Deu 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

What is just judgement? It is one which acquits the innocent and punishes the guilty. Solomon warns about unjust judgement: “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15).

Yet, it is not always the case in this world. Sometimes we see that the wicked men are excused and exonerated, and even protected while the just men are criticized and condemned, and even punished. For example, in 2013, a court ordered an Oregon bakery to pay a lesbian couple $135,000 for refusing to make a wedding cake for them. In 2015, a florist who declined to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding because of her Christian belief was fined $1,001 by a Washington court and will be held liable to pay the legal fees incurred by the gay couple, which could "devastate" her financially. Those are just two of the many cases in which the righteous were condemned while the wicked were justified. Well, God hates those who justify the wicked while condemning the just.

 

At the trial of Jesus, we see the righteous Son of God was condemned to be crucified while a murderer was released (Luke 23:18-21). Again, a case of justifying the wicked while condemning the righteous.

Paul wrote concerning love: “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13”6). Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. It takes no delight in sin. It does not condone sin, will not be a partner to anyone who does it, and will not commit it himself. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).

Have you been guilty of justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous? Of course, you will say you have always been just. But, have you been guilty of taking side between two squabbling persons? Like siding with your friends or children even when they were wrong? We read of parents challenging a school principal because his son was punished in school. Does he think a school will punish a well-behaved kid? Have you been guilty of “siding” your child?

What if your friend was issued a parking ticket? Did you tell him that he should be honest and that he was wrong not to display a parking coupon? Or you joined him in ranting at the parking warden and commenting how nasty persons parking wardens are? If you did, you were justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous.

In the news yesterday was a man who went to his nine years old daughter’s school, interrupted the class while a teacher was teaching, pulled out a boy and slapped him on the face. The reason: his daughter had complained about this boy bullying her. Not only did the man continue to haul accusations at the victim but also proceeded to lecture the class on how it was wrong to bully others or behave like gangsters. Unbelievable! The big bully and gangster telling some young boys and girls not to bully other or behave like gangsters. Somebody please give him a mirror.

A mirror is what we all need. We know the doctrines but fail to practise them. We know we must be just and impartial. But we are not always just and impartial; we are respecters of persons. We take side when our friends have a quarrel with some others.

Our Lord says: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Let us be righteous when we judge.

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

The subject of “miracles”

                                                                        FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

In last Wednesday’s Bible study we discussed the subject of “miracles” and whether they still exist.  To give you the shortened version of the summation of our study - no they don’t.  But, that doesn’t mean that there is any shortage of people in this world who believe that they do and that there exists plenty of people (deceivers) who prey upon that belief. 

I may have mentioned to you in the past that I’m a big fan of who I consider to be one of the world’s great humorists, Will Rogers.  He often said that all he needed for inspiration was to read the newspapers.  Today I would add to that radio and television.  He is also the one who declared that he did not belong to any organized political party, that he was a Democrat.  I would add to that all other political parties today.

And, I’ll agree with him that our news media is a veritable “goldmine” of information that cause me to ponder sometimes and then realize an opportunity present that could provide us with a spiritual lesson.  A teachable moment, if you will. Therefore, my efforts today come from that same rich source that inspired Will - the news media.

Why I mentioned at the start about our study of modern-day miracles is because my two inspirational illustrations come from that source.  And, allow me to preface my thoughts by saying again, there simply is no shortage of charlatans and other such deceivers in our midst.  Here’s just a couple of them that I found by reading the news.

I don’t if you happened across this article or not but, there is (or was) a woman “psychic” running for a congressional office from the state of Iowa.  (No disrespect meant here for any and all Iowans).  Well, it seems that she called a news conference to announce that she was having to drop out of the race due to (now get this) “unforseen circumstances.”  Just seems to me that her statement wouldn’t serve as much of an advertisement for her psychic prowess.

My second news media charlatan actually comes from a “flyer” or “handbill” left on peoples doors and car windshields a few years ago advertising a “Miracle Healing Crusade” soon to be held at one of our local parks.  It was to be officiated by a man described to be an “Evangelistic Faith Healer.”  I didn’t note the name of the “healer” but it was claimed that he could cure all sorts of ills and diseases.  It listed some of his healing accomplishments such as: a woman cured of a 53 year scoliosis disease, another woman of asthma and even hearing to a man deaf from birth.

In big bold capital letters across the handbill were these words: “ALL TOTALLY HEALED AFTER PRAYER!”  I mentioned that I didn’t note his name, however the flyer did have the “Faith Healer’s” picture on it.   Now remember “all healed” as I describe to you his picture.  He’s wearing big thick eyeglasses and his left eye is pointed off in a different direction from his right one.  Of course, the first thing I thought of is the proverb spoken by Christ Himself in Luke 4:23, “Physician, heal thyself.”

Well, the scriptures warn us that these sorts of things, these “false prophets” whom the Apostle Paul identifies as being “workers of Satan” that perform “lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9-10) will be in our world.  People such as “Miss Cleo” in Miami, Florida who runs a “psychic hot line” fortune-telling business where the average cost per call to her is about $60.00.  People pay her to tell their fortunes and predict their future.  At least this is what she claims to be able to do, but the state of Florida has charged her with criminally deceiving her followers.  (More news inspiration)

You know, all of this sort of deceit is what the Bible refers to as “divination.”  The definition of “divination” is the “uncovering of hidden knowledge by supernatural means.”  Hence, those who claim to be able to do this (IE: call it forth) are simply performing what Paul called “lying wonders.”  And know this, the Word of God has never condoned this practice for His people. 

When He gave Israel the Law of Moses, He expressly forbade them to have anything to do with sorcerers, wizards, consulters of familiar spirits, divinators etc (Deut. 18:9-12) and says that these practices are “abominations” to Him.  He further tells us in Rev. 21:8 that all of the practitioners of these things will share an eternal home with all the sinful in the “lake of fire and brimstone.” 

Well, why do you think God hates sorcerers, witches and those who practice divination?  The answer is, they are tricksters, deceivers.  By being such, they mislead people.  Or, as Paul put it in his letter to the Thessalonians, they operate “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” and cause their followers to “perish.”  (Eternally).  (2 Thess. 2:9-10).  And, He says in the very next verse (11) that there will be plenty of them out there deluding people and those that follow them are “believing a lie.”  Also, according to 1 Sam. 15:23 divination is “rebellion” towards God.

Let me just tell you what “divination” is NOT.  It is not just a form of entertainment and many believe that.  Satan would like you to believe that.  Nor is it what some call “an alternate source of wisdom.”  Satan would like you to believe that too.  If you read James 1:5 you’ll see where the Christian’s source of wisdom lies - with His Word. 

Remember our definition of “divination?”  That it’s the “uncovering of hidden knowledge by supernatural means.”  Well, consider this: the Gospel isn’t hidden.  The world is missing nothing when comes to knowing what a person should do, how they should live and what kind of person they ought to be in order to be pleasing to God.

Historically, divination was done in ancient times for gaining money.  Nothing has changed.  It’s done today for the same reason.  But the reason it’s so abhorred and condemned by God is because the followers of it are, in effect, saying that God and what He says, is not sufficient.  That was the same reason it was a sin for ancient Israel and the same reason today.

It’s interesting (to me anyway) that the Greek word used in the New Testament for “sorceries” (divinations) is “PHARMAKEIA,” which relates to seduction and deception.  That’s the word used in Rev. 18:23.  Having said this, let me close with this thought.

All forms of sorcery, witchcraft and any form of divination is unreal.  It is an abomination in the eyes of God.  But - God is real.  Christ is real.  And God’s Word, given through His Son, Jesus Christ, is real.  It’s called the Gospel of Christ.  All else is simply “PHARMAKEIA.”

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Deu 27:8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

The first thing that Israel was commanded to do on the day they crossed over the Jordan to the Promised Land was to set up large stones and inscribed on them the Law of God (verse 2-3).

And the command to the inscribers who inscribed the words onto the stones was: “And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly” (verse 8).

The word “plainly” means “to make plain, distinct, to make clear” (BDB Hebrew Dictionary). It means the words must be clear, in plain language that is easy to read and understand at once.

The main reason for the setting up of the great stones with the law written on them was so that the people could read and know the law of God themselves. Therefore, the inscription must be “plain”. The readers should have no trouble reading the writing and understand its meaning. To write it in such a way that the readers have trouble trying to figure out what a word is or its meaning would defeat its purpose of giving the Law to them.

One preacher said: “The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things.” What does it mean? It means that the things that are important for our salvation and godliness are always written in plain language so that we have no trouble understanding them. God who wants all men to be saved would not write the plan of salvation in apocalyptic language that men have problem trying to understand what they must do to be saved. No, but He will use plain and simple sentences that are easy to understand.

For example, when our Lord gave the great commission to go into the world and preach the gospel, He said it in plain sentence how men can be saved: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). That statement is plain and easy to understand: Believe + Baptised = Saved. Only a mind that has been corrupted by false teachings will see it differently. One needs help to misunderstand that verse.

A thing that is as important as our souls’ salvation will be written in plain statement. On the day of Pentecost, after Peter preached the sermon about the Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ, the multitude asked this question: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter replied: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). How did the multitude respond to Peter’s statement? That day, three thousand souls were baptised and had their sins washed away. They understood fully Peter’s statement; it was plain and easy to understand.

Our Lord Jesus was the Word that was made flesh and dwelled among men (John 1:14). John wrote: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The result of the Word coming to men was that "Light has come into the world" (John 3:19). We are not left to our own imaginations to figure out what we must do to be saved. That would be leaving us in darkness. But the Word brought light into the world. It means the Word brought revelation to all men and opened their eyes to understand the will of God. In all, the main teachings are taught "very plainly" by the Word.

The Word of God is so clearly and accurately recorded that men might see for themselves what the Lord had spoken. God’s words are always plain and easy to understand. Let us use it as God meant us to use it, not as a book, but as the Book; not as a book written by men, but by God (2 Timothy 3:16). With such a Book before us, let us walk in all the commandments of God.

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.