Truth Magazine

By Ron Halbrook

We are more occupied with life than death, but the reality of death forces itself upon us. Death gets our attention because of diseases, accidents, surgeries, and the loss of loved ones. Schools and communities are shaken by natural disasters and the death of young people. The nation focuses on death during wars, assassinations, terrorist activities, and wrecks and crashes involving large numbers of people. “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting,” because death teaches important lessons about life (Eccl. 7:1-4).

How did death enter the world? God created man to live, not to die, and made every provision to sustain life (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:7-9). God warned that sin would bring death. Sin brought death first spiritually  as guilt, shame, and separation from God  and then physically  as pain, decay, and the separation of man’s spirit from his body (Gen. 3). Death was the result of Satan’s work and man’s choice to sin, not God’s design or desire.

Man struggles to understand the seasons and cycles of life and death. Solomon puzzled over the inexorable march of such times and seasons: “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up”  on and on it goes (Eccl. 3:1-15). Man as the creation cannot fully resolve the riddle of life and death. “Though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it…. but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time” (Eccl. 8:16-17; 9:11-12). The unanswered riddles and puzzles of life and death test our character and our faith in God.

We can know we were created for God’s purposes, not our own (Rev. 4:11). “For of him (origin), and through him (agency), and to him (purpose) are all things” (Rom. 11:33-36). No matter how many riddles and puzzles we see, God is in control of the universe and of our existence. Since he made us as free moral agents, we can choose to obey or disobey him, but we cannot escape the consequences of our choice. Therefore, it is foolish to argue with God or to resist his will. Our defiance will not change his purposes or harm him in any way but results in self-destruction.

Is death the end? Job observed, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” He noted plants are cut down and grow up again, but man does not, and so he posed the question of the ages: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:1-15). Jesus Christ is the resounding answer, Yes! After spending three days and nights in the grave, he arose and left it empty. Angels told the women who came to the tomb, “Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:1-6). His resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection, thus we may sing, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:51-58).

What happens when we die? The Hadean world receives our spirit when it leaves our body to await the resurrection. Jesus proved the spirit survives the death of the body to await the resurrection. He rebuked those who denied this truth as “not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” He quoted as proof God’s statement concerning the patriarchs who were long dead, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This proves the spirits of the patriarchs are still “living” though their bodies are in the grave (Matt. 22:23-33).

In the last great day, all the dead will hear the voice of Jesus and come forth from the grave: “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). Thus, it is evident that life on earth is a testing ground which prepares us for eternal life or eternal punishment. Our attitudes and actions are constantly examined by God in view of the final Judgment. What a sobering thought! Can we know what he wants or expects of us in view of the Judgment to come? Or, are we left to speculate about such momentous matters, and to devise our own standards and expectations?

What Does God Want of Us in This Life?

As we struggle with the challenges of life and death, the most challenging question of all is this: What does God want of us in this life? God answers that question in the Bible. He has made it clear from the beginning until now that he wants our love, trust, and obedience.

Adam and Eve were commanded to care for the Garden of Eden, to enjoy its fruit, but not to eat “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”  a tree which drew the boundary between good and evil. When they ate of that tree, they were driven in shame from the Garden and suffered the ravages of death (Gen. 2-3). Later, God commended Abraham as one who “will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment” (Gen. 18:19). That is what God wants of all men.

The Bible is full of passages summarizing what God wants of us. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). Our love, trust, and respect for God are shown by obeying his word. Though God commands formal worship, he also teaches us to translate our worship into daily action. At all times and in all situations, we are to “hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate. . . . let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:15, 24).

When God taught the Jews to bring animal sacrifices for sin, he made it clear that “thousands of rams” were no substitute for sincere, daily submission to his will. “He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mic. 6:6-8). Life is brief and uncertain, filled with “labor and sorrow.” Knowing our time is short, our prayer should be, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:10-12). We find God’s wisdom in God’s word.

Jesus summed it all up in these words:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).

All the commandments of God teach us the true meaning of love for God and for our fellowmen. To violate God’s word is to violate that love.

Knowing we have sinned and yet wanting us to be saved, God desires all men to hear, believe, and obey the gospel of Christ. Christ died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. On the basis of that faith, we must repent of all sin, confess Christ as God’s Son, and be immersed in water to receive pardon through his atoning blood. Truly, God “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9; Acts 2:38; 8:37-38).

When we obey these first steps of the gospel, God adds us to the church of Christ and then teaches us how to worship him and how to live for him each day. Thus, he redeems us from the destiny of hell and leads us to an eternal home in heaven. Ultimately, that is what God wants  for us to spend eternity with him in heaven! That, dear friend, is the real meaning of our existence, the final purpose of life and death on earth. Let each of us ask himself, “Am I living according to God’s purpose and will for my life? Am I pre-paring to be with him in eternity?”

Guardian of Truth XLI: 9 p. 14-15
April May 1, 1997

By Mike Willis

The church at Thessalonica manifested such good qualities that Paul held them up as an example. He said that they were “ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia” (1 Thess. 1:7). What were the attributes of that church that made them an example to others and caused Paul to commend them?

They Received the Word of God

The church at Thessalonica received what Paul preached as if it were the words of God instead of the words of men. Paul said that they “received the word of God which ye heard of us, … not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). They learned that rejecting the words of an inspired apostle is the same as rejecting the words of Jesus. “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:8).

These saints understood that the Lord had committed the word of reconciliation to the apostles and, therefore, they were ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21). They received the ambassadors of Christ and by so doing also received Christ.

Their reception of the word of God caused a change in their lives. They “turned unto God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-10). Would to God that men everywhere had the same willingness to receive the word of God as did these saints in Thessalonica.

They Persevered in the Face of Affliction

The establishment of the church in Thessalonica was accompanied by fierce resistance. Luke tells us that Paul and Silas taught in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, resulting in the con-version of “a great multitude” of devout Greeks (God-fearers) and quite a few chief women. The Jews became jealous and stirred up a riot against the Christians. They involved the local authorities in their assaults (Acts 17:1-9). After this riot, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica.

When he wrote his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul took note that they had “received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thess. 1:6). Soon after leaving Thessalonica, Paul sent Timothy to see how the brethren were surviving. He was concerned that the persecutions would cause some to depart from the faith, even though he had told them beforehand that these troubles would come (I Thess. 3:3-4). Timothy brought back the good news that the brethren were maintaining their faith in God in spite of their afflictions (I Thess. 3:6-8).

Because of their faithfulness in the face of persecution, this church was an example to others. “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (I Thess. 2:14). Lesser saints would have wilted under the pressure, but not the good saints in Thessalonica. No wonder they were an example to others.

They Loved Each Other

When Paul exhorted them to certain forms of conduct, there were some things they did not need to be taught, because they were already known for practicing them. One of them is their brotherly love toward each other. Paul said, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (I Thess. 4:9-10).

One of the marks that men are children of God is their love for one another. Jesus told his disciples just before the crucifixion, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if he have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

This brotherly love showed itself in the actions described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8  longsuffering, kindness, not en-vying one another, not vaunting oneself, not being puffed up, not behaving unseemly, not seeking one’s own, not being easily provoked, thinking no evil, not rejoicing in iniquity but in the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things, and never failing. No doubt these brethren rejoiced with those who rejoiced and wept with those who were wept (Rom. 12:15).

They Sounded Out the Gospel to Others

Another reason the church at Thessalonica was commended is that they were a missionary church. They were not content to build their building in the nicest part of town, pave their parking lot, and install padded pews. They were interested in the souls of men. “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything” (1 Thess. 1:7-8).

Far too many congregations lack vision in spreading the gospel. Perhaps some become content just to “keep house” for the Lord. In some local congregations, a subtle death is occurring. Churches that are not baptizing new members are slowly becoming older in age. Here is the scenario that will occur for such churches. There will be fewer children present. As the church grows older and its members begin dying, a group of elderly Christians will be left. As one by one they go down the valley of the shadow of death, the church will dwindle until only a handful is left. A church that is not converting people needs to address why this is occurring and correct its problems.

Other churches may be doing very well in their own personal development but lack vision in taking the gospel to others. The numerous appeals that others send for support are ignored. Money can always be found to work on their building, but none is generally available to provide support for a preacher working in some hard place to get the church established. No wonder the church at Thessalonica was and is such an example to others. They wanted to support gospel preaching and send out preachers to other parts of their state. Does the church of which you are a member have this vision?

Conclusion

Let’s learn from the example of the church at Thessalonica to improve our own service to the Lord. Perhaps the Lord will speak such commendable words about us on judgment day as Paul wrote about the church at Thessalonica.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 2
April May 1, 1997

By Jim Gabbard

There is very tragic irony swirling around the recent cult suicides in San Diego. We are constantly reminded from many quarters that we have arrived at such a sophisticated and high level of evolution that we are beyond believing in the myths of ancient religions which beset our poor ignorant forefathers. Yet the further our high courts and our rulers and teachers lead us away from our religious base and the more we come to accept their high sounding proclamations and court rulings to the effect that there is no God, the weirder the beliefs of many people become. Who but people with terribly cluttered up emotional landscapes can believe that one can kill one’s body, then hitch a ride on a rocket, hidden behind a comet which is 122 million miles away from planet earth, in order for the soul away from our religious base and to ride on into heaven!

How long has it been high sounding proclamations and (1962) since the Engel vs. Vitale Supreme Court ruling to the effect that there is no God, the weirder the permitting prayer in public beliefs of many people become. schools was a violation of the First Amendment to the constitution. Yet most young people, knowing nothing of the content of the First Amendment, took that ruling to mean that God has no place in the lives of modem man.

It is the contention of many thinking people that it is the Supreme Court ruling and its enforcement, that is actually in violation of the First Amendment, which says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

It may be that Congress has made no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion but the Supreme Court and many educational institutions, including public schools, most certainly have. But that is not the point of this essay.

A well respected professor of English, who is well known to me, taught at Western Kentucky University for years and constantly argued that the further the leaders of the people led them away from their religious base, the more dangerous it would become. That teacher was a prophet in this respect. Look at juvenile crime and juvenile criminals. Look at the increasing numbers of young people using dangerous drugs. I have no actual statistics right here before me, but I do read good newspapers on a daily basis; I subscribe to three national news magazines (two liberal, one conservative) all of which I read in a good measure of detail. I spend at least one hour early each morning on the “web” checking out the news. I also am alive, active and, I think, alert, and I see what is happening every day before our eyes. I overhear the filthy language of young people which leaves me limp.

I taught secondary school a few years in southern California in the early I 980s and was frequently grossly sickened by what I saw and heard. Young, beautiful girls from respectable families were using filthy language and smoking “pot.” Their mothers would not hear a word of it when I tried to tell them, but rather screamed shrill insults back at me telling me they knew their children much better than I did, only to come crying the blues when their little darlings turned up pregnant. I didn’t see anything like that anywhere when I was a secondary school student. I read and hear about and see “teen crime” and “teen criminals” every day. I didn’t see anything like that when I was a teen-ager back before the liberal surge. I could go on and on much longer in the same vein if it did not pain me so, but I think you now do get the point of this essay.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 10 p. 1
April May 1, 1997

By Lance Bailles

You’ve seen it on bumper stickers, business cards, and baseball hats. It’s that little fishy thing, that’s right, the one that sometimes has those funny looking letters on it. To many people, it has become as much a symbol of Christianity as the cross itself. But what does it mean? What are those funny letters? And, what difference does it make?

There’s a name for the little fishy thing: Ichthus (pronounced “ick-thoose”), which is a Greek word for “fish,” and is the one and same word spelled by those five funny looking letters that often appear on that symbol: IXOTE. Those five letters, in turn, each stand for five words that confess our Lord: “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.”

We don’t know when all this got started, but it was al-ready well established both in the East and the West by the latter half of the second century. By that time, the fish was appearing on sarcophagi, rings, seals, and catacombs used by Christians, and the earliest direct evidence for “the fish” with its accompanying letters is from slightly before the year A.D. 180 in the eighth Sibylline Oracle (SibOr 8.217).

That explains the when, but not the why. This does: Some-where around the year A.D. 200 an influential writer named Quintus Tertullian wrote a short treatise on baptism for the benefit of those who were studying in preparation for it at his local church. In this, he makes the remarkable observation that “we as little fishes, in accordance with our IXOTE (ick-thoose: fish) Jesus Christ, are born in water” (On Bapt. 1). So, the little fishy thing is a confession of Christ, but it confesses Christ as a symbol of new birth in the water of baptism. In fact, the baptistery itself used to be called a Piscina (fish pond) by the Latin writers in those early days.

Here’s why this is worth knowing. Most of the people who decorate their T-shirts with that little fishy thing don’t believe that baptism in water is necessary for the remission of sins. Yet, they proudly display the very symbol that confesses the necessity of water in being born again. So, the next time you see a guy sporting that little fishy thing, walk up to him and ask him if he knows what it means. From there you can discuss baptism and start a Bible study with him if he is open to it.

Being a soul winner for Jesus takes a lot of nerve, and it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve and a few good lead-ins. The little fishy thing is everywhere. If you use it as a tool to reach lost souls, it will help you get started with many folks whom you would otherwise not know how to approach.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 9 p. 7
April May 1, 1997