There is nothing more sickening to God than a half-hearted Christian...if there is such a thing.  Who could forget the imagery used in Revelation 3:16 where Christ says that those Laodicean church members that swayed from light to darkness would be vomited from His mouth.  The “fool” who continues to frequent his past life is compared to a dog returning to his vomit (Proverbs 26:11).  For those who have come in contact with Christ and have returned again to sin, it is said that “it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (2 Peter 2:21).  God hates it when people sway between Him and the Devil!

Let’s face it...the struggle to stay a consistent Christian is a tough battle and there is only one way in which we can be assured of a victory.  We must completely submit our hearts to the will of God.  A poor foundation under a building will eventually cause the structure to crumble and a spiritual life not founded with Christ as the “chief cornerstone.”  I suppose that Christians will always ask how to develop this kind of commitment in their own lives and I suppose that the same answers will always be given: to pray, study, be faithful in attendance, surround yourself with other Christians, etc.  All of these answers are excellent and true, but we have to face the fact that in all of these things, if our hearts are not devoted, it doesn’t matter.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

I have a good friend in Brantford, Ontario that I believe has the heart of dedication talked about in the Scripture.  The local congregation there only meets on Sunday mornings. Brother Paul Vance explained to me that after services on Sunday morning, he goes home and reads and studies his Bible until bedtime!  I know that when he related this to me the shock on my face was visible.  If brother Vance had his way, we would worship from dawn into the night every Sunday.

When we encounter someone with that sort of dedication to the Lord it should certainly cause us to stop and think.  In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”   When I think of the words of Christ concerning those who serve Him half -heartedly and I examine the life of my friend, Paul Vance, I am immediately humbled and shaken by the reality that I must consistently re-evaluate my own heart.  Please be certain of your salvation and serve God constantly.  Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”       

Brother Gallagher is one of the evangelists for the Hamilton church of Christ in Hamilton, Alabama.  He may be reached at 2376 Military Street South, Hamilton, AL  35570.

       The apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians to his brethren in Galatia in hopes to encourage them to get back on track.  He was concerned how they had quickly removed themselves from the Christ that they once so eagerly obeyed (Galatians 1:6).  He knew that it was the Judaizers that had been troubling them, nevertheless, it was their decision to follow what these false teachers were saying.

       During his discourse he made a statement that we are all familiar with: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Galatians 5:7).  Let’s take the phrase, “Ye did run well,” and use that as a spring board for our study in this essay.

Ye Did Run Well . . . Because You Recognized the Importance of It

The media is always in a buzz before the Olympic Games.  The elite athletes of the countries around the world are invited to appear on the world’s stage and compete in their respective event.  This invitation is only made to those who have qualified.  So, to qualify, the athletes train—many for the majority of their lives.

One event that many of the athletes train for is the race.  Like these Olympians, we too have a race to run.  However, our race is a spiritual one in which there is no winner.  God does not expect us to win the race, but to finish the race.  Some of the last words of the apostle Paul were to that affect—“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).  Paul successfully finished the race, and Heaven was waiting for him—“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Like Paul, God wants us to successfully run the race so that we can hear the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”  How are you doing in the race? Are you running well?  Or, is God saying, “You did run well?”

Ye Did Run Well . . . However, You Have Become Hindered

Professional runners can sometimes be hindered in their race.  Maybe they become sick the night before the race and lose their momentum when competing the next day.  Some runners are stopped in their tracks when a leg cramp hits them.  There are so many things that can keep a runner from reaching his goal of winning or even finishing his race.

In our spiritual race to heaven, we often find ourselves hindered.  We sometimes sing a song during worship that says, “...often I’m hindered on my way, burdens so heavy I almost fall.…”  The devil is pulling out all stops to try and make us fail in the race.

One of the concerns of the Olympic Games is the safety of the athletes and the spectators.  With the threat of terrorism in recent years, security is constantly being tightened.  Imagine for a moment trying to run and being shot.  That is exactly what the devil is doing to us.  Paul said, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).  The devil is literally throwing obstacles in our way in hopes that we will fall down and give up.

Have you been hindered lately in your race for heaven?  If so, the Bible will help. James tells us that when we are faced with the temptation of the devil, we should first realize that it will help us to be faithful if we let it—“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience [steadfastness]” (James 1:3).  Then, James says to pray about it—“...let him ask of God...” (James 1:5).  When you pray, ask God for wisdom—“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).  Then, ask for that wisdom without doubting—“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering...” (James 1:6).

Ye Did Run Well . . . But Don't Stop! Keep Running!

Athletes are often encouraged never to give up—keep on fighting.  When you fall down, get back up!  The same is true for us.  When we submit our will to God’s by being immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins, thereby being added to the church (Acts 2:38, 47), God tells us to keep running—be faithful.

You see, heaven is dependant on our running the race unto the very end.  That’s why John wrote, “...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).  Keep looking forward to the prize ahead, and never look back (Philippians 3:14; Luke 9:62).

Thankfully, as we run the race, we have help.  Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

How are you doing in running the race?  Are you like the Galatians who “did run well?”  Maybe you have given up.  Does it seem like it’s just not worth it anymore?  May I encourage you to hang in there?  Please, live your life in view of eternity.  Let’s all run to heaven.    

Brother Neil Richey is the evangelist for the Augusta Road Church of Christ in Greenville, South Carolina.  He may be reached at 5315 Old Augusta Road, Greenville, SC  29605.

Your Children Have Been Drafted to Battle

Brad Harrub

We all know one.  You know, those young kids who can rattle off questions at speeds that make most Indy drivers jealous.  “Why is the sky blue?  Why is water wet?  What is dirt made of?  Can worms smell?  How do fax machines work?”  While we encourage our young children to imagine and pretend, we often are rewarded with some very colorful, if not mind-boggling questions.  Most of these questions we either answer quickly, or simply, then change the subject.  Or, we use alternative strategies like food or videos.  But what happens when our children begin asking us tough questions that have to do with matters of faith?  What happens when our children come home from school and want to know how dinosaurs fit in with the Bible?  Or what do we tell them upon discovering that their science class is studying evolution?  Oftentimes, these important questions are left unanswered as our children are instructed to quickly “wash up and get ready for dinner.”  Unfortunately, today many parents find themselves reacting to questions and topics, rather than planning ahead.  As Christian parents, we need to be proactive rather than reactive.  We need to be on the front line, teaching our children the truth about the world around us as they grow, because if we don't, there is someone out there more than willing to teach them another version.

Possessing a belief in God is not enough. Our children (and grandchildren!), need to know how to defend that belief.  The truth is, one day in the not-so-distant future, our children will find their faith being challenged.  Their ability to handle that situation will greatly affect whether they live a life loyal to God or whether they abandon Him and His teachings.  There are literally thousands of evolutionists currently living who once espoused a belief in Christianity.  Today they are apostates, placing more faith in science than the Word of God.

Picture for a moment the heartbreaking scene of two parents sending their young teenage son off to fight in a war.  As tears roll down their faces, they cling to their son, wishing their hugs could somehow ward off the impending military assignment.  Dad takes a minute to have a man-to-man talk about his son keeping himself safe, and mom reminds him they will be there to support him throughout his upcoming ordeal.  There could be no mistaking that this family understands their son is going to war.  And yet, how many families realize there is an ongoing war for their children's very souls?  It is literally a fight, one that evolutionists, humanists, and skeptics have been waging for many decades.  And, sadly, this is a war that has resulted in thousands of spiritual casualties.  There are no tears for this send-off.  There are no man-to-man talks regarding a son keeping himself safe.  Tragically, many parents are so caught up in their day-to-day routines that they don't even realize their son or daughter has been “drafted.”  And so, many parents just stand by silently as their children go into battle for their souls.  Parents, we need to change this attitude.  If we are ever going to stop the casualties, we must change it.  We must wake up and realize this is indeed a battle, a battle in which our children must know that we are going to fight for them until we draw our last breath.  We must arm our children with the very best equipment for this war.  As Christian parents and grandparents, we must arm ourselves with knowledge based upon evidence, and be prepared to tackle some of these “tough questions” with our children and grandchildren.  And we must never be willing to give up.

In Ezekiel 22 we find one of the most troubling passages in all of God's Word.  In reviewing the actions of Jerusalem, Ezekiel records that Jerusalem had violated most, if not all of the Ten Commandments.  The vast army of Nebuchadnezzar was poised around the city, about to begin a two-year siege that would bring utter destruction to the city.  In those days, the common practice to fortify a city was to build a giant wall.  Enemies wanting to overthrow the city were then forced to concentrate their efforts on breaching a hole in one portion of the wall.  But often, men of the city would step into the gap and fight to protect their homeland.  They were willing to “stand in the gap.”  At the end of chapter 22 we learn that this is not the case with Jerusalem.  God said: “‘I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.  Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their heads,’ says the Lord God.”  No one was willing to stand in the gap.  Parents and grandparents, we must be ready, willing, and able to stand in the gap and fight for the souls of our children!  Unrighteousness still abounds.  The laws and commands of God are still being violated.  Jerusalem needed an individual who could step forward and stand for the truth.  The absence of that individual led to their ultimate destruction.  Homes that are absent of individuals willing to stand in the gap today can expect a similar destruction.  Have you heard the battle cry?  Precious souls are at stake!    

Brad Harrub, Ph.D., is the Director of Scientific Information at Apologetics Press in Montgomery, Alabama. He may be reached at 230 Landmark Drive, Montgomery, AL  36117-2752.

 David Hester

 On June 26, 2000, ABC produced a documentary that was nothing short of audacious.  Entitled, “Peter Jennings Reports: The Search for Jesus,” it is purported to be an unbiased account of the anchorman’s “search” for Jesus via academic scholars and trips to Palestine.  However, what resulted was a showcase for the most liberal views imaginable—namely, those of the Jesus Seminar.

     As is the case, usually, television was far behind the loop.  Actually, the views that were aired have been simmering for the past fifteen years, ever since the Jesus Seminar began.  In 1985, Robert W. Funk, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan launched the Seminar as a way of jump starting the so-called “quest for the historical Jesus,” which refers to three previous liberal attempts to divorce the man Jesus from the divine Son of God.

     Thus, the Jesus Seminar was begun.  Although wishing to distinguish themselves from the earlier quests, one is struck by how the presuppositions are similar.  For example, in a debate concerning the work of the Seminar, Marcus Borg contributed a chapter entitled “The Irrelevancy of the Empty Tomb.”  At any rate, Funk, Borg, and Crossan led the movement to reexamine the New Testament evidence concerning Jesus.

     Those who followed their lead endeavored to determine what Jesus “really said,” as opposed to what they thought was added later by Jesus’ followers.  The method they employed was farcical.  The scholars actually voted on each biblical passage.  They did this by casting color-coded beads into a box.  Red meant “Jesus undoubtedly said this or something very like it.”  Pink meant “Jesus probably said something like this.”  Gray implied “Jesus did not say this, but the ideas contained in it are close to his own.” Finally, black meant “Jesus did not say this; it represents the perspective or content of a later and/or different tradition.”

     The result of such was The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say?, published at the end of 1993.  This volume prints all of the passages in the four Gospels, color-coded as per the previous description, plus the apocryphal so-called “gospel of Thomas.”  What brought the book so much attention at the time was the proportion of the color code.  Less than 20 percent of all the sayings attributed to Jesus was colored either red or pink.  Only one verse of Mark was colored red; just fifteen sayings of all the Gospels combined.  Seventy-five sayings are colored pink, while 416 are colored gray, and 886 are colored black.  Almost all of John is totally rejected, as is the case with all of Jesus’ claims about Himself.  Yet, this has been represented as “mainstream.”  John Dominic Crossan even goes so far as to say that Jesus’ body was devoured by a pack of wild dogs at the foot of the cross.

     Above all else, the Seminar rejects anything remotely resembling the miraculous.  Included in this are the virgin birth, raising people from the dead, and Jesus’ own  resurrection.  Even in the one instance when they do concede the supernatural—Jesus’ healings of the people—they claim it is no different from “healings” performed by Eastern mystics and shamans.

     In 1998, the Seminar produced another book, The Acts of Jesus.  It purported to show what Jesus did and didn’t do.  But, as is the case with their previous work, those involved in the project demonstrated disdain for the New Testament evidence.  During this “second phase” of the Seminar, lasting from 1991-1996, they examined 176 events.  Again, they utilized the same methodology—voting by casting beads into a box.  Of the 176 events, only 29 received either a red or a pink rating—just 16% of the total.  Only 10 events received a red rating.

     What do they have to say for themselves?  As has been shown, the participants in the Seminar very definitely had liberal presuppositions.  Consider their attitude concerning the Gospels: they say that the author of Mark “…was not an eyewitness…” they refer to “…the evangelist given the name Matthew…” and that Luke “…is at least a third-generation Christian scribe…”  In addition, they assert “…Luke’s knowledge of events in the larger world is faulty…”  As if that were not enough, the assertion is made that much of what is written in the New Testament about what Jesus did is simply “folklore.”  To illustrate what they mean, they refer to the so-called "Roswell Incident,” in which a flying saucer was supposed to have crashed in Roswell, New Mexico.  The comparison is then made between sorting folklore from truth in that incident, and doing the same in the Gospels.  How can anyone reasonably claim to have an unbiased attitude towards the New Testament, with all of these presuppositions in play?

     But then, consider something else.  On the dust jacket of The Acts of Jesus, the conclusions that were reached are listed.  Consider some of them:

· Jesus of Nazareth was born in Nazareth, not in Bethlehem.

· He did not walk on water, feed the multitude with loaves and fishes, change water into wine, or raise Lazarus from the dead.

· The empty tomb is a fiction—Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead.

       How can the “scholarship”  of  the Seminar be taken  seriously when  such  erroneous  beliefs are fostered on the public?  The fact is, it is being taken seriously.  One thing that distinguishes the Jesus Seminar is its media-savvy instinct.  Not only did ABC produce the special mentioned previously, but also PBS produced a “Frontline” documentary purporting to be about Christianity: “From Jesus to Christ-The First Christians.”  In it, the Seminar’s views were presented as the authoritative word on the New Testament, without any kind of dissenting voices heard.  Not only is that indicative of poor journalism, it also is a perversion of the Word of God.

     This is not the first time that people have attacked the credibility of the Gospels and the deity of our Lord.  However, we are now living in an advanced technological age.  Information is being produced faster and is more accessible than at any time in the history of the world.  This means that not only can the Truth be proclaimed widely; so can error.  The challenge to the Lord’s church is deadly serious.

     Having said that, there are some observations that must be made.

     First, our colleges, universities, and schools of preaching must address the threat of the Seminar, if they are not already doing so.  Preachers must know how to give an answer to these issues.

    Second, the situation is looking more and more like the situation that existed at the turn of the previous century.  That is, “destructive criticism” invaded our schools and pulpits.  John William McGarvey battled against it, as well as Hall Laurie Calhoun.  We must, also.

    Third, critical scholarship must also be re-examined in light of the Seminar.  That is, trust in the methods of such must be limited.  Is it not significant that the Seminar is simply taking the liberal solution concerning the “Synoptic Problem” to its logical end?  

     Modern critical scholarship has been accepted by many in religion, even within the body of Christ.  Many facets of critical scholarship have been incorporated without question—including the matter of the inspiration of the Gospels.  However, not everyone  unquestioningly submitted to modern criticism.  The late Rex A. Turner, Sr. taught a class at Southern Christian University entitled, “The Synoptic Gospels.” In my class notes, notice what he says concerning the views of too many today:

In the hands of liberals, however, the study of the Synoptic Gospels is not nearly so innocent.

1) The liberals come with the doctrine of the priority of Mark.

2) That the gospel of Mark was written earlier than the gospels of Matthew and Luke. 

3) That Mark copied from a source which the liberals label, Marcus Q. 

4) That the gospels of Matthew and Luke were copied from Mark, together with the compilation of other sources.

5) That Matthew and Luke were completed in the second half of the first century.

Now, assuming for the moment that the liberals are correct in their holdings, what would this do for your concept of inspiration?

Indeed. Brother Turner forcefully and deliberately taught the truth concerning the Gospels, and in turn asked what he called “Questions That Are Soul Searching:”

1) Was Jesus a mere legend?

2) Are the documents of the gospels substantial, or reasonable, beyond doubt, or are they mere legends?

3) Is Jesus to be accepted only as a great moral teacher?

     Brother Turner answered the first question “no;” the second question, “beyond doubt;” and the third question, “no; he is the Son of God—the Messiah.”  In addition, he answered the claims of liberals in his book Systematic Theology.  In his chapter, “The Supposed Priority of the Gospel of Mark,” he sets forth the truth of the matter.  Brother Turner dates Matthew at A. D. 50, Luke at A. D. 58, Mark at A. D. 67, and John around A. D. 85-95.

In closing the chapter, brother Turner said something which needs to be heeded by all of us today: “The issue at stake is inspiration.”  As he was on so many other matters, Rex Turner Sr. was right on target.  His judgment stands the test of time, and must be considered by all of those who take seriously the claims of modern critical scholarship concerning the Synoptic Gospels.

The fact is, the centerpiece of the liberals’ “solution” to the Synoptic Problem—the so-called “Q” document—is a chimera that exists only in the minds of those willing to accept it as true.  Such a document has never been shown to even exist.  Surely it is more than a coincidence that the participants in the Jesus Seminar give much space to the “Q” document, and the four-source theory of the Synoptics.  This should be enough to show the fallacy of the theory.

While a student at Freed-Hardeman, one of my teachers gave a brief but effective way of answering the so-called “Synoptic Problem.”  The four authors of the Gospels gave their own Holy Spirit-inspired perspective on the life of Christ.  They were four unique witnesses.  When one puts together all of the Gospel accounts, he has the complete, inerrant, inspired record—without relying upon man-made theories.

In the final analysis, Peter Jennings, ABC, and the Jesus Seminar do not determine Truth.  Only God’s Word does that.  The salient question to consider is simply: can we trust the Bible, or not?  We can, and we must.

Brother Hester is the evangelist for the Center Point Church of Christ in Pinson, AL.  He may be reached at 6836 Ashberry Drive, Pinson, AL  35126

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We’ve Tried That Before!

David Courington

       In planning the work of the church we sometimes hear someone say, “But we've tried that before, and it didn't work.”  Often we will not get involved in worthwhile works because of past failures.  We are like the man who diets, loses a few pounds, starts eating more, gains those pounds back, plus  a few more, then says, “Dieting won't work.  I tried it.”  Yet when we try and fail, we should have at least learned one thing that won't work.  But it might be that if we tried something only slightly different, gave a little more effort, or reorganized things a bit, we would meet success.

Mark Twain said, “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it, and stop there, lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid.   It will never sit down on a hot stove lid again, and that is well; but also it will never sit down on a cold one anymore.”  The church may have had a visitation program that either fizzled out or did not work. We should not conclude from that experience that, “Visitation programs don't work.  We've tried that before!”  Rather, we should know from the scriptures that visitation is essential. (Matthew 25:34-46).  Whether we have an organized program or not we must visit.  But there are congregations that have visitation programs that are an encouragement to the members to visit, and a way to see that some are not overlooked.  Perhaps instead of saying, “We've tried that before!” we should say, “Let's see what does work and what we could have done better.”

Some have also used this phrase regarding personal work.  We may have had little success at converting people to Christ through personal studies, door knocking, different forms of media, etc.  But that does not mean that people cannot be converted.  This is the church's mission (Matthew 28:18-20).  It may take many contacts to convert one soul.  It may take different methods to get people to hear the same gospel.  But one thing is for sure.  One will never catch a fish unless he has a hook in the water and he will never convert a soul if he does not try, and try again.

Even our benevolent work, Sunday school teaching, preaching, mission works, etc…can seem unproductive.  But we must not quit.  Paul said, “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).

Helen Keller said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens.  But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”  May we continue to work diligently in the Lord's kingdom, not neglecting any opportunity to do good.

Brother Courington preaches for the Sylvan Springs Church of Christ.  He may be reached at 927 Hathcock Drive, Mulga, AL 35118.

Beyond This Life

Beyond this life we’ll wake to see

What life eternal then shall be.

There is a city God prepares

For His children.  We’ll be His heirs.

Beyond this life the lost shall weep.

Too late, too late a watch to keep.

If life on earth today should end,

Have you obeyed God’s Word, my friend?

The beauty of this life we’ve seen,

But death for us is in between

This and heaven, the Christian’s goal,

When back to God returns the soul.

This life will end, We know not when,

But after while we’ll live again.

If we fulfill our mission here,

The sting of death no more we’ll fear.

Obey the Lord!  Keep His commands!

Have faith and hope!  Live by His plans!

When heaven’s door is opened wide,

In peace and joy we’ll live inside.

Let not your heart be troubled then,

The best of life to come is when

The lonely heartaches all have passed,

And we are safe in peace at last.

Above the hills when sun is set,

He’ll say, “Well done!,” Then we’ll forget

The pain, like arrows shooting through.

He’ll give to us a body new.

Beyond this life is home sweet home.

No sleepless night, nor storms will come.

With streets of gold, the gates of pearl,

Beyond this life is heaven’s world.

Eva Nell Brown Naramore

The Gospel of Christ

Tim Childs

The gospel of Christ is a "good news" revelation from heaven and truly a “wonderful story of love.”  It is an authentic message whose author is God (not mere mortal man).  It is a message God chose to supply motivated by love and mercy in view of his desire to reclaim and redeem sinful man whom he had created in his own image.  Isaiah, the prophet, writes: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).  Concerning the gospel, men and angels are prohibited from altering its message in any shape, form or fashion (Galatians 1:6-9).  The apostle Paul pronounced a curse upon any who are so brazen as to pervert its message.  You and I must not be negligent with respect to it (Hebrews 2:1-4).

The Call of the Gospel

(2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

The gospel of Christ is the "tool" that God has chosen to use to draw all men unto salvation and deliverance from sin's captivating power through his only begotten Son.  Therefore, Christ has given his followers the "Great Commission" with the charge: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  Through the gospel God invites all sinful men to be a recipient of the priceless gift of the forgiveness of all one's past sins.  As the Corinthians, we too can be washed, sanctified and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11) through the sacrifice of the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  Today Jesus still calls you and me to come unto him for rest (Matthew 11:28) and gives access to God by the faith of Christ (John 14:6).

The Challenge of the Gospel

Through the gospel, Christ calls upon each of us to repent of our sins and iniquities.  The forerunner of Christ, John, the baptizer, called upon men to repent (Mark 1:2-4). When John was imprisoned, Christ called upon His contemporaries to repent of their sins (Mark 1:15).  Christ's message was filled with the theme of repentance (Luke 13:1-5) to avoid the consequence of eternal ruin and loss of one's soul in torment.  The apostles of Christ preached the same message of repentance (Acts 2:38) in view of Christ's return and the final judgment (Acts 17:30-31).

It is imperative we come to view sin as God views sin.  Since God does not wink at sin, we can not pass it off as something at which to laugh.  Since God is a holy God, He calls upon us to be holy (1 Peter 1:14-16); and, He seeks to motivate us to turn from our sins by contemplating His goodness toward us (Romans 2:4).

The Choice of the Gospel

The gospel provides you and me with a choice that has eternal consequences.  You and I can choose to “sow to the flesh” during this life and “reap corruption” or, we can make the choice to “sow to the spirit” and “reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8).  It is a choice no one can make for us.

You and I can be encouraged and take heart as we learn from a servant of God who lived centuries ago.  Moses made the choice to identify with the people of God and suffer affliction with them rather than to “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:24-26).  Bear in mind, dear reader friend, that the pleasures of sin are truly seasonal.  That is, they are only temporary at best, while the reward of holy and righteous living is one that is enduring throughout eternity with a crown of life to wear in heaven (James    1:12; Revelation 2:10).
The gospel is a message of hope and power. The evangelist/Apostle Paul was not ashamed of Christ nor his gospel (Romans 1:16) as he recognized it to be “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” The gospel has the power to "translate us into the kingdom of his dear son" (Colossians 1:13).  The gospel of Christ has: (1) facts that we should believe; (2) commands
that we must obey (Hebrews 5:9); and, (3) promises to cherish and receive from the bountiful, gracious Giver of every good gift.  The gospel of Christ can transform your life into one that is glorious indeed!

Brother Childs is an evangelist and one of the elders for the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Dunmor, Kentucky.  He may be reached at P.O. Box 55, Dunmore, KY  42339.

A Handbreadth

Mike Benson

 STRETCH OUT YOUR palm…

Separate your fingers to their widest; hold them as far apart as you can. Study what you see and then consider: Scripture says that’s a picture of human longevity.  David wrote, “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalm 39:4-5).  That’s right.  Life at its best is little more than an abbreviated measurement.  A handbreadth.

Jeanne-Louise Calment would have agreed.  According to Guinness, she was born in Arles, France on February 21, 1875 and died on August 4, 1997.  Do a little math in your head and you’ll discover that she lived 122 years, 164 days.  Whew!  She lived a long time, didn’t she?  Not really.  Not when you consider life when compared to eternity.  As long as Jeanne-Louise lived, hers was but a handbreadth.

Dear friend, in terms of the clock, your life is ever-so-short (Job 14:1-2; James 4:14).  Assuming you escape the ravages of disease, you don’t perish in some untimely accident, and your parents had extremely good genes, it’s still doubtful that you’ll live as long as Jeanne-Louise Calment.  And even if you do, it will be but a handbreadth.

Consider:

· What are you doing with your time (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5; Psalm 90:12)? Paul Meyer wrote, “Most time is wasted, not in hours, but in minutes. A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that has been deliberately kicked over.”

· Are you accomplishing the really important things (John 9:4)?  Are you “run ragged” with urgent matters? 

· If you were to die right now, could you say, “I didn’t neglect the most important things in my life?”  Doctor Jesus had a very full patient schedule (Mark 6:31) and yet He finished His job (John 19:30). 

Time is limited.  It is like a handbreadth.  Use it well.

Mike Benson is the evangelist for the Oak Hill Church of Christ in Evansville, IN and editor of KneEmail.  He may be reached at 4311 Oak Hill Road, Evansville, IN  47711

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