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• WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
• PEACE ON EARTH
• SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE
• THE WAY OF THE CROSS
• OFFERING THANKS TO GOD
• FOLLOW JESUS
• BELIEVEISM

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December 2022

 

 

 

 

WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS

THE STRAIT GATE & THE NARROW WAY

Matt. 7:14

Randall Walton

        In order to gain a clear understanding of this verse, it is necessary to define the words “Strait” and “Narrow.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance states that the word strait is actually “narrow” (from obstacles standing close about), or a narrow or small gate. This is undoubtedly the reason Jesus said that only a few find it!

        The word narrow (KJV) is used to describe the nature of the way, or the road, which leads to Life: “afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble” (Strong’s #2346). So, we are correct in stating that the gate is small, narrow, and confining, and the way is hard, disagreeable, and difficult!

        This, obviously, is not the picture which is painted by modern clergymen. They have created a new gate and a new way which are easy and well pleasing to the “carnal Christian.” All one needs to do to find the gate, they tell us, is to “accept” Jesus as your personal savior, join the church of your choice, and you’ve got it made.” This false message is sending a multitude of people to perdition; it is in total contradiction to the words of the Savior Himself. When He said, “Few there be that find it,” that is exactly what He meant.

        Too many people confuse the Gate with religiosity, as if the two were the same, or are interchangeable; modern evangelists have watered down the Good News of the Kingdom to make a wide gate and a broad way, both of which lead to destruction, Jesus declared. It is so easy to be saved we are told: just believe that Jesus died for your sins, and presto! you are saved. It is a free gift that you can never give away nor lose, no matter what you do nor how hard you try to be unsaved; you are hooked for eternity.

        In a parallel passage to Matt. 7:14, Jesus said, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24). Strive? That means to put forth effort, doesn’t it? Surely, He couldn’t have meant that. “for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” This doesn’t sound much like free and easy grace!

        Evidently the Jesus Gate and the Jesus Way are not readily nor easily found. If the Gate is so narrow that a comparatively few find it, then it must take more than merely believing in order to find and enter it. And what about those millions of people who claim to have found and entered the Gate?

        Is it possible that they only believe they are saved, or converted, or born again, and really are not? Is it possible that they have only made a mental assent that Jesus is the Savior, but they do not really know Him? Yes, it is not only possible; it is probable.

        “Few there be that find it” are very solemn words. The word few is contrasted in Matt. 7:13 with the word many: the “many” people are those who find and enter a wide gate and travel a broad way, both words which are descriptive of ease and a carefree state of being. The wide gate is easily found. It is ubiquitous and ostentatious. It appeals to the man with double vision who wants the best of two separate and divergent worlds at the same time.

        The Broad Way makes little or no demands upon the traveler. With plenty of elbow room and no rules or laws to inhibit his behavior, he feels free to enjoy all the distractions and fleshly attractions on his journey to oblivion. Throwing all his natural convictions to the wind, he casually bolsters his courage by quoting his favorite verse: “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage,” which yoke, his pastor informs him, is the law of God.

        The Broad Way is so satisfying to the flesh. It is an old saying come true: “You can have your cake and eat it, too.” And there is always plenty of company because this is the way of the “many.” The only cross this traveler knows is The Old Rugged Cross on which the unknown Savior died nearly 2,000 years ago. But a cross for himself has no meaning, for the Broad way is the way of ease, without a burden or a load to bear. This man will have nothing to do with such a handicap.

        But, it takes clear vision to detect the thin, narrow Gate, which is the reason “few find it.” It also requires determination and devotion to God to embark on the narrow trail which leads to Life, because it is the hard way, on which the pilgrims are exposed to many impediments: trials, persecution, troubles, hardships and tribulation, all of which are seasoned with innumerable joys, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. These few are those who are acquainted with sorrow and self-denial and their cross is a constant companion. They neither expect nor ask for a life of ease, prosperity, wealth, nor physical comfort; they understand that the goal is well worth the traveling. Hardship, persecution and sacrifice only contribute to their determination to complete the journey victoriously and joyously.

        These, the few, are seldom found in huge religious gatherings. They are unmoved by the emotional extravagance of a super-charged atmosphere. More than likely, they can be met at a store-front assembly, or in a home-gathering service, either their own or someone else’s. Their ambition is not to bask in the limelight of popularity or public esteem, but rather to know Christ more intimately, to sit in His presence, to share His divine effulgence and glory.

        They may not be fluent in eschatology and theological conceptualism, but they know where they are headed and they know the One who is leading them there. They have taken the time to make their calling and election sure. Their relationship with their Master is founded upon love, true love - commitment, devotion, adoration, admiration - and not upon fear of consequence.

        The “many” resent being told of obligations, costs, discipline, correction, commandments, laws to be observed. It is all free with no requisites. The unpardonable sin, they say, is in not accepting the free gift which is offered, thus rejecting forgiveness of sins.

        To be sure, the “few” do not earn, neither do they deserve salvation. Their greatest concern is that they may be “accepted of him” (II Cor. 5:9). Or, as Bro. Peter noted it: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34,35).

        The question for us today is not, “Have we accepted Him as Savior?”, but, “has He accepted us?” If He has, you have found the narrow gate and are treading upon the narrow way which leads unto life everlasting. You can expect many adversities, trials, tests, hardships and tribulation. But you can enjoy the most wonderful peace and contentment available to mankind, because He has faithfully promised that He will be with you in every perplexity and time of trouble. And you have the blessed assurance that you are not alone on your heavenward journey. There are a few others (comparatively speaking) who are pressing on the upward way, also, and they are always ready and willing to help bear your load when it becomes too heavy.

        So keep pressing on, fellow soldier: let nothing dissuade, discourage, or trouble you. 1 You are in good Hands, for the Captain Himself will lead you unto fountains of living waters where there is total rest from every care.

 

 

 

 

PEACE ON EARTH

Curtis Dickinson

        The angels’ message, “Peace on earth,” has a hollow ring for many people today. How can one find peace in a world torn by violence, hate and persecution?

        This has been the century of bloodshed and persecution of Christians. The world systems may be in their last violent struggle for survival so that even God Himself is fiercely challenged at every level. So, whatever happened to “peace on earth?”

        Jesus said, “I came not to bring peace, but a sword,” explaining that to take up His cause would create serious opposition. He warned the disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Clearly, the promise of peace was not intended to mean peace between good and evil, right and wrong, or the kind of peace that is sought at the “peace conferences” between heads of states, as there has been no such peace in the past 2,000 years.

        Still, Jesus promised us peace. “My peace I give you, not as the world gives give I unto you” (John 14:27). He said, “In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). By overcoming the world He did not silence His foes nor defeat them in physical combat, nor did He come to peaceful terms with them. We know the outcome of that conflict, but Jesus went through the thick of the battle with perfect peace, peace with God, His Father, and peace in His own mind and heart. The same peace He has promised you and me.

Obstacles To Peace

        One will find peace by striving for it and searching for it. It will not come by setting conditions for it: “When I get these bills paid, then I can be at peace.” “When the children are all through college…When this surgery is behind me…” Problems will never vanish as long as we live in this sin-filled world. Jesus was at peace in the midst of the tumult and in the face of hostile enemies. He promises to give us that peace under similar circumstances.

        A great hindrance to peace is our thinking that it is up to us to secure a peaceful future for the world. It may be pride in our self-importance that makes many think that God will fail if they don’t straighten things out! Millions of people go through life under a great cloud of anxiety about what the future holds for the world and for the nation. There are plenty of profiteering prophets who are stoking these anxieties with their doomsday books. How many letters do you receive each week warning of the collapse of Social Security or Medicare, or of some other calamity, unless you send a generous donation?

        This is not to cast doubt on worthy benevolent organizations which are helping people in need. If they are doing a good work, they will not use the pressure of fear to raise funds, and one may find peace and joy in supporting them. As for the evil that is always a threat to each generation, we are to listen to David: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers. Neither be envious against them that work unrighteousness. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in Jehovah and do good: Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness. Delight thyself also in Jehovah; and he will give thee the desires of thy heart” (Psalm 37:1-4). Let it go. God will bring evil to judgment and reward the righteous. Believe it and quit worrying.

        Another hindrance to peace is the recent politically correct doctrine that we must see that everyone treats us fairly. If you insist on always being treated fairly you will never be at peace. Bitterness begins to grow when we dwell on the fact that we have been cheated, or that what has happened is not fair.

        Rather than suggesting that we expect fair treatment, Jesus said to turn the other cheek, and if the adversary goes to court and “take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also” (Matt. 5:39,40). That’s not fair, but it’s the way of peace as practiced by Jesus. How others treat us is not a responsibility that rests on us; our responsibility is to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. If they do not act accordingly, let them bear their own responsibility for their actions. To deny self is to make up my mind once and for all that how people treat me has nothing to do with how I trust and obey God. Thus, an obstacle to peace is removed.

        The greatest obstacle to peace is an ambivalent purpose. One who lives for pleasure, wealth and recognition by the world will find no peace with God, for “the friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). True peace is enmity against the world: one cannot serve both God and mammon, and unless one’s purpose is fixed on doing the will of God, there will be no peace.

The Peace Christ Gives

        Jesus, who has been given all authority in heaven and earth, has the power to control humanity to make conflict impossible, but in doing so He would defeat God’s purpose to have man in His own image. On the other hand, there are plenty of world rulers who are eager to exercise such control and establish a world government (under the United Nations) and an ironclad “peace on earth,” even if it requires world war to do it. While such plans are now in progress, they can only result in frustration and rebellion, rather than peace. Man will never find genuine peace by the use of force.

        The peace Jesus gives does not depend on one’s power to bend things to his own control, but it is one’s possession in spite of outer conflicts. It is not earned or gained by power, but is given.

        It is peace with God, because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by His death on the cross “having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20). Therefore, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:10,11).

        There can be no personal peace and no peace between nations until man is reconciled to God through Christ.

        It is peace on earth, not peace with the enemies of God in the world, but peace with the created order of things. One who lives in violation of the natural order, as God created it, will find conflict, but when he lives in humble submission to God’s law, he will find peace.

It is peace with all God’s servants. Paul tells us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). We are not brethren because we all think alike and agree on all things, but because we are children of God. When we have surrendered all to Him, we have no personal agenda nor party to defend and can be at peace with our brethren.

        It is peace concerning the future. Jesus taught that this life is temporal, as are all earthly things, but that He will raise us from death and give us immortality and glory in the last day. Whatever the tribulations we face in the world, God’s purpose will ultimately be fulfilled, giving us everlasting joy and peace.

        Anxious fears, which rob us of peace, are not signs of cowardice or failure, but the normal reactions to things which threaten. The way to overcome such anxiety is to set your mind on God and His will, to get your mind off of yourself and upon God, His holiness, His mercy, His love, His grace, His power, His purpose, and His presence. He is able to see you through all the days of uncertainty or illness or hardship, and He is able to “fill you with joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:13).

        Peace will never come to the God-forsaking world. The angel’s message as given in the King James Bible, “On earth peace, good will toward men,” is a mistranslation. The original Greek reads: “on earth peace among men of good will.” People of good will are those who believe, repent, and submit to Christ the Savior in humble obedience. It is then that one can claim the promise as stated by Paul in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

 

 

 

 

SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE

Charles Woodard

        “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1).

        Complete salvation is not a one-time experience! The new birth, as a natural birth, is a one-time experience. However, complete salvation is a process of continuance from justification to redemption to sanctification by persistent perseverance.

        The perpetuity of a believer's salvation rests in continuation in His Word, the Holy Bible.

        “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31).

        This is introduced by the conditional preposition “if.” If believers continue in His Word, they are true disciples. Christians must “keep seeking the things above.”

        Beware of these who would lead you into carnal activities. Healing and deliverance ministries founded on emotion and excitement come from below, not above! Fun and games, silly skits and a party atmosphere are not the environment for “seeking the things above.”

        In the next verse of Colossians, chapter 3, we are told how to seek the things above:

        “Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).

        The “mind” is the intellect of the brain. Our mental faculties control our actions. Believers who devote themselves to God and His Word will continue to seek things above.

        Carnal Christians look to earthly things to satisfy their desires. Whole Ministries and Fellowships are built on material concepts.

        Counterfeit Christianity wants to be healthy, happy and hilarious, hence the impediment of the “laughing revival” and such nonsense!

        Now we have seen the “How” to seek things above. Let us look at the “Way” of seeking things above:

        “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

        Why seek things above? Because we are dead to worldly things. In Galatians 6:14, Paul makes it plain that he was crucified with Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is a type of our resurrection. In type, we must die with Him to rise with Him.

        Again, this is not a one-time experience. In I Cor. 15:31, Paul said, “I die daily.” We, too, must die daily by continuing to seek those spiritual things above.

        “Self” must be crucified daily! I Corinthians 15:44 tells us there is a natural body and a spiritual body. The psychological food for the natural body is “me, myself and I.” God's Word, the Holy Bible, is food for the spiritual body!

        Christian fellowship and testimonies do not replace the Word of God. Church programs and telecommunication cannot supersede personal, individual reading and study of Scripture. WHY? Because the Holy Spirit, not men, is the author of the Book.

        The Spirit of God can only nourish the spiritual body! This happens as we continue to seek those things above and abandon, renounce and forsake the things below.

 

 

 

 

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Mary C. Woodard

        “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Phil. 1:29).

        If there is one thing above all else that the human mind and body resists, it is suffering. We recoil from it. We try to avoid it by every means possible. We let our minds dwell for a moment on the sufferings of Jesus and we, somehow, think it unfair that we should suffer, forgetting the words of Jesus Himself, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matt. 10:24).

        Jesus drank of the Cup of Suffering and was baptized with the Baptism of Death, and He has left us these words, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (I Peter 2:21).

        As Jesus went to the cross, His human nature cried out, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” but His spirit prayed, “…nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).

        If we would embrace the Way of the Cross, we must also accept the Cup of Suffering. Let us see, then, what the Way of the Cross requires of us.

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Self Denial. It is no longer what we want, but what God wants for us. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). Our cross is His cross. Jesus did the will of the Father (John 4:34), and so must we if we are His. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50).

        The disciples forsook all to follow Him (Matt. 19:27). The apostle Paul suffered the loss of all things (Phil. 3:8). The rich young man went away sorrowful, because he was not willing to give up his many possessions (Matt. 19:22).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Persecution. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). The sinless Son of God suffered at the hands of the mob. “And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him…and the servants did strike him with the palm of their hands…and they clothed him with purple, and plaited a crown of thorns, and put it about his head…and they smote him on the head with a reed…and led him out to crucify him” (Mark 14:65; 15:17-20). Space would not permit the accounts of the persecutions of the prophets of whom the world is not worthy (Heb. 11:35-38), nor of the cruel treatment and death of the apostles, nor of the accounts of men and women through the ages who have given their lives for the sake of the gospel. Around the world, today, there are many who are partaking of the Cup of Suffering because they have chosen the Way of the Cross rather than deny their Lord. To these I would remind you of the words of your Lord, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11,12).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Reproach. It is a savour of death to those that are lost (II Cor. 2:15,16). If you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God (James 4:4). If you go the Way of the Cross, do not expect to be popular. You will be misunderstood. You will be treated as the filth of the world, and as the off-scouring of all things (I Cor. 4:13). But “…being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; Being defamed, we entreat…” (I Cor. 4:12,13). “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (I Peter 4:14).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Physical Suffering. Jesus, “…though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). How much more you and me? The apostle Paul had a “thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet” him, but the Lord said unto him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” “Most gladly therefore,” said the apostle, “will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12:7,8). We must be made weak in ourselves so that we can be made strong in Him. Yes, as many as He loves, He rebukes and chastens (Rev. 3:19), and this chastening sometimes takes the form of a thorn in the flesh, a physical suffering, something which drives us to our knees and causes us to rely on Him and His strength.

        Physical suffering is coming to many at the hands of the enemies of God today, and we pray that God will give them grace to boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:6).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Offense. Just before Jesus went to the Cross, He told the disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night” (Matt. 26:31). Many of His disciples walked no more with Him because He told them, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53,66). The world will accept a crossless, bloodless religion. If you accept the Way of the Cross, you will not only offend those who are lost, you will offend the professors of Christianity who choose to remain lukewarm and carnal rather than, like Moses, to suffer affliction with the people of God (Heb. 11:25).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Forsaking. “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). It is a forsaking of sin (Prov. 28:13). It is a forsaking of one's own self, of one's way of life, of one's ambitions. It is a forsaking of the world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (I John 2:15).

        The Way of the Cross is a Way of Aloneness. As Jesus surrendered to His captors, his friends “all forsook him, and fled” (Mark 14:50). At the Most crucial point in your life, you may find yourself alone, bereft of all human help. True saints of God often find themselves without the fellowship and understanding of those about them. There's only room for two on the pathway of the cross, but the One who walks with you has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).

        Yes, the Way of the Cross is a Way of Self Denial, Persecution, Reproach, Physical Suffering, Offense, Forsaking, Aloneness and much more. It is the way that Jesus walked, and it is the way we must walk. Whatever comes your way, rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name (Acts 5:41). Amid the suffering there will be joy, there will be peace, you will have meat to eat that others know not of (John 4:10-32).

        Accept your cross and carry it proudly, unashamedly. “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19).

        “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (II Timothy 2:12).

 

 

 

 

OFFERING THANKS TO GOD

Alfred King

        As I am writing this, Thanks Giving is approaching and while I am writing for the December issue of the TOT, I am presently thinking about the many things for which we (and me in particular) have to be thankful for. It is hard to think over my life and not see God’s wonderful hand always working in my behalf, even in times when I never realized it. Those of us who have lived in the USA are truly blessed with freedoms and opportunities very few throughout history have experienced. And this is especially true for those of us who have been around for the past seventy years, or since the end of WWII.

        Since that time, we have been blessed with prosperity beyond imagination and with the opportunities offered, the world has changed tremendously, and with that change our lives have been made much easier. All the modern inventions, technologies, conveniences, and accessibility to practically anything we need have made life more comfortable and sustaining. I, personally, feel I have lived in probably the best time in history as far as conveniences go, and also lived in the country with the most freedoms and luxuries the world has ever seen.

        Scripture speaks often about those who are rich being in danger of trusting in their riches rather than in God and, when I consider the luxuries I personally have, in many ways I am richer in material things than those who were rich in the past. Today, we have central heat and air-conditioning, even in our means of transportation so that we travel very comfortably. Food and clothing is readily available, and even medical treatment is not beyond our reach, and it is a field of expertise unknown in the past. Men are living longer today because of the medical advancements that have come over the past century. I recently had cataract surgery and it was nothing at all. There was no pain and my vision immediately improved. I remember just fifty years ago of friends who had this surgery and they wore patches over their eyes for a week or two, were in extreme pain, and ended up wearing glasses that were so thick that they were referred to as coke-bottle glasses. I am bless that I did not have to experience that to improve my eyesight.

        So, I write all this to encourage everyone to count your blessings and then give God praise and thanks, for it is He who showers blessings upon mankind. Of course, the greatest blessing any man, woman, or child can receive is God’s salvation, offered to men when He sent His only begotten Son into the world to bear the sins of the world. Truly, this is the greatest blessing a man can receive in this life and God has offered it to all who will put their faith and trust in Him. To think that God would so love man that He would pay such a tremendous price to rescue him from eternal death and an eternal hell is truly a blessing beyond words or description. Not only has He rescued us from hell, but He has promised us eternal life with Him in the glories of His heavenly kingdom. So great is this gift that no words can describe nor can pen write, nor can human mind conceive of the glories that await those who have found in Jesus Christ that wondrous salvation that God offers and holds out to men; the riches of their heavenly state staggers the imagination.

        There is no way that one can express the praise that God is worthy of, but we read in the book of Revelation that there is in heaven, even today, those heavenly beings who are continually worshipping and praising God for who He is and what He is. One day we will be there joining in that chorus of praise to our Savior. The cry of those who anticipate that day is: Come soon, Lord Jesus.

        As the year 2022 comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported the ministry of People of the Living God and, especially at this time, those who have contributed to the publication of “The Testimony of Truth” each month. Every gift has been a blessing to us, and I personally want to let you know how much we appreciate the support of many of our readers. The encouragement offered by those who have contacted us has been an inspiration to continue the monthly publication. For all these things we are blessed by you and God. Above all, we appreciate the prayers of those who pray for this ministry. While we have not met most of you personally, we hope to one day meet each one when we are all gathered together in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. May God continue to pour out His blessings upon His sheep and may many who are lost come to the knowledge of Jesus’ saving grace. Our prayer is that each of you will have a prosperous new year and that you will grow stronger in Christ and that His love will fill every heart to stand faithful in the days ahead.

 

 

 

 

FOLLOW JESUS

Randall Walton

        The gospels relate several incidents when Jesus, having noted certain men, ordered them to follow Him. He was, of course, referring to their accompanying Him on foot wherever He was going. “Go with me,” He may have meant, or “fall in behind me and go where I go.” The implication was that He was mobile, in motion, traveling, or on a journey, and they were to go, also.

        It seems a little odd that a total stranger would compel (or at least invite) others to leave their businesses, posts of duty, or their occupations to become virtual vagabonds with no promise of food, shelter nor clothing, and no guarantee of a salary or remuneration for the support of family and/or spouses. The mandate was strong and clear: “follow me!”

        The records show that this journey lasted for over three years and included a degree of infamy, calumny, and scorn, as well as public rejection from the general populace, precisely because the man they followed was a religious fanatic with a revolutionary message which shook the foundation of the official church system of the day. To say that this man was different is to beggar the meaning of the word.

        Here was the One who repeatedly exposed the miscreant priests, who was Himself ineligible for the priesthood because He was not a Levite. He publicly warned people about the recognized religious leaders who were so corrupt that God had stripped them of their claims of divine authority and heavenly sanction. In one short sentence He dispelled any question of their legitimacy by stating: “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).

        This was no way to “win friends and influence people,” and was most certainly not conducive to drawing huge crowds. Multiplying loaves and fishes is one thing, but blasting an entire denomination is quite another!

        It should be plain by now that following along behind (or beside) Jesus is not equivalent to an approval of His words and deeds. Many of His disciples were offended by His teachings and no longer followed Him physically (John 6:60-66). To follow Jesus involves more, much more, than tracing His steps along the dusty roads of Judea and Galilee.

        In fact, we cannot literally retrace His footsteps today, and it is well that we cannot. If such a thing were possible, imagine the commercial exploitation that would be underway. People would pay great sums to be able to say, “I saw His actual footprint in the sand!”

        Following Jesus involves two basic actions, both of which are concrete, viable responses of the soul: 1) a firm conviction of the authority of Jesus and His words; solid belief that He had the “words of eternal life,” that His teachings were and are relevant, apt, and applicable, that He was all that He claimed to be: God the Father's Son, the I AM, the Door into the sheepfold, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the King of Zion, the Alpha and Omega, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Judge of all mankind, the reflection of the Father.

        2). obedience to His words, His sayings, His teachings, His commandments. Anyone who rejects His commands is not a follower of Him! “If ye love me, KEEP my commandments” (John 14:15).

        People spend great amounts of money to visit the so-called holy land with the idea that such a trip will somehow enhance their spirituality or will add something to their walk with God, yet they will not consider the possibility of following the teachings of the Master.

        It is no doubt entertaining, emotional, and nostalgic to amble along the Via Dolorosa and to visit the stables in Bethlehem, but such activities do not, cannot, add one iota of spiritual depth to a person. People somehow confuses physical experience with spiritual growth and the two are not mutually contributive. Pilgrimages to anywhere do not make the traveler(s) more holy.

Hearing And Doing

        Jesus made an important distinction between hearing and doing, and hearing but doing not (Matt. 7:24). Hearing is a very crucial issue, for it is the pivotal point upon which eternal values are decided. A person who does not “hear” is not held responsible for what he has not been made aware of. But once a person has heard the word, he is held accountable for it, and rightly so. He is brought face-to-face with the reality of truth, and he must make a decision: to obey, or disregard!

        That individual who has been exposed to the awesome words of the King of glory is not only blessed with this holy encounter, he is also challenged to act upon it, and act he will, either in favor of by obeying, or in rejection of by disobeying.

        “He that followeth me,” Jesus said, “shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). The other side of this coin is that those who do not follow Him shall walk in darkness.

        This business, then, of following Jesus is a most serious consideration. It is the deciding factor which separates the sheep from the goats. On the one hand are the sheep who are walking in the light of obedience to their Shepherd's voice. On the other hand are the goats who, having heard the Shepherd speak, pay little or no attention to Him. They decide that what He said does not apply to them, or that His message is not important or relevant, or that He understands that they are mere goats and will make appropriate allowances for them. After all, they reason, we have to face up to the issues of modern life with all its problems and perplexities, and He understands. But He, the Shepherd, assigns them to a destiny with the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

        Following Jesus, then, is simply a matter of knowing what He expects from His people, then doing it. It really is not a theological concept, or a deep and thought-provoking exegetical analysis of profound analogies and allegories; it boils down to “whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,” versus “every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not” (Matt. 7:24-28).

        Great denominations have been built upon the disagreement of the nature of the Godhead, or the proper mode of water baptism, or whether speaking in tongues was a foreign language or a heavenly tongue, or whether there will be a secret rapture. We heard of a split over the question of buttons versus hooks-and-eyes, and of how many angels can sit on the head of a straight pin! The insincerity of these questions(?) only shows how inane mankind can become. Opinions about those items do not change people's lives nor cause them to follow Jesus more circumspectly. Generally speaking, they fall into the class of mental gymnastics. This is not to say that the truth about such things is not important; it is. However, they do not affect one's ability to follow Jesus Christ.

Follow Him – How?

        One of the meanings of “follow” is to imitate, or mimic, which merely means to do the same as the person whom one is following. To follow Jesus in this manner, then, requires that we observe His life, His habits, His conduct, His behavior and attitudes, then conform ourselves to that pattern! What a task, you say! Impossible, unreasonable, outrageous!

        Yes, such a thing is impossible, normally, but we refer to the words of Paul in Phil. 4:13 where he says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We readily admit that such an order is too much for our inept carnal natures to perform, but God has not demanded that we attempt this goal without help from above. Even so, it requires supreme effort on our part; first of all, a willing heart to pursue the goal with total commitment and abandon.

        1) He always did His Father's will.

        “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his works” (John 4:34).

        “because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30b).

        “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

        It is evident that the Father's will was the very apex of the life of Jesus Christ while He was here upon this earth. He had no selfish ambitions, no personal pursuits, no desires or designs which were not in total agreement with His Father's. He was SENT by the Father; therefore, everything in life was governed by that fact.

        The Father chose the family in which Jesus would be raised; the Father chose the village in which He should grow; the Father chose His occupation; the Father set the time for His ministry to begin and end, and also determined the method of His murder. Jesus was so engrossed in the Father's will that He disclaimed His own mother, Mary, and His brothers in deference to “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 12:47-50).

        If that isn't a far-out statement, we've never heard one! True relatives, Jesus declares, are made up of those who have committed themselves to doing the Father's will.

        Jesus stated that the words He spoke and the works He did were the Father's will (John 14:49,50). So devoted was He to the Father's will that He declared: “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9,10). This dedication was, of course, voluntary on His part. He was not forced to do the Father's bidding: He did it because He loved the Father and desired to please Him (John 8:28,29; 17:24; 14:31). This devotion was most vividly demonstrated when He faced the impending death on the cross and cried out: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

        Now, let us examine ourselves in the light of Jesus' living example to see how well we are following Him in regard to the Father's will:

        Are you living how the Father wants you to?
        Are you living where the Father wants you to?
        Are you working where the Father wants you to?
        Is your occupation (job, career, position, e.g.) according to the Father's will?
        Is the Father's will the paramount issue in your life?
        Are you daily concerned about doing His will?
        Is doing His will more important to you than pleasing relatives or friends?

        2) Imitating His Pathos.

        One of the outstanding characteristics of Jesus' ministry was His compassion and mercy for the victims of sin, disease and poverty. He was not sentimental in the least, but He was deeply moved by people's sufferings whatever the cause(s) might be.

        “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18,19).

        To the disciples of John the Baptist, He replied: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matt. 11:4,5).

        And to the woman who was caught in adultery, He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). He didn't condone sin, He forgave. He didn't condemn or judge the woman but exhorted her to cease sinning. Both He and her captors could legally have stoned her, but His heart was moved by her piteous condition, and mercy reached out and touched her life.

        “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The compassion which flowed from His heart was efficacious for every need of mankind. The four gospels are filled with examples of mercy and tenderness for the down-and-outer, the sinner, the crippled, sick, miserable. The motivating factor was love, pure, unselfish love for the creatures of earth.

        There are many people who give to various organizations for the benefit of the poor and indigent, but these acts are not always the result of love: “though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing” (I Cor. 13:3). So, it is possible for acts of benevolence to be done with the wrong motive, and while such acts may benefit those for whom they were intended, the donor receives neither recompense nor reward. Ministries must be moved by love, true love, love which feels the pain which others bear, love which is driven by empathy toward fellow humans, which seeks to serve.

        This was the force at work behind the acts of Jesus. His ministry was motivated by unmatched love for the lost, the deprived, the sick and suffering. We are commanded to do as He did and be as He was: “imitate me,” He says. While we may not possess the power to heal as He did, we can have the same compassion for those who suffer and, thus, our prayers for the sick become more fruitful: “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

        3) Imitating His Devotion.

        This word, devotion, denotes a setting apart of one's self, time, energy and possessions for a special purpose or service. Jesus was most definitely devoted to His great mission as the Lamb of God, the details of which were most evident during His 3½ years' ministry.

        We know very little about His early years, but He certainly was not a person of great means. He and His disciples shared a common purse, or bag, which was supervised by Judas Iscariot. It appears that His personal possessions consisted of the clothes which He wore, which weren't exactly “designer clothes.” He stated that “the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). His purpose in living was summed up in His divine mission, and everything else in life was subservient to that call.

        He preached strongly against personal wealth and spoke at length about the “deceitfulness of riches.” He warned that it was next to impossible for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23,24). The carnal heart becomes firmly attached to possessions: the more possessions, the more attachment.

        It wasn't that He was promoting poverty as a way of life; He was merely showing the proper perspective for a follower to have toward material things. He stated it very clearly in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” And He specified what He meant by “these things.” In verse 32 He said, “your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” There is a difference, He implied, between needs and wants.

        The twentieth century has seen a glut of merchandise which appeals to peoples' wants. Here in the United States, stores are filled from floor to 16 foot high ceilings with stuff which has little true value. People will buy this junk to satisfy their cravings for more possessions. They purchase credit cards to make it easier to acquire and accumulate things they do not need and which become idols to them. Idolatry is a way of life to thousands of professing Christians.

        Jesus placed much emphasis on the value of spiritual attainment. It was much better, He averred, to be poor and to possess the kingdom of God than to be rich and miss the kingdom. This was not only His teaching; this was how He lived. He demonstrated the kind of attitude toward material things that His followers should have: be satisfied when your needs are provided.

        How can we Christians follow/imitate Jesus in regard to devotion to God and spiritual values? Society has taught its members that success and well-being are measured in dollars and financial acumen: the greater the wealth, the greater the person. This erroneous idea has destroyed millions of deluded people. Jesus had it right when He declared: “a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

        Since this is so, every Christian should adopt the same attitude toward things. This is not easy to do, for sure, but it is necessary if we are going to follow Jesus Christ. We must have the same mind (attitude) toward earthly things which He did. They are only valuable to us insofar as they contribute to our spiritual well-being and further our service and devotion to God; otherwise they are detrimental and a hindrance to progress and growth.

        4) Imitating His Dedication To Truth.

        “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). It is difficult to make a proper assessment of the value of truth and what it consists of.

        Truth stands in contradistinction to lying, false ideas, erroneous teachings, and vain philosophies.

        Lying is purposely telling untruths; it is usually done with the object of deceiving someone, or to hide the truth regarding some issue. A person may have a wrong impression or an incorrect opinion and not be guilty of lying. Lying is deliberate cover-up (John 8:44).

        But, truth is reality, actuality, fact genuineness. Jesus not only taught truth, He said that He is the truth (John 14:6). He was genuine, sterling and peerless. What He claimed, He was. What He said, was so. He never got caught up in fables and fairy tales. He did not resort to tricks of the religious trade, but worked tirelessly to set mankind free from satanic influence, religious superstition, vain liturgy, pompous practices and false teachings.

        He did not teach that rabbits lay multi-colored eggs, nor that people should observe His birthday, nor that He would secretly snatch certain chosen people off the earth before a time of great tribulation, nor that He would return to Jerusalem to set up a 1,000 year earthly, political kingdom, nor that man descended from the animals. There are many things being taught in the “Christian” religion today which He did not teach and that we, His followers, should not teach.

        For example, He taught that He had not come to destroy the law (or the prophets) but to keep or fulfill it (Matt. 5:17-19). Nearly the entire Christian faith insists that He did, indeed, do away with the law. Who, may we ask, is lying in this case? Certainly not Jesus!

        It is a sad state of affairs that the average seminary is little more than a hotbed of arrogant error where theory is perpetuated at the expense of obliterating the truth. It is truth, only truth, which makes man free.

        Every child of God should make the embracing of pure, solid truth a major thrust of his spiritual life. Mind you, such will not make a person popular, nor more highly regarded by others, but it can and will make him free: free from error, free from supposition, free from the bondage of ignorance, free from the philosophies of carnal men, free to walk hand-in-hand with the Lord Jesus.

        Let us imitate Jesus by our acceptance of divine truth irrespective of man's opinions and ideas. It may cost you friends, family and finances, but in the end you will be greatly rewarded, for you will receive the approval of the Lord Himself, and who would want to miss that?

 

 

 

 

BELIEVEISM

George Scullin

        “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thine house.” These words were spoken by Paul to his jailer who had just asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

        This is a very popular phrase in our day, and these words are very true, but they do not men what the religious hucksters would have us think. They tell us to “just believe, it's so easy.” What do they mean by “ believe”? That Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin, healed the sick, worked miracles, and died on the cross to save men from hell…, is that believing? Is that what we need to believe in order to be saved? In Mark 1:24 the devils said, “I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God,” but that didn't save them. They didn't just believe; they KNEW and confessed that He was the Holy One of God, but they were still devils. Many people are being made to think that believing is nothing more than recognizing the fact that Jesus lived and died as the Son of God. James doesn't think much of such believing, for he teaches that works of obedience prove the kind of faith or belief that an individual has. James 2:23 says, “Abraham believed God…,” and in Genesis 26:5, God shows how Abraham believed, or rather, how he proved his belief.

        On file is a publication by a couple of hucksters on the West Coast. It contains a coupon to be filled in by an applicant for salvation. It contains these words, “I now believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and that He died to save me from my sins, and I now receive Him as my Saviour by signing my name on this line _____.” How easy they make the way seem. Fifty or sixty years ago people were not led to think that they could live as they please and serve the Lord, too. They were taught the strait gate and the narrow way. Today's “gospel” (so-called) teaches that the broad way leads to life and the narrow way is for fanatics. Men are taught that they can live as they please as long as their names are on the church books and their dues are paid. Such is this new gospel of “believism.” The disciples and apostles were not saved by any such nonsense. They were saved by obedience to Jesus Christ. Jesus gave commands to men; the first being “Repent” (Matt. 4:17). To repent is to turnabout, to change. John the Baptist told those churchmen to “bring forth fruit meet for repentance” (Matthew 3).

        Friends, the walk with God is a walk of obedience from the beginning to end. From John the Baptist to Revelation the men of God taught obedience to God as the requirement for salvation…not just believe and you have it made. Believeism permits man to remain in sin. Jesus Christ came to save us FROM our sins. He did not come to save us IN our sins as believeism teaches.

        Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). In the four gospels there are over seventy different commands given by Jesus for God's people to obey. He also said, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) The true believer is a doer of God's will –- one who practices obedience to God's commands. The practice of believeism permits man to do his own will, to live as he pleases, to continue in sin. He may profess to love God, but Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21). He may claim to be a friend of Jesus, but Jesus said, “Ye are my friends if ye DO whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). “Be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).