Proclaiming the Gospel

         Recent events have left a great many people filled with disgust, fear, anxiety and a host of other emotions. I could be writing this on any given number of dates due to recent actions taken by a group of people. I could be writing on December 8, 1941 or I could be writing on September 12, 2001. I could be writing after the first atomic bomb was detonated over a city filled with people. I cold be writing after the sinking of the Titanic. In other words, history is filled with instances of vile deeds that leave us wondering what is going on. One of the local pastors has mentioned that the Gospel is not being preached in our area or in our land or for that matter, not in the world. Oh, we go to church and we have rituals that we follow, but there seems to be a lack of the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are left with a feeling that things need to be changed and everyone has their own idea of how to do it. There probably are about 7 billion different solutions, perhaps an exaggeration of the number, but everyone seems to have their own idea as to how to fix the problem. First Corinthians 15:1-2 says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 

         The Apostle Paul had the answer back 2,000 years ago as we see here in the letter to the church at Corinth. The Pastor was right when he said that the Gospel is not being preached. This means that a large part of the problem exists because of what is going on in the pulpits of churches around the world. Rituals, traditions, robes, gold, silver, music, incense and repetitive mantras aren't going to change the world but the Gospel will. Even if you are liberal in your counting of Christians around the world, there as still only one third of all the people are believers today That leaves about two thirds of 7.6 billion people who are not believers. Now how on earth are we going to convert that many people in order to eradicate the problems of society. The Apostle did it by speaking to one person at at time for the most part. The church at Thessalonica was begun with the conversion of a woman praying down by the riverside and next a young girl that had been possessed with a demon, and then the jailer at the broken down prison. When I came to this city, there were 144 Baptist churches, around 80 Methodist churches and about 40 Presbyterian churches. There are also about 300,000 people in this valley, many of which go to church but do not hear the gospel message. If there is any doubt as to what that message is, Paul went on to further define the “Gospel” in verses three and four. No one can wave a magic wand and instantly change the lives of 7.6 billion people but you can begin by changing the life on one. That one might be next door or around the corner from where you live. It might be the person who waited on you at a restaurant or the person who took your money at the cleaners or the grocery store. We may want to ask ourselves if we are part of the problem or are we part of the solution. Once a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, then comes the time of growth. When will any one of us master Philippians 4:8? When will we be able to love God with all of our hearts and all of our minds? While we may be feeling so inadequate to do the job, we can still begin with our own hearts from where every you and I are in our spiritual walk with God. Then, we can go out with instruction of 1 Peter 3:15, being ready to give an answer for the faith that we have in God and we can share the Gospel as did the Apostles in the primitive church that turned the world upside down in their day. The answer seems too simple but it is still the answer. Only God can change hearts and believe it or not, He has chosen you and me to help do the job of spreading the message of the Gospel to others.   

The Hiding Place

         My sister once told me that what she really wanted in life was to have a small home in Elkins, West Virginia, a cup of hot chocolate and an Irish Setter, all sitting in front of a fireplace on a snowy winter evening. She never came close to achieving any of those things as she eventually passed away in a nursing facility in Peoria, Illinois. We may all have some picture in our minds of our “secret place” or that place where we could find peace and rest in the midst of a busy world that is plagued with war, famine and pestilence. If you were born in Aleppo, Syria, you probably don't even have a chair to sit on. I have mentioned before that when I was young, my secret hiding place was in the center of a very large Lilac bush on our property. In the summer time with all of its leaves, no one could see me inside of the bush. Years later, the bush gave way to just being able to travel home and to relax with the aroma of home cooked beef with Mom's home made noodles. Rest may stir up any number of pictures in your mind. It may be some place in your past, or a special retreat spot, or going home or even in a coffee shop in the middle of the city. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

          The people in the time of the New Testament when Christ walked upon the earth were also seeking for a place to rest. The zealots wanted to get rid of any oppressor nation that was over them which at that time was the Roman government. The tax collectors were always bickering with the people about the taxes and so it was not so different than today's world. Then, along comes the Lord Jesus Christ with the most amazing offer. He offered rest to those who were always working and who were under heavy burden day in and day out. Christ offered them rest for their souls and who wouldn't want rest? We are here in the year 2020, which equates to 2,020 years since Christ took on flesh and headed to the cross of Calvary. We open the Word of God and read about the same offer as we see it in Matthew, chapter eleven. The offer is still open to each and every person regardless of their education, station in life, color of their skin or political position, or even where they were born. Many have heard it before but fail to believe in it because it just seems to simple to be true, but it is. You probably have read about it hundreds of times in your lifetime and you may have heard it preached on many times in your church or on the radio or at a tent meeting, or just wherever you might have been. Some talk about their secret closet, or their hiding place or their comfort station. We had a cat for a time that when danger came, she would run into my bedroom and crawl literally under the covers and would not come out until the danger had passed. Well, we can do that but it is not a physical blanket or a cabin in the West Virginia mountains, or sitting on the beach with the sound of the surf but it is safe in the arms of Jesus. He said, He will give us rest. What can be better than that? Praise God today for the safety He provides in our daily storms of life.

Truth

        I attended a course at a hotel once that was conducted by a leading seminary that did a lot of correspondence classes. In the opening remarks, an illustration was given on the importance of correctly interpreting the Scriptures. It started out with a series of statements based on a particular translation of the Bible, using words and phrases from that translation which were all perfectly right and good. In the end, the statement was made that “according to this study, there were deep sea divers present in the Bible. By using phrases that included the words “sea” and “divers” they came to the erroneous conclusion that there were deep sea divers mentioned in the Scriptures. The exercise was given to show how some people can come to wrong conclusions about something or how one can twist definitions and phrases to come up with wrong conclusions. John 1:14 says, “ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

        The Bible has much to say about “truth.” It is mentioned some 237 times in the Bible. One can take a series of true statements and still come up with a false result such as in the case of deep sea divers in the Bible. We are certainly living in an age where it is difficult to come up with the truth when a person speaks to you. Interviews of famous people who are skilled at saying a lot of words are great examples of ending up saying nothing or coming up with a lie rather than the truth. Some people feel that if you say one thing long enough and often enough, people will begin believing it. The question must come up at one point or another if the statement is true. Since there is only One Person Who ever said statements that were true, it must be measured by that Person. The opening chapter of John describes that Person and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines truth as “Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.” When you begin to look at the world's definition of truth your mind almost seems to be clouded with so many different views as to what the truth actually is. When we look at today's passage, we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is full of “grace and truth.” In a world of changing ethics and definition one must establish how they are going to find what is actually true and what is not true. I recall one old phrase that went, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” If you are bothered about the truth of any given matter, just run it through the filter of God's Word. If it doesn't match up with the Scripture, discard it. Praise God today that we can determine what is true and what is false by comparing it to His Word.

Precise Details

            I dabbled in painting in one period of my life. This was not the paining of rooms in a house but actually on a piece of canvas with either oil colors or acrylics. I would be classed somewhere as a primitive painter or perhaps even “crude” as there was not a lot of detail in the painting. A round green ball with a brown stem would be a tree. Smaller balls of different colors would turn out to be flowers of some unidentified type. One of our grandchildren painted a picture which is the home screen for my computer. It is a tree at the beach. The detail in the sky and the tree or so precise, it looks like a photograph. The tree has hundreds of leaves on it and they are all the right size and full of detail. At one point, there is a yellow leaf as you might find in a real living tree. The horizon is straight, the water looks like the ocean and the sky is just as you would see it on a day looking off the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. I guess I could say that he is a stickler for detail. It is important to have detail in some areas to give the viewer or the reader a picture of what is to come. One could say that God is a stickler for detail. Revelation 21:15-16 says, “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.”

       When God gives instructions they contain a lot of detail such as when Moses got the instructions on how to build the tabernacle. Every board and socket were described along with the exact type of material that was to be used in the process of construction. The Book of Revelation is a book of detail as far as our final destination is concerned. The Apostle John received the words that described many pictures that are completely new to us. The above passage gives us a glimpse of the New Jerusalem. The size is greater than we could ever imagine in our own minds. A modern day comparison would make each side, 12,000 furlongs, or 1500 miles long. That is roughly the distance from New York City to Daytona, Florida. That's just one side and then it goes that far on each of the other sides as well as the height. Yes, God is a stickler for detail and He has given us a picture of what is to come and goes on further to describe just who is going to be there with Him. Revelation 21:27 ends with the words that describe the inhabitants, “...they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” The final question for us is whether or not our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Have you believed on Him as your Lord and Savior? Praise God today for what in store for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Perfectionist

         I am not a perfectionist. I am not even close to being a perfectionist. As a kid, I used to make model airplanes out of wooden kits. The rough shape was there but needed a lot of sanding. I hated sanding so went to step two and three which were gluing and painting. The trailing edge of the wings was almost a quarter inch thick and the fuselage was rough with splinters of balsa hanging from them. I like to take shortcuts on things that needed to be done in order to get to the things I wanted to do. I don't like to be sloppy but if a thread is hanging here or there, it really doesn't bother me that much. You see, I'm not a perfectionist. The loose thread bothers my wife and probably others who see it and who desire to attack me with a pair of scissors to remove the “Irish Pennant” (a term I learned while in boot camp.” I can get along in life okay in most things except one area and that is connected to the Great Perfectionist” God Himself. James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

        Most people must not be perfectionists either because they seem to say, “I hope the good outweighs the bad and I get into heaven based on that assumption. People seem to know that God doesn't like sin and they know they do bad things, or sins, but hope that the good things will be more than the bad things on a scale and you end up in heaven. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't say that. God's hatred of sin comes right down to “one sin.” If you do just one sin, and it doesn't matter which sin it is, you are guilty of the whole punishment. The one sin then makes you reap the consequences of the whole law. Even if you lived the life of “goody two shoes” but committed only one act of disobedience towards God, you would be declared “guilty.” You see, God is a Perfectionist. God knew that we would have trouble getting into heaven so He provided a Savior for us to make it possible for us to enter Glory and receive all of the benefits even if it was for only one sin or a hundred sins committed an hour for the past 100 years. You see, there are sins of commission, the things that you do that are wrong and the the sins of omission, the sins for things you should have been doing but failed to do. There are probably must as many or maybe even more sins of omission than there are sins of commission. Either way, you are a goner because of the fact of just even one sin in your life and we all know that isn't the case. We desperately needed to have a Savior and God gave us One in the Lord Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. John 3:16 tells us that. You may be what you think is a perfectionist when it comes to your life here on earth with not a single hair out of place and perfectly matched outfits from head to toe but you are still guilty of sin according to Romans 3:23. Someday, things will be perfect if you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior. Praise God that only He can make us perfect.

The Passport

           I was born in Michigan City, Indiana and the first name of the doctor that delivered me that day was, “Daniel.” That is where I got my first name. I was named after Dr. Daniel Bernoski. Throughout the rest of my life I was known by a small number of people. One day, we decided to leave the country and spend some time in missionary work and I needed to get a passport. The passport was going to be the proof that I was an American, a member of the United States of America. My wife, myself and our son all got our passports and made sure that we had them in a safe place. They would be stamped when we reached Madrid, Spain and would show that we had entered that country on such and such a date and time. We then went to the American embassy in Madrid to register as citizens of the U. S. A. I began speaking to the official in my broken Spanish and he looked at me and said, “You can speak English here.” They were from the same country. We always kept trace of our passports as it was the proof that we needed to get back to where we came from. Philippians 3:20 says, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

       The word “conversation” here is quite often defined as “citizenship.” The word that is used in this verse is the only reference in the entire New Testament. It is unique in that sense. It shows were our homeland is. While I had a passport for the U. S. A., I don't need one for heaven because God still knows who I am. Only a few people knew me when I boarded the plane for Europe and only they could vouch for my identity and homeland. So, I needed to have a passport. Now, I am a citizen of a different place and I don't need a paper passport with stamps and signatures because God is able to remember all those who are His. If we needed to have something to identify us we can look at the fact that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and God knows each and every one who are citizens of heaven. I still possess the paper copy of the little booklet known as my “passport” with its official seal on the cover and the words, “United States of America.” It has expired but I still keep it in my top drawer of keepsakes from my past. There is no expiration date on my passport for heaven as the names all appear in the Lamb's Book of Life. Yes, we have dual citizenship at this point in our lives. Paul went on to say to the Corinthians that we are presently “ambassador's for Christ.” An ambassador represents his king wherever he goes and we are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ wherever we go. What a privilege we have. How are you doing in your position as ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ where you live? Praise God today for the responsibility that he has given to each and every believer.

Serous or not so Serous?

         “Okay, I am serious now!” Such would be the words of some of the people that I have met in my life who were constantly joking about things in life. They are always ready with a pun or making fun of something even to the point of being crude or vulgar. All of a sudden, they desire to say something that is important and no one listens to them because they don't know if they are really serious or not. So, the speaker has to enlighten his or her audience by saying, “Now, I am serious.” If Bob Hope says, “The end is coming,” you stand there waiting for the punch line. If the Apostle Paul says, “the end is coming,” you tend to get ready for it. Ephesians 5:4 says, “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”

        My wife often reminds me that my “dry humor” is simply due to the fact that I am a “Hoosier,” that is, from the state of Indiana. I may have ended up being more known for my dry humor than my seriousness. Once you make a person laugh, you tend to keep on doing it. People often end up making verbal caricatures of people which can turn very quickly to something vulgar and quickly goes from poking fun at someone to really being hurtful. Don Rickles was known for tearing down someone else or as someone has said, his insult comedy. This type of speaking however, is frowned upon by God. It has no favorable purpose. Paul gave us a lot of teaching especially in the final three chapters of the Book of Ephesians and one of the lessons is how we talk. I am often reminded of what I call the “Praise Sandwich.” It begins with a praise of how good you are, then shifts to “you really are a mess in this area,” and then finishes with another “praise.” You may have had a number of them yourself during your own days in the church or even at work. The teaching of the Apostle Paul in this section doesn't stop with the vulgar or jesting speech but then goes on to give us instruction on what to do. He states, “...but giving of thanks.” My Father often remarked, “If you can't say something good about a person, don't say anything at all.” Of course, we can say something good and that involves giving thanks for the person with whom we are speaking. Let's face it, if you have to preface your statement with, “Now, I am serious,” you are in trouble. It is better for us to learn the lesson of Ephesians 5:4 in the beginning and not be known as a “jester” or a vulgar person. Praise God for His Word and the application of it into our lives.

A Grave is a Rut With Both Ends Kicked Out!

          I used to spend a lot of time walking in the mall early in the morning before the stores would open. Most of the stores would be closed with the exception of the coffee shops and would not open until 10:00 in the morning. At around 9:59, you could hear the metal gates being rolled up into the top of the channel or pushed to one side to allow entrance into the store. Everyone was poised and ready for this morning scenario. Many people have morning routines that one could almost do blindfolded or in their sleep. After I arrive in the kitchen, the first thing I do is take my morning medication, making sure the little pink pill is in my hand which is one of the most necessary for my blood. Then, I check my sugar level and draw the appropriate amount of insulin into the needle and put it aside at my breakfast spot. Then, I make my coffee and check my email. This is my “normal” routine and at this point in my life is one of the things that can still be said to be “normal.” Recent conditions of disturbed many of our routines and forced us to do things we have not done nor in the time slot that they are usually done. We then look at this new routine as “not being normal.” We then feel that we can't wait to get back to “normal” again. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

         There comes a point in our lives when things made a drastic change and that was the day that you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Things left the realm of “normalcy” and became something new. New patterns were being established as you now find that there are different things to do in your life that were not a part of your old life. You suddenly find yourself trying to communicate with God through prayer and you also find that you have a life that is filled with peace and hope where before, it felt like life was a big rut of doing this over and over and over again. Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, mentions this in the above verse when he made the statement that we now have something “new” in our lives. New things replace the old things that were like weights hanging around our necks. Old things were passed away. We now find ourselves with a lot of new things such as new patterns, new desires, new friends, new peace and new hope. After you met the Lord Jesus Christ, you never again thought about going back to “normal” as it was before you met Him. You might want to think twice before you say that you want things to go back to “normal.” Has God done anything special in your life in the past several months? Do you find yourself spending more time in His Word or in prayer as you communicate to Him looking for answers? Have you found that you now know a couple of new neighbors? Praise God today for all of the “new” things that are in your life.

Same or Different?

          Something that you see a lot of today is people dressed in camouflage. We have many hunters in our area, and they all seem to own a set of gear that is colored in the form of camouflage. You can even buy a rifle or shotgun that is completely covered in camouflage. Then, of course, there is the military and its vast use of camouflage for various situations be it desert, snow or jungle. God has also made certain small insects or animals in such a way that it is difficult to see them as they blend in with the surrounding area so well that they are almost invisible. In many aspects, camouflage is good if you don't want to be seen by the enemy. I think that in some respects, the church has also turned to camouflage. The question has to come up, "Why don't we make a big difference in the world today?" We don't make a difference because the world can't pick out the Christian from the non Christian. It is as if we were wearing camouflage. Some people who profess to be a believer still walk like and talk like a non believer. There is nothing different that makes them stand out in a crowd. Matthew 5:13 says, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." We are to be the salt of the earth and we are to be the light of the world as it says in Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

         The camouflage for the believer is not something different colored that makes us blend in with the trees, but it is a life style that is identical with that of the world. We have become so much like the world, that the world cannot distinguish a Christian from a non Christian. Many have come up with the idea that we don't want to offend anyone so we can't do this or that thing. I once heard of a missionary that was stationed in the northern part of Alaska who made the statement that “we don't mention Jesus Christ to the people here as it might offend them.” The main job of the missionary in that location was to unload the mail from a plane twice a day. There was indeed something wrong with that job description. Daniel found it to be just the opposite and when he was ordered not to pray to God, he opened the window so all could see him praying. When Joseph was before Pharaoh, he made sure that God got the credit for his ability to interpret dreams. The believer needs to make sure that they are not dressed in spiritual camouflage but that they have on the armor of God and are prepared to do battle with the enemy. God wants you to stand out and to stand firm. Praise Him today for His protection and for His provision in your life.

The Point of Focus

       There have been number of times when I have tried to quickly take a picture out of my kitchen window. They almost always come out bad and out of focus because the camera focuses on the screen and not the object of which I wanted to take the picture. I took a picture of a Sparrow Hawk through that window and when I downloaded it to my computer I discovered a large grid which the screen in the window. I thought I was focusing on the right object but the camera focused on the closest object which was the screen. Psalm 110:37 says, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”

         In a sermon I heard recently, the preacher was speaking on the objects of our focus. If we look straight at a person, we see that person clearly and we might notice movement in the right or left corner of our eye as we see something move but we don't know exactly what it is due to where we have centered our focus. Spiritually speaking, we should ask ourselves on what we have centered our focus. I often find that I shift my focus from that which is important to that which is unimportant. We are constantly bombarded with opinions and comments about what is going on in the world around us, and we find ourselves focusing on that comment or idea rather on that which is important. It should be an easy matter to come up with the Object of our focus as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist pleads to God to turn his eyes from that thing which is clearly vanity. He then goes on to plead that he be made “alive” in the “way.” He is referring to the Word of God. The question needs to be asked of us as to where our focus is in any given day, and also at any given moment. What is the most important thing that is going on in your life and in my life right now and virtually in every moment? I can and should always make the same prayer to God that our eyes would be taken away from that which amounts to nothing more than vanity. If my eyes are focused on the storm coming or the storm leaving or the virus that plagues us or the politics of the country and indeed of the world, then my focus is not in the right place. It all sums up with the exhortation that our spiritual eyes and indeed every part of our being should be focused on God and no one else or in anything else. We could well ask the question, “What is God doing with Covid 19? We often complained that we didn't have enough time in the day to spend adequate time in prayer or in reading God's Word. God saw to it that you have plenty of time now to do the things that should be the object of your focus. If “normal” is the way things were, then we should not wait or want to go back to “normal.” Praise God and only God for the things He is doing in our lives each and every day.

Saying Good Bye

           How long does it take you to say “good bye' to a person leaving your home? As I think back to my childhood days, I recall that it was all said near the front or side door of the house and was usually rather quickly done. In some places, the ritual of bidding good bye can take quite an amount of time before being completed. It will begin in the house with the announcement that it is time to leave and then the person is followed out the door, down the steps, and up to the car. The driver gets into the car and then rolls down the window and the ritual continues until the engine is started and put into reverse then there is the usual amount of waving and flashing of car lights as the person drives off. As complex as the ritual might be, it usually doesn't get as spiritual as the Apostle Paul who said good bye in a number of his epistles. One of the ones that is most comparable to today's ritual is that which is found in Romans 16 where almost the whole chapter is devoted to all of the laborers involved in the ministry at that time. I counted some thirty names that appear in the “good bye” in Romans sixteen. Jude 1:24-25 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

        The “good bye” to Philemon forms one of the great statements of how to say good bye. It's rich depth goes into the praise to God Himself and forms what we now call a “doxology.” The word “glory” is from a word “doxa” which leads us to doxology. In many places of worship, the service is closed with a “doxology” and the one found in this short book is one of the most common ones almost being used at the end of many services. Some preachers have preached sermons on each aspect of the content of these verses. The doxology is certainly comforting and if you don't remember much about the sermon, these last words become an anchor for your soul for the trials ahead in the upcoming week. It is both instructional and worshipful as we give God the credit for what He is doing in our lives. Paul didn't always put the doxology at the end of the book. We find another great one in Ephesians 3:20-21 where Paul ends a section of teaching with a doxology and then goes on with a great, “therefore.” In this reference, the doxology is right in the middle of the six chapters and also where the word “glory” is found once more. God is wonderful in His provision to each and every one of us each and every day. Once more, as you end your time with God, praise Him for what He is doing in your life today and give Him all the glory for it.

Are You a Cynic?

         My Mother had often instructed me to never talk to strangers. It was just something that was not safe to do. That may have begun a series of feelings toward those to whom you have no knowledge. They are strangers simply because you don't know them. You know nothing about them, where they came from, to whom they are married or not married, their education nor their likes nor dislikes. My “fear of strangers” has progressed through the years as I now regard my home as my castle and often feel as if I have pulled up the drawbridge and sealed the entrance so no strangers can disturb my comfort zone. Recently, the door bell rang and I went to see who it was. I opened the door and there stood a man in an athletic shirt, who had not shaved for a couple of days, in fifty degree weather with a grin on his face and holding a bag of Schwans Frozen Fruit. I was cautious and figured he was not from a “cult” group but thought there must be something strange about this whole situation. I still had a tight grip on the partially open door, ready to retreat at the first sound of trouble. I think I asked him, “What do you want?” He replied, “I want to give you this fruit.” Now, why does a stranger want to give me a bag of semi frozen fruit?” Then he says, “Oh, I am your neighbor from a couple of houses down the street.” Then it dawned on me who this person was with all of the tattoos that stood in front of me. He wasn't a stranger after all, he was the man who had carried a heavy box into our home that had been mistakenly left at his door by FedEx. Matthew 25:35 says, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:"

           The man, in his simple gesture had taught me a lesson that I am not going to soon forget. I have become cynical of most things that go on in the world including a neighbor that I had never met. I have come to the conclusion that there are not many things that I trust. I don't trust the news anymore, I don't trust the politician and I don't trust most preachers feeling that most have their own agenda and are only concerned with we used to call, "nickles and noses" which amounts to "what was your offering and how many people did you have last Sunday?" This was the usual conversation at one of the minister meetings I found myself attending. Being a cynic is not a good characteristic on one who is supposed to be sharing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lessons are found at various points in the Bible of those who have helped the "stranger" with some of their needs inclusing the story of the Good Samaritan. In the New Testament era, many of the Israelites hated the Samaritans yet he is the only one who helped the stranger in need who was battered and bleeding on the side of the road. How are we going to tell someone about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ if we never gain the respect of the "stranger?" In my defense, I could say that the property down the street is a "rental" and had recently become the resident of my new friend from Trinidad. I guess he is my friend now, because I have his bag of fruit in my refrigerator. God often teaches us lessons even when we least expect it. My mother said to not talk to strangers, but God says, entertain the stranger. It is easy to become a cynic in these days but it doesn't have to be that way. Praise God today that to Him, there are no strangers. He knows all there is to know about each and every one of us.

What's New?

         I may have mentioned before that I get a “quote of the day” sent to my email address Monday through Friday. It contains something that someone else said and which is supposedly famous. I save a lot of them but not all of them because I may not know the person who is being quoted and it is very unlikely that I would repeat what they said. In saying that, I began to think, “Is there anything to be said today that has not been said before?” When you think of all the people that are in the world today and that have been in the world up to now, can you say anything new that has not been said before? The more notable quotes come from people who are famous to begin with. The quote, “I shall return.” brings back memories of the famous General Douglas MacArthur. We probably remember when we heard the phrase in a movie, “I'll be back.” and we know who said it. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “ The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”       

          The “Preacher” in the book of Ecclesiastes said that there was nothing new under the sun. This statement was true when it was made in the days of Solomon and is still true today. Someone once said, “History repeats itself.” Chances are that the words you put together today and utter will have been said already by someone and maybe even yourself. Why then, do we keep saying the same things over and over again. With some people the light doesn't come on right away and so the same things have to be repeated until they understand. Such is the case with some of the most important sayings of all time. I would include the statement made to Nicodemus on that night some 2000 years ago when the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Ye must be born again.” We may find ourselves quoting famous politician, military heroes and maybe our fifth grade teacher who often said, “Time will pass, will you?” She had written it under the clock. That was important only for my fifth grade year but the collection of words that Jesus uttered contain eternal significance and are applicable to this year as well as every year that has passed since they were first uttered. Some things are worth repeating and the words to Nicodemus are certainly one of the phrases that are high on the list. Life goes on day by day and we find ourselves still saying the “same old thing,” “Ye must be born again.” We keep on saying it until the person who hears the phrase realizes, “Hey, If I am going to end up in heaven, then I must be born again.” Yes. The light bulb finally comes on and the hearer understands what has been said for all those years but he disregarded it until now. So, don't lose heart and keep repeating that which is not new but that which is certainly relevant to today's people and culture. To quote the Lord Jesus Christ, Who said, “... δεῖ ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν.” John 3:7b which being translated says, “...ye must be born again.” Irregardless of what language He uttered those words, they are nonetheless one of the most important phrases ever uttered. We keep on quoting the Son of God time and time again, praying that those that hear it will indeed be born again. Praise God for His faithfulness to us in giving us the message of salvation.

Considering Joy

         It was the year, 1990 and we had just moved into our home in Mineral Wells, West Virginia and in a few months I suddenly found myself in the Coronary Care Unit of one of the Parkersburg hospitals. I had a heart attack and things changed rather quickly. After getting settle in, Diana, my wife, brought my Bible and I read each and every day the book of Philippians. After all, it spoke about joy and rejoicing and living was great but dying was better. It is a book that always gives me hope no matter what is going on around me. After a few days in Parkersburg I was transported down to Charleston Area Medical Center for cath to find out what was next. I had been in the position at the church for a little over a year, the Senior Pastor had been activated by the military and was heading to Kuwait and points north. Here I was, flat on my back and told to stay calm. Philippians 1:1-2 says, "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

         Thus, the opening of the Book of the New Testament that brings hope when you are forced to lie on your back and look up. Dr. C. I. Scofield writes about the book saying, "The theme of Philippians is Christian experience. Soundness of doctrine is assumed. There is nothing in church order to set right. Philippi is a normal New Testament assembly--"saints in Christ Jesus, with the bishops (elders) and deacons." The circumstances of the apostle are in striking contrast with his Christian experience. As to the former, he was Nero’s prisoner. As to the latter, there was the shout of victory, the paean of joy. Christian experience, he would teach us, is not something which is going on around the believer, but something which is going on within him." I had not read Scofields account of the book, but I still just went to this book because of its focus on joy and rejoicing no matter what is going on around you. I needed that not only at that specific time but in all of my days, good and bad, sick ones and well ones, it made no difference. The Book is just as rerlavent and important today as it was 2000 years ago. Interruptions to our life plan often occur and we need to have something in which to steady ourselves when the blast hits whether it is a personal matter, a family matter or a world matter. The hope and the encouragement are the same and are perhaps summed up with the statement, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” While the majority to pursue after death, it is comforting to know that if it is the worst thing to take place that it is better even than our present life here on earth. Some have said, “The best is yet to come.” There are many times in your life experience when you need the lessons of the book of Philippians. Each book of the Bible has its message for us but when you say, “Hey, I don't know what's going on here?” then Philippians has a message for you. Praise God today that He has given us His Letter to guide us through all of life's trials and temptations and leads us to eternal peace with Him. It can't get any better than that.

Faith and Hope

          We are living in uncertain days for sure. The current conditions have been labeled as being “unprecedented.” That word has been used a lot lately and is almost worn out as people try to explain what has happened when the world, not only our country, by the whole world has been put on “lock down.” Borders are closed, people are wearing masks and everyone seems to be staying away from each other. We have always looked at Second Timothy 3:1-5 as listing the conditions that will exist during the last days. Well, we have long been in that mode and just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, it did. The world, which has been accustomed to being entertained finds itself in a condition where it has to entertain itself. Everyone seems to have their own view on what took place and who is responsible, if anyone is in particular. So what? Where do you find hope when you are uncertain about the future? As always, the Word of God has the answer just as it always does. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

          Hebrews eleven has long been associated with the list of people who practiced faith in their spiritual lives. Noah built a boat when there was no place to float it. He was mocked for his endeavor until it started really raining hard for a long time. Abraham pulled up stakes, literally, and headed for a place he didn't have any idea where it was located just because God told him to do it. Moses had a long list of endeavors in which He had to have faith in God that things were going to work out as God wanted them to work out. We have probably read and reread the chapter over and over in our lives and know full well that God provided in each and every case in ways that were right up there with the classification of being supernatural, divine, yes, miracles. Time and time again God provided with miracles like the ark, the Red Sea, the water from the rock the battle on Mount Carmel, the floating axe head and the raising of the dead. Have we forgotten what happened on a certain Sunday morning so many years ago? The crucified, dead an buried Savior rose from the dead and death had been conquered forever. Every believer now has the hope of eternal life based on that even on that day when the world saw the empty tomb. Auca witnesses to the slaying of five missionaries in Equador heard "angelic voices" singing in the trees as the missionaries were killed. George Mueller prayed a blessing when there was no food on the table, heard a knock at the door and found the food. Where do we find hope for the new conditions that prevail in our land today? We find it where we have always found it, in the Word of God. We can simply say, God is faithful. We can echo the words of Jeremiah and say, "Great is Thy Faithfulness..." even in the midst of a destroyed Jerusalem. God was faithful then and He is faithful now, so never lose heart in what He does in your life and in the lives of every one of His children. Praise God today that He is the Only One Who can provide hope for all of the tomorrows in our lives up to and including the day we will all stand before Him and find ourselves face to face with Christ our Savior.

The Ability to Pray

         The older I get the more things I can't do. These are the simple things of life that were once so easy that I never even thought about them such as changing a light bulb. My two light bulbs went out over my sink in the kitchen. It requires you to stand on a step stool, reach behind the window curtain, remove the cover and change the light bulbs. My legs get a little wobbly on the stool so decided against trying to do it. The bulbs are those kind that if you break one you almost have to call a hazmat team to come and do a cleanup after you immediately leave the house. When I go down into the basement, I try to think of all the kinds of things that would requirement to go down there and do it all in one trip. I don't want to go down the steps more than once if I can help it. I can change most of the clocks except two that again require the use of the three step ladder. Anyway, my list seems to grow each day as I keep on aging. On the positive side, there are still some things that I am able to do. Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

        The words “pray,” “praying,” and “prayers” are mentioned over four hundred times in the Bible. Prayer is an important activity when it comes to the Christian life. Now, I don't use a set of beads of any kind when I am praying and I don't see that type of praying mentioned in the Scriptures. If anything, that type of prayer is against what God had intended in regard to prayer. We can learn much about the matter of prayer when we look at God's Word. Obviously we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ Who found it necessary to be in prayer to the Father. We also learn of devout men and women who were involved in prayer including names like Hannah, David, Solomon and the early apostles especially Paul, Peter, James and John. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us a good example of how to pray in the Lord's Prayer that we find in the Gospels. It gives us a good outline of how to pray and then we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ prayed and have John 17 recorded as one on His prayers. There is ample testimony as to how to pray and that we should pray that we have no excuse for not praying when needs arise and arise they do almost every moment of every day. When a person says, “Pray for me.” do it right then without waiting for a convenient “time of prayer.” The Apostle Paul reminded us to “pray without ceasing.” This means that we should be in prayer continually throughout the day as needs come to mind. You or myself might say, “Well, at least I can pray.” That is a good thought, but our lives should be permeated with prayer from the moment we get up until we lay down again at night. Prayers before meals is one thing that is indeed important, but it should not be the only time that we pray in any given day. So often the Scriptures remind us to “pray for one another.” Can you think of any needs of your family and friends that have asked you to pray? Have you thought of someone that needs to have prayer but you put it off or just forgot about it? Do you have a prayer list? Do you keep a prayer journal? It is sometimes advantageous for us to see how God has answered so many prayers that we have made in the past. God's answers might be “yes,”, “no” or “not yet.” He does, however, answer each and every prayer according to His will and not that of our own. While I may not be able to run up and down the basement stairs, or change the ceiling light bulbs or get the gutters cleaned from a ladder, or make long road trips, there is still one things that I can do and that is “pray.” You know what? You should be doing that even if you can do all of the other things. After all, what is more important? Praise God in prayer today for the ability to be able to pray to Him at any given moment and in any place.

Growing

        I once had the opportunity to visit a man in the hospital during my early years in the ministry and we were discussing the matter of sin. He then reminded me that he didn't sin any more. After a little more discussion he then told me that he just made mistakes. To him, the wrong act had been categorized under the heading of “mistakes' and removed from the category of “sin.” He had reached the state of sinless perfection. I think there are still a lot of people who are under this doctrine which seems to be, according to the Scripture, contrary to what God's Word says. Romans 7:19 says, “ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

          The Apostle Paul made a statement about his daily living even as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. We often look at this passage and some may try to use it as an excuse for their current behavior which is not the case at all. We can look at our own lives and realize that we have great intentions to do this or that on each day that we get up but it often turns sour within a few hours or even less. It would lead to a dilemma in a person's life if we thought that Jesus died only for the sins that had been committed up to the point of salvation which is not the case. The sacrifice on the cross at Calvary was sufficient to be the payment, the satisfaction, the propitiation for all sins, past, present and future. Romans 6, 7 and 8 go on to show how the believer is experiencing what we might call “spiritual growth.” The word used in Christian doctrine is “sanctification.” It is a gradual process of spiritual growth that takes place, or at least should be taking place in the life of every believer from the first day of salvation to the day you are called home either by death or by the rapture of the church. Romans 8 goes on to discuss the continual battle between the “flesh” and the “spirit.” It is a real war which is why we need the armor that God has provided that we see in Ephesians six. They always say, “If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck and acts like a duck, it is probably a duck.” You can't change the category name for sin and make it something else that it is not. By calling sin a “simple mistake” does not change what it really is. We are just fooling ourselves into thinking that we have gotten past sin in our lives and are now walking in a state of sinless perfection. Romans 8:1 is a wonderful verse as it begins with, “There is therefore now no condemnation...” It becomes a bit conditional in the next few words, when it states, “...which are in Christ Jesus...who do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit.” Paul stated that he did the bad things he didn't want to do and he didn't do the good things that he wanted to do. A lot of us can identify with that statement, but we don't stop trying to do that which is right and not do that which is wrong. You may strike out 9 out of 10 times, but then you hit a home run. That's what growth is all about. Life is a continual battle which is why we need to be in the Word of God each and every day and to make sure the armor is in place and not standing in a corner. Praise God today that He had provided all that we need to live the Christian life and to grow in it from day to day.

The Little White Lie

          I remember as a child that my mother would sometimes refer to white lies.  I would often be charged with telling a white lie. It seems that a white lie is one that is still untrue, but the results were less than if you told a "black lie." Of course, I never heard tell of a black lie. It was as if some sins were less important than others.  After recently purchasing some new white shirts, I noticed that when i hung them next to my old white shirts that the new ones were a lot more white than the old ones.  The old ones had become a little less white the longer that I had them.  You can also notice that if you get the smallest spot on a white shirt it stands out so everyone can see it and it is very hard to get rid of it.   There are those sins that we commit in our lives where we feel they are not so bad.   We like to classify sins as those which are really bad and those that are, well, not so bad as to cause much of a problem.  They quickly come and go.  We have the big sins, such as, murder and adultery, but many of the rest of them seem to fall into categories that are less important. At least, that is our thinking. It is interesting that some of the lists of sins in the New Testament that include the big ones also include lying and gossiping. Now, who would of thought that gossiping was a big sin. James 2:10 reminds us, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." 
        When it comes right down to it, there is no classification of sin in God's eyes. That is to say, there are no sins that are less or greater in importance. A sin is a sin. James has pointed that out. If we break the law in only one point, then we are guilty before God.  We may like to say at this point, "but..."  Well, there is no "but" in this case.  A sin is a sin.  This is why we are called sinners in the first place and why we need to have a Savior.   One drop of red ink on a white shirt can be seen by everyone.  We all have committed sins. James pointed out that we only need to sin in one point. But, I dare say, that most of us have sinned in a lot more than just one point. Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind? If not, then you have committed another sin. So, while adultery and murder are big sins, one of equal importance is not loving God as you should. But, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. We can rejoice because He has redeemed us.  Most true believers have come to the point in their lives that they realize that they are sinners and stand in need of a Savior.  Isaiah reminded us that we can be made as white as snow even though our sins are standing out as scarlet.   The Lord Jesus Christ purchased us and therefore we have peace with God.  We perhaps remember the little song that we learned in Sunday School, "Gone, Gone Gone Gone, Yes my sins are gone."   Praise God today that He has purchased us and through His perfect sacrifice we are made clean again.

We Shall Behold Him

       As a kid, I enjoyed playing “cowboys and Indians” and got to run around with a neckerchief pulled up over my nose with cap guns blazing and the smell of ignited caps filling the air. We did it in the back yard but never in the house nor at church nor at the grocery store or the lunch counter at Woolworth. Now, I get to wear a mask again only this time it isn't in a game. Enterprising people have come up with novel ways to make a mask and many look like the faces of animals or the grim reaper or anything else that you want to put on them. You just have to wear a mask. You may have trouble recognizing some of your friends once they put on the “mask.” How will we recognize each other with a mask on? There is One Whom you will always be able to recognize and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. John 20:26-28 says, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” Thomas and the rest of the disciples that were present that day had the blessing of standing face to face with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. What an honor! What a privilege! Thomas didn't have to touch His outstretched hand but simply declared, “My Lord and my God.”

       He beheld the Lord Jesus Christ and it simply overcame him. There may be those who love the imprecatory Psalms where God is taking vengeance on the enemies of the believers. I think that will not be the thought of believers when they first meet the Lord. It will probably be more like what Thomas did, to simply behold Him and cry out, “MY Lord and My God.” I was feeling a tad low yesterday and decided to listen to a piece of music. It was Sandy Patty singing, “We Shall Behold Him.” I just closed my eyes and put on my earphones and was caught up into glory. It was a beautiful message in song and just what I needed for that moment. When you get to heaven, no mask will be required and you will be totally before God and you will know Him and you will be joining in with your perfect singing voice in absolute praise to Him. What a day that will be, when His glory I shall see. Praise God today for the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who Is This?

        There was a radio show years ago which was a western with a crime fighter who rode a white horse and shot silver bullets unlike any other. At the end of each program, a voice would say, “Who was that masked man?” The reply was, “Why, that was the Lone Ranger.” the legend had been present with them and they didn't know it at the time. He would ride off into the sunset with his faithful Indian, Tonto to head to another area that needed the services of the lawman and his friend. Everyone stands in awe as they suddenly realize that the person who had just helped them was the legend of the West. We are much the same today, but many missed it when the Lord Jesus Christ walked upon the earth around 2,000 years ago. Luke 7:48-50 says, “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” There were some present who at least asked the question, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”

      The Jews had been taught about their sins and the need for a sacrifice all through their religious training. They knew about the need for forgiveness and the strict requirements that went along with it. There had to be a perfect lamb for a sacrifice and everything had to be done exactly how God said it was to be done. The disciples had the opportunity to walk with the Savior during that time and still didn't know Who He was until after the resurrection. Evidence began to mount up due to scenes like the one for today when the question was asked, “Who is this?” The disciples and the Lord were in a boat in a raging storm in which Jesus simply calmed the sea in an instant. The disciples were probably more afraid after that event than before in the storm as they now realized that even the forces of nature were obedient to the Voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. You could also say, “Who is it that protected me in such and such an occasion? Who is it that provided my needs for today and for tomorrow and the days to come? Who is it that can give me peace and hope in a day of turmoil? Who is it that can move the storm clouds of life away from me? In each case the answer the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessing is that the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't ride off into the sunset to help someone else but indeed remains with you for each and every need that you have in this life. Yes, He provides your bread for today and your salvation for all eternity and your help for tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The answer to all of our questions turns out to be the Son of God Himself, the Second Person of the Trinity. Now that's greater than we could ever hope for. Praise God that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5)

The Label Gun

         We often like to label things in our file systems. You can have all different colored tabs to place on files in order that you can find something quicker. That was the time when you used paper files instead of computer files. I also recall the time when my Father got his first label gun. Ink labeling gave way to colored plastic strips on almost everything that could be moved. He put his name on his camera, his tool box, his CB radio. We had black labels, yellow labels, red labels and blue labels stuck almost everywhere. Naturally, when I came to the point where I had my own possessions, I got a label gun with more different colors and began to label everything in my house. Psalm 147:4 says, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” God, in some sense, also labels things since He has named all of the stars. God also had a label for each of us as the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 43:1 “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

         God said this in reference to Jacob but the truth extends to us in that He knows each and every one of us as is mentioned in Psalm 139. God knows you and He knows me and in some way we are labeled as God's property. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and reminded them of being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are God's possession and if God used a label gun we would have that written somewhere on our body but He didn't use a label gun but instead, sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are further reminded of this truth by the words of Paul to the church at Corinth, when we mentioned that we have been purchased with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and we are not our own anymore. We are under the possession of God Himself. More than likely, we don't measure up to someone's standards in this world but that doesn't matter because we are God's possession and He always takes care of of every need that we have. We often mention that every day is one day closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the closer we get to that time, the more problems we are going to see in the world in which we live. Paul also reminded young Timothy of that in the second epistles in the third chapter. In the last days, perilous times will come. In the next verse it says, “for.” Paul gives us the reason and in all stems from the meaning of that little word, “for.” It describes the condition of man's heart in regard to his fellow man and to God and it is not a pretty picture. In the last days, man will be a lover of himself more than God. He will look religious but in reality, he hates God and everything that God stands for. As you hear the news today you can, or should be able to see the condition of the world today even in our own prestigious country. As we look at the conditions today, they don't seem to offer much hope for things like they were in the “good old days.” Things are changing fast and we can be mighty thankful that God has labeled us as belonging to Him. If for some unusual circumstance you don't know that for sure in your life today, it is of the utmost importance that you get it settled beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ask the question that the Philippian jailer asked of Paul and Silas. “What must I do to be saved?” The answer is found in Acts 16:31 and says basically, “...believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” God may not be using a label gun but He has you marked if you know Him. Praise God that He knows who you are and where you are going.