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I KNOW
By Ed Brand
Many of us have things in our past we wish to hide. We have done or
said things of which we are now ashamed and embarrassed. Some of those
things were foolish indiscretions of youth, when our wills were
ruled more by emotions than intellect. Others cannot be blamed on
youth, but only on the strength of temptation and the weakness of faith.
I have never understood why some people use these sinful things as a
spiritual marquee. They openly profess their youthful indulgences,
claiming the Lord saved them from themselves. The demons of drugs and
illicit sex had bound them until Jesus set them free. They almost
appear to revel in their rebellion.
I am glad people who know me best have not tried to find out every
mis-step and blunder. I would be ashamed for them to know about some
things from years past. I am quite happy about their ignorance. I
suspect they feel the same way: let us leave the past in the past.
However, I must confess there is a person who knows everything about
me. Things I have forgotten, He knows. Things I remember with shame, He
knows. He knows not only what I have done, but also what I have
thought. Thoughts and desires which have never been expressed to a
living soul, He knows. I am entirely incapable of thinking or acting
apart from His knowledge.
This person who knows everything about me is the one John describes as
walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks and He who holds
the keys of death and Hades (Rev. 1:12-18).
There is no place I can go to escape His scrutiny. He sees me when I
arise and when I retire; when I work and when I play. Wherever I am, He
sees and knows.
He not only knows me, He knows you (singular and plural). He told the
church at Ephesus, “I know thy works, and thy toil and patience,
and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call
themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false”
(Rev. 2:2). No congregation has any secrets from the Lord. He knows our
strengths and weaknesses, our wants and our wills.
It becomes us individually and collectively to try to live in such a
way as to cause no disappointment and wrath from our Savior. He calls
upon us to forsake sin and return to truth. To Ephesus He said,
“Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the
first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out
of its place, except thou repent” (Rev. 2:5). Back to Top
ANOTHER WAY TO KILL BABIES
By Andy Diestelkamp
MORALITY, SPIRITUALITY & EVANGELISM
By Al Diestelkamp
I recently attended one night of a gospel meeting which was focused
primarily on evangelism. The preacher, Harold Comer, enumerated some
changes in our culture over the past century which have made
soul-winning a more difficult task. Gospel meetings, which before the
popularity of television exposed many to the truth, no longer draw the
crowds. Likewise, the “cottage meeting” (home Bible study)
approach which was once a successful tool is not reaping the same
results today because family members are pulled in different directions
and are seldom available for concentrated studies. He correctly noted
that we must find a way to get people interested in the truth.
Brother Comer made a statement in his sermon which got me to thinking
(that’s what sermons are supposed to do). He said that one of the
things “we have going for us” is our strong moral stance.
People who are truly seeking the truth are “impressed” when
they see Christians who are committed to holiness.
This should be no surprise to us. Our Lord commanded us to “Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). This doesn’t
mean that the majority of people who see our goodness will eventually
glorify God. Jesus made it clear that “few” will find the
“narrow” way (Matt. 7:13-14).
Therefore, as much as we would delight in the salvation of all men, we
must be content with finding the “few chosen” (Matt. 20:16)
ones who will comply with the Lord’s will. We tend to get
discouraged when the majority “think it strange” and even
“speak evil” of us when we do not engage in sin with them
(1 Pet. 4:4). Instead, we ought to look upon such insults as sharing in
Christ’s sufferings and—without shame—“glorify
God in this matter” (see 1 Pet. 4:12-16).
If, indeed, the few lost souls who are longing for righteousness look
at the lives of Christians, will they see a higher morality than what
they see among sectarians? Will they be attracted to the pure gospel by
our lives?
I ask this question because I have heard more than one report of people
who have been unwilling to investigate the Lord’s church because
they view our members as worldly-minded. They are not referring to the
famous “hypocrites in the church,” for they realize every
group has its share of them, but to the appearance of a prevailing lack
of spirituality and commitment.
The world is watching. They see in us a people who know exactly what
the Bible says about salvation, worship and church organization. That
part is good! But when they look deeper they see a people whose
personal lives are so secular that there isn’t room for true
spirituality.
They notice that outside “the assembly” we are timid about
speaking of spiritual matters. The needs, plans and work of the local
church are seldom discussed outside of “official” business
meetings.
They observe families so driven by materialism that they are willing to
let their children be “home alone” or farmed out to others
while both parents pursue careers.
They find many parents are more concerned with their children’s
secular education than their spiritual growth (as evidenced when school
activities and homework come before worship and Bible study).
It is not enough to take a strong doctrinal stand on first principle
issues. If we are to be the “light of the world” (Matt.
5:14) we must take an equally strong stand on moral issues. This must
not be limited to teaching from the pulpit, but also reflected in the
lives of Christians.
When the Lord’s church develops a reputation for being a people
whose every act is motivated by a desire to bring glory to God,
truth-seekers will know where to turn to find salvation. Back to
Top
YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN
By Andy Diestelkamp
I was perusing my bookshelf the other day when I noticed a bookmark
sticking out of Whiteside’s commentary on Romans. This book had
originally been my Grandpa Diestelkamp’s, and I had just recently
placed it on my shelf. Curious as to where the book was marked I opened
it and found it at the beginning of Romans 4. Page 87 was marked with
pencilled underlines and a bracket.
My attention was next turned to the bookmark itself. It was a part of a
newspaper that had apparently been torn out just for the purpose of
marking this page, for neither side of the paper revealed anything
complete. However, my eye was drawn to the top of this crude bookmark.
“Tuesday, April 12, 199” it said. That’s not a
typographical error. The tear just happened to cut off the last
digit of the year.
I know I could solve the mystery of exactly what year it was, but what
I was impressed with was that an old soldier was still digging for
truth and understanding. Let me stress that I was not surprised to know
this, but it was very satisifying to note and meditate upon.
The Preacher observed, “Better is a poor and wise youth than an
old and foolish king who will be admonished no more” (Eccl.
4:13). Most of what God has revealed supports the general idea that
with age comes wisdom. Certainly this ought to be the way it is, and it
is right for younger people to expect and respect that wisdom. However,
wisdom doesn’t automatically come with years. It comes with
mental exercise and hands on experience (Heb. 5:14). Of course, this
becomes more difficult with age (Eccl. 12:1), but it is still important
that the oldest generation be active, not only in leadership, but in
studying and learning as well. What was previously observed about the
old king was that, despite his age, he was a fool. Why? Because he was
resistant to instruction. “The way of a fool is right in his own
eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Prov. 12:15). The wise
always know that there is much more they have to learn. It is the fool
(young or old) that no longer hungers and thirsts after
righteousness.
To put this more bluntly and to paraphrase The Preacher, “Better
is a wise youngster than a foolish elder who won’t listen.”
Nothing is more frustrating to youthful zeal than a leadership
that thinks that they have arrived at the truth on all issues of import
and therefore give little heed or time in study to the practical
problems of this generation. Anyone who will not consider the
possibility that he has misapplied some text of God’s word or,
perhaps, has even been wrong in the past is proud and closed-minded.
This is not leadership by strength of truth, but by the intimidation of
position and tradition. Neither one is a valid scriptural leverage.
Please, do not misunderstand. I know that God’s plan for the
older to lead the younger is best. I also know that it is our
obligation to treat the elderly with respect. Yet, it is with that
position of respect and leadership that the responsibility to continue
to study and grow becomes all the more important. You’re never
too old to learn.
IN OR OUT OF CONTROL
By Roy Diestelkamp
It is truly frustrating to be in a situation where we have no control.
We have to rely on someone else to do what we cannot do ourselves. Or
perhaps, someone we love is going to have to do something, and we
cannot prevent it.
Recently my wife and I had to face just such a situation, when our son,
Jeremy, began to complain of significant pain, and upon examination by
the doctor was sent for surgery to remove his appendix. We were not in
control of the situation. We could not bear the pain for our son, nor
could we remove the offending appendix or suffer through the surgery
for him. Thankfully we could pray for God’s help (and He was
gracious) but personally it was a circumstance about which we could do
nothing.
There are some lessons from this situation that are good and valuable.
When we consider the subject of sin, we have to admit that, we do not
have control over escaping its consequence. Scripture declares that
“the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Once you and I have
sinned, we have no power, scheme, or money that can forgive a single
sin. In fact, Jesus asked, “What shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?” (Mk. 8:37). Wish as we will, try as we might, we
cannot by our own strength escape our sin, cover our sin, or forgive
it. We are dependent on God, to save us through His grace that He
provided in Christ Jesus. In regard to forgiving sin, I am out of my
own control, and must accept that fact and humbly seek Gods mercy.
In a different way, I may allow things to get out of control when I am
supposed to be in control. Parents have responsibilities to God and
their children. In Eph. 6:4 we read: “And, ye fathers, provoke
not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.” I have a responsibility to stay in
control of my children, and raise them up to know and fear God.
Now I may let my children get out of control. I may never correct or
discipline them. I may not want to inhibit their free spirit by saying,
and meaning, “No,” to certain actions. I may not
enforce my will upon them by discipline (whether spanking, withdrawal
of privileges, or chastisement). Or, I may wait until the child is
older to start trying to exercise control, but by then will find out
the child has a mind of his own. The word teaches us to “Chasten
thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his
crying” (Prov. 19:18).
Parents are not to simply watch their children grow taller, play with
neighbor children, go to school, involve themselves in sports, choose
dates, pick a college or a vocation, and get married. Parents must
watch, correct, discipline, and make sure that as children grow
physically, they also grow spiritually, learn God’s will and
witness it being lived in their own lives. Parents must help pick
children’s playmates, and later direct them make proper choices
as to: 1) persons to date; 2) college to attend; and 3) whom to marry.
The next generation must be taught to make good choices for each of
these categories so that they can—and will—continue to
serve God.
While we have control of our young, we as parents are to use that
control. God has made man in such a way that parents being in control
will work. The general rule of God is: “Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”
(Prov. 22:6). Moreover, He has placed in the child, the nature to
imitate the parent (Eph. 5:1). In today’s world there is the
calamity of juvenile delinquency, gangs, drugs, and crime. An even
worse calamity exists among the churches where children of Christians
do not themselves become or remain Christians. This must remind all
parents to love and fear God ourselves, personally set the right
example, teach right from wrong, and be actively involved in our
children’s lives.
If we are not in control of our children, who is? If we are not in
control of our children, why not? If we are not now in control of our
children, when will we be? The Lord’s standard calls for
“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity” (1 Tim. 3:4). When a child is sick,
we may not be able to control the situation. In our families, regarding
our children, we must be in control. Let us fearfully pray to God for
His help. Back to Top
I GET LOVE LETTERS
By Al Diestelkamp