King David was known as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). The 19th Psalm is attributed to him. It is a storehouse of fascinating truths. The Psalm can be neatly divided into three parts. We shall assign a key word to each section. Verses 1-6 – Creation, verses 7-10 – Revelation and verses 11-14 – Preservation. Please open your Bible and read this Psalm before continuing. Creation In his youth, David spent many nights out under the stars guarding sheep. This first section speaks poetically of how the night sky seems to cry out in testimony of God’s creative genius. Though no verbal word is heard, the stunning view is powerful evidence. Compare Romans 1:20. The earth’s orbit in relation to the sun is depicted. The first rays of morning are “as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber” (v. 5), and orbit is likened to a strong runner traveling his “course” (v. 5). Revelation While the creation provides a non-verbal generic message indicative of a Designer, the Bible provides specific literary instructions. The Creator’s written revelation is called “law,” “testimony,” “precepts” and “commandment” (vv. 7-8). It is “perfect,” “sure,” “right” and “pure” (vv. 7-8). The desirability of His Word is above fine gold, and it is sweeter than the droppings of the honeycomb (v. 10). Dear reader, don’t allow your pursuit of wealth to rob you of enjoying the sweetness of God’s precious Word. Preservation God’s Word provides valuable warning, and there is “great reward” to those who obey (v. 11). It has been said, …

“But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). “Love never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love prompted the greatest Gift ever given (John 3:16). “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The Greek vocabulary of the first century had a variety of words to express love. The term “agapao” (verb form) was a love of the will, a decision to do good toward others. “Phileo” had a shade of meaning more toward the emotional side, a love of tender affection. A compound of this word with “adelphos”(the word for “brother or “kinsman”) formed “Philadelphia,” brotherly love. “Storge” most commonly was used to describe love of parents toward children and children for parents, thus family love. “Eros” is a word that gave rise to our English word “erotic,” sexual love. In our modern English, we must ask the one word “love” to serve all the usages just described. We “love” our spouses, our children, ice cream, a ball team and our dogs! How confusing! Many modern marriages disintegrate when one or both partners say, “I don’t love you anymore!” Sadly, the reason this occurs is often because the marriage was built in the first place upon either “eros” and/or “phileo.” When someone speaks of “falling in love,” the implication is obvious. The emotional and/or sensual element was the driving force. Though at the altar the two spoke of commitment, the fact is, if you can “fall in love,” …

We all have them. Webster defines “habit” as “a thing done often…; act that is acquired and has become automatic.” What habits have you acquired? Habits may be divided into three basic categories: (1) Detrimental, (2) Beneficial and (3) Inconsequential. Examples in the first group would include profanity (Ephesians 4:29), viewing pornography (Romans 1:24; Matthew 5:27-28) and smoking (1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:19). Exercise (1 Timothy 4:8), prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and worship (John 4:23) are all worthwhile habits. An example for the third division would be which shoe one puts on first – right or left. Human betterment requires stripping away bad habits and increasing good ones. Jesus declared: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). For true disciples, following Jesus must be automatic and daily, not just some days (e.g., a one hour on Sunday exercise). The letter to the Hebrews addresses a habit that was directly opposite of what it ought to have been. Some church members made it a habit of choosing to be absent when the church gathered (Hebrews 10:25). Some folks today have this same shameful habit. The Bereans were praised for being daily students of the Bible (Acts 17:11). Is that your habit? Bad habits are notoriously defended by countless excuses. Blame is transferred to genetics, parents, environment, peer pressure, stress, ad infinitum. However, God has said each one shall be judged for “the things done in the body, …

Do you have a fear that you are afraid to face? Pride often prompts the fearful to feign boldness. The Greek word “phobos” is the background for many English “phobia” words. Claustrophobia is “abnormal fear of being confined, as in a room or small space.” Hydrophobia is “an abnormal fear of water.” Fear can be divided into two classes – proper and improper. Solomon pinpointed what mankind’s essential pursuit ought to be. “Fear God, and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It is proper for every human to give their Creator the highest of respect, which is evidenced by their submission to His will. Improper fear is the cowering state of mind that hinders proper conduct. In the Parable of the Talents, the servant entrusted with one talent “digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money” (Matthew 25:18). When the Master returned, he declared the man to be wicked and slothful. The slacker made this admission, “I was afraid” (Matthew 25:25). It is eye opening to learn that along with murderers, fornicators, and idolaters, “the fearful” will be eternally lost (Revelation 21:8). Wise counseling from the Scriptures can help you face your fears. Fear of failure, fear of responsibility, fear of growing old, fear of death, etc. What is a good starting place? “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments” (Psalm 111:10). Proper fear of God will prepare the way for successfully tackling any debilitating fears. The Psalmist …

Have you ever been troubled by a guilty conscience? I’m guessing your honest answer would be, “Yes.” Conscience is defined as “the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action.” Few would deny that mankind possesses an innate sense of what he ought to do and what he ought not to do. There is a marked contrast between animals and man. Animals seem to act more instinctually. Humans are endowed with moral sensitivity. Unfortunately, when men are bent upon doing evil, they often try to suppress the prodding of a guilty conscience. As an illustration, someone too bothered to wear an automobile safety belt could disable the buzzer that indicates an unlatched belt. Similarly, men become resourceful in coming up with ways to evade their built-in moral detector. One attempt is to redefine right and wrong. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this rebellious maneuver. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). If you call a horse a cow, the animal remains the same. To speak of an alternative lifestyle, an extra-marital encounter and recreational or social use of intoxicants does not change the moral standing of the activity. Another means of quieting the conscience is by repeated disregard for its promptings. When interviewed, a mass murderer likely would admit that the first murder bothered his conscience, but …

Debate raged hot in the first century. Jewish rabbis clashed as they passionately lobbied for disciples. What was the issue you ask? In one word – resurrection! The sect known as the Sadducees denied there would be a resurrection of the human body after death, while the Pharisees affirmed it would be a future reality (Acts 23:8). Long centuries earlier, the patriarch Job pondered the question: “If a man die, shall he live again” (Job 14:14)? Life after death has intrigued mankind for millennia. Saul of Tarsus had been trained “at the feet of Gamaliel” (Acts 22:3), a renowned Jewish teacher. Being a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), he believed in the resurrection. However, initially Saul had not been convinced that Jesus was the genuine Messiah. In fact, he vehemently pursued those who claimed allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth. What convinced this man that Jesus was indeed alive? Luke records some details of the conversion of this persecutor of the early saints (Acts 9, 22, 26). He was given the privilege of seeing the risen Lord. Later, Saul became known as Paul the apostle. He wrote extensively about the resurrection because some began to deny the resurrection doctrine (1 Corinthians 15:12). Paul listed some who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:5-8): (1) Cephas (Peter), (2) the twelve (apostles), (3) over 500 brethren at one time, (4) James, (5) all the apostles and (6) Paul. Any lawyer making his case is pleased if he has an eyewitness to corroborate an …

Where there is design, there must be a designer. This is a fundamental axiom. Take for example the design of a pair of pliers – composed of only three parts (two levers with jaws and a pivot pin). The clamping action is simple, useful and evidences design. The modern automobile requires a much higher level of engineering in order to properly coordinate the many systems (braking, combustion, cooling, exhaust, electrical, etc.). When our cars do not function correctly, we might begin to cast blame on the designers for flaws, but we certainly do not question the existence of automotive engineers. Whether looking at the working of pliers (simple design) or an automobile (complex design), anyone can deduce that each had a designer. Have you ever played with two magnets? When you get them close enough together they will usually snap quickly together. In a similar way the gravitational pull between the sun and our earth is trying to draw them together. However, the earth’s speedy elliptical orbit (approximately 66,000 miles per hour) creates a centrifugal force in the opposite direction. While on its circuit our earth has its own dedicated orbiter, the moon. It orbits the earth at about 2,200 miles per hour. The forces between the earth and the sun are perfectly balanced, as are the forces between the earth and moon. If any of these forces were altered, even slightly, these heavenly bodies would not remain in their dependable orbits. Furthermore, this exact distance between earth and sun that …

When miracles were performed in the first century, they gave the speaker credibility (Mark 16:20). When the Holy Spirit empowered someone to perform a miracle, the listeners more readily believed the message spoken. One miraculous gift was the ability to speak in a language that was not the speaker’s mother tongue. It should be noted that “tongue” (Acts 2:4 ASV) is used as a synonym for “language” (Acts 2:6 ASV), so on that Pentecost morn, the travelers who had converged upon Jerusalem heard the preaching in their own “language” wherein they “were born” (Acts 2:8), that is, their native language. While the books of the New Testament were still in production, various Christians were given gifts of the Holy Spirit (conferred by the apostles). Nine gifts of the Spirit are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Some in Corinth were selfishly using such gifts to gain personal attention. Paul had to stress that each Christian is important, and one member should not be elevated above others (1 Corinthians 12). Those who had been showing off needed to learn the “most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31); they needed to learn to serve out of love (Chapter 13), rather than for self-aggrandizement. Those who had been gloating in their miraculous ability needed a dose of ego-deflation. They needed to learn that the special gifts were temporary. “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). Such revelation was piecemeal. Paul wrote of a time when such would no longer be needed. …

God had a reason for the performance of miracles in the first century. After Jesus rose from the tomb, He spoke with “the eleven” (remember Judas committed suicide, Matthew 27:5) apostles (Mark 16:14). He gave them the commission to preach the Gospel. “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed” (Mark 16:20). Note carefully that the miraculous signs served to confirm the genuineness of their message. People were not going to automatically believe the word of some former Galilean fishermen or tax collector. However, their display of divine power was convincing. Please realize also that at this time the New Testament Scriptures were not yet written. However, God had a plan in place, one that rightly can be termed, planned obsolescence. Normally this is a bad thing. It is unfortunate that some companies purposefully design into a product a limited working life. They want us to buy, use, throw away and buy again. Consider God’s ingenious planned obsolescence. God gave only a few to be apostles (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:29). These apostles received the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, 14 “Peter… with the eleven”). According to the Scriptures, the only way others received power to perform miracles was “through the laying on of the apostles’ hands” (Acts 8:18). Acts 8 is a classic case study. Philip the evangelist had gone to Samaria to preach (v. 5). He had been given power to perform miracles (v. …

The Bible contains a record of many miracles. Some occurred preceding the advent of Jesus. However, during the first century there was an explosion of miraculous activity. John’s Gospel alone records many significant miracles, such as the feeding of 5,000 (Chapter 6) and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Chapter 11). John assured his readers that his writing merely contained a sampling. “Many other [miraculous] signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). It is noteworthy that his eyewitness account was for the purpose of producing belief in the heart of the reader. However, what about the claims of some today that people can still perform miracles? An objective assessment is in order. First, it seems quite apparent that the miracles recorded in the Scriptures differed significantly from what is being claimed today. For example, Lazarus had been dead for four days and his body was already stinking [the literal Greek meaning] (John 11:39), and family, friends and bystanders all witnessed his return to life. Contrast that with some man, unknown to the audience, who gets up from his wheelchair after some emotionally charged gestures and prayer. A simple reading of New Testament miracles, followed by a comparison to modern-day claims reveals a stark contrast. Second, those claiming to possess miraculous power today …

Worry has been likened to a rocking chair – it keeps you busy, but doesn’t get you anywhere. In our fast-paced, modern society, the old word “worry” is often replaced with terms like “stress” or “anxiety disorder.” Often this serious problem is disguised in the robe of “concern.” Why not take your Bible and read Matthew 6:24-34? Jesus Himself informed us that anxiety is unnecessary (v. 32), prohibited (vv. 25, 31, 34), futile (v. 27), heathenish (v. 32) and a sign of weak faith (v. 30). According to a University of Wisconsin study many years ago: We might think about saying, “We will cross that bridge if we come to it!” People worry about nearly everything under the sun. Consider one problem area – materialism. Materialism is fanned by selfishness and greed. Read Luke 12:15-21. Worry over financial matters is often self-inflicted. Credit debt slavery is widespread. God’s Word provides the guidelines for a life of obedience, trust and peace. Are you seeking freedom from worry?

If you look at the copyright date printed in many older books, it will appear as Roman numerals. This numeric system’s popularity has decreased over the years. Therefore, the title of this article might mean little to many. The “L” represents 50, and an “X” represents 10. So LXX is equivalent to the number 70. Many whose focus is upon Judeo-Christian writings will readily know what this article is about. The LXX has come to be used as an abbreviation for a very special translation of the Old Testament Scriptures. About the middle of the 3rd century before Christ (c. 280 B.C), a group of 70 (or 72?) linguistic scholars assembled in Alexandria, Egypt. Their monumental undertaking was to take the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures (and some other writings) and translate them into the Koine (common) Greek language. This literary work is called the Septuagint. The Septuagint provides a variety of benefits. First, it provides supportive proof for the legitimacy of Old Testament prediction. For example, the Book of Daniel includes prophecy of the fall of the Babylonian empire as well as the eventual rise and fall of other world regimes. The amazing detail found in Chapter Two has caused some skeptics to date the book nearer the time of the first century. They cannot accept that a Jewish captive living in Babylon would be able to foretell events so far in the future with such accuracy. They deny divine inspiration. It is easy for us to now look back …

Missionaries have worked in Africa long before I set foot on the continent. This true story was recounted to me. There was someone in urgent need of a blood transfusion. While searching for possible donors, an African was asked if he would donate his blood. He responded by saying, “Yes.” Please realize that he was completely unaware of this common procedure. It was only after he had given his gift of blood that the medical personnel came to find out something that amazed and humbled them. Here is what the man was mistakenly thinking when he agreed to give – I give my blood and then I die! Do you see how his gift of blood differed from all the other donors? Down through time, many have given sacrificially – even with their own blood. Firemen, coastguardsmen, soldiers, mothers and the list goes on and on of givers who have given their lives for others. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). However, there was one gift that rivals them all. It is so far beyond ability to adequately express that Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). This giving was a gift of blood, but unlike the high priest of the Old Testament system who would yearly offer “blood not his own” (Hebrews 9:25), Jesus gave his own blood for humanity. We must understand, though, that this gift of blood differs from all …

Death at its most basic level is a separation. Biblically we may divide death into two main usages. First, and obviously, there is physical death – separation of the body from the spirit (James 2:26). Second, there is spiritual death. This condition occurs when our personal sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2). There are countless horrific ways by which people have met their end (e.g., death by fire, buried alive, adrift at sea, etc.). While these are repulsive to even ponder, the possibility of eternal death is most disturbing of all. The Bible calls hell “the second death” (Revelation 20:14; 21:8). This place of separation from God was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41), yet for most of humanity, it will be the soul’s eternal dwelling place (Matthew 7:13-14; 10:28; 25:46). Satan has many traps in his arsenal. We may be tempted in one of three ways: “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life” (1 John 2:16). One way we may be brought to spiritual death is especially crafty, namely, death by plenty! The Proverb writer requested: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God” (30:8-9). Note his sentiment about having too much, which might lead him to deny his God. He acknowledged the real possibility of becoming …

God has had expectations for humanity from the beginning of time (Genesis 2:16-17). The Creator’s revelation to mankind has been progressive. The three dispensations of time are (1) Patriarchy, (2) Judaism or Mosaic and (3) Christianity. Any good teacher brings pupils along by gradually increasing the difficulty of the material being studied. Students begin by learning simple concepts, and then they progress to more complex matters. During the first period of time, God provided basic revelation. For the descendants of Abraham, Jehovah provided a detailed written law. The final segment of revelation is the New Testament of Jesus the Christ. This covenant was ratified by the blood of the Son of God (Matthew 26:27). In former times God exercised toleration, as would a parent with young children. When the Jews questioned Jesus regarding “a bill of divorcement” (Matthew 19:7), our Lord responded: “Moses for your hardness of heart suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so” (Matthew 19:8). There was some relaxing of God’s demands while the immature Jewish people were waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. However, once the Savior arrived, He became the “mediator of a better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6). Today, the ethical standard for all of humanity is this better covenant of Jesus Christ. “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30). Note three important things this verse reveals. First, there was a time in …

You ought not say that dear!” the mother exclaimed to her little boy, after he repeated a curse word he had heard someone else use. Oh how true it is that we often mimic the actions and vocabulary of those around us. All too often this happens without us giving it much thought. Yet, have we ever stopped long enough to consider that little word “ought”? The term implies a distinction between what we should do and what we should not do. When parents tells children what they ought to do, they are trying to encourage proper behavior. However, how did the parent decide what should be done? Not many years earlier, they themselves were in the place of a child. Some behavior their parents would not have tolerated, they are now permitting with their own children. Sadly, much of the advice being given is based upon changeable social norms. Ethics basically pertains to human behavior regarding right and wrong – principles of morality. For ethics to be legitimate there must be a standard. The Bible reveals that the standard is based upon God Himself. To Israel of old, Jehovah declared, “be ye holy; for I am holy …be ye holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45; cf., 1 Peter 1:16). If there is no God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1), there can be no such thing as right and wrong. Without a standard we must wander adrift in subjectivity! Human conduct and accountability are based upon the divinely endowed freedom of choice. “For we must …

The Dead Sea Scrolls, as they are gradually pieced together and deciphered, are providing ancient witness to the amazing preservation of the biblical text.  Skeptics seem bent upon saying they never have enough proof to believe.  Some religions, whose beliefs are contrary to the Scriptures, of necessity must argue that the text of our present Bibles has been corrupted over time so that it cannot be trusted.  In discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls and the integrity of the Scriptures, Charles Pfeifer affirms that this library of materials is “in all essential details” the “same as the Bible which we have regarded as authoritative.”  If great discrepancies had been found between these scrolls from nineteen centuries ago and our modern day Bible, the claims of “corruption” might deserve an ear.  In reality, the corruption ploy is used by religious groups who propagate anti-biblical teachings. Through the centuries, the Old Testament Scriptures were meticulously copied by Jewish scribes.  In an effort to keep human errors to a minimum, elaborate methods of checking were employed.  “They counted the number of times each letter was used in a book.  They noted verses which contained all the letters of the alphabet, or a certain number of them, etc.  They calculated the middle verse, the middle word, and the middle letter of each book.” (Lightfoot) The accurate preservation of the biblical text is necessarily tied to man’s accountability to God.  Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: …

Likely you have heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What are they, and why do they still cause a stir in the religious world? The Dead Sea is a lake in Palestine (bordered by present day Jordan on the East and Israel on the West). It is the lowest point on earth, about 1,300 feet below sea level. It receives water from the Jordan River, but since it has no outlet, it is over eight times saltier than the ocean. Nothing lives in its waters, hence its name. Reports tell of a Bedouin shepherd lad who while looking for a lost animal threw a stone toward a cave in the region northwest of the Dead Sea. When the stone produced a breaking sound, his curiosity led him to investigate a cave high on the cliff. The stone had struck and had broken a pottery jar containing an ancient manuscript. Eventually this first cave yielded a number of scrolls, including a nearly complete copy of the Book of Isaiah. This initial discovery made in 1947 sparked a frenzy that eventually led to the discovery of 11 different caves. Cave #4 contained over 15,000 text fragments comprising over 500 different documents. In all, this “library” of data includes about 800 books. The dilapidation, fragmentation and sheer volume of material makes reassembly an almost insurmountable task. On top of that is the tedious work of paleography, the science of deciphering ancient writings. Before the Dead Sea scrolls discovery, the oldest copy of the …

The Bible employs various symbols to illustrate the Word of God. The word “sword” is found 428 times in the Bible (ASV 1901). It is used literally of Saul’s implement of suicide; “Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it” (1 Chronicles 10:4). An example of figurative usage is the eventual cutting nature of the words of a temptress. “But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:4). Literal swords can cut and divide and so also does the Word of God. A Sword Cuts Followers of God should use “the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Their battle is not physical, but spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). Persuasion should come not from human cleverness, but by allowing God’s Word to work on the human heart. The Gospel can cut the conscience like a sword. Following the Ascension of Jesus, the twelve apostles (Acts 2:14) were speaking the message of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The crowd of Jews was charged with the murder of the true Messiah (Acts 2:23). “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter’s inspired answer is found in Acts 2:38. On another occasion, Philip leveled the same charge against other Jews – namely, murder of the Christ (Acts 7:52). The listeners “were cut to the heart” (Acts 7:54). However, their response was to add another murder …

The Bible employs various symbols to illustrate the Word of God. The word “seed” is found 276 times in the Bible (ASV 1901). It is used literally, when God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed…” (Genesis 1:11). An example of figurative usage is when, after the murder of Abel, Eve said, “God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel” (Genesis 4:25). Eve used “seed” to refer to another offspring or descendant. Literal seed possesses some qualities that can help explain benefits of the Word of God. Seed Produces after Its Kind James asked a series of rhetorical questions. “[C]an a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs?” The answers were obvious. Figs produce figs and vines don’t produce figs! Repeatedly in the creation narrative the reoccurring phrase is found: “after their kind” (Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25). This principle holds true in the spiritual realm. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). The Word of God is likened unto seed (see also 1 Peter 1:22-23). “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). When the pure seed (Word of God) was planted (taught) in the first century, it produced Christians; “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). What if we teach (plant) the exact message (seed) today? What will it produce? The Bible only produces Christians only! If the Bible alone is taught, it will …

The Bible employs various symbols to illustrate the Word of God. The word “food” is found 158 times in the Bible (ASV 1901). It is used literally of a worthy homemaker who gives “food to her household” (Proverbs 31:15). An example of figurative usage is when the Psalmist poetically declared, “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3). Literal food possesses some qualities that can help explain benefits of the Word of God. Food Is Necessary We all recognize the need for physical sustenance. One writer requested, “Feed me with the food that is needful for me” (Proverbs 30:8). Who can forget that John the baptizer’s “food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4)? Man cannot survive long without food. But just as man’s physical frame requires food, so also his spiritual nature requires spiritual food. The Lord himself quoted, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Therefore, Jesus challenges us all to “Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life…” (John 6:27). This verse is a fine example of the figure known as ellipsis, where something is left out, but implied. If the elided words were supplied, the sentence would read: “Work not [only] for the food which perishes, but [more importantly] for the food which abides unto eternal life!” We speak of food that is “perishable” and thus needs refrigeration. However, Jesus highlights that spiritual food (God’s Word) “abides” (1 …

The Bible employs various symbols to illustrate the Word of God. The word “light” is found 263 times in the Bible (ASV 1901). It is used literally, as when God said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). An example of figurative usage is when our Lord declared, “When I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). Literal light possesses some qualities that can help explain benefits of the Word of God. Light Dispels Darkness In a series of rhetorical questions, Paul asked, “[W]hat fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light and darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). The Messianic prophet pronounced “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). Jesus came bringing the light of truth (John 1:17). “And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not” (John 1:5). That is, the darkness was not able to overpower the light of truth. Contrary to several mystic religions, which assert the balance of good and evil forces, truth ultimately overpowers darkness. In a world of conflicting beliefs, God’s Word can dispel error. Light Makes for Clear Viewing How many of you recall a portion of the airline safety briefings? “In the unlikely event of loss in cabin power, emergency aisle lighting will indicate the exit route.” God’s Word provides clarity to the path of righteousness. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto …

Is God real? Is there any proof of His existence? These questions are increasingly met with skepticism. Over the past few decades, technological achievements have given some an overinflated view of man’s cleverness. Consider the scene of a teenager who proudly looks down from his makeshift tree fort, constructed crudely from scrap 2x4s. On the ground below his little brother plays with his toys and admires his big brother’s creation. On this Saturday, his father, a construction worker, looks out the window observing his sons. In this allegory, the teenager represents some modern-day scientists. His tree house creation was impressive to his sibling, but would pale in comparison to the high-rise buildings his father erects. It’s a matter of perspective. There is a scientific principle known as cause and effect. Simply stated, wherever there is an effect, there must be an adequate cause. If you go to your mailbox, which was empty yesterday, and there are letters inside, what can be deduced? Someone put them there. If a locomotive train is traveling fast on the tracks and hits a fly with its windshield, will the train be derailed? Obviously not. Hitting a fly would not be an adequate cause to explain derailment. The universe contains a multitude of intertwined systems. How can the existence of the universe be explained? Three theoretical possibilities are: (1) It has always existed, (2) it created itself, and (3) it was created. Let’s eliminate one or more if we can. Does evidence point to the universe …

An old story is told of three men who had met at the end of a dock on a Florida beach. One of the men was a homeless alcoholic; the second man was a family man with a promising future; and the third man was a well respected business owner and financial genius. While gazing into the ocean, the alcoholic ran and jumped into the water, landing five feet from the dock. The other two men, confused, yelled to the man now floating in the water, “What are you trying to do?” The man in the water yells back, “I am trying to jump across the Atlantic Ocean.” The second man, now intrigued by this seeming challenge, ran and also jumped into the Atlantic, landing about 10 feet from the dock’s edge. Feeling challenged, the third man ran and splashed into the water landing 15 feet from the dock, beating the distance of the other two men. The third man confidently yelled, “I won!” However, his “win” was crushed when an onlooker brought to the three men’s attention a sign that read, “no swimming, shark infested waters.” What seemed like a win was in reality a loss, because he found himself in the same situation as the other two men; all three were in serious trouble. Often times in life, this illustration becomes reality when mankind feels as though he is better than another concerning spiritual things. Some people are heard to say, “I am a good person, and I …