Moses and the Israelites took God seriously!  Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did” (Exodus 40:16).

The tabernacle and the thing associated with it were a shadow of the better things that Jesus Christ established in the New Covenant.  The writer of the book of Hebrews taught that we ought to be even more diligent to be faithful in the New Covenant than Moses and the Israelites were in the Old Covenant (Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:28-31).

In this New Year, let us renew our determination to follow God’s pattern set forth in the New Testament.

By Joe Slater

A Forgiving Spirit

A Forgiving Spirit

by Gene Taylor

There is no more important characteristic found in the human heart than forgiveness. It’s importance is seen in the home, church, community and nation. Someone has said there are “three kindred spirits in the heart—giving, thanksgiving and forgiving. Usually where one is found, all are found.” A forgiving heart is an essential quality every child of God should have (Eph. 4:32).

Reasons To Be Forgiving

God commands it (Mark 11:25). This should be sufficient reason for any right-thinking person to be forgiving because God’s promises rest upon obedience to His word. But forgiveness on mere obedience to command usually falls short of what it should be. Anything done out of a sense of duty or necessity is usually not from the heart (cf. 2 Cor. 9:5-7). Consider the parent who makes the child say “I’m sorry” when, in reality, he is not sorry at all. He says it but only to appease his parent.

The example of Jesus (I Pet. 2:21; Phil. 2:3-5; Luke 23:34). As our example in all things, He would not require of us that which He would not do Himself. Even when His life was taken from Him, He had a forgiving attitude. It is said of Him, “He gave all, then forgave.”

We have been forgiven. God, in Christ, has forgiven the sins of the Christian (Eph. 4:32). As Christ has forgiven him, he is to forgive others (Col. 3:13). One who is unwilling to forgive after he has been forgiven is viewed disdainfully by the God of heaven (Matt. 18:21-35).

In order to have future forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15).

What It Means To Forgive

Forgiveness is more than just speaking the words. It must be sincere and from the heart. It must be patterned after the forgiveness God has granted to us. It must be accompanied by actions which befit true forgiveness.

Forgiveness involves a kind attitude—abandoning all animosity and hatred. All bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor and evil speaking should be put away (Eph. 4:31). We can hold no grudges. One must deny the impulse to get even and seek to do the forgiven one good.

Forgiveness involves forgetting (Heb. 8:12), but what does it mean to forget? It is impossible for a person to completely obliterate the wrong from his mind. Rather it means to not hold the person accountable for it anymore. When forgiveness is granted that should end the matter. It should never again be dredged up or held against the one who has been forgiven.

Forgiveness should be given by the “golden rule” (Matt. 7:12).

One should always be willing to forgive—even at repeated offenses. Matthew 18:21-22 has the apostle Peter asking, “‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”

Jesus was willing to forgive those who crucified Him, but they were not forgiven until they acknowledged their wrong and repented of it (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:36-39). When one refuses to repent, he is to be regarded as a “heathen and a tax collector to you” (Matt. 18:15-17).

Raised to Walk In Newness of Life

Raised to Walk In Newness of Life                                   December 31, 2023

“Therefore we have been buried with Christ through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

“And in Christ you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,” (Colossians 2:11-13)

Every January the 1st is the beginning of a new year.  Many people bring in the new year with all sorts of festive & celebratory activities.  Some are good and some bad.  Regardless of how the new year is welcomed there is this desire to improve one’s past and makes things better in that new year.  Such a desire has been called, “New Year’s Resolutions.” 

Whenever your favorite sports team fails to advance to the playoffs there is this somewhat comforting idea that there is always next year.  There’s this hope for a better tomorrow in which your hopes and dreams can be fulfilled.  Without such hope our future would be rather empty and meaningless.

I find it interesting that no matter how many times one fails to fulfill their new year’s resolutions they still make some each new year.  Perhaps it’s because others are making them and expect you to do the same or there’s something so desirable about newness, about a fresh start that makes people crave for it.  It could be that they’ve made some terrible mistakes that year and want a fresh start, a clean slate with no regrets in the New Year.  Whatever the reason, the world is saying that they desire new beginnings.

With that in mind there is nothing more new than the newness that Christ offers.  Paul states that this newness begins after one is baptized into Christ through baptism (Romans 6:4).  In faith in the working of God to forgive one’s sins they rise from the waters of baptism to walk in the newness of life for their former life has been forgiven and forgotten by God (Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 43:25-26; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:19; Colossians 2:11-13; Hebrews 8:12).  They are regarded now as a “new creation” (II Corinthians 5:17). 

What’s fascinating about this newness is how it occurs.  First of all, when one is resolved to live a new life that’s like Jesus then God is resolved to help make that happen when that individual is baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.  Then they rise to walk in newness of life; a new life with no sins of their past existing before God any more.  They are forgiven and forgotten.  There is no “newness” in life that is any greater than that.

If you are not a Christian please make your number resolution to become one.  If you are a Christian then please make your number resolution to become even more Christ-like. 

Happy New Year everyone & God’s blessings always!                            Brian Thompson

What Jesus Said About His Coming

What Jesus Said About His Coming                            December 24, 2023

I came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).  Many of the Jews believed that Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to destroy all that they regarded as sacred and holy.  He was quick to remind them that His coming was to fulfill all that was holy and sacred.  If they really looked at the Law and the message of the prophets then they could clearly see that Jesus came to fulfill them and not destroy them.

I came to bring a sword and not peace to the earth (Matthew 10:34-39).  I came to cast fire upon the earth and to bring division (Luke 12:49-53).  How is this possible when angels announced His coming would bring peace among men (Luke 2:14)?  Well, both were correct.  Jesus’ coming would bring inner peace to all those who would hear His words and obey them.  But His coming also brought discord and division between members of one’s household when someone believed in Him while others refused to do so.

I came to eat and drink with sinners (Matthew 11:19).  When some of the Jews saw Jesus eating and drinking with sinners and tax-gatherers they concluded that He wasn’t sent from God nor was He sincere in anything He had to say to them.  Little did they realize why He ate and drank with sinners.  He wanted to save them from the wrath of God which was to come.

I came to preach to everyone (Mark 1:38).  Wherever people lived Jesus wanted to share God’s message with them even in small towns or villages.

I came to bring judgment into this world (John 9:39).  Jesus’ coming opened the eyes of those who were blind to God’s will while at the same time His coming blinded those who professed to seeing God’s will because their selfish pride prevented them from seeing what God wanted them to see.

I came to provide people with an abundant life (John 10:10).  While many Jewish leaders robbed the Jewish people of a joyful life through their teachings Jesus came to provide them through His teachings with a meaningful and abundant life.

I came to die a horrible death for the world (John 12:27).  It really troubled Jesus’ soul to approach the hour of His death.  His mind questioned whether He should ask God to save Him from His death for He knew that was why He came to this earth. 

I came to give God’s words to the apostles so they could share it with the world (John 17:1-8).  There is no gold, silver, rubies, diamonds or any other precious stones that can compare in value to the value of having God’s word available to us today.  It is such a treasure to all throughout the world.

As the world celebrates the coming of Jesus at this time of year may we be reminded of what Jesus says are the reasons for His coming to earth for there is no word that should be more highly revered than the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.     

Brian Thompson

The Blessedness of Giving

The Blessedness of Giving                                         December 17, 2023

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’(Acts 20:35)

Why is this true?

Because it makes us more like our heavenly Father.  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” (James 1:17-18; see also John 3:16-17)

Because it makes us more like Jesus Christ, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28; see also Isaiah 53)

Because it makes us more like the Holy Spirit, who guided the apostles “into all the truth” (John 16:13), “so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (I Corinthians 2:12-13), who “also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

Because it helps us to be less self-centered.  “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:4-5), because love “does not seek its own (interests only)” (I Corinthians 13:5).

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Is that blessedness, our sense of how much we are blessed, and our desire to be a blessing, reflected in our weekly monetary contributions?  Our conversations of concern for others?  Our acts of kindness toward the needy, sick, and hurting?  Our desire and willingness to share the saving gospel of Christ with the lost?  In all, give and be blessed.

By Jeremy Paschall (Adapted)

5 Views of Baptism: What View Do You Hold?

5 Views of Baptism:  What View Do You Hold?      December 10, 2023

Jesus stated nearly 2000 years ago, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  To the simple, unbiased and unprejudiced mind, Jesus’ statement is very clear and easy to understand.  It is as easy to understand a doctor’s statement, “He who eats his food and digests it will live; but he who does not eat will die.”  All of us would easily understand that unless we eat and digest, we will die!  However, for those who have allied themselves with human creeds and have been depraved with worldly wisdom, Jesus’ simple statement becomes confusing and contradicting.  Although the Bible ALWAYS places water baptism (in Jesus’ name) before salvation, men have sought ways to undermine His authority and confuse the simplicity of our Lord’s teaching.

ATHEIST’S VIEW

For example, the atheist would say, “He who believes and is baptized will NOT be saved.”  He has rejected the existence of God and the authority of the Bible.  Unbelievers believe there is no God, yet one would have to be “God” himself to prove such a position.  For one to know that there is no God, he would have had to have been everywhere, seen everything at once and know all things!  Yet Jesus had him in mind when he said, …he who believes not shall be condemned,” and again, “he who does not believe is condemned already” (John 3:18).  Truly “the fool has said in his heart ‘There is no God'” (Psalms 14:1).

UNIVERSALIST’S VIEW

The Universalist approaches the scripture with the bias that God is a God of only love and therefore He can never condemn anyone.  They say, “He who believes NOT and is NOT baptized shall be saved.”  While such a faith accepts the actuality of God, it rejects His word and leaves, nonetheless, a corrupt and misguided picture of Deity.  Warning!  “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

CATHOLIC’S VIEW

The Catholic comes along and teaches, “He who believes NOT and is baptized shall be saved.”  I say this as a former Catholic who was sprinkled as a baby.  Catholics baptize babies because of the erroneous view of inherited sin (Ezekiel 18:20); however, Bible baptism was NEVER administered to babies.  Jesus taught that babies are safe (Luke 18:15-17).  Notwithstanding, subjects of Bible baptism must have first believed (see again Mark 16:16), yet faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17).  How can a baby believe when they cannot understand the word of the Lord?  Can they also confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37)?  False doctrine makes us believe unbelievable things!

PROTESTANT’S VIEW

Then the Baptist comes and says. “He who believes and is NOT baptized shall be saved.”  Yet is this what Jesus said?  Is it Deity’s view?  No amount of human manipulation will change the eternal truth of Mark 16:16.  Beware, all of these “NOT’S” are formulated by men in the devil’s “tale” to cheat your soul!

JESUS’S VIEW

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).                                                                  By Steven J. Wallace

And Then It Is Winter

And Then It Is Winter                                                  December 3, 2023

I wonder where all the years went!  I know that I lived them all.  You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.  It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.  Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.  But here it is, the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise.

How did I get here so fast?  Where did the years go and where did my youth go?  I remember through the years seeing older people and thinking that they were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But here it is!  My friends are retired and getting gray.  They move slower and I see in them an older person.  Some are in better shape and some are in worse shape than am I, but I see the great change.  They no longer are like the ones I remember who were young and vibrant – but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we would be.  Each day now I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!  And, taking a nap is not a treat anymore, it is mandatory because if I don’t on my own freewill, I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do the things that I wish I had done but never did.  But, at least I know that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth, it’s over.  A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets.  There are things I wish I hadn’t done and things I should have done.  But there are many things I am happy to have done.  It’s all in a lifetime.

If you are not yet in your winter, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think.  So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!  Don’t put things off too long!  Life goes by so quickly.  Do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not.  You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life.  Live for today and say all the things that you want your friends and loved ones to remember.  And hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past (and that they will forgive you for the things you should have done but didn’t).

Life is a gift to you.  The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. 

Make it a fantastic one.                                                  -Author Unknown

How to Avoid A Spiritual Failure

How to Avoid A Spiritual Failure                                      November 26, 2023

In his final hours in Rome, awaiting an inevitable execution, a very lonely apostle Paul suffered some additional heartbreak.  “Demas,” he wrote, “hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10).  We are left to speculate as to the particulars-what dread fears or powerful allurements led this faithful friend and co-worker to abandon the kingdom of God and to forsake his burdened brother.  It was not as though he had fled the field at the first approach of trouble.  During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome Demas had evidently been a steadfast companion (Philemon 24; Colossians 4:14).  Now, unexpectedly, this heart-mauling betrayal and desertion.

Paul said that Demas “loved this present world.”  The “world” is many things.  John describes it as a way of thinking where lust, materialism and pride abound (I John 2:15-16).  What was it that got to the faithful Demas?  Was it fear of death or imprisonment?  Or was it something more subtle like a nostalgic longing for the old easy ways free of constant warfare?  We are not told which one of these undid Demas but one of them found its mark.

Breaking points can come to us too if we are not very careful.  A deep hurt we cannot find it in ourselves to forgive.  A disappointing marriage.  Failures with our children.  Lost health or prosperity.  Anything we had never imagined happening to us.  And often it’s just plain prideful stubbornness.  At any rate, don’t ever say you’d never do what others have done.  You’ve never been all the places you could be.  Peter learned a valuable lesson about that (Matthew 26:31-35).  It is far better that we know our weaknesses and watch and pray that we enter not into temptation (Matthew 26:41).  Satan loves an arrogant and self-confident man.

Another lesson to be learned from the failure of others is that those who at last go back, at first look back.  Departures of apparent suddenness are really the end of a process.  Our Lord warned that those who put their hand to the kingdom plow and look back longingly at the world are not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).  The disciples who go back are those who first begin to cultivate again the values of the world and like the Israelites in the wilderness grow nostalgic amid their trials for the fleshpots of Egypt.  They forget, of course, the galling bondage that accompanies the fleshpots of Egypt.  These are the ones who gradually cease to meditate upon God’s word (Psalms 1:1-2), then become prayerless (James 4:1-2) as God and Christ seem far away.  First men cease to study, then to pray, and, finally, to care.

Sometimes this all begins as a casual flirtation, a few little compromises dismissed as harmless.  Too much time with worldly companions (I Corinthians 15:33), too much interest in a job (I Timothy 6:9-10), too much concern with being accepted and making our mark in the world (I Peter 5:5).  Finally, it becomes a passionate love affair that makes us heedless of the injury we do to our Savior, ourselves and others.

Satan is the master of the “short step” method.  Slow change is more effective in producing spiritual collapse than sudden departure.  The danger of alerting the victim to what is happening is eliminated.  We can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13).  Warning flags need to start flying the moment we feel the slightest ebb in commitment.  Beware of the spiritual slow leak.

The unfailing answer to this kind of spiritual failure is the daily discipline of an uncompromising dedication which admits of no exceptions and makes quick and humble redress for every transgression.  Burn all your bridges and press on to the heavenly mark (Philippians 3:7-14).  And if, in spite of everything, you happen to stumble badly, don’t let despair destroy you.  Remember that everyone who has faltered has not ultimately fallen.  We can all thank God for that.  John Mark’s disgraceful desertion in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13) was not the end of him because he didn’t allow it to be.  Paul sent for him during his last hours (II Timothy 4:11) and the Holy Spirit chose him to record the gospel story.  We don’t have to be like Demas.  In the mercy of God we have the privilege of being like John Mark or Peter, and, yes, even Paul.                   By Paul Earnhart

Jesus’ Family Tree

Jesus’ Family Tree                                                     November 19, 2023

          Someone said, “Don’t shake the family tree too hard because some fruits and nuts may fall out.”  I’ve found that to be true in my own family history research, and it holds true in the genealogy of Jesus too.

          I wonder how many people, as they begin reading the New Testament, just skip over the first seventeen verses of Matthew.  Whew!  All those begats!  All those difficult names!  Why do we care about them anyway?

          Among many other reasons, we ought to learn about those people because they show that our God uses less-than perfect people to accomplish His perfect will.

          Human wisdom would have Messiah’s family tree filled with pure, spotless ancestors.  Some people think we shouldn’t even mention the character flaws exhibited by some in Jesus’ pedigree.  However, doing so isn’t disrespectful; it’s honest!  Scriptures portrays even its heroes “warts and all.”

          “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar” (Matthew 1:3).  Tamar had been the wife of Judah’s two sons, both of whom died.  Judah didn’t keep his promise to give her to his younger son when he came of age, so Tamar dressed like a harlot and duped Judah into getting her pregnant.  Despite their obvious moral failures God used these people to bring the Messiah into the world.

          “Salmon begat Boaz by Rahab” (Matthew 1:5).  Rahab’s background as a Gentile and a harlot in no way prevented God from accomplishing His will despite her flaws.

          “David the king begat Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6).  We all know the sad and sordid account of David and Bathsheba.  But despite their glaring defects they are listed in Jesus’ genealogy.

          This doesn’t excuse anyone’s sin or make it okay!  Quite to the contrary, it demonstrates the universal need for a Savior.  Jesus came to save sinners.  That includes His own blood kin.  And it included you.

By Joe Slater