This is a new year, and you have been blessed by God to be alive and part of it (Psalm 34:1). As you look back at the past year, I’m sure it is full of things which you regret and wished you could change. But once a deed is done, it is done (Ecclesiastes 11:3). However, obeying the word of God sets in place a new and better way of existence (Romans 6:1-23). Past deeds are forgotten by God and will never be brought up again (Hebrews 10:17). So yes, becoming a Christian has great advantages, and why wouldn’t a person not want to be a part of Jesus’ family? (Galatians 3:26-29).
Now, here is the scary part: if obedience to the gospel isn’t done, all past deeds will be brought up at the Judgement, even if the person had quit doing them long ago (2 Corinthians 5:10). That will happen because the person is still in sin that sin hasn’t been washed away (Acts 22:16). So many aren’t aware of the danger they are in. We are speaking about eternity and all the souls that need God. Lost souls need to be saved and since no one is promised tomorrow, what are they waiting for? Now is the time to be honest with yourself, the soul you save will be your own (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Mark 16:15-16). We can get rid of stress by saying no to projects that are too much for us. We must realize that our stress level shoots though the roof, when allowing others to over load us. The wise thing is to speak up and refuse to let men use us for dump trucks. People cannot know our limitations, so don’t let them be our judges. Make sure that relaxing time is left for self and above all things, learn to trust in God (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 10:38-42; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 5:15-16).
Happy New Year! In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we are introduced to Nabal, a selfish rich man. This guy oppressed his employees daily as they broke their backs with sweat and blood to keep him rich. In verse 8, David asked Nabal to help him out with food and supplies, since he had helped Nabal shepherds look after the livestock and keep them free from thieves and wolves. But Nabal insulted David saying, “you won’t get a crumb from me” (verse 10-11). David and his men then planned to kill Nabal, but the shepherds reported their intentions to Nabal wife. And she, being a sensible woman, brought the supplies to David without Nabal knowledge and stopped the slaughter of her husband. Later on, Nabal found out that his wife helped David, and he became angry and appeared to have suffered a stroke and he died (verse 35-38). After reading this story, I wonder just how many Nabal’s are living today. This man had plenty and was too stingy to share with others.
We have heard it many times before, a house burns down and people suffer injury or death. But then we see a fireman saying “there were no working smoke detectors in the house.”
Those words cause us to lament the lost of life or health because none took the time to do what was needed in order to protect themselves. Well, let me use that example in another way. The Bible which is the word of God, is our smoke detector. Do you have one? And as for batteries, are you doing what His word commands you? You see, it is one thing to have a Bible in your house, but a totally different thing to be doing what it teaches (Luke 6:46; John 15:14, 8:31-32). If we can be of help to you in learning God’s will for your life, let us help you with a Bible study (Acts 8:26-40, 16:11-15, 17:11). Far too many of our young men are wasting their lives away.
They will get a girl pregnant and take no responsibility (of course the girl shares the blame as well). There are young men who have no interest in getting a job because they find it too convenient to stay home and live off the parents. (And here is where parents share the blame). Some young men have no regard for the value of human life. They will grab a gun and battle over a few dollars or their so called interpretation of “respect.” All day long they hang with their buddies in the streets adding no value to the community; but certainly doing a great job making it look bad with their use of profanity, drinking, and loud music. Such conduct is a total waste of human life and embarrassment for the parents that raised them (Proverbs 10:1). Young man, you don’t have to waste your life away! You also don’t need low life people as friends. What you need is God. With Him you can learn the correct way to live and avoid the pit falls of life that have trapped so many (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Proverbs 3:1-26, 4:20-27, 6:20-35, 7:1-27, 10:1). Young man, with the help of God, you can turn your back on wrong doing (Prov. 4:10-19; Titus 2:6-8; 2 Timothy 2:22; Prov. 1:10-19; Joshua 24:15; Prov. 13:1; Psalm 34:12-17; Philippians 4:13). Have you noticed an increase in vandalism, violence, and even killings inside houses of worship. Now I understand that the building isn’t the church because the church is the people, and the church can meet inside a person’s house (Romans 16:5). But the church building was bought and paid for with money from the treasury of the Lord, and in a sense it should be considered special.
For example, I find it interesting that the ground surrounding the burning bush, from which God appeared to Moses, was sacred at the moment, for Moses had to remove his shoes (Exodus 3:5). When giving the law, Mt. Sinai was special (Ex. 19:10-18). The Temple was special and not to be profaned (John 2:13-17; Ezekiel 23:36-39). Yet men today, will spray paint the church walls, steal money from the collection plate, use the church computer to view porn, curse, smoke and get into fights inside the church building. Just last year, there were stories of people going to churches and killing spouses while services was being conducted. No respect for the Lord or His property. Pants were meant to be worn with a belt around the waist because the design of the pants shows this to be true. Yet, we see many young men walking around with their pants belted on their butts and showing underwear. To those who wear pants that way. Please pull your pants up and buckle them, no one wants to see your underwear! This is equal to a person putting gloves halfway on his hands or wearing a hat on the side of the head.
Thing is, both examples would be out of step with the original intent. Yet all of this is a reflection of where the minds of some people are (Proverbs 23:7). Their thoughts are in rebellion and bent on being different and which leads them to strange behavior. In the Bible, the prophet Samuel rebuked King Saul, telling him that his rebellion was stubbornness, and it was as bad as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:22-23). We must not be rebels if the correct way is shown to us (Acts 26:19). If one cannot produce a superior way, don’t taint the right way by demonstrating something bizarre (1 Sam. 21:11-15). The Lord by the teaching of His word, has been telling man for a very long time that only by repentance can peaceful security be obtain on earth (Proverbs 1:20-33, 8:32-36).
A car being driven into crowds isn’t the danger. A butcher knife stabbed into the bodies of train passengers isn’t the danger. A gun firing bullets into the bodies of moviegoers isn’t the danger. Cars, guns, and knives can vanish from the earth, but without repentance the killing will go on because men will find other weapons. We must understand that it is the heart that is the danger (Mark 7:21; Matthew 9:4). Acid has a place on earth, but no evil person should walk around looking for someone to throw it on. “Thou shall not kill” means just that, but repentance means stop killing stop throwing acid and stop listening to them who demand that others be killed because they don’t share religious beliefs, etc. (Romans 13:9). Jesus said man will perish without repentance and we are (Luke 13:3). The word of God demands that we repent or face hell (Psalms 9:17). I ask you to reflect upon the word repent, to consider how different things would be if mankind changed his evil ways. The Texas church shooter didn’t repent of his sins. The lust for sex is so strong in the minds of some people that they will daily stalk and press others for intimate relations. The Bible has the case of Joseph, a young good looking man who on a daily basis was sexually harassed by the wife of his boss (Genesis 39:1-12).
This woman was relentless and had no concern for right or wrong. Joseph did a great job, explaining why he couldn’t be involved with her, but she wasn’t having it and conviction cost Joseph his job and freedom (Gen. 39:13-23). Such evil is still done today by those with positions of power which they will use to torment others. Sexual harassment is the result of ungodly minds, hearts that haven’t accepted the word of God and repented of their sins (Luke 13:3). These people are hell bound because they fail to see that sexual harassment is the work of the devil (John 8:44; Galatians 5:19-21). The only way sexual harassment will end is for people to realize it is sinful threatening their souls and they must abandon it (1 Corinthians 6:18). Sexual predators must realize that God gave mankind the gift of sex, and His law commands that sex be only between man and wife (Gen. 3:16; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8). So, leave that co-worker alone! Leave that neighbor alone! Leave everyone alone! Go home to your spouse and have no desire for anyone else (Proverbs 5:15-20). Repent today! (Jonah 3:8). You’ve shown interest in physical things; so how about interest in spiritual things?
This is your invitation to hear Murray Wade of the Oakridge TN, church of Christ, speak from the word of God. On November 5th, times are 10:15 am and 11:15 am. So, come on out, get some knowledge from the word of the Lord. Be sure to bring your Bibles or if you don’t have one, one will be provided for you. |