Jesus and His Bride

Many years ago my wife and I visited Niagara Falls in the state of New York. While viewing the lower part of the falls, the tour guide told our group a heartbreaking story. Some years previous, before there were safety rails, a newly married couple was viewing that great rush of water. The young bride ventured too close to the edge and fell in. Immediately, without a second’s hesitation, her young lover dove in after her. As he held her in his arms, they went over the falls together, plunging to their death.

The spiritual application is obvious. The bridegroom died for his bride, not for himself. He needed no saving; she did. And it was his love for her which moved him to take that most dreadful leap into what was to be their watery grave.

Paul tells us, “Ye are bought with a price.”  In the book of Leviticus, the redemption value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty was fifty shekels of silver. But for a woman, it was thirty shekels of silver. Unknown to Judas and the priests, they would forever show the world, the thirty pieces of silver was not for Jesus, but for His bride. His death was for her redemption.

Unlike the bride in our story, who died with her lover, our story does not end there. For we not only died with the Lover of our souls, but were raised with Him, and now walk with Him in newness of life. Hallelujah! Saints of God, we’re on our “eternal honeymoon!”

Prayers Paradox

A few months ago after a phone conversation with a friend, just prior to ending the call, the person said, “You pray for me and I’ll pray for you.” I thought to myself at the time, and since then, how strange a statement. You would think each would pray for himself or herself. After all, who knows better one’s needs than the individual? Nevertheless, God has ordained it so.

In the very first church Paul established, he taught the new converts at Thessalonica this truth. Listen to this giant man of prayer asking the lesser, so to speak, for their prayers, “Brethren, pray for us...”  But who, also said, “We pray always for you...” This was the rule in his other epistles as well. Interestingly, this great man of God asks prayer from those we would think beneath us spiritually.

Many years ago I began asking little children, and saints who were considered least esteemed in their church, and yes, even those who by their outward appearance seemed to be worldly, to pray for me. I have found such people, as well as other kinds, often have something between themselves and their God the rest of us have not been let in on. James admonishes us, “Pray one for another.” Brethren, LET’S GET TO IT!

*Miracle Lives

Christianity is the only religion in the world whose credentials read, “Miraculous.” Oswald Chambers writes, “If Christianity is not miraculous, it’s a sham.” Its founder was not only a miracle worker, He Himself, was a miracle. His birth and resurrection were the two greatest miracles this world has ever, or will ever, see.

Every true Christian is God’s, “Miracle Child.” Whenever natural man asks us, as it asked our Saviour, “shew us a miracle,” we should be able to say, “You’re looking at one.”  In a genuine Believer’s life is something that cannot be explained apart from his or her miracle working God!

Therefore, each of us who name the name of Christ ought to be a walking miracle. I’m not speaking of miraculously walking on water, but rather, walking miraculously on land. A similar walk in principle to the one He walked on earth. The world’s description of us being, “They’re miracles in shoe leather.”

Hard Sayings

“This is an hard saying; who can hear it...From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

In John the sixth chapter, Jesus spoke of “eating His flesh and drinking His blood.” And if one didn’t, he or she would forfeit eternal life. This difficult saying caused many to give up on following Him, in spite of the fact He was speaking spiritually, and told them as much in verse sixty-three. Even Peter understood it to be so v. 68, b. To take it literally would mean one believed in cannibalism.

This is seen also in the following chapter. There He speaks of “rivers of water” flowing out of a man’s stomach. But in verses 38-39, again, it plainly says He was speaking spiritually.

Just like wading through lengthy genealogies produce patience and character in us, even so, the hard sayings have their purpose. I believe one of the main purposes is in getting the spiritually minded to think. Jesus always made His hearers think.

You can depend on the dunces to give up when the thinking gets tough!

Modern translations attempt to make Jesus’ hard sayings easier by replacing them with ones of their own. But I find theirs much more difficult to understand, if not impossible. In trying to make it more acceptable, they leave it less challenging.

Peter, speaking of Paul’s epistles said. “As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood.”  Notice, he did not suggest a better rendering of Paul’s letters or a more up to date translation. We are to put on our spiritual thinking-caps, and work through difficult passages. It takes spiritual and intellectual sweat to understand the hard things of the Bible, which this generation of Christians, is not into.

Bowing to Our Books

Evangelist D.L. Moody, commenting on marking your Bible said, “It can be a helpful thing, provided one doesn’t become a slave to it.” Because of the makeup of my temperament, I was a servant to my markings for years. Bold lettering, notes in the margin, and different highlighted colors characterized my Bibles. Many years ago, my youngest daughter Charity, while leafing through my Bible said, “Man, this looks like a coloring book.” By her statement you can see how bad it had gotten.

I find this type of slavishness is also true in the reading of books. As long as the Bible remains the Monarch of all other books, fine. But when you are more interested in what someone else has to say, over God, you have a big problem. If one is blessed more by his or her books, rather than “The Book,” it is time for him or her to take inventory of their spiritual life. The writings of others, no matter how godly, are at best, fillers. The Bible is always the exclusive Book. Paul’s reference to the two groups when writing to Timothy proves this, “...when thou comest, bring [with thee]...the books, [but] especially the parchments.”

Let us not unconsciously become the servant of men, remembering it is possible to make the Word of God to none effect by their traditions. The Word of God is to be the first and last Book we go to for our final authority. I love my books, but need to constantly remind myself, there is only “One Book” on this earth that will never pass away.

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth!”

After You've Done All You Can

“...in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore...”

That old warhorse Paul gives good advice to us would-be warriors, who desire to emulate his example in life’s battles. After we have done all we know to do in life’s skirmishes, says he, “Stand.” That is, stand your ground, or as the leader in combat tells his men, “Hold the line.”

We do not fight to victory; we fight from victory to victory. Our attempt is not in getting it, but in keeping it. Just as David’s mighty men were “steadfast, unmovable,” in guarding what belonged to their king, so should it be with us and our King of Kings.

When I was a boy, and there was a fight between two of us, whoever was left standing was declared the winner.  In spite of the numerous and continual punches this wicked world gave Jesus, they never knocked Him off His feet. Jesus Christ was, is, and will ever be, the last man standing! HE IS ETERNALLY THE MIGHTY VICTOR!

An illustration by C.H. Spurgeon conveys, I believe, what I am attempting to say. “In the old Roman days, when a sentry was placed in his position by his centurion, he never thought of quitting his post. Rocks might roam, but not the sentinels of the empire. There was found in Pompeii, among the ashes, a sentry, standing in his place with his javelin in his hand: he had not flinched amid the deadly shower which fell from the volcano and buried the city. His centurion, in the name of the emperor, had set him there, and there he stood."

"And having done all, to stand. Stand therefore...”

Those Progressives

“(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)”

I have never professed or thought myself to be the brightest kid on the block. But I do confess inheriting some of my dear mother’s Kentucky, common horse sense, as she would put it. She used many such aphorisms, one of which was, “Child, they don’t have sense enough to come in out of the rain.” I think this is especially applicable to today’s pseudo-intellectual society.

Whether it is politics, business, education, or religion, one of their most popular catch words is, progressive. It has even come to be associated with a movement. I’ve come to the conclusion after hearing some of them, they’re like the philosophers on Mars Hill, they’re only interested in things that are new.

Under the guise of moving forward they leave behind them discarded treasures of immense value.   

I think G.K Chesterton said it best, “Real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing life from them, as from a root. Even when we improve we never progress. For progress, the metaphor from the road, implies a man leaving his home behind him: but improvement means a man exalting the towers or extending the gardens of his home.”

What's Heaven Like?

Heaven is a country like our own, and it has a capital city, The New Jerusalem. The Holy Scriptures reveal quite a bit as to the latter, but comparatively little of the former. These two, the country and city, are inseparable from one another. We are told of the Bible saints, “They desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

There has been much speculation concerning our heavenly home. A good deal that has been taught and written on the subject has majored on the allegorization and spiritualization of it. My personal view is, when literal sense can be applied, seek no other sense. I’ve always been a literalist in my interpretation, when at all possible. To me, the people, streets, mansions, fruit, robes, animals, river, trees, etc., are as real there as they are to us now. We must not forget, just because we say something is spiritual does not mean it isn’t physical. God associates the two, “on earth, as it is in heaven.” I believe heaven is like the earth, but without the sin.

My next major and final stop is heaven. My destiny is heaven; my hope is Christ. When I arrive I’ll finally be home and eternally with the one I love and adore. No! I’ll never get tired of HIM, for lovers are never bored with each other’s company. Ah, my friends, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Take Your Foot Off The Pedal

“A sudden inclination to act”—short; but a good definition of the word impulsive. Generally speaking, every time I have gotten into trouble, it’s been those times when I went by a sudden urge to say or do something then and there, on the spot. How I have regretted those times in my life.

In spite of the wise man’s warnings to “Be not hasty in thy spirit...” we are determined to always keep our lives in gear with our foot on the gas pedal. We absolutely refuse to sit idled for a short time. We show our lack of faith by our impulsiveness. The prophet tells us, “...he that believeth shall not make haste.” Jesus’ advice to us is to sit down  first and consider  before attempting anything of significance.

An impulsive saint invariably has an impatient spirit.

The Guilt of Prosperity

No doubt, the fear of being associated with the present-day teaching of the “health and wealth” crowd, and the envy of less fortunate folks, cause many with means to carry a sense of embarrassment and guilt. This is a needless weight to be borne by those blessed abundantly by their God. As my son Andrew so rightly says, “We need to stop apologizing for the Will of God in our lives.”

How much we who possess less owe to those who have been plentifully privileged. Think about that Blessed One, whom we are told was “poor.” He literally didn’t, as they say, “have a penny to His name.” We do well to remember, it was a rich man who donated his own grave site for His burying.

The scriptures say, “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.” We need to be content in whatever class to which we belong. There should never be class envy or warfare among the children of God. The Bible principle is: the poor saint is to rejoice at his brother’s prosperity, and the prosperous Christian is to relieve the less fortunate in the family of God.

Jesus said, “Ye have the poor with you always.” And John wrote, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper (physically)...even as thy soul prospereth (spiritually).”  There is no contradiction of terms here. Jesus’ statement is fact, John’s, sentiment. Just as one might wish there was no suffering in the world.

Let all of us, as the Lord’s children, rejoice, whether it is in much or little. Knowing that, GOD IS IN IT!

Taking a Step Up

My wife recently inspired me to read the works of an old divine, George H. Morrison. And what an inspiration I’ve found him to be. The ideas in this article I received in reading one of his sermons. He mentions a term the genuine mystics of old used; And I have come to agree with it, “The ladder of prayer.” They regarded prayer as an ascent to God, bearing the soul upward step by step. I have found this to be true both from my own observation and experience. Prayer, like most things in life, has a beginning and conclusion.

There are basic rudiments, if followed, that will lead one to celestial heights never dreamed of. It seems to me the first step is, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Then, the next rung on the ladder is petitioning the Lord for personal needs in one’s life. The next step upward is interceding for others. And the last and final stage on the ladder is the glorious and triumphant cry, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

Morrison, speaking of when we have reached the pinnacle on the ladder of prayer says, “That is the highest reach of prayer, when it is grasped in the fullness of its meaning. That is something nobler than petition. It is communion with the Father of all spirits.” He goes on, “There may be many struggle before that stage is reached. There was struggle for Jesus before that stage was reached—“If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” But when it is reached, then there is perfect peace, and a new light on everything that happens.”

The joy, peace, and contentment small children enjoy is to be found in their trusting their father to handle all the cares in their little lives. And so it is also with us, God’s Little Children.”

The Anointed Shield

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The shields of the Old Testament were made of various materials, such as gold, brass, etc. Some were simply for show, while others were for military use. We are told that the latter was made of wood, wicker work, overlaid with leather. Ezekiel speaks of Israel burning their enemy’s shields.

There is an interesting text in Isaiah, “Anoint the shield.”  To keep the shield from drying out and cracking, it would be anointed with olive oil. This would prevent the adversary’s arrows from penetrating the parched shield. But also, this oil would serve to extinguish the fiery arrows as they stuck in this most important part of a warrior’s armour.

Abraham was in constant danger from those around him. He was told by God, “I am thy shield.” And darling David said, “The Lord is my shield.” And the wise man tells us, “He [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Christ means “the anointed one” (cp. Acts 4:26 with Psl.2:2).

Standing between us and all the fiery darts of the wicked one is “The Captain of [our] Salvation,” who, anointed with His own precious Blood, bears in His own body every flaming arrow that hell can shoot at us. What a blessing to put Him, our Shield, between us and Satan. And O the thrill, to smell the smoke of the smoldering fire as it dies out. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Soaked in the Scriptures

That has been my deepest longing from the night I was birthed into God’s family, until this present hour. At the close of the final evening of the revival meeting in which I was converted, the evangelist, when he was bidding farewell to people, looked at me and said, “Stay in the Book, stay in the Book!”  Although I had never read the Bible up until then, from that moment to now, I have endeavored to do just that, for these past fifty-five years.

I desire to be so soaked with the scripture that when I am wrung out, so to speak, the water of the Word splashes on everyone and everything around me. O, to be saturated with the Holy Scriptures! Then I’ll be able to ask myself, not, “What would Jesus do?” but more importantly, “What does Jesus say!” Some can only assume the one, but you can be assured of the other.

We are not to seek Jesus’ and His disciple’s experience, but their teachings. In this case, the little cliché, “Don’t do as I do, but do as I say,” holds true. A boy who is a 98-pound weakling, who has an older brother 275 pounds, and a lineman for an NFL team, would be foolish to try doing what his brother does; but he would be wise to do what his godly Christian brother says.

May the good Lord help each of us to live in, and to live by, the blessed Holy Scriptures.

Word Worriers

“And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees (religious) and of the Herodians (political), to catch him in [his] words.”

 

In our Lord’s time, as today, there were those who were word-checkers. They believed in both political, and what’s worse, theological correctness in the use of terms. Even to the point of ostracizing those who did not use the accepted expressions of their particular groups.

 

Such superior snobs, like fierce animals, lie in wait for their prey to come their way. They’re unmerciful in their criticism; they rip and tear their victim publically, so that all can behold their expertise. Jesus was not threatened by such nonsensical know-it-alls. He was the WORD!

 

I chuckle to myself when reading scriptures that many today would believe to be theological incorrect terms. John said, “Beloved, I wish...” I can hear someone now say, “Wish?” “Do you believe in Aladdin’s lamp, John?” Or when Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, He said, “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way...” This was said by One who I think was up on the subject of predestination. Yet, I’m sure, a certain group among us would have been the first to correct Him, saying, “Nothing is by chance.”

 

Years ago, a little boy who was saved in one of my meetings was asked by the pastor who saved him. The lad pointed to me and said, “He did.” The audience gasped, yet he was more scriptural than they. Paul said, “...that I may save some.”  The old-timers spoke of the “baptism of the Holy Ghost,” and the Second Blessing.” Such terms today are frowned upon by these powerless elites.

 

I like the way Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. put it: “I’d rather hear a fella say, ‘I seen,’ when he had seen something, than ‘I have seen,” when he hadn’t seen anything.”

Almost But Not Altogether

“[He] cried out... with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”

 

It is not unusual in scripture for two opposing entities to reside in the same dwelling. In fact, it is the norm. For example, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”  After all, how would one know they had real peace if turmoil were not present? Or be victorious, without a battle?

 

Half of this heartbroken man believed Jesus could answer his prayer, while the other half questioned, would He answer his prayer. He needed Christ’s help to bring the one half into agreement with the better half. So he prays earnestly that Jesus will enable him in that part that is lacking. He was honest to admit imperfections in his faith.

 

This brief prayer is for all of us who are almost, but not altogether. I think our dear Lord purposely leaves this void in our faith that we may realize our great need for Him, even in our faith. You know, “Without ME ye can do nothing.” And that includes believing.

 

Know for a certainty, our Savior understands the faith and fear part of our lives (Heb.5:7). C.S. Lewis explains it best, I think. “One can believe in anesthetics and yet feel in a panic when they actually put the mask over your face.”

Those Crazy Christians

For a person to say an $8,000 dollar Rolex watch, with all its intricate mechanical movements, just came into being on its own, without an intelligent designer, they would have to be crazy. To say bitter is sweet, and evil is good, to love the dark and hate light, would be to consider one mad. Yet I have just described for you the world in which we live.

Someone has rightly said, “The world is an insane asylum run by the inmates.” The tragedy is, they all think they’re normal and the caretakers are weird. They believed one of the greatest minds that ever existed, if not the greatest (Paul), was mad, and that the sinless Son of God was beside himself (Crazy). Is it any wonder then that all His true followers down through history have been tagged with this honor?

The early Christians were accused of trying to “turn the world upside down.” No! They were simply attempting to turn the world right side up. And for this they were considered crazy. And so are we beloved.

Christian, beware of trying to get the attention, applause, and acceptance of a world that has gone mad!

The Discourses of Jesus

On many occasions our Lord’s words were misquoted and misrepresented, but never misunderstood. The people of His day may not have understood their meaning, but they understood what He said. That is, the definition of the words. Christ always considered His audience. As the Quakers used to say, “Speak to the condition of the hearers.” At various times included in the company that would hear Jesus’ words were children, intellects, slaves, feeble-minded, common people, and theologians.

Our Saviour was always conscious of the crowd to whom He spoke. His discourses go from the simple to the sublime. He takes His hearers from the shallow shore to the depths in the middle of the ocean; but always bringing them back to shore again, lest those who were not advanced swimmers drown in the deep. The spiritually- minded and superior intellects need to remember the words of Oswald Chambers, “The ocean has a shore” He goes on to say, “Beware posing as a profound person; God became a baby.”

In all our preaching, teaching, conversations, and yes, praying and singing also, let us heed Paul’s admonition, “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.” As Billy Sunday would say, “Put the cookies on the bottom shelf.” Whenever speaking to a crowd with a mixture of intellects, leave the $50 words for those times when your small group meets together. There is a time and a place for such things.

Some of us, I’m afraid, love to hear ourselves talk. In fact, if the truth be told, we’d drive a hundred miles to hear ourselves, never realizing, others wouldn’t cross the street to listen to us!

Good Habits Can Be Harmful

Good habits can be a help and health to one’s spiritual life, but can also be harmful. They can be a blessing or a curse, a blessing if they’re under our control, a curse if we’re under their control. We can be a slave to our habits, like being under a law, fearful of breaking one of our self-imposed, rigid rules.

One great danger of a good habit is found in the fact that after a while, you forget its original purpose. Meaningful things become mechanical; we are no longer conscious of their original intent. Things such as Bible reading, kissing a loved one each time they leave the house, saying grace at mealtime, as well as a score of other things we do habitually.

We can get so used to doing things a certain way that we feel there is no other way. And we end up attempting to impose our way on others. After spending a lifetime tying your left shoe first, it’s okay to start with your right one, if you want. Some have forgotten, “Variety is the spice of life.”

I know people who almost worship their good habit;, they have made little gods of them. It is not our good habits that come first, but God’s plan. God has a way of upsetting our good habits, and if we refuse to yield to what He wants at that particular time, then look for a long dry spell. Persisting to do things the way we always have can put one in danger of putting good before God. This is what Eve fell for; she chose something good over God!

Bookworms

There are two types of bookworms, the literal insect kind, which feed on the paste on the binding, and the figurative type, humans, which devour the words on the pages. Paul fit the latter. From his prison cell he requested young Timothy to bring his books. And he encouraged his youthful protégée to “give attendance to reading.” For the old man knew, generally speaking, readers are leaders.

When our children were small, they used to listen to a Christian radio program, “Me and My Books.” The man referred to the books as his friends. In that wonderful movie, “Shadowlands,” the story of C.S. Lewis’ life, there is a statement that bears out the truth of books being our friends: “We read to know we’re not alone.”  No man is an island unto himself. We need others to let us know our thoughts, actions, and experiences aren’t solitary.

This goes even as far as to how Satan invades our lives. As Alexander Whyte’s maxim goes, “Mind your books and Satan cannot touch you.” Of course, The Book of Books takes precedent over all books. As Paul said, “bring [with thee]...the books, [but] especially the parchments.” Is it not rightly called “The Monarch of Books,” all other being subservient?

Allow me to close with a warning from C.S. Lewis concerning our reading of books. “We either get shallow and broad or narrow and deep.”

Addendum: Always read the foreword and be familiar with the index of every book you read. Especially, know as much of its author as possible.

 

Uniting Opposites

The older I get, the longer I’m saved, and the more I see of life, I’m becoming increasingly cautious, as well as suspicious, of those among us who profess to have all the answers to life’s perplexities. Like Daniel’s image with feet mixed with iron and clay, there are some things that don’t seem to mix. That is, you can’t get them to fuse together; they just won’t bond to one another. And all the well-intentioned explanations of friends and loved ones do not satisfy the wondering soul.

The old Christian sage, George H. Morrison wrote an article concerning the puzzling things of life, “It isn’t what we cannot comprehend, but what we cannot reconcile, that troubles us.” It is not so much the difficulties found in attempting to unite certain doctrines, such as the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. What is so problematic for many thinkers is reconciling the goodness and severity of God. They seem to be irreconcilable. For example, God told Moses that it was He Himself, who makes the dumb, deaf, seeing, and the blind. Try explaining that to a young mother who just gave birth to a blind child.

The truth is, God’s wonderful love is compatible with everything that would seem to us harsh. Trying to understand God’s extremes will only bring endless agony of mind and heart. Such pain, you will find, is greater than the hurt you are experiencing. As darling David said, “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.”  Some things the Lord will make plain to us now; other things, only when we come face to face with the One of whom it is written, “He doeth all things well.”

Full When On Empty

In Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers he tells them he knew “...both how to abound and suffer need.”  When the Apostle uses the word “both,” I do not think he is using it in the sense of order of time. But rather, as it is employed in the first chapter of Acts, verse eight. It seems he is speaking simultaneously, that is, both happening at the same time.

If this be the case, then it was quite a juggling act. How is someone going to be full, and at the same time, suffer? God has a wonderful way of balancing things out in life, keeping us from the extreme. I think the best answer to our dilemma is found in David’s example. In the book of Psalms he tells us, “I am poor and needy.” Strange words indeed, coming from a king.

The solution to our problem is so simple we miss it. Each of these blessed men is trying to tell us a great truth. When we are full, we should be thinking of our great need of God. And when in dire need, we need to think of how much we have in God.

Whatever the situation, we are blessed, no matter how you look at it!  

You Never Know About God

“And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?”

God had told David through Nathan the prophet, his child would die as the result of his sin with Bathsheba. Yet, in spite of this, he spent a week in fasting and tearful prayers for the child’s recovery. As Mathew Henry says, “While there is life there is hope, and while there is hope, there is room for prayer.”

Although David did not have a particular promise, he was not sure God would not turn and be gracious to him. God has been known to do such things, as in the case of Hezekiah. After being told he would die, he wept and prayed, and God added fifteen years to his life. God’s mercy, many times, trumps His judgment.

When David’s servants asked the reason for his actions, to put it in our present day vernacular, he answered, “Who can tell, you never know what God might do.” He believed there was a chance God would point His sceptre of divine favor his way. And, beloved, who knows, this very day He might point it toward you or me.

Second Mile Religion

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain”

Jesus speaks of a man who has his coat taken from him at law; His advice is to let them have his cloke also. He mentions what one’s reaction should be to those who smite us upon the cheek; we are to turn to them the other. And in our text, He tells us, if we’re compelled to go a mile to go the second mile.

The first response in each of the above mentioned is duty, the second is grace. It is never your duty to go the second mile. If we do only our duty, we cease to be Christ-like. Most of us use the argument that we have run out of gas at the starting point of the second mile. But that is no excuse, for God has put in each of us a reserve tank that can carry us through the second mile.

There are those who say the Sermon on the Mount is Law. Are they saying that the Law has a higher standard than Grace? I find when I use such reasoning it is not because of the way I believe, but because of the way I live. It is recorded of Jesus that, “He went a little further.”

True, in some cases the saint has prayed all he can, given all he can, loved all he can, advised all he can, and forgiven all he can. What is one to do after coming to the end of the second mile marker, not knowing where to go from there? “Is there any word from the Lord?” I am happy to say there is. "Neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.” Whenever you don’t know what to do, “Stop, look, and listen!

 

Destructive Distraction

“And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you...that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”

In matters such as piloting a plane, driving a car, or even a simple thing like riding a bike, a brief distraction can be destructive. A wandering thought, a glance backward, a slight nod, any of these can result in an unwelcomed circumstance. It can not only be disastrous to the one, but also to others, at times.

And so it is with a Christian, they cannot for a minute allow anything or anyone to divert their attention away from Christ. The devil will use every means in his arsenal to turn our focus from Jesus, not only by dangling sinful enjoyments before us, but with Spiritual goodies and legitimate causes. Anything to sidetrack us from the Lord Jesus Christ!

When just a boy, my mother and I visited my Grampaw in Kentucky. He was a little man on the outside, but a giant of a character on the inside.  One day he took me to the fields where he was plowing. I remember standing  by the wood fence, wondering how he could plow such a straight row every time. When he came to the side of the field where I was, I asked him how he did it. With a twinkle in his eye, and that distinctive Kentucky drawl, he said, “Son, you just pick you out a post opposite you on the other side of the field, and you don’t take your eyes off it, not for a minute. Need I say more?

Walking the High Ground

“And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him”

The old-time evangelist, Dr. Bob Jones Sr., used to tell a heartwarming story in one of his sermons. A Sunday school teacher asked a little girl to describe Enoch’s walk with God. Said she, “Well..., first of all, it was an awful long walk (300 years). It was so long that God said to Enoch, ‘Enoch, we’re closer to my house than yours; why don’t you just come on home with me.’”

Some reading this article are just beginning their walk with God, others are somewhere in the middle; while others of us, like Enoch, can see the light in the window of God’s house. What an inexpressible joy it has been to walk with my Maker, Lord, Father, Friend, and God these many long years. In spite of my sins, shortcomings, doubts, fears, and a host of other frailties associated with being human, it has been absolutely marvelous strolling down Lover’s Lane with the Lover of my soul!

Far too many are attempting to occasionally walk on water with God who have not yet learned to walk daily with Him on land. I would encourage any and all, if you want a life filled with unspeakable joy, and filled with glory, to get in step with God. And then, stay in step. O, my friend, walk the high road. Some of you have been traveling the low road long enough.

Don’t worry about your soiled feet; He still humbles Himself to wash the feet of His followers!

Taking a Wrong Turn

Speaking to the Ephesian elders, Paul told them his desire was to finish his course “with joy.” And by comparing his second letter to young Timothy, we find he did just that. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith.” 

There is absolutely no question we believers will finish our course. This doesn’t  concern me. What I am interested in is this, will we finish it with Joy? John the beloved tels us some of God’s children will be “ashamed before Him at His coming.” I personally long to enter His presence joyfully, and not blushingly!

If you have lost your way over these past days, weeks, months, or even years, let me give C.S. Lewis’ remedy. “We want progress, but progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. If you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer, if you are on the wrong road. Progress means going back to the right road, and in that case, the man that turns back soonest, is the most progressive.”

Just about now, maybe some of us need to take a U-turn.

Our Lot in Life

How many of us are like Ephraim and Manasseh of old. When God allocated their lot in the newly-conquered land of Canaan, through Joshua, they complained. As my dear sainted mother used to say, “You couldn’t satisfy some people if you hung them with a new rope.”

We murmur because we feel others have a better life than we. I would remind all such what Jesus said to Peter, “What is that to thee? follow thou me.”  As Thomas à Kempis says in his book, The Imitation of Christ, “For man proposes, but God disposes.” Shakespeare, too, had a similar message in Hamlet: "There is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will."

Paul’s lot in life was to suffer for the Lord Jesus; God told him that at his conversion. Nevertheless, he rejoiced and wanted nothing but the best for others. He wrote to the Corinthians, “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.”

And what did old John the Beloved, who was very familiar with loneliness and pain, say to the saints of his day? “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Although it may not be true of some of our own lots in life, we should want nothing but the best for our dear brethren.

Whatever my lot,

Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well,

with my soul.

The Other Gospel

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

(Gal.1:6-9)

Paul also tells us in 2 Cor. 11:4 that along with this “other gospel,” there is “another Jesus” and “another spirit.” Satan is a great imitator; therefore, we should not marvel that “the god of this world” transforms himself into an “angel of light.”  And that it is“...no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."

The main difference between the “perverted” gospel, and the true gospel, is found in two small words, “do” and “done.” No matter how angelic the countenance may appear, or godly and righteous the outward life, if anything is added to the finished work of Christ, they’re as twisted and perverted as a pedophile. Yea, even more so!

If, perchance, you believe this “other” gospel, then what you have is a “make-believe belief!” You’re childishly pretending. It’s time for some to grow-up.

Jesus Christ did not suffer, bleed, die, and endure the eternal pains of hell, so that a “worm” can boast of his or her good works. We work from the cross, not to the cross. We work, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved. We are saved by grace unto good works. Paul plainly tells us if salvation is by works, then it is no more of grace. And if it is by grace, it is no more of works. Works just won’t work! “By GRACE Are Ye Saved.”

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;

could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

AUGUSTUS TOPLADY

Wherein Lies Great Thoughts

A.W. Tozer writes, “Without doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God.” One of the great indictments the Word of God brings against the worldling is, “God [is] not in all his thoughts.” And again, “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge.”

I read the testimony of one godly saint who said, “I truthfully do not believe there has been more than a fifteen minute period in my Christian life that Christ has not occupied my thinking.” I believe this to be true of a small remnant of God’s elect in every age.

This type of person is so special to God that He has recorded their name in a special book, “...a book of remembrance was written before him for them that ...thought upon his name.” And why should I not think upon that blessed and most Holy One? I am told He thinks upon this worm! As David said, “But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me.”

Narcissistic Christians crowd God out of their thoughts; there is only room for them.

 

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

Our title is a phrase adapted from the poem, “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns. The poem actually says, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men.”  It is about his plowing a field and accidentally turning over and ruining the nest of a small field mouse at a time of year when it's impossible for the mouse to rebuild. Burns tries to reassure the frightened mouse that he meant no harm.

This proverbial expression is simply telling about the futility of making detailed plans when the outcome is uncertain. A Christian’s plans, especially, are always subject to change and disruption by the outside intervention of God. To be sure, whenever Divine interference occurs, it is not almost, but always, for our good, and God’s glory. But how tragic it is when so many of us get upset when God sees fit to upset our plans.

God does everything after the pleasure of His own will, and what pleases Him should please His children. But alas, how many of us are quick to pity ourselves, rather than praise Him. We pride ourselves with our hindsight, but lack little, if any, foresight, when it relates to the eternal plan of God. God doesn’t mind us planning, just as long as we are willing to give ours up for His. “Not my plan, but thy plan be done.”

 

 

The "Signs" Mania

Anyone halfway familiar with Church history recognizes the fact that every age thought theirs to be the last. Each of these periods used various “signs” from the Bible to prove it.

But could it be the absence of signs will be the one great sign?

Peter says just prior to our Lord’s return “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.”   

In both Matthew and Luke’s gospels, Jesus says, “As it was in the days of Noe,” and, “As it was in the days of Lot,” so it will be preceding His coming. I was taught as a young believer that every minute detail of these two men’s generations was the thing to watch for. But the context says nothing of the kind!

The one thing, and only one thing He teaches, is the fact that the world was going on at its normal state (that is, normal for a sinning world). They were marrying and giving in marriage, eating and drinking, “until the day.” That is, right up till the time. Thus, He ends His teaching concerning His second coming with these words, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

There is no question, someday, will be the last day. But as my dear friend Dr. John R. Rice used to say, “Jesus is coming again, signs or no signs.”

 

Here I Come, Ready or Not

I’ve heard just about every plea for revival imaginable, from the need for godly living to loving each other. But I contend, and have for many years, the need is to be revived concerning His Return. There is not one thing wrong that His return won’t right. As C.S. Lewis says, “The second coming of Christ is the medicine our condition especially needs.” It is not, revival or return, it is a Revival of His Return!

The reason early Christians lived such exceptional, godly lives, had a undying love for each other, and laid their lives on the altar of sacrifice, was for the simple fact they looked for, and expected their Lord’s return at any time. In Paul’s earliest letter to the Thessalonians, each of the five chapters ends with a promise of His return.

Again, allow me quote Lewis, “Because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” If we really believe our heavenly Bridegroom can return at any moment, then we’ll keep the house clean. We will not emulate the “foolish,” and slumber and sleep.

As a boy, when we played hide-n-seek, after a long count, you’d hear the words shouted out, “Here I come, ready or not.” My dear friends, He is coming, whether you’re ready or not.

The Reality of Heaven

Heaven is real; it is a literal place. Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” Heaven is a country, with a capital city, New Jerusalem. Of the old patriarchs we are told, “...they sought a country,” and of Abraham it says, “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.” And after a lifetime searching for it, upon taking his final breath on this earth, he found it.

The same God who made heaven, made the earth. There is no reason for “spiritualizing” the first while “literalizing” the second. One is the type of the other. When God describes heaven He uses the things of the earth, things we are familiar with, to depict heaven. God mingles heaven with earth. Read the Lord’s Prayer if you doubt this. Heaven is not a different place, but a better place, “But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly... for he hath prepared for them a city.”

The paganistic Eskimo believed in a future land where he would eat his whale blubber to the full; the materialistic Egyptians were buried with their treasures, so they could enjoy them in the next life; and the heathenistic Indians looked forward to the, “Happy Hunting Grounds” at their death.

And we Christians, who have and know the truth, are awaiting a place known to us as “The Father’s House”. No child of God need worry about adjusting upon their arrival, as if they’ll be in a strange place, you’re going to be right at “HOME!”

    

Those Dry Times

“O God, thou [art] my God...my soul thirsteth for thee...[I] longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

Godly David knew what it was like to experience the dry spells that come into every Christian’s life. He was mindful of those times when the “green pastures” turned into hay. When everything around him was parched and there was not one drop of moisture coming down from the heavens. When “the brook dried up,” and his bucket empty.

What did the saints of the scriptures do at such times? They looked forward, trusting God to keep His promise, “...when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”  They knew if they could just wait it out, that God would, “...cause the shower to come down in his season; (and that there would be) showers of blessings.”

In God’s own good time He says, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.”  To be sure, we will once again taste those “cold waters to a thirsty soul.”    

If you are going through a time such as I have just written, here is Elijah’s advice. “And said to his servant, Go up now, look... And he went up, and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again seven times... And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And it came to pass... there was a great rain.”