Truth Magazine

By Jady W. Copeland

To be a success in life, one must overcome certain barriers that get in the way. In the decade of the 1930s there was an athlete named Glenn Cunningham who was badly burned in an accident. The burns were so severe that the doctors told his parents he probably would not walk again. But he did walk, and he did run. In fact, years later, he became the world’s record holder for the mile run. He had to overcome many barriers with faith, determination and work.

The Christian life is like that; there are many barriers that have to be overcome if we expect to be successful. Ultimate success is to be saved eternally. Like Joshua and Caleb in the report of the spies that went into Canaan, we must have faith. After Caleb had stilled the people he said Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). Our strength coming from the Lord (Phil. 4:13), we can “possess” the land.

There is a story in Luke 19 of a small man by the name of Zacchaeus that well illustrates the points we want to make in overcoming barriers. Zacchaeus was a publican and he was rich (Lk. 19:1-10). Publicans were the tax gathers; collection points for the Roman government were located in Caesarea, Capernaum, and Jericho, but Jericho was an important point of tax collection for Zacchaeus was a “chief publican.” Publicans represented the connection link between the Roman government and the people, and their reputation was not the best. In fact, they were classified with sinners (Matt. 9:9-13) and with harlots (Matt. 21:31-32). On one occasion Jesus was passing through Jericho where he lived and worked. Zacchaeus was short in physical height, but he was so determined to see Jesus as He passed that he climbed up in a tree for a better vantage point. He was determined to see Him. Taking this familiar story, let us learn some valuable lessons as we draw several analogies to the life of Christians and non-Christians.

The First Barrier: A Bad Reputation

Not being popular with the people, he had to overcome the barrier of his reputation. Perhaps there was some justification for the ill-will of the people toward the publicans, and also some prejudice on the part of the Jews from whom the taxes were collected. Nevertheless, the barrier was there. He must overcome that to see Jesus. He would not let what others think of him as a person keep him from seeing the Lord. Littleness in a person often comes out when he gives excuses for not obeying the gospel, or for not doing more in the work of the Lord. “I would do more, but I simply cannot work with Brother Know-It-All.” Or, “If that is the kind of ‘Christians’ they have in ‘that church’, then I want no part of it.” Yes, such excuses for disobedience and unfaithfulness are heard. Sometimes there may be some truth to such statements, but shall we let the sins of hypocrites keep us from 44seeing Jesus”? The attitude of our Leader presents a far different attitude. On this occasion, knowing how the Jews felt about publicans, Jesus told the little man to come down, for He wanted to go home with him. Jesus was not afraid of the Jews and what they might think; He saw the possibility of saving a person from sin. Such an attitude of fear of what others think keeps some disciples from their duty and gives them a “soft” attitude toward the gospel. Giving in to social pressure causes some to drink, curse and commit adultery. While we must guard our reputation, we must not let such pressures keep us from our duty to God and “seeing Jesus.”

The Second Barrier: Riches

One of the greatest evils of the Lord’s people today is materialism. Zacchaeus was rich, but still he was determined to see Jesus; he would not let this (as is shown in verse 8) hinder him. Yet today, we see thousands of Christians letting material things hinder them (in varying degrees). A contrast may be drawn between Zacchaeus and the rich man of Mark 10:21ff. When Jesus told this person to sell what he had and come follow Him, he went away “grieved” (NKJ) for he was rich. When Zacchaeus heard Jesus, he was willing to give half of his goods to the poor and to repay those he had overcharged fourfold.

Why are riches so hard to overcome? First, because they bind us to this life. We can see no further than this world and thus rely on the material possessions for happiness. But they soon fade. Secondly, they tempt us to gather more wealth, trusting in that rather than spending precious time in the Lord’s service. Thirdly, they are a hindrance because they promise luxury, popularity and status, all of which is so fleeting. Some brethren even think large contributions will substitute for personal service to God. Have you ever heard of people who said, “I can’t preach, but I surely can make money, and I will pay you to preach.” While this may be commendable, does it substitute for personally teaching friends and neighbors? Money (whether we have little or much) gets in our way of serving the Master.

Middle-income families want their wives to work so they can have more. The man gets two jobs so they can have a nicer home. We insist that the youngsters work to help pay the mortgage payments. So the wife working is not home when the children come home from school, and coming home to an empty house, they look around for things to do, and wind up on drugs, hooked on TV (most of which is filth), or without parental guidance, find their way to other types of promiscuity. Then when the child gets to be 15-18, the parents come to the elders or preacher and want to find out where they went wrong. While the parents were “church-goers” and “we took them to Bible school,” they neglected the most precious possession – but why? Because the wife was working, or the father was too busy to take time with the kids. Not all evil looks evil, does it?

The Third Barrier: The Crowd

Since he was little, the crowd got in his way. It is ironic that often those who also want to see Jesus get in the way of others. They don’t mean to do so, but with their careless lives and hypocrisy (like the Jews in Jesus’ day), they hinder others from seeing Jesus. This reminds us of the story of Mark 2 where the man borne by four had to be taken through the roof to get to Jesus. The crowd hindered, as they themselves were crowding around to see Him. When a man in an East Texas town was asked to attend a meeting, he asked his friend if that was not the church that Mr. So-and-So attended. When the brother answered in the affirmative, the non-Christian said, in effect, “If that is the type of people you have there, I don’t believe I want to be a member.” The person he mentioned was one of the “leaders” in the small congregation. Furthermore, many “good” people keep others from the kingdom by neglect. They simply never mention Jesus to others, and, therefore, keep them from seeing Jesus by default. They may be receptive to the gospel if taught.

The Fourth Barrier: Physical Size

Because Zacchaeus was small, he had to find a way to overcome this. He climbed up into the tree. Today many have physical handicaps, and some let them hinder, and some do not. Sometimes racial or ethnic backgrounds serve as a hindrance, but the Christian that is black, or from a different section of the world, will not let the prejudices of the whites (obviously themselves wrong) keep them from serving God. One of the finest families we have in the congregation where I preach is black, but he doesn’t let the prejudices of a few keep him from seeing Jesus. This does not excuse the white person, and they will have to answer to God for that sin, but the black person must not let such sins of others keep them from Jesus. I knew a man in my youth that preached all over our part of the country in spite of the fact he was paralyzed from his waist down. He was an able proclaimer of God’s word and led many to the truth. Many would have let this keep from service, but not this man. I also know a man who cannot speak a word due to physical condition, but he writes tracts and distributes them to good advantage.

How to Overcome Barriers

The barrier of a bad reputation can be overcome by knowing and realizing who we are. We are the children of God, and a greater privilege cannot be named. Regardless of what others think of me, I want to serve God and “see Jesus” eternally. “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.” If people are prejudiced against you, that is their problem. They need to realize that “God is no respector of persons” (Acts 10:34). But can I afford to quit the Lord because of what others think? Can I afford not to worship because some belittle my clothes, my speech, or my physical deformity?

The barrier of wealth can be overcome by a determination to give. This can be done when I realize that “I can’t take it with me.” We need them to read Matthew 13:22 over and over again. In the parable of the sower, the seed in the thorns represents the ones who are deceived by riches. Materialism is eating the church alive. We deceive ourselves into thinking we are giving enough. We deceive ourselves into thinking we help the poor, when we make no sacrifice at all. We deceive ourselves into thinking we have to have more, when in reality we want more and are simply selfish about it. Hundreds of appeals go unmet each year by thousands of churches because brethren don’t give as they are prospered; and they don’t give because they drive cars worth $15,000 when they could get by on cheaper ones. They live in homes worth $100,000 when a smaller one would serve as well – if pride didn’t get in the way.

The barrier of the crowd can be overcome by getting a higher viewpoint. Often we pay too much attention to the unimportant things, and leave off the weightier matters. Zacchaeus was not too dignified to climb up a tree to see Jesus. Whether the townspeople would think he was a little boy and doing a very undignified act didn’t seem to bother him. Yet today, clothing (or lack of fine clothing) and other examples of false pride get in the way of seeing Jesus. Read I John 2:15-16 again and think.

Finally, the barrier of physical disadvantage can be broken by giving thanks to God for what we are and what we have. Brother Curtis Porter was a small man physically and did not have the greatest voice in the world, and for years he lived with a blood disease that he knew would take his life. Did he let it hinder him? He was one of the greatest men and greatest preachers and debaters of our time. He had faith. He had love for God. He knew who he was, and he was thankful for what he had. We often feel sorry for ourselves. We are prone to give up if we don’t have the greatest of advantages. Be thankful for what you have, and what you are. It all starts with faith. God being our helper, let us all determine to see Jesus (in our faith now, and in eternity after death). With His help, we can overcome all hindrances, and do good in His service and finally “see” Him throughout the ages because of His goodness and mercy extended toward us.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, pp. 688-690
November 21, 1985

By Frank Jamerson

When we think of attendance, we usually think about bodily presence. Though this is involved, the Bible includes much more than that in the use of this word.

The word prosecho appears twenty-four times in the New Testament and is defined by W.E. Vine as: “to take heed, give heed, is said of the priests who ‘gave attendance at the altar,’ Heb. 7:13. It suggests devotion of thought and effort to a thing.” It is translated by the English words: “attend to, be given to, beware, give attendance, give heed, have regard, and take heed.”

The queen of Sheba went to observe the wisdom and wealth of Solomon. “And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her” (2 Chron. 9:3,4). The “attendance” of Solomon’s ministers surely involved more than their physical presence. She was impressed with their actions, their devotion.

The Hebrew writer, in discussing the priesthood, said: “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood” (Heb. 7:12-14). The priests who “gave attendance” at the altar, did not simply stand near-by. They served, or devoted themselves to offering sacrifices.

Paul admonished the young preacher Timothy to “let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:12, 13). Again, the word “attendance” means more than bodily presence. He was to devote his attention to, to concentrate upon, the word of God.

We often wonder why those who have been exposed to so much Bible teaching can remain so ignorant of truth. It may be that they have not really been in “attendance” at all! Physical presence and lack of devotion are often found in the same person.

What do visitors see when they look at our “attendance”? Are they impressed with our devotion, as the Queen of Sheba was with the “attendance” of the ministers of Solomon? More importantly, what does God see when He observes our “attendance”? Are we simply present in body, or are we really in attendance?

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, p. 690
November 21, 1985

By Raymond Harris

It is truly the folly of follies to suppose that there will be no resurrection, no judgment, and no eternal life.

In John 5:28-29, Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in 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.”

Hence, you cannot change reality either by disbelief or self-deception! “. . . it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.” Jesus said,” When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matt. 25:31-33). And in Rev. 20:13-15, the Apostle John wrote, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, everyone of them according to their deeds. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (N.A.S.V.)

My friend, life is short, death is sure, and eternity is certain. Today is the day of God’s mercy, grace, and salvation! God has done His part to make your salvation possible. Now it is up to you. What is the condition of your soul?

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, p. 691
November 21, 1985

By Wayne S. Walker

Permit me to tell you the true story of a lady of my acquaintance who is, or was, a member of the Lord’s body. I know she was a member of the church because I baptized her into Christ the very first Sunday I preached for a congregation with which I formerly worked. Both of her parents and her brother had obeyed the gospel before her, continue to be faithful Christians, and are still good friends of mine. When she responded to the invitation, she had already married a man who was not a child of God and had a couple of children, but this did not seem to interfere with her being regular in her attendance.

After I left the church, she decided to identify with another congregation closer to her home for convenience sake. She even asked that I write a letter to the brethren informing them that she had been baptized and was a member in good standing for the congregation where she had been worshiping. Health problems of her own and those of her children made attendance difficult on occasion. But the last time I talked with her she seemed to be very happy where she was. And the brethren there spoke well of her.

However, I recently had opportunity to speak one night for that congregation in a lecture-type meeting. When I asked the local evangelist how my friend was doing, I was quite shocked when he responded that she was now going to a Catholic church! Several brethren had been to visit her. When the preacher talked to her, he pointed out that she had not been raised to believe that way. Her reply was, “That is what I believe now.” Members of her own family have even pleaded with her but apparently it has all been to no avail. At this writing, the church is contemplating disciplinary action against her.

Why would a seemingly faithful Christian with years of background “in the church” do such a thing? I do not know enough about all the details of the situation to answer that question with any degree of assurance. But I do know that her mother-in-law was a strong Catholic and her husband was raised as a Catholic. Sometimes the pressure just becomes so strong that it seems easier to give up than to continue fighting. That may have happened in this case and her faith was not strong enough to resist. Someday she may, like the prodigal son, come to herself, repent of her error, and be restored to the Lord. But by that time, her now small children may grow up, marry Catholics themselves, remain in error for the rest of their lives, and be lost eternally. Such will be a source of great grief to her.

May I take this as an opportunity to encourage every young person who is a Christian to marry a child of God. Experience testifies to the wisdom of this course of action. Either marry someone who is already a faithful member of the Lord’s church or else make sure that your prospective mate obeys the gospel before you agree to wed. Not long ago a man wrote to Ann Landers saying that he had married a smoker whom he thought he could persuade to quit. After nineteen years of marriage, she smokes more than ever. Ann replied, “If something bothers you during courtship, it will become unbearable after marriage. ” What you cannot do before the wedding you are unlikely to accomplish afterwards.

The same is true in religion. “If you marry a child of the devil, you are bound to have trouble with your father-in-law. ” Or, as the example cited shows, you may end up losing your own faith as a result. You may retort, “Oh, that will never happen to me.” It has happened to others who undoubtedly said the same thing. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). Please, do not take a chance with the souls of your possible children, your spouse, and yourself. Make sure that your home is united in Christ. This is the best way to avoid innumerable problems and the only way to have the hope of being together in eternity.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, p. 687
November 21, 1985