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                                 CONTENTS

 

Chapter Title                                          Page

Chapter 1                                                 2

Which Version                                        11

Inspiration of the Bible                            18

A Tribute to the Flag                               24

Patriotic Message                                    29

Busybodies                                             32

The True Vine                                         34

The Book of Ruth                                    39

Meditations & Truth -                              44

Pride

Meditations & Truth -                              49

What Do Ye More Than Others

Meditations & Truth -                              55

The Word as Guide

 

 

 

                                   FOREWORD

           “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

             But trust Him for His grace;

             Behind a frowning providence,

             He hides a smiling face.”

John Newton’s dear friend, William Cowper, wrote these beautiful words many years ago. There is no intent to be sacrilegious, but a different play on these words might help us to imagine that even God at some time has a genuine sense of humor. I can’t help but think that in His benevolent patience with us, He often has to smile a little at our feeble efforts to do His holy bidding. He calls men to preach, placing a burden of awesome responsibility upon them. Many of us begin with so little experience and knowledge that we have to learn much through trial and error. Our efforts are quite often humorous to behold--not, of course to us at the moment, but to others. Looking back, we can someday laugh at ourselves. This is not all bad. We have no right to laugh at anyone else unless we laugh at ourselves first.

They say that laughter is a good medicine. Then let us make the best of our awkward situations and smile even as a merciful Heavenly Father must often smile at our antics. Preachers have no desire to be awkward and bumbling, but most of us have had our moments. Laugh and do better next time. Learn from your experiences and from the experiences of others.

The purpose of this book is to make you laugh and learn. In the very serious business of pastoring-preaching, some of the most solemn work is handled in such a way that we are totally embarrassed by our actions. If it happens to be someone else making the mistake, we are prone to turn our smiling faces the other way. But let us be honest and admit that we all have made such mistakes. These stories, many about the author himself, are absolutely true. Enjoy them and learn from them. If you happen to recognize yourself in some of the stories, you can know that it has happened to more than one, or possibly I heard from someone about you. At any rate take it with a smile.

God have mercy on the poor mortals He chooses to call into His great work of ministry. If God is smiling at us, then I pray He will help us to also smile at ourselves.

R.L. Mitchell

 

CHAPTER I

WHOSE CALLING?

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I send me.” Isaiah 6:8. This is the call of the prophet Isaiah. He was called by God and he responded affirmatively. That seems simple, does it not? We know also that Moses was called at a burning bush, that Paul, the apostle, was stricken to the ground on the road to Damascus. Such callings are myriad in the Scripture accounts. We have based our belief concerning the origin of the minister upon such holy lessons. Preaching is more than a profession. It is a holy calling. God does the calling.

But does God do all the calling? Some time after I had been preaching the gospel, I had a very strange dream. I hasten to say that most of my dreams come from eating too much, or “through a multitude of business.” Ecclesiastes 5:3. In this dream I was in some strange place up in the skies. There were angels, or what appeared to be angels lounging on clouds. Suddenly, there was a word straight out of Isaiah 6:8 emanating from a deep slow voice. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Deeply impressed, I replied, “Here am I. Send me.” Suddenly there was laughter from the angels and one of them quipped to another, “Who’s calling?” End of dream. Well, you can imagine the disturbing thoughts when awaking with that strange dream fresh in my mind. It occurred to me that my preaching might be a pretence. At any rate it caused some serious reflections, since I was already in the ministry. On the other hand it may have had little or no significance at all, but it does point out that there are and have been some strange calls, especially in rural settings where preparation and education are seldom considered necessary for an honorable ministry.

Mind you, I am convinced that education and culture are not prerequisites to the ministry. But a call can certainly be proved more effectively, if the young minister makes genuine efforts to improve his native talents with a good dose of “learning.” Away with the idea that God pours the sermon into head of a lazy man! And away with that crude person I heard once say from the pulpit, “I know I’m ignorant and I’m proud of it.”  Elisha had his ministry to the “sons of the prophets,” Charles Spurgeon taught young burdened men effectively with his “Lectures to My Students,” and D. M. Lloyd-Jones gave great advice in his “Preaching and Preachers.” The value of education and improvement cannot be over estimated.

Good counsel also should be given by experienced ministers to those feeling a call, or (Lord help us) “wanting” a call.  We have heard the story of one who weary with his menial work, seeing the initials G. P. C. in the clouds, surely thought God was saying to him, Go Preach Christ. It could and probably did mean Go Plow Cotton.  Some men have been erroneously ordained and it was not their faults.  Churches, usually small churches, over-anxious to get a pastor, have called good laymen to be their pastors.  A good deacon has often been ruined by an ordination he neither sought nor needed.  A good preacher friend once told me that a certain small church was the “seminary” church because it had called for the ordination of so many men.  It is a miracle we have not had more serious mishaps than we have.

My own ministry began almost accidentally in one way of looking at it. The Savannah Church, of which I was a member, sent several young people and counselors to a Youth Rally held at Ramah Church, near Barnesville, Ga. An embarrassing moment came when our group was called upon for a devotional and no one had made preparations. I was urged to give a brief Scripture Reading with even briefer comments, which I stumbled through. Several have told me this was my first attempt at preaching. This was in July, 1950. My home church in Savannah licensed me to preach the gospel a month later in September 1950.

The pastor at the time, Brother W. C. Chandler, insisted that I be given a “trial run” soon after that. I was overwhelmed, but felt a strange excitement. Wanting to make a good impression I went to one of my new books, “The Body of Divinity,” by Dr. John Gill. He had a profound sermon in that book on “Christian Fortitude,” which was unwisely borrowed almost in its entirety. There were extensive notes made and the great day came. There was no air-conditioning in the church, but some thoughtful person had put a large fan in the pulpit area. As soon as the Bible was opened and the subject announced, a sudden gust of the fan blew my notes to the far side of the pulpit. With no experience at any of this, I decided to let the notes go and do the best I could from memory. It was at that precise time I discovered I had a very short memory. It was a fiasco, and a sudden decision was in my mind to forget the whole thing. But with proper sympathy and encouragement, strength was found to continue on. Along that same period of time, Brother Chandler, still looking for ways to salvage my self-esteem, informed me at the beginning of the services that he would call on me for prayer just before his sermon. Well, that gave me three or four hymns to get ready. Another serious mistake. There is such a thing as getting too ready. All the big religious sounding words I could muster were formulated in what seemed must be one of the most profound prayers ever offered. When the time came, those words and thoughts went the same way my notes in that first sermon went - out the window. After a few mumbling, struggling moments, I said Amen and sat down in tears. You could not prove it to me at the time, but those were two of the most valuable lessons I would ever learn.

Those would not be the last humiliating experiences. There were more to come. Forty-five years later they still come, but believe it or not, I have learned to appreciate those lessons and experiences. God knows how to deflate the egotistic ambitions of the vain minister, and bring him to his knees. Thank you, Lord.

A short time of visiting various churches began in that same Fall of 1950. Several churches were without pastors and some called licentiates when no ordained ministers were available. It is normal for an exercising minister to visit and preach to a number of churches for at least a year. This gives everyone a chance to hear him and judge whether he has a genuine gift. This is not mandatory, but it makes good sense. A year’s apprenticeship is not too much to ask, and it is really a blessing to the young minister. However, in several cases (mine included) there were calls early on, and I felt if a church called me to be its pastor, I was obligated to go. Maybe I was too anxious. If it were to do over, I have often thought waiting at least a year would have been to my advantage, and definitely to the church’s advantage.

The first church I served was in Vidalia, Georgia, and that was a half-time service (two Sundays a month). There were not many full-time churches with our folks in 1950. Soon I began another Sunday a month at Lake Chapel Church in Appling County, Georgia. I served Lake Chapel for one year and Vidalia for a little less than two years. It is amazing they endured it that long.

It was in Vidalia that people first joined the church under my preaching. It was a happy moment when that family of four came down the isle. But the Lord deflated me again when they requested that another minister be requested to do the baptizing. I think I was beginning to get a Charlie Brown complex. Thank the Lord, however, for that experience of seeing folks added to the church.

Although Lake Chapel was in my experiences as a pastor for only a year, I still recall many pleasant memories there. And one or two a little bit less pleasant. One of the first lessons learned was to preach there just as loud as I could. There were numbers of infants in that congregation. That is a healthy sign in any church. It was at that time an old—fashioned country church with no class rooms or annex. All the infants were put on pallets between the first pew and the pulpit. Generally, when one infant became disturbed they all joined in and I needed a George Whitefield voice for that congregation.

Lake Chapel is located near a swamp near the old Tyre Bridge in what we called the "Deal Community” in Appling County. Two brothers named Deal had moved from Bulloch County to Appling some years before and both had large families. If you were to ever meet anyone around there you did not know, the rule was to address him as Mr. Deal and most of the time you would be right. In those days there were no screens on the windows and no air-conditioning. In hot weather the windows and doors were open, the preacher was down to his shirt sleeves and usually with his tie untied, and the house was lull of a variety of flying bugs. Some preachers were known to have swallowed a few. That did not happen to me, but here is what did happen. One Sunday the congregation seemed hypnotized by my sermon. They all looked at me with stunned and amazed faces. I felt I had really graduated to a captivating orator. When I closed the message, one deacon ran to me hurriedly and said, “Do not move, Brother Mitchell. There is a big wasp on the top of your head.” Evidently, that wasp perched on my head at the beginning of the sermon and stayed there until it was over. So much for my great oratory, but who knows - preachers who have trouble keeping the attention of their hearers might try using a fake wasp sometime.

I left Lake Chapel and went to Metter, Georgia. I was still serving Vidalia half time but moved to Metter and served that fine church for one year, also half time. The pastor who had recently left Metter was Brother V. F. Agan, one of the most consecrated and dedicated ministers of the gospel I have ever known. Just coming to that church after his ministry frightened me. Several things occurred in that one year there I will never forget. The main reason it was only one year is because I had given up Vidalia and had accepted the church in Cordele, Georgia. Close to the end of my first year in Metter, both churches voted to go to full time services and both called me. I eventually decided to go to the Cordele Church full time in September of 1953.

While at Metter I had my first baptism. I will go into detail about that in a later chapter. There were several more that year but none like that first one, thank the Lord. One Sunday I was so anxious to preach I jumped right in after the last hymn. One of the brothers called to me and said, “Brother Mitchell, you forgot to call for the offering.” I have often thought it was noteworthy that a- man can be so anxious to preach that he does not even think about the offering.

Another interesting incident at Metter I will never forget. Brother Ladd Trapnell, a deacon and prince of a man, came to Bible Study one Sunday without Sister Maxie, his wife. He was supposed to go home for her between Bible Study and Church. A minute or two into the sermon, Brother Ladd stood up hurriedly and said, “Excuse me please, Brother Mitchell. I forgot my wife.” Out he went and there were unmistakably a few giggles heard. The funniest thing, though, was when they returned some fifteen minutes later. The look on her face when they entered nearly finished the preaching and the listening.

Cordele was my first full—time church. I had served it for one year two Sundays a month, but then six years as their pastor, living in a home they provided for us. Thus began my experience of pastorium living. More about that later. I really considered all my service up to this time as an apprenticeship of learning. The church in Cordele was really the beginning of my pastoral ministry.

That is not to say that I did not love and enjoy my work in Vidalia, Lake Chapel, and Metter. Those were some of the finest saints I have known and I learned much more from them than they did from me. But a full-time ministry in the community with the church is the way it should be for effectiveness and genuine progress. After Cordele there was Savannah, my home church, served three different times for a total of twenty-five great years, Lanes Church in Bulloch County, Georgia for two years, Cordele Church for another four years. Added to those there was a three-year stint in the early sixties attempting to be an evangelist. I sometimes refer to this period as my “three years in Arabia.” It began in Johnson City, Tennessee and ended in Beaufort, South Carolina. Much good came from those three years. Notably there was the undisputed proof to me that I was no evangelist. Brother J. Walter Hendricks, who had baptized me, and who always was a spiritual father to me, heard that I was going to East Tennessee to be an evangelist. He said to someone else, “Well he really has more faith than I thought he had, or else he has gone out of his mind.” When I first heard that it hurt a little, but later it had to be acknowledged Brother Hendricks knew me better than I knew myself.

At present time I am so happy serving a beautiful congregation in Northeast Alabama, the Mountain View Church, better known as the “Scott Church.” That is because it was founded by Scotts and gave us four great Scott preachers. The experiences at these several places will be fitted into the remainder of the story.

I still have some thoughts about that dream mentioned where the angel asked, “Who’s calling?” There remains the fear at times that maybe I was mistaken. But then there is so much that God has given me in various ways that leave little doubt in my mind that He truly called me. How thankful and humble that should make any mortal man, especially one who is so unworthy. But the angels can still smile at so many things we do. But when God smiles, I am persuaded He smiles in mercy.

 

 

WHICH VERSION?

“of making many books there is no end.”  Ecclesiastes 12:12.

There are many perplexing prob1ems for the sincere student of the Holy Scriptures.  Not only does he have to contend with dozens of interpretations from the same scriptures, but now he is faced more than ever with an avalanche of new “versions” or translations of the Scriptures.  Each new so-called Bible claims superiority over all the preceding copies.  Since the Bible was first translated into English several hundreds of years ago there have been many different English or American versions; far too many for us to identify and discuss.

For more than three centuries the one version or translation of the Bible which has held superiority over all others is the Authorized Version of 1611, otherwise known as the King James Bible.  About forty-eight of the best known Greek and Hebrew scholars of that day were commissioned by King James of England to make a new translation of the Bible. The work was begun in 1607 and finished in 1611.  King James, an otherwise very unwise king, manifested unusual wisdom in his instructions for this new version of the Scriptures.  He urged that all commentary notes be withheld from the new Bible other than those marginal references absolutely essential to aid in understanding the text.  Words which are added primarily for clarity of the reading were clearly marked in italics.  Suitable marginal notes and headings were made where necessary and the division of chapters and verses perfected in this translation still remains as one of the greatest translation aids known in history.  Elizabeth I had preceded James and this age is known as the Elizabethan Age.  The Elizabethan English as used by Shakespeare and others of England's greatest literary period was used in the English text of the Bible.

While this style of English is not used today in England or America, it is still recognized as one of the purest forms of the English language known.  Many more persona1 pronouns were used in this style than in any modern style and while cumbersome to us, it renders a more perfect translation from the Greek and Hebrew than any modern version.  It is admitted that this style of speaking was unknown to Christ and the early Christians, but it certainly dignifies their language far more than modern slang and colloquialisms.

The few English Bibles which preceded the King James Version and several since that time have been filled with marginal comments to help interpret the text.  In nearly all cases these comments have been theologically one—sided depending on who might be in charge of the translation.  King James insisted that such comments be comp1etely left out of this translation, leaving all interpretation to the individual reader.  This move, probably more than any other, has led to the unequalled success of the King James Bible.

The King James Bible, like all new translations, did not catch on immediate1y among the masses although it was immediately placed in pulpits everywhere in England.  Gradually it became the accepted version in a matter of a few decades and retains that place in the English speaking world to this day.  There were some minor changes made in the original version.  In fact, a new edition was published just two years later in 1613, containing more than 400 variations from the original.  Some subsequent changes have been made but none in recent times. It should be pointed out, however, that these charges were not of any significance toward altering the accuracy of the text.

There have been any attacks made upon the King James Version, especially in more recent years.  Some are worthy of notice and some are absolutely ridiculous.  One of the more ridiculous attacks on the Bible is made through reminders of the King for whom the Bible is named.  It is accepted by all knowledgeable people that King James was far from being perfect. In fact, he was one 3? the poorest rulers in all the history of England. The greatest of historians have been puzzled by him, especially in light of his contribution to the great Bible published in his name. He has been described as “two men in one.” On the one hand he acted like an idiot and was very unpopular with the English people. Yet, on rare occasions, he appeared as a witty, well-read scholar. One such rare occasion of greatness, the one real worthwhile contribution he made to the world, was his leadership in the translation of the Bible.  To belittle the Bible on account of James himself is below the dignity of any thoughtful person.  His 1ife does not and should not cast any shadow over the superb work done by the great scholars. One should remember also, that God in Heaven can make good come out of the hands of even the evil when it please Him.

The two most widely accepted criticisms of the Kings James Version may be listed as:  First, the appearance of several ancient documents which were not known to be in existence during the translation of the King James; and, Second, the many changes in English usage since the Elizabethan age. Now these two reasons are worthy of being explored by the serious student of the Bible. Every document uncovered which has any trace of ancient Bible texts should be thoroughly studied.  Again, though, caution is needed here.  Many of the so-called ancient copies which are relied upon by many are nothing more or less than copies made by diverse factions of the Christian community in the third and forth centuries.  These, like many translations, are slanted in favor of the theological views of one particular faction.  It is from such copies that many have deducted that passages such as Mark 16:9—20 and John 7:53—8:11 have no place in the received text.  But there is still ample evidence to justify the receiving of these passages.  Certainly, there is no harm to the text in either of them.  There are no known “originals” now any more than there were in 1611.  Everything is based upon copies or versions handed down.  The fact that one copy is older than another does not necessarily prove its greater validity.  More depends on the author or source of the copy than any other single factor.

There is much to be said for the second criticism — the change in usage of certain words in the English language.  Every student of the English Bible is aware of this and the more serious ones have made allowances for this in their use of the King James.  It is common knowledge, for instance, that the word ‘prevent’ as used in the Authorized Version means now what our word "precede” means.  This must be considered in 2 Thessalonians 4: 15, where it is said, "That we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”  This simply means that the living shall not go into the presence of Jesus before those who are being resurrected.  One does not have to be a Hebrew or Greek scholar to study these needful corrections.  Many valuable helps are available today.

This objection to the King James is, no doubt, the most valid of all, however.  Many object to the Elizabethan style of English which ís no 1onger in use.  Most want the “thees” and “thous" removed from the English versions.  Most all the modern versions have done this, and if this were all, it would not be all that harmful.  But nearly all the modern versions have proven already that they are lacking in the scholarship and unbiased honesty which is unquestioned in the King James Version.  Too many liberties have been taken with the text and it is quite apparent that there is too much interpretation in the place of strict translation in a great body of the new versions.  Many of the widely acclaimed versions of this century have already reached their peaks of popu1arity and have been discarded in favor of older translations.  It is amazing how the King James is still holding p1ace.   It would be misleading to argue that tradition alone has given this Bible so much strength.  The Revised Standard Version and the New English Version are among some of the more recent and better known versions.  Neither of these have been able to displace the King James.  Many others, some with status among the translations and some that are not strictly translations, are coming and going.  Not one has been generally accepted yet.

One thing that should be noted especially today is that there are some "Bibles” which are not versions or translations at all.  In most cases the authors and publishers have never claimed that their works were true translations.  These works are generally identified as "paraphrases" of the Bible.  Some present the New Testament only while a few paraphrase the entire Bible.  A paraphrase is usually the work of one man while versions and revisions are generally performed by rather large committees.  A paraphrase allows for more interpretation and modern co1loquial expressions, broad latitudes which a strict translation would not tolerate. These paraphrase editions are attractive to the younger generation or the first-time Bible reader who is not at all familiar with King James language.

By far the most popular and successful of the paraphrases is Kenneth Taylor's “The Living Bible.”  For the past two years this work has topped the best-seller list in the United States.  Most young people are using it.  Many ministers and denominational agencies are urging that it be used regularly because of its appeal to the young.  This work was slow in gaining popularity right after it came from the press but a generous endorsement by the well known Dr. Billy Graham seemed to set it in motion as one of the most popular “bibles" of all time.  Ironically, though, it is not a Bible.  Those who advocate its use should be careful to point this out and urge the readers to get into a much more reliable translation after they have been introduced to Bible reading.  The Living Bible is simply a verse by verse commentary or interpretation of the Scriptures.  The interpretation leans very favorably to the “free will” and “universal atonement" theories prevalent in much American theology today.  Some of the verses do not even remotely resemble the actual text in Greek or Hebrew.  The author and publishers have never claimed this to be an exact translation and have suitably inscribed on the front cover of every copy the word, "Paraphrased".  They have not claimed the authority for the work which many people are blind1y giving it.  The Living Bible was designed for easy reading, never for the pulpit or for final authority on any text.  It should not be used as the authoritative Word of God, but only as an introduction to Bible reading.  For more serious and critical study, a good translation should be employed.

Probably the greatest evidence that no English version of the Scriptures has yet taken the place of the King James is the fact that efforts are still being made to come up with a suitable and worthy replacement.  Whether that shall ever be done remains to be seen.  Scholars have recognized the weaknesses of most versions and the lack of reliability in the popular paraphrases.  Work is even now going on to come up with an English version which will respectably convey the honest intent of the best Hebrew and Greek texts known, without going to the extremes of the paraphrasers.  One of the cost promising efforts is now being made by a group of scholars who have finished the translation of the New Testament and are working on the Old Testament.  Zondervan published this New Testament in 1973.  It is called the New International Version because of the international scope of the committee doing the work.  The plans and preparations for this work which began in 1965 remains one of the aims and efforts of the King James Version.  All the men (and there are several of them) involved in this work are in agreement that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is worthy of the most careful and prayerful approach in translating.  These scholars are evangelical and many of them are religiously conservative, which is a welcome change from most of the other groups who have been translating.  Most of the other committees have had strong liberal and modernistic tendencies.  The Gospe1 of John, which was the first portion of this New Testament completed, is refreshingly similar to the King James Version, minus only the old-style English.  Many will be happy to see the disputed passage of John 8:1-11, placed in the same place where it was in the King James.  A marginal note about this passage being missing from some ancient manuscripts is there, but it is good to see this wretched woman of John 8 restored.

It is too early to say whether this New International Version will become what the translators hope it to be - a suitable successor to the King James.  At this point it seems far more worthy than any other challenger.  It is doubtful, however, that the King James Version will ever be discarded no matter how good any new translation will be.  Much of this is based upon the long tradition of its use.  Many have criticized those who hold tenaciously to the Authorized Version.  For the most part, their criticisms are unfounded.  There are some, no doubt, who hold to the King James primarily because they are accustomed to its 1anguage and arrangement.  Anything else seems strange and awkward to them.  But there an many people who have far better reasons than these for holding to what still remains the best translation of the Bible present1y known in the world.

No trans1ation of the Scriptures is absolutely perfect.  We believe the Word of God is inspired and preserved in spite of the minute errors which may be found in all translations.  The King James has its faults which are really rather easily handled.  It yet remains for many the standard English text among all the versions that are known.  Read and study the new versions.  Read the paraphrases with caution and understanding.  But for authority and spiritual dignity, hold on to your King James.  It has not been equaled yet — and may never be in this present age.

 

INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc­tion in righteousness: That the man of God nay be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

This subject, the Inspiration of the Bible, is the very touchstone of all Christian doctrine. When a person denies that God inspired the word of God, that the word is not verbally inspired, he is either wittingly or unwittingly denying all that is in the revealed will of God.  If he does not believe in the plenary or complete inspiration of the Bible, he has no basis for believing anything at all in the Bible. If one part or portion of Scripture can be proven defective or incorrect, then there is no guarantee that any of it is reliable or trust­worthy.

Higher criticism, as it is called, tries to divide between what is good and what is unacceptable in the Bible. Those pure ethical and moral teachings which should improve one’s life are generally conceded to be good for man. On the other hand; those miraculous and incredible occurrences found in the sacred volume are just too incredible and unreasonable to be forced upon a modern intellect. They suggest that all such mention of the impossible are allegorical, parabolic or just plain myth. Examples of such unreasonable and unbelievable accounts are the Genesis account of creation, the flood in Noah’s day, the crossing of the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho falling at a trumpet sound, the strange illness and marvelous cure of Job, the prophet Jonah being swallowed by a great fish; the survival of three Hebrews in a furnace of fire and Daniel’s marvelous escape in the den of lions.  These are just a few. They are all from the Old Testament.

More diabolical is the attempt of higher criticism to disprove the very claims of Jesus our Lord.  They deny the virgin birth, the miraculous power of the Saviour and the resurrection from the dead. But let it be repeated——the Bible is either true or it is not. There is no in—between. If one part of the Bible can be proven untrue all of it must then become doubtful. But without any hesitation, higher intellect to the contrary, the Bible is the inspired word of God, inerrant and true without one slight error to be found anywhere.

Once a well known Bible authority was asked, “Is it necessary to believe in a bodily resurrection in order to be a Christian?”  His answer was startling to say the least. He replied, "It is not so important as to whether you believe in a literal resurrection of the dead. The important thing is to believe in the person of Jesus Christ.” This answer is totally inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and historic Christianity. I might add it is even inconsistent with good common sense. He asserts or implies that it is not important to believe in a bodily resurrection but that it is important to believe in the person of Christ. The truth is simply this: if you deny the bodily resurrection of Christ or His people, you deny the very person of Christ. Not only did Christ rise from the dead, He preached the resurrection from the dead. How can one be a Christian and not agree with Christ? Certainly, it is not Christian to say, “Christ, I believe in you up to certain points, but I cannot buy what you believed or preached, I like part of you but I cannot tolerate other parts of you.” That is ridiculous. Either you are Christian or you are not. Either you believe all of Him or you really believe none of Him.

Paul says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” What does this mean? The literal Greek meaning of that word translated “inspiration” is “God-spirated”, or “God-breathed.” Peter puts it this way in 2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” God gave this word or revealed will to chosen men, holy men, who wrote exactly what God inspired them to write. Peter had just spoken of having heard the actual voice of God along with James and John when they had accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. This was an eye-witness, or ear-witness account of the very voice of God. This is great, but Peter adds, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.” Then he tells us about the written record, the Holy Bible. Peter says the inspired Bible is a more sure, or greater witness of Christ and truth than the very voice of God heard by a trustworthy person and related to others. That gives you an idea of how holy the apostles considered the revealed and written word of God to be.

If Paul and Peter were so sure of the word of God as to its authenticity, why would anyone doubt it? The answer begins where all lying and deceiving begins - in the Garden of Eden.  Satan appeared to Eve in Eden and asked a question. "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” When the woman rehearsed to him that God had said that the penalty for eating of one particular tree would be death, the Devil replied, “Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-5.

That is where and how it all began and the attack on the truth of God’s word continues to this day. Of course, most of the higher critics claim that there is no such thing as a personal devil. But Christians know better. There is an evil spirit known as Satan according to Jesus Christ. Jesus knew him, talked to him and warned His disciples against the wiles of that wicked being. Satan continues this sort of attack on the veracity of God’s word. He knows he cannot overthrow God so his main business is to divert the minds of people away from God and truth. He quotes Scripture and then explains it away with his own ideas.  This is the very tactic he employed against Jesus in the wilderness but it did not work with Jesus.  However, it is working quite well with a great many so-called theologians. They are imitating the grand deceiver, telling us all with supposed authority that God’s word is not really true. They would strip God of all authority and power, substituting for truth the doctrine of men.

Their main attack is upon the miraculous. They will not concede that “with God nothing shall be impossible.” But let us go to a higher authority. Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe what Jesus said while He was here in the earth? If you answer yes there should be no problem at all. All we have to do is discover what Jesus said about certain incredible occurrences and that should forever settle the matter. There are those who are the higher critics and those who are just average people like you who proudly claim to believe in Jesus.  Close, but not all, claim to believe every word Jesus spoke. Well, if you believe every word spoken by Jesus you are going to believe in the miraculous. Jesus believed the impossible and practiced it.  He had, or rather; has the power of the God-Head dwelling in Him.

The Scriptures which were in existence at the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth were what we call the Old Testament. It was made up of the thirty nine books which we now recognize as the Old Testament. In the old Hebrew Bible and later the Greek version of the Old Testament which was in use in Jesus’ days there were not as many books as thirty-nine. But the sum total of the thirty nine present books was there.  We have two books of Samuel, two of Kings and two of Chronicles, Back there only one book of Samuel, one of Kings and one of Samuel existed. Since that time the single books were divided into two parts each, or two separate books. But the fact is; all the same words were there which are there now.  What did Jesus have to say about the Old Testament which is so ridiculed today by modern critics?

Jesus believed the Genesis account of the creation of man. He referred to Adam and Eve in Matthew 19, quoting verbatim from Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24.  He also referred to Abel by name. Abel was a son of Adam who was slain by his brother, Cain. Jesus refers to this first murder in Matthew 23:35.  Another story that is called a myth by many Bible scholars is the Genesis flood record in the days of Noah. If you will look at Matthew 24:37 you will hear Jesus speak of Noah, the ark, and the flood all in one verse.  He believed it to be literal fact and spoke of it as such.  Abraham is mentioned quite often by Jesus. This may not be too much of a point, but did you know Jesus also spoke of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Not only so, he mentioned that incredible event about Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. He also spoke of the destruction of those two wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. You can find His words on these things in Luke 17:28, 29, 32.

Not only did Jesus verify the account of Genesis, but He quoted at least once from each of the first five books of the Bible, which are known as the books or writings of Moses. The burning bush call of Moses has been questioned by many but not by Jesus. He talks of this in Luke 20:37. He also mentions in John 6 the miracle of the manna from Heaven during the wilderness wanderings.  Another miracle in the wilderness that has His stamp of authority is the brazen serpent which healed the snake-bitten Israelites. John 3:16, so well known, is actually based upon that miracle of the Old Testament.

I suppose that the one story questioned by critics as much as any other is the record of Jonah the prophet. Do you believe he was swallowed by a great fish or whale? Jesus believed it and spoke of it as fact on at least two different occasions. In fact, it was Jesus who first called that fish a whale. He should know.

Now I hope you are not one of those who says, “I believe in Jesus but I do not believe in miracles."  Jesus is the greatest of all miracles. The Bible is His book. What it says is true, every word of it. Satan, with the help of egotistical men, may strive to limit the truth and power of God through lies, half-truths and new versions of the Bible by the hundreds, but the word of God remains the same. It is God’s word and we should believe it - every word and sentence in that sacred volume. While men were used as effective means in writing the word, it is still essentially and firmly, the very word of God. It should not be tampered with. Do not add to it or take away from it. Believe it as it is.  My answer to all of you who may wonder, “Must I believe all the Bible in order to be a Christian?” is an unequivocal YES.  Yes, you must believe what God says, if you would indeed be a follower of Christ.

 

 

A TRIBUTE TO THE FLAG

For Flag Day Ceremonies, Crisp County High School Auditorium, June 12, 1976

“On the 14th of June, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the following resolution: ‘Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; and that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.’"

Heraldry, the practice of following a set emblem or inspiring standard, is as ancient as man himself.  From the dawn of time, man has been a creature of need, so created by the Eternal God.  Adam needed his place to live, his food, his raiment, his companion; all of which were provided by the benevolent Creator.  Nobler than all the beasts of the earth, man was created in the image of God.  As God delights in glory and praise and demonstrates His divine thirst for inspiring music, words and symbols; so man, like his Spiritual Father, possesses an emotional need for inspiration.  Great music thrills the heart of man just as the grand angelic choruses praise the great God. Words of beauty stir the soul of man even as fervent prayers bring a smile to the Heavenly Face.  And God set up His emblem from everlasting, the banner of God and men for all the ages - the inspiring blood-stained cross of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man.

While the cross is, and must be, the greatest emblem of all, the Almighty has ordained other standards of great beauty and solemnity.  The rainbow in the sky is His, ordered as a seal of His great covenant after the flood. The Ark of the Covenant became the banner of the Hebrew Nation of old under God’s guidance.  Even before that, the simple rod of Moses held high inspired the ancient warriors to battle and to praise.  Each of the twelve tribes was identified by its own standard.  Later one grand standard proclaimed the House of David.  Other nations, as well, had their favorite figures or standards to identify them and inspire them in all their endeavors.

It is all too evident, then, that God has endowed man with a need of a standard to follow, to inspire him, to guide him.  Nations of all ages have had their national standards to which they have pledged their lives and fortunes.  Such a need was keenly felt in our new fledgling nation some two hundred years ago.  There had been other flags flying over our soil from the earliest explorers, each proclaiming the dignity of its nation.  The Americans developed some of their own banners by modifying existing flags, or by creating completely new standards.  The stories behind these flags are both interesting and inspiring.

One such new flag was the famed Rattlesnake Flag used mostly in the Southern colonies. It was a simple yellow field with a rattlesnake blazed across it with the words, “Don’t Tread on Me.”  “It is believed that a rattlesnake was chosen because of an article which appeared in Benjamin Franklin’s paper, ‘The Pennsylvania Gazette. The idea brought out by this article was that the rattle­snake rendered a means of retribution for the wrongs toward America.  It is curious and amazing, to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this creature are, and how firmly they are united together.  One of the rattles, sing1y, is incapable of producing a sound, but the ringing of thirteen together is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.”  It is apparent that this strange looking flag inspired the idea of the united strength of the individual colonies banded together in a common cause.  It is the same great principle voiced in the Holy Bible and quoted by Lincoln - "A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

From all these early beginnings there emerged on June 14, 1777, the greatest national emblem on earth, the original Stars and Stripes.  It is generally believed that Betsy Ross made this first flag based on suggestions from George Washington and others.  But the banner is greater than its own history. There are many things about its origin which are uncertain. Perhaps it is better this way.  It is far better that the flag should be thought of not so much the idea of one or even a few, but rather the combined dreams of the whole.  It represented, then and now, the united efforts of free men.  Fittingly, there were thirteen stars in the union, representing the thirteen states.  For those who like such traditions, you may think of the fourth star in the top row of our present flag, as the Georgia star.  Georgia was the last of the thirteen to be settled, but the fourth to be admitted to the Union.  In the first flag, thirteen stars were in a circle of strength shining forth from the blue of Heavenly protection above.  Such was the faith our fathers had in God!  Then there were thirteen stripes, seven red and six white, again in representation of the thirteen colonies, though not necessarily in order.  There is no record of what the three colors represented in the original flag, though meaning was given these three colors later when the great Seal of the United States was adopted in 1782. "The resolution on the seal listed meanings for the colors.  Red is for hardiness and courage, white is for purity and innocence, and blue for vigi1ance, perseverance and justice.”  Many have therefore taken these meanings for the color expressions of the first flag. Others prefer to have their own meanings for the colors, for what they represent.  Poets and hymn writers have expressed many good but varied purposes for the red, white and blue.

Like many others, I like to think of the color meanings in yet another way. The red is for the patriot blood which has been shed over these two hundred years in defense of our country. Literally thousands have made that supreme sacrifice to ensure the preservation of our way of life. In their precious memory we are resolved to dedicate ourselves more firmly to the protection and promulgation of our priceless heritage. From Maine to Georgia every colony was stained with the blood of noble men and women. Since that tine many others have added to that gallant red contribution. As the blood of righteous Abel cried out of the very earth into which it had been shed, so the gallant blood of our stricken fathers continually springs to remind us of so great cost for our freedom.  With each violation of law and sacred privilege, they being dead, yet speak and caution us against losing so costly a possession.  The seven red stripes reflect for the centuries their unselfish devotion to unborn generations.

These same ones who so unselfishly enriched our sacred soil with their own blood, together with noble survivors, purified the early American air with their godly ideals. They had come from political and religious oppression and they fervently desired to free themselves and their children from such grievous burdens. Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams and scores of other great leaders joined with thousands of valiant patriots in forging a new way of life dedicated to purity and righteousness, with the dignity of every single citizen the prime objective.  Whether a man be rich or poor, white or b1ack, noble or peasant, Jew or Gentile, bond or free - all citizens of the new republic would be equal in the sight of the government, as they had always been equal in the eyes of God. In furthering this divine and godly principle, these great men of vision gave the purity of white to the new nation.  Thus we have white stars and six white stripes.

The unique thing about the new American nation is that it would be ONE NATION UNDER GOD!  No one religious order would prevail. No one political, party would dominate. Not one class, but many differing groups molded into one united nation under God! Every single citizen would be under just laws and discipline designed to shelter and protect rather than to oppress.  God must have been pleased for He blessed this nation more than any other nation in the history of the world.  The early fathers realized their utter dependency upon the omnipotent Ruler of the universe.  It would be well if we, as they, could remember how helpless we are without Him.  The blue then seems to betoken that overshadowing Providence of the Almighty which is the one great key to our success - past, present and future.

So let Old Glory continue to fly. Grant it, our beloved Father in Heaven! As He has guided our fathers so may He guide us!  The Star Spangled Banner has made history like no other banner of national pride.  It has flown over every quarter of the globe in glory and dignity.  On July 20, 1969, it was proudly planted on the surface of the moon, two hundred and forty thousand miles away.

Old Glory is more than a flag.  It is a dream come true!  It is the symbol of patriot’s blood, the virtue of godly people and the sign of God's blessings upon a great people.  Let radicals burn it, trample it under foot, violate it, make fun of it, ridicule it, desecrate it.  Yet, let then take care!  It is more than a flag, sore than one nation, snore than a single government.  It is the expression of free men everywhere.  It is the symbol of what God would have nations to be.  In a sense more than we can know, it is a banner of God because it rightfully represents the best in men.  Would men trample upon the very word of God? Would they despitefully rail against the eternal heavens? Then let them rave against that most beautiful of all national standards.  But it shall wave.  Even if the nation should fall - God forbid that this should occur - but even so, OLD GLORY will not come down.  It is not anchored in the earth of our countryside or in the concrete and steel of our cities - it is anchored in the hearts of free men.  It cannot fall - it will continue to wave so long as one heart beats for freedom.  God bless our nation to remain true to the principles upon which it was founded - and God keep our flag free and flying for future generations to respect.  Let us each here and now resolve to rededicate ourselves to the magnificent example set by great men of the past - to our nation - to our flag.  We shall remain true and keep Old Glory flying, so help us God!

 

Patriotic Message

(Delivered July 1976, Crisp County Bi-Centennial Celebration)

The United States of America is a land of workable contrasts.  Whi1e that sounds a little strange, yet it is true.  It is the one place where different races have been able to live and work together, in spite of many difficulties.  Man, by nature, is divided into different ethnic groups and cultures.  In this country more than any other, these groups have been able to function side by side with a minimum of friction.  Some of this was forced upon this generation by the sins of the past, notably the ungodly shackling of one group in irons to be slaves to another group.  But the spirit that makes America has shaken the sin of slavery away with a righteous indignation.  And America, slowly and surely, through agonizing strains of effort, is learning to live with these mistakes of the past.  The slave trade was wrong.  But can those people, brought here against their will, be thrown back because of the mistake of another generation.  No, it is our problem and challenge.  It is the making of America that we take slaves and bondmen and give them the privileges and responsibilities of freedom.  While not yet perfectly working - it is working.  Contrasts of culture, religion and race are being molded together into a single great mass, without losing the individual markings and backgrounds of each group.

It is the contrast of poor and rich together, Jew and Gentile working side by side, black and white, royalty and commoner.  But it works.  It is God’s way and that is why it works.

There is, in the great Constitution of the United States, that first Amendment which guarantees the separation of church and state.  Yet on the other hand, every responsible citizen knows that there has been an inseparable tie between the two.  No government should interfere with the religious liberty of the individual - yet no government shall long survive without the spiritual guidance of strong religious convictions.

Where else in the world has it worked so well?  Catholic and Protestant worshipping each in his own convictions, yet working together for the common good of the nation.  Even in the Old Testament theocracy of Israel, a Gentile had to become a Jew before he might have full citizenship rights.  But here, Protestant or Catholic might become president, senator, representative or judge.  We might disagree but we have learned to be agreeable in our disagreements.

A wealthy land-owner from Monticello in Virginia became our third president and backwoods lawyer from the wilderness of Kentucky became the 16th.  Who is to say which of the two was the greatest?  Both were equally great.  This is the workable contrast of this strange and beautiful enterprise known as the United States.

As we honor the flag of this nation today, we see reflected in the glorious banner the same working contrasts of America.  Seven red stripes and seven white.  Fifty different stars on a single field of blue.  All separate and different, yet all together. This is what was meant to be.  First thirteen, now fifty separate states, each with its own governing rights - yet inseparably molded together in one great unity of purpose.  The red might stand for both the sins of the nation and the sacrifices of its patriots, as if one atones for the other.  The white could well represent the fear of its beginnings over astonishing odds and at the same time the purity of its desires.  The blue might remind of the empty homes and broken families and yet speak of the over - shadowing providence of a benevolent Creator.  So, even the colors and emblems are at once opposites and at the same time needed ingredients of the whole.

This is America. This is the land of all lands made up of the remnants of other lands - oppressed, poor, tired, aching souls longing to be free. And free they are - free to make a good government even better, learning and progressing with the times, yet firmly holding to what has made us great.

And so my friends we are happy to be here today to accept our official part of the great Bicentennial movement.  We are a small segment in a great mass of concentrated patriotism. Not only are we celebrating the 200th anniversary of a nation, we are rededicating ourselves to its perpetual continuance, with our lives and our fortunes, as did our noble ancestors 200 years ago.

We proudly fly this flag over our small domain which has flown over the whole.  This speaks of our individual passion to be a part of the whole.  Different in many ways from all the rest - yet without controversy, a vital part of the nation.  We are most happy to be so.  May the grace of that great God who gave the nation breath, now breathe a new flow of life into us that we may live and work for generations yet to come.  God help each of us to recognize the great privilege and responsibility of being free. God help us to be Americans.

 

 

 

Article for Banner-Herald,  February 1956

BUSYBODIES

“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.”  2 Thes. 3:11

A busybody is a person who tries into and meddles in the affairs of others for the sole purpose of stirring up strife. This is a type of church member which is to be found in nearly all churches in the country.  Not many churches are free from strife, and where strife is, “there is a busybody in the area."  One thing we note about busybodies is the fact that they are busy doing something as pointed out by the name.  However, the scripture we've quoted above speaks of their “working not at all.”

Now looking to 1Timothy 5:13, we read, “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”  Here again we see that they are idle.  How can they be busy and idle at the sane time?  They are idle as far as any constructive work in the kingdom is concerned.  They are very busy as far as destructive work in the kingdom is concerned.  In fact, they are so busy doing the wrong thing, they can hardly find time to do the right thing.

Paul speaks of them as wandering from house to house, telling tales and speaking things which they ought not.  We might apply this today as calling from house to house.  Some folks keep the telephone lines hot with all sorts of gossip and old wives’ tales.  And here is what results: “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.” James 3:5, 6.  Busybodies set fire to the peace and order of a good church as quickly as a few sparks of uncontrolled fire ignite a whole forest.  Have you seen the charred remains of burned forest?  Think of this in comparison to the blackened ruins of many strong and good churches - blackened and destroyed by the evil and devilish enemy of peace, the loose tongue!  "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”  Proverbs 26:20

Instead of trying to injure one another all the time, we should try to help each other.  If a brother has made a mistake we should try to lift him up and reinstate him rather than try to ruin him by foul gossip and infernal meddling.  “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”  Proverbs 17:9.  If we know secrets in the lives of our brethren which are detrimental to them, particularly, past mistakes, shall we dig the skeleton out of the closet or shall we help then forget those black marks?  “A talebearer revealeth secrets: But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”  Proverbs 11:13.

Think on these things and refrain yourself from being busy “in other men’s matters,” but rather give diligence to busy your­self in constructive endeavors in the kingdom of the living God.

 

 

THE TRUE VINE

An Exposition of John 15:1-6

The title of this passage is correctly called “The True Vine,” and has particular reference to the relationship between Jesus Christ and His disciples, or (if you prefer) believers. There is nothing in this passage, as has been suggested by some expositors, that alludes to spurious believers or pretenders, who are not genuinely saved by the grace of our Lord. Everything here is in reference to the “abiding” relationship between Christ and those whom He has called by the Holy Spirit to be His Own. It is a very familiar passage, one of the most familiar in John’s gospel.

The persons addressed in John 15 were the eleven apostles. It was not to unsaved people, but to believers only. Our context carries us back to the beginning of Chapter 13. In 13 and 14 we are taught what Christ is doing for us while He is to be away from us, preparing them for His immediate departure and absence from them. He talks of maintaining communion with us through the Holy Spirit, of preparing an ultimate place for us, manifesting Himself to us, supplying our every need through the Spirit. In John 15 we learn what we are to be and do for Him during the interval of His absence. In 13 and 14 we learn of the freeness and fullness of Divine grace; in 15 it is our responsibility to BEAR FRUIT.

The central theme then is not salvation, how it is to be obtained or the danger of losing it. Instead, the great theme here is fruit-bearing, and the conditions of fertility. The word, “fruit” occurs eight times in the chapter. If these facts be kept in mind, there will be no difficulty in arriving at the general meaning of our passage. The Savior here had in view those who had a living connection with Himself. The vine and its branches here does not represent what men call “the visible Church,” (which may have false professors and spurious believers in its membership), nor does it embrace the entire sphere of Christian profession­.  Only true believers are considered, those who have passed from death unto life. We shall note that most in verses 2 and 6. There is where most of the confusion arises.

The word which occurs most frequently in John 15 is “abide,” being found no less than five times in the first six verses, which we study. Abiding always has reference to fellowship, and only those who have been born again are capable of having fellowship with the Father and His Son. Our salvation, our essential oneness with Christ, our standing before God, our heavenly calling, are neither brought into view nor called into question by anything that is said in these six verses.

Verse 1:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” Jesus is the “true Light,” the “true Bread,” and the “true Tabernacle.” He is in contrast to John Baptist as the TRUE light, superior to manna as the TRUE bread, and the fulfillment of the Old Testament tabernacle. Now, in contrast to the vineyard often spoken of in the Old Testament, God promises something new. “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root and it filled the land.” Psalms 80:8, 9.  Isaiah speaks of a vineyard, planted with a choice vine, but it brought forth WILD grapes. The figure is a picture of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Israel failed to keep the law, so God planned a NEW VINE for all Spiritual Israel which would not fail. “I am the TRUE VINE,” is God’s answer to fulfill all the failures of men under the law. Christ came and fulfilled the law and was established as “a root out of a dry ground,” and the TRUE VINE of the Family of God.

The husbandman, or proprietor of the vine, is His Father. Jesus is the Vine, God the Father is the husbandman or cultivator, the One Who cares for the vine and its branches. There are three great thoughts about the care of the Father: His protecting CARE, His WATCHFULNESS, and His FAITHFULNESS. He lovingly cares for the weakest branch, tending it, pruning it if necessary, and watching it at all times.

Verse 2:  “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” This phrase, “he taketh away” has been appealed to by those who believe in apostasy to prove their theory that one can be in the vine and cut out completely, or that a true Christian can possible perish eternally. That is completely out of context and contrary to the united meaning of this passage. Christ was not addressing a mixed audience. He addressed only eleven apostles——Judas was already gone. Note carefully a key wording here, “Every branch IN ME.” Note also “Ye are the branches^" and then repeat “every branch IN ME.” If you are IN CHRIST, you are a new creature, or creation. 2 Cor. 5:17. Please understand these words. It is not a branch that NEVER bore fruit, but one that HAS BORNE and is NO LONGER BEARING fruit. It has become fruitless. 2 Peter 1:8, “For if these things (graces) be in you, and ABOUND, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The certain inference here is that if these things do not abound in us, we SHALL BE “barren and unfruitful.”

“He taketh away.” Who does? The husbandman - the Father.  This is conclusive proof that an unregenerate sinner is not in view. “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” John 5:22. Christ says, “Depart from me.”  Christ is the JUDGE.  If unregenerate men were here considered, the Vine itself would, of necessity, cut off the ungodly offenders.

This taking away really means from a close reading of the Greek word “Airo” (“he taketh away") really means “lifted up” as in “they lifted up their voices” (Luke 17:13 and Acts 4:24). “And Jesus lifted up his eyes” (John 11:41). “Lifted up his hand” (Rev. 10:5), etc. In none of those places could the verb be translated “taken away,” and it would have been better had it not been so translated here. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he LIFTETH UP,” is a more correct understanding of the language. That means the cultivator or husbandman lifted up a dragging or trailing branch and propped it much as we do bushes which have a tendency to hang down. It actually complements what follows in the “purging” process. There is actually little difference in both types of branches mentioned here. They need help to produce fruit—-they need to be lifted off the ground or trimmed and cleansed as grape vines were done in ancient times.

Verse 3:  “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The purging or cleansing of the previous verse refers to the believer’s state; the cleanness here describes his standing before God. Verse 2 speaks of improving our continual sanctification or of “Being holy even as He is holy.” We might call this progressive sanctification, how we grow in grace by bearing more and more fruit. Verse 3, “Now are you (already) clean” describes our standing before God. Compare with John 13:10 where he said to the disciples, “He that is washed (clean) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” That last phrase “but not all" refers to Judas but the “he that is washed needeth not to wash” means they are already clean.  But there is a continual washing now that needs to be done by the spiritually clean. CLEAN refers originally to regeneration but also to the cleansing of the Gospel which can only occur in a BELIEVER.  To wash means to bear fruit unto righteousness.

In verses 4 and 5, the main thoughts are abiding in the vine and the absolute necessity of that union before we can bear fruit.

The last, and probably most misunderstood, verse in this passage is verse 6. “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” It could not be said of any one who had never “come” to Christ that He does not abide in Him. It would strain the meaning of word sense. You must be in Him it you are able to abide in Him. The “casting forth” is done by the Husbandman, and evidently had in view the stripping the believer of the gifts and opportunities which he tailed to improve. It is similar to salt losing its savor. It is parallel with Luke 8:18, “And whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”  Look at II John 8, “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

But what is meant by, “Men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned”?  First, the issue of the “them” and the “they” of that statement.  These symbols refer to the products (no fruit) of such a person.  And if no fruit, what? “DEAD WORKS! Plain and simple.  “Wood, hay, stubble,” as described in 1 Corinthians 3:15.  If any man’s work shall be burned (the very word used in John 15:6) he (the man) shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”  Lot is a prime example of this.  He was out of fellowship with the Lord, he ceased to bear fruit to His glory, and his dead works were all burned up in Sodom; yet he himself was saved!  But the rest of his sojourn on earth was a mixture of sin and sorrow. Saved, yes.  A brand pulled from the fire. But what an unhappy wretch for the rest of his earthly days.

While we may say there is assurance that though a man fail and fall, though he disobey, he is yet a vessel of mercy, if so be it that he is born of God - what sweet assurance can be gotten from that as long as a man makes his own hell here for neglecting his God-given privilege of service.  To be called to bear fruit, or to serve the Master, and to neglect such a sacred privilege is a sin worthy of the greatest chastisement and sorrow.

Bibliography:  A. W. Pink, Gospel of John, Vol. 2

Charles Hodge, Commentary of I & II Corinthians

 

The Book of Ruth

GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN TRIBULATION

An Analysis of the major characters and significance of their names.

The Book of Ruth is one of two in the Bible named for women, and in which a woman is the central figure. There are many similarities in the two books.  Both teach the providence of God in strange and beautiful ways. Both teach of the strong faith found in the main subject, either Ruth or Esther. Both speak of a happy and prosperous ending after a period of trial and tribulation - and in this way portray in measure the Lord’s dealings with all His people.  In Ruth, a gentile woman marries a Jewish man of wealth.  In Esther, a Jewish woman marries a gentile king.

There is some difference of opinion about the author of the Book of Ruth.  There is no question that God inspired the work and it is probable that Samuel is the spiritually guided penman.  This probability arises from several, facts. The story takes place "In the time of the judges.” Samuel seems more interested than any other in the life and generations of David and you will notice that Ruth is among other things a book of genealogy.  Note the last few verses in the book.  This is the genealogy of David and, consequently, the genealogy of Christ.  The little book of Ruth is a definite sequel to Judges.  Some old manuscripts actually have Ruth as an appendix or addition to the book of Judges.  Too, it is a fitting prologue to the book of I Samuel.  As a little link of information between the book of Judges and the books of Samuel we can almost positively identify the author as Samuel.  There is no question of this in the mind of this writer.

While we are thinking about the genealogy of the book of Ruth, it is interesting to note a point in the genealogy as given in Matthew 1.  “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”  Matthew 1:1. Samuel brings the lineage from Abraham to David in his writings.  Later writings, including this of Matthew, bring the lineage from David to Christ.  There is something very interesting brought out by Matthew here in the lineage from Abraham through David to Christ.  No doubt the Holy Ghost is responsible for this and there is a vital point in Bible prophecy for us.  Until Mary is mentioned at the end of the genealogy, women are normally left out of the line.  The man only is mentioned.  In other words, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are listed, but Sarah, Rebecca, and (the mother of Judah) are not mentioned.  Matthew, however, makes three exceptions to this rule.  He does mention four women with their husbands in the lineage.  Why these four?  Notice who they are. First mentioned is Tamar who dressed as a harlot and deceived her farther-in-law, Judah.  From this illegal union came Pharez, in the lineage of Christ.  Next is mentioned Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, who was the mother of Boaz.  Then Ruth, the wife of Boaz, is mentioned.  Finally, without naming her, Matthew refers to "her that had been the wife of Urias.”  This is Bathsheba who gave birth to Solomon.

These four women all have one thing in common: they are illegitimate exceptions to the normal rule.  Tamar played the harlot; Rahab had been a harlot and was a Gentile; Ruth was a stranger (a descendant of Moab and of the enemies of Israel); and Bathsheba was the illegal wife of David, who had committed adultery with her before marriage and who then had Uriah killed in order to make her a widow.  These are strange people in the lineage of Christ. Yet, for all the practical lessons that might be gathered from these illegitimate happenings, there is an amazing bit of prophecy concerning the church (the bride of Christ) in these alien women.  Each of them is a type of that church in the sense that the church or fami1y of God is desperately alienated from Him by sin.  But He loves her in spite of the sin and makes the provision to yet bring her into communion with Himself.  These four women, more than any others in the lineage, represent the church in her fallen state. For that reason, the Holy Spirit points that out through Matthew.

Now we come to the SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAMES of the major characters in the Book of Ruth. This is a fabulous study and affords a wealth of sermon material for the preacher.  In fact, all proper Bible names should be studied.  There is generally a definite purpose in names given to all Bible characters. For the present moment, we will forget about Boaz (who of course is a major character, but who comes to light in the second chapter) and concentrate on the first chapter.  All of you are familiar with the record of this chapter. We first think of Elimilech and Naomi, the man and wife who leave Bethlehem-Judah.  Elimilech means "my God is King.”  Naomi means "pleasant."  These are beautiful names probably given by the respective parents. These names speak of faith and beauty seen in the works of God.  In this way, you can see what kind of parents that both Elimilech and Naomi had.  Now compare the attitude of their parents with their own.  What did they name their two boys?  Mahlon means "sickly", and Chilion means “sickly, or wasting away".

This tells us something about Elimilech in particular.  It was usually the father’s responsibility to name the children and make other major decisions.  Most commentators simply say that these two boys were probably pale and weak looking when born and that is what guided Elimilech to name them what he did.  There is more to it than that.  Many babies are born weak and pale which survive.  His faith should have been that “God will take care of them.”  But rather he thought along the lines of many today, “I doubt if they will make it, or even if they do, they will never amount to much.”  He needed the optimism of his father who had declared through him, “GOD IS KING.”  Elimilech's pessimistic attitude is proven in what takes place in this first chapter of Ruth.  Famine came to Bethlehem-Judah.  His immediate thought was, "We will starve to death if we remain here."  So he left the land and went, of all places, to a land that God had declared was alien and enemy to Israel.  Such doubts and fears usually lead to all kinds of disobedience.  Why did others not leave Bethlehem-Judah?  Why was this family an exception?  Because of the inner fears and doubts always manifest in a person like Elimilech.

Bethlehem-Judah means “the house of bread,” and in this instance is typical of the local church or presence of God with His people. It is the place where we belong.  In times of disobedience or in times of testing, it may have its hardships, but it is where we are to remain.  There is some doubt as to the meaning of Moab.  The more popular idea is that the name means “from father,” which may have some reference to Lot who fathered the nation through one of his daughters.  The relationship between Israel and Moab is the best understanding of how to use the name in this study.  Although Moab was the enemy and did at times fight against Israel, their most common intercourse with Israel was through deception.  The daughters of Moab would marry the sons of Israel and lead them into idolatry.  For this reason, God would not allow them into the congregation of Israel (as proselytes) “even to their tenth generation.”  Deuteronomy 23:4.  The Edomites and Egyptians were more favored in that they were allowed into the congregation of Israel “in their third generation.” The Moabites along with the Ammonites had hired Balaam to curse Israel.  This sin along with their enticing of Israelites through their women seems to give us a picture that Moab is a type of worldly religion, with all its idolatry and works system.  It was to this country that Elimilech fled because he heard they had plenty of everything.  How often God’s children have left the true church because they have been enticed to the glory and plenty of some false system.  Many of them, like Elimilech die away from the truth and the true church.  This adds emphasis to the punishment of Moses, who died in and was buried in this strange land of Moab.  “And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor.”  Deuteronomy 34:6.  How sad to see Moses standing in that alien land, seeing the promised land afar, yet unable to go there.  How sad to see this great man of God buried in the very habitation of Beth-peor, the false deity of this desolate land.  Elimilech and his two sons die in this alien land.

His sons had married women of Moab.  What else could be expected?  Like the daughters of Lot, they became acclimatized to the surroundings their father had led them into. There is quite a lesson here for parents in the churches today, or rather, for many who ought to be in the church.  They should expect no more from their children than they are willing to do. Mahlon and Chilion die sometime after Elimilech dies.  Naomi and the two Moabitish widows are left alone in Moab.  This is a desolation not to be desired.

The name Orpah means “neck” and has no particular significance to the writer.  Possibly there is some importance about it, but that exploration shall be left for others.  Ruth, on the other hand, means “beautiful” and is a fitting description for one portraying the church.  Alien, but beautiful, is the triumphant church to the eyes of the Lord, Who purposes to redeem her from the evil land of Moab.  Now let it be pointed out that the evil which befell Elimilech and his family is well deserved by them. They “reaped what they sowed.”  But the good in Ruth’s coming to Bethlehem must be seen as an act of God’s overruling providence.  He uses this means of doing so, but do not think for one moment that He led Elimilech in his sin.  Had Elimilech never existed, God would have brought Ruth to Judah by other means.  The main point about His providence is: He brought His chosen to the desired place at the desired time.  The fact that Orpah would not come and that Ruth desperately wanted to demonstrates the great truth of God’s divine choice or election. What made Ruth so willing to leave her own nativity and go into a country she knew nothing about was the GRACE of God -- nothing more, nothing less.

 

Meditations and Truth

PRIDE

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:3

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”  Philippians 2:3

These two verses of Scripture introduce to us two subjects of great importance. The one is the grace or attribute of humility, which should adorn every Christian life. Who other is the opposite: PRIDE.  It is this latter subject we are going to discuss with you, today. Pride may be defined as "Inordinate and unreasonable self-esteem, attended with insolence and rude treatment of others."  It is an attempt to appear in a superior light to what we are, with “anxiety to gain applause, and distress and rage when slighted.”  “Pride is the high opinion that a poor, little, contracted soul entertains of itself.”  From the Scriptures, it is "thinking more highly of oneself than one has a right, or ought to think.”  It is doing every thing that is done through strife and for vain glory.  The proper synonym for pride is self-righteousness, especially in religion.  Pride takes on its ugliest form in the guise of religion. Religious people, of all people, should avoid this sin, but it appears that this is the paramount sin in Christianity.

Pride is a universal sin. Every nation of people has been₁ and is afflicted this terrible spiritual disease.  It is probably the first sin to enter God’s good earth.  Satan was lifted up with pride against the Creator and sought to fight against Him.  Eve was tempted with pride.  Surely it was this self-esteem that made her want to know all things as God knows them.  Satan convinced her that to disobey God was to become as wise as God.  It was the sin of pride that caused the over-throw of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  It was pride that led Lot astray from the humble path followed by his uncle Abraham. Pride has taken its toll. No doubt it is the root of every other sin.  We might call it the bedrock of sin.  Pride is the parent of discontent, ingratitude, presumption, passion, extravagance, and bigotry.  There is hardly an evil committed without pride being connected in some sense.

Pride is a hateful thing to God. James said in his epistle in chapter 4, verse 6, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."  Proverbs 6:17 tells us that God “hates a proud look.” Again in Proverbs 16:5, we are told, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”  God will not tolerate pride. He has set Himself up as the Supreme Being and all His creatures are subject to Him.  When the creature becomes discontent with his proper station and vaunts against the very God of Heaven, God is angered.  And the creature is headed for a fall. “Pride goeth before a fall.” Ho other sin has been more denounced by God than this sin of pride.

When Jesus came into the world He encountered all sorts of sin.  He forgave men and women of murder, adultery and theft.  He cast gout devils and demons by the score.  He preached against sin and called upon people to repent.  The one sin that brought forth more righteous indignation from the Master was the sin of self-righteousness or pride.  He did not find this sin in the publicans and harlots, but rather in the religious leaders of that day.

Search the Scriptures and you will find that the most scorching judgements against any group of people came against the scribes and Pharisees during the ministry of Jesus.  He hated their pretence.  He despised their bigotry and self-esteem. They looked down on everyone else and considered themselves "holier than thou.”  Jesus hated this attitude.  He who made Himself lowly and of no reputation, had little fellowship for those who thought more highly of themselves than they had right to think.  He called them hypocrites. What a warning this is to organized Christianity today!

It is not unreasonable to suppose that there is a parallel today.  Probably the most pride and self-righteousness is still found in organized religion. It is quite a temptation for church people to think they are better than everyone else.  They may be, but they should never think so.   And, indeed, they should not say so.  True Christians will keep themselves separated from the ungodly things of this world, but they will not climb up on a pedestal and look down their noses at everybody else.

Even theology has been invaded by the sin of pride.  God’s doctrine on salvation gives God all the glory and credit for the work. But man has not been willing to concede to this.  Many Christian leaders and teachers insist that salvation is left up to the individual; that God cannot save someone unless that someone is willing to cooperate with God.  This makes God absolutely helpless to do what He wants to do.  The truth is, God makes His people willing in the day of His power.  He chooses men and, causes them to approach unto Him.  He calls men by His Spirit and changes their hearts.  Then they come to Him. God gets all the credit.  But man's pride will not consent to this.

Pride then is seen not only as the worst enemy of man but also the basic reason for all the false doctrines in the world.  God has established His truth as to doctrine and has outlined the pattern for man’s life.  In order to live God's way, a man must make himself of no reputation.  This does not appeal to man’s ego. To be brought completely down to acknowledge that one is absolutely helpless is just more than many men can take. Yet, this is God’s way.  Jesus said, concerning discipleship, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24  "LET HIM DENY HIMSELF."  This is the key to following Christ. This means for a man to acknowledge his insufficiency, his inability and his unworthiness.  Man finds this a bitter pill to swallow.  Yet, it is the only medicine for the disease of pride.

Often you will hear people say, “well there is a little good in every man.” This statement comes from pride. The Bible says that all are sinners, depraved and alienated from God.  It takes the grace of God to save then. To make believe that there is some good in all men is a futile attempt to hold on to pride. There is no good in any man, spiritually, until be is born of the Spirit of God. The second chapter of Ephesians informs us that God, quickened or made alive those "who were dead in trespasses and sins." This is clear. These souls were completely immersed in sin with no good in them, UNTIL GOD MADE THEM ALIVE IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Men are born in sin and must be regenerated before any righteousness will be seen in them.

Shakespeare said, "What fools these mortals be!"  How true.  They refuse to bow before the God of Heaven and admit that He is all in all, and that man is completely helpless without God’s grace.

Human pride may well be the undoing of this ration we all love so much. Our founding fathers, recognizing the authority of God’s holy word, framed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, with the view that we would stand as long as we humbled ourselves under the mighty hand of God.  In the present generation we are seeing and hearing of everyone’s rights.  It is true that the rights of some individuals and groups have been abused, but when men and women begin to demand freedom from God’s righteous laws, we are asking for trouble.  A young man will declare that he has a perfect right to disobey laws with which he does not agree.  Of course, this is foolish. If such were allowed, anarchy would be the result. God has never given any individual or nation the right to choose its own standards or rules by which to live.  The Ten Commandments are still in force whether you know it or not.  God will bring the violators into judgment.  Man feels his importance.  He can do what he pleases. Oh, no!  God will not stand for that.  Man must submit himself to God.  And he will, one way or another.  He will either bow to the authority of God’s will under the leadership of God’s Spirit, or he shall he brought down into judgment under the wrath of God.  Isaiah 2:12 declares, “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall he upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up: and he shall be brought low.”  It is good to give heed to the words of Peter in 2 Peter 5:6.  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."

The greatest way in the world to combat pride is to follow the example of the Great Teacher,  Jesus Christ.  Listen to these words about Him in Philippians 2:5-8.  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought if not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Now this is the way for the followers of Christ to live, even as He lived. Although He was equal to God the Father, while He was in the earth, He became a servant to those about him.  The epitome of this is seen in John 13, where He got down before His disciples and washed their feet.  And he said, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."  John 13:14, 15.  The only reason in this world that men and women will not imitate the service and humility of Christ is their ungodly pride. They are just too good in their own opinions to humble themselves in this manner. God help you to examine your own heart and cast out all pride and self-righteousness.  Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.

 

Meditations and Truth

WHAT DO YOU MORE THAN OTHERS?

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate which you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?  Do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?  Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48.

Christ is here in this portion of the sermon on the mount emphasizing the fact that there is an increased responsibility to those who are His disciples. That is, more is expected of true followers of our Lord than others who care nothing for Him. All through this great discourse He enumerates various difficult tasks to be performed. Indeed such obligations go against the motions of the flesh, but we are admonished to “be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We are therefore to give all diligence to our lives. We are to follow the blessed example of Jesus. Even as He walked we are to walk. Even as He talked we are to talk. Even as He loved and forgave so are we to do likewise. Christ sums it all up for us in a question: “If ye salute your brethren only, WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS?”

“What do ye more than others?” The implication of this searching question is that Christians should do more than others. Within the scope of that question we might see two more questions. What should we do more than others? And, Why should we do more than others? The question of Jesus is first an exhortation informing us that we definitely should do more if we profess His name. Secondly, it is an indictment against us as if we are failing to do more than others. Jesus is saying, Everyone in the world loves his own and is kind to those whom he loves. What is it if you do no more than that? You are simply following the ways of the world and doing what is natural in all men. You must rise above this. You must do more. Prove to Me, says He, that you love Me by doing more than the average person. “Turn the other cheek; walk the extra mile; give your coat freely to someone else; love your enemies; pray for them who despise you.” These points from the great sermon answer, in some measure, what we are to do more than others.

But let us pursue this further by looking into some Bible examples. There are many practical ways in which more is expected of us. Luke gives us another saying of Jesus on this matter in Luke 12:48.  “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Here is the pattern to follow. Have you received much or little? According to your answer on this are you obligated by your own conscience to give. Look now at some of the practical ways in which this is applied.

First, as to possessions. According to what a man has, thus God expects and commands him to give; first, to the church; secondly, to all benevolence as the opportunity arises. If God has blessed you with much, then you are required by that same measure to give. If on the other hand, God has withheld from you the abundance of this world’s goods, He expects no more than you are able to give.  But do not excuse yourself by this fact.  Even if it is little, that is expected from you as much as the abundance from the wealthy. God’s law of tithing might be illustrated in this simple fashion: One man has a thousand dollars, another has one hundred. What is expected? The first is to give a tenth and likewise the second. In this way they give equally although one gives ten times as much as the other.  This is because he possesses ten times as much. But suppose for a moment that both these persons give the same amount to the church. The first might boast, “I have given as much as the second.”  Oh, no you have not. You have not given as much, or what is required, until you give ten times as much as the second who possesses only one-tenth of your abundance.

The same thing is true of talents or abilities which we possess. This is illustrated in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Although the talent as expressed is a weight of money, we can nevertheless still consider the natural abilities or talents of the individuals. For our Lord says in this parable, “to every man according to his several (individual) ability.” The Lord knows what each is capable of inasmuch as He is the One who has blessed us so. Whatever that ability is He expects it to be employed to the fullest. Some have five talents, some two and some only one. But equal effort is expected of each according to his ability. Each must fill up his own measure according to the ability God has given Him, and until he has, he has failed the responsibility God has given him.

The word, responsibility, brings us to another realm of this subject. Some men have been entrusted with more leadership and responsibility than others and more is expected of them. Thus David is the more chastised and rebuked for his terrible sins, because he was the leader of the people. More was expected of this great man.  Others, no doubt, had committed such sins in David’s day and did not escape the judgment of God.  But none were so openly and sorely rebuked and made a public spectacle, as was this man of God. Much more should be expected from the writer of the twenty-third Psalm than from the ordinary Israelite.  Likewise, Moses was given the same severe judgment as all the disobedient Israelites, though his sin, seems little to us, compared to theirs. But he was so much more in knowledge and understanding than they. More was expected of this prince of Israel.

On and on could we go giving one example after another of such practical applications of this principle, but I think the Lord would have us look deeper into the spiritual experience of this subject. As we look into the spiritual part of the subject we shall discover the answer to our, Why should we do more than others?  Why indeed should I love Him more, serve Him more, honor Him more and do more in service to my fellow man than others?

No man on earth ever loved the Lord Jesus more than the Apostle Paul. No man more eloquently or movingly spoke of His majesty and sovereignty than this great evangelist to the Gentiles. Why did he magnify His Lord’s name and person so much more than others? The answer is simple. To Paul, no other person had ever been so graciously benefited more than himself. God was great to Paul because Paul saw himself as the greatest of sinners. The more he looked into his own sinful past, the more glorious did Jesus become to him. In his own words, Paul was the “chief of sinners.” If it took grace to save sinners, Paul felt that a greater measure of grace and mercy was needed in his own salvation. The people who have the greatest God are those who see themselves the greater sinners. They feel that God has forgiven them more than anyone else.

There is an interesting encounter between Jesus and a sinful woman recorded in Luke 7 where this truth is exemplified. Jesus was having a meal in the home of a Pharisee, mile he was there a woman of that city, known to be a sinner, came to Jesus and anointed his feet with precious ointment. She was worshipping Him with this very humble service. The Pharisee, named Simon, thought that Jesus should stop her - that He should not allow such a sinful person to minister to Him. Jesus read his thoughts and gave him a parable about two debtors.  They were both forgiven, but one had owed much more than the other.  Jesus asked, “Which of them will love the one who forgave the debt the most?” Simon answered, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.”  Jesus told him, “That is exactly right.” He went on to tell him that this woman who had many, many sins had been forgiven.  Therefore, she loved her Lord very much. Those who do not feel themselves to be very great sinners, those who justify their mistakes, those who think in terms of how good they are and not in terms of how sinful they are, feel little gratitude to a Saviour.  They did not need too much saving, to put their own thoughts into words. But this sinful woman knew her sins.  She knew her unworthiness.  Therefore, when she came to believe that Christ had forgiven her, loved Him very, very much.  She demonstrated that love.  This woman may well have been Mary Magdalene who became one of the most devoted of His followers.  She was last at the cross and first at the tomb.  She wanted always to be near her Lord.  It was to this sinful woman that Jesus first appeared after His resurrection.  How she loved Him!  All who feel that they have been forgiven so much will pour out their hearts and lives in dedication to Him.

“What do ye more than others?” Indeed, what do you do that might be considered more than the general run of mankind?  Do you love Him more, serve Him more, and serve His people more? These are things you should excel in. Why should you do more than others?  You should do more than others for you feel in you heart He has done more for you. Has He done more for you than for others? That depends on your own attitude, upon your own assessment of yourself. If you feel that you are just as good as all others, that you have not been too bad, that there is good reason for all the wrong you have done - then Jesus has done no more for you than for anyone else. And you have no reason, I suppose to do more for Him than anyone else. But on the other hand, if you feel that you have been and are totally unworthy of His kindness, that you are a vile sinner, that you do not deserve the least of His blessings - and yet, have hope in Him - then He has done much more for you than for others.  That is how you feel. Therefore, you feel a stronger sense of duty and of great urgency to serve Him more than anyone else around you.  God help you to see how much He has forgiven you, how much He has done for you. Then go forth and serve Him accordingly.

 

 

Meditations and Truth

THE WORD AS GUIDE

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105.

When studying the value and use of the Bible, the word of God, some of the finest statements and definitions can be found in Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. The entire Psalm, consisting of twenty-two divisions and 176 verses, is devoted to this subject. This 105th verse is one of the best known and most illustrative of all the statements concerning the word of God.

God has given His word to reveal His will for us as we live here in the earth. In it we find the instructions which comfort, correct and guide us. It is our instruction chart for life. If we follow its teachings we will find peace and contentment. If we ignore the principles laid out for us in the word, we rob ourselves of the most valuable thing in life. As the Psalmist states, it is a lamp which illuminates our path, our walk of life.

Notice first the way he speaks this in a two-fold application. It is a lamp - it is a light. Think of these two things for a moment. The lamp as known to the Psalmist and other ancient people may have been a torch of fire or a candle to give some light by night. In our day we have artificial lights of all kinds energized by electricity.  What a blessing it is that we can have such light to help us in the dark of night.

The word of God is not only a lamp - it is also a light.  His words seem to convey a difference between the two.  The light is greater than the lamp and seems to point to daylight or the brilliant rays of the sun by day.

This gives us the two dimensions of life under consideration.  There are those times or periods in life when all is well, when we are prospering or getting along splendidly. This is the sun­light of life, when all problems and difficulties seem to be completely absent.  All is bright as day. But even when we are in such a happy and prosperous state we need the guidance of the higher principles of life. The word of God servers this purpose. As the sun shows us the way through our natural walk, so the word of God guides our feet through the proper directions of life. Think of how even a shaded pathway through a mountain forest is illuminated in the middle of a bright day. The word pierces through the most dense problems of life and enables us to see our way clearly.

But now think of that same pathway by night.  It would be most difficult to travel over the rocks, the quick turns, the ups and downs of such a trail in the darkness of night. Even the moon and the stars would be shut out by the over-hanging foliage.  Here is where it is so important to have a LAMP.  It is not so bright as the sun, but it will give us immediate light around our feet so that we can detect the dangers that are in our way. In the darkest times of life, when trials and troubles surround us, when all seems midnight to us, what a blessing would be one candle, one small flickering lamp. So the word of God is a single blessing to those who grope through unseen ways. The Psalmist says the word of God is a lamp unto our feet. It will show us the way to walk. We may not be able to see very far ahead through the darkness but we can see the way ahead of our feet so long as we cling to that lamp, the word of God.

There was a story told by James Wells, in Bible Images, l882.  “All depends on our way of using the lamp. A man tells that when a boy he was proud to carry the lantern for his Sabbath school teacher.  The way to their school led through unlit, muddy streets. The boy held the lantern far too high, and both sank into the deep mud. “Ah! you must hold the lamp lower,” the teacher exclaimed, as they gained a firm footing on the farther side of the slough. The teacher then beautifully explained our test, and the man declared that he never forgot the lesson of that night. You may easily hold the lamp too high; but you can hardly hold it too low.” Yes, we sometimes hold up the word to others and say, as it were, to them, “I know the way, now you find it.” At the same time our feet may slip into the mud of life. We need to hold the lamp to our feet, for we never get to that place in life that we can be too sure of our own direction. To hold it too high would be to illuminate our faces for others to see. This is vain and not at all very important. We should hold it low to the dangers at our own feet. Peter was very sure of himself one night. That same night, he denied His Lord three times. You need the light of the word of God at all times.

Looking at this comparison in another way, let us know that in the daytime, that is, in the brightness of life when all is well, the sun is a symbol of how the light or direction seems to shine for us without any effort on our part. But the night is another thing altogether. Someone has to keep oil in the lamp if it is going to give us steady dependable light. God will keep the sun for us in the day, but there is some effort on our part required to provide the light by night.

You will remember how the Lord guided the Israelites by day with a pillar of cloud, and at night with a pillar of fire. What a comfort it was to an Israelite who happened to awake in the night in the wilderness and see that pillar of fire still shining. Now God kept the fire going in that instance but He has taught us how to kindle our fires by night. Suppose you are camping and you want light through the night. Someone has to keep adding a little wood to the fire. You may remember when Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Melita that most of his companions were standing around the fire trying to find warmth and light but Paul realized that someone had to keep the fire going. So he went out into the dark to gather sticks. We need to be gathering sticks. What do I mean?  Simply, that we are to constantly, daily, gather bits of wisdom and instruction from the word of God. We are to study, apply and use the word of God so that it will be ready for us at any occasion.

So you remember the tragic story of the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Jesus reminds us with that parable, that the lamp is not enough.  It must have oil in it and be well trimmed if it is going to give light when needed. This is where we need to do a lot of reading, meditating and praying in the word of God.

The other night during a storm, the lights went out in our home.  I knew immediately where the flashlight was and had some light in a matter of seconds. When darkness suddenly comes into your life, can you reach out and tough the light of God’s word. If you are familiar with it you may. What a comfort to reach into that treasure of light in a moment of sudden darkness.

 

 

 

 

[ This first volume of the Writings of Elder R. L. Mitchell is presented in hopes that those who knew him would be comforted as much by his written word as they were by his preached word.  A more outstanding man of God has not walked among God's people.  He never sought praise for himself, but rather prayed and preached that the God he loved so dearly would receive all the praise, glory, and honor that mankind could produce.  As you are led to read these pages over and over, please pray that, by God's mercy and help, we can proceed with volumes 2 and 3. ]

Elder Don Gilbert

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