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Know the Time

June 11, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Perhaps most of us have experienced the sudden panic of time getting away from us so that we find ourselves unprepared for an important event. Suddenly, we look at the time and realize we are running late. We hurriedly do our best to make preparation. When Jesus warned about the destruction of Jerusalem that would come forty years after His ministry on earth, He encouraged faithful endurance in the Christian life. His words are preserved for us in the Bible because in any age until heaven and earth pass away, Christians are to be on guard against allowing the sins of the world to distract them or dull their spiritual senses from vigilantly awaiting judgment. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly” (Luke 21:33, 34).

Life here is short (James 4:14). Life in heaven and punishment in hell are eternal (Matthew 25:46). We should be preparing for eternity by learning to love God in this short life rather than loving this transient world through indulging the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17).

We have spent enough of our time, no matter how short, in sin; we should spend the rest of our time in doing the will of God instead of continuing in the sins of drinking, sensuality, and idolatry (1 Peter 4:1-3). Consider the inspired apostle Paul’s portrayal of the Christian’s preparation for eternity:

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:11-14).

Verse 11 shows that it is time to know, time to awake, and time to be saved. Paul had to remind his converts time and again to wake up spiritually (Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). It is easy to fall into a spiritual stupor—going through the motions of religion and allowing the heart to be distracted by the world. If we’re spiritually asleep, we need to snap out of it because the darkness is passing away and the light of the eternal day is upon us (1 John 2:8).

Sins that accompany spiritual darkness are listed in Romans 13:13. Three pairs are given with the latter leading to the former. The first two pairs often go together; all four are plural words to describe many actions. Getting drunk leads to revelry and carousing. Lusts lead to lewdness and sexual promiscuity. In Roman society, a banquet feast would often devolve into drinking bouts and orgies. These ancient Roman festivals were predecessors of the modern Mardi Gras. Paul’s words would also be an apt description of the wild parties several young people flock to on their spring break. Romans 13:14 shows we should not make plans to participate in these sins.

The third pair—strife and envy—applied to the first-century congregation in Rome with the friction between the Jewish and Gentile segments. Today, pettiness plagues the Lord’s church when members become enamored with who gets the credit. A lot of good can be done if we would remove our prejudices, open our hearts to see where we are wrong, and love others. It is high time we do this. It is time to get up and put on our clothes for the eternal day—being clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ. -Mark Day

The Other Side

June 4, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Three simple words in the title of this week’s article conjure up a wide array of thoughts, depending on the context. To the man who is always seeking something better, never satisfied with where he might be in life, he assumes that the grass is always greener on “the other side.” The socialites who hobnob with the rich and famous look down their noses on those who might live “on the other side” of the tracks. Wars have been fought with those who are “on the other side” of whatever it is they were fighting about. A hunter might find himself fortunate to know that the grizzly bear or much smaller ‘polecat’ is “on the other side” of the valley or river.

In Luke 10 we read of four men, one of whom was a victim to those who were “on the other side” of law and order. Another man was on “the other side” of the pure pedigree of the seed of Abraham, for he was a Samaritan. There are two more men in this story: a priest and a Levite. Of both men it is said that they “passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:31-32). There is something intriguing in those words. Three words that suggest there are two sides. From their standpoint, “the other side” was the side of inconvenience and a delay in their busy schedule. After all, they were headed home from a busy day in the Big City! They had completed whatever business it was that had brought them to Jerusalem. It was time to go home. What they failed to see was the fact that “the other side” was the side of opportunities to demonstrate a benevolent heart and care for one’s fellow man. On “the other side” was the call for self-denial, and of giving and receiving. Unfortunately, they could not see those things lying “on the other side” of the road. I am not suggesting they were aware of what really awaited them on “the other side.” They were too busy to see the opportunity that was theirs at the moment.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus teaches us that it not WHO you are but WHAT you are that is important. Our Lord taught us that eternal life does not consist of performance of just one act, but fervently practiced religion (James 1:27). Strict ceremonialism cannot take the place of genuine concern for others. An opportunity buried is an opportunity lost. After all, that which a man does not use will be taken from him. The man who does no more than to ‘hold his own’ loses what he seeks to hold. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with having said these words:

When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.

It does not take a man beaten, lying half-dead on the side of the road to test our concern for our neighbor. It could very well be that opportunities pass us by every day, and we fail to see them because we are on “the other side” looking the other way and neglecting to see what God can do with us if we will only let Him have His way in our life. In Meredith Wilson’s MUSIC MAN, Professor Hill tried to get Marion the librarian to go out with him. He asked her to meet him at the footbridge across the stream running through the park. She wanted to, but she refused. She said, “Please, some other time. Maybe tomorrow.” The professor persisted, yet she continued to put off their meeting. Finally, in exasperation, he said, “Pile up enough tomorrows and you’ll find that you’ve collected nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.”

May it never be said of us that we failed to see and use our opportunities because we closed our eyes and stood on “the other side.”

-Tom Wacaster, (other articles can be found at https://tomwacasterpen.blogspot.com/) -submitted by Jerry Sturgill

God’s Guidelines for Clothing

May 28, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

This season is marked by school letting out and summer fun beginning. What often accompanies hot temperatures is immodest apparel. As Christians, how should we dress in public? First Timothy 2:9 calls for modest apparel. In context, the prohibition against braided hair, gold, pearls, and costly garments shows we’re not to flaunt wealth and beauty in some gaudy display. Local custom may play into what is proper attire. For example, Rebekah in the presence of Isaac put on a veil, as a customary sign of modesty and moral uprightness (Gen. 24:65). However, in a different time, in a different locale, on the road to Timnah, Tamar put on a veil attempting to look like a prostitute (Gen. 38:14, 15). Above the propriety of customs related to time and place, God’s word indicates how much of our bodies should be covered to be modest. All conscientious children of God should ask themselves what God says about modesty, instead of following what the world says.

Before any development of clothing customs, Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden. The Bible says they were naked, but were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25); they lived in pure innocence. After the transgression of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, things were different. Genesis 3:7 says, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” Realizing their nakedness, they went about to cover themselves. The word for “apron” in the original language indicates something worn around the waist, like a girdle or loincloth. According to their judgment, this covered them, but not according to God. Notice Genesis 3:21, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” This implies that before the coats of skins Adam and Eve were still unclothed. God’s judgment of what was needed for proper attire was more than the aprons Adam and Eve had made. God made them “coats”; a word which in the original language indicates a tunic that covers the torso by hanging down from the shoulders. We learn from this account that merely some clothing is not enough. We must have enough clothing to cover us properly.

The instructions God gave to Moses regarding priestly garments also give us insight into this matter. God commanded the priests not to use steps to climb to the altar, lest someone look up and see their nakedness (Ex. 20:26). He also made provisions for attire that would properly cover them, commanding, “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach” (Ex. 28:42). While certainly God wanted a sense of decorum by His priests as they officiated, the explicit reason to have pants that reached from the hips even to the thighs was in order to cover their nakedness.

Consider Isaiah 47:2 concerning Babylon, “Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.” Babylon is personified as a woman in this figurative passage. God was going to shame the proud nation. He uses the figure of exposing one’s nakedness as a symbol of shame (v. 3). We have already considered the cultural connotation of removing the veil that would uncover locks of hair, but God also uses uncovering the thigh to communicate nakedness and shame. If a woman passing over the rivers lifted her dress, or removed her skirt, so that all of her leg was made bare, exposing her thigh, then her nakedness was revealed. This fits with what God commanded back in Exodus 28 for priests. God has the same standard for both men and women in how much of our bodies should be covered. Most of us would be ashamed to be seen publicly in our underwear. But let’s be honest. Is typical swimwear any different in how much of our bodies are uncovered?

It is a shame when Christians identify with the world in immodest dress. The potential for others to lust should cause us to be careful about the way we dress. While each man must strive to keep his mind pure (Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; Mt. 5:27-30; Phil. 4:8), the liberty we have in how we dress must not be made into a stumbling block for others. Even if you think your attire is lawful, it may not be spiritually helpful to others, so keep with the principle of 1 Corinthians 8 (cf. 1 Cor. 10:23-24). Do we follow the Bible when it comes to how we dress in public? Don’t seek to attract people by merely outward appearance, but let it be an inward, spiritual beauty that pleases God and blesses others (1 Pet. 3:3, 4).

-Mark Day

The Lord’s Vengeance Is Coming

May 21, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

The Lord will judge every man according to his works (Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 12:48; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12). Those that become unfaithful allow the Lord’s delay to convince them that they need not heed His word (Lk. 12:45, 46). The Lord’s vengeance is not a reality to them. In His mercy, the Lord delays exacting vengeance in order to give men time to repent instead of perishing (2 Pet. 3:8, 9). But evil men scoff at the idea that the Lord will return, being ignorant of the fact that the Lord has kept His promise of worldwide destruction before and He will be faithful to do it again (2 Pet. 3:3-12). While the Lord will certainly execute judgment in eternity, sometimes the Lord exacts vengeance in this life as well. Consider an example in the Old Testament.

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

In Deuteronomy 19:15-21, the Lord enacted laws to prevent false witnesses from condemning the innocent. Two witnesses were required. Additionally, if one was found to have borne false witness, then whatever penalty would have been executed on the accused would be exacted on the false witness. Sadly, these stringent regulations did not prevent evil men from perverting judgment throughout the history of Israel by means of false witnesses. Ahab and Jezebel orchestrated two debased men, sons of Belial, to bear false witness concerning Naboth so he would be stoned; then Ahab and Jezebel could take possession of his vineyard next to their house in Samaria (1 Kings 21).

The Lord’s prophet, Elijah, was sent to ask Ahab, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”, and give this message: “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours’” (1 Kings 21:19). Jezebel, who invented the lie that caused the death of innocent Naboth (1 Kings 21:5-21), met a bloody demise just as the Lord determined (1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:30-37). Ahab, who abetted in lies for his own profit, was deceived by a lying spirit in the mouth of his false prophets into going to battle at Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:20-23). The Lord’s prophet, Micaiah, said Israel would have no leader if they went to this battle (1 Kings 22:17). Did this mean Ahab would die? Certainly, if he was out in battle at Ramoth-gilead, then there was no way he would meet a death where the dogs licked his blood in Samaria, right? How could God’s warnings from Elijah and Micaiah both come about? Ahab thought he could deceive others by disguising himself in battle, but a stray arrow pierced him between the joints in his armor and he perished (1 Kings 22:30-38). The blood from his wound collected in the bottom of his chariot (1 Kings 22:35). “Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken” (1 Kings 22:38). Lord determined vengeance for the deceitful matter concerning Naboth, and it came to pass just as He said.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Lord’s word will not (Mt. 24:35). We will meet the Lord’s words in judgment (Jn. 12:48). The punishment determined for wickedness will take place (Rev. 21:8). Our only hope is to be washed in the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5), who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10). Will you choose to be baptized to have your sins washed away (Acts 22:16)? If you’ve done that, are you walking in the light so that you have fellowship with God’s people and continual cleansing by the blood of Christ (1 Jn. 1:5-9)? If not, do you think that you will escape the vengeance of God (Rom. 2:3)?

-Mark Day

Who Is My Neighbor?

May 14, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

An expert in the law of Moses who questioned Jesus about eternal life knew the command of Leviticus 19:18, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” However, he thought he had a way around the obligation to carry out this command in his dealings with all people for Luke 10:29 reads, “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” He was satisfied in not loving those different from him in terms of race, status, gender, education, etc. by redefining the word neighbor to mean only those predominantly like him. Jesus answered his question with the story of the Good Samaritan to show that even this mixed race—with the bitter hatred that often existed between them and Jewish people in the first century—were included in God’s command to love neighbors (Luke 10:30-37). We should be on guard against narrowing the application of God’s word by redefining the terms, lest we fail to do what God has commanded. We tend to evade our responsibility to follow God’s commands by limiting the scope of application so that it excludes our situation. In regard to the primacy of this command even for us today under the New Testament, the inspired apostle Paul wrote, “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Rom. 13:9).

Consider the command, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). Does “bearing witness” imply only a judicial application—that I may lie if I am not in a courtroom setting? No. Consider passages like Ephesians 4:25 and Colossians 3:9-10 among many others. False charges and insinuations made in private conversations still harm others. Slander robs a man of his good name, which is more valuable than great riches of silver and gold (Prov. 22:1). The cowardly spread falsehoods in private about an individual they don’t like, but will never confront the individual nor make the same accusations in public under judicial oath. Yet, God clearly condemns such cowardly liars (Rev. 21:8).

Does the word neighbor imply that I may lie to enemies (since I don’t consider them neighbors)? Some propose it does. Frame wrote, “The requirement to tell the truth is conditioned on a relationship, that of ‘neighbor.’”[1] However, neighbor is not intended to give us license to lie to certain people, but rather to show the most hateful example—in harming the person next to you—in the whole category of the sin. God did this with the positive command, “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex. 20:12) in that it is a situation of respect that is easiest for us to accept. That command does not mean we don’t respect other rightful delegated authority in our lives (such as civil government). The tenth commandment is, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17). Would it be all right to covet your enemy’s house or wife since you don’t consider him a “neighbor”? Certainly not. Just as Jesus rightly extended the application of “neighbor” in Leviticus 19:18 to one whom the Jewish lawyer would consider his enemy, so we must do with these moral commands from God.

Let us be on guard against attempts to sidestep the application of God’s word to our own hearts and lives when it becomes difficult. Some commands of God may be qualified, but that is a discussion for another time. For now, let us resolve to do—rather than dodge—God’s commands.

-Mark Day

[1] John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life: A Theology of Lordship (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008), 839.