Truth Magazine

By Raymond E. Harris

The foregoing seems to be the attitude of many today. Such a flippant, devil may care, attitude betrays either ignorance or self-deception and hardness of heart.

In John 5:28-29, Jesus said, “. . . the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

In Matthew 25, we find Jesus setting forth over and over the great contrast between the final state of the saved and the lost. The first of these accounts is in Matthew 25:1-13. Those that were unprepared for the Lord’s return were rejected with the brief and dreadful statement, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”

In Matthew 25:14-30, the “wicked and slothful servant” is sentenced with this blood-chilling declaration, “and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And in the last part of the chapter (Matt. 25:31-46) those portrayed as selfish, insensitive or “just too busy” to be concerned with others are scalded with the pronouncement “Department from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire: prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Hence, no teaching of the Bible is any more emphatic then that which says that the sinful, the wicked and the disobedient will be separated from God and punished eternally.

Consider the statement of John found in Revelation 20:12-15: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of these things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell (Hades, the spirit world, R.E.H.) delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (separation, R.E.H.). And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Some perhaps have never considered the desperate and hopeless state of being eternally separated from God. None of us has ever existed a moment outside God’s mercy and grace. He continues to send the sunshine, the rain, and all man’s needs upon the just and the unjust. But, one day that will all cease. The redeemed will enjoy God’s presence and His blessings forever. But what of the lost! They will be eternally separated from God’s presence, love, mercy, grace and care. To reject and disobey God will bring his eternal justice – damnation!

There will be no light-hearted, sarcastic jesting about God in the everlasting confines of Hell. Just pain, weeping, despair and regret!

Repent or perish! Turn or burn!

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, p. 243
April 17, 1985

By Morris Hafley

We have left the holidays behind us, the days of “Season’s Greetings,” and we now come to the days we could call “Season’s Meetings.” It is the time when you hear Christians say, “You could attend a meeting somewhere every night for weeks.” This is especially true for those who live near or in a large city. However, most Christians are satisfied to attend their meeting and never encourage themselves or others by taking advantage of the opportunity to worship with sister congregations.

While living in Indianapolis and attending meetings held there, we knew who we would see from other churches – always the same faces. These brethren worked six days a week, had children that “had school tomorrow” and somehow still managed to survive. Some of these brethren did not get home in time to eat supper with their families. They ate when they got home at ten o’clock. Can you imagine someone loving the Lord so much that they would miss a meal to hear His word (Mt. 5:6)?

If you don’t know where the building is located, a simple phone call will take care of that excuse.

Your children will survive if they miss an hour or two of sleep, believe me. Let one of the “precious memories” of their childhood be the many times that Mom and Dad took them to meetings. The blessings you will reap from attending these meetings will continue to come. You will gain knowledge from listening to men who are not preaching a diluted doctrine but the pure will of God. You will see men and women baptized into Christ. You “make friends of God’s children.” Your children will see other children their age being faithful to God, which will encourage them.

When the statement is made that “we just don’t have meetings like we used to” reflection is sometimes cast on the preaching in that preachers just don’t preach like they used to. Could the problem also be that we just don’t attend them like we used to? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to worship God with standing room only crowds? Of course it would but that will take the effort of all. Please don’t say, “They didn’t attend our meeting so we aren’t going to theirs. ” That is like the boy who said, “I’ll show that old teacher. I just won’t study for his test.”

Brethren, may we begin to see how blessed we are. Those of you who attend meetings can take someone with you who doesn’t usually go. Let them see what they are missing. Those of you who don’t go, start. Let us have meetings like we “used to.”

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, p. 235
April 17, 1986

By Tom Roberts

Introduction: A common object is often taken as “commonplace” while it actually has tremendous importance in life. Such an object is salt. As a preservative, its use from ancient to modern times is constant. Jesus used its importance to illustrate a spiritual principle about righteousness (Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; Lk. 14:34).

A. We are the salt of the earth (Mt. 5).

B. We are to have salt in us – Mk. 9 (equate with righteousness).

C. If not, worthless; be cast out (Lk. 14).

D. Point of lesson: Christians must have a vital use in society beyond raising moral standards. That which “preserves” us (righteousness) also serves to preserve a nation (Prov. 14:34).

E. God decides when a nation rises or falls (Acts 17:26; Obadiah).

I. Examples.

A. Gen. 6:5-8 – Flood.

1. Noah – an heir of righteousness by faith (Heb. 11:7).

2. Not enough righteous people to save world.

B. Gen. 15:16 – Amorites.

1. God promised Canaan to Abram.

2. Delayed giving it to him for 400 years.

3. “Iniquity of Amorites not yet full.”

C. Gen. 18:23-33 – Sodom and Gomorrah.

1. Note v. 25: “God of all the earth” – not a tribal deity.

2. Ten righteous people would have changed that nation’s history.

3. The power of a righteous life is obvious when viewed from God’s perspective.

D. Israel.

1. Amos 7:7-17; 8:1-7.

2. A plumb line of righteousness will be the standard as with Israel.

3. They were not fit to remain in the land.

E. Judah – 135 years later.

1. Jer. 1:9-10, 13-19.

2. The Holy City was destitute of righteous people even as “worship” continued.

F. Jerusalem – 70 A.D.

1. Mt. 23:29-36.

2. Mt. 24:15-28.

II. Application.

A. We can not know with surety where God will draw the line.

1. Eight not enough in Noah’s day; 10 would have been enough for Sodom.

2. What is the bottom line for a nation like America?

3. What about the church? When will God remove a candlestick (Rev. 2:5)?

B. God still respects the righteous man (Jas. 5:16).

C. What is your influence in the home? church? nation?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, pp. 10-11
April 17, 1986

By S. Leonard Tyler

Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:19, in contrast to being drunken with wine, “But be filled with the Spirit,” and in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” which means when combined: Allow the teaching of the Spirit to fill you heart, guide your thinking, control your speech, direct your actions and fill your life with faith, love, confidence, assurance, happiness, peace and everlasting hope to the overflowing of joyfully singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to teach one another and praise Almighty God.

Singing is very vital to one’s spiritual life. In fact, it should be a heartwarming influence in the assembled church for worship. It demonstrates not only the true spirit of the assembly but also yields a mighty influence upon the minds of those assembled to open their hearts to the truth, wisdom, and admonition offered in this joyful manner. Such an attitude is very advantageous to the acceptance of all spiritual blessings, even truth itself with genuine love. Singing praise with grace in the heart unto the Lord is a most expressive and demonstrative way in which any group can make known truth, wisdom, and the purity of their own faith in an appreciative, joyful manner. it is a wonderful way to express convictions.

We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody unto the Lord. Some have made a big thing of the different types of songs to be sung. But it is rather difficult to determine the terms used sufficiently to definitely distinguish between them. It is accepted that each term originally denoted a distinct kind or type of song, but within one song two or three types are often involved or combined. Psalms are devoted as praise to ‘God such as David’s Psalms, but hymns are also deeply emotional and devoted to God. Spiritual songs, perhaps, are more exuberant, moving in spirit but may be highly devoted to God in praise and admiration. It is the combination of all the deep feelings and loving emotions one has for God and his great desire to make known to others what being a Christian means to him, as well as transmitting the wonderful message to others for their salvation.

We recognize that many religious leaders in a desperate effort to find scriptural authority or justification of their mechanical instruments in worship call attention to the fact that in the Old Testament originally “sacrifice” implied animal offerings. But we inquire, does that authorize or justify animal sacrifices in acceptable worship under the New Covenant (Rom. 12:1)? The response is definitely negative, “No.” Then would psalms being sung with musical accompaniments under the Old Economy justify the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship under the New Covenant? The answer is definitely negative, “No.” We are living under the New Testament today and not the Old. The instrument upon which we are to make melody is the heart (Eph. 5:19).

Psallo means a plucking, twitching, to pull and let go again, or the vibration of a string, per usual in the Old Testament usage, mechanical instrument. However, in the New Testament we are told very plainly what the instrument is upon which we are to make melody; it says, “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” It is “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” or “teaching and admonishing one another.” This can not be done with a mechanical instrument to play the melody. The Lord did not practice or teach any such thing; neither did His apostles. In fact, no instrumental mechanical music was ever a part of the New Testament church’s worship. Historically, this statement stands. We mean with the approval of the doctrine of Christ. If it is, please give chapter and verse for it. “But it does not say not to have it,” some respond. No, neither does it say, “not to have ham and coffee on the Lord’s table.” Does that justify ham on the Lord’s table? Remember our faith stands in what the New Testament says, not in what it does not say. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with grace in your heart to the Lord is one great and effective way to demonstrate the fulness of spirit and richness of truth which fills the heart with the deepest feelings of love and purity of life. It is demonstrative of praise and thanksgiving to almighty God with emotions seasoned with truth.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 7, p. 212
April 3, 1986