When you read these papers, remember that it is YOU I love, and not the CAR

It's YOU!

Mary Branson was driving the new family car and inadvertently made a wrong turn and sideswiped another automobile.  In tears, she began fumbling through the glove compartment in an effort to locate the appropriate insurance papers.  When she finally found the documents, she also discovered a small note attached in her husband’s handwriting.  It read simply:

Dear Mary,

When you read these papers, remember that it is YOU I love, and not the CAR.” *

Now THAT is a loving husband!

That loving husband reminds us of an attribute of the Heavenly Father: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

It is vitally important for us to remember that God loves us because we make many “wrong turns” (we sin!) and make a mess of our lives.  “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But as we open our “letter” from God (the Bible), we read:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 “9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

God is saying, “When you make a wrong turn and wreck your life, remember it’s YOU that I love and not the SIN.”

In the messages that God has given us through His Word, we learn that God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  He loves us so much that He wants to save us from sin, add us to His family, and give us the gift of eternal life!

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

There’s not ONE of us that hasn’t made a wrong turn and suffered because of it.

But to each of us, God says, “Remember, it’s YOU that I love and not the SIN.”  And through the blood of Jesus, He’ll wash that sin away!

What a wonderful, loving Heavenly Father!

Won’t YOU accept His offer of forgiveness and life on His terms?

David A. Sargent

Capricorns and astrological prognostications

 A while back I was really feeling poorly.  Things just weren’t right in my physical world.  Like the old farmers used to say, I was just “off my feed” and didn’t really know why.  But, I knew something was wrong and now I think I know what caused it.  You see, I’m a “Capricorn” and I’ve just discovered that all the astrological prognostications about we Capricorns have been wrong for hundreds of years.

I’m just kidding.  About my physical problems, they’re real, but not attributable to anything to do with astrology.  The cause of my “poor feeling” is kidney stones and not any kind of Zodiac fortune telling.  The reason I started today’s lesson off in a tongue-in-cheek manner was to use a news article as a basis for a lesson regarding a sin that is common to many people in society today.  I’m speaking of the sin of believing in astrology.  Or, the belief that the alignment of the heavenly bodies have any bearing on either our behavior or any future condition in our lives.

I’ve read that the reason we still have newspapers is mainly because of three things: the crossword puzzle, the obituaries and the daily horoscope.  I work the crosswords every day, and I read the obituaries (if I’m not in them I order breakfast) but, I do not read the horoscope.  And, for a simple reason - it’s a bunch of hogwash (and my apologies to the hog).

The article which I earlier referred to was seen in Time Magazine a while back and according to a news commentator’s view, it “rocked the world of astrology.”  What the article reported on was that, since the second century when the astrological signs were codified (Aquarius, Sagittarius, Capricorn etc) things have changed.  IE: that, due to some things about the earth’s orbit around the Sun, the stars do not match up with the “Zodiac” months.

Not being a follower of astrology, I was unaware of this “world rocking” news.  I guess the “astrologers” are blaming the “astronomers” and that whole belief system is in chaos.  Because, if you’re a believer in and a follower of, the daily advice given by the alignment of the stars, guess what?   You’ve been following the wrong advice all this time.  For example: you may have traveled when you shouldn’t have.  Or bought stocks instead of selling them.  You could have made any number of life-changing mistakes following another “sign’s” advice.

OK, I’ve poked enough fun at the astrological followers of the world, but the belief in the “dark arts” (or as the writer of Acts puts it, “the curious arts” 19:19) is not a laughing matter - it’s a sin.  The Bible talks about it in many places and uses various terms that are part and parcel of this false belief.  Terms such as: “astrologers, enchanters, witches and witchcraft, magicians and seers.”

We can lump all of them under the term of “divination” which has many forms.  If you look it up you’ll find some of them to be “astrology, palmistry & star-gazing.”  And, if you take the time to research all that God has to say about all of the forms of “divination” found in the Bible, you’ll see that all of them are condemned.  Not a one of them is approved in any way by Jehovah.

Here are a few examples of why I just said that.  First off, another variation of “divination” is “sorcery” and the Apostle Paul very aptly calls it a “child of the devil” and the “enemy of all righteousness.”  (Acts 13:19)

Something more appropriate to “astrology” is some words of God, spoken through the Prophet Isaiah in Isa. 47:9-13.  Allow me to paraphrase what is said there, but please read it for yourself and verify that I correctly do so.  He’s predicting that God’s wrath is about to come upon them because of their evil ways, some of which was their practice of and trust in their “enchantments and sorceries.”

He, in a sense, challenges them by telling them to keep on trusting in all their “counselors” and see if they do you any good in saving them from being punished.  Notice what he says in verse 13:  “Thou are wearied in the multitude of thy counsels.  Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.”  A more modern language translation says “let them save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.”

The prophet Jeremiah told them the same thing that Isaiah did regarding their imminent captivity in Babylon.  And here again, I’ll paraphrase his message: he tells them, don’t listen to your “diviners, enchanters and sorcerers” when they say that you’re safe.  That you “won’t serve the king of Babylon.” They are lying to you with their words.  It will happen.  You know what?  It did!

Here are a couple more examples from Scripture and then we’ll conclude.  God’s people have always been warned to not assimilate with those who “use divinations” and “observe times” or are “enchanters.”  God says they are “abominations” to Him.  (Dt. 18:9-12)

Lest you think that it was only an “abomination” in the Old Testament, look at how it’s put in the New.  In Gal. 5:19-21 Paul identifies to us the “works of the flesh.”  Included in the list are “idolatry and witchcraft” with the concluding admonition there, that none of those practicing these “works” shall “inherit the kingdom of God.”

How should we, as Christians, look at the idea of astrology and all of its variants?  As the Scriptures plainly put it - as an abomination that is the same as idolatry.  And we can look at it the same way faithful Job did:

“If I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”  (Job 31:26-28 NIV)

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Debunking the De-bunkers!

The words of Matthew 16:13-16 reveal there was a lot of buzz going on about Jesus even while His sandals were still slapping the dusty roads of Palestine. Then, as now, many thought highly of Jesus but not highly enough. The apostle Matthew wrote: “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ " Millions today acknowledge and praise Jesus as a great and good man and as a noteworthy religious leader. They agree He has much to say to our modern world about things like love, forgiveness and tolerance toward others. But, like the people in Matthew’s narrative, millions today are incomplete in their understanding of Jesus and the claims He made for Himself in the four gospel accounts, not to mention claims made for Him by inspired writers in the rest of the New Testament.

Many who purport to know much about Jesus are unwilling to accept and submit to New Testament teaching that He was God in the flesh, not only the One who came to save us from our sins, but the One coming back to judge us for them. Many pay lip service to Jesus as one of many great religious men, but will not pay heart homage to Him as the risen and sole Savior and Lord through whom all men must come to God or else be lost (John 14:6). A story attributed to actress Rosiland Russell, although not directly about Christ, has application as we consider what we ought to believe about Him. According to Homiletics magazine, Russell told that while on a cruise, one day on deck she found herself sitting next to a man who had a terrible cold. She advised him, “I think if you go to bed early, take a lot of fluids and two aspirin, you will feel better in the morning.”

When the man registered no response, Russell added, “My name is Rosiland Russell – you know? I make movies.” The man apologized for his non-recognition, thanked her for her advice, and followed up by introducing himself: “My name is Charles Mayo, and I run a medical clinic”

(Homiletics,9/1998, p 32).

    A little humility is always in order when we discuss Christ, the Son of the living God! But some theologians and other religious people today brazenly speak and write as if they know more about Christ than Christ Himself; or His apostles, the men most intimate with Him and in the best position to tell us what to believe about Him! Are you content to believe what mere mortals say about Jesus – especially modern mortals who for some reason want us to trust that they are somehow better-positioned and know more about Christ than the writers of the New Testament were? A TIME magazine (4/1996) cover story had a picture of Jesus on the front cover and in bold letters announced “The Search For Jesus” – and underneath in smaller letters were these words, “Some scholars are debunking the Gospels. Now traditionalists are fighting back. What are Christians to believe?” Excuse me, but why am I a “traditionalist” to believe what the Gospel says? And what is so new about “scholarly” de-bunkers? Scholars have been debunking Christ and the Gospels for 2,000 years, but they won’t stay debunked! They debunk the debunkers! Jesus declared Himself the Son of the living God, and inspired apostles said the same thing. What do you say?

by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Life is the pits

Have you ever been enjoying a nice piece of cherry pie and suddenly come across a cherry pit (seed)? I have, on several occasions in my life. Pits are unexpected and sometimes painful; at the very least they are a nuisance.

Life sometimes is that way also isn't it? That’s why we have the saying in America, "Isn’t that just the pits?" You know what I am talking about I’m sure. You are expecting a good day and along comes a pit. Your life is fairly untroubled and an illness or accident pops up. You are doing well at work and then you get the word your job is ending. Your church life is going pretty well, and the preacher announces that he is retiring. "Isn't that just the pits?"

I wish that we could find a way to make our lives always fun, always joyful, always feeling good, but that just isn't the way life is, is it? Often it seems we have the wrong idea that our relationship with Christ is suppose to make bad things stop. That idea is strengthened by what we do, say and sing to one another. I have always enjoyed singing the song Blue Skies and Rainbows.

In case you don't know the words here they are: (1) "Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from heaven. Are what I can see when My Lord is living in me. (2) Green grass and flowers, all blooming in springtime, is works of the Master I live for each day. (3) Tall mountains, green valleys, the beauty that surrounds me. All make me aware of the One Who made it all. Chorus: Jesus is well and alive today; He makes His home in my heart. Never more will I be all alone since He promised me that we never would part."

That song proclaims how wonderful our life will be if we only have Jesus in it and it is 100% right if you are just talking about spiritual things. However the physical side of life keeps intervening with that perfect life doesn't it? How is it that the apostle Paul could write, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" referring to all of his physical challenges? (Philippians 4:11) In verse 13 he writes, "I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength."

Paul accepted the fact that bad things sometimes happen in our lives, but he wasn't living his life according to what happened to him physically. His hope and his ability to cope, was based upon what was going to happen after he left this physical world.

Yes, sometimes you get "a pit" in life when you were expecting to enjoy the cherry. Some folks give up or even get mad at God because bad things happen. They seem to say, "When I became a Christian I was only suppose to receive good things!" They will, but of course God has promised good things in the spirit and that is what they really struggle with.

So, can we still sing "Blue skies and rainbows are what I see when my lord is living in me"? Yes, of course we can if we understand what the promise is really about. Our promise is of a time to come when there will be no more tears, no more death, no more suffering (Revelation 21:4). That's what Christians really live for, so if you are not, why not start now? Your "pit" is coming, how are you going to deal with it?

--Russ Lawso