Truth Magazine

By Daniel H. King Sr.

We all have many choices to make in life. Most are trivial and a few are significant. When we wake up in the morning we may puzzle over which breakfast cereal to have, or whether to have cereal at all. A lady considers which color lipstick to wear today, which dress to put on, and which type of shoes is best for today, heels or flats. Tomorrow we probably won’t even remember how the decision turned out. Many such inconsequential things are thought through and decided by us on a daily basis. We hardly recall the result from one day to the next.

Occasionally, however, we must decide about important things. So many have been the trifling issues in our lives, that if we are not careful, we may tend to treat them as trifling also and not give them the care and attention which such vital matters deserve. The determination to become a Christian is an issue of such consequence that most of us give it much thought and reflection before making the commitment.

This decision puts us into the “house of God” of which Paul speaks in 1 Timothy 3:15. But how much thought have we given to whether we shall be a vessel of honor or of dishonor in that house? In the second epistle to Timothy, Paul considers this question in Timothy’s case. For, Timothy, you see, was making daily decisions which determined which type of vessel he would prove to be in God’s house:

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work (2 Tim. 2:20-21).

The Lord’s house is a great house, not a small one. It is composed of people of all types and descriptions. And, like a grand mansion which has special fine china bowls in which to serve the most dignified guests, so is God’s house. Yet that same great mansion has also a lowly bowl for feeding the dogs, and a container for holding the trash. The point which Paul is making is that we may choose what type of vessel we are to be in the Lord’s house, whether unto honor or dishonor. And, just because we have decided to be inside the house does not mean that we have also decided to be a vessel of honor. The two are not necessarily the same.

Who, then, is that person who is a vessel unto honor in the Master’s house? Here are the apostle’s thoughts on the subject:

1. The Man Who Purges Himself Of Sin. “If a man therefore purge himself of these…” writes the apostle. “Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness,” he had said earlier (v. 19). And later in the chapter he said, “But flee youthful lusts…. (v. 22), and `But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse..: ” (v. 23). His point is that you do not put the trash in the fine china. If there is trash in it, then it is not a vessel of honor. Nor do we feed the dog in a sterling silver vessel. If the dog is fed out of it, then it is not a vessel of honor. How it is used and what is put into it determines if it is a receptacle of esteem or of contempt. But Paul does not stop there.

We need to see ourselves in that light. If our lives are filled with the practice of sin, then we are vessels of shame. If, on the other hand, our lives are purified from these shameful things, we may be suited for service in the Master’s house.

2. The Man Who Is Sanctified. The idea of sanctification, mentioned in this context and elsewhere by the apostle Paul, is no great mystery. The notion is actually rather simple, though the word is intimidating to some of us on account of the eccentric, and even sometimes bizarre, interpretations which have been forced upon it by theologians. All it means is that something or someone is “separated,” “set apart” or “set aside” for special uses. Most Bible dictionaries and lexicons define it as “to separate from the world and consecrate to God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God.” That pretty much says it all. In the Old Testament such items as the tent of meeting (Exod. 29:44), the holy altar (Exod. 29:36), the offerings placed upon it (Exod. 29:27), the Sabbath day (Neh. 13:19-22), and the whole nation of Israel (Exod. 19:5, 6) were sanctified by God for his special uses.

The root from which the word “sanctify” comes is the same as that from which the word “saint” is also derived. We are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place” (1 Cor. 1:2). Do we see ourselves as living to please ourselves or to please the one who “sanctified” us?

3. The Man Who h Meet For The Master’s Use. The NIV renders this line as “useful to the Master.” A person who loves God wants not merely to be identified with him, but to be useful to him, helpful in his purposes and his work. Each of us has talents which may be beneficial to the cause of Christ, but whether they will be “useful” or not is another question. A hoe or shovel which has a broken handle is not very useful in the garden. A rake with many loose tines will not serve its purpose well in raking the yard. Likewise, a Christian whose life is not in proper order cannot be “useful to the Master.” This will ever be a matter of priorities. “Christ has no hands but our hands to do his work today, he has no feet but our feet to lead men in his way…” When we recognize that we, in the church, are the Lord’s only workers today, it becomes the more important that we live up to our responsibility to be “useful to the Master”!

4. The Man Who Is Prepared Unto Every Good Work. The vessel which can serve a useful purpose in the service of the Master is the one which is ready to hand. A container which is hidden in the deep recesses of a closet or a cabinet will not be of much value. Neither will the one which is still enclosed in the fancy box it came in, stored safely in the attic. The vessel of honor, the Master’s “favorite” is the one which is ready for use when work needs doing.

Every cook has her favorite pots and pans, often well used, and sometimes dented and scratched in the process. They may not look like something the TV chefs would use, but she would not part with them at any price. A new frying pan or kettle would have to be “seasoned” and that might take several weeks or even months. The old one is ready for work. It needs no preparation because preparation is al-ready over. As God’s people we go through a similar process. We are at first clumsy and of little use in the Lord’s kingdom. Over time, though, we become more and more useful if we have weathered the preparation stages as we should. This is where we need to be heading, so that we may be “vessels unto honor” in the service of our God. Once prepared, we need to remain ready, prepared for every opportunity to do good.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 14-15
January 5, 1995

By Samuel Csonka

Several weeks ago the church in Angleton where I worship received a letter entitled “From where came Hell?” This six-page letter indicated that the writer had done a great deal of studying on Hell. He recounted the definitions of Gehenna, Sheol, Hades, and Tartarus; he discussed usages of the Greek words apolummi and phthora, and our English words life, death and destruction; then, he concluded with “six major evils” of our teaching on Hell. He didn’t sign his name or give a return address, but I assume that he is a “brother in Christ” by some of the comments in the letter. He said, “If I put my name, I may not be allowed to preach or teach.”

My first thought, after skimming over the letter, was to throw it away. But, after thinking about it for a few days, and re-reading it a few times, I decided to challenge his position in writing. Hope-fully, he will find this rebuttal the same way (I assume) he found the addresses of the many churches around the country to which he mailed his letter.

The following is a summary of his letter along with my thoughts about his doctrine.

Gehenna

First, as “brother Anonymous” looks at gehenna, he cites several passages in which the word is found: (1) Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5, (2) Matthew 18:9 and Mark 9:43-45), (3) Matthew 23:15-33, and (4) James 3:6. He mentions its derivation from the Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem, and concludes his point by saying that Gehenna was only used as a symbol of fire and consumption. He retorts:

Fire is never used by God to torment, but for destruction. Matthew 3:12  `… gather his wheat (the saved) into the garner, but he will burn up … the chaff (the lost) with unquenchable fire.’ Do we not teach the exact opposite, not burn up (consume completely and destroy as the farmer does the chaff), but burn (torture) forever? Matt. 7:19 worthless trees are `cast into the fire’ . . . Trees are cast into the fire to burn up, to get rid of them, not to be tortured forever.

In his remarks, our anonymous “brother” suggests that spirits can burn up like wood or paper; but, the Bible never indicates such. Also, he forgets that five of these passages are parables that do not describe what will literally happen; but, explain in the closest terms the things which will take place in the spiritual parallel.

Gehenna is described in the Bible as a place of unquenchable fire “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mk. 9:44). It was a real place into which people could be cast (Matt. 5:29-30), not just a one-time event. In fact, with reference to torment, Revelation 14:9-11 says and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone . . . and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.” Souls would not burn up, but would continue in flaming torment for eternity.

Hades

Second, as “brother A” looks at hades, he accuses us of confusing it with hell. He makes this point about Luke 16:19-31:

If this is not a parable, and the rich man and Lazarus are real people, then Abraham is also a real person, but now in the place of a god. Is he not? No, for this is a parable, not a true story. it is also when the rich man had brothers living on the earth, not after the judgment, therefore couldn’t be what we call `hell’ as no one will be in our `hell’ until after judgment day.

But, we can see who is confused. As any Bible student will affirm  hades is not hell. Jesus said to one of the thieves before they died, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”(Lk. 23:43). Did our Lord not know where he was going? Acts 2:27 says in reference to Christ . . . You will not leave my soul in Hades.” Along with the previous verses, Revelation 20:13-15 make a clear distinction as to the difference between hades and hell.

On top of these facts, I also affirm that there is no reason why Luke 16:19-31 should be viewed only as a parable. Whether it is or isn’t has no bearing upon what is implied by the story, and cannot nullify the application. Though the men died, they spoke, were cognizant of their situation, and had feelings of torment or comfort. Abraham was not a god, but was mentioned there because he was the lather of the faithful, and the Pharisees would have understood that.

Apollummi

Next, in delving into the usages and definitions of apollummi and apoli, he makes several points based on an inconsistent usage of the Greek words, even though he himself points out the proper definition. “Brother A reveals:

. . . it is translated destroy, perish, lost, lose, die all from the same Greek word. Bottles perish (Matt. 9:17). Losehis reward (Matt. 10:42). Lost sheep (Mart. 15:24. Gold that perisheth (I Pet. fl7). These things will not he tormented forever, but will come to an end. Yet, when the same word is used for people – . . we teach they will not and cannot come roan end, but must live forever in torment”

First of all, when he says they will “come to an end,” what does he mean? Were the bottles, gold, and sheep annihilated or vaporized into thin air? No, they were ruined, lost, or made of no use. Therefore, spirits would not realize a loss of being, but of well-being. They would be in a state of detriment, and not annihilation. But, rather than having the wicked souls eternally tormented as prescribed by God, “brother A” would have them vaporized after Judgment. This idea of annihilation certainly does not come from the Scriptures.

Phthora

Again, he uses phthora which means corruption, perish, and destroyed to mean vaporized or annihilated. He simply decides on his own definition and then uses it freely to fit his purposes. Every time he sees these words he automatically thinks annihilation or vaporization. He starts with a wrong assumption and reaches a wrong conclusion.

Life and Death

“Brother A” then brings into the argument a few paragraphs on Life and Death. But, his views of physical and spiritual life versus physical and spiritual death are not scriptural. For a definition of physical death look at James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead “Physical death is the separation of body and spirit. With reference to what happens at death, the wise man in Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Now then, whats spiritual death? It is separation also. We are spiritually dead when, as Isaiah says, Your sins have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:2). Sin separates us from God to make us spiritually dead. Thats why in Romans 6:11,13 when we die to sin, we are made alive again to God. But, “Brother A” doesnt agree with the Scriptures. He says,

“First death is of the body, the end of it. Then second death must be like the first or it is not like the first  the end. We teach spiritual death! the second death is being separated from God. Then (1) there is a place where God is not at, therefore He cannot be God in that place. (2) There is in this place life without God. This makes two reasons he cannot be God. Maybe we need to relook at our teaching. Spiritual Death is not in the Bible, but a very big part of our speaking where the Bible is silent, and not saying Bible things in Bible ways.”

Can you see what he has done? He makes spiritual death and the second death the same, when they are not. He also does not see that physical and spiritual life are two different forms of life as physical and spiritual death by baptism or repentance, if he is still physically alive. One cannot return, though, from the second death. I believe he still has trouble with the difference between life and death both physically and spiritually because he says this:

“With the view I had for many years, I had a hard time with this verse (1 Cor. 15:23, sic). (I) My I soul could not be dead, so could not be made alive. (2) My body, flesh and blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven. (3) The only answer was that at death the soul of a sinner would be alive some place where God is not at, but must be dead (according to my definition of death separation from God) in order to be made alive at his coming. All this does not make much sense tome now, but did then as it was necessity to support our view of death.”

Also, in this section, he mentions Matthew 25:46 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and how they must be a once-for-all-time punishment. He says,

Is this a destruction that will be bit by bit, but will take forever? No. It is a destruction (or punishment) that will be final, and will last for eternity.”

He believes that spirits will be annihilated; gone forever and never to return again. But, what does Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 say? “They shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” It will not just be one powerful zap from God and they’re gone forever, but continuous torment and agony.

Six Major Evils

Finally, in his `Six Major Evils’ of Hell he claims that our doctrine (1) slanders God, (2) makes Christ’s death, not a death, (3) means that death is not real, (4) means there is never a victory, (5) makes the resurrection impossible, and (6) is the cause of atheism or stumbling in many. He also states:

“The God of the Bible is a God of life and justice, not as our teaching makes him  sadistic, fiendish, cruel, evil, and in character much like Satan.” … “Satan has had many victories: (1) the Catholic church, (2) the Protestant divisions, (3) the Christian church division, (4) the liberal division, (5) etc. etc… but the invention of `Hell’ may well be his biggest one. And we preach his lie!”

He certainly doesn’t leave us guessing about his position.

What the Bible Says

So what is the scenario of gehenna and hades as taught by the Bible? Upon physical death the spirit departs and the body goes to the ground (Eccl. 16:19-31; 2 Pet. 2:9). A final judgment will be made (Matt. 25:31-46), after which the wicked will suffer eternal punishment (Rev. 14:11; 20;10), and the righteous will enter into heaven.

Now, the eternal punishment is due to the severity of sin and God’s hatred of it. He promised punishment, and no matter how hard we try to imagine it away, it will still be there. That’s why the Scriptures mention the following verses: “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2.12); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31); also, “. . . since it is a righteous thing for God to repay with tribulation those who persecute you …. (2 Thess. 1:6). God is a God of justice, love and tender mercy. Eternal torment shows the vengeance of a just God upon sinful souls; and, Christ’s sacrifice shows he loved us enough to provide a way to be cleansed from sin, and escape the consequences.

In conclusion, remember that “Brother A” calls hell an invention of Satan; and he believes that anyone who preaches it is a liar. That apparently means Jesus was a liar when he said, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33) Here are five other “Major Evils” of his doctrine of Annihilation:

1. Slanders God  It infers that he is not really a God of justice, and that the wicked will not indeed be punished as he promised. You make God a liar, “Brother A”!

2. Christ’s death was vain  There is really no reason to be saved from sin if there are no consequences to be saved from.

3. The apostles were liars  You assert that all those who taught that hell was a place of torment and retribution were liars. If they were not really inspired by God we might as well throw out the Bible!

4. The cause of Atheism or stumbling in many If there is no Hell, we might as well live-it-up (eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we get zapped!).

5. A victory for Satan  Satan has had many victories: (1) denominations, (2) liberal divisions, (3) religious cults, (4) etc., etc., but, the invention of this doctrine of annihilation may well be his biggest one!

For all those who have believed and preach Satan’s lie  May God have mercy on your souls at Judgment Day.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 16-18
January 5, 1995

By Paul K. Williams

In 1957 in debate with a preacher of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I argued from Ephesians 4:7-13 that Jesus gave spiritual gifts to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers until we all attain to the unity of the faith. I argued that since the New Testament contains the faith (Jude 3), the church came to the unity of the faith when the New Testament was completely written, and therefore the spiritual gifts were no longer given. I paralleled this passage with 1 Corinthians 13:10 and 11. It made a strong argument which the denominational preacher could not answer.

But I no longer make this argument because I don’t think that is what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 4. I abandoned the argument with reluctance, but honesty has compelled me to do so. In this article I want to examine my previous argument and show what I believe Ephesians 4:13 teaches.

MacKnight’s Comments

Of the denominational commentaries in my library, only James MacKnight takes the position that I have outlined. He says:

“13. These supernaturally endowed teachers are to continue in the church, until, being fully instructed by their discourses and writings, we all, who compose the church, come, through one faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect manhood as a church, even to the measure of the stature which when full grown it ought to have; so that the church, thus instructed and enlarged, is able to direct and defend itself without supernatural aids.”

“Ver. 13. To a perfect man.  The apostle having represented the Christian church under the idea of Christ’s body, ver. 4., he here speaks of it as in a state of childhood, whilst its members were few in number, and imperfect in knowledge; and told the Ephesians, that the supernaturally endowed teachers were to continue in the church, till it was so enlarged, and so well instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, as to be able to direct and defend itself without any supernatural aid. This advanced state of the church, the apostle termed `perfect manhood,’ and `the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;’ at which when the church arrived, the supernatural gifts of the Spirit were to be removed as no longer necessary.”

I took this argument from brother Roy Cogdill, and I am guessing that it originated in these comments of MacKnight.

Problems With This Position

1. The first problem is that it is not possible to prove that the gifts of these verses refer exclusively to spiritual gifts.

The words “gift” and “gifts” are found in verses 7 and 8  “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, `When he ascended on high, he led captive a host of captives, And he gave gifts to men”‘ (NASB). If you read carefully you did not find the word “spiritual” in front of “gifts.” We know from these verses that Christ gave his gift of dying on the cross, or it can mean all of the things which he gives to us as undeserved gifts. We know also that when he went to heaven “he gave gifts to men.” What are those gifts?

Verse 11 says, “And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.” The flaw in my reasoning was that when I read that passage I understood it to mean “He gave some gifts to the apostles,” etc. But the verse does not say that. It says that Christ made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, etc. The New King James translates: “And he himself gave some to be apostles.” The NIV says: “It was he who gave some to be apostles.” What Christ gave to us, according to verse 11, are the men and offices described. These men are charged with the duty of equipping the saints for the work of service (v. 12), thus all of us receive grace to do the work God has assigned through the instructions and examples and oversight of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

The work of the apostles and prophets required direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Their work is finished, and inspiration and the signs to prove they were from God are no longer given. Yet the apostles and prophets are still in the church  they are part of the foundation (Eph. 2:20) upon which we must build. Just as Jesus, our head, is part of the church, so also are the apostles and prophets, even though they are no longer bodily upon the earth. The gifts of apostles and prophets are gifts which we still enjoy and which cause us to be equipped for the work of service. Through the New Testament which they revealed we are able to be complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

That some evangelists (Acts 8:13) and early elders (Jas. 5:14) possessed spiritual gifts is clear, but neither the qualifications nor the work of these offices required that each one have the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Evangelists and teachers are made by teaching (2 Tim. 2:2), not by the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the qualifications for elders (1 Tim. 3 and Tit. 1) include nothing which requires a supernatural gift. Therefore when Jesus gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, he was not necessarily equipping them all with spiritual gifts. He gives everything necessary to their work.

2. The second problem is that the work described of these men is work which must continue until the end of time. Verse 12 says, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” Saints constantly need to be equipped and will until Jesus comes again. Our work of service continually goes on in order that the body of Christ should be built up. Paul is not writing about something which would soon be terminated.

This work is not completed simply by putting the written word into the world. That was the main work of the apostles and prophets. If that was all there was to it, there would have been no need, then or now, for evangelists, pastors and teachers. The written word must be preached, taught, exemplified, enforced. This is a work which will never end.

3. The third problem is that in verse 13 the description of the condition of “all” is a description which shall not be attained short of heaven. Read: “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.” This is not the same condition described in 1 Corinthians 13:11 as “when I became a man.” In Ephesians Paul is talking about the perfected condition of “all.” The work of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, plus the work of the saints (v. 12), is so that we all can attain the unity of the faith and the maturity which belongs to the fulness of Christ. This work is to continue until that perfection is attained.

When will that be? Do you suppose that Paul witnessed it in his lifetime? Have you witnessed it in any congregation, or even in your own life? This is the ideal toward which we must all be working, but it will not be attained until we reach heaven. Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become prefect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). And so say we all.

Therefore the gifts Christ is giving to us, and the work of the men and women who are workers in the church are to continue until we reach the perfection which will only be reached in heaven. This is a way of saying that this work will continue until the end of the world.

Conclusion

The subject dealt with in Ephesians 4:7-13 is not the duration of spiritual gifts. In these verses Paul is writing about what Jesus has given us so that we may be equipped for the work of service. These gifts, which are the offices described in verse 11 and the work of the saints described in verse 12 plus all that is necessary for these men and women to do their work, will continue until the perfection of verse 13 is attained in heaven.

When we understand these verses we will praise God for giving us everything needed in the church for being built up unto perfection. We will not seek to add offices or organizations he did not give because we will know that everything we need has been given. We will be encouraged to work hard under the directions of the apostles and prophets as taught to us by evangelists, pastors and teachers until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 1 p. 19-20
January 5, 1995

By Mike Willis

One of the hardest things to do is to forego today’s pleasures for greater good tomorrow. Who has not tried dieting? Everyone knows that he needs to control what he eats today for the better goal of a lesser weight. But when the cake and ice cream are served, to refuse to eat for the greater good tomorrow is hard to do. What is true of such physical things is also true of spiritual things. To voluntarily endure today’s sorrows for a better tomorrow  a home in heaven  is not easy to do.

Jesus did this when he voluntarily chose the cross. Hebrews 12:2 exhorts us to look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He saw beyond the suffering of the cross to the eternal joy with the Lord.

So also did Moses. The writer of Hebrews says, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24-27). Moses was willing to forego the pleasures available as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter to receive the greater riches associated with the “reproach of Christ.” He “had respect unto the recompense of the reward” and therefore forsook Egypt to have heaven.

This is the same principle Paul is emphasizing in Romans 8:18. He said, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Consider what this verse is teaching.

The Sufferings of This Present World

We serve no good in denying that there are sufferings in this present world. There are plenty of them and they come in many different forms. We live in a sin-cursed world, a world that was cursed because of man’s sins (see Gen. 3:17-19; cf. Rom. 8:19-20). As a result of this we witness such sufferings as the following:

1. Physical problems. The curse that fell on man was to return to this dust, because God said, “for out of it west thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19). Because death has come to man, he faces the sufferings attached to it. We face the ravages of the diseases that lead to death. Each of us knows someone who has endured horrible sufferings because of disease. I watched two of my close friends and some of my relatives endure the sufferings of death as a result of cancer. The vigor of life was stolen from them and their physical bodies were eaten by the parasite that ultimately killed them. The pain of their sufferings was not limited to physical pain. Watching their bodies deteriorate and losing even the ability to go to the bathroom by themselves were hard to accept. We do no one any service by denying the reality of these sufferings.

2. Earning a living. Many people suffer in trying to provide for their families. They know by experience the “thorns and thistles” that make providing a living difficult. Some are unemployed through no fault of their own. Others are in dead-end jobs that pay so little that they cannot provide adequately for their families. Many go without the benefits that others enjoy in their comfortable jobs with many fringe benefits and have nothing to look forward to but an old age with nothing to live on but social security.

3. Emotional problems. Many have a difficult time coping with life’s realities and suffer from depression or anxiety. Some become so emotionally distraught that they are committed to institutions because they lost touch with reality. Some of the problems are physically caused by chemical imbalances that even the doctors do not fully understand.

4. Suffering for Christ. The sufferings mentioned above are the common lot of all men. We who are Christians do not escape them. Rather, our lot is to bear another level of suffering added to those born because we are men. We sometimes are called to suffer for Christ. Paul warned that “all who live godly will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus foretold that many would be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt. 5:11; cf. 10:18, 39; Mark 10:29; 13:9). Our sufferings are different from those of previous generations. Some early Christians lost their lives for Christ. Nonetheless, we do endure suffering for Christ. We have been belittled in classrooms as “Bible thumpers,” ostracized from a social group because we would not laugh at their jokes or approve their foul language, mocked by TV programs who portray Bible believing folks as narrow-minded bigoted little idiots, and such like things.

These are some of the sufferings of this present world and no one needs to tell us about them because we know them through experience.

Not Worthy to Be Compared

When the sufferings of this present world are placed beside the glory to come, Paul said that they are “not worthy to be compared.” That means that our present sufferings are so little in contrast to the glories of heaven that, by comparison, they are mere triflings, They are insignificant.

How can I know this? Certainly I cannot know this by experience. I have never been to heaven to see how its glories compare with the sufferings of this present world. This I can know only through revelation. The God who made us is the one who has revealed to us that the sufferings of this present world are nothing when compared to the glories of heaven. W. Oliver Cooper wrote “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All” to emphasize this point.

Often I’m hindered on my way,

Burdened so heavy I almost fall;

Then I hear Jesus sweetly say;

“Heaven will surely be worth it all.”

Many the trials, toils and tears,

Many a heartache may here appall;

But the dear Lord so truly says:

“Heaven will surely be worth it all.”

Toil and pain I will endure,

Till I shall hear the death angel call:

Jesus has promised and I’m sure

Heaven will surely be worth it all.

Heaven will surely be worth it all.

Worth all the sorrows that here befall;

After this life with all its strife,

Heaven will surely be worth it all.

The Glories of the World to Come

Let us consider what God’s revelation tells us about the world to come.

1. The absence of things that make earth life painful. John described heaven by saying, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4). What a beautiful picture this displays about God. As a parent, I often have wiped the tears from by daughter and son who scraped their knees while playing. I would take them on my lap, wipe away their tears, minister to their needs, and kiss the hurt away. When life is over for me, God will take me on his knees and gently wipe away the tears of my grief and suffering, reassuring me that there will be no more death, sorrow and crying. The things associated with pain are gone.

2. The absence of sin. Heaven is a place where sin does not exist. Impenitent sinners have no entrance into heaven (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15). In heaven we will not suffer the inhumanities that sinful men commit against each other. We will not awaken to the radio’s report of another homicide in our city, a rape on the east side, a robbery downtown, or a war in some country that causes starvation and death to hundreds or thousands. These things will not exist in heaven.

3. To dwell with the Lord. David looked forward to dwelling “in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6). Asaph expected that God would guide him with his counsel, and “afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24). John described heaven as the Lord tabernacling with men (Rev. 21:3). Jesus promised that “where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). What a blessed hope this is to know that “face to face shall I behold him.” Indeed, that “will be glory for me.”

When all my labors and trials are o’er, And I am safe on that beautiful shore, Just to be near the dear Lord I adore. Will thru the ages be glory for me.

4. Access to the tree and water of life. Heaven is described as a place where man has access again to the tree of life (Rev. 22:2, 14). The tree of life was originally in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve ate of it they could live and not die. The Lord drove them from the Garden so that they no longer had access to the tree of life. By telling us that we will have access again to the tree of life in heaven, the Lord is describing the eternal nature of our inheritance. Indeed, this will be a land in which “we never grow old.” I therefore wish for men to

Sing to me of heaven, sing that song of peace,

From the toils that bind me it will bring release;

Burdens will be lifted that are pressing so,

Showers of great blessings o’er my heart will flow.

Sing to me of heaven, let me fondly dream

Of its golden glory, of its pearly gleam;

Sing to me when shadows of the evening fall,

Sing to me of heaven, sweetest song of all.

Conclusion

Indeed, the sufferings of this present world, real and painful as they are, are not worthy to be compared to the glories of the world to come. So let me renew my strength and rise above the struggles that pull my soul downward.

Just a few more years

With their toil and tears,

And the journey will be ended;

Then I’ll be with Him.

Where the tide of time

With eternity is blended.

I’ll exchange my cross for a shining crown,

Where the gates swing outward never:

At His feet I’ll lay ev’ry burden down,

And with Jesus live for ever.

Don’t become discouraged and lose heart, like you do on your dieting program. Fix your eyes on the goal before you and keep on serving the Lord.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 2 p. 2
January 19, 1995