There is a place in Colorado called “Silver City.” It is a beautiful little town nestled in the midst of some of the most majestic mountains one could ever see. I remember as a child being told that we were going to go through Silver City. You probably can figure out what kind of image that created in my mind. Yes – a city that was made of silver! I couldn’t wait to get to Silver City. The more I thought about it, the more excited I got. “That town has got to be the shiniest town ever!” I asked my brother if he had an extra pair of dark glasses. Silver City was so named because in the old prospecting days, miners went there hoping to get rich by mining silver. Some actually did. I learned one thing, though. Mining silver isn’t easy. It takes a lot of work, a lot of determination and an “I’m not going to give up” attitude. Solomon told his son that he needed to seek for wisdom as one would seek for silver (Proverbs 2:4). Knowing how hard it is to dig silver out of the mountain makes that statement even more impressive. Solomon was saying that wisdom and understanding (regarding God, Proverbs 2:5) doesn’t come easily. God wants us to work at it. But the payoff? Well, let’s just say it is a whole lot better than finding silver. When we study the inspired, holy, magnificent Word of God, we could say …

The story is told of a father teaching his son to ride for the first time. “Be loose with the reins, son. Let the horse have her way, until it’s time to get serious.” The son got up on the back of the large animal, took the reins, and then pulled as tight as his young arms could pull. The horse reared on its hind legs, and the boy went down. The dad calmly took the reins and then lifted his son to his feet. “Like I said, son, loose with the reins.” “But I’ve gotta show her who’s boss,” the son replied. “Son,” said Dad, “you also have to learn the horse. She knows when she has a fool on her back.” Animals and sons have to be trained. We have to learn the ropes of any situation. Education teaches us to adjust wisely to changing circumstances. Failure to adjust can lead to severe consequences. This is especially true with God. His Word is our guide through our ever-changing lives. We need education from which we can develop wisdom (Proverbs 3:19-26; Colossians 2:1-3). Let Him Have His Way with Thee.

If we knew a thief was coming, we would make sure our house was secure! Yet, Scripture teaches that “…the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 NKJV). This passage teaches we can be certain about the uncertainty of when Jesus returns. Unexpectedness is inherent by the term “thief” and is heightened by “in the night” (cf., Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; 17:24-32; 21:34-36; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15). The unexpectedness of Christ’s return will be disastrous to those who are not expecting it. Some will be at ease with a false sense of security. The scene is reminiscent of Old Testament Jews before the captivity (cf., Jeremiah 6:1, 14; 8:4-15; Ezekiel 13:10-16). They were told God would never destroy His temple, so there was no need for those in Jerusalem to worry. These deceived people were wrong then, and people today are wrong now (2 Peter 3:3-7). Those not expecting Christ’s coming will be tragically surprised. “Sudden” describes the startling nature of the event (Luke 21:34). “Destruction” here is not annihilation but eternal loss of fellowship with God (cf., 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 6:9). “Labor pains upon a pregnant woman” is used here to refer to the painful certainty of “destruction.” That is, when the time has come for a pregnant woman to deliver her baby, …

Many years ago, I read this post on Facebook. “When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. One of two things will happen. Either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly!” At first it seemed quite good, but after a moment of consideration, I thought better. I told myself that something was not quite right about this. Then, I read Matthew 4:5-7. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (NKJV). Would God actually lead us to the edge of a cliff? Would He really tempt us to throw ourselves over? The answer is a resounding, “No!” Only Satan would tempt us as he tempted our Lord Jesus. The voice of Jesus tells us “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7 ESV).

Every life is precious before God, as He is the Creator of all that is, and through Christ He sustains His creation. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3). Our purpose is found in Him, not in what is only of the flesh. Solomon examined life “under the sun” – life lived only for the here and now. His conclusion of such a focus in life was that it’s vanity or futility. “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NKJV). Nothing in the flesh is lasting, not even human life. All our accomplishments, everything in which one may take pride for himself, will pass into history as another generation comes. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). So, what really matters in life? Well, all of life counts before God, as life does continue beyond the grave. What makes life count eternally is living in the flesh from the perspective or the dynamic of the spiritual. Without Christ, life is meaningless, because eternal life without Him is impossible. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father …

Peter said God is praised (“blessed”) because of His great mercy, displayed in Christians being allowed to be born again (1 Peter 1:3; John 3:1-8; Romans 6:1-11; James 1:18). We are born into a life of hope because Jesus was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:16-20; Ephesians 2:12-13). Our hope is alive because Christ is alive from the grave, showing God can also make us alive (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Peter further described the Christian’s living hope as an inheritance, which is for children born into a family (1 Peter 1:4; Acts 20:32; Romans 8:13-17). Earthly inheritances are temporary and perishable (Matthew 6:19-20). The Christian’s inheritance is permanent, lasting and “undefiled” because no sin or impurity will be allowed in Heaven (Revelation 21:27). The apostle used the word amarantos to describe the unending nature of Heaven. “The amaranth was a fabled flower whose bloom was perpetual, and whose loveliness never failed” (Woods 27). “Reserved” depicts a military guard keeping watch over the inheritance which is in Heaven. The Christian is guarded by God as surely as is his inheritance (1 Peter 1:5; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:7). God guards the Christian through his faith. It is essential to realize, as Peter did, that one’s faith can fail. Each should do all within his power to avoid such failing (Luke 22:31-32; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Hebrews 3:12). We should desire to keep that faith constant until the last time, or day of judgment, when final, complete salvation will be revealed. Praise God for the mercy …

A rich tapestry of life-enhancing guides appear throughout Holy Scripture. Far too often, we read the Bible as if it’s like a modern novel, but this is a great disservice to the Word of God. One such example of a guide is found in the apostle John’s first letter. John mentioned, over thirty times, that we are to know that God is the light in which we seek to dwell. In 1 John 1:5, he wrote, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (NKJV). In fact, he said, “And the light shines in darkness” (John 1:5). We’re taught in 1 John 2:29 that our God is a righteous God. “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” John encouraged his readers to live right, according to God’s will. He also stated that God is love! “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:8, 16). Our mighty and compassionate Creator is also life! “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the …

When we start out on an unfamiliar road trip, we must have a map or some kind of directions to know where we are heading. Otherwise, we could get lost or end up in unfamiliar territory where roads are closed or other issues with which to deal. Most of us don’t want to end up in a lost condition when we can get some direction or instruction to keep us from getting lost. Years ago, when Alice’s paternal grandmother passed away in Mississippi, we made our way there for the funeral. Usually, it’s hard for me to get lost. However, I met my match on that trip as I was unfamiliar with the roads we were traveling in the dark, and we ran into heavy road construction. We wandered aimlessly until we could get direction from others on how to get to our destination. We needed guidance to go the right way. Just so, we need guidance on how to go the right way to reach the goal of Heaven. We can’t live on earth and take part in its sinful activities and expect to receive God’s blessings. Therefore, we must have a road map to teach us the right way. God didn’t leave man guessing what he must do; He provided the Bible, which is the Christian’s road map to Heaven. First, we must understand that to go in the right direction, we must admit that we are going in the wrong direction. There is Someone Who has all …

The inspired and inspiring story of the choice of Solomon as recorded in 1 Kings 3:1-16 is worthy of our intensive study. He had had a long and solemn time of sacrificing offerings to God, with a great sense of gratitude and an awareness of his weakness and unworthiness. He exemplified Jesus’ statement, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3 NKJV). The importance of making the right choices at the right time is beyond comprehension. Every new opportunity or circumstance that confronts us demands a choice, or usually, many choices. Even for a somewhat insignificant event, many choices are involved. Suppose a friend says, “Let us go out and eat.” You have to choose first whether you go. Then, you choose the time to go, the place to go, what to eat and many other things. Every choice, no matter how little it may be, involves your character. The things you choose and the basis on which you choose them depends upon and suggests the kind of character you have and will have. Often a seemingly small choice will determine the direction of your whole life. I am told that there is a place in Europe where a person might stand and throw a piece of wood in one of three directions. If it falls in one stream at that point, it will flow north into one sea. If it falls into another stream nearby, it will flow south into another sea. If it falls into another stream within reach, it will …

Several years ago, there was a football team that became famous. It had a backfield that rang up so many touchdowns that the backfield players became somewhat conceited. One day the coach decided they needed to be taught a lesson, and so he pulled out the first team and sent in a string of substitutes. Very quickly the opposing team crashed through the substitute line and stopped the backfield cold. They were not the unbeatables they thought they were. After a few plays, they frantically signaled the coach for help, and the first-string line went back in again. The backfield players learned that without the support of a strong line they could not score touchdowns. It takes all eleven men to win a football game. The same is true of the church. Although not called a team in Scripture, the church is called “the Body,” and the same principle applies. First Corinthians 12:12-27 teaches that there must be cooperation of every member if we are to accomplish the goals of our Lord here on earth. The Bible continues to teach us that each member must work together with God (2 Corinthians 6:1). This means we are to not only pull together, but we must pull in the right direction. Thomas Carlyle said, “Ten men banded together in love and unity can do what ten thousand separately would fail to do.” This quote points out that there is strength in unity and working together. Jesus said in Matthew 12:25 “…Every kingdom …

“But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NKJV). Some verses in the Bible are simply amazing in the many lessons they contain. Ephesians 4:15 is one of these verses. This passage speaks about truth – the truth that makes one free from sin. Let us notice some of the lessons contained in Ephesians 4:15. The Message of Truth Biblical truth, in order to be effective in the lives of men, must be spoken or proclaimed. Jesus commanded, “…Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Why? Because the Gospel – the Truth – is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). It is by this Truth that the soul is purified. Peter stated, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth…” (1 Peter 1:22). Paul affirmed that those in Rome were “set free from sin” by their obedience to the doctrine (Romans 6:17-18). A second thought is that Truth must be spoken. Each week, the general public is subjected to a variety of religious discourses. As one compares many of these religious speeches with the Bible, he learns that much of what is taught is not truth but simply the doctrines and feelings of men. We also learn of our individual responsibility to teach Truth. Paul wrote to the saints at Ephesus, not just to preachers, elders or other leading brethren. To these saints he gave the …

Jesus said of Satan, “He is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 ESV). Even if his words have a grain of truth in them, his assertions will always be half-truths, designed to deceive. I sometimes preach a sermon to young people I call, “All Satan’s Apples Have Worms.” Satan told Eve, “You will not surely die, For God knows that when you eat of it, you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Indeed, as the name of the tree suggested, when they ate, they knew good and evil, but not like God. They knew evil by disobeying God and thus participating in it. God never knew evil by doing evil. Satan lied again.

Second Corinthians 13:5 reads, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (NKJV). In this verse, Paul said each needs to look to his mind and actions to determine if they are in “the faith.” The definite article “the” is in the Greek, which means this is not talking about just a personal belief but about the system of belief (faith) or doctrine. There are rules and regulations that can measure one’s life and beliefs. To be “in the faith” means to be in the system of rules and regulations. Otherwise, Paul would have stated they should have faith, but he said people need to be “in the faith.” Then, Paul stated that Christians have Jesus Christ living in them unless they are reprobates. So, if they are not living “in the faith,” Christ is not in them. If they do not have Christ living in them, they are not “in the faith.” This goes against what many religious leaders today teach. They say Christ can be in you if you just say you have a belief in Him. Some say nothing you do or think after that acceptance will take Christ from you. Some say there is no law that you must obey. Paul said a person must examine himself. If there is nothing I can do to alter my eternal destiny, then why bother to examine anything? This letter to the …

People experience hurt in many ways. There is a pain beyond imagination caused by a disease with no cure. There is a temporary pain that comes with curable ailments. There is emotional pain that comes from loneliness, disappointment and hurt – hurt, perhaps, something we have experienced as the result of a friend turning his back on us. Pain may also come when our dreams suddenly seem beyond our reach or when we must bid farewell to a loved one who is dying. There is also a pain that commonly comes upon all of us as we attempt to engage the battle to maintain ourselves spiritually. Sometimes, it is the pain of growth and development or of seeing brothers and sisters hurt as we ache with them. It could be the agony of brethren who have gone astray or of seeing the church of our Lord split or divided – fuming and fussing. This kind of inner turmoil threatens to keep us from the great mission that God has set for us. The apostle Paul endured incredible physical hardships as the result of his service for our Lord, but he was nonetheless conscious of the dangers that were present for the church. Of all the pains and turmoil in his life, his ever-present concern was for the spiritual side of life. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night …

“Did I not just get done telling you…” If I have said that or something similar to it once, I have said it a thousand times. It is always amazing to me that despite our best warnings against certain behaviors and the consequences that will follow, some folks ignore the clear statement of facts, especially children who simply test the boundaries. They throw caution to the wind and do exactly what you told them not to do. To make matters worse, when you confront folks about such behaviors, often one of the first things out of their mouths is, “Well, how was I supposed to know that would happen?” The answer, of course, is, “Because I told you it would happen. I told you, showed you, gave illustrations and did everything for you but act it out, but you did it anyway.” I just love it when the response is, “Oh! That is what you were talking about.” It is about that time one mumbles under his breath, shakes his head and sighs. Of course, I too am human, and perhaps it is the case that my communication was not clear. Perhaps, I am not perceived as a credible historian when it comes to a particular area of advice. Thus, my warning may simply not be heeded, as is the case so often with children who, despite their age, know infinitely more than their parents. Certainly, this does not fly when it comes to sin and our relationship with God. …

The apostle Paul entered Athens almost nineteen hundred years ago. While preaching the Gospel of God in that Grecian city, many who heard him exclaimed, “…You are bringing some strange things to our ears…” (Acts 17:20). The apostle told them about the one true God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, as well as all that is in them – including man himself. The people of Athens were very religiously inclined. They attempted to worship God, but they were trying to worship God Whom they did not know. They were ignorant of the One True God. Hence, Paul told them, “…Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23). They were sincerely worshipping God Whom they didn’t know. They didn’t know His will. They didn’t know how to worship God acceptably, as He revealed. Their worship was based on their own imaginations; they were following traditions they had learned from their parents or others. So, Paul told them they were worshipping God ignorantly. Hearing Paul preach the truth, they exclaimed, “You are bringing some strange things to our ears.” Millions of people have the same attitude today for the truth of the Gospel. Today, many religious people, who believe the Bible to be the Word of God and who believe that Christ is the Savior and the Son of God, find it very strange when Gospel teaching is brought to their attention. They are astonished to learn that according to the teaching …

Sometimes the valleys in life are deep and long, but those are not the times to give up. Blaming God and leaving the Lord is not the answer. Gold refined by fire rids the dross and makes it purer (1 Peter 1:7). I think of this passage in Proverbs 24:10, “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small” (NKJV). There was a time when many of the disciples of the Lord left Him. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (John 6:66-69). It is in the valleys of life that I especially need Him. He has never forsaken me, and so, why should I forsake Him? He is my Rock and my Salvation. He is my High Tower and my Shelter in the time of the storms. He gives me comfort in the night. His strength is greatly manifested in weakness. I have often requested of Him to bestow His grace upon me so that I might see the sun beyond the overcast and the silver lining behind every cloud. His grace is sufficient for me. A moving verse is found in James 4:6, which is a simple but …

Who do you see in the picture? Some see a young woman who is dressed up for a party. Others claim this is an old woman dressed for warmth. Who is right? The answer primarily results from one’s perspective. Now that you know both possible perspectives, can you see from the other point of view? This picture serves as a powerful example. This picture could either be an old woman or a young woman. Both of these answers are valid. One of these answers is not better than the other. However, not everything in life fits this scenario. Instances exist where one needs to analyze the situation before making a judgment. Appearances often fail to fully identity a situation. A more thorough look produces better results. Mark recorded an account in his Gospel record concerning Jesus and a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1-6). The incident occurred on a Sabbath in a synagogue. People watched to see if Jesus would heal this man on the Sabbath. Jesus asked the question, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4). When everyone kept silent, Jesus instructed the man to stretch out his hand (Mark 3:5). This wonderful blessing caused the Pharisees to begin making plans to destroy Jesus (Mark 3:6). Why would they seek to kill Jesus? It was because they judged the healing of the man as a work done on the Sabbath. The punishment for a sin …

When a very useful, loving, obedient and amiable person dies, folks often curse death. The deceased is already dead, and another person is dying elsewhere. Death inflicts sorrow and anguish daily. Why, then, do people curse death? Death is a persecutor and man’s foe (1 Corinthians 15:26). To curse death, other things or persons is using one’s mouth carelessly. James wrote that with our mouth, “We bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:9-10 NKJV). Do you know if the deceased was taken away because of evil days ahead? “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil” (Isaiah 57:1). Do you know if the deceased completed his or her earthly assignment? Jesus said the mouth reveals the state of the heart. Besides, each person shall give account of how he or she uses the mouth. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your …

In the days of Noah, God warned of a flood that was going to come and consume the world. There was a way to escape the flood; God instructed His servant Noah to build a boat, which could be boarded. Salvation was simple: Get inside! A millennium later, God told Moses to carry a message to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh didn’t heed the message. Subsequently, he and his people suffered the ten plagues. The last plague was the death of the firstborn male, but people in Egypt were told they could escape the plague by covering their doorways with blood. Salvation was simple: Get inside! The Bible declares that one day we will stand before God and give an account of our lives, and if we are not saved, we will be cast out. The Bible also declares that those who are baptized into Christ and who remain at home with God will spend eternity in God’s presence. Salvation is still simple: Get inside! [Editor’s Note: Comparable to Noah’s ark – figuratively, of course – the Lord’s church is the ark of safety, today. Get inside! On the birthday of the church in Acts 2, believers were told to repent and to be baptized for the remission of their sins (vs. 37-38; cf., Mark 16:16). That day about 3,000 souls submitted to Christian baptism (v. 41), and Jesus added them to His church (v. 47). Get inside! ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]

The song found in our songbooks, “I Want to Be Ready,“ begins with the line of this article. You may have your worldly pleasuresYour silver and your gold,You may pile up all the richesThat this old world can hold;But I’d rather have my SaviorAnd with Him firmly standFor I want to be ready to meet HimIn the glory land I agree completely with the sentiment of the song, one found often in Scripture. Truly, man’s focus ought to be on the spiritual things and eternity rather than on the things of this world. This sentiment is reinforced in the moral teaching of Scripture. “‘Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell” (Proverbs 9:17-18). Amos prophesied to the Israelites in his day to warn them about the waywardness of the rich, prosperous, lazy and gluttonous nation they had become. Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore, they shall now go captive as the …