Being a follower of Christ demands constant self-examination. Each day, we wake up asking, “What do I need to work on today?” One persistent battle we face is the flesh, our sinful nature that pulls us off track, like that wobbly Walmart shopping cart wheel that requires constant correction.
Carl Pollard
Being a follower of Christ demands constant self-examination. Each day, we wake up asking, “What do I need to work on today?” One persistent battle we face is the flesh, our sinful nature that pulls us off track, like that wobbly Walmart shopping cart wheel that requires constant correction. Galatians 5:24 says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” But what does it mean to crucify the flesh, and how do we live it out in a world brimming with temptation?
In Galatians 5, Paul describes the flesh not as our physical bodies but as our sinful desires that rebel against God. Galatians 5:17 explains, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; they are contrary to one another.” The flesh urges us to lash out in anger, indulge in lust, gossip, or hold grudges. Paul lists its acts: sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition (Galatians 5:19-21). These are symptoms of a heart not fully surrendered to God. The flesh promises satisfaction but delivers emptiness, chaining us to sin. Recognizing this enemy within is the first step to living for Christ.
Crucifixion, in Roman times, was a brutal, final punishment. Paul’s use of this term signals a decisive, no-turning-back commitment to put sinful desires to death. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). This daily choice means saying no to pride, bitterness, or greed and yes to humility, forgiveness, and generosity.
The key to crucifying the flesh lies in belonging to Christ. When we surrender to Him, we’re united in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:5-6). His victory over sin becomes ours, and His Spirit empowers us to resist temptation. This is why Paul confidently states we “have crucified” the flesh, a present reality for Christians. Living like we belong to Jesus means choosing the Spirit daily, allowing it to produce love, joy, peace, and other fruits (Galatians 5:22-23) in our lives.
To crucify the flesh, start with confession and repentance, naming and turning from sin (1 John 1:9). Rely on the Spirit through prayer and God’s Word. Choose daily obedience, saying no to temptation and yes to love. Crucifying the flesh isn’t restriction, it’s liberation, freeing us to run the race God has set before us. What needs to be nailed to the cross today? Lay it at Jesus’ feet and live the life He promised.
When disaster strikes, people instinctively seek meaning. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and earthquakes tore through Haiti, a famous televangelist swiftly claimed these events were acts of divine retribution. While such statements may seek to provide a sense of cosmic order, they often do more harm than good and reveal a troubling misunderstanding of God’s character in our modern world.
Brent Pollard
When disaster strikes, people instinctively seek meaning. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and earthquakes tore through Haiti, a famous televangelist swiftly claimed these events were acts of divine retribution. While such statements may seek to provide a sense of cosmic order, they often do more harm than good and reveal a troubling misunderstanding of God’s character in our modern world.
This impulse originates from retributive theology, which holds that God punishes sin through physical means, such as natural disasters. This view has deep roots in the Old Testament, where Israel’s covenant promised prosperity to those who obeyed and calamity to those who rebelled. In this unique covenant between God and a nation, God linked physical blessings and curses directly to the nation’s spiritual faithfulness.
But does that system still govern our world today?
A Covenant of Earthly Consequences
To understand this question, we need to revisit ancient Israel—a time when God’s people constituted a literal nation with defined borders, laws, and a temple. In this theocratic context, God sent droughts, diseases, and foreign armies to discipline His people and urge them to return to faithfulness. Prophets like Elijah (1 Kings 17.1) and Amos (Amos 4.6-11) proclaimed these judgments with divine authority, and Israel’s history unfolded as a visible drama of obedience and its consequences.
Even within the Old Testament, a deeper mystery unfolds. The story of Job—a righteous man who suffers beyond human comprehension—challenges the idea of simple retribution. When Job’s friends insisted that his suffering must be a sign of hidden sin, God rebuked them (Job 42.7-8). Their critical mistake was presuming to speak for God about matters they could not fully understand.
A Kingdom Transformed
Christ’s arrival transformed everything as profoundly as dawn breaks the night. God’s people are no longer confined to a single nation or governed by stone tablets. We are now citizens of a spiritual kingdom, shaped not by geography but by grace, led not by thunder from Sinai but by the gentle voice of the Spirit.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we see God threaten the Church with natural disasters as punishment for sin. While divine discipline is still a reality—“the Lord disciplines those He loves”—its nature has undergone a profound transformation (Hebrews 12.6). The Spirit convicts hearts, churches correct, and the consequences manifest in individuals’ souls rather than in their harvests.
When Calamity Comes
This fact does not imply that God is distant when disaster occurs. He remains sovereign, with His providence still overseeing the wind and waves. However, we need to carefully distinguish between stating that God can use tragedy for a purpose and claiming that He caused it to punish specific sins.
When people asked Jesus about a collapsed tower that killed eighteen people, He did not speculate about the victims’ sins. Instead, He gave an urgent yet gentle reminder: “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13.5 NASB95). This statement suggests that tragedy is not proof of others’ hidden wrongdoings, but rather a call for us to examine our hearts.
All creation suffers under the weight of sin, and hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires are symptoms of a world fractured by the fall, not signs of an angry God pacing heaven’s battlements. Even amidst such brokenness, He draws near with compassion.
Discipline Refined
God’s discipline today is not diminished but refined. It comes through the quiet grief that follows sin, the loving correction of faithful friends, and the Spirit’s gentle whisper through the Word. No longer does God thunder judgments from mountaintops—He writes His corrections on our biblically trained consciences through grace.
Claiming that every disaster represents divine judgment misinterprets both the grace of the New Covenant and the nature of our Savior. Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save it (Luke 19.10). The cross speaks more profoundly than any hurricane—there, God’s justice and mercy met, and love triumphed.
Our Response
When disasters inevitably strike, let us respond with compassion rather than blame. Let us be Christ’s hands, lifting those who have fallen and rebuilding what tragedy has broken. Before we point out the faults of others, let us examine our hearts. Above all, let us offer hope instead of theories.
We live not under wrathful skies but beneath a gracious banner. If God speaks through storms today, it’s not to destroy but to awaken, not to punish but to invite.
In this broken world, the Church’s message must never be “They got what they deserved” but “Come, weary soul, and find rest in Christ.” He doesn’t send floods to wash us away but offers living water to make us whole.
Angels are so often misrepresented and misunderstood. A lot of our “theology” about them come from religious error and even Hollywood (wings? women? children?). What does the Bible teach us about them?
Dale Pollard
Old Testament Role
In the Old Testament, angels serve, for the most part, as divine messengers and “secret agents” of God’s will. They appear in human-like or supernatural forms to deliver God’s messages, guide, protect, or even execute His judgment.
Here are some examples:
1. Messengers: Angels communicate God’s instructions, such as the announcement to Abraham and Sarah of Isaac’s birth (Genesis 18:1-15) or God’s commands to Moses (Exodus 3).
2. Protectors & Guides: Angels protect individuals or Israel, like the angel guiding the Israelites during the Exodus (Exodus 14:19) or protecting Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:22).
3. Agents of Judgment: Angels carry out divine punishment, such as destroying Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) or striking down the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35).
4. Worship & Service: Angels are depicted as part of God’s heavenly court, praising Him (Isaiah 6:2-3) and serving His purposes (Psalm 103:20-21).
The various types of angels include cherubim (guardians, Genesis 3:24) and seraphim (worshippers, Isaiah 6). Angels are subordinate to God, and their appearances are often horrifying as those they visit are often terrified (Judges 13:21).
New Testament Role
We find that angels continue as God’s messengers and servants but are now closely tied to the life of Jesus and His church. Here are some examples of their role in the New Testament:
1. Announcers of Christ: Angels herald Jesus’ birth (Luke 1:26-38, Gabriel to Mary; Luke 2:8-14, to shepherds) and resurrection (Matthew 28:2-7).
2. Ministers to Jesus: Angels support Jesus, such as after His temptation (Matthew 4:11) or in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43).
3. Guides & Protectors: Angels assist believers, like freeing Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-11) or guiding Cornelius to Peter (Acts 10:3-7).
4. Angels of Judgment: Angels are prominent in Revelation, executing God’s judgments (Revelation 8-9), gathering the elect (Matthew 24:31), and fighting demonic forces (Revelation 12:7-9).
5. Worshippers: Angels praise God and Christ (Revelation 5:11-12) and are part of the heavenly host.
Angels are clearly seen as subordinate to Christ (Hebrews 1:4-14). They inspire awe but— not to be worshipped (Colossians 2:18).
Davy Jones asked this question in the second Pirates of the Caribbean. “Do you fear(rrr) that dark ahbees?” It’s basically rhetorical, most people would say, “Duh.” Staying alive drives most of our behavior. We avoid certain activities if there’s even a modest possibility of death! Not everyone is negatively preoccupied with this unknown state, but many (perhaps most) are. Why do we fear death? And can we be certain that there’s life after death? We’ll look at those in order.
Why do we fear death? There are too many reasons to list here, so we’ll look at just the big ones. We fear death because it’s unknown. It’s been thousands of years since someone came back to life, and they didn’t share any details about it. We fear what we don’t understand. It’s not physically possible to study consciousness after death, so it’s the ultimate unknown! This is a religious blog, so we’ll approach this from that angle. John tells us that if we fear death two things are to blame: one, we’re instinctively afraid of God’s punishment because our lives aren’t where they need to be. Two, we haven’t matured in love. God’s perfect love overrides our fear of death (I Jn 4.17-18). If someone orders their life around their fear of death, they need to make changes. Adopt selfless love — “everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them” (4.16). John also says, “If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will have no fear because in this world we are like Jesus.” This tracks with what Jesus said in Lk 21.25-28, “They [all people on Earth] will be afraid and worried about what will happen to the world. … When these things happen, stand up tall1 and don’t be afraid.2 Know that it is almost time for God to free you.” Jesus’s sacrifice removed our fear of death (Hb 2.15). Death is just a “sting”, it’s the consequence of our sin. But it’s no longer an issue. It’s only for a microsecond (from our perspective), and the best thing that could happen to a believer (I Cor 15.51-52, 56-57). Jesus took away any legitimate fear of death because it no longer means we’re destined for punishment!
Can we know for sure that there is life after death? From a material perspective, no. Not yet, anyways. Even Solomon struggled with this question (Ecc 3.21), “Who knows what happens to a person’s spirit? Who knows if a human’s spirit goes up to God while an animal’s just goes into the ground?” When every person who ever lived comes back to life at Jesus’s return, we’ll know for sure. What we were only confident in — even though we hadn’t yet observed it firsthand — will become incontrovertibly real. For now, our confidence comes from promises made in scripture, and from a universal, intuitive sense that something exists beyond this life (Is 25.8; Hos 13.14; I Cor 15.57; II Pt 3.13; Rv 21.4).
This is imperative mood (command) in Gk. The idea is to stand up with confidence. ↩︎
Also imperative mood, lit. “raise up your head”. ↩︎
To me, maybe the most fascinating and mysterious person of this entire time period is the focus of 1 Kings 13. His name is not revealed, but he is simply said to be “a man of God from Judah” (1). His story is utterly tragic and serves as a reminder of how important steadfast obedience to God is. Yet, the first part of his story, as disclosed in Scripture, reveals him to be one worthy of imitation. Consider the positive attributes of this “man of God.”
He was courageous. His commission was to prophesy against the altar of the powerful, first king of the northern kingdom—Jeroboam, the man whose wicked reign is shown in the previous chapter. Given what Jeroboam started and tried to do to him (4), he had to be a man of moxie and bravery. There are portions of God’s message that require readiness, all patience, and instruction (2 Tim. 4:2). The ability to tell the truth even at great personal cost is a mark of highest integrity.
He was faithful. Notice how the text conveys this. He came “by the word of the Lord” (1). He cried against the altar “by the word of the Lord” (2). His message was, “thus says the Lord” (2). He said, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken” (3). Again, his message was “given by the word of the Lord” (5). He was true to his message as was commanded him by the word of the Lord (9). Thoroughly, from beginning to end in this high-pressure, delicate situation, this prophet was faithful to God’s Word. No greater tribute could be paid any follower of God.
He was compassionate. Though Jeroboam was going to have his men seize him, this man of God showed the king mercy when God afflicted him. The king pleaded, “Please entreat the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before (6). Jeroboam’s generosity after this act shows that the prophet did not have to do this, and a lesser man would not have. What a great combination to find someone who boldly shares God’s Word but does so with gentleness and kindness (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
He was steadfast. Apparently, before the man of God made his journey to Bethel, God told him not to delay even to eat or drink there (9). No less than the king of Israel offered to reward him, feed him, and give him drink, but he would not do it. Verse ten says he went home another way, true to the completion of this daunting mission. What an example!
All these admirable traits make what happens next unbelievable! But, this snapshot of the man of God provides an example worthy of imitation as we are going in this world. The world needs Christians who are courageous, faithful, compassionate, and steadfast. They don’t expect it, and even if they oppose the word we share we can know that God is most pleased with such attributes!
THE DISOBEDIENT MAN OF GOD FROM JUDAH
After his great moral victory in addressing wicked Jeroboam, the man of God from Judah teaches us a different, tragic lesson. Despite his faithfulness in that earlier mission, this prophet allowed himself to be deceived into disobeying God’s Word. In a strange incident, an old prophet whose motives are not revealed persuades him to go against God’s instructions. The result was, literally, deadly.
An old prophet living in Bethel hears about how the man of God had handled himself with the wicked king of Israel. He appears to want to just spend time with the valiant prophet, but he inexplicably lies to him. When he offers his hospitality to the man of God, the unnamed man repeats his solemn charge. He tells the old prophet, “I cannot return with you, nor go with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place” (16). He again cites the Lord’s command and word (17), but he allows himself to be duped. The old prophet persuaded him, saying, “I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” But he lied to him (18). The man of God goes with him. Then, God actually does speak to the old man and tells him the fate of the man of God from Judah. He would die for his disobedience. On his way home, a lion mauls him to death. The old prophet mourns him and buries him, bearing the guilt of the man of God’s death. What can we learn from this?
Always take God’s Word over man’s word. God had directly told him his mission and responsibility. Without further revelation from Him, the man of God had no business taking anyone else’s word over what he already knew. No matter how persuasive or reasonable man’s word sounds, reject it if it contradicts God’s.
It’s easy to claim divine guidance. How often do people try to change God’s Word by saying God led them to new truth? Sometimes, church leadership has changed course and positions on biblical matters regarding worship, salvation, gender roles, etc., claiming the Spirit is moving among them and leading them to the changes. Some claim to hear the voice of God, disclosing new truth. Under the law of Moses, there was this warning: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deut. 18:22). Under Christ, there is this principle: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Gal. 1:6-8). The bottom line is that any claim at odds with God’s revealed Word must always be rejected, no matter what.
Obedience is serious to God. There can be no doubt of that from this account. God says what He means and means what He says. We violate His Word to our own peril. The disobedient man of God learned that in graphic terms.
The man of God’s disobedience did not nullify God’s Word or His purpose. The old prophet understood this, in the aftermath of the man of God’s death. What he prophesied “shall surely come to pass” (32). Jeroboam persisted in evil and disobedience, and it would end his dynasty and set up a legacy Israel would never recover from. What the man of God foretold would happen (1 Ki. 14:10; 15:29-30; 2 Ki. 17:21). Both the man of God’s death and His judgment against Jeroboam proves a changeless truth, that “the testimony of the LORD is sure” (Psa. 19:7; 2 Pet. 1:21).
One of the greatest gas engines ever made was Ford’s 300L6. That thing will run without any oil for some time, and you’d have to be paying attention to know it’s low on oil. I once drove from Littleton, Colorado, to Ft Collins, Colorado, and back (total of about 150 miles) with zero oil in a 1972 F-100 and it was fine(ish). But the life expectancy of any engine in that condition is radically diminished, even in such a well-designed platform.
Our bodies are incredibly complex and we still don’t fully understand them. Half our medications have in their literature something like, “We don’t know how this works, but we think it…” We’re well-made engines running without oil because of sin. We’ll run, but we’re destined to die because sin runs us dry.
Romans 5.18 says, One sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people.
Romans 8.2 says, In Christ Jesus the law of the spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.
Romans 5.12 says, Sin came into the world because of what one man did. And with sin came death. So this is why all people must die — because all people have sinned.
Romans 6.23 says, When people sin, they earn what sin pays — death.
I John 5.16 says, There is a sin that leads to death.
John 8.21 says, Jesus said to the people, “I will leave you. You will look for me, but you will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.” A few verses later, If you don’t believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.
What will Heaven be like? While some biblical authors will attempt to explain aspects of our eternal home’s appearance, Peter chooses to tell us what it won’t be like. He states, it won’t perish. Heaven won’t be a place that can be defiled as the earth has become in many ways down here. Our new home above will be perfect on day one (though it’s a place outside time) as on day one billion (I Pt. 1.4). So Peter tells us what paradise won’t be like by explaining the difference between Heaven and earth.
Interestingly, Peter tells us about our inheritance to give us motivation while in the middle of our earthly trials. We should be motivated to endure the lowest valleys in life because of what awaits us. This seems to be something we’d all agree with; however, some seem to be motivated by fear of the punishment rather than faith in the prize. While it’s true that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 9.10-12), God wants us to live out our faith based on the knowledge of eternal rest.
As one makes their way down through the chapter the reason Peter begins by elucidating our heavenly home becomes clear. With all of that in mind, we’re told to prepare mentally for what we’re called to do (v.13). We must prepare our minds for action! What things demand preparation in your own mind? For some it’s their view of God or the reason they suffer in the first place. They may think if they don’t live perfectly then they’ll be lost forever— so they anxiously go about living a “check list” style Christianity.
THREE WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR MIND
Preparing the mind means educating the mind.
1. Educate the mind about the concept and workings of the amazing grace Jesus offers us.
2. Prepare the mind by filling the mind with the glories of heaven.
3. Prepare the mind by studying the benefits of Christian suffering, rather than allowing our suffering to negatively distort our view of God.
I often wonder why the country seems to be falling apart, despite what most people want. There is no popular support for many of those things, or for the people causing those problems. What happened to competence and pride in our work? Why does everything cost more while quality has tanked? Why does it seem like so many people care only about themselves now? We have a space program, but the average high schooler is nearly illiterate. Where did this two-tier justice system come from? Why can government agencies lose trillions of dollars (and fail six audits) and be ok, but the average citizen loses their freedom for many orders of magnitude less? On that note, where did all of our freedom go?! Why are taxes, bloated regulatory codes, and constitutional violations the norm? I’m still pretty young — why is the divorce rate in my generation so staggeringly high?
Most people I’ve talked to seem to feel the same way: it’s going to take serious upheaval to correct this problem. For awhile, I agreed. But I think I’ve been looking at our problems incorrectly this whole time. These may not be problems we can fix, but I don’t mean this in a pessimistic sense.
Look at Isaiah, draw your own conclusions. This was a message specifically to ancient Judah/Jerusalem, but the narrative and methods God uses have not changed. Replace the towns in these statements with your own country’s name.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘I raised my children and helped them grow up, but they have turned against me’” (1.2).
“When you raise your arms to pray to me, I will refuse to look at you. You will say more and more prayers, but I will refuse to listen because your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do good. Treat people fairly. Punish those who hurt others. Speak up for the widows and orphans. Argue their cases for them in court” (1.15-17).
“Look at [insert your city here]. She was a faithful city. What made her become like a prostitute? In the past, [she] was filled with justice, and goodness should live there now. Instead, there are murderers” (1.21). I recommend reading all of chapters one through three.
“The Lord God All-Powerful will take away everything [your cities] depend on. He will take away all the food and water. He will take away all the heroes and soldiers. He will take away all the judges, the prophets, the fortunetellers, and the elders. He will take away the army officers and important officials. He will take away the skilled counselors, the magicians, and those who try to tell the future. He says, ‘I will put young boys in charge of you. They will be your leaders. The people will turn against each other. Young people will not respect those who are older. The common people will not respect important leaders’” (3.1-5).
All hope is not lost, though: “I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow” (1.18).
The problems in our country (and every country) are not ones we can necessarily fix with policy changes or better political leaders or societal upheaval. We have a systemic sin problem, and God only ever does the right thing. Judah and Jerusalem suffered because they constantly harmed the innocent with their business and legal practices. They suffered because their people left God. There are still many good people in this country who want to do what God wants! But if God is punishing us, we may want to think twice about attempting to block his justice.
Following the arc featuring the “story” of Lady Wisdom and Ms. Folly, we notice a stylistic change in the book of wisdom, ostensibly collected by King Solomon. Beginning in chapter ten, King Solomon wields a shotgun and pelts us with wisdom’s birdshot. Manufacturers make birdshot by packing numerous steel or tungsten balls into a cartridge. The steel balls scatter when fired. This design increases the likelihood of striking a flying bird and keeps game fowl from being completely obliterated by the shot.
So, beginning with Proverbs 10, the reader is confronted with numerous truths that do not form a cohesive narrative like Lady Wisdom and Miss Folly but are practical words of wisdom that enrich life. As a result, it is often best to approach the rest of Proverbs as a topical study. “The fear of the Lord” is an excellent place to start our topical overview of Proverbs. Solomon defined fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1.7; 9.10).
As with the word “fool,” the Biblical definition of “fear” is not what one typically associates with the term. I oft tout Webster’s original 1828 dictionary since it often frames words within a Biblical context. Here is Webster’s subentry for the word “fear.”
“In scripture, fear is used to express a filial or a slavish passion. In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and his laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun every thing that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience. This is filial fear
I will put my fear in their hearts. Jeremiah 32.39.
Slavish fear is the effect or consequence of guilt; it is the painful apprehension of merited punishment. Romans 8.15.
Regarding the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, we understand that this is because we respect and revere God. We acknowledge His authority and thus trust His knowledge and judgment. Beyond its role in enlightening us, the fear of the Lord will accomplish other positive things as well.
We will hate evil. (Proverbs 8.13).
One cannot truly despise evil without also cherishing good, and just as an aversion to wrongdoing motivates people to turn away from it, so does a desire to do what is right in God’s eyes. In this context, “fear of the Lord” refers to the essence of religious practice.
We will prolong life. (Proverbs 10.27)
Mature individuals can recall numerous cases of the wicked whose lives were cut short and ended due to their evil actions—fatalities caused by drunk drivers, robbers who police have shot, adulterers killed by cuckolded husbands, etc.
We have strong confidence and a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14.26-27)
The traps of death include not only the pitfalls and dangers of our current lives on Earth but also the unfathomable terrors of the “second death.” James Moffat translated the Scriptures in 1929 and rendered the passage: “Reverence for the Eternal is a fount of life; it shows how to avoid the nets of Death.” He capitalized the “d” in “death” to show that it was eternal condemnation.
The fear of the Lord will prompt us to depart from evil. (Proverbs 16.6)
No matter how well done, mercy and truth cannot save people from sin unless genuine repentance and a change of heart toward God’s will accompany them. People refrain from doing bad things because they are afraid of the Lord, and this fear affects them. Those with holy fear and reverence for God in their hearts will not sin against him.
We will have a satisfying life, spared from much evil. (Proverbs 19.23)
According to this verse, the only way to be “satisfied” is to fear and serve God. On the tomb of William Rockefeller in New York’s Tarrytown Cemetery, there is a quote from Augustine that reads, “Our souls, O God, were made for Thee, and never shall they rest until they rest in Thee.” Men will never find happiness elsewhere, no matter how hard they try. Only in Jesus Christ can we find the fullness of life that God provides.
We will enjoy riches, honor, and life! (Proverbs 22.4)
This verse, which discusses humility and reverence for God, sums up several of the principal lessons of Proverbs. In addition, it provides a concise overview of the fundamental requirements for human survival on this planet.
True religion, as demonstrated by “the fear of the Lord.” is synonymous with humility. The signs of humility are being dependent on God, having a low opinion of oneself, surrendering one’s will, and convincing ourselves of sin. They are all summed up in the phrase “the fear of God,” which is the source of all virtues and blessings: riches, honor, and life.
We deprive ourselves of God’s wisdom and knowledge treasures when we do not fear the Lord. We will tempt fate and let ourselves get corrupted by mingling with evil. Our refusal to listen to God’s word will likely shorten our lives (e.g., suffering sexually transmitted diseases if we do not heed His Word on sexual relationships). We will not come to know God’s love, which provides assurance and confidence in salvation. We are not motivated to repent or turn to God when we sin! We will not be inspired to “work out our salvation.” This outcome from lacking the fear of the Lord sounds dreadful.
To be truly wise, we must first learn to fear the Lord. Let us understand this fear, appreciate it, and incorporate it into our lives as God’s children!
When it comes to that angry friend, it doesn’t take 1,000 of them to affect you. It only takes one.
That one friend that has those anger issues can rub off on you. Their mindset, their reactions, and their sin will all rub off on you and you will learn their ways. The word “learn” is the idea of teach. This friend will teach you his ways and you will become his student. There was a study done on the influence of domestic violence and what it can do to not just the spouse, but to the children.
The study went on to reveal that almost 70 percent of kids that grew up watching their father beat their mother ended up being abusive to their spouse later on in life.
We don’t always realize that we are being taught. We don’t recognize that we are a student to something that we never wanted to claim as our teacher. We must be careful of our friendship with this dangerous man, or this concern will become a reality, and we will imitate his actions and ways.
Proverbs 22:25 says, “…Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.” If you reject the command and ignore the concern mentioned in the previous verses, you will have to face the consequence. You will find yourself ensnared in anger. Genesis four shows us the consequence of anger. In verses 1-8, we are introduced to Cain and Abel. In this account we read that the anger of Cain caused his face to literally distort. This anger drove Cain to murder his brother. Now there have been times in the past that I’ve been mad at my brothers, but never angry enough to kill them. Cain’s anger had driven him to the point of murder. As a result, verses 10-14 show us that Cain’s life would never be the same again. Unchecked anger will ruin our lives, but more than that unchecked anger will ruin our soul.
The Better Health Channel did a study on the physical effects of uncontrolled anger which include:
Increased Anxiety
High blood pressure
Headache
Digestion problems, such as abdominal pain
Insomnia
Depression
Skin problems, such as eczema
Heart attack
Stroke
The Bible has done a study on the spiritual effect of anger, and side effects include
Murder
Eternal Punishment
And the loss of your Soul
The underground trains at airports and subways will run over and over all day. When many of them reach the end of the line you hear a voice that tells you it’s the last stop. Then the train starts all the way back over and does it again. With anger there is no starting over. The things you say and the things you do cannot be erased. Proverbs 28:13 tells us that the fool lets loose his anger causing irrepairable issues. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.” Eskimo wolf hunters use a special technique to kill wolves. First, they coat a knife blade with animal blood and allow it to freeze. Then they stick the knife in the ground with the blade facing up. When a wolf smells the blood it comes over and begins to lick the blade with the frozen blood. The wolf continues to feverishly lick the blade faster and faster until just the bare blade of the knife is showing. The craving for blood is so strong that the wolf doesn’t even realize that his desire is being quenched by its own warm blood. The wolf is found in the morning next to the knife having killed himself because of his lack of self control. If we aren’t careful, the anger of our friend will become our own, and in the end it will cause the loss of our salvation.
Anger can affect so many areas of our lives. We can be angry at ourselves, we can be angry at others, we can even be angry at God. And this holds us back from our salvation.
If we are angry at ourselves for a past sin, the circumstances we were raised in, or the quality of our lives because of our own past decisions – this can hold us back from salvation.
If we are angry at others, a brother or sister at church, our parents or our friends – this can also hold us back from salvation.
If you’re angry at God, realize that He is the only One that can give you peace and cure you of that spiritual disease.
Don’t focus on the anger in your life, but on the love in Christ. The Love shown as men spit in His face. The Love shown as he was mocked. The Love as He was tied to a post, as He was scourged, as He carried His cross through the street. The Love shown as men drove nails through His hands. As they shoved the crown of thorns on His head…all of this and still He could look up at the Father and say, “Forgive them, they know not what they do.” If anyone had the right to feel anger – it was Him. The Son of God did not go through all of that so anger could eat us up.
Don’t let anger keep you from the peace and love that Christ has to offer. And don’t let anger strip you of experiencing eternal life with Him.
The original Hebrew name literally means, “In The Wilderness.” Later on, Greek translators referred to these inspired writings as “Numbers.” For the Israelite people, it was the historical record of how they were shaped and Divinely-groomed while making an unnecessarily long hike through desert lands (Not to be confused with “dessert land” which sounds far better). The book of Numbers also served, and still serves, as a way for God’s people to get a bird’s-eye view of how our lives are significantly better when we are following our Leader. While there are far too many spiritual applications to be in just one article, here are three great ones.
There is no one more patient than the Lord. It’s easy to cringe when the Israelites complain or rebel time and again but God showed them more patience than any of us are capable of.
God always keeps a promise. It may have taken them 40 years to reach Canaan, but He kept His promise. We’re on a wild ride right now as a country, but God is predictable when it comes to keeping His Word. You can make a no-risk bet that heaven is coming and it’s better than what you imagine it to be.
God is always glorified in the end. When you look at Numbers and the big picture, God is the hero. He’s rejected and tossed aside by the people on several occasions, but just like at the end of this age— He gets all the glory.
For the next few weeks we will look at some of the lesser known Biblical accounts, and the lessons we can learn from them.
In Numbers sixteen there is a strange and terrifying event that unfolds. It has all the ingredients of a great movie. There’s rebellion, jealousy, vengeance, and drama but it’s so much more than a story. It’s history, and it’s been divinely recorded for our learning.
Korah seems to be the individual that starts a rebellion against God’s chosen leader, Moses. He hops up on his high horse and rallies together two hundred and fifty other leaders among the people. This group, no doubt, gave him the confidence to directly confront Moses face to face. He says, “You’ve overstepped yourself, Moses! Take a look around at the people you’re trying to lead. They are just as righteous as you, and God is in their midst!” Moses falls on his face, then says, “Tomorrow, God will make His stand with who He chooses.”
When morning comes, Korah and his fellow rebels bring incense to the Tent of Meeting to offer up to God. In the meantime, an intense conversation between God and Moses takes place. God, filled with righteous anger, is about to demolish every one of them in their tents, but Moses pleads with God to give them a chance. So, a warning is given to the people, “stay away from the tents of these evil men!” No sooner had the warning been given, the earth opens up and Korah and all those belonging to him are swallowed up by the earth. Fear spreads among the people as they were afraid for their lives, and who could blame them? God then strikes down the two hundred and fifty leaders with fire— the worship offerings still in their hands. What an account! Of course there are several applicable lessons for us, but here are just three.
Mind your Maker.
God chose for His people who He wanted to be in the leadership positions. When Korah felt that he knew better, the consequences were fatal. May we never fall victim to the mindset that tells us that we know better than God. Our Lord wants us to live a certain way, and worship a certain way. When we make changes to His divine commands, just like Korah, we have overstepped our bounds.
Mind your mingling.
How did so many band together with Korah? They were all mingling in the wrong crowd. Every one of those men made a choice. They chose to grumble and complain together, then they died together. It doesn’t matter how many people think the same way we do if that thinking isn’t Patterned after God’s thinking.
Mind your motives.
What drove these men to take such a stance? They were motivated by pride, discontentment, anger, greed, and self-righteousness. All of these attitudes are toxic for the church today, and all of them still lead to destruction.
While this account is a humbling reminder of God’s reaction to disobedience, there’s more to the story. Although Korah was out of line, his descendants would prove to be more upright (Numbers 26:11). They even go on to write some of the Psalms in the years to come, including Psalm 42. Your upbringing and roots do not have to dictate your eternity. Like Korah, we all have a choice. My prayer is that as these historical events are read we learn from them and press forward, more determined to be faithful children to a perfect Father.
“As the dear thirsts for water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
My brother and fellow preacher, Brent Pollard, finds the most interesting historical facts—an ability which makes his preaching illustrations most interesting. He sent me an article about the Oise-Aigne Cemetery in northern France. Though I have actually visited that cemetery, I had no idea about the existence of an auxiliary burial plot known as “Plot E.” While the 6012 military personnel buried in the four main burial plots lost their lives in World War I, the 94 interred in Plot E are infamous, disgraced soldiers who died for their crimes during or after World War II. These men either murdered fellow soldiers or raped and/or murdered 71 people in England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Algeria. “No US flag is permitted to fly over the section, and the numbered graves literally lie with their backs turned to the main cemetery on the other side of the road” (warhistoryonline.com).
These men were supposed to be fighting for the freedoms and rights of American citizens, but instead they were most dramatically undermining the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness of the unfortunate ones who crossed their paths. For their crimes, they not only paid the ultimate penalty but were buried in disgrace and immortalized with infamy. They are remembered as “the dishonorable dead.”
The book of Revelation refers to the “book of life” (20:12), implying that it is possible for one’s name to be blotted out of it (3:5). However, those whose names are not found in that book will be “cast into the lake of fire” (20:15). Those who take away from the words of this revelation—and by application any other (cf. Gal. 1:6-9)—“God shall take away his part of out of the book of life” (22:19). More specifically, John says, “And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (21:27). For the ungodly and disobedient, John lays out in apocalyptic terms how unthinkably horrible it will be to die unfaithful to Christ. He says, “He also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night…” (14:10-11a).
Everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). The faithful will receive glory and honor and reward (Mat. 25:34-40). The unrighteous, however, will go away into everlasting punishment (Mat. 25:46). No one will deserve heaven, but will go there thanks to God’s amazing grace and his or her conscious effort to walk in the light (1 John 1:7-10). Those who know not and obey not the gospel will endure something eternally worse than a firing squad, a hangman’s noose, or blameworthy burial (2 Th. 1:8-9). Though the world may believe less and less in the reality of hell, the Bible’s position on the matter has not changed. Knowing the terror of the Lord, may we persuade others and, ourselves, be persuaded (2 Cor. 5:11).
With the high profile case of an NFL star putting the idea of spanking in the spotlight, it is proper to examine this practice more closely. A sweet young mother asks a couple of questions about the practice of spanking in light of Proverbs 13:24. First, “Is Proverbs 13:24 literal, meaning we are to physically discipline our children, or is it figurative meaning we are to discipline in general?” Second, “If it is literal, does it literally mean to use an implement such as a rod, belt, etc rather than our hands to inflict the physical discipline?” These are vital questions young parents like her have to grapple with in light of a desire to properly train and mold the heritage given them by God, but do so in a world less accepting of biblical truth in general and passages like Proverbs 13:24 specifically. To address this, let’s break the matter into three component parts.
Spanking and society. Due to the prevalence of physical child abuse, society has reacted to any type of corporal punishment (i.e., punishment of or relating to the physical body; spanking). While the principle of spanking is more widely approved than we may be led to believe (a recent ABCNEWS poll found 65% of all parents approve of it, abcnews.com, and a 2013 Harris Interactive poll with a sample size twice as large found that 81% consider spanking their children sometimes appropriate, harrisinteractive.com), the politically correct wing of society so often in charge of media and education most often rail against it in any form. There are three revised statutes in Colorado, one civil and two criminal, that address spanking in Colorado (kidjacked.com includes the laws of all 50 states). While the statutes are eerily vague, here is what they permit: “Parent/guardian/ person with care and supervision of minor can use reasonable and appropriate physical force, if it is reasonably necessary and appropriate to maintain or promote welfare of child” (Colorado Code Section 18-1-703). The greater concern would be judicial interpretation or further revisions in the law that forbad corporal punishment altogether.
Spanking and scripture. With our youngest now 16 years old, we are beyond the timeframe where spanking holds sway as a primary means of discipline. When our boys were of that age (from toddlerhood up to the beginning of the teen years), we would resort to spanking (usually with the hand or a paddle). This was undoubtedly the result of practices learned from our own parents’ regimen of discipline, but also our conviction (as it was our parents’) that scripture taught the necessity of this under circumstances where mere words did not remedy misbehavior. The Bible clearly teaches it as an integral part of disciplining—Proverbs 13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14, and 29:15. Hopefully, we will never find ourselves in a place where our civil government absolutely forbids corporal punishment of our children, but if it does we would be compelled to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
Spanking and sensibility. Let us get to common sense issues, though. This is especially the “how” but also the “where” and “when.” Consider these suggestions for effective discipline—
Do not spank in anger or in an out of control manner (this reflects your own lack of self-discipline and is not likely an attempt to assert behavior modification).
Exercise restraint in how hard you administer physical punishment. The idea is to impress upon the child that their words, behavior, etc., is unacceptable.
Follow up the punishment with an explanation and teaching.
Avoid administering discipline in public places. Find a private room or wait until you get home to mete out the punishment.
If restraint is used, it will not matter whether the hand or another implement is used. Overall parental demeanor will determine whether the child is “scarred” or “shaped” by it.
Obviously, personal judgment and discretion are essential. Yet, inasmuch as the concept originates in scripture, our good sense as citizen of the society will govern us as we prayerfully attempt to raise children that please and follow God.
The Preacher Pollard Blog 