All Scripture should mean more to us than anything else, but sometimes passages of Scripture hit home more when our circumstances are more relevant. With the cascading effects of economic crisis moving from supply chains and interest rates to market volatility and failing banks, Paul’s words of warning to Timothy are much more stark and meaningful!
We came into the world empty-handed and we’ll leave that way (1 Tim. 6:7).
We should be content with basic necessities like food and covering (1 Tim. 6:8).
We invite disaster when we want to get rich and we love money (1 Tim. 6:9-10).
We need to run away from materialism (1 Tim. 6:11).
We had better not get arrogant about how much we have (1 Tim. 6:17).
We should not attach our hope to uncertain riches (1 Tim. 6:17).
We should trust God rather than ourselves to take care of our needs (1 Tim. 6:17).
We should use our wealth to serve God and how He wants us to use it (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
That is quite a challenging list of demands God makes on our spiritual lives. It runs contrary to human nature, self-reliance, and the pride we take in creating and preserving wealth. Some who trust in material things never have to endure an economic crisis in this life, but awaken in eternity to see how costly their approach is (Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-25). Many are blessed to lose the money they “banked” on in time to repent and amend their unhealthy or unholy attitude toward things.
Jesus warned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
Neither Jesus nor Paul warn about the having of wealth, but rather the wanting, loving, and trusting of it. Whether or not the current economic issues are a canary in a coal mine of an impending breakdown, it is an opportunity for us to be reminded that we should invest our hope and trust in God rather than wealth (Matt. 6:24). It is an object lesson about not trusting what is here today and gone tomorrow and will, in the end, be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10-11)!
The Bible clearly tells us as Christians that we are to tell others about Christ and salvation. Ephesians 4:11-12 reads, “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
The word doesn’t tell us this will always be an easy task or that we will have success in folks having interest in what we’re trying to tell them, but we are commanded to still try to do so. There are a lot of excuses that have been made to avoid talking to others about the Bible. Like, that’s the preacher’s job or I don’t really know what to say, or my favorite, I can’t speak well and don’t want to be rejected.
But 2 Corinthians 11:6 says that the apostle Paul had problems with his speaking but still proclaimed the word to many with success. It reads: Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge: indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
If we think we are lacking in how to talk to people about their salvation, the elders or ministers here at Lehman, I’m sure can be helpful in our efforts.
James 1:22 reads: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. We have been put here on earth to love God and keep his commandments.
One of these commandments is found in Mark 16:15-16, which most know by heart. “And He said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
The world needs to hear the good news and we should always be prepared to share it. I often think back to a friend and a brother in Christ who has passed on from this life that loved to tell others about the word of God at a country store where we ate lunch. There were some that referred to him as “preacher”. But that seemed to make him more determined to try to teach them. I have never been called “preacher” before, so maybe I have work to do in telling others the word.
We shouldn’t be afraid to talk to others because we are scared of being made fun of. There are many in the Bible that were beaten and even killed for proclaiming the word. So just being rejected shouldn’t bother us.
The world seems to put their faith in money and material things but it seems that most aren’t ever content. Telling them about Jesus Christ and eternal life in heaven is what they need in their lives.
It has always made me feel good inside when I could help someone in need, and there is nothing you could give anyone that could be any better than the hope of eternal life.
There might be a time that we’re asked a question that we don’t know the answer, but we can always tell them we can get back to them after further study. Telling folks the plan of salvation should be something we all know as well as anything.
The Bible tells us all will not be receptive to the gospel but there will be some that are. Some are eager to be saved right away. But there will be some that it takes some time. Either way we are to plant the seed and God will give the increase.
These words are mainly from my lack of doing what I should be doing in my Christian walk. My personal prayer is that God helps me realize the doors that are open for me and he gives me the courage to do what is commanded.
I had the good fortune of growing up in a Christian family and I guess becoming a Christian came fairly easy for me. There are so many outside the walls of the church building that didn’t have the privilege of being in that environment. It is not as easy for some of these to accept Christ and live the Christian life because it hasn’t been a constant in their lives. We need to share the word with them and not keep it to ourselves.
How much better things would be if all knew God’s word. We probably all have family members or extended family that need to know the true word. We hope that we can find the right way to talk to them and study the word without causing any family tension. We can pray that we can approach these issues in a loving way and they can be reached because we all want to be in heaven together.
There are multiple ways to start conversations with someone that eventually lead to talking about what the Bible has to say or we can simply ask if they would like a Bible study. If you aren’t comfortable with a Bible study, there are members that will help with that.
Derek and Neal’s Sunday morning Bible class is a study on spiritual disciplines. Personal evangelism is a discipline that should be right at the top of the list. This past Sunday in class, Neal made a point on how the scripture should be real aloud in a public gathering. We should do it with enthusiasm and let people know your privileged to be reading God’s word. Talking to our friends and neighbors about Jesus Christ should be done with the same enthusiasm to show them we are happy to be Christians it’s the only way to have true contentment.
Most of us here go to eat at restaurants occasionally, go get haircuts, get our vehicle serviced, go to the bank, and multiple other places that we can strike up conversation. We can get excited pretty quick talking about politics or our favorite sports teams or our kids. Hopefully, we can be excited about talking about Jesus and salvation.
I’ll finish with John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. If we truly love others, we will help them in any way we can to get to heaven.”
I have ADHD, so my passions swing wildly. I may be enthusiastic about something until I am not. But I’ll return to this topic when something piques my interest. It has been this way with genealogy. I did a lot of genealogy research until I ended up in the hospital for nearly four months in 2021. When I returned to my hometown in the autumn of 2021, I had other things on my mind. During the months I was incapacitated, I had been paying for expensive services such as Ancestry.com. It costs more than several streaming services combined. So I canceled that subscription and haven’t looked back since. I reminded myself that there was always the Mormons’ free genealogical site if the genealogy bug bit me again.
Today, I returned to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website. I didn’t expect them to add a feature that lets people find connections between themselves and famous people. Through a long line of ancestors, I may call Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Truman O. Angell, the architect of the Salt Lake Temple, distant cousins. I am related to 24 presidents of the United States, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Winston Churchill. I am also the ninth cousin of Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll.
Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, T.S. Eliot, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, and other entertainers and artists are also distantly related to me. To my surprise, I was Rosa Parks’ thirteenth cousin once removed and Muhammad Ali’s ninth cousin three times removed. To avoid giving the impression that I am proud of everyone, I was disappointed to discover a distant kinship with Charles Darwin. There were more, such as an eleventh great-grandfather who arrived in America on the Mayflower. Still, I’ll stop here because my main point was that this discovery rekindled my interest in genealogy.
Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge that some of you may need clarification about whether or not the data I’ve presented is accurate. Trust me; their research blew my mind as well. Yet because they believe in proxy baptism, Mormons keep detailed family trees. Mormons believe that baptism is important for salvation and that people who don’t get baptized during their own lives can still benefit from it through the actions of their children and grandchildren. Proxy baptism allows members of the Mormon Church who are still alive to be baptized on behalf of the deceased, understanding that the departed person can accept or reject that baptism in the next life.
But as attractive as it may be to find out you are a distant cousin to Bing Crosby or Robert Peary, it is a much more incredible feeling to know that you are the adopted child of God. Consider Romans 8.14-16.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (NASB).
God has adopted those who have obeyed the gospel. We contrast the spirit of slavery and fear felt by nonbelievers with the spirit of love and intimacy one can experience with God. Following our adoption, our spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit that we are God’s children. Through obedience, we draw closer to God to the point where we can address Him with a term of endearment.
Genealogy can be a fun hobby that teaches us about our family histories and connects us to famous people. But, as fascinating as it is to learn about our long-lost relatives, it is even more important to know that we are God’s adopted children. Obedience to the gospel opens the door to a closer relationship with God, where we can know Him as “Abba.” This relationship is far greater than any family connection discovered through genealogy, and it is a blessing that we can all share as Christians.
Solo cups are fantastic. They’re cheap, disposable (so no dishes), and they’re great for holding drinks. But recently I discovered something that theyre not so great at…holding hot liquid. I was faced with a decision the other day: use a plastic solo cup that holds more coffee or use a styrofoam cup that holds less coffee but is intended for hot beverages. I obviously went for the solo cup, and immediately regretted it. The cup was impossible to hold because it was plastic and felt like the surface of the sun. Plus the coffee had a slight plastic taste. The purpose of a solo cup is not to hold scalding hot drinks. Because I didn’t use it for its intended purpose I faced the consequences.
As Christians we have a purpose given to us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
Paul tells us that we are God’s creation, created for GOOD works. So what are we doing when we don’t do good works? We are going against our intended purpose! If we continue to live a life of sin after baptism, we are failing to fulfill our duty as sons and daughters of the King. We are His workmanship! He saved us for a purpose! We are called to live a life of good works, not a life of sin.
Are we living in Christ and doing good works? If not, we are failing to be what God expects of us. Don’t be a solo cup Christian. Be what God wants you to be.
Short answer — that’s up to us. God never promised happiness for those of us who opt into the Christian lifestyle. By default, we have lots of enemies. We’re still on the same planet satan runs, so we have to deal with his garbage too.
We find happiness through anticipation. We have to find excitement for the new life we’ll have, and hang onto that with everything in us.
We find happiness through selflessness. Doing good things for other people is a tried-and-true way to be happy. Once we’re more focused on others than we are on ourselves, we’ll understand genuine happiness.
We sometimes conflate happiness with euphoria. As Newton famously said, “What goes up must come down.” Euphoria is temporary and often accompanied by a rebound slump. But it’s a feeling of profound well-being that tends to be addictive, and is often above a natural baseline sense of well-being. Most people who want to be happy are really just chasing euphoria. We’re seeing now that it’s making everyone miserable.
Happiness is not guaranteed, but we can experience it with the right mindset. Help people. Pray for your enemies. Love people who hate you. Designate at least a couple of minutes every day to think about the next life. Look at the stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae at night. You can’t help but be blown away by how intense and beautiful the universe is. This is God’s home (cf. Ps 115.16; Job 38.7; Deut 10.14; Neh 9.6; Ps 68.33; Mt 18.10), and the most tangible display of his power that we can experience with our senses (Rom 1.20). It puts our existence into perspective and reassures us that God actually is in control.
This life isn’t about being happy — the next one will be nothing but happiness, because entropy and dysfunction will no longer exist (Rom 8.20-25).
Wherever light is, there is no darkness. That almost sounds silly and maybe a little obvious. Light and darkness in the Bible often depict the concept of good and evil but nowhere is the impression given that the dark is equal to light. In both the Old and the New Testaments, we find the concept of light and darkness. It represents the believers and the nonbelievers and it also represents good and evil. Biblical writers understood God to be the ultimate Light— the ultimate goodness of the world. When John refers to Jesus as “light” in his gospel this is the concept that he is trying to get across. Jesus is pure. He’s a beacon of hope— he is Light. Strangely, scientists are still baffled by light. NASA spent a mountain of money attempting to come up with a color so dark that it could even consume light but it just isn’t possible.
No darkness can stifle the light of Jesus.
To this day He is shining bright through His followers to ensure that this dark world can see Him and that means we have an important job to do. In gospel of John, we find this profound statement, “…the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). At this point John begins another section on light and more is revealed about the two contrasting realities. There is the light, who is Jesus, and those who did not love the light because their deeds were evil. The reason they rejected the Light was because they were separated from it by their own wickedness. Evil is done with ease in the dark and we tend to fool ourselves into thinking that we are hidden and secure under its cover.
Alaska’s crime rate significantly drops in the summer because the sun shines continually, but in the winter months the crime rate is much higher. It’s easier to get away with evil in darkness. Notice the bold statement following this, “Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). Light exposes the wickedness, and exposure is not something an evil person desires.
Today lights are used by doctors to shine down your throat, in your ear, and to expose any potential problems. We have automatic porch lights and flood lights as well as “brights” for those backroads. Jesus is here to expose the sins of others and welcome those that come to Him. This also goes to show that an individual can claim to love the Light, while living in darkness— this person hates the Light. Action speaks louder than words and in a spiritual sense this could not be more accurate. Do your actions reflect that you love the Light?
On Sunday mornings in the multipurpose room, Derek Johnson and I are co-teaching a book by Donald S. Whitney entitled Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. It is a very challenging book based on Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7-8. The NAS renders it, “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
First, notice Paul’s emphasis on discipline. It is from the Greek word that gives us our word “gymnasium.” It suggests training and exercise or, as Louw-Nida defines it, “to experience vigorous training and control, with the implication of increased physical and/or moral strength” (466). We are to vigorously exercise ourselves in pursuit of godliness. Godliness is a key word and concept in this letter, found eight times in these six chapters. Godliness is the aim of life (2:2), the result of right doctrine (6:3), the fruit of contentment (6:6), and the evidence of being a man or woman of God (6:11). It is something that must be pursued.
Notice the benefits that come when we discipline ourselves unto godliness.
We find our purpose (7). The phrase “purpose of godliness” is actually the translators way of rendering the form of godliness in this verse. Literally, the idea is “train yourself for godliness” (ESV). Godliness is our purpose. We are here in this life to live like God. It’s the idea of showing God the awe and respect He deserves. We are not following the myths of this world. We are bowing down to the Great I Am with our lives. It’s why we’re on this earth!
We enjoy a profit (8). I try to exercise every day, to stave off the effects of old age and to stay in some semblance of shape. But my running times get slower and the amount of weight I can lift decreases. I may be delaying the inevitable, but they call it inevitable for a reason. Paul contrasts bodily exercise (and any other earthly discipline) with godliness. The difference with godliness and everything else is that only godliness is profitable “for all things.” That speaks to totality and entirety. No phase or aspect of your life can fail to be blessed and improved by the exercise of godliness, every relationship, activity, thought, word, and deed.
We realize God’s promises (8). Godliness is the gateway to a better life here and eternal life hereafter. The word for promise is a legal word, denoting a contract, agreement, or summons. It is a promissory note written on the integrity and character of God. Pursue godliness and have your best life now and then!
What’s the opposite of godliness? Paul uses it once in this letter (1:9). It refers to violating God’s rules and our relationship with Him. It’s “living without regard for religious belief or practice” (Swanson, np). That approach to life misses our purpose, our own profit, and God’s promises. It’s the way the world counsels us to live, but so many have discovered that it’s empty and unfulfilling.
What then? Let’s strive to live godly lives! We were made for such a life!
Most historians agree that Andrew the Apostle was born between 5 and 10 AD in Bethsaida, Galilee. If correct, he would have been about the same age as Jesus. Andrew is a Greek name that means “manly” or “brave.” Among Jews, it appears to have been a popular choice as early as the second or third century BC. Interestingly, there is no proof that Andrew had a Hebrew or Aramaic name like his more well-known sibling. So, Andrew’s name is the very first thing that stands out. His family was willing to accept Hellenism, which is clear from the fact that his name is not Hebrew, as you might expect, but Greek. Andrew was born and raised in Galilee, a region in the first century that was historically and culturally as much Greek as Jewish.
Both Andrew and Simon (Peter) made their living as fishermen. This occupational choice seems to be why Jesus called them “fishers of men” in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. According to these narratives, Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee shore when he saw Simon and Andrew fishing and asked them to become his disciples. Jesus even stayed with these brothers in Capernaum after beginning his public ministry (Mark 1.29). It’s interesting that Luke, the physician, and the meticulous gospel author, doesn’t immediately mention Andrew’s presence or that he and Simon are brothers. According to Luke, Jesus used Simon’s boat twice: once to preach to the crowds on the shore and again to pull in a massive fish catch on a previously fruitless night. Even though Luke doesn’t name Andrew, he says that Simon (Peter) had help while trawling the waters when he caught the big fish Jesus told him to. Simon (Peter) called for backup and assistance from his friends in another boat after the massive fish trawl so that they could help him haul the fish ashore. Luke reveals that Andrew is Simon’s brother in the subsequent chapter. So, it’s safe to assume that Andrew was out fishing with Simon (Peter) at the time of the incident, which Luke records accurately. Luke shows that Andrew is often given less attention in the Bible than his better-known brother Simon (Peter). This is an interesting fact.
John devotes the most attention to Andrew. The Gospel of John states that Andrew followed the teachings of John the Baptist. Having been moved by the words of John the Baptist, Andrew and another of John the Baptist’s disciples decided to follow Jesus. When Andrew saw Jesus, he knew he was the Messiah and told his brother. Thus, the Eastern Orthodox Church reveres him as Protokletos, meaning “the first called.” Andrew wasn’t one of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples and apostles (i.e., Peter, James, and John). Still, he probably had more access to Jesus than other disciples and apostles because Peter was his brother. Andrew was with the other disciples on the Mount of Olives when Jesus made one of his rare appearances with “the four.” Andrew asked Jesus to explain what he meant when he said the temple would be destroyed and the world would end.
Most people think that Andrew is the one who sets up meetings between other people and Jesus. For example, Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus (John 1.40–42). Andrew also brought the boy with the bread and fish to Jesus (John 6.8–9). Finally, when some Greeks wanted to see Jesus, they went to Philip, who went to Andrew, knowing that the latter could arrange their introduction (John 12.21–23). In Acts 1.13, Luke mentions that Andrew is in the upper room with the 120. Unfortunately, this verse is the last time we hear about him in the New Testament. As a result, tradition is our only source of information about Andrew’s evangelistic career.
Both Origen and Eusebius credit Andrew with preaching in Scythia. Nestor’s Chronicle says that he also went from the Black Sea to the Dnieper River and then to Kyiv to preach. Afterward, he went to Novgorod (Russia). Consequently, the countries of Russia, Romania, and Ukraine revere Andrew as a patron saint. According to Hippolytus of Rome, Andrew preached in Thrace. The apocryphal Acts of Andrew connect Andrew to Byzantium or Constantinople. Basil of Seleucia claims that Andrew traveled to Thrace, Scythia, and Achaea to spread the gospel. Tradition says that Andrew died a martyr’s death in Greece, in the city of Patras, in 60 AD.
Gregory of Tours, a theologian who lived in the sixth century, read old texts that said Andrew died on a Latin cross like the one used to kill Jesus. But later, it became a tradition that Andrew asked that he be crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is now called a “Saint Andrew’s Cross.” However, we cannot date this explanation for Andrew’s martyrdom before the late Middle Ages. Whether the X-shaped cross is correct, the symbol lives on in many flags worldwide. For example, Alabama and Florida use it in their standards in the United States. Also, The Disciples of Christ and the Episcopals, among other groups, use the St. Andrews Cross in their logos.
What do we have to gain from observing Andrew? First, Andrew emphasizes the significance of personal evangelism. We typically think of preachers, elders, and those who teach Bible classes as winning souls for Christ from the lectern or podium. However, people are often led to Jesus by people they already know, as we see with Andrew. Even better than a good sermon is bringing about change on the inside and strengthening relationships with others. And yet, that doesn’t mean preaching and sharing your faith in public aren’t necessary. They are. Andrew, on the other hand, is not shown in the Bible giving speeches to big crowds, writing letters, or doing anything else to draw attention to himself. That was irrelevant. Andrew was humble in his service to God’s kingdom. And it seems that Andrew had already figured this out before Jesus gave the Great Commission.
Similar to what we learned in the first lesson on evangelism, Andrews demonstrates that some things are too good to keep to yourself. As the first disciple to meet Jesus, Andrew couldn’t keep quiet about the Messiah’s arrival on Earth. Instead, he had to share the good news of Jesus with his family and friends, including his older brother. Andrew engaged in “word-of-mouth” advertising through his enthusiasm. As statistics show, word-of-mouth marketing is effective. The opinions of others who have made that purchase sway most consumers to buy something, not the commercial or sales pitch. According to Nielsen, word-of-mouth is more effective than advertising at getting people to try new products. It never ceases to amaze me that we can have a perfectly reasonable conversation about anything from pop culture to sports with a stranger, but we’ll never bring up the subject of Jesus Christ. Just think of everything we could achieve if we did! Like Andrew, we must conclude that the treasure we have found in Christ is too precious to squirrel away.
Finally, faithfulness is more valuable than fame. Put Andrew in context with the other two apostles, Peter and Paul. This second group would go on to have highly visible and influential ministries. They would address massive audiences, winning many souls for Christ. They encouraged Christians with their letters, which we still read and cherish today. Yet many more gospel ministers have done their work in relative obscurity and seen fruit for it. Andrew was a follower who participated in this latter group. His name may be less familiar to you. Not many people have heard of him. Still, Andrew showed humility, compassion, and faith in Christ that modern Christians would do well to imitate by serving without seeking praise, leading individuals (not crowds) to Christ, and letting God use his gifts as He saw fit. The Andrews of the world can save more lives than the Peters and Pauls.
Names are hard. You can forget names, mix up names, and mispronounce names.
But there’s a subject in scripture that is described many different ways, and it is given multiple names. The word “gospel” appears 101 times in the Bible. Some have described this word as meaning, “a reward for good tidings.” The basic meaning of the word “gospel” is “good news.”
It is the good news about the benefits we receive from the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fundamental facts of the gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These facts are found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Notice what else we learn about the gospel from this passage,
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
In this text we see what the gospel can do in the hands of a faithful Christian:
First, Paul preached this gospel.
Second, they received that message.
Third, they were standing in that message. That is, they were following the gospel.
Fourth, they were saved by that message.
Fifth, they would continue to be saved as long as they held fast to that message.
Sixth, these facts were true if they truly believed those facts.
Seventh, he delivered what he had received. He didn’t make-up this message. In Galatians 1:12 he explained, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Eighth, what he delivered was of most importance which was that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (according to what had been foretold in the Old Testament).
Ninth, Christ was buried.
Tenth, Christ was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures – according to the Old Testament prophecies.
That is the gospel. That is what we are commanded to proclaim. So let’s share the good news with our lost and dying world.
We established last week that our existence just is. We can’t control that, so we must accept it and make the best of it.
For this question there are two options: do what God wants, or don’t.
If we choose to do what God wants, then we’ve chosen to believe that he exists and has some expectations. We’re going to love people, which is not a natural response. We’re going to pray for our enemies. We’re going to do good things for people who hurt us. Our focus isn’t going to be on stuff that exists on this earth, but on the cosmic (Col 3.2). This lifestyle gives us a passport to the new earth.
If we choose not to do what God wants, we’ll live by our own rules. This lifestyle is focused on happiness and feeling good. It avoids suffering at all costs. It typically rejects any absolute moral standard. All Christians sin (I Jn 1.8), but that’s not what we’re talking about here. This is a lifestyle obsessed with self and with chasing happiness. It concerns itself only with this earth.
Our purpose is to get through this trial period — our first life — with character intact. Our purpose is to help other people. Our purpose is to search for God and all that that entails. Our purpose is to anticipate the next life. This one means nothing to the Christian, aside from being a force for good on a dysfunctional planet. Our purpose is to get home.
Not long ago my wife and I went to visit the ark exhibit located in Williamstown, Kentucky. While exploring the decks you get to imagine what it may have been like to walk in Noah’s sandals. Half of one floor was dedicated to ancient legends that told of a worldwide flood as well as the religious beliefs and backgrounds of the various cultures. Two things resonated with me as I read the plaques and took in the artifacts on display. First, the similarities in the flood legends. The second observation was the fact that the further from Mesopotamia you traveled, both in time and distance, the more implausible the story seemed. While the inspired Genesis account gives a great deal of detail other legends lack the realism and plausibility factors. Genesis records construction of the ark giving us the material, water-proofing methods, dimensions, and labor period. It tells us where the flood waters came from and even the general area where the ark came to rest. Interestingly, the seaworthiness of the ark has even been tested in the modern era.
“…naval architects have confirmed that a barge with the Ark’s dimensions would have optimal stability. They concluded that if the wood were only 30 cm thick, it could have navigated sea conditions with waves higher than 30 meters”
(Hong, S.W. et al., Safety Investigation of Noah’s Ark in a Seaway.,Journal of Creation)
Known legends written closer to Noah’s time and neck of the woods like the Sumerian version (Epic of Gilgamesh) describe an ark as being cube shaped. A cube shaped ark would tumble and role in the treacherous deluge. Further evidence for the reliability of the Biblical account can also be seen in the date of writing. Noah’s flood was written earlier than the Sumerian version and the proof is in the religious practices depicted in these competing tales. Even secular scholars confirm that early mankind were monotheistic. In the Epic of Gilgamesh there’s a small pantheon of gods mentioned, and this pantheon grew as time passed. One character in the Sumerian version offers a sacrifice after the flood waters receded, but Christians will pick up on the language used to describe this offering.
‘The gods smelled the savor, the gods smelled the sweet savor, and collected like flies over the sacrifice.’
The gods also bickered amongst each other and showed incredibly human attributes. They were fickle and violent, often contradicting their own alleged virtues.
Two Concluding Thoughts About The Almighty
God is the only form of our imitation. His Holiness and righteousness is set apart from humanity— He supersedes the natural world.
God is the owner of absolute truth: To know Him is to know truth, to know love, to know forgiveness, to know honesty, to know perfection. God wants all of us to come to a knowledge of Him, because a knowledge of Him is to know Truth. This point is emphasized in the Book of John. It’s essential in the development of our relationship with Him. If one doesn’t know Truth, then one doesn’t know God.
Being full of self seems easy, doesn’t it? So many seem to excel at it and so many of us constantly fight self-centered tendencies. Yet, the apostle Paul connects selfishness to difficult times. In fact, he says, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self…” (2 Tim. 3:1-2). Our times can be aptly described as difficult. And what Paul warns about seems to characterize what we see every day.
Have you looked at the entirety of that list in chapter three lately? While there are extreme behaviors on that list, like “brutal” (savage) and “treacherous,” most of them seem very familiar–like disobedient to parents, ungrateful, and malicious gossips. But what struck me was how many of the items in this list point to pride.
Men will be boastful (2). This word refers to one who “‘makes more of himself’ than the reality justifies, ‘ascribing to himself either more and better things than he has, or even what he does not possess at all’; who ‘promises what he cannot perform'” (TDNT, 226). This is building up our accomplishments or our characteristics in order to impress others. It’s a word only found twice in the New Testament, both in lists describing those who love themselves and have no place for God (see Rom. 1:20). Beware of letting others know how good, smart, capable, and otherwise impressive you are. That’s a sign of difficulty!
Men will be arrogant (2). This synonymous word refers to “an empty boaster who brags of his position and despises others” (Friberg and Miller, 390). It is found five times in the New Testament, most often translated “proud.” This is a person who not only lifts himself up, but feels the need to push others down at the same time. It is one jockeying for the figurative spot as king or queen of the mountain, shoving others off in the process. Trench says that the boastful one is restricted to showing this sin in the company of others, but “He that is sick of this sin (arrogance, NP) compares himself, it may be secretly or openly, with others, and lifts himself above others, in honour preferring himself” (Synonyms, 101). His perfect example of this? Haman (Est. 3:5-6). With arrogance, I must look good and I must make you look bad at the same time.
Men will be conceited (4). This word is only found in the New Testament letters of Paul to Timothy (also in 1 Tim. 3:6; 6:4). It is an interesting word, meaning “to wrap up in smoke” or “to be in the clouds, to be crazed, demented” (Liddell and Scott, 825). What a mental picture! Strong says it means “to inflate with self-conceit:–high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud” (73). It means “to swell or inflate with pride” (Zodhiates, np). It’s all smoke and no flame. It’s a deluded sense of self, thinking we are greater and better than we are.
Obviously, what’s really difficult is weeding out these self-centered tendencies from our hearts and lives. These warnings exist because they are common struggles. When we don’t fight these tendencies, we make life difficult for others and make it difficult for ourselves to be right with God or ready to meet Him. We must do the difficult and daily deed of putting self-will to death (1 Pet. 2:24; Luke 9:23-26)! It’s difficult, but it’s doable!
Henry Rogers’ house in Appleton, Wisconsin, was the first to use hydroelectric power. That was September 30, 1882 (Marsha Weisinger, Buildings of Wisconsin, 222). Today, we not only take electric power in our homes for granted; we expect it! When a strong wind storm knocked down trees and power lines in our area yesterday, we lost electricity for eight hours. For those who did not immediately fire up a generator, that meant no TV, no internet, no cell phones, no overhead lights, and no stove. It turned out to be enjoyable to cook dinner in the fire pit and play games and read books by candlelight and lanterns. Yet, thanks to the tireless work of utility crews, most of us went to bed with the power restored! It is easy to take such a blessing for granted!
How often do we try to live our entire lives without the extraordinary power available to us? This power does more than give us modern conveniences and appliances that cook and store food, heat and cool the house, and the like. It enables us to face otherwise unbearable trials, to overcome the eternal consequences of our sin problem, and to conquer the most insurmountable troubles. It is the “power of God,” and we find it demonstrated in the virgin birth (Luke 1:35), the gospel (Rom. 1:16), the cross (1 Cor. 1:18,24), the word of truth (2 Cor. 6:7), the resurrection (2 Cor. 13:4; Phil. 3:10), and so much more. “His power” will raise us up (1 Cor. 6:14), works mightily in us now (Col. 1:29), and upholds all things (Heb. 1:3). Or, as Paul says, enlightened eyes know “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:19).
Do we ever voluntarily shut ourselves off from this power? Do we choose to live in the dark, depriving ourselves of the blessed live that flows from staying connected to God’s power? How tragic and foolish when I fail to pray, to study His word, to trust His providential care and work in my life, and to have the courage and confidence to fulfill His purpose for me in this world. When I do, I am spiritually in the dark!
Each day, I should be thankful that God empowers me for the work He has given me on this earth. I must stay connected to Him while helping others plug into that power source, too. God’s power is no mere convenience! It is the ultimate necessity!
“Hur” appears three times in the Bible, all in the Old Testament. Many people have also heard of an extra-biblical Hur. This latter Hur is associated with the character “Judah Ben-Hur” from the film Ben-Hur. However, the character in the movie is not based on any of the men named “Hur” in the Bible. Instead, the author of Ben-Hur likely chose the name Judah Ben-Hur as a nod to the biblical Hurs. Still, the character in the movie is entirely made up, except for maybe their name, and has nothing to do with any of the men in the Bible named Hur.
Nehemiah mentions the least-known of the three in passing in Nehemiah 3.9. Hur was the father of Rephaiah, who was a leader in Jerusalem and fixed a part of the city’s walls while Nehemiah was in charge of rebuilding.
A Midianite king was another Hur in the Bible during Moses’ time. In the land of Shittim, the Midianites deceived God’s people, leading them into sexual immorality and idolatry. As a result, God gave Moses the command to exact vengeance on the Midianites and their chiefs: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. As a result, the Israelites slaughtered every Midianite man, including all five commanders (Numbers 31.7–8). This battle was Moses’ last.
But the most famous Hur is found in the book of Exodus. He is said to be of the Judah tribe. Hur was probably in charge of the Israelites because Moses talks a lot about him in connection with Aaron, his brother, and the high priest of the Israelites. During the Israelites’ battle with the Amalekites, Hur was one of two men who supported Moses’ arms. Moses stood on a hill with his staff in hand and raised his arms in prayer when the Israelites were under attack from the Amalekites on their way to the Promised Land (Exodus 17.8–9). The Israelites were victorious as long as Moses raised his arms, but once he did, the Amalekites began to overtake the Israelites (Exodus 17.11). When Moses’ arms grew tired, he sat down on a stone, with Aaron and Hur standing beside him to support his arms. Joshua used the sword to defeat the Amalekite army as they did so (Exodus 17.12–13).
When Moses went to Mount Sinai to get the Ten Commandments, he gave Aaron and Hur the responsibility of caring for the people (Exodus 24:13–15). When Moses returned, he found the people worshiping a golden calf instead of the Lord. So Aaron created a golden calf (Exodus 32.2–4)!
We don’t know what role, if any, Hur played in this incident, but according to Jewish tradition, the people killed Hur because he tried to prevent idolatry. The story goes that when the Israelites murdered Hur, Aaron capitulated to the people out of fear. The Midrash says that Satan used Moses’ lateness to make the Israelites think that Moses had died. The terrified Israelites demanded that Aaron and Hur produce gods to lead them. Hur stood up and rebuked the people, reminding them of God’s miracles. People rose and killed him right away. As a result, Jewish tradition holds that the Israelites broke three commandments on the day of the Golden Calf, the last of which was the murder of Hur. Of course, there is no way to validate this Jewish tradition.
Still, this Jewish tradition may have come about to explain why Moses doesn’t talk about Hur after Exodus 32 and the golden calf. Hur’s name appears only once more in the Torah, within a genealogy. So, what became of Hur? Moses had again left him in charge with Aaron before ascending to the top of Mount Sinai. He was a man of some importance. So, it is odd that he seemingly evaporates.
The last time the Bible talks about Hur is when it says that he was the grandfather of Bezalel, the inspired craftsman who oversaw the building of the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 31:1–11). Returning to Jewish tradition, it concludes with redemption. According to Rabbi Ohr Hachaim (1696–1743), the name Hur derives from the same root word as “freedom.” He explains that the Israelites were only finally freed from the stain of their sins with the golden calf through the tabernacle’s construction. Their penance for their sinful behavior that had driven God away was to build a house for God. In other words, Betzalel, Hur’s grandson, provided a way for the Israelites to atone for their sins, including his grandfather’s murder.
That is all very well, but it is a Jewish tradition. Moses’ inspired account is silent on whether or not God granted Hur’s grandson the task because of its symbolism. But we can draw some lessons from Hur’s life for today’s people.
The first application is that we must support those who do church work, whether leaders, evangelists, or servants. Hur may not have been able to fight the Amalekites, but he could help Moses, whose obedience brought the Israelites victory. We can inspire others. In this way, we should always appreciate our ability to influence Christ’s cause. The second application is that we can never know how our lives will affect God’s eternal plans. Hur may have made a small name for himself, but his grandson was in charge of building the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant. Thus, without Hur, there could have been no Betzalel. God could have chosen someone else for the job, but Betzalel was the one God chose. As a result, the good you’ve done in the world may live on in the person whose life you’ve touched.
Brother Flavil Nichols tells how a young woman’s baptism resulted in the conversion of over 21,000 people! She taught her husband to read, so he studied the Bible. That man became a preacher and converted another man, who also became a preacher. And that preacher was the one who baptized Flavil’s father, Gus Nichols. Because of this long chain of influence, one woman’s life has incredible value. How many people will eventually receive salvation as a result of her actions? It reminds you of the importance of one life in this world.
So, whether it’s helping other people with their work or leaving a mark on the world through our actions, one thing is sure: we must stay strong (1 Corinthians 15.58)! Paul’s message reminds us to remain steadfast in our work and not give up, while Hur’s example reminds us that even those who work behind the scenes can make a significant impact. Both teachings encourage us to stick with our goals and make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 4:2-6
Speech plays a major role in our influence. Speech and actions are the two primary ways that we influence those around us. If our words differ from our actions, people will see it. Paul died 2000 years ago, and his speech is still influencing Christians today. Our words can have a lasting impact! In 1887 the coffin of Abraham Lincoln was pried open to determine if it contained his body. What makes that act so remarkable is the fact that Lincoln’s body had rested in that coffin for 22 years. Yet, even more amazing is that 14 years later a rumor circulated again that Lincoln’s coffin was actually empty. The rumor so gripped the land that the only way to silence it was to dig up the coffin–again. This was done and the rumor silenced when a handful of witnesses viewed the lifeless body of Abraham Lincoln.
Words have power. We know the harm that can come from them, but also the good.
In fact, we can use words to build up or tear down. To build, or destroy our influence.
Facebook is a king of spreading words. Each one of us has our own unique set of friends that see our posts. And although social media can be used for good, sadly the majority of posts are negative. Christian influence can go a long way on Facebook. But what good are we doing if all we do is argue and tear down others? Colossians 4:5 says, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.”
A wise person isn’t going to get involved in a fruitless Facebook conversation. A wise person isn’t going to chew out someone else. A wise person doesn’t use his influence to hurt others, but he looks for ways he can be a good influence.
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.” You have an opportunity I will never have. You can have an influence on your family that no one else has. So make the most of it. If you’re like me, that sounds extremely hard. But we do it for the souls of our children, our spouses, and our friends. Our influence has the ability to instruct, and to lead our homes to Christ.
If someone paid you 10 cents for every kind word/action you did for others, and you had to pay 5 cents for every bad word/action, would you be rich or poor? Our influence is so important. We must grow it, and pray for it. What has my influence done? Has it brought my family closer to Christ? Has it grown at all? Is my influence better than it was last month? Has it charged me as guilty? What kind of influence is in my book of life? Has it instructed my children? Has my influence been profitable? Let’s be sure to leave a lasting impression while we have the chance.
Christians are not immune to existential crisis. While this overwhelming feeling of meaninglessness is a trademark of younger people, older people often deal with it too. Young people may seek meaning, direction, and purpose for their lives as they look to the future. Older people might look to their past, wondering if their life’s work was a functional/worthy investment of their lifespan. We all have fundamental questions to work through.
This series will explore some of those questions we have:
Why was I created? What is my purpose? How can I be happy? What is true/real? Why does God allow evil to exist? What do we mean by “next life”?
This week we’ll look at the first question. Not one person ever asked for consciousness or existence. Why were we brought into a dysfunctional world? Even though none of us requested existence, we exist — and we’re going somewhere after we die. None of us asked for that burden, either.
Here are some of the commonly given answers:
We’re here for the glory of God.
God gave us the ability to choose our fate, whether to reject him or be obedient to his will.
The problem with those statements is that they don’t actually answer the question, at least not adequately. The Bible answers those questions, and with a little effort we can find out why God created us.
Why are we here?
1. We’re here to interface with God’s reality.
2. We exist, ultimately, to populate a perfect world.
God created us in his image and likeness (Gen 1.26-27, 5.1-3, 9.6; Js 3.9; I Jn 3.1-3). This is emphatic in scripture — he made us in his image AND his likeness. Let’s put the Hebrew words sal-me and de-moot (image and likeness) in modern English. The one speaking in Genesis 1 is Logos, according to John 1. That’s Jesus. He made us to look just like him. He is the visible form of the invisible father, according to Colossians 1.15.
Genesis 5.1 — When God created people, he made them look like himself.
Genesis 5.3 — Adam had a son who looked just like himself, and he named him Seth. Same exact words used in 5.1.
James 3.9 — Uses ομοιωσιν, which means in that context, “to look the same.”
God made us self-aware, intelligent living entities to interface with the reality he created. This life is just a trial run. We exist, and that’s something we have to accept. We have a life, so what we do with it is up to us.
That leads to the second reason we were created — to populate a perfect world. II Peter 3.13 says, “Based on what he promised us, we’re looking for a new sky and a new earth where only morally good people can live.” Because we messed up and introduced evil to this planet, it’s no longer a paradise (Rom 8.20-25). But that’s not natural. We weren’t originally created to coexist with dysfunction or entropy.
We can thank Satan for most of the dysfunction we face today:
Ephesians 2.1-2 — Satan has control over natural functions of the planet.
I John 5.19 — Satan has control over political power on this planet.
Luke 4.6 — Satan has power over every population group on earth.
Ephesians 6.12 — Those dysfunctional powers aren’t based on earth.
The church is a combat unit. We aren’t fighting other people, we’re fighting an enemy that has far more power than we could ever dream of confronting. That’s what “spiritual warfare” means in Ephesians, for example. God is our ally, so we can never be destroyed for good. Satan may have control of the planet, but God has control over the universe.
Our job is to make the best of our existence, ideally living by our Creator’s definition of functional. If we do, we get to live in a perfect world without any potential for dysfunction. In Matthew 19.28, Jesus describes it as a “return to the way things originally were” or “regeneration”.
Why were we created? To interface with God’s reality in a limited capacity, and to populate a new earth after this earth’s time is up.
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