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In This Issue:

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"The Truth" - By Douglas Skinner

"Consider Your Latter End" - By Aaron Hood

"Let Your Light So Shine" - By J.A. Reynolds

“The Truth”

By Douglas Skinner

The Source of Truth

Why is it that “the truth” is so elusive?  We regularly require all court witnesses to place their hand upon a Bible and solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  If this were effective, why must we employ legions of lawyers to ascertain and deduct the truth from these sworn truth-tellers?  The fact is we all are liars. 

Psalm 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.”  This is the nature of our sinful beings.  To say that we are capable of not lying is also false.  I John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  We are completely devoid of any ability to produce truth.  Truth must be imputed to us from our righteous and holy Creator via His Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus was, and is, the only source of absolute truth that this world has ever witnessed.  He is just as incapable of lying as we are of telling truth.  A Roman governor named Pontius Pilate had a detailed discussion with Jesus in the 18^th and 19^th chapter of the gospel as recorded by John.  Therein, he asks the question, “What is truth?”  He was so very near the truth (indeed, face to face) and yet unable to grasp the truth presented to him.  The world lies in similar blindness today; unable and at times unwilling to recognize Jesus as the source of truth.  Jesus himself stated in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  He is not a source or even the best source of truth…He is THE source of truth. 

Discerning Truth

Each day we wade through copious amounts of advertising, salesmanship, and offers which bend and contort the truth.  We are forced to take the information offered and identify the truth for ourselves.  We process information of this nature so continuously that when something honest appears, we ask, “What’s the catch?”  As skilled as many have become in discerning truth as consumers, the vast majority remains profoundly blind to the half-truths and outright lies offered by the religious world.  We, as sinners and liars, MUST NOT trust our own discernment or the discernment of others.  We must rely upon the One who is the source of all truth to teach us.  He has left us His Written Word which bears witness to Himself as the Truth.  Further, He left in the world His Church to be a witness to the truth and to teach all the things that Christ taught.  In addition, He sent as empowerment to His church, God the Holy Spirit.  John 16:13a “Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:” Let us utilize these sources as our guide in seeking to discern truth from God Himself.

The Truth Is…

1.) The Truth is…Many “religious” people do not know Jesus

The chief priests and Pharisees were more concerned about the Passover feast than in doing what was right in delivering an innocent Jesus from the hands of the Gentiles (Romans).  Religion gives one a set of rules to live by, but it cannot save.  Only Jesus saves. 

 Matthew 7:21-23

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The truth is that we must not just strive to look like Him (religion).  We must have an inner motivation to actually BE more like Him (faith)!

Philippians 3:8-10

“Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

2.) The Truth is…Everything that Jesus said would happen…did.

Jesus predicted in Matthew 20:17-19 that He would be betrayed and abused by the Jews, beaten and scourged, delivered to the Gentiles, crucified, and resurrected again after three days.  He told the exact and terrible truth!  Everything happened as Jesus said that it would. He was the source of absolute truth even in the flesh among mankind.  He told His apostles that they would all forsake Him and they did.  He told the storm on the Sea of Galilee, “Peace, be still” and it ceased.  He cried, “Lazarus, come forth” and Lazarus rose from the dead.  He told the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, “Arise, take up thy bed and walk” and he did exactly that.  If there could be a solitary event in the life of Jesus where He failed to tell the truth, His word would not be absolute.  Because He is perfect, we can trust what He says for us to hear.  He tells us that He will come a second time and that we must be ready to meet Him.  He tells us that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  He warns us of false teachers and wolves that will enter into the flock in sheep’s clothing.  He tells only the truth and we must heed His word.

3.) The Truth is…People would rather hide sin than face a forgiving Savior

The Jews were given a choice to deliver Barrabas, a well-known thief, or Jesus the Son of God.  They chose Barabbas. Men continue to choose the darkness of sin in this world over the glorious light of God’s righteousness.  John 3:19-20 explains;”And this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”  Many choose to attempt to hide their sin rather than have them exposed.  Thus, the Bible tells us that many are they who follow the broad way that leads unto destruction.

4.) The Truth is…Jesus is the King of a Kingdom

While before Pilate, Jesus stated that His kingdom was not of this world.  He also said that His servants respond differently than servants of other kingdoms.  It is true that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, but it is IN the world in the form of His children. It remains a spiritual kingdom with a physical presence.  The truth is that Jesus is coming a second time and will do so as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

5.) The Truth is…Everyone is controlled by someone or something

Pilate thought himself to be in control of the situation that day.  In reality, he was manipulated by the will of the Jewish leaders.  The religious leaders were controlled by their envy and hatred for Jesus.  In fact, the only person in control that day was Jesus and He had consented to the control and will of His Father in the garden of Gethsemane.  The truth Jesus teaches us here is that the only way to truly be in control is to completely yield control to the Father. The Bible teaches that we cannot serve two masters.  We will either become subservient to sin, Satan, and sadness; or we will turn control of everything we have and are to Jesus.  Matthew 10:39, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

6.) The Truth is…Jesus was crucified on a tree for you

Jesus gave up His own life freely and yielded Himself to the will of his Father.  He died for all that we might be saved.  Each of us is faced with this truth, THE TRUTH, just like Pontius Pilate.  We will likewise, make a decision to accept or reject Him as our hope and salvation and then live with the consequences.  Pilate knew what he was doing was wrong and attempted to publicly wash his hands of guilt.  He was unsuccessful as the decision and responsibility was his alone.  We also have full responsibility for our deeds and discernment of God’s truth. 

The Truth is Jesus and Him alone.

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

“Consider Your Latter End”

By Aaron Hood

Red light . . .

Have you ever just stopped and considered your latter end? Often we are so caught up in the moment and the perceived “busyness” of this life that we fail to ponder the future. It is an awesome thought to think about our Heavenly Father’s ability to see all and know all things. He sees the end from the beginning. His power to know what we are going to be doing 10 seconds or 10 years from this moment confounds our human minds.

Yet, even though we do not have this same divine ability, we can learn from the Holy Scriptures that we should consider our future and various aspects of it, including both our earthly future and our eternal future. Certainly we don’t know most of what our future holds, but that should not prevent us from giving attention to this very important matter. While we pray the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, now let us also turn to our guidebook, God’s Word, for some good instruction:

Deu 32:29  O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end! (KJV)

I would like to offer this verse as a starting point for the consideration of your present situation and your future.  Context is always extremely important to reading and understanding scripture. For space, I have omitted the surrounding verses, but would encourage you to review the entire 32^nd chapter of Deuteronomy.  In this chapter, we have a ‘song of Moses’, just before he died. It covers many topics and focuses mostly upon God’s people, the children of Israel.

Moses . . .

I’ve often tried to ‘put myself in his shoes’ and think how this wonderful servant of God was feeling at this time. Unable to enter the earthly Promised Land himself and knowing he will soon leave this life. I am confident he loved those people so much, despite their sinfulness, and his desire was to see them prosper by serving Jehovah and enjoying the blessings that would accompany obedience. Deuteronomy, this second giving of the law, was to encourage and warn the new generation of God’s commandments. It was Moses’ farewell address and reminder.

So in this chapter or song, Moses covers a lot of topics – God’s goodness, warnings, prophecy, encouragement to obedience, etc., and we want to examine this 29^th verse and apply it to our lives today.  Moses speaks of a desire that the people would be wise and have understanding. True wisdom and understanding comes from the Lord, it is God-given. It is critical to understand the Bible and have the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Our focus is the ending of this verse and his encouragement – “ . . . that they would consider their latter end!”. Basically, Moses is saying “Think about and understand your future!”

I see . . .

Moses saw where their actions could and would take them as a people – blessings or cursing - depending on their obedience to the Lord. He loved them and even though many or most didn’t have the spiritual foresight of Moses, he was thinking of their futures when he said these things. Often we fail to heed the call from the Lord, pastors, teachers, and/or true friends who are pricking our hearts with thoughts of looking ahead.

I believe the Bible plainly teaches us that there are choices and consequences in this life which impact this life as well as eternity. One doesn’t have to look very far in the Gospels or New Testament to read what Jesus and others have to saw about rewards. Many seem to not live with an eternal perspective when living and trying to serve the Lord while on this Earth. Our nature is so bent towards instant gratification and microwave results that we miss the big picture.

Earthly wisdom and experiences also prove to us that choices do have consequences in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, we tend to not sit and ponder where we are headed. We don’t know if God will allow us another breath, but it is imperative to consider our future because our choices, actions, and inactions have current and eternal ramifications.  Let me explain  . . .

Do you know?

If you have never spiritually met Jesus or know through an experimental knowledge that you do know Him, then you are not prepared for your eternal future and should consider your fate immediately. Now is the day of salvation! Do not wait until funerals or terminal illnesses to take up this eternally important matter, rather consider and prepare for your latter end!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For those who do have peace with God, this subject of choices and consequences still very much applies and I think it is important for every one of us to give serious thought to the issue. What are you doing today and how does it impact your spiritual future? I stress the spiritual aspect, because the truth of the matter is that all the earthly, physical elements of this life will one day burn away and basically have no eternal relevance. So we try to boil it down to what really matters, because even though I encourage good stewardship with the physical things of this life, you won’t take them with you.

I would like to take you beyond what I would call the ‘basics’, in that my focus of this article is not simply a discussion of an action of sin and consequence (i.e. telling a lie and then being chastised or punished for it). Absolutely sin and obedience have consequences and my assumption is that you know some of the general things the Bible says about these things. My goal, rather, is to put your mind and heart on some big picture items that I perceive is killing the Kingdom work God intends for us to do as His people today.

The road ahead . . .

I am greatly burdened for the generation after me and beyond. Similar to Moses, who was trying to point future generations in the right direction, I hope to have you ponder a few things either in your life or entrust you to study and draw your own conclusions on this matter and teach those following your footsteps these truths. Again, stressing the spiritual aspects of our lives.

Think about what life decisions you are making and how that affects your spiritual future as well as those around you. Don’t be fooled into the lie Satan would have you believe that your choices only affect you. We need not look very far in the Word to see how one person’s actions, good or bad, impacted those around them (Adam, Noah, David, Jesus, etc.). 

Often, we seem to purposely blind ourselves in order that we don’t see the end of our actions. We try to put certain things out of our minds or avoid pondering them for fear of the reality or truth that we know deep down within us. Why do we do this? It’s comfortable and non-condemning. Yes, the old self-justification routine.

Let’s consider a few present-day examples: Where should I (or my children) go to college? What type of career is for me? Does it matter where my job is located? Does God care who I marry?  Are my friends and surroundings a big deal? Etc. . . . Do these decisions really matter? YES! We often don’t stop and think through the logic of these important matters and how they impact our spiritual futures!

Your plans, your goals, your dreams, your thoughts . . . where are they taking you??

Consider the latter end of your present actions and choices! Sadly, many people are picking jobs, schools, spouses which take them away from serving the Lord. Face the truth . . . and take action now, before you spiritually shipwreck you or your family’s life.

Two men . . .

Let us briefly consider the story of Abraham and Lot to make a present-day analogy.  Primarily you should review Genesis chapters 13 (Abraham and Lot separate) and 19 (destruction of Sodom). If you know the story, Abraham and Lot needed to split up due to size of their people and possessions. Abraham graciously gave Lot first choice – “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it well watered every where . . .” (Gen 13:10). So, we take the ‘moral of the story’ as being: Lot used his earthly eyes, saw the better land and chose it.

We wonder if Lot realized the reputation of Sodom’s sinfulness at this time, but regardless, we see the horrible latter end of his decision. Even if he didn’t realize what Sodom was like at first, he quickly learned and should have pulled himself and his family out of there. It cost him a great deal (including his wife – who Jesus reminds us to remember – and a horrible situation with his daughters – which later haunts the entire nation of Israel). 2 Peter 2:6-9 is also excellent reading for the rest of this story. Peter explains how the surrounding sin did vex Lot’s soul and also how God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. We have the advantage of looking back on this story and seeing Lot’s mistake and poor decision(s). Today, we have the Bible and the Holy Spirit with us to guide us. If God shows you the truth of a present situation or choice you are making which is taking you towards spiritual disaster, ask for His help.

One beauty of this story is found in Gen 13:14-17 where God tells Abraham that he is going to give all the land he sees around him to him someday anyway (i.e. didn’t matter what land he or Lot chose – it would one day be his regardless)! Those saved by the grace of God can rejoice regardless of earthly success because of the eternal inheritance we have to look forward to. What foundation are you building upon? Are you building upon the Rock or are you just making sand castles?

Let us hear the conclusion of this matter . . .

Will you live for the present and what you can see or will you live with a latter-end perspective - knowing what truly matters and what will last vs. what will burn away someday?  May the Lord help us all to consider our latter end!

"Let Your Light So Shine"

By J.A. Reynolds

Printed in “The Baptist Star” Vol. 1 No. 3 March 1992

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Two different pictures are painted here by the words of Jesus. One is a city set on a hill. The other is a candlestick topped with burning candles in a dark room. These lights have two things in common. Each is a gathering of individual lights unto one place so as to create the effect of one great light. Each is the elevation of this collective light to a position of advantage to the vision of men otherwise walking in darkness. Neither of these serves a purpose in enlightening anyone while the sun shines in its strength. It is in the night of darkness that the immense value of such lights becomes apparent.

Jesus is the “Sun of righteousness” who arose “with healing in his wings.” (Malachi 4:2) He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5). He is that light which was given to “Light every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9). “for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:7). We may well view each saved soul in this world as an eternal candle flame which God lit in the experience of salvation. That light is housed in “earthen vessels” of flesh, “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” “Ye are the light of the world,” he said to his newly gathered church in view of the fact that he was shortly going away. In the absence of the Sun, the church would have the honor of reflecting the light of God to the world until his promised return. HERE are insructions on how to accomplish that mission, and he finished the brief but weighty teaching with, “Let your light SO shine before men…” “SO” is a small word, likely to be overlooked, which is packed with relevant meaning. “In this manner,” is the meaning of the word both in the original and in the English translation which we read. In WHAT manner? Do it in the manner just described! GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE WITH OTHER ETERNAL FLAMES AND LABOR TO PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A BRIGHT UNIFIED LIGHT TO THOSE IN DARKNESS.” “Ye” means “you all” as they say in the South. It is a plural pronoun which modern English no longer uses. Collectively is the only manner in which we can really be “the light of the world” as Jesus intended. “this little light of mine; I’m going to let it shine…” expresses a noble intention and one not hazardous to the truth IF it only promotes individual zeal. BUT if it suggests personal independence at the expense of the local church body, it needs correction. It falls far short of the intended message of the scripture it attempts to use. It is like so much of modern religion by which the individual efforts of religious men are encouraged, while “one accord” in the local church hardly exists nor does comprehension of spiritual unity of the brethren. You may let your light shine all by yourself, but it will never “so shine” as Jesus instructed EXCEPT IN UNITY WITH OTHERS.

Another slightly different Bible picture conveying the same message is the “woman clothed with the sun” of Revelation 12. All of the innumerable multitude of stars in the heavens shining separately at a distance from one another make but a dim light for the night darkened world compared to the light of the moon fully clothed in the light of the absent Sun. The woman of Revelation 12, a church of Jesus Christ, has the heavenly vantage point of the moon with her great light, all from God, shining in its fullness.

Revelation 1:20 also tells us that a “candlestick” IS a “church”. What a good picture of it indeed! The candlestick is a unified gathering of lights elevated in a dark room to enlighten those close at hand. The city set on a hill is also a unified gathering of lights elevated on a high point of the earth to serve as a becon in the night to those who are afar off.

How can Satan possibly hide the gospel light, through which is the “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” from “Them who are lost” in contest with such a Divine creation? We will use the candlestick illustration to note some of his methods.

(1) He may seek to diminish the light by diminishing the number of candles. A small membership can be a discouraging disadvantage, especially when the remaining faithful ones lament too much over the passing of the “good old days.” Often such declines are a result of a wholly defensive attitude in the church which reveals a lack of charity toward the lost world. Such selfishness will bring little increase from a charitable God. Small numbers laboring in the will of an Almighty God need not be discouraged. With a wise and willing people, God is able and willing to make up the difference as he did for Gideon’s 300, the “feeble Jews” returned from Babylon, Jonathan and his armorbearer, the early church in Jerusalem, and many others.

Other of Satan’s methods of diminishing the light are not so obvious, and, therefore, usually more successful than this one.

(2) Satan may diminish the light by deceiving souls and tempting churches to accept unlighted candles into the membership amidst the others. Such practice has been the gradual road to destruction for countless Baptist churches in the present century. Somewhere along this road of departure from the faith, God removes the candlestick from such mixed communities of worshipers.

(3) Satan may diminish the light by exalting the strength of the worldly flesh of many of the candles. The earthen vessel is opaque. When it is proud, and not broken, it veils the treasure inside. Thus, with each light shining dimly, the worldly church gives out but a dim collective beacon, and little enlightenment for those in her very midst.

(4) Satan may dim the light by removing burning candles from the gathering. The false notion that one can properly let his “light so shine before men” in a solitary setting is a major cause of Satan’s successes against true churches. This notion combines with natural worldliness, laziness, or irresponsible behavior to produce many empty slots atop the candlesticks of the Lord. If one is not in regular company and fellowship with true worshipers in one of our Lord’s churches, he CANNOT let his light “so shine before men…” He is a hindrance to that light while he reserves for himself a place in the membership of the church which he rarely, if ever, attempts to fill. Folks who are absent with good reason do not produce such a dimming effect, for the God who knows all things is well able to make up that difference. In this day of lax discipline one toward another and all toward each one in most churches, simple irresponsible attendance has become a major hindrance in the proper functioning of many of the Lord’s candlesticks.

From the point of view of a pastor who has labored for many years, trying to build up churches in different localities under several differing circumstances, the present characteristic disarray or disunity of local church life is farm more hindering to the cause of God than lack of spiritual character in individual Christians. I have seen children of God who, I think, were comparable to the saints of old, at least in their potential for service. Put these in absolute “ONE accord” operating as “ONE body” shining as ONE light, and THERE will be great power.

How frequently have we heard it preached that Jesus declared that His church IS “a city set on a hill” or a brightly burning “candlestick” in a dark place! What he said was rather a command for us to use divinely provided means to MAKE IT SO. Situate the CITY OF GOD upon a hill with all lights burning! Array the CANDLESTICK brightly! Get every ray of light in UNITY! So may all men see your good works, and “glorify your Father which is in heaven” when our gospel is no longer hidden from their eyes, the glorious light of God in the face of Jesus having eternally enlightened their immortal souls.