Truth Magazine

By Jeffery Kingry

“The Abundant Life”

Jesus noted a bias in certain personalities who put too much emphasis on some matters of truth, while neglecting issues of life much more important to living. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, faith, (th love of God. Luke 11:42): These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matt. 23:23)!

The inference from our Lord’s words is that God requires strict and dedicated obedience in all things, even down to what some might consider “inconsequential.” The Pharisee’s herb garden was so small that most would overlook its first-fruits to tithe. But, the scrupulous Jew made a point of plucking every tenth leaf and berry his small garden might produce, and offering them to God. There is nothing wrong with this painstaking attendance to duty. It is not to be sniffed at: “These things ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

There are those who would lift a haughty brow at the conscientious Christian today – even that brother’s own brethren! But, as Paul pointed out, “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth . . . why dost thou judge thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ . . . so then every one of us shall give an account of himself before God.”

Before God, the strict man who “eats only herbs” because of conscience, i.e., takes a position of practice or belief demanding sacrifice and self-denial in an area of liberty, will be pleasing to God. “He that is faithful in least shall also be faithful in much.” The man, on the other hand, who chooses the position of liberty in every issue to gratify himself, is in danger. “He is a fortunate man who has no misgivings in those things which he allows himself” (Rom. 14:22).

But, the failing of the scribes and pharisees was that they permitted their conscience of rigorous attendance to little matters of faith to blind them to the fact that they were neglecting what was really important in life. Their few leaves and berries were of no practical value to anyone. The herbs offered were of little sacrifice to the giver, the temple could get along fine without the few plants offered, and it is certain that God did not need it. The gift’s importance lay only in what it might demonstrate to God of the giver’s desire to serve Him. But, it did not even reflect that, if the substance of life were ignored.

Modern Pharisees

Human nature and character remains the same, as it has from the Garden. No one is really responsible for sin. It is humorous to note, if the writing in the gospel papers are any reflection of human thought, that no one is a Pharisee today. No one fusses over matters of little importance or consequence to the exclusion of what is vital and significant in ones life. No one tithes his herb garden in print over some matter that touches no one’s life in any meaningful way. All our writing is done on matters of grave and lasting interest and practicality. Just as in the day of our Lord’s walk on this earth, no one is really guilty of His charge of neglecting the weightier matters. Let each man judge his own heart.

What is important? As a writer, this preacher has a responsibility to attend to matters of scruple, but incidentally, and not to the neglect of life. For, life, and its quality before God is what is important. Life is not just existence. We share this life with animals in that sense (Job. 12:10). It is not even eternal existence, for in this we share with all mankind, good and evil (Jn. 5:28, 29). But, life for the Christian must be a quality of existence, now and in the world to come.

Life More Abundantly

Jesus promised His disciples, “I come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Abundantly? How? The word “abundant” means rich, overflowing, filled and contented. It is a full cup, to a thirsty man, that is never empty, but overflows (Psa. 23:5). What are the weightier matters of life? Jesus said “mercy.” “Be ye merciful, as your father also is merciful, . . . Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:36ff).

Jesus promised the brethren fulness of being. He spoke not of some form of drab existence better told than felt. He spoke of a better quality of living now: “Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children; or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundred-fold (now m this time Mk. 10:30) and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:27-30). “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scriptures saith, out of his body shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:37, 38). “Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water I shall give him shall never thirst; But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing forth into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:13, 14).

From this divinely given life shall flow illimitable refreshment to all who are part. God offers divine and complete satisfaction. Not a drink, but a bubbling, leaping fountain of internal abundance.

Do I Have It?

We live in a world of media hype. The paperback “how to” books promise to make us rich, give us sexual fulfillment, inner peace, dissolve away our fat effortlessly, make us muscular or buxom, balance our budget, answer the puzzles of the universe, and produce for us a perfect family. But, they do not. And we have all developed a built-in resistance to promise, lest we grow to hope and disappointment again. There are too many promises that do not deliver.

Some saints approach their Christianity in the same way. It is divorced from any real expectations. It is reduced to easy arguments, proof-texts, pew-warming, and convenient social amenities. We limit “religion” to “spiritual” and miss the whole point that “spiritual” has no meaning apart from living (Jas. 2:12-20. James discusses the practicality of one of the weightier matters of the law: Judgment). In our effort to avoid the “Social Gospel,” we negate too often the fact that man lives in a world that is social, and that man’s needs are met in the gospel as a whole man.

1 recall being “hypnotized” once. The hypnotist went through his routine of swirling lights, low intonations, and then said softly “You are now in a deep trance . . . .” With my eyes closed I remarked in my head, “I am not. When is it going to happen?” The hypnotist told me afterward, “You were hypnotized.” I went along with him, because it seemed to be so important to him, but I was not. And I was very disappointed, because 1 really had wanted to be hypnotised. Many times the following day, I tried in various ways to convince myself that I had been, that I just did not know what it was, but the knowledge was there: nothing changed.

Many Christians are told, “You are living the abundant life” from pulpit, in private, and in print. But in their head they say, “I am not. I am not happy, fulfilled, or confident.” Something is missing, and many are afraid to acknowledge it. Some, in seeking what they feel is missing, leave the faith and chase after touchy-feely, subjective error and doctrine.

Life is more than just the hereafter, the by-and-by, it includes now as well as eternity. The freedom God promised is given only to the obedient Christian to live and enjoy a quality of existence now, as well as after death. Life was given to be enjoyed as a Christian. Many have lost their sense of awe, excitement, joy, expectation. Do you have it? Our next articles in this series will deal with a part of what God instructs in our developing the “abundant life.”

Truth Magazine XXIII: 17, pp. 280-281
April 26, 1979

 

By Steve Wolfgang

South Dakota

While traveling through South Dakota last year, a stop near Rapid City, the Badlands, and the Black Hills provided a delightful visit with Jerral Kay and his wife, and an opportunity, to preach at the Box Elder congregation. This is, so far as anyone seems to know, the only congregation in South Dakota opposing the institutionalism which has swept so many churches in the upper Midwest into unscriptural teaching and practice. A native of Louisiana, Brother Kay was converted while living in Rapid City in 1972. Returning to Texas with the intention of enrolling in a “school of preaching,” Brother Kay met, and was taught the way of the Lord more perfectly, by Brother Bill Lavender (recently added to the Truth Magazine staff): Brother Kay began preaching and returned several years later to the Rapid City area to work with the Box Elder church. He provides the following information, regarding that work.

“Box Elder, South Dakota has been incorporated for 14 years with a population of 650 people. Box Elder is six miles east of Rapid City on Interstate 90. Ellsworth Air Force Base is one mile north of the city limits. We are the only church in the town, but because of our rapid growth, other denominations are now taking a closer look at the town. As of June, 1978 there were 47 members, but because of Air Force transfers to other bases there will be a reduction of about twenty members. The one acre of land that the building sits on is paid off, and the building will be paid in full as of October 1, 1978. The church contributes $400 a month support to their preacher Jerral Kay; the rest coming from faithful churches, such as Imhoff Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas; West Orange, Orange, Texas; Pruett and Lobit, Baytown, Texas; Studebaker Road, Long Beach, California; West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.”

“Rapid City, located in the western part of the state has a population of 50,000. The only other city of any size is Sioux Falls, located in the eastern part. We have hopes of establishing another sound work in Rapid City in the near future. If any zealous, energetic man is willing to work and sacrifice for truth to be established in South Dakota, please contact Jerral Kay, P.O. Box 834, Rapid City, S.D. 57701, phone (605) 348-8884.

There is a great need for a church to be established in west Rapid City (located in the mountain forest), and growing too fast for home builders to keep up with the influx of people moving to that area from all over. There is also a need of a church to be established at Gillette, Wyoming, one of the fastest growing towns in America. One of the largest coal mines in the world is located there.

Next year, in the southern Black Hills town of Edgemont, S.D. there is an expected growth rate of 5,000 a year from the largest uranium mines in North America. Edgemont is being rebuilt from a ghost town which was abandoned by the army in 1958. There are no churches there at this time, except a small Catholic congregation, but all denominations are keeping an eye on this uranium center of the free world. Land was selling for $400 an acre last year, but has increased to $2500 a lot this year. There is much need for men to come to the northwest and labor, for this will be where the growth will be the next twenty-five years.

(This ends the report given me by Jerral Kay who will be leaving Box Elder in the summer of 1979.)

Some Concluding Observations

It is. my feeling that some comments are needful and in order regarding the support of preachers in these areas, though I realize that what I am about to say will not increase my popularity in some quarters. First, I do not style myself as an “official clearinghouse” for information on these areas, and it would be wrong were I to do so or for anyone else to so consider me. Neither myself, Steve Ballou, nor others such as Ron Howes (a friend and former school-mate now living in St. Paul, Minnesota, who has written frequently in this paper, including an excellent article last year surveying the work in the upper Midwest) nor anyone else, whether living in or out of the areas discussed is anything more than a local preacher for a local church. Occasionally I hear remarks to the effect that “So-and-so is the only sound preacher for X million people in three or four states” or something akin to that. Nonsense-he is the local preacher for a single congregation of saints. It may be true that due to the circumstances of geography and the lack of faithful churches in some places that a man may be looked to for influence and guidance by those who may not be in his immediate vicinity – and there is nothing wrong with that, or with any of us extending and using whatever influence for good we may have in every right way. But sometimes we may allow geographic circumstances to blind us to scriptural truths and practicalities. No one – regardless of age, experience or any other consideration – should become a “bishop” figure for anything more than a local church. When we find ourselves thinking, even subconsciously, in such terms, correction is needed.

Second, the matter of supporting preachers, and the related issue of “soundness” should be addressed. Here again, I have no desire or intention of becoming a “control agent” in such matters, though I have been happy to share whatever first-hand information I have with responsible persons or churches inquiring about support. Churches need to develop the practice, if they have not already done so, of making their own investigation of the men they plan to support instead of relying heavily just upon a second party’s say-so. Sometimes this may not be possible or practical, but in all too many instances churches will take a second-hand report without inquiring directly at the source. Face it, just as with anywhere else in this country or the world, there are some unscrupulous preachers and false teachers in the upper Midwest (though it should be evident that none of the men mentioned in this article fall in either of those categories, so far as I am able to ascertain). There are such individuals, however, and churches need to cultivate care about whom they select for support, even as they would take care about selecting a man to do local work with them. At the same time, while there may be some scoundrels and others who are in these areas because some of their teachings and or antics likely would not be tolerated where churches are stronger, there are a good number of men, some of whom are mentioned in this article, who are in these places by choice. These men could, if they chose, move where circumstances would make it easier for them and their families; in short, they could do outstanding work at any church, wherever they happened to go. For instance, the entire Diestelkamp family, Leslie and sons Karl, Al, and Roy, and others have distinguished themselves through the years with work in these and other needful areas of labor. Such men should be well supported and in my estimation there is almost no level of support which could be considered “too high” for men (and their families) of such character and quality who are willing to sacrifice that the cause of Christ might grow and prosper in these areas. To use an illustration Expressway’s support of Brother A1 Diestelkamp in Davenport, Iowa, the elders here selected a man in whom they have the utmost confidence and about whom there is no question of ability or dedication and, after careful and prayerful investigation of the potential for the work, committed a large amount of support to go to that man for that work, rather than doling our $25 at a time to a dozen or more men, some of whom we might not know, in scattered places. Mark it well, I am not saying that the elders here in Louisville become “overseers” of a work in Iowa or any such thing, but through business contacts and frequent trips to that area in connection with their business, and through having children in school in the area, contact is maintained and suggestions can be made so that the work there can be strengthened. This is as it should be.

My broader point is this: The work of men such as Leslie Diestelkamp speaks for itself through a record of more than thirty years; of men such as Al Diestelkamp I can speak with utmost confidence because of the knowledge gleaned in the process of deciding to support him in the work in Davenport; men such as Gary Hargis who has worked in Rochester, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota; and young men such and Carl McMurry in Sioux City, known to me through repeated contacts and work together, I gladly and willingly commend as faithful and diligent workers. However, this does not mean (and this article should not be taken as) a blanket endorsement of every single person working in this area or even of all the men mentioned in the article. Neither should this comment or anything else in this article be taken as a blanket condemnation or reflection upon all or any of these men. It should be taken as a caution and admonition to churches who are not already in the habit of so doing to make their own careful study of men they support and the work they do; it seems to me this is the only sane, reasonable and scriptural policy. Some of these men I know well, and some only through a day’s or an afternoon’s acquaintance and conversation – and I have no intention or desire of being placed in the position of a church supporting or declining support for a man simply on the basis of my analysis of the situation.

There are some additional related problems of communication which should be discussed – but often are not. As an illustration, on one trip in these areas we encountered a man being used, through past personal acquaintance and contact, in a gospel meeting. This particular man now writes regularly for R. L. Kilpatrick’s quite liberal paper, Ensign Fair – no stranger to the readers of Truth Magazine. The brethren at that place indicated when questioned that they were simply unaware of the problem and that it would not be repeated nor would it have happened in the first place had they been aware of the situation. As is often the case, the “brotherhood papers” are simply not read by many in the area (and, though I do not wish to be accused of trying to line up the churches in a “Truth Magazine faction,” a charge I have heard before and will no doubt hear again, let me suggest that anyone who desires to send a subscription to some good, informative paper such as Truth Magazine or Searching The Scriptures to someone in these areas could be performing a valuable service for these brethren). Though I have met some brethren there who are reluctant to admit it, the same problems faced by churches elsewhere (divorce remarriage, law grace, faith works, institutionalism, etc.) are problems in these areas, too – and sound informed, teaching needs to be done on such issues.

Finally, it should be noted that there are some brethren there who (like brethren elsewhere, I suppose) do not take well to criticism even of the constructive sort. It is alright with them for you to leave your family and a local work which needs attention and come and preach for awhile, expecting – and more often than not, receiving – no financial support at all, even for expenses, and then return home to plead with other churches to send support. But you had better not open your mouth to make any criticism whatsoever or, as another writer has said in another context, “You will get blasted!” We have encountered a few brethren who view parts of these areas as their own personal bailiwicks and seem to resent anyone coming “up from the South” to do any work, at least without consulting them first! But on the other hand, there are a good many brethren who gladly invite any kind of assistance or advice and welcome with open arms anyone who will come to the area to assist in the work. The few of the other kind should not deter anyone else from going to work for a week, a month or a lifetime if they so choose, and selfsupporting churches elsewhere in the country who have capable preachers working with them could do a great service by making arrangments to send him, at the church’s expense, to work for a designated period of time in these needful and widely-scattered places. It would be a good experience for that church, the preacher, and the brethren in the area in which he is sent. Do not brush off lightly such requests and other requests for support to go to these areas. Good work is being done, doors are opening; truly, the harvest is great and the time is now.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 17, pp. 277-279
April 26, 1979

By Mike Willis

There are several theories current regarding the establishment of the Lord’s church. Some still hold that the church was established during the ministry of John the Baptist; others hold that Christ established the church during His personal ministry upon this earth. When was the Lord’s church established?

Many of today’s believers know almost as little about the church as do the denominationalists. Some think that the Church of Christ was established by Americans associated with Thomas and Alexander Campbell. Many of the liberals are plainly willing to state their conviction that the Church of Christ is just another denomination. Perhaps the church of which they are a member is just another denomination; I do not know. However, the church of which I am a member does not trace its origin to the Campbell’s. Its ancestry goes back much further than that; it is directly attached to the plan of God Almighty.

The Church In Prophecy

Paul wrote that the establishment of the church was linked to God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:10-11). This forever destroys the idea that the church was established through the will of man or as an afterthought of God because the Jews rejected Jesus. Being a part of God’s divine plan, we should be able to find some references to it in the Old Testament. Searching the pages of the Book, we are not disappointed.

1. The exaltation of the mountain of the Lord’s house (Isa. 2:1-4). The prophet Isaiah foretold the exaltation of the Lord’s house in a day when Judah was to be destroyed and the Temple decimated. He foretold the coming of the “last days” when things would be different. He wrote:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountains of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

There are several important statements foretold about the Lord’s kingdom in these verses. (1) These verses pertain to what shall come to pass in the “last days,” the days identified in the New Testament as those in which God speaks to men through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2), the days following Pentecost (Acts 2:17). (b) The mountain of the Lord’s house would be exalted. Whereas the Temple and Israel were soon to be destroyed, Isaiah foretold the exaltation of the mountain of the Lord’s house (this terminology is used to speak of the church). (c) All nations of people would flow into the Lord’s house. Whereas the Mosaical law prohibited non-Israelites from entering the Temple, Isaiah plainly foretold all nations of the earth flowing to the house of the Lord. (d) The word of the Lord would come forth out of Zion. (e) This new kingdom would be peaceful in nature, unlike a nation preparing for war.

2. The kingdom to be established during the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2:1-46). Space will not allow me to reproduce this entire chapter. hence, I must summarize it. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which Daniel interpreted for him. He saw an image composed of these parts: (a) a head of gold; (b) his breast and arms were silver; (c) his belly and his thighs of brass; (d) his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. As he viewed this image, a stone image which was cut without hands smote the image upon his feet and brake them in pieces. Then, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel explained that the four parts of the image represented four consecutive kingdoms beginning with Babylon. They were identified as follows: (a) Head of gold: Babylon; (b) Breast and arms of silver: MedoPersian Empire; (c) Belly and things of brass: Grecian or Macedonian Empire; and (d) Legs of iron and feet mixed of iron and clay: Roman Empire. As Daniel came down to the fourth kingdom, he staged that the stone cut without hands was God’s kingdom, he said,

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever (2:44).

Hence, Daniel foretold that the kingdom would be established in the days of the Romans kings, that it would consume all nations (compare Isaiah’s “all nations shall flow into it”), and that it would never be destroyed.

3. The kingdom to be established following the ascension (Dan. 7.13-14). During the reign of Belshazzar, Daniel saw another vision pertaining to the same succession of earthly kingdoms. During the Roman Empire, he foresaw that the following would occur:

I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Daniel foresaw one “like the son of man” (Jesus) ascending to (not descending from) the Ancient of days (God). When He ascended to God, a kingdom was given to Him. This kingdom would consist of men of every nation, the dominion would last forever, and the kingdom could never be destroyed.

In summary, the Old Testament tells us these facts about the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom:

Time: Last days; during the Roman kings.

Place: Jerusalem Duration.

Everlasting. Scope: All the world; every nation.

Nature: Peaceful. Founder: Son of Man.

The Time Is Fulfilled

When John the Baptist appeared in Judea, he preached, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2). This simple announcement indicated that the time was near when the prophecies of the Old Testament would be fulfilled. The time of the Roman kings had arrived; at that very moment, Tiberius Caesar occupied the throne in Rome (Lk. 3:1). Yet, when John the Baptist was beheaded, the kingdom had not yet been established; Matt. 14:10 records the death of John the Baptist and Matt. 16:18-19 contains words showing that the kingdom had not yet come.

Jesus began His ministry preaching exactly the same thing that John preached; He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mk. 1:17). He sent the Apostles on the Limited Commission to announce to Israel that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matt. 10:7). In Mark 9:1, He stated, “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” This verse shows conclusively that the Lord’s kingdom, also known as His church (Matt. 16:18) was to be established during the lifetime of those whom Jesus addressed.

Yet, the Son of Man had not yet ascended unto the Ancient of Days, so the kingdom or church was not yet established. Acts 1:9-11 records the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Just ten days later, the kingdom or church was established. The first gospel sermon announced that Jesus was now seated on David’s throne ruling over His kingdom (Acts 2:30-31). Hence, the church was established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The Lord’s kingdom or church was established on the day of Pentecost. In keeping with the promises of God, it has never been destroyed; it shall survive just as long as the indestructible word shall survive inasmuch as the word is the seed of the kingdom (Matt. 13:19). We are part of the Lord’s kingdom today when we receive the word into a good and honest heart, understand it, obey it, and hold it fast.

That being so, let it be understood that the kingdom of which I am a part was not established by Alexander Campbell. All that Campbell did, or any other gospel preacher, was to plant the seed of the kingdom. One might as well think that when Farmer Jones plants corn that what comes up is Jonesites as to think that those who obeyed the gospel under the teaching of Alexander Campbell were Campbellites. The work which Alexander Campbell did in West Virginia is no different from what I am doing in Ohio; he was simply preaching the gospel. If a group of us begin a new church in this area and that church follows the New Testament pattern, it will not be a Willisite church; it will. simply be a Church of God. Anybody who can see through a ladder can see that.

I wish that those who state that those in the churches of Christ are Campbellites would take the time to tell us what we would have to do to become a part of God’s eternal kingdom, the one established on the day of Pentecost. If I know anything about my heart, I know that I want to be a part of the kingdom of heaven. If what I have done in obedience to the gospel has not put me into the kingdom of heaven, I wish that they would tell me what I would have to do to become a part of that kingdom. I have no desire to be a part of any human denomination, whether it be established by Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Calvin, John Smythe, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, or Alexander Campbell. I want to be a part of God’s everlasting kingdom. If what I have done has not made me a part of God’s kingdom, please tell me what I would have to do to become a part of it! If what I am a part of is the Lord’s Kingdom, let us not speak of it as if it were a denomination.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 17, pp. 275-277
April 26, 1979

By Austin Mobley

Our concept of heaven is a “city of gold” with “walls of jasper” derived from John’s figurative language used in, Rev. 21:18. Perhaps one reason we picture heaven in. this manner is that the finite mind can only grasp the things which are familiar. Whatever the reason, our ideas of that eternal city leaves us in awe and stirs within our hearts a burning desire to live forever in that land which is fairer than day. This hope of heaven is the anchor for the soul. It encourages sinners to turn from their wicked ways and causes Christians to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2).

1 am glad to be a child of God! Nothing in the world is better than being a Christian because we have the promise of eternal life in heaven, and this promise is from God who cannot lie (Tit. 1:2). That promise is enough to satisfy the most hungry and thirsty soul.

But Christians have a bonus. We are promised an abundance of rich blessings right here on earth now! Oh, I realize they do not fully compare with the glories of heaven, where all will be perfect. However, that does not minimize the little bit of heaven we can experience every day.

For one thing, we Christians are at peace with God. The enmity that once kept us from Him was removed at the cross (Eph. 2:11-17). This peace is described as that which “passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). His peace reigns within our hearts as we gladly serve in the kingdom, and that is a little bit of heaven.

We also have the privilege of prayer. We can approach the throne of grace with boldness (Heb. 4:16), being assured that if we ask anything in His name, according to His will, it will be granted (1 Jn. 5:14-15). Pity poor sinners separated from God by their sins who cannot petition Him as “Our Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9) on behalf of sick loved ones, or to help in times of tribulation. The blessing of prayer is, indeed a little bit of heaven.

In addition, we have the joy of fellowshipping with the Lord, for Jesus promised to be with us when we gather together in His name (Matt. 18:20). Because we are members of one great family, there is a closeness that only Christians can know. We do not ever need to feel alone. This intimate fellowship in worship and service is a foretaste of that which is to come is a little bit of heaven.

Then we also have the Bible, God’s inerrant Word. Its exhaustless storehouse of truth guides our feeble steps toward that eternal city. Its power helps to conquer the foe. Its freshness lifts our tired spirits as we study and meditate each new day. Yes, it meets our every spiritual need because it is a little bit of heaven.

We have the opportunity of dedicated service. We do not have to waste our lives upon ourselves. We can serve God gladly and, according to opportunity and ability, serve our fellow roan. With every act of. mercy, every deed of kindness, God gives His blessing. Truly, as the Lord said, “It is more blessed to ;give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). These daily blessings received from: God are a little bit of heaven.

Finally, we have the. prospect of the return of Christ (Acts 1:9-11). We know our existence does not end at the grave because the Lord’s resurrection gives us unwavering faith in future life. Heaven is just ahead! Knowing that we can be with the Lord Jesus in eternal glory makes the cares of this life easier to bear. We know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). That is a little bit of heaven.

Add these things up and I believe you will agree that God’s children have a little bit of heaven right here on earth now!

Truth Magazine XXIII: 17, p. 274
April 26, 1979