The beautiful pink roses on our white fence are now fading white. They hit their peak by Mother’s Day. They are still beautiful, but they are fading fast. You see, like other beautiful flowers, the time comes when the beauty of the roses fades, and eventually they will die. This is also true of mankind. We will also fade or pass away. The apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:24-25 wrote, “…All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever…” (NKJV; cf., Isaiah 40:6-8). Life at the longest is brief when compared to eternity. The writer, James, in his letter, wrote that life “is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). In Psalm 90:9-10, we read, “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Regardless of age, life is very fragile, and death can occur at any time. Some of us are in the winter of our lives, and we are definitely closer to eternity than ever before. It is only in Jesus Christ that we can have an abundant life presently (John 10:10) and for …

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Acts 2:20). “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the full moon became like blood…” (Revelation 6:12 ESV). The holy Bible has long been called an ancient book of superstitions, myths and fables. The unbeliever refuses to give the Bible credence or credibility as something that should be taken seriously. Then, one comes to these very interesting verses. Mostly rejected as figurative at best, these prophetic utterances have been around for thousands of years. In fact, in Acts 2, Peter quoted Joel 2:31, which uses the same terms. We all know when there is a solar eclipse. At that time, the sun goes dark to us because the moon passes between the sun and the earth. However, during a lunar eclipse, the earth obscures the light of the sun for the moon, turning the moon red due to refracted light passing by the earth. In other words, when the sun goes dark for the moon because of the earth, the moon turns red! Incidentally, it must be full to do so. How were the Bible’s penmen, so long ago, able to know this, because the how and the why the full lunar eclipse occurs can only be seen from outer space (Sauers)? The only reasonable answer is that God told them. We have …

Lazarus had been raised from the grave by Christ. His family had been sorrowing for four days, and the resurrection of Lazarus far surpassed their expectations, which moved some to believe in Christ (John 11:45). We might expect that everyone in Bethany would be rejoicing with Mary and Martha because their mourning had been turned into joy. However, there were some present whose hearts were so hardened and prejudiced that they could not be touched by the great miracle they witnessed. Rather, they watched Jesus only to find fault or to find some reason to discount His work. Some of them, therefore, went away to report to the Pharisees what Jesus had done (John 11:46). John 12:10 states that the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death. What had he done to deserve descent into the grave a second time? Could they now accuse him of some immoral actions? Had he maybe blasphemed God? Had he flagrantly violated some of their customs? Was he about to lead a rebellion? Neither any these things nor any other charge of wrong or misconduct could be charged against him. Instead, the answer is found in John 12:11, which reads, “Because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (NKJV). He was living proof of Jesus’ claims. Only someone with divine credentials could raise a man from the dead, and so, the Jewish leaders wanted to eliminate Lazarus as a concrete proof of Christ as the Messiah. …

Paul told Titus, “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:9-11 ESV). Among the “works of the flesh” are “enmity, strife… rivalries, dissensions, divisions.” These are numbered right along with “sexual immorality… idolatry… orgies.” “Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19- 21). God strongly opposes those who, because they are eager for arguments and love to pick fights, bring division among brothers.

Imagine, if you will, that it’s a hundred years from now. The likelihood that you’ll still be alive and kicking is quite low. Should your mortal remains be in a graveyard, inquisitive folks will stop and read what’s on your gravestone. I’ve done this myself, and you probably have also. My favorite quote I’ve seen is, “I told you I was sick!” The most moving read, “Where you are now, I once was, Where I am now, you shall be!” To quote Yeats, at his most poetic, we note, “Cast a cold eye on life, on death; horseman, pass by,” encouraging us to make the most of our time while we yet live. As our memories grow longer, our lives grow shorter, and the urgent need for a settlement with God before we abandon our mortal coil is apparent. Most people live lives of quiet, and sometimes not-so-quiet, desperation. Stress, with its twin, Worry, are the biggest killers of our age. Death, and what comes after, is the cause of much anxiety. The Bible says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJV). We get caught up in the concerns of the here and now – too busy to take care of sin because of work, too happy because of play, too lazy to think of our lives because of sin and too happy with our own accomplishments. Our Lord described …

One can’t help but notice that we are in the very midst of an awakening. Although we had a very mild winter, nature had her winter rest and sleep, and now, “the hills are alive with the sound of music” (Hammerstein). It’s always fascinating to see how quickly the earth comes forth from dormancy. One day there’s a tiny blade of grass here and there, and then, a few buds on some trees, etc. Alice is a flower gardener, and we see spring happen quickly at our house because some things spring forth, then others and then others. Every bit of it comes forth with energy, ready for the growing season. God made this promise in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease” (NKJV). God arranged the order of the earth, He will always be in charge of it, and it will function at His will. Be thankful to Him for the beauty that now surrounds us. The awakening that is more important is that of our souls coming to life for the glory of the Lord. Christians must not feel the need for Christian work only at this time of year, but they should feel the urgency of being about the Lord’s business with all our beings every day with which we are blessed. Too often, we seem to go into a deep sleep and can’t wake up. It’s just easier to stay relaxed …

God Hates Lies. “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (Exodus 23:1 NKJV). “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Twice in the Proverbs list of abominations before God are the lies of men. It can be stated no more clearly that a liar’s actions and speech are abominable before the Lord. We Hate Lies. “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons’”  (Titus 1:12). Not all people all hate lies all the time. Often people rejoice in lies when they support their cause, enrich themselves or cause problems for their enemies, but there comes a day when all the tables are turned, and the lies oppose them. Then, we all will hate lies. The truth of the matter is that lies are detrimental for humanity no matter how they are used and who they “help.” Sin Came into the World by Lies. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis …

May I share with you what I tried to teach my grandson about how to live an abundant, successful life? He was about ready for his final little league game. When his daddy was that age, I never saw him play, I shamefully confess. I always had a Bible study or some such thing. However, I decided I would try to help my grandson face the game, and the game of life. I said, “Bryan, do you want to know how to be a winner in every game you play?” He replied, “Yes.” Notice that I did not say, “Win every game you play.” Nobody wins every game, but I wanted him to know that he could be a winner, even if his team made the lowest score. I said, “Remember, and learn how to practice three little words.” Of course, he wanted to know what they were. Do you? I told him, “The words are ‘And then some.’” Then, I tried to explain to him something of what that means. In the life of every man who is judged great by almost any standard one wants to use, we find the practice of that formula. They did all the things that might normally be expected of them – and then some. The principle was taught and exemplified best by the One who always taught and exemplified everything the best way. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:41, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (NKJV). …

The apostle John, in his first epistle to his fellow Christians, wrote, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2 NKJV). What a glorious thought it is that when Christ comes back, He will raise our mortal bodies in the likeness of His glorious body. Compare what the apostle Paul also wrote. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). However, if we want to be like Jesus in Heaven, we should first try to become like Him on earth. Note that the apostle Peter taught, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). What do we learn from Christ? The first thing we learn from Christ is that He was obedient to the Father in Heaven in all things. The Bible says, “though …

One day recently, my youngest came running around the corner wearing a shirt that I just so happen to love. Now, before I tell you what the shirt said on the front, I need you to understand I did not buy this shirt for him. I’m honestly not sure where he got it, but I just wanted it to be clear that I did not buy it for him. On the front of my son’s shirt, that I obviously love, are the words “Cool Like Dad.” This shirt makes me smile every time I see it on him, and I will be a little sad when he outgrows it. Yet, while I do smile every time I see this shirt, those three words have the ability to bring a grown man to his knees. In those three little words there is a comparison. You are seeing an example of where, in this case, a child patterns himself after a parent. For me, the idea of being a good example for my children has been in my thoughts and in my mind since the moment I found out that I was going to be a dad. This is something that I think about, pray about and talk about constantly with my wife. In a healthy way, parents – really all people – need to continually think about the example they set before others, and that includes the kind of example they present to their children. In numerous Scriptures, we are told …

Our time is limited. We live in a busy world with plenty of demands on our time, and we are constantly being pulled in different directions. No matter how much we need to get done, there are only twenty-four hours in each day and seven days in each week. Paul taught Christians to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). As Christians, we need to make the most of our time and use it in service to our Lord. One thing that each Christian should build into his or her schedule is visiting. There are several individuals who we should visit: sick and shut-in members, wayward members, visitors and new converts. However, for the purposes of this article, let us consider a few reasons why we should visit the sick and shut-in members. Jesus Expects It In one of Jesus’ famous judgment parables, He spokes of sheep and goats. Jesus said that both groups would be surprised on the Judgment Day. One group will be surprised because they did not realize they were serving Jesus. Another group will be surprised because they did not realize they were neglecting service to Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus spoke of being sick, and those who are righteous visited him while the wicked did not (Matthew 25:36, 43). We should remember that whenever we visit the sick, those who are in nursing homes or in other facilities where they cannot get out, we are serving the Lord (John 12:26). If we love Jesus, we will …

Mothers have a great influence. Twenty-nine times in the Old Testament, we find the phrase “…his mother’s name was…” (Leviticus 24:11 to Jeremiah 52:1). Timothy’s mother, Eunice, had a great influence on her son, who became one of Paul’s most trusted coworkers (Philippians 2:19-22). There are just a handful of verses that highlight Timothy’s mother and grandmother. From these verses, let us note how Timothy’s mother influenced him. First, Eunice exemplified submission to God. On Paul’s second missionary trip, he met Timothy, “the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek” (Acts 16:1 NKJV). Despite being in a religiously mixed marriage, Eunice was able to instill spiritual values in her son. Incidentally, this shows that Christians being married to non-Christians is not inherently sinful (1 Corinthians 7:12-13), although unwise (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2). In the first century, marriages were often arranged long before the husband and wife knew each other. Nevertheless, wives are to “submit” to their own husbands, “as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22), even if those husbands are not what they should be spiritually (1 Peter 3:1-6). In showing proper submission, Eunice showed her son a life patterned after God’s will. Mothers today must properly fulfill their God-given roles. This will teach their children from a very young age the first steps to godliness! Second, Eunice enriched genuine faith. Paul was filled with joy when he wrote to Timothy and recalled “the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your …

Being a follower of God has never been easy. Abraham was afraid for his life because of how beautiful his wife was, and so, he lied about their relationship (Genesis 20). Joseph maintained his integrity and resisted temptation but still wound up in prison and was left there for two years after he should have been released (Genesis 41:1). Job was faithful and righteous, but Satan was allowed to test him to the max, and then, he was accused of evil and unrepentant sin. Israel escaped Egyptian bondage, and after three days found no water (Exodus 15:22-23). The prophets of God were hidden in caves during the time of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 18:4). The people Jesus came to save betrayed Him, and one of His close followers betrayed Him, too. The book of Acts details a number of times Christians were arrested, beaten, threatened and even martyred. The apostle Paul had his own list of times he experienced various dangers (2 Corinthians 11:24ff). Life is not always going to be fair or easy, so when the tough times come, how much are we willing to trust God (Romans 8:18)? [Editor’s Note: The statement and sentiment of the three Jewish youths facing a fiery furnace ought to be demonstrated in the lives of Christians today. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O …

The author of the book of Acts is the same as the author of the Gospel According to Luke (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3). Luke has been generally accepted as the author of Luke for centuries. The “we” passages of Acts show the author was a companion of Paul (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16). Luke was with Paul when he wrote Colossians (4:14) and Philemon (24). The author had a special interest in diseases (Luke 4:38; 5:12; 6:6; 8:43-44, 55; 9:38ff.; 22:50-51), which might be explained because he was a physician (Colossians 4:14). Luke’s loyalty to Paul can be seen as he stayed with the apostle during very trying times (2 Timothy 4:9-12). The recipient of the book was a man named Theophilus, meaning “one who loves God.” He was addressed as “most excellent” in Luke. This was a title used for some in service of the Roman government (Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25). One author suggested Theophilus was Luke’s benefactor. He may have become a Christian between the writing of Luke and Acts since the title is dropped in the latter. Acts could be described as a continuation of the story of “all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (1:1). The church is, after all, the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). McGarvey wrote, “Much the greater part of Acts may be resolved into a detailed history of cases of conversion, and of unsuccessful attempts at the conversion of sinners” (4). Such a statement of purpose fits nicely with the Lord’s marching …

As another Independence Day rolls around, it is time to reflect on exactly what that means. In the realm of spiritual things, it means that God gave us certain freedoms. He gave mankind the freedom to choose whom he will serve, freedom of how to serve and so forth. One of the most near and dear freedoms that we have in this land is the freedom to worship God without persecution. Let us remember not to take that freedom for granted. People died so that we might have this dear freedom, and Christ died to save our immortal souls. Does it matter to us that Jesus left Heaven and came here to live as one of us? Does it matter to us that He lived a perfect, sinless life here? Does it matter to us that Jesus sacrificed Himself for us on the cross so that we could have this independence and freedom from the slavery to sin? “Yes” to all of the above; they matter. The real question, then, is “How much does it matter?” Does it matter enough to put Jesus Christ first in our lives (Matthew 6:33), to study His Word (2 Timothy 2:15), to pray always (1 Thessalonians 5:17), to take the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), to give on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) and to walk in the light (1 John 1:7)? Does it matter enough to be faithful to death (Revelation 2:10)? Let’s …

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV) Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6) Read the passages cited below, study them in their context and see if any have been misused in any way. Follow the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 as “…they… searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” These doctrinal points neither represent all of Bible doctrine nor do they comprise a creed apart from the Bible. Rather, these numbered points illustrate fundamental biblical doctrine over which their can be no misunderstanding and on which Bible believers can believe, teach and practice with the same mind and the same judgment. (adapted from Hugh Fulford)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Years ago, I had one person in a Bible class make the comment that it took no effort at all to be a Christian or to live the Christian life. In his words, it was the easiest thing one could do, that it came naturally, and one had to give little to no effort at all to please God. Is his statement true? We understand there are two forces at work in the world around us, vying for our attention. In its simplest form, either we are following God or Satan, either holiness or sin. Satan uses temptations that appeal to us, to lure us away from God into the domain of darkness. Experience tells us how effective a tool this is. To make the effort to live for God means the devil will also work to divert us away from Him. While it is the only life that is blessed, it does indeed take effort – a struggle, a battle – against sin which wants to destroy us (2 Corinthians 10:5-6). Several times in Scripture, Jesus spoke of the nature of this effort to follow His example. In Matthew 6:33 above, Jesus said we must seek first His kingdom and righteousness. The word seek means “to seek in the sense of to endeavor, to try to gain, to strive after, with the idea of earnestness.” As used …