The Marvelous Mercy of God

            “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).  One of the great themes of the Bible is God’s loving mercy toward sinful man.  As the Apostle Peter noted, if it were not for God’s mercy we would have no hope in this life.  Notice some of the great statements about God’s mercy found in the Bible.

            “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…” (Eph. 2:4-5).  Isn’t it wonderful to know that the King we serve is abundantly wealthy?  What is even greater is his wealth is not a monetary passing pleasure but in eternal mercy with is realized with each Christian.  As Paul reminded Titus, “trough the Lord’s mercy we are saved” (Titus 3:5).

            “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy” (Ps. 145:8).  What makes God’s nature so wonderful is that he is not a capricious and vindictive God. While God does get angry with the wicked (Ps. 7:11), his mercy toward those who love and obey Him far outweighs His anger.  In reality, if each one of us got what we deserved we would be lost in Hell for all eternity.  As the Psalmist pondered this he said, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:10-12).

            The Christian owes a great debt of gratitude to Almighty God for his marvelous mercy.  May we show our appreciation for God’s mercy by humbly submitting to His will.  Friend, have you received the mercy of God?  Have you obeyed the gospel?  If not, you can obey God’s will today by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), believing in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repenting of past sins (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus as Son of God and Lord of your life (Rom. 10:10), and being baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  May each of us constantly be reminded of the marvelous mercy of Almighty God!

Lemons! - Amy Lawrence

Lemons

A Study on Compassion

I am a firm believer that life doesn’t hand out lemons. It fires them, rapidly, from a lemon cannon. Experience should teach us how to catch some and how to dodge some, but we won’t always succeed. We forget sometimes that everyone is getting through this life looking like they took a swim in a lemonade pond. As equal sufferers, we should all be compassionate toward one another as we survive this thing called life.

Compassion is a learned behavior, Mt. 18:21-35. The high priest would first offer sacrifices for himself so that he would be cleansed in order to offer the sacrifices for the people, but also so that “he can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness,” Heb. 5:1-3. Jesus is our High Priest and has suffered in all points as we have, Heb. 4:15. He knows - and He cares. We often forget that sin is “common to man”, 1 Cor. 10:13, and that we all need compassion. But do we all practice compassion? We are certainly commanded to do so, Zech. 7:9.

What is compassion? Google’s handy-dandy AI defines it as “a deep awareness of another’s suffering combined with a strong desire to alleviate it. It is an emotional response that includes recognizing suffering, empathizing, and taking action to help, often referred to as "suffering together". Compassion goes beyond sympathy or empathy by motivating proactive, kind, and supportive actions.” From this definition, it is obvious that selflessness is a prerequisite. One cannot emotionally engage with another when they have no love for anyone but themselves. The ultimate example of compassion is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, Mk. 6:34, because He didn’t just give up something for us. He gave up EVERYTHING for us - and we are commanded to be like Him, Phil. 2:5-8. We can do it. He showed us how.

One of the many benefits of being members of the church of Christ is that we are all part of the same body. When one part of that body hurts, we all hurt. When one rejoices, we all rejoice, 1 Cor. 12:20-26. Sorrow is halved, joy is doubled. In order to accomplish this, we must have a relationship with one another. It is paramount that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, recognize that the only way to know when another is suffering or rejoicing is by being emotionally invested in our relationships with fellow Christians. God knows this and has commanded that we fellowship with one another, but it is not just a command. It’s an investment in the only establishment that can promise 100% success rate - because Christ is its Head, and our fellowship is through Him, 1 John 1:3-7. That is a guarantee of benefits for those that are invested in Christ. Compassion is also a megaphone for the church. When we have love and compassion for one another, the world sees, John 13:34-35. Our relationship with fellow Christians should portray the characteristics of Christ - because we want the world looking at Him, Heb. 12:1-2, 1 Pet. 3:8-13. 

Christian compassion is not limited to those within the church. We can have compassion for all men, Mt. 5:7. As a matter of fact, this is what should compel us to share, especially the gospel. Every person is a soul that will spend eternity somewhere. There are so many feet still pointed toward Hell. Jesus came to save the lost, Lk. 19:10, and every one of us were once lost in the darkness. Fortunately, there’s plenty of Light to go around, John 8:12. Let’s share it. The best way to share the gospel is to live the gospel by sharing in physical needs as much as spiritual needs, 2 Cor. 9:12-15.

Tolerance is often confused as compassion. Satan gets his foot in the door by influencing people to allow sinful behavior, and sin is tolerated under the guise of compassion. Know that sin grows. It starts out as an innocent-looking cub, and by the time it is noticed that those claws have become sharp, we are in its grip. It is much more difficult to fight off a monster that is fully grown, James 1:14-15, and Satan knows this, 1 Pet. 5:8. Sin has a way of taking us where we don’t want to go, getting us there faster than we want to travel, and keeping us there longer than we want to stay. When one understands the difference between tolerance and compassion, one sees that boundaries are not uncompassionate. They are necessary to protect our hearts, Prov. 4:23. The Christian armor in Ephesians 6:10-18 shows us that healthy boundaries in the form of shield and helmet protect the vital areas that Satan is trying to pierce. Sometimes distance is the boundary, 1 Cor. 15:33. Not everyone helps or wants to be helped. Be careful that you don’t allow your compassion to enable sin, Mt. 7:6, 2 Thess. 3:10. and that you do recognize counterfeit kindness, Mt. 7:21-23. There is a vast difference between being a compassionate Christian and being a doormat. 

Let’s get into the practical. What are some ways we can be compassionate as individuals? As the church? Jesus said, “…you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish, you may do them good…”, Mk. 14:7. There will always be those in need. We should be as eager as Paul was to help the poor, Gal. 2:10, both in the needs of this life and those of the next. Poverty is not, however, a prerequisite. We can do good to all, Gal. 6:10. We can:

-aid and visit with the elderly

-donate to/participate in food drives

-do small jobs for the sick or otherwise disabled

-spend time getting to know a new member

-teach or aid in teaching a Bible class or study

-babysit kids for parents that need a break

-participate in fellowship efforts in your congregation

-engage in aid efforts in your community

-be kind to whomever you meet
There is always someone in need. Find a need - and fill it. 

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the others.” It takes gratitude to be compassionate. A thankful heart remembers what it is like to be in need and receive mercy. We are always in need of God’s mercy, Lk. 6:36, and if we all follow God’s commandments, everyone will be taken care of - just as God said, Mt. 6:33. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” Mt. 5:7. Our gratitude should begin with the fact that nothing we have is our own…not even our soul, Is. 18:4. Everything belongs to God, Ps. 50:7-12, and it MATTERS what we do with it. God has made us stewards of what is His, 1 Pet. 4:10, 1 Cor. 4:1-2. If we do not use what is God’s for the purpose God has placed upon it and us, imagine what He will say when it’s time for the accounts to be called in, Mt. 25:14-30. Let us be faithful stewards.

Every Christian should want what God wants. That is the only way to be pleasing to Him. We must be holy as He is holy, 1 Pet. 1:13-16, and full of compassion, Ps. 86:15. In a world that expects everyone to be cruel, be the mirror that reflects Christ in the darkness, shining forth gratitude and compassion. 

Defeating the Devil is Possible! - Ben Bailey

            The Bible clearly teaches that the Devil is a serious adversary who desires to devour our soul.  The Apostle Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  While the devil is a fearful foe, the good news is we can and must defeat the Devil.  Here are three ways we can defeat Satan.

            Resist the Devil.  “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:9).  The encouragement Peter gives to suffering Christians is that they can resist the adversary.  Although the devil is a fearful foe, you can defeat him!

            Realize his Tactics.  The devil has many tricks up his sleeve to use against the Christian.  Satan is characterized as a wiley and conniving creature (1 Tim. 3:7, Eph. 6:10-11).  Satan has a large arsenal of weapons including worldliness, lust, defeat, and even self.  But, if we will study the nature and tactics of Satan it will help us defeat him.

            Read the Bible.   At the temptation of Jesus, He overcame Satan by saying three times, “It is written” (Matt. 4).  Jesus was so well versed in the Bible that it was His primary defense against the devil, and it worked.  Today, if we are going to overcome Satan we must know the Word of God.  The Psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:9-11). 

            God has given us the ability to defeat Satan.  We have to arm ourselves for battle and vehemently fight the foe every day.  May God help us to truly overcome the enemy (Rev. 2:10).

The Reasoning Power of the Gospel - Ben Bailey

            “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’" (Acts 24:25).     His mind was made up.  Paul was going to Rome to appeal to Caesar.  Yet, along the way Paul had a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to such wicked men as Agrippa and Felix.  If you could speak to some of the world’s most powerful leaders today about the gospel, what would you say?  Let us consider Paul’s three major points to Felix.

            Righteousness.  Felix was not well known for his righteous nature.  In fact, he was probably well known for quiet the opposite.  Yet, Paul was able to bring the great Felix to his knees in fear by preaching righteousness.  Oh, how we need more teaching on righteousness today.  Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).  We need more preaching on righteousness in marriage.  God set marriage up to be one man and one wife for a lifetime, the only exception is for fornication (Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 19:9).  We need more teaching on righteous living today.  Paul encourage some in Corinth to awake to righteousness and stop sinning (1 Cor. 15:34).  John reminds us that everyone who is born of God works righteousness in his life (1 John 2:29).  In a world that mocks at sin and revels in the unrighteous lifestyle, we as Christian must be a light by living righteously.

            Self-Control.  Paul now turns to the second problem in Felix’s life.  Felix, and much of the Roman world, lacked any self control.  The motto of the day could have been “If it feels good do it.”  Felix is especially known for his lack of self-control in the fleshly and sexual realm.  Today, we still have a lot of Felix’s kinfolks around who have absolutely no restrain when it comes to sexual desires.  Christians, must not give in to many of the fleshly pleasures of the world, but rather abstain from them.  Peter encouraged us to, “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).  To help control our lusts, we must access a power greater than ourselves.  The Bible says, we can do all things through Jesus Christ who is our strength (Phil. 4:13).  When we are tempted to give in to our lust, we need to turn to God in prayer and ask Him for help (1 Peter 5:7). 

            Judgment to Come.   Everything Paul had previously said, would have had no effect on Felix were it not for the Judgment Day of God.  Why should people live righteous lives today?  What motive is there for controlling our lusts and passions?  The greatest motive of all is that one day we will stand before God and be judged for all that we have done in this life (Eccl. 12:14).  Concerning the Judgment, Paul reminds us that God will bring every work in to judgment including every secret thing we have said or done (2 Cor. 5:10).  The Judgment of God will be according to His Word (John 12:48).  As we read the words of Revelation 20:12-15, we have to see Felix and ourselves at the Judgment. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

            The Bible has the ability to satisfy our greatest spiritual needs.  Are we really living righteous lives that practice self-control in view of the Judgment of God?  May we never have the attitude of  Felix who sadly said, “Go away for now, when I have a more convenient season I will call upon you.”  We are never told that Felix obeyed the gospel.  Don’t wait too late.  May we be encouraged to live for God every day of our lives!

"For God So Loved..." - Russ Vickers

“For God So Loved”

By Russ Vickers

God’s redeeming love is seen in John’s Gospel account. We read in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17 - ASV). 

The redeeming love of God is traceable to the garden of Eden. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). From Eden to Calvary, God ceased not to keep before the world His promise, and to keep awake in the hearts of His people the hope of the promised Redeemer. The sacrifices, altars, ordinances, law, and the prophets were to keep alive in the hearts of men the promise. The promise which found full fruition and expression in Christ, the gift of God’s wonderful love. 

At God’s appointed time, Jesus came into the world. “But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5). Paul, no doubt, had John 3:16 in mind when he penned these words. Many sermons had been preached from these words. This is one of the golden texts of the Bible. It’s content has never been exhausted. It’s message never grows old. What matchless love! Love stooping to redeeming a sinful world. These words reveal many things to us. 

The words “for God so loved the world” show how great His love for us is. The greatness and grandeur of God’s love is in its all-inclusiveness. All of humanity has opportunity to be redeemed. His love includes the entire world. A world in hostility to Him. A world that is helpless because of sin. A world that is hopeless without Him. 

Redeeming love is a great gift from Him. The words “that he gave his only begotten Son” show how great this gift truly is. The Son of the living God sent His only begotten Son to us. He was humbled with a lowly birth. He was tempted as we are. And He was crucified in a shameful death upon a Roman cross like a criminal. 

Redeeming love is seen in the phrase “that whosoever believeth on him.” God’s grace is truly amazing! The hints of God’s grace had been seen in all ages. But now it has been manifested to humanity. We are assured of this grace through passages such as these. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). And “Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10).

The grace of God’s love is seen in His provision for all men “that whosoever.” In the freeness of salvation, freely given to us without anything on man’s part. In the simple terms upon which its benefits are received. Belief is one of the steps to salvation.

God’s redeeming love is guaranteed in the phrase, “should not perish, but have eternal life.” Guaranteed security and guaranteed possession. How marvelous the redeeming love of God is! And how simple it is to obey the gospel (Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Baptism). How simple it is to enjoy the benefits. To reject God is to condemn the soul to everlasting punishment in hell for all eternity. We should never take the redeeming love of God for granted, nor should we reject it! 

"I am with you always" - Russ Vickers

“I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS” 

Sometimes we get out of bed in the morning and things do not always go according to plan. I saw on social media this morning a woman who complained about the traffic here in town. For many of us, this is a reality. There are other things that could happen to us. It could be that you did not sleep well the night before. Perhaps the electricity in the house was out, or maybe the water was shut off for some reason. It could be that our car will not start. Or, you have to drive to work or school in the rain. Any number of things could go wrong. We often say on Mondays, “I wish I could have stayed in the bed this morning.” 

What keeps many people up at night is worry and anxiety. Family members struggle with health issues. You might have project deadlines or an appointment to keep. Maybe one of your employees has resigned. Our minds can get filled with such worries that we stop focusing on Christ and what He has done for us. 

Do you remember the account in Mark chapter 4 when Jesus was in a boat with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee? A great storm arose and the waves crashed so hard into the boat that they began to fill the boat with water. And what was Jesus doing? He was in the back of the boat asleep on a cushion. The fearful disciples said, “Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38 – ASV). What happened next was astounding. “And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:39-41). 

In the Sermon on the Mount, we have some wonderful words for living that came from our Lord Jesus Christ. In first-century Palestine, there was a great deal of poverty and misery to go around. He tells us in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?” Each day we wonder what is for dinner or what we are going to wear that day or the next. Jesus then gave an object lesson centering around God’s care for His creation. “Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Jesus then shows how futile it is to worry about things of this life. “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” (Matthew 6:27). The Lord again goes back to the example of creation concerning the flowers in the field. “And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which          today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30). 

According to Matthew 6:32, the Lord knows that we need the basic essentials of life. But then He says something wonderful in verse 33 that can lift our spirits even today: “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The idea is to put the Lord first in our lives and He will supply us with what we need. He concludes by stating that we are to take care of today’s troubles and not worry or be anxious over tomorrow. Tomorrow often has enough trouble. 

We need to realize that the Lord is still there even in the midst of our worries and struggles in this life. If the Lord can calm a storm on the sea, He can surely calm the storms of our lives. What mankind needs to do is take a long look at the cross. Many of our problems arise when we take our eyes off the cross. In the core of the storm, we often wonder where the Lord went. We ask, “Why does Jesus seem so far away?” The fact is simply this: He never left and the cross is still there! The cross of Christ has always been there. But do we take the time to notice? Do we take the time to let the Lord calm us and ease our fears? Our precious Savior would say to those who worry and fret, “I am here for you, and I have always been here with you.” That is why He said to the disciples before His ascension, “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus Christ is there for those who love Him and seek to do His will first more than anything else. 

Are we willing to turn our worries over to God in prayer? This is how we receive God’s comfort. We need to pray that God will guide us through the storms of life and that our eyes would be open to see the cross and know without a doubt that He is there for us. 

Prayer: Who, Why & How - Ben Bailey

           “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous main avails much” (James 5:16).  Since prayer is such an important part of the Christian life, it only makes sense the more I know about prayer the more it can benefit me and those in my prayer life.  Here are some basic details Paul gives Timothy about prayer in 1 Tim. 2:1ff.

            The first detail Paul mentions about prayer is “WHO” should mention in prayer.  The Christian is told, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).  From our family and friends, to our enemies to even those in places of political power, the Christian should be ready to pray for all men.

            The next detail Paul mentions about prayer is the “WHY” of prayer.  One of the motivations in prayer is “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:2).  We have all heard that prayer has powerful results and this verse definitely affirms that truth (James 5:16).  Imagine the good we can do for our own lives, the church, and for our country if we only pray.   But, we also must imagine the good we will miss out on doing if we don’t have an active prayer life.

            The final detail Paul mentions about prayer is the “HOW” of prayer.  This aspect of prayer deals with the Christian’s attitude and motivation in prayer.  Paul says, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8).  The idea of lifting up holy hands is indicative of an attitude of a desire to be pure, submissive, and humble before God (See Ps. 24:4).  Before we enter into the sacred communication of prayer,  may we always examine our hearts and come before God in a manner acceptable to Him! —Ben Bailey

The Precious Blood of Christ

The Precious Blood of Christ

By Ben Bailey

            The Holy Spirit says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22).  The Old Testament Levitical system was a very bloody system (Lev. 1-5).  For every sin of every kind there was a blood sacrifice to be offered (Lev. 4:1-12).  Yet the Scripture records that the blood of all those bulls and goats could never really take away sin (Heb. 10:3-4).  How thankful we should be that Jesus was willing to shed His blood once for all for sin so that the sin problem would have a permanent solution (Heb. 10:12).  Notice just how important the blood of Christ is to our salvation.

            When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28).  When Jesus was on the cross “…one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (Jn. 19:34).  It was at this point in time when a fountain was opened for cleansing sin (Zech. 13:1). Without the shedding of Jesus’ blood we would not have forgiveness (Rom. 6:1-4; Acts 2:38). 

            The Apostle Paul said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).  Paul later wrote that we are brought near to God through the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13).  The word “redeem” literally means to “buy back.”  Before Jesus shed His blood we were enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17-18).  Jesus paid the ransom price to free us from sin.  Paul said of Jesus’ sacrifice, “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:4).  Only through the blood of Christ could we be bought back into a right relationship with God (Jn. 14:6). 

            Because of sin, the relationship with God and man had been severed (Isa. 59:1-2; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 3:23).  Yet, how wonderful it is to hear Paul tell the Colossian Christians that Jesus made “peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20). Through the blood of Christ we can have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:6-8).

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus loves us and is willing to wash us from our sins in His own blood (Rev. 1:5).  At what point do we contact the blood of Christ?  When do we receive that washing of our sins in the blood of Jesus?    We contact the blood of Christ in the watery grave of baptism (Rom. 6:1-4; Eph. 5:26; Heb. 10:22).  Paul was told to “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).  Since it is the blood of Christ that cleanses our sins, then we must conclude that baptism is the point at which we reach the blood of Christ (Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16). Furthermore, in light of the fact that we can lose the benefit of Jesus’ cleansing blood as a child of God (Heb. 10:24-26), we must continue to walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, and we must continue to confess our sins as His children so that the blood of Jesus can keep on cleansing us from all sin (1 John 1:7-9). Thank God for the precious blood of Jesus that not only makes us pure, white, and whole in God’s sight, but maintains our purity in His sight so that one day we can “see God” for eternity (Isa. 1:18; Mt. 26:28; 5:8)! 

"Standard - A Study on the Value of Truth" - Amy Lawrence

Standard

A Study on the Value of Truth

I’m sure we’ve all seen some form of our justice system here in the US, whether on reality television or crime shows. We usually see it taking place in a courtroom with a judge, 12 jurors, a plantif, a defendant, and witnesses. The goal of most - if not all - of the people in that room is to either tell or discover truth by using a standard of rules and regulations. Our ability as a nation to recognize truth has diminished over the years, though. As time marches on, and as society is and has always been wont to slowly evolve toward chaos, truth becomes subject to manipulation in order to suit current ideas. In this study, I’d like to answer the question Pilate asked Jesus: What is truth?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines truth as, “the body of real things, events, and facts; the property of being in accord with fact or reality; fidelity to an original or a standard”. We can understand this concept better by using something everyone is familiar with as truth: mathematics.

2+2 equals 4. No one will ever be able to change that. It’s a fact. A mile is and will always be 5,280 feet. Different nations that speak different languages can shoot a rocket into space and connect with the International Space Station by using theuniversal truth known to us as “math”. (Yes, I understand that we all hate math…but this is only for illustration purposes. You can take a breath and calm down now.) A standard to which everyone on Planet Earth adheres becomes truth. No one can argue with gravity, because it will teach you how true it is every time.

Now that I’ve illustrated the daylights out of “truth”, let’s get into a different kind of truth. Jesus once prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth,” John 17:17. We know, based on the history of the world as well as our own experiences, that most people treat truth as if it were flexible. We only want it to be truth when it suits our need of it. A prime example of this is the desire of our society today to redefine the terms “male” and “female”. No matter the rallies, riots, fame, and fortune, no one on this round rock will be able to redefine “male” and “female”. Why? Because of Who defined them in the first place, Gen. 1:27. Paul wrote to the Romans that mankind is without excuse because, “…since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…” When God says something is true, it becomes truth. To deny this is to deny the power of God Almighty.

As I mentioned before, Jesus tells us that God’s truth sanctifies us. How does truth purify us? Well, the first step is to let it. Anyone that has ever dealt with discussions of a religious nature know how people tend to have their own ideas of what is truth. Reading the word of God with a preconceived notion of what it already says is no way to learn. Even the Bereans didn’t take Paul’s word for it. They “searched the scriptures daily, to find out whether these things were so,” Acts 17:11. Is that a scriptural practice? Absolutely, 1 Pet. 4:1. But what if it is ourselves we must defeat?

What if we’ve had a belief all our lives and find out from scripture that the belief iswrong? My first recommendation would be to pray. There are many times when I have asked God for the strength to defeat myself and let His truth purify me, as did David, Ps. 51:10. Let it purify.

When the heart is where it should be, the understanding of God’s word takes on a whole new perspective. The psalmist wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Ps. 111:10. In studying scripture, our minds should always have a deep respect for God and His will, Mt. 6:9-10. When that respect for God remains, then and only then can His word begin its job of purifying, Ps. 19:9, and our knowledge of His will can begin to build and grow.

Truth is also pure in that it is no respecter of persons. What is expected of me is expected of anyone desiring to be a child of God. We must also be impartial. Jesus tells us, “…with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you,” Mt. 7:2. We must be impartial in mercy and forgiveness, but also in discipline and justice. Purity requires keeping the good and dispelling the bad. The Corinthians were reprimanded by Paul for not being ashamed of some of the things that were happening under their very noses, 1 Cor. 5:1-5. They repented and disciplined where necessary, but then they went to the extreme of not forgiving a repentant brother, 2 Cor 2:5-8. There is peace in purity, but the requirement for this peace is discipline - whether it is self-discipline or discipline by the church, Mt. 18:15-17. We must be good to each other, Gal. 6:1-5, and this good can only be found in truth and love, 1 Pet. 1:22-2:3.

We have to be willing to accept God’s truth in order to be pleasing to Him. I must tell you, though; the world rarely proclaims God’s truth. John wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father isnot in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever,” 1 John 2:15-17. We, therefore, have to make a choice: God, or the world? We cannot have both. God, in His manifold wisdom, presented a life lived in nothing but worldly pleasures through the writings (Ecclesiastes) of David’s son, Solomon. As the richest and wisest man ever to exist, Solomon came to a conclusion after he had invested himself in every worldly pleasure imaginable. His conclusion?

“And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing - whether good or evil,” Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.

Solomon lived a worldly life and yet wrote that a life that is pleasing in God’s sight is far better.

God’s truth creates a caliber of life you will not find anywhere else in this existence. Only in God’s truth is there true joy, no matter the circumstances, Phil. 4:4-7. This physical life is temporary. We as Christians have a hope that is beyond this life. Those of us that live in God’s truth know that, even in times of trouble, we have the assurance that the next life is the one God promised would be worth living for Him in this life. THAT is truth.

If you would like to be a part of this truth, come and join us in worship to God at any faithful church of Christ every Sunday/Wednesday night. We would love to have you among our number, and if there is any desire to know more, please don’t hesitate. Let us study with you as we all grow in grace and knowledge, 2 Pet. 3:18.

Holiness - A study on Dedication - Amy Lawrence

Holiness

A Study on Dedication

There exists in all of us a passion for something. For some, it’s sports. For others, it could be the science of technology, mechanics, or architecture. Many are dedicated to teaching and learning, medicine and healthcare, building and exploring. For grandparents, it’s their grandchildren. Anything as simple as food can be a passion. The emotion we know as “passion” is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” In this article, I’d like to talk about the one subject to which we all should dedicate ourselves.

The Babylonian army destroyed and set fire to the city of Jerusalem and the temple in 586BC. Many of the captives taken out of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar were transported to Babylon. They would remain in captivity for 70 years. The Babylonian captivity did exactly what God planned for it to do; it rededicated His people. Once Babylon fell to the Persians, the captives became the responsibility of the Persian king and eventually were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city.  One of the groups that returned was lead by Nehemiah. He took up the charge to rebuild the wall that would surround the city…but he understood that before he could rebuild the city that represented the Holy and Almighty God, he first had to rebuild himself, Neh. 1:1-11. Nehemiah sought the purity that would allow him to approach God again. This type of dedication is becoming less and less prominent in the church today. We serve a Holy God, and He requires that we be holy in order to be pleasing to Him, Lev. 11:45. From this study, we can learn what holiness is and how to practice it. 

The Hebrew word for “holy” is קַָדַשׁ (qadash) and is used in Ex. 3:5. Anyone that grew up in the church heard this story a great number of times. There are details that didn’t stand out as much to my child mind as they do now to my adult mind. It begins with Moses seeing and investigating a most peculiar bush. God disallowed Moses to approach this bush in which God was inhabiting until Moses was appropriately pure. When God announced to Moses who He was, Moses’ response was also appropriate to God’s awesome holiness; Moses hid his face for fear of looking upon God’s glory. God passed before Moses on Sinai, Ex. 33:19-23. The Lord hid Moses in the cleft of the rock so God’s glory would not kill him. Part of God’s glory would shine on Moses’ face after talking with God, Ex. 34: 29-35. Moses understood that holiness begins with a fearful respect of the position and power of God Almighty. Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10) 

In order to understand God’s holiness, we must first understand some truths of His position: 

1.)            God is our Creator, and He alone holds the place above His creation, Is. 40:21-29. 

2.)            His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts, Is. 55:8-9. 

3.)            We are in the hands of the Potter, Is. 64:8. 

4.)            When one’s mind comes to grips with the knowledge of God, one cannot help but see the enormity of God and the fact that He is the source of everything we know and everything we are that is good,  Acts 17:22-31, 3 John 11. For this alone, He is more than deserving of our love and respect.

The word קַָדַשׁ (qadash) means “to be set apart, consecrated, sanctified” (NAS Hebrew dictionary). The first use of this word in scripture is found in Gen. 2:3, the “sanctified” Sabbath Day - a day the Israelites were commanded to “keep holy”, Ex. 20:8. They were to observe this by doing the same thing God did at the end of a week of work: stop working, Gen. 2:2. Can we be holy by obeying God? Absolutely! God is the perfect example of holiness and has given us everything we need to know in order to be His sanctified people. His word is “profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness”, that we may all be complete and fully equipped, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, and His commandments are good, Ps. 119. Because God is holy, His commandments are also holy, Rom. 7:12. By obeying the commandments of God, we can also be holy, 1 Pet. 1:13-16.

Because God is holy, so is His name. To speak the name of the Most High as a curse or in a way that is flippant or derogatory toward the Almighty God is so dangerous that scripture pointedly warns against it. One of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 specifies how we should speak the name of God, vs. 7. His name is to be used with reverence and given to no other, Mt. 23:1-10. It is to be magnified. David understood this, 1 Chr. 17:16-27. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Ps. 29:2)

Our conduct as Christians, as the church, should mirror the holiness of God in everything we do - both in our assembled worship and in our everyday lives, 1 Tim. 3:15, Mt. 5:16. I cannot stress this enough; we as Christians are representatives of God and His kingdom. We are the only Bible some people will read. Our words, our dress, our actions should all speak the holiness of God to everyone. Dedication like that is a testament to the Creator that we serve. When those outside the fold cannot help but to see the love, trust, and loyalty we give to God (and to each other), their curiosity will be piqued and they will begin to ask about the Savior that we serve. They will be even more impressed by God when we tell them about Him. We were created to glorify God, Is. 43:7.

God told the Israelites, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.…and ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine.” (Lev. 20:7-8, 26) Holiness sets us apart from the rest of the world. We are commanded to “be separate”, 2 Cor. 6:17, if we wish to follow God Almighty. 

It has its perks, too. Note what Isaiah said: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you…”” (Is. 43:1-4) When we follow God, we follow the only One Satan cannot defeat, 1 Cor. 15:57.

In order to be pleasing to God, we must separate ourselves from the world, 1

John 2:15-17, Rom. 8. Holiness is a requirement. God’s word teaches us how to be holy.

If there is ever a need, or you wish to study further on this subject, please visit the nearest church of Christ and let us help you as you seek holiness with the people of God.

What Must I Do To Be Saved? - Ben Bailey

What Must I Do to be Saved?

Ben Bailey

            The most important question ever asked is “What must I do to be saved?”  (Acts 16:30, 2:37).  Everyone who believes in God must ask this question at one time in his or her life.  Truly, no other source is better able to answer this question than the word of God, for it is able to save and sanctify the souls of men (James 1:21; Jn. 17:17, 8:32).  Therefore, what does the Bible teach one must do to be saved?

            The first step one must take to be saved is to hear God’s word.  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).  And, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6).  In the past I am afraid that we have under emphasized the importance of hearing God’s word.  But what does it mean to really hear God’s word?  Does it mean just listening to the word of God?  No.  By hearing God’s word, two things are meant.  First, hearing God’s word means that we recognize its authority.  As God said on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear Him” (Mk. 9:7). The Bible is the ultimate and final authority in all matters of religion (Matt. 28:18ff, Col. 3:17, Jn. 12:48).  Second, hearing God’s word means that we give a diligent effort to study, search, seek and test.  In the process of hearing, one must use the reasoning capabilities God has given him to discern truth from error (I Thes. 5:21).  When hearing we need to be like the noble Bereans who “…received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11, ASV).  Let us all be careful and intelligent in how we hear (Lk. 8:18), what we hear (Mk. 4:24), and Who we hear (Mk. 9:7).

            The second step in the plan of salvation is belief.  Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will surely die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24).  However, belief alone will not save a person.  In fact, the word belief never means mental acceptance only.  Belief always means an active, obedient trust in God (Gal 5:6).  You and I understand this in every day life.  For example, if I wake up during the night with my house on fire, and I truly believe that it is on fire this belief alone will not save me.  I must take steps of action such as getting out of bed and running out of the house to be saved from the fire.  Likewise, there are steps of action associated with belief  that one must take to be saved.  It is so sad that there are thousands of denominational people who teach that all one must do to be saved is believe in Jesus and accept Him as your personal Savior.  Nothing could be further than the truth.  In fact, the only time belief/faith only is ever used in the Bible, James says faith alone will not save a person (James 2:24). 

            The third step in the plan of salvation is repentance.  In Luke 13:3 Jesus said, “unless you repent you shall all likewise perish.”  True repentance means that one has a changed will (Acts 3:19) that leads to a changed way of life (Lk. 3:8).  That means that the person who used to smoke, drink, fornicate or commit other sins makes up his mind not to do these things anymore, then proves it by living a pure life.

            The fourth step in the plan of salvation is confession.  “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).  Unless one orally confesses before men that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, he will not be saved (Matt. 10:32-33).  Like Timothy, we must all make the good confession (I Tim. 6:12-13).

            The final step one must take to be saved is baptism.  Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does teach that baptism is essential and necessary for salvation.  Let the Bible speak on this matter.  “…Baptism now saves you…” (I Pet. 3:21).  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mk. 16:16).  “Repent and be baptized…for the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38).  “…Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God “ (Jn. 3:5).  “…Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins…” (Acts 22:16).  Have you been immersed in water for the remission of your sins?  The Bible says you must.

            Truly, the Bible is very clear on the plan of salvation.  The question we must ask ourselves is “Have we truly obeyed the gospel?”  Have you obeyed the plan of salvation as the Bible teaches or is your salvation based on what your creed, confession of faith, pastor, or manual teaches?  We would encourage you to examine your salvation to see if you have been saved as the Bible teaches (2 Cor. 13:5).

"It's natural...but it'll kill ya!" - Joey Ferrell

Recently, as I was walking for exercise, I passed a gas station/convenience store that is not new to my route, but seemed to have a new sign that caught my eye. It was one of those that stand up near the road. It was an advertisement for a product that some may pose as a controversial topic, but the idea of the sign’s message is what made me stop and ponder the thought of this article in more depth.

The sign is a great marketing concept - why? Because it is appealing to the concept of things being “natural” as many will shop today. I mean, we think about how many unnatural things that we have put into our body and even the government in many places has banned certain items that can harm the body that are not natural. Not much is different with this advertisement.

What could it be that would spark such a title as I have posted? Well, the sign of a national brand said “Nothing but tobacco and water” indicating that their product might be better than another that contains some other additives. Now, I know this can be a sensitive topic, but I can speak from experience on this particular part of the article. I hope that if you are a tobacco user, that you will consider the long term effects but also the spiritual effects that it may have on your life. Even witnessing my own grandfather pass away when I was 5 from tobacco induced lung cancer, I still chose to be a “cool kid” (so I thought) later in my teens and smoked off and on for some years before permanently putting the lighter and the tobacco away forever. But, this article isn’t quite finished with this thought.

What do I mean? Well, it doesn’t take long to find out that the W.H.O. has made some very serious allegations against tobacco. Statistics as recent as just a few weeks ago suggest that half of tobacco users will die from it if they do not stop using them. Another stat shows that over 7 million people die per year worldwide from tobacco usage. And, they tout that tobacco usage is the worst health epidemic in the world…ever! (Taken from the internet on the World Health Organization website).

The use of tobacco - especially smoking - has been deemed dangerous enough to even produce mandatory warning labels that are extremely graphic to be placed on cigarette packages and marketing by December 12, 2025 unless a court stands them down again (enacted in 2020 but appeals have pushed out to this new date). Some of them are pretty straightforward and you can see them yourself on various sites. Some countries even have the warning below on ALL smoking marketing and labels:

That’s some pretty serious stuff right there!!! It’s natural…but it can kill ya! That is basically what they are saying here. Why on earth would anyone want to do that? Well, that isn’t the idea of this article, but it does lend to support. By the way, this author’s view is that tobacco is an addictive substance and addictions are sinful, so please consider stopping their use as the W.H.O. suggests.

So, what is the idea of the article? Well, there is another subject that can be similar to this thought. There is something that can seem pretty natural…but it also will kill ya! This time though, it is not the physical body, but instead it is the spiritual soul that can seemingly drift away because of something that seems natural. What is it?

SIN

Yes…that small little three letter word! There can be a strong case made that sin is a natural part of life. That may not really be the idea behind what God says, but we do have some scripture to support that none of us are free from sin. Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun….so that would imply that he, David, Paul, Peter, John and others would have seen the same temptations and lust that we all see today. Look at what he said in Ecclesiastes 7:20 and see if you may feel the natural feeling about the nature of mankind:

"There's not a righteous man on the face of the Earth who does good and does not sin."

Or how about what James says in James 1:15 - “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Now, don’t misunderstand! The bible does not support that man is born in sin, although some may believe the concept of “original sin” even though the scriptures will not support this theory. But, what we do have to realize is that all sin…Paul gives us that concept in Romans 3:23. And with that sin, comes death (Romans 6:23). He will go on to write in Romans 7 that “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.” So, we can certainly see the idea that lust can become sin and sin can become death.

How does this relate to our advertisement in discussion? Remember the catch line? It’s all natural! Nothing but tobacco and water! Now, that may appeal to those that are looking for an all natural “fix” to this habit or addiction, and no doubt they may consider that it may be better for them…since it is natural. Oddly enough, that is the way that the world thinks. Look at some of these phrases that you might hear:

• A little white lie is okay

• My sin is no bigger than your sin

• But it is the 21st century, we need to progress

• Quoting John 8 - he without sin can cast the first stone

All of these phrases and many more that you may hear indicate that sin is somewhat natural. And, honestly, lust and temptation are unfortunately a natural part of the lives that we live today. But…does that make sin any better?

Much like the product in the advertisement, some sin is discarded as being better than others. No matter how we diminish it, there are multiple places in the bible that talk about those sins that will lead to an eternity absent of God. Lying, stealing, cheating, fear, murder, sexual relationships that are not authorized biblically, adultery….the list continues on with many other things. James even addresses the sin of omission in chapter 4 in his letter! Sin may seem natural….

But it can kill ya!

While we live our lives on this earth, let’s try our absolute best to stay natural to what God wants for us and not try to find something that the world calls natural that can and does spiritually kill us. Tobacco in its original form of growing will not kill someone (well, there are probably ways it can but not the norm), yet it has a byproduct that can cause addiction - nicotine. When someone uses tobacco, they consume that nicotine and then their body absorbs it, and it becomes what stimulates the body’s receptors and nervous system to get that feeling of satisfaction. Some of the tobacco companies offer the explanation that it is not the nicotine that can kill you, but the other dangerous additives that are consumed by smoking or using tobacco products. In essence, this particular advertised brand says that their product is not containing the certain additives that have been known to kill people, but they do not feel that this more “natural” form is as dangerous. Yet, on another tobacco company’s website, they conclude that nicotine itself does have its own risks. Sounds kind of like the excuses we hear for and about sin.

Let’s all do our best to leave sin and those things that cause sin behind, because no matter how “natural” it may seem, it will still kill ya! Much like the advice of the W.H.O., stopping is the best way to overcome what is causing death. We can do that with God’s precious help and His love for us through His son Jesus Christ. We can turn away from those things that cause death. And, we can live our lives with Him in eternity much longer than our lives on this earth and the toll that some of these “natural” things can take on us.

May God bless!

Will The Lord Find Faith on Earth?

“When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).  This question Jesus asked arose from a discussion of persistence in prayer.   This question of the Lord is designed to provoke an evaluation of our faith.  The Apostle Paul said, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5).  How can we make sure the Lord finds faith when he comes?  Let me offer a couple of things we can do to ensure faith.

            The only way to ensure the Lord finds his people being faithful is to follow the words of Faith, the Bible.  The way we receive faith is through the hearing of God’s Word.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  The more of the Bible we put into our hearts and lives, the more faith we can expect to receive.  For this to be true we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22-25). 

            For the Lord to find faith when he comes we must remain faithful.  Jesus said, “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).  We must take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23).  Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…” (Gal. 2:20).  If Christ is going to find faith when he returns, we must faithfully follow His Word (Mt. 7:21).

         The only way Jesus will find faith in your life and mine is if we are obedient to His Word.  Have you truly obeyed the gospel?  Have you accepted the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints (Jude 3).  To become a faithful child of God you must hear God’s word (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repent of past sins (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus before men (Rom. 10:10) and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38).  Once you have obeyed the gospel, then you must live faithful until death (Rev. 2:10).  May God help each of us to have faith when Christ comes!

Are You Ready for the Judgment Day?

Are You Ready For The Judgment Day?

           The Bible clearly teaches that God has a day prepared when He will judge all men.  To the idolatrous people in Athens, Paul declared that God “…has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). For many people this will be the saddest day of their life. They did not prepare spend their life preparing for this day.  As a result, they will be lost (Matt. 25:1-10).  To others, this will be the most wonderful day of their life. They spent their life preparing for this day and were ready to go to Heaven (Matt. 25:23).  For The Day of Judgment to be a happy day for us we must understand the nature of this day.  Let us consider several biblical characteristics of The Judgment Day.

           The Judgment Day of God is as certain as the fact that each person must one day die.  The Hebrews writer stated, “It is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).  Paul reminds us of the surety of God’s Judgment when he writes, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:11-12).   It has often been said that there are two things certain in this life: death and taxes.   To that list we would also add The Judgment Day.

           Concerning the day of God’s judgment, Jesus said “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44).  Paul taught the Thessalonians that the Lord’s coming would be as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2-3).  Paul’s point is you don’t know when a thief is coming to rob you, nor do you know when the Lord is coming again.  Jesus taught that only the Father knew the time of His return and judgment (Matt. 24:36).  The reason God did not tell us when He was coming in judgment is because He knows our nature.  If God told us exactly when He was coming then we would very likely squander our time down to the very last minute and then try to get ready.  We are terrible procrastinators.  Judgment could happen at any time.  Are you ready for it?

           When God judges the world, the standard for judgment will be the Bible.  Jesus said, “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).  Each of us will have our deeds in this life compared with the Word of God to see if they are right (2 Cor. 5:10-11).  If we are going to be judged by God’s word, then we must also live by God’s word.

Are you ready for The Judgment Day?    If you have lived right and been faithful to God then you will have a home in Heaven.  However, if you have not lived by the Bible, but instead have lived a life of sin it will be a sad, sad day.  To those who were unfaithful to His will Jesus said, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).  May God help all of us to prepare for The Judgment Day.

"Daisies" - Amy Lawrence

Daisies

A Study on Comparison

There is no shortage of photographs of women (and sometimes even men) that have dedicated a great deal of time, money, and pain to make themselves appear young and “beautiful”. Plastic surgery has become a fad. The market for products that claim to restore youth - or at least the halting of aging - is a multi-billion dollar business. Whether it’s clothing, makeup, hairstyles, or overall body image, we as women put a lot of stock in how we look. This idea of beauty, as we see it with our limited vision, is not foreign to scripture, either. Sarah was beautiful, so much that Abraham was afraid he would be killed by men that saw her beauty and wanted her for themselves, Gen. 12:11-12. Ahasuerus, king of Medo-Persia, wished to show off his beautiful queen, Vashti, to the nobles, princes, and servants of his kingdom, Esther 1:1-11.

Women aspire to be beautiful because it garners an often desirable attention and placement within a social structure. We want to fit in. Because of this, we tend to base our worth on our personal image. It is a blow to a woman’s self-esteem to be considered “ugly”. We are all beautiful, though, because we are all made in the image of God, Gen. 1:26, by the hand of God, Ps. 139:14.

Let’s begin a study on beauty.

Let us first look at some facts. As of 2022, the average lifespan of a female citizen of the Unites States of America is 80.2 years. (They must not have included Betty White in that average.) Medical research over the centuries has discovered that collagen production in the human body begins to decrease by our mid-20s. Wrinkles naturally start to appear within 40 to 50 years of age, and our hormone production decreases. Other factors that also need to be taken into account are diet, exercise, exposure to sun and other radiation sources, and overall health. Now, let’s allow all this information to paint a picture. By the time we figure out what beauty even is, we’ve spent a decade of childhood not even caring about beauty. We spend the next 10 years figuring out that there’s a societal standard to which we must adhere in order to really be considered “beautiful” by our preferred social circle. Once we finally get it figured out, WHAM, old age hits us square in the ego. We get to enjoy being old nearly thrice as long as we get to be young. It is daunting, to say the least. Coming to terms with the brevity of this life makes us consider the quality of the things to which we dedicate ourselves. That begs the question: is beauty by worldly standards a quality thing?

It’s natural to want to be attractive. Our outward appearance is also a form of communication. It can speak of our state of mind, social status, even our standard of morality. We often forget that whether we like it or not, we are judged by our appearance. It’s human nature. When we see an individual, we make assumptions about that individual based first on what we see. Most pass judgement based solely on appearance. Jesus warns against this, Jn. 7:24. Don’t use this as an excuse to look however you wish to, though. Remember - we are ambassadors for Christ. It matters what we wear, Gen. 38:12-19, Prov. 7:6-10, 2 Sam. 13:18. We should want to look like Christ. Our garments must be appropriate, Mt. 22:11-14.

Our focus should also be appropriate. When we focus on God and His righteousness, everything else will fall into place as it should, Mt. 6:33, Rom. 8:28. Our beauty should not just be an outward one. Only God can make our inner woman gorgeous, Prov. 31:30. Consider what it is we are trying to accomplish. Our lifelong goal should be to give God glory. We were not put here to shine our own light. None of it is ours, Is. 42:8; 48:11. We are merely reflections of the true Light, Jn. 8:12. If this truth remains at the forefront of our minds, then our appearance and our actions will publish it to those around us, Rom. 12:1-2. Then and only then can we draw others toward God. We are His Creation, made in His likeness, to do His will.

I mentioned that this is a study on comparison. I say ‘compare’ because that is an innate behavior; we can’t help but observe ourselves/others and use that to fit into our preferred social setting. We are hardwired to build communal relationships using comparison…but sometimes it leads to competition instead of coalition. We as the church often forget that unity is a command, Eph. 4:1-3. When our focus as women within the body of Christ is a beauty contest, we weaken the unity. A daisy in a meadow doesn’t compete with the daisy next to it. They both just bloom. When we endeavor to bring out the beauty in each other, this allows every Christian woman to bloom.

"You're outta here!" - Joey Ferrell

Recently, the college sports headlines covered the unusual situation of a player that did not feel that he had to attend mandatory events such as practice and team meetings in part or most because he felt that he was beyond that as he had a very large NIL value. While I do not quite grasp all of the reasoning behind the NIL situation in college sports, I do understand that type of attitude.

Paul actually addresses that in Romans 12:3 when he says to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. It is really that simple…but for the sake of comparison, let’s explore a few different ideas and how they relate to our spiritual lives.

1. We are all part of the body (you can substitute team). That means that as Paul describes later in Romans 12 that we each have a specific role to play within the church, and the spiritual lives of not only ourselves, our families, but also for the saints and even the lost that we come into contact with each day.

2. Every soul has the same net worth. That net worth is clearly defined in Romans 12:1 with the admonition of being a “living sacrifice.” We know that the sacrifice of our Lord as outlined in John 3:16 tells us what His sacrifice meant to every soul….how much is your soul worth? The life of my Lord.

3. Our actions represent our heart. Verse 10 says to give preference to others, verse 13 - hospitable in our actions. Verse 16 says to be like minded with one another, verse 18 says live at peace with all men. All of these admonitions show that the ones that we are around are to be treated with much respect, concern, and benefit.

What does this have to do with the fella that didn’t show up? Well, he was let go. He was told in a way that he wasn’t quite as important as maybe he thought. What did he say to his teammates? In his actions, he said “I am better than you, I don’t care about what happens to you, I am selfish, and I am looking out for the right now and not the future.

We cannot live like that in the world, much less in the spiritual realm. You see, there are certain rules and requirements in order to be part of a team, or maybe some kind of social club, or maybe some elite group of designated persons (such as a who’s who listing or hall of fame), and if those rules or requirements are not met…well, honestly we should expect someone to say “you’re outta here!”

What about our spiritual well-being? The book of Romans will continue to talk about things that the Christian will want to abide by, strive for, and move toward in their life. One of those ideas is well explained in chapter 15 in what we “owe” Christ for His sacrifice for us. What is that? He encourages us in verses 4-7 to be obedient in honoring the Lord by being in unity one with another to strengthen and encourage each other glorifying God.

Chapter 16 closes out this book by talking about the “team.” Certainly Paul could have ended the book talking about himself, what all he had done, what honor he expected from them for all of his labors…but he does not. He encourages and lifts up his brethren with kindness, meekness, gentleness and love….and it is with that same mind and heart that he pens the words “greet one another with a holy kiss, the churches of Christ salute you!” Not he salutes you, because his NIL is better than yours. Not any of those particular individuals salutes you because they are more known than you may be. Not any particular congregation, whether large or small because they are the “popular” one in town….but ALL in plurality - the “churches of Christ". Who is in the churches of Christ? The saved. They are added to the one true church, but not to be recognized as a stand out…rather to be unified in glory!

Don’t be one that finds themselves in a spiritual situation where the words are fitting of “You’re outta here!” Live life the way God wants you to, exhort others, attend worship services faithfully, edify one another and love the brotherhood!

Peace and love!

Joey

What is a Saving Type of Faith? - Ben Bailey

What is a Saving Type of Faith? 

            It is evident from the Bible that not every type of faith is a saving faith.  For example, the Bible records that even the demons believe (From the Greek word pistis which is used interchangeably for faith), yet we know the demons are lost and their faith only evokes trembling (James 2:19).  Throughout the Bible, there have been people who had faith, but it was not a saving kind of faith.  For example, the Israelites were God’s people during the times of Moses and Joshua, yet because of a lack of true faith (i.e., they believed in God), they perished (Heb. 3:7ff).  What is a saving type of faith really like?

            In Scripture, Faith is correctly defined as obedient trust in God.  At the beginning and end of the Book of Romans, the Holy Spirit defines faith as the “obedience of faith” which saves (Rom. 1:5, 16:26).  It is not simply enough to say that we believe in Jesus Christ.  Belief must be backed up by action (James 2:14-26).  Jesus said that it was not everyone who said: “Lord, Lord” that was going to go to Heaven but those who do the will of the Father in Heaven (Matt. 7:21).  In fact, Jesus used belief/faith synonymously with obedience.  The Lord said “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36, ESV).  Another example of faith being obedient trust can be seen from the great man of faith, Abraham.  Scripture records that “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3; Gen. 15:6; Gal. 3:6).  What does the Scripture mean when it says, “Abraham believed God”?   In Genesis 26:5, we learn what it means.  To describe Abraham’s faith, God said, “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Gen. 26:5).  Remember that in the Bible faith and obedience go hand in hand.

            A saving type of faith has complete trust in God.  The woman with the flow of blood trusted the Lord so much that if she could just touch the Lord’s garment she knew she would be well.  Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (Mk. 5:34).  Another example is the Centurion in Matthew 8. In this account, the Centurion’s son was sick and Jesus is called to heal him.  Yet, the Centurion feels unworthy that the Lord should come under his roof.  He trusts the Lord so completely that if Jesus will just say the word, his son will be healed.  Of this faith, Christ said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matt. 8:10).  Having a trusting faith means that I believe God to the extent that whatever He says I am willing to do it.  Abraham illustrates this fact perfectly because he was willing to kill his only son of promise simply because God told him to (Read Gen. 22).

            A saving faith is a working faith.  To have the kind of faith God approves of, our faith must be active.  Imagine this scenario: A man comes to worship this Sunday and has no clothes to wear and hasn’t eaten in a long time.  As a Christian, you then turn to this man in desperate need and say, “God bless you and we hope you find something to wear and eat.”  Have you had a saving type of faith?  According to James 2, you have not.  James clearly teaches that you cannot say you are a Christian without doing the things God commands, like being benevolent (James 2:18).  If you told someone you were a Christian, how would they know you were unless they could see a picture of your life in the Scriptures?

            After studying these passages and principles, each of us must now look inward (2 Cor. 13:5) and see if we have the correct type of faith.  Is your trust in God complete?  Does your faith get out and do anything for Christ?  If you cannot answer yes to these questions, your faith needs changing into biblical faith—obedient trust.  May our aim be to live in faith so that one day we can have the crown of life (Rev. 2:10)!

"The No Drama Club" - Amy Lawrence

Peacemakers

The No Drama Club

There is a particular type of personality in certain individuals I have encountered over the years that I call the “drama junkie” personality. Drama is an addiction to them; if they don’t have it, they seek it. If they can’t find it, they make it. It is a way of life they have lived for so long that they know no other way to exist. Peace and quiet are foreign to them, even painful sometimes. They are, as a result of their personality, characteristically dramatic - both emotionally and practically. A relationship with such a person rarely involves peace. Given that God commands Christians to be

Peacemakers (Rom. 12:18), I felt it necessary to dive into a study, not just as an article subject, but for my own personal spiritual growth as well. Please allow me to share with you what I found.

It would be ridiculous for me to suggest that all drama can be avoided. We all know that such is not the case in this life. Struggles are a reality, and truth be told, there are enough of them occurring naturally that makes purposely adding more a senseless endeavor. Matthew wrote, “sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Mt. 6:34). We don’t need to add to an already heavy load of daily struggles…but there are those that cannot seem to help themselves. It’s a habit, really; one that some continue in ignorance and some continue on purpose. The ways by which drama is cultivated more popularly among us as women include gossiping and meddling in affairs that do not concern us. Scripture gives the usual reason for such actions: idleness, 2 Thess. 3:11, 1 Tim. 5:13. The old maxim “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop” rings all too true. We tell this to our children, but there are some adults that could benefit from the proverb as well. What is rarely acknowledged is the division that is caused by such actions. Gossip can divide the closest of friends. Meddling can separate like an axe laid to a block of wood. Paul pleaded with the Corinthians that there “be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement”, 1 Cor. 1:10. He later stated that there should be “no schism (division) in the body (church), but that the members should have the same care for one another”, 1 Cor. 12:25. So…how do we do this?

The first step to solving any problem is acknowledging that there is a problem. Women are stereotyped for being gossipers, and for good reason. It’s generally women doing the gossiping. This is not to say that men never gossip, but let’s be real here, ladies. Men are not famous for talking about feelings, and they rarely, if ever, have the inclination to meddle in others’ affairs. Women are normally the culprits. I myself despise gossip. I’ve seen what it can do. It is a viral evil that destroys trust and connection. There is no such thing as innocent gossip. It is done purely for entertainment purposes and has no value whatsoever. As a matter of fact, it costs more than it garners. Solomon wrote, “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” (Prov. 26:17) I’d like to think we are all smart enough to stay well away from a dog’s teeth, but somehow we have all fallen into the trap of listening to/helping spread gossip and meddling in affairs of which we have no business meddling. I have been guilty, and as my past contains incidents of such, I have learned first hand the damage such actions produce. It’s like a drug; we know it’s wrong, but our carnal minds find ways to justify it. I hate it, try my best to avoid it, but it is still a temptation. The good thing is, we know Someone that can help us avoid temptation.

There are a number of tools necessary to avoid such temptations. A primary tool in our Christian toolbox should be courage. When we read of the Christian armor in Ephesians 6, this courage is found in the context. Notice verses 11, 13, and 14 use the word “stand”. There is courage in standing instead of cowering or running away. Gossiping is cowardly. First, the subject of the gossip is not there to defend themselves, and second, gossip is an attempt to recruit others to join in the behavior. If a person has committed a legitimate offense worth mentioning, there is protocol found in scripture for such situations, Mt. 18:15-17. Have courage, and be gentle, Gal. 6:1. If it’s not worth mentioning, don’t mention it. 

Another tool in our box should be wisdom. The Holy Spirit through Solomon said, “Wisdom is the principal thing…” (Prov. 4:7). How do we gain wisdom? Where does it begin? I recommend studying the phrase “fear of the Lord” in scripture. It is remarkable how many times and in what context you will find this phrase. The psalmist wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Psalm. 111:10). Wisdom in scripture is often coupled with knowledge and understanding. We like to call it “sense” or “reason”. A person that is in possession of these faculties has the ability through learning and experience to make wise decisions. Meddling is making an unwise decision to become a part of a situation that is none of our business. Peter tried to meddle, Jn. 21:21. Jesus, in so many words, told Peter it was none of his business and that he should keep his focus on what truly mattered, vs. 22. We are encouraged by scripture to do the same, 1 Pet. 4:14-16.

Christians are called to be peacemakers, Mt. 5:9. This false idea that peace means a complete absence of drama is not supported by scripture, because peace is not the absence of drama. It is the presence of justice. As long as there is justice, there is peace. When justice begins to disappear, history has proven time and again that peace shortly follows. We must also notice in scripture that peace is the direct antithesis of division. This concept is brought out in verses such as Lk. 12:51 and Eph. 2:14-15. As division separates, peace brings together. We must unite against sin instead of allowing ourselves to be divided because of sin. Part of this unity is allowing ourselves to be subject to one another, 1 Pet. 5:5. We must help one another. Part of this help is encouraging, and part is rebuking. We must be humble enough to receive both with alacrity, give both with love, courage, and gentleness. 

Let us be peacemakers, James 3:13-18.

David, A Leader in Purity

Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”  This statement defines the real essence of leadership.  Great leaders are not defined by past accomplishments of future endeavors.  Great leaders are distinctly remembered for their integrity of heart.  For example, David was a great military leader.  His leadership accomplishments range from the defeat of Goliath to the conquering of the enemy nations.  Yet, when we think of King David it is not those accomplishments that stand out.  David is best remembered for that one statement God made concerning him: “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22).   David will forever be remembered as a leader after God’s own heart.  What  made David a leader in purity?  And, what characteristics can we possess to be leaders in purity?

True leaders are pure in principle.  Peter Marshall, who served as U. S. Senate Chaplain in 1947, is famous for making the following statement, “Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”  David was dedicated to doing the right thing, even when it was difficult.  For example, in a cave in the wilderness of En Gedi David could have very easily assassinated his enemy Saul.  He came very close to doing so—so close that he cut a corner of David’s robe off.  Yet, the Scripture records that David’s heart was troubled for almost taking Saul’s life because he was the anointed of the Lord (1 Sam. 24).  Even when it would have promoted his own wellbeing, David did what was right regardless of the cost.  We need more leaders, like David, who God said, he “kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes” (1 Kings 14:8). True leaders are committed to doing right no matter what!

True leaders are pure in the pattern they follow.  Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung made a correct observation when he said, “The true leader is always led.”  David was a leader of purity because he was led by the right source—God & His Word.  David trusted in the Scriptures as God’s inspired guide to man (2 Sam. 23:1-2).  In the transporting of the Ark and death of Uzzah, David learned very quickly that you must “consult Him about the proper order” of things (1 Chron. 15:13).  From that time forward David learned to say, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long” (Ps. 25:5).  How wonderful it would be if God’s leaders (elders, preachers, bible class teachers) said with Samuel, “Speak Lord Your Servant Hears” (1 Sam. 3:9).  The church needs more leaders who live their life by a “Thus Saith the Lord.”

True leaders are not perfect, they are pure in penitence.  Too often public leaders, when caught in sin, are forced to admit their wrongs but are never seen as truly penitent.  For example, what do the names Elliot Spitzer & Jim McGreevy have in common?  Both were high profile political figures who were caught in heinous sexual sins.  So was King David!  How do these men differ from David and his sin?  Many times, when leaders are caught in sin they are quick to admit an “oversight in judgment” but never make any real repentance.  Many leaders have the attitude popularized by Bill Cinton, “I may have smoked but I never inhaled.”  Such was not the attitude of King David.  When confronted with his sin he said, “I have sinned” (1 Sam. 12:13).  It is evident from Psalm 51 that David’s penitence was genuine.  In that Psalm David exclaimed, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:3-4).  David was a great leader, because when he sinned (as we all do) he repented openly and took steps to make it right with God and others.

Truly, David was a leader in purity because of his pure principles, pure pattern and pure penitence.  Oh, how we need more leaders like King David in the Lord’s church today.   We need more leaders who will say “Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path…” (Ps. 27:11).  God, give us leaders in purity!

"If we never meet again..." - Joey Ferrell

It was a vibrant spring Saturday morning on March 31, 2012. I had plans to work in the yard, get the mower out and cut the early spring grass, daffodils and onions and just relax a bit since it was the first Saturday I had not had plans in several weeks. I was laying in bed at about 7:40 a.m. Kristie had left to take our youngest daughter to a martial arts competition. Our oldest daughter was probably still asleep. And then, my cell phone rang.

“Hello.” The voice on the other end of the phone was one I knew very well, but it was different this day. “Joey, get out here now!” It was my dad. He sounded angry, but also scared and confused. I had no idea what was wrong until the very next words came through what seemed like such a distant connection. “Your mom isn’t breathing. Get here now!”

After I called Kristie and screamed for our oldest daughter, who tried to calm me as we waited on Kristie to get back home from just a few minutes away, I fell on my knees and prayed. I prayed so hard that very moment. It was a prayer like probably none other I had ever prayed.

A few minutes later, we were in route to my mom and dad’s house. When we got there, there was an emergency officer there and he told us they had gone to the hospital. We quickly headed that way as well. When we got there, my dad was in the ER waiting area along with a lady that worked for my mom. Dad was hysterically crying, and he kept saying he didn’t know what was happening. My brother and sister arrived from out of town some time later, but only after what seemed like hours of waiting for the doctor to come to the small waiting room with the heart-wrenching words - “we did all we could do. She just wasn’t strong enough.” I replied, “what do you mean? She wasn’t strong enough for what??” You could see exactly what he meant in his facial expression when he replied, “she was on a lot of medication for her heart.” I knew by the form of past tense statement what he meant. Oh it hurt so bad to hear those last words. I am sure he had more to say, but my mind was tuned out as reality began to sink in. My mother was gone. 66 years old. She had just emailed me and my siblings the night before (and I still keep that email to look at often). It couldn’t be true. She just had her birthday on March 5 and they celebrated their 47th anniversary on March 6. There had to be a mistake. But there wasn’t.

After my siblings arrived, I met them in the parking lot. They did not know as of yet, and that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to tell them. It was definitely something that we could not understand. It just didn’t seem right. It wasn’t fair. This was our mother! But she was gone. We all went into the room where her precious body laid and it was clear that her soul had left her body as there was no life to be found. It was to this day, the saddest I believe I have ever felt. It had been quite a few years since we had lost my grandfather - her father, and a handful of years since we had lost my dad’s mother. This was the first “close” family member to die in a while, and it certainly was not expected.

This past Sunday evening, at the local church service that we attended, a brother led the song “If we never meet again” written by Albert R. Brumley in 1945 (ironically, the year before my mother was born). I love to sing this song and it brings special feelings to my heart as I do. Look at some of the words of the song:

“Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey,
and perhaps we'll never meet anymore,
till we gather in heaven's bright city,
far away on that beautiful shore.

If we never meet again this side of heaven,
as we struggle through this world and its strife,
there's another meeting place somewhere in heaven,
by the side of the river of life,
where the charming roses bloom forever,
and where separations come no more,
if we never meet again this side of heaven,
I will meet you on that beautiful shore.”

Verses 2 and 3 are just as beautiful to read and sing.

After mom passed, I struggled with the idea of how we are to be judged in our lives for an eternal home in heaven. Sure, the bible is very clear on what it takes to be saved through faith, repentance, and obedience in baptism. It is also very clear about what we need to do about remaining faithful, and not wavering to a sinful world. My mom was saved (Mark 16:16). The story I was told was that she tried to teach my dad that her upbringing in a denominational church was just fine…but she studied herself (and him) into the truth of God’s word and they were baptized at the Main Street church of Christ in Manchester, TN some time before I was born. Later in life though, her health kept her from being at worship services a lot and I could not help but wonder how her spiritual well-being may have been as we know that we can certainly steer away from a place of salvation and our “blessed assurance” if Satan can figure out how to get between us and God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Personally, I cannot go for any extended length of time without being fed spiritually and not feel myself coming up short, and I was concerned.

After a few weeks, I was helping my dad clean up some things around the house. I looked up at the bookshelf where all of mom’s “bible books” were. Commentaries, multiple bibles in various translations, study aids, books…and there it was…a spiral notebook that contained mom’s notes of her studies. I asked dad if I could take it with me to read and to bring back. He said of course I could. I am so happy that I did. Within this spiral notebook, I could see a glimpse into the spiritual heart of my mother that there was no other way of seeing. Her notes were fantastic. Lots of scripture. Lots of comments about things she had read. I even found some notes she recorded from a sermon that I had preached that she was able to be in the audience some time before. My heart felt so much better. Some of her notes were much more detailed and scripturally accurate than some preachers’ (including my own) notes were for their own sermons!

My mom has been gone from this life 13 years now. But, her legacy is not. Her spiritual influence is still thriving in me as I recently started my 17th year of working for the Lord in ministry. Her name is on the sign in front of The Gospel of Christ building in honor of her life and influence on others. One of the only pictures that I have of her (with my dad and oldest daughter) hangs on the wall in the building where our office and studio are as that building was built by her and my dad to operate a business in over 25 years ago. (We are blessed to be able to house our efforts here still with renting the property). Certainly, Treva Ferrell still lives on in her legacy.

But, what about that song. You see, we never met again in this life, and we never will. Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed for man once to die, and then the judgment. Every human being will face that day until the Lord returns to call the faithful home and this earth will be laid bare with no life left on it. That day, each one of us will give an account for our lives, the things we have done in the body, whether secret or visible. And that day, we will all find our eternal home…either in heaven with our God and our Savior Christ Jesus, or in the eternal clutches of Satan in a horrible situation that is described as a lake of fire with weeping and gnashing of teeth and where the worm dies not (Revelation 19-20). One day you and I will leave this earth to never meet our friends, coworkers, brothers and sisters in Christ and our families again “this side of heaven.”

Where will you be? Will you meet your loved ones in heaven? Will you meet our God in heaven? Will you be in that bright city and by the shining river of life with no sorrow, no tears, no pain, and no strife? (Revelation 21). Friend, it is my prayer that we will meet on this earth, if only by chance or through our brotherly love for one another, but, if it is not in God’s will that we may, I pray that “If we never meet again this side of heaven…I will meet you on that beautiful shore!” Are you ready? Have you put on Christ in baptism for the remission of your sins? Have you remained faithful to God and His word? If not, it is our prayer at The Gospel of Christ that we can help is some way and we would love to hear from you.

May God bless.

Joey