Truth Magazine

By Terry F. Sanders

The story is often told in the newspapers and news reports. It is a story of tragedy in which we all are touched with sadness. It seems that a house somewhere caught on fire. In the house was a typical family of four – a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter. The house burns to the ground, a tragedy. Yet, if the house burns to the ground with the family still inside, it is a tragedy of greater proportions.

To make a point, let me add some details to this story. While the house is burning, the family remains inside. The fire department, police, and other people involved in fighting the fire begin to cry out, “Come out of the house! Escape while you can! Get out now!” The family then comes to the window and shakes their heads and reply, “No, we will remain inside the house and fight the fire from the inside! If we come out now we could do little good. So we will remain here and do what good we can inside!”

How tragic! How pathetic! To think of the foolishness of that family remaining inside a burning house and actually thinking they were doing the correct thing. While this story is imagined (to the best of my knowledge and the sincerest of my hopes), another similar story is quite true. The story goes something like this:

A family is attending some church where unscriptural teachings and/or practices are holding forth. Their “house is on fire,” so to speak. Perhaps many others have identified the problem and found out that it could not be headed off. Perhaps these same ones left. They are attending elsewhere at a place where people believe in following the New Testament as a pattern for all things. They turn to those left behind and cry out, “Wherefore, come ye out from among them, and be ye separate (emphasis mine, tfs), saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17). Those who are left behind reply, “No, we will remain here and work from the inside! We will do what good we can! We will remain although we do not approve of some of the things going on here!”

How sad! How inexcusable! To think that people recognize error and then stay among it when they can easily see that the die is set. So many times the excuses are pathetic. “We have many friends here, our children like it here, we have some family here,” etc. And let us not forget the best one, “It doesn’t make any difference anyway!” Since when did any one thing that a church did or taught not make any difference to God? Isn’t God interested in what we do? I think so.

Can you see the sad end in both of these stories? The family that stayed in the burning house perished unnecessarily. The family that stayed in the apostate church will be, I fear, woefully lacking in the day of judgment. Because the Lord says to be separate, they will have no reason for remaining and fellowshipping what they know to be wrong. Staying inside to fight error might seem to be a noble thing, but it would be a terrible price to pay for such with your soul and the souls of your family.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). Think about staying in a place of danger, but don’t think very long. Salvation is now (2 Cor. 6:2).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 4, p. 117
February 21, 1991

By Keith Greer

Just by the mere fact that we live in Las Vegas, with gambling not only legal but a very lucrative industry here, there are many temptations placed before us to participate. Even if we stay completely away from “The Strip,” there are slot machines in virtually every grocery store in town. One has only to stand in a grocery store line and watch a child begging his mother to go home – while she just keeps putting one quarter after another in the machine – to realize that gambling is not the “fun little pastime” that many would have us to believe.

Gambling is one of the most difficult sins to recognize. There are those who want to gamble and want to prove that it is correct in the sight of God. As we go through our study, I would like you to consider some questions that you should ask deep within yourself and answer according to the Scriptures.

(1) What is good about gambling?

(2) What is attractive about gambling that entices so many to want participate?

(3) Does gambling damage your example and influence as a Christian?

Gambling, by definition, is “to play a game for money or other stake. . . Hence: to take money or other thing of value upon an uncertain event; to hazard; wager” (Webster’s N.I. Dictionary). There are two essential elements involved in gambling.

(1) The “stake” (one must win at the expense of another);

(2) The element of “chance.” (If you play, then you have the chance to win or lose.)

One of the reasons that many have trouble seeing anything wrong with gambling is the fact that it is accepted, in some form, in virtually every part of our society.

Many denominational and secular groups, not only approve, but also arrange gambling operations to raise money for some “worthy cause.” Such events as bingo and “Monte Carlo nights” bring funds to various organizations which hide behind the “good” that this money does. Here in Las Vegas, much publicity is given to the contributions that the gambling industry has made to our schools in the form of revenues.

Presently adopted by one-third of our states, lotteries have become an “acceptable” means for governments to raise revenues without calling for a tax hike.

Regardless of what others are doing, as Christians we are to “abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:22-23). If the Lord comes today, are you ready?

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 5, p. 129
March 7, 1991

By Mike Willis

Shortly before departing this life, Jesus offered this intercessory prayer in behalf of the twelve apostles:

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine . . . . And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (Jn. 17:11-15).

These Scriptures show Jesus’ concern for the apostles following his departing from this life.

The Dangers

There were legitimate reasons for Jesus to be concerned for the apostles, and the rest of God’s children. The world is a hostile environment; all that live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus was aware that persecution would soon break out against the saints, even as the ungodly world would crucify him the next day.

Too, there are other temptations of the devil which threaten and endanger the souls of men. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life tempt men to sin (1 Jn. 2:15-17). The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches distract men from God’s service (Matt. 13:22). The Lord was as concerned for his apostles as a father would be for his child if he were walking through a snake pit.

Jesus was leaving the apostles. His time of earthly sojourning was over. He was to begin a different relationship with the apostles than they had previously known. For these reasons, he was concerned about their future safety.

The Father To Whom He Committed the Saints

Jesus entrusted the saints to the Father’s care. He did not entrust them to some uninterested nanny. Even as an earthly father watches over his children, so also does the heavenly Father watch over his children. As our children play, they sometimes are unaware of their father’s watchful eye. The father may sit back watching the child trip and fall, knowing that this is the manner in which he learns to walk; but when real danger threatens, the father is there to give the protection the child cannot provide for himself. So also, the heavenly Father watches over his children. (See the Scriptures which emphasize the Lord’s watchful care over his children: Psa. 17:8-9; 121; Ezek. 34:11-16; Isa. 27:2-6; Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-29; 18:9; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jude 1,24; 2 Thess. 3:3.)

God’s keeping does not keep us from suffering physical ailments, persecution, temptations and death. Rather, God keeps us from the evil one (Jn. 17:15).

How God Keeps Us

The Father’s keeping of the saints must be understood to be similar to that keeping which Jesus provided for the disciples when he was present with them (Jn. 17:12). Jesus’ keeping did not violate the disciples’ free will, did not release them from personal responsibility (cf. 1 Jn. 5:18 – they were also responsible for keeping themselves), and did not prevent Judas from apostatizing (17:12; Christians can fall from grace [Gal. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:20-22]). Nevertheless, Jesus kept the apostles through his teaching, exhortations, and care for them.

Here are some of the things which the Father does to keep his saints.

1. Providence. God acts in his providence to keep us from sin. Jesus taught us to pray that the Father would lead us from temptation (Matt. 6:13); Paul promised that God would be faithful to protect us from temptations we are unable to bear (I Cor, 10: 13). Peter promised, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Pet. 2:9). He kept Abimelech from sinning through marrying Sarah, the wife of Abraham (Gen. 20:6). The Lord works providentially to keep his saints.

2. Provisions. The Lord has provided these other things which work to keep the saints saved: (a) His word. The word of God was provided to enable men to persevere (Acts 20:32). Through its teachings, we are alerted to the dangers which threaten our souls (cf. Psa. 119:11,105,130,133). (b) The church. The congregation of God’s people was provided for saints to provide spiritual encouragement to one another (1 Cor. 12:26). (c) Worship services provoke us to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25). (d) Mature Christians provide a good example for us (Heb. 13:7). (e) Elders watch over the souls of saints (Heb. 13:17). Many people are not “kept” because they willfully turn away from what God has provided to keep them.

3. Restoration. Still saints stumble into sin. God’s provisions for our souls do not stop when we sin. He commands spiritual men to restore us (Gal. 6:1). He is patient to give us time to repent (2 Pct. 3:9; Rom, 2:4; Rev. 2:21). He graciously forgives us our sins when we confess them (1 Jn. 1:6-9). We see God’s working with David when he fell into sin (2 Sam. 12). After David committed adultery and murder, God gave him time to repent, sent Nathan to rebuke him, and graciously forgave him his sins. These provisions are part of God’s keeping of his children.

Man’s Insecurity

Some Christians feel insecure about their salvation. They ask, “What will happen to me if I am faithful to the Lord for 30 years, stumble into sin, and die immediately?” The very question presupposes a world view different from that described by the Bible. It pictures the Christian living in a world guided and directed only by chance and fate. This world view does not include a concept of God in control of all things, watching over and caring for his children.

Stemming from the incorrect view of the world, men have invented various systems to give a child of God security (such as continuous cleansing). Rather than finding security in the nature of the sins committed (through weakness, ignorance, or inadvertence instead of high-handed rebellion), Christians need to place their hope in the God who is keeping them.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber . . . . The Lord shall preserve thee from evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore (Psa. 121:2-3,7-8).

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about (Psa. 17:8-9).

God is “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory” (Jude 24). His children are “preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1). Saints are “kept by the power of God through faith” (1 Pet. 1:5). “The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thess. 3:3).

I find my assurance and confidence in my Heavenly Father who watches over my soul and keeps me. All the while, I recognize my own responsibility to keep my own soul. The same apostles who recorded Jesus’ prayer that God would keep the apostles also wrote, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 Jn. 5:18).

Conclusion

Man will never be lost as a consequence of a deficiency of God’s grace. God will provide for us what we cannot provide for ourselves.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 4, pp. 98, 119
February 21, 1991

By Rodney Pitts

Sensitivity is a very good trait to develop because it is needed in order to help others with their problems. A person who is insensitive to those around him is a difficult person to live with and adds very little to the good of those who must associate with him. But, too much sensitivity, especially when it concerns one’s own problems, can be a very serious flaw in one’s character. Such sensitivity will hurt the growth of a Christian and will usually gender strife and stagnation within the local church.

The reason this is true is that too much personal sensitivity (often times centered in pride) undermines the very nature of Christianity and the church. As Christians we should always be seeking to grow in our understanding and living of the life which is revealed for us within the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:18). No Christian, no matter who he is, will ever reach a point of growth which is beyond correction from his brethren and the Word. Even the apostle Paul stated that he had not reached such a point, but was “press(ing) toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:12-14).

As brethren, we are to attend to the problems and weakness of one another in order to assure that all will be judged worthy of heaven when the Lord returns. Paul has stated it this way: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). Yet, this is too often interpreted in our own minds to mean that we should be able to explain to our brethren what their problems are, while forgetting that this places the same responsibility upon them concerning our problems. Thus, Christians become like the mother who tells the child how much he needs the horrible tasting cough medicine, while at the same time being unwilling to take the same medicine to help her cough. We used to described this attitude as “being able to dish it out, but not being able to take it!” Such is not what God desires (see Phil. 2:3).

Solomon had a very good point when he stated that “reproof is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool” (Prov. 17:10). I believe that if more Christians would seek to be “wise” in their service to him, there would be a lot more growing and a lot less people coming to “blows” in the church (Eph. 5:15-16). An attitude of humility, wisdom, and love for one another goes a long way toward the solving of problems and the growth of the church. Thus, let us work to be just as ready and willing to take constructive criticism which is offered in a kind and loving way as we are to offer it to others.

One final point that should be mentioned. Christians need to learn to always take loving correction given to them by their brethren in the best possible light. Too often we are suspicious of one another when, in all truthfulness, we should trust our brethren more than anyone else. Why? Because they are our brethren! As members of Christ’s body, we should all seek to do what is best for one another in love (1 Jn. 2:9-11; 3:16-18). If we love each other as we should, we are not going to intentionally hurt one another. Thus, correction centered in love should provoke a deeper relationship between brethren, as well as greater devotion to and understanding of the will of God for our lives.

With these thoughts in mind, we should all be more willing to give others the “benefit of the doubt” when it comes to judging their motives for what they do and say to us. If we will seek to be more sensitive toward the feelings and problems of others and less sensitive about our own, we will grow faster and be ever more pleasing in our service to God.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 4, p. 101
February 21, 1991