“O God, where are You when I need You?”

Each day, millions pray. In China, Japan, Southeast Asia, prayers are recited in Buddhist temples, Shintoist pagodas; prayer wheels turn in dozens of Nepalese streams. In Europe, Central and South America; across the United States and Canada, millions pray each day. What happens to all those prayers? Where do they go? Does anyone hear them? Are very many of them answered? Do you pray? Are your prayers answered?

During World War II, Catholic mothers in Germany and France prayed that their sons would be granted safety, and victory. Priests recited petitions in the same language (Latin) to the same God, asking for the same thing. But, during the German advance into France, those prayers went up to God from opposing sides. Wasn’t this a little confusing to God?

Each Sunday, tens of millions go to church; tens of millions more see religious programs on television. They pray. They engage in responsive readings; millions recite the “Lord’s Prayer” each week. How many of those prayers are answered—really answered, in a definitive, perhaps even a spectacular way?

What about you? Do you pray? Are your prayers answered in a tangible, positive way, leaving absolutely no doubt in your mind?

Sometimes, failing to receive an answer to prayer can prove frustrating, especially to children. For example, a young lad named Peter once wrote a letter to God. You’ve probably seen samples of such letters—national magazines have published them, and they have been the subject of humorous comment on TV talk shows. Little Peter had been taught about God. He believed God was good, kind—that He was all-powerful, and could do anything. He saw his parents pray at home and in church. Then, disaster struck. When his teacher asked him to write a letter to God about it, Peter wrote, “Dear God: My brother Tommy was hit by a car. My mother prayed to you—and so did I. We begged you to let him live, but you wouldn’t. He was only two years old, so he couldn’t have sinned that bad. You didn’t have to punish him that way … you could have saved my little brother, but you let him die. You broke my mother’s heart. How can I love you, God?”

Peter’s letter is exactly the way millions feel. Why does God hide Himself? Why is He so unreal to us? Why does God allow wars, sickness and disease, rape, murder, tragedy, accidents, death? For centuries, man has sought the answers to these painful questions. Where is God when you’re really in pain?

Philosophers and theologians alike fail to provide us with ready answers. As a newspaper columnist wrote, “Suffering of innocent people is something we cannot understand.”

“Surely, His ways are mysterious, and past finding out,” intones the theologian, quoting scripture.

Pastors have sought for generations to comfort the bereaved at funerals—trying to provide some insight into the bitter question WHY? Why this or that person—why now? And why that way? Why are children born malformed, deaf, blind, dumb? Why crib death? Are there any answers, or must we remain forever helplessly asking “why”?

We humans tend to blame God for our failures and congratulate ourselves for our successes. When we’re comfortable, successful, happy, we have no special need of God. But when we’re sick, frightened, poverty-stricken, or experiencing the loss of a loved one—we cry out to Him in anguish of soul. We think of so many ways in which it all seems so unfair, somehow.

One man professed to be an atheist because he couldn’t rationalize suffering and the goodness of an all-powerful God. He wrote, “If I had the power to fashion the universe and remake it nearer my heart’s desire, there would be no blind, no deaf, no dumb; there would be no crippled, and each child born would live free of disease and possess a mentality capable of withstanding all the rebuffs of life. There would be no deaths by accident. There would be no earthquakes, cyclones or tornadoes. Unless and until such a condition comes to pass, and we may live free from disease, sorrow and suffering, there is no God in this vast universe worthy of homage.” At first glance, this may sound like a logical enough position. But on second thought, what causes blindness, deafness, dumbness, endemic disease? What causes accidents—why do tragedies occur? The atheist didn’t consider the element of free moral agency. Since there is a God, and God has created we human beings with a mind; with free choice, He has given us personal control over our own lives.

Man has, in too many cases, invited God out of his life. God has cooperated. God does not produce “Monday-morning automobiles” (cars produced by assembly-line workers with Monday-morning hangovers) with twenty-five easily discernible factory defects—careless, hung-over workmen do. God does not force mothers to turn their attention to morning sitcoms or soaps while their children stray from the yard to dash into the street after a rolling ball; God does not produce careless, indifferent, slipshod workmanship in products which often betray their users. God is not the One who causes accidents—men are. Yet, when accidents occur, man is quick to call out to God for relief—sometimes bitterly indicting a seemingly uncaring Deity for aloofness.

But is it God who is aloof, or we humans who ignore Him, and His will in our lives? Would you want God interfering in your personal life on a daily basis? Think about it.

Are you a smoker? I smoked for about 8 years, and it was a terrible ordeal to quit. Finally, with God’s help, and by discontinuing some associations; quitting the bowling league, staying away from situations where I was tempted to smoke, I broke the two-pack-a-day habit I had during my years in the Navy. I quit in 1953. That was about two years before Dr. Cuyler Hammond released his report showing the correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer—and years before the explosion of filter tips, longer cigarettes, and all the advertisements about the amount of “tar” contained in each. Today, cigarette advertising is banned from television; a clear warning is required on each ad, or package, saying smoking causes lung cancer.

If you smoke, would you like God to prevent it?

Try to imagine the scene, if someone who smoked was not necessarily an atheist, but not devoutly religious, either. Perhaps our smoker believes God may exist, perhaps goes to church a time or two each year, watches a religious TV program now and then; thinks he has all the bases covered.

But, one day, he tries to reach for his shirt pocket to extract a cigarette. Suddenly, his hand is stopped short of his shirt by some invisible, powerful force. He is shocked, wondering if he is having seizure, a cramp, an epileptic fit. He tries with the other hand. Just as he is about to extract the pack, his arm is stopped in mid-air by a powerful, unseen force! He seizes the arm with his other hand, tries to guide it to his shirt pocket. Again, some compelling force stops him from reaching his cigarettes! He calls to a friend, and asks him to reach his cigarettes. His friend tries it—only to be stopped by some sort of seizure. They look at each other in dumbfounded amazement. The smoker bends over, shakes his shirt, and the cigarettes fall to the floor. He tries to reach them. He can’t. Some power prevents it. Sobbing in desperation, bewildered by what’s happening, he asks his friend to light up, and blow smoke in his face. The friend lights a cigarette, and tries to blow smoke into his face. But the smoke simply disappears as it comes out of his mouth! Our smoker, bewildered, frightened, angry, frustrated, throws himself to the ground in a mindless frenzy! Finally, he is carried to a padded cell, placed in a straight-jacket, so he can’t hurt himself, or commit suicide!

Unrealistic? Not when you think about it. Apply the same scene to a developing affair between a married person and a friend. What if their attempts at physical contact were somehow barred by the intervention of a powerful force—an invisible presence?

What if God prevented you from doing anything which was harmful to you? It might give you better health, prolong your life, prevent accidents—but it would also remove your free moral agency; it would take away volition; make you into a robot, an automaton. God is not interested in producing robots—He is interested in reproducing after His own kind; the family of God! And He wants the development of righteous, holy character, not the bovine acquiescence of a pre-programmed robot. The atheist was wrong. The very fact that we have free moral agency; the fact that God allows us to choose between good and evil proves there is a God.

Accidents, tragedies are heart-breaking, difficult to understand. But God does not cause them—He merely fails to prevent them, in the same fashion that He does not intrude into our lives in a forceful sense; does not prevent us from doing things that are harmful to us.

Is there a God? If SO, can you prove it? Is God a personal Being, who hears and answers prayers? Of course, such a question is deserving of a book, or several of them. But yes, there is a God, and you can prove it. How? By the laws of science; by history, archaeology, by logic, and by the Bible.

There are seven proofs God exists. Each is deserving of a book to thoroughly explain, but in brief, they are:

(1) CREATION. Matter exists. The universe exists. It is. Our own galaxy, and our vast solar system, with our “orange dwarf star,” the sun, positioned precisely where it needs to be to provide stored energy for our fossil fuels, daylight, our seasons; all this is but an infinitesimal part of what is actually there—the universe. Our own galaxy is said to consist of two hundred billion, billion stars—many of them much larger than our sun. The good, green earth is said to be like one speck of sand in all the seashores on earth, in comparison to its place in our galaxy. No one doubts the universe, we merely stand in awe of it—heart-stopping, mind-boggling, breathtaking awe. Matter exists. We exist. Creation—the incredible array of interdependent, symbiotic life forms—it is. Your logical mind demands a Creator for a creation.

(2) LAW. And what of the forces that act upon creation? What of the laws of thermodynamics; of the conservation of energy? What of the laws which uphold the nuclear reaction in our sun which gives us heat and light? Think of the irrevocable, immutable, absolute laws of physics, chemistry, of the physical sciences. What of the cleavage properties of minerals? The laws governing how they form, or are broken down? What of gravity, the magnetic field of earth, inertia? Science must work within such laws to invent, design, and produce the wondrous machines that can make life so abundant. Aerodynamics is a case in point. Aircraft are designed so as to overcome drag by devices such as jet or propeller-driven engines and airfoils, or wings, which produce lift. Bricks can’t fly—but airplanes can. Science must comply with existing laws, finding efficient means to obey principles and laws which are immutable, unchangeable, from creation. When those laws are broken, we suffer. Break the laws, and they break us. Get in harmony with them, obey them, and they bless us. Immutable laws— the laws governing the properties of creation itself—these require a great LAWGIVER.

(3) LIFE. You and I are alive. Billions of creatures, from man to huge blue whales; from micro-organisms to yellowfin tuna; from tiny shrews to elephants, we all share something we call “life.” Life is a true cycle. It is broken only by death, and its only beginning is through pre-existing life of the same kind.

Evolutionary thought proposes that randomness produced life. Do explosions in print shops produce dictionaries and encyclopedias? Think of the myriad forms of life—plant, animal, fish, bird, insect, micro-bacterial life. Does your logical mind believe life came from the not-living? No. It demands that life comes from life—just as you came from your parents, and they from their parents, and so on. Life requires a Great Life-giver! All life must come from a life SOURCE!

(4) DESIGN. Look around you at the incredible design of our universe, our solar system, the earth, and all of matter, all life forms.

Think of your own body; your mind. Our marvelously constructed bodies are an absolute miracle of design. Is anything superior, in the known universe, to the human hand? With it, we can perform fantastic feats; from concert violinist to skillful surgeon, from champion boxer to astronaut; from architect to artist—the human hand is a marvel of engineering design.

What of the eye? Have you ever bothered to renew the smorgasbord of knowledge you received during your years of formal education—to reacquaint yourself with the functions of your own body? Study an encyclopedia on the human eye; study our muscular, digestive, nervous, skeletal, circulatory systems. Study articles on our vital organs; glands that affect our growth, reproduction, physical health, digestion, mental ability. Think of the feather of a bird, the wing of a fly; the symbiotic relationship between blue whales and plankton, or krill. What of the food chain—the microorganisms that produce humus; soil that grows herbs, vegetables, and fruit; our digestive systems with bacteria that help us utilize our sustaining foods; our blood stream that carries life-giving oxygen and foods to our cells?

Wherever you look in nature, you see harmonious, intricate, breathtaking design. Such marvels of design require a Great DESIGNER! Intricate design is not the result of blind accident, of happenstance, any more than a Boeing 747 could grow like fungus in a field.

(5) SUSTAINER. What of the continual functioning of the universe itself? What of the controlled forces we see at work; from gravity to erosion—the exact place of the continental masses in relationship to each other; the earth’s tectonic plates, great oceans with their powerful currents, polar ice caps, weather systems?

What keeps it all going? Why is it so dependable, so constant? Again, laws. The sustaining of such laws—the seemingly guaranteed, aeons-long, continuous operation of forces and energies which, if they acted in capricious disarray, would eradicate man from this earth, are instead dependable, lawful, constantly predictable. Laws governing the conservation of energy; the continual intake of carbon 14 into living things from the sun; the gradual breakdown of radioactive carbon into lead; the deposition of rocks and forming of strata; the daily tides; the earth’s annual journey around the sun, the moon’s monthly journey around the earth; our weather and seasons—such laws operate like a finely-tuned Swiss watch. Why? How? All this requires a sustaining force—a Great SUSTAINER!

(6) FULFILLED PROPHECY. Another great proof God exists is found through studying the many examples of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible. There were many, many prophecies which portrayed the coming of Christ as Messiah; many others which were fulfilled in specific things He said, or did. The Gospels relate these—continual references are made as to how Christ fulfilled this or that prophecy, spoken or written centuries before.

Are you a doubter? Study the 11th chapter of Daniel with Rawlinson’s Ancient History and other profane sources to hand. In this remarkable chapter, you will see generations of kings; the Seleucidae of Syria and the lesser Pharoahs of Egypt, the Ptolmeys, locked in bitter struggle over Palestine. Hundreds of years before the fact, God’s prophet Daniel was given dreams and visions of what was to become history. He foretold the rise and fall of the ancient Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, the Greco-Macedonian Empire; the death of Alexander the Great and the division of his empire by his four generals; the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

There are dozens of other examples. Theological libraries are filled with books attesting to the remarkable accuracy of the Prophets of old. Great city states and empires have come and gone—their emergence and destruction clearly set down in Bible prophecy centuries before it happened. Ancient Tyre, Sidon, Babylon, Rome all are mentioned, and in some cases, in fine detail. Bible prophecy and history cannot be separated.

Will skeptics deny history and archaeology? The monuments and ancient buildings of the near east and Mediterranean world bear silent testimony to many pages of fulfilled Bible prophecy. Rome itself was predicted to rise and fall—and experience successive revivals down into our time. Christ was the greatest of all prophets—and who can deny that He prophesied of our own time, when He warned that if God did not cut short the days, a time would come when all human life could be erased from the earth?

He said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [alive], but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21, 22). Clearly, Jesus spoke of a time in which the destruction of humanity would finally become possible—our time, now. Yet, He gives us glorious hope in the face of awesome weapons of destruction—for He reaffirms that God does exist; that He will cut short the days of global chaos; that He will intervene to save mankind from himself.

Not only are there hundreds of fulfilled prophecies of the past; those which are absolutely, corroborated by history and the spade of the archaeologist, but there are prophecies which apply to our modern times, as well. Fulfilled prophecy is surely a proof God exists.

(7) ANSWERED PRAYER. Now we come to the most personal proof—a proof God exists that is absolute, incontrovertible, to those of us who have received dramatic, undeniable answers to prayer. Atheists and skeptics will of course deny answered prayer, placing it on the level of a placebo. Arguing about the historical accounts concerning Christ’s miracles is useless, for there are no living witnesses, and, in any case, the skeptic would discount them as unreliable. But to the believer—the individual who has experienced, seen, felt, known the answer to prayer in a vivid, undeniable, personal experience, the existence of a loving, powerful God is clearly proved. I know God answers prayers—I know, by the same token, that there are many prayers He seems not to answer—or perhaps defers to answer.

A few days after I had begun writing this book, my wife and I enjoyed a visit from my sister, Beverly. She brought with her from California two letters she had received from an old friend of the family—letters written by my mother. One had been written from Astoria, Oregon, in 1927, almost three years before I was born. In it, my mother told of an absolutely dumbfounding, inspiring, miraculous answer to prayer. I read the letter for the first time never having known of its existence before, only the morning before writing these lines. My mother related how she had been bitten on the arm by an Airedale dog; a rather serious wound. She went to the doctor, who cleansed and bandaged it.

But a couple of days later, she drove a thorn from a rose bush deep into her little finger. It became infected, and she developed blood poisoning. Then, while under the doctor’s care for this development, she contracted a severe case of laryngitis. She wrote to her friend that it had developed into what they commonly called “quinsy” at that time. The doctor lanced the infection several times, but it refused to heal up. She had a terrible fever, but she finally seemed to stabilize.

The doctor visited her several times. Finally, he said he would have to open the finger to scrape the bone, in order to rid her of the infection. Then came the day when my mother’s jaw locked shut. She could neither eat nor drink; her body weight, a normal 102 or so, had gone down to 84! She was very near death, and the doctor plainly indicated such, not venturing how long she had. But a neighbor lady asked my father and my mother’s sister, my aunt Bertha, if the family believed in “divine healing,” or answers to prayer. My mother had been reared a Methodist, my father a Quaker. They said yes, they did. The neighbor lady told them of a “Christian family” who she said had “great faith,” and who believed in prayer. She asked if it would be all right if they came over to pray for my mother.

My mom’s letter, written so long ago, related how the man and his wife, together with the neighbor lady, joined my father and mother at Mom’s bedside. He began to pray in a quiet, sober manner, almost as if in conversation with God, reminding God of His promises to heal—quoting scriptures which confirmed those promises. He pulled out a small vial of olive oil and anointed her forehead with oil, laying his hands on her head. Then, he thanked God for having heard and answered the prayer—even before he got up from his knees! He sounded sure, as if they already had received the answer!

My mom’s letter related how she immediately sat up; her jaw loosened, she was able to drink something. Though it was winter, she got out of bed, put on her coat, and walked outside with my father, to take a brief stroll under the stars, thanking God. She had been confined to bed for so long, she felt she had to get up, and go outside.

She related how the large abscesses in her throat, swollen hugely both inside and out, had suddenly disappeared! The pain and fever left! She was immediately strengthened! She went back into the house, went to sleep—the first good, full night’s sleep in weeks, slept until almost noon the next day, and then got up and went about her household chores again. The doctor was dumbfounded—he openly admitted it was a miracle! A day or so later, my father’s brother and his wife came to see my mother, expecting to find her near death.

When she walked out of the house to meet their car in the driveway, they looked as if they had seen a ghost, my mother wrote.

I had heard my parents describe this miraculous healing many times while I was growing up—but to see my mother’s own handwriting in a letter she had written to a dear friend in Iowa; a letter which had been in the possession of her friend’s family all these years—a letter I didn’t know existed—and to read it now, well, I can’t help wondering if God wanted me to put it into this book as a source of inspiration and encouragement to many who desperately need an answer to prayer.

Miracles do happen. Prayers are answered. I know. I wouldn’t be here if they weren’t! I literally owe my life to my mother’s neighbor friends; to my mother’s faith, and to God.

But there is much more to it than mere need; even desperate need. There are certain conditions to prayer–some requirements on our part.

Few seem to understand that God has made answered prayer conditional. That is, there are keys to answered prayer; formulas. In this book, using the outline of the famous “ Lord’s Prayer,” we shall see what those formulas are. By the time you have finished this book, you will understand, as never before, why so many prayers seem to go unanswered–and you will understand how to receive an answer to your own personal, heartfelt prayers to God.

Hopefully, you will never again cry out, “O God, where are You when I need You?”

CHAPTER TWO

“Our Father…”

So begins the Lord’s Prayer. Hundreds of millions can recite it in many different languages. But what does it mean to all those people? What does it mean to you?

The title naturally conveys a familiar relationship. We are told to address the God to Whom Jesus referred as His “Father” as our Father. Why? Why not “mother” (as some may prefer), or “God,” or “Great One in the sky”? Why did Jesus tell us to use a family title, the name connoting fatherhood?

First, because God is the Author of all life. He is the ultimate Creator, even though Jesus Christ was the Divine Spokesman, or the Executive Member of the Godhead who did the creating—the Logos (Greek for “Spokesman”) who issued the command, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:14; John 1:3). Therefore, God is the Father of all humankind. He is not “Big Brother,” or some anonymous “First Cause,” but the actual Progenitor of the human race. As we have seen, God is the Lifegiver of us all.

To most of us, our own fathers come immediately to mind when using the name “father.” Probably, in a subliminal way, our own fathers—the kind of persons they are, or were—subtly color our impressions of just Who, or What we are addressing in heaven.

Unfortunately, only about fifteen percent of American families are a true family unit, with parents and children in traditional roles. Millions of ill-prepared single parents strive to rear children (fifty percent of which are illegitimate) without a father figure in the home. As our society drifts further from the God ordained family unit—the building block of any normal society—millions of new citizens have no true father role model; have no prior knowledge of their father. Millions do not know who he was.

But for those who do, and they still represent the vast majority, it is quite possible that he shaped their concepts about God. What kind of a father is (or was) he? Was he mild-mannered, easy-going, tender; brusque, harsh, remote; a stern disciplinarian or a kind, loving provider? Unfortunately, there are no schools for training fathers; no “licenses” issued to those qualifying, nor certificates of merit, nor degrees. Today, children beget children; fathers are too often teenagers.

Since the impact of the title “father” is largely shaped by our own experiences, it is quite logical that most of us tend to grope for concepts which will help us understand this Divine Being, this hidden, unseen God who wishes to be called “Father,” in terms of our own human experiences. Either our own father, or some older role model; a father in the neighborhood, an uncle, a grandfather, may have shaped our concepts of what “father” is all about.

A father, of course, is merely any male who has procreated (produced children), whether a boy of sixteen, or a successful businessman of forty.

Has there ever lived a son or daughter who has not found, in at least some corner of their heart, a place for love of father? To be sure, there are far fewer “good” fathers than there should be, but because he is life-giver, the one who engendered us, gave us our being, we carry to our graves some of his hereditary traits; his genes, some of his physical characteristics like our height, weight, color and texture of skin, color of hair and eyes, perhaps even marked talents and abilities. We are a mixed copy of our fathers and mothers. No matter what, we are here because of them.

When we refer to God as our Father, we are not only addressing Him as our spiritual Life-giver; we are also ascribing to Him the title of Beginner, or Author of all life—ours included. “Father” is a common title.

Francis Asbury is known as the “Father of American Methodism,” while Aeschylus is called the “Father of Greek Tragedy.” Americans know George Washington as the “Father of his country,” and doctors refer to Hippocrates as the “Father of medicine.” The father of the constitution? James Madison.

Your father was somebody. Once, when Margaret had apparently been voicing some negative feelings, her father wrote to her, “Your dad will never be reckoned among the great. But you can be sure he did his level best and gave all he had to his country. There is an epitaph in Boothill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona, which reads, ‘Here lies Jack Williams; he done his damndest. What more can a person do?’ ” (Harry Truman).

Fathers can be anybody. At least, to other people. They can be alcoholics, drug-abusers, rapists, arsonists, murderers; they can be doctors, dentists, lawyers, politicians, truck drivers, busboys, senators, farmers, aeronautical engineers, pilots, assembly-line workers, clerks, technicians, deliverymen, scientists, morticians, astronauts, or generals.

Fathers can be kind, generous, humorous; or bitter, pecuniary, selfish. They can be gifted with a sense of humor, or possessed of a violent, uncontrollable temper. They can be good husbands, providers, protectors, breadwinners—or lazy, indolent, selfish failures. They can be ebullient, positive, happy, fulfilled; or self-pitying, despairing, resentful. They can be an amazingly complex mixture of many of the above.

Did your father beat you, molest you, abuse you? Did he love you, comfort you, encourage you? Did he never speak a single word against your mother in your hearing—or did he beat your mother, spitting epithets at her in the hearing of the children?

Theodore Hesburgh wrote, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” How true. Any person fortunate enough to have been brought up by loving, traditional parents in proper roles will have a fairly easy time understanding God’s words about the Heavenly Father of us all; understanding God as a kind, loving, merciful Father who wants only the best for us.

The ancient Latin proverb, “Like father, like son,” acknowledges the powerful influences of heredity and environment on each of us, the significant influence of our human fathers in our lives . Like many old adages and sayings (where there’s smoke, there’s fire), it is not necessarily true, but it has a measure of truth. One quotation that is especially poignant for me is that of Samuel Johnson in his book Boswell’s Life, (July 14th, 1763), who said, “There must always be a struggle between a father and son, while one aims at power and the other at independence.”

Often, famous men have had famous fathers. A well-known case in point is that of General Douglas MacArthur whose father, military governor of the Philippines, was a role model for him. Douglas was to write, “By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder—infinitely prouder—to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven…’ ”

Harry S. Truman said, “My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of the President of the United States!”

Other famous people have observed and commented on the relationship each had to his sire. Mozart, as a boy, was quoted as saying, “Directly after God in heaven comes Papa, “ and Margaret Trumbell wrote, “No man is responsible for his father. That is entirely his mother’s affair.”

With his usual acid wit, the well-known pessimist and satyrist, Sir Bertrand Russell, in Why I am not a Christian, wrote, “The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one particularly if he plays golf, which he usually does.”

In a lighter vein, fathers are said to be “men who don’t practice birth control,” and “a man who has just missed being a bachelor by an heir.” Perhaps it was a disillusioned father who said of Father’s Day, “It’s the day to remember the forgotten man,” or “a holiday when your son lets you wear your new necktie first.”

My father was 38 years of age when I was born. A generation apart, we had virtually no father-son relationship such as those commonly enjoyed by most youngsters growing up. We never went camping, hunting, fishing together. By the time I was old enough to do such things, my father was middle-aged, and totally involved in the demanding, time-consuming work of his ministry. He was in the home only for eating and sleeping; then, off to the office, or another trip somewhere.

Strongly authoritarian, he ruled his family with an iron hand. How well my two sisters and I remember the state of impending doom when our mother would say, “I’m going to tell your father about this when he gets home.” The result was two very badly frightened little boys, my brother Dick and I, sweating out the hours until the punishment our mother was unwilling to dish out was systematically administered by our father.

I really don’t remember the first time I ever heard the Lord’s Prayer, or read it, for I was very young. However, the name “father” never failed to convey to my mind impressions of what “father” meant from my own childhood experiences. Not that all dad did was punish. Far from it.

There was also the Dad who would give us a quarter now and then, or who, sometimes grumpily, would heat the water to a boil, pour it over and into the radiator on our old Graham, manage to start the balky, cold engine during one of Oregon’s typical winter mornings, and take us to school after Mom had allowed us to oversleep.

I can remember the rough wool of his jacket, the faint smell of his after-shave when we climbed into his lap on a rare occasion to enjoy a session of his reading the Sunday funnies to us. How well I remember the night I awoke, screaming, after a neighbor boy had told me a gruesome story about a haunted hospital; an ancient, deserted old building with bloody knives, rusty needles, syringes, operating tables, and ghosts in the elevators. I was probably about five. My screams brought my parents, who promptly told me to come and get into the bed with them. There, I was safe—and if my father’s faint snoring kept me awake, it was not because it bothered me. Quite the contrary, it reassured me. Dad could deal with the knives and ghosts even if he had to haul out the ping pong paddle. Frightened little boys and girls always know everything will be all right if they are near their mother and father.

My human father was a man of great vision, passion, emotion; driving energy to succeed. He was generous to a fault—giving more of material things than of himself, but anxious to see the glow of enjoyment on the faces of his family or friends when he bestowed some gift or favor. Perhaps one of his worst faults was that of instantly leaping to wrong conclusions, failing to give his children (or anyone else) the benefit of the doubt. He was easily convinced by first impressions.

How many of us, whose fathers and mothers are no longer living, have so earnestly wished we could have expressed more love, more concern, more honor to them while they were alive? By the same token, what parent, if he loses a child, has not wished he could have expressed himself more deeply while the child was alive? Since we are seemingly so shy, so embarrassed, so remote in our feelings toward our human parents or children, can we learn the all-important lesson, before it is everlastingly too late, that God does not hear those who ignore Him in their daily lives? Do you thrive on love? Believe it or not, so does God! God wants our love! He wants our worship, our deep appreciation, our adoration! He does not respond to aloofness, to inattention!

Obviously, if you pray at all, you want God’s undivided attention! Fine. When does He have YOURS? The Bible shows us that once-in-a-while prayers—prayers only in times of emergency, prayers only a few times a year—are simply not heard.

Think of the following analogy: As a transmitter of prayer, you are a spiritual dynamo or a power source. However, like the incandescent lights in your home, you can only give out power as you receive it. As you know, electricity flows in a current. See the socket in the wall? Notice it has two holes in it, to establish both a positive and a negative contact so the current will flow in a continuous circuit. God is our Power source. When we are in constant touch with Him, we are imbued with spiritual power. Prayer is like a circuit. God gives us the spiritual power, and we communicate with Him on His “wave length,” called prayer.

Today, we enjoy a marvelous array of battery-operated mechanical devices, from portable telephones to tiny vacuum cleaners for our cars and boats. When we’re not using them, they are plugged in to a power source, or they finally run down and will not function. As a child of God, we need continual contact with Him, or we lose our spiritual energy, our spiritual power.

A desperate prayer every year or so has little chance of reception because the spiritual “batteries” that are operating the spiritual transmitter are too weak. Of course, we have to start someplace, so, even though terribly weak (from lack of prayer, lack of personal Bible study, lack of staying in communication with God), we can begin to pray again, and God will hear us. Naturally, analogies break down at some point, and the one above is not to suggest God will not hear us, even after years of lack of communication with Him, for He will! God will hear the most desperate sinner, if the sinner calls out to Him broken-heartedly, in deep contrition, and seeks contact with God. But “tired Christians” cannot expect dramatic answers to prayer if they seldom pray.

When you set yourself to really spend time with God in prayer, then you are “charging your spiritual batteries,” as surely as you are plugging in a portable electrical utensil of some kind to its power source. Those who pray only casually, perhaps once a year or so, should not really expect very dramatic results. Those who pray daily will probably tell you they get results— often!

Jesus said we are to address our Eternal Creator as if a personal Father, our Spiritual Progenitor. Is He listening? Is it difficult to talk to God? Is He so far away we can never hope to reach Him? Is prayer, after all, merely a spiritual placebo, a talisman we clutch in times of extremes? Or is God near enough that we can be heard?

Paul put it this way, “…for in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The Bible insists that God is not far from us, that His ears are always open to our cries, that His eyes are upon us. We are told He is but a prayer away—as instantly available, nay, more so, than our closest friend over the telephone.

Jesus Christ instructed us to pray that we and our loved ones be accounted worthy to receive special, divine protection during calamitous wars, droughts, famines, natural disasters.

Speaking of frightening world conditions, the times in which we live, He said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

Of course it is a temptation to pray only selfishly. I remember the story about a man who, receiving counseling about prayer from his minister, was told he had a bad case of the “ gimmes.” It seems his prayers largely consisted of “Please gimme this, gimme that, gimme the other thing.” He was praying to receive more than he was praying for others.

Paul said many of our prayers should be directed away from self; should be concerned with others around us, those who affect our lives. He said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty … I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

When we address God in heaven above as “Our Father,” we are coming to Him as His begotten child. Peter said we are to “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). When we receive God’s Holy Spirit, after repentance and baptism, we are begotten as His child! Read 1 Corinthians 12:13, together with Romans 8:9-15.

Christ was Son of God, called the “First-begotten” and the “Firstborn from the dead” (Romans 8:29). John, the disciple closest to Jesus in a personal sense, wrote of Him, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made … He was in the world … and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name … and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-14).

The genealogies or Matthew’s first and Luke’s fourth chapter clearly establish Christ as the Son of God. His life’s work, His preaching, His miracles, and especially the fact of His resurrection, add positive proof that He was who He said He was—the only begotten, the first begotten of God—the very Son of God.

Because Christ was God’s own Son, He referred to Him as “The Father.” As we shall see in the chapter concerning God’s names, He has many, many other titles, several names. Yet, when we pray, Christ says we must address Him as our spiritual Father.

Some doubt that Jesus was a real person. Many scoff at the miracles of Christ, say He could not have been the Son of God, and thus set aside the origins of the Christian religion. But men don’t willingly die for what they know to be an hoax, the perpetration of a myth. Yet, hundreds went to their deaths, refusing to disavow the miraculous things they had seen, refusing to impugn their personal experiences with Christ, choosing torture and death rather than defilement of Christian conscience.

That Jesus Christ lived, that He was an authentic historical figure, is one of the most substantiated facts in all history. His life, death, burial and resurrection are central to the entire concept of Christianity, and therefore to Western Civilization.

Jesus Christ was the First-begotten from the Father; the first time in all history a human being had been injected into the human race who was not merely human, but also of divine origins.

Christ wants us to pray to our Father in heaven in a child-like, innocent, humble, supplicatory manner; trusting, hopeful, anticipatory; devoid of pride or vanity. On one occasion, when the crowds surrounding Him attempted to present their little children to Him so that He might bless them, His disciples tried to discourage them, thinking Christ had no time for children. But He said, “Suffer [permit, be tolerant of] little children, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:13-14).

On another occasion, His disciples were arguing about who should be the greatest in His Kingdom, and “…Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me’ ” (Matthew 18:1-5).

Notice well those words! Christ said we must become converted, changed, begotten of God as His children before we may enter His Kingdom. It is only those who approach God as converted, meek, humble little children—In child-like trust and innocent wonder, who are truly communicating with God.

Vanity, selfishness, pride, evil motives, these cancel communication with God as surely as if one dialed the wrong frequency on a radio transmitter. God simply does not listen unless we approach Him as an humble, trusting little child.

This is a vitally important key to answered prayer. Are you converted? Have you truly repented of your sins? Have you asked God for forgiveness? As we shall see, this continual seeking for daily forgiveness for our shortcomings is the quintessential element in successful prayer.

Is it only a coincidence that the name for “father” is the first word in the Hebrew language and the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet? “Father” in Hebrew is Awb. In English, we must progress to the sixth letter and through hundreds of words, until we come to “father” in a dictionary. Not so in Hebrew. It is first. Number one.

The Bible stresses the absolute primacy of God the Father. Jesus reveals that He and His Father, though One in spirit, purpose and mind, are nevertheless in a Father-Son relationship.

Christ said repeatedly He spoke not of and for Himself, but insisted the Father gave Him the messages He delivered; that the Father was the Supreme authority. How can one expect an answer to prayer unless one acknowledges the absolute supremacy of God in one’s life? Can you go to God with urgent requests unless you trust in Him absolutely? Can you trust Him without knowing Him, knowing His purpose in your life? If you are truly converted, the most natural way to address God is to simply call out to Him as an heavenly Father.

Paul put it this way: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [Greek, “son-ship”], whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ ” (Romans 8:14-15).

No human being can enter into the Kingdom of God without prayer. None of us can fulfill his personal destiny, the purpose for our existence, without discovering, and communicating with, the true God. Prayer is as essential to us spiritually as eating and drinking is essential physically. It is our spiritual sustenance, our life’s blood. Without prayer—answered prayer, two-way communication with God—we will shrivel and die spiritually as surely as flowers and shrubs will die without water.

Jesus instructed us to pray. He intended that we voice our innermost feelings; our guilt, our hopes, dreams, desires; our most personal frustrations and anxieties—that we come clean with God, baring our souls in the deepest, most private communication.

He also intended that our opening words of prayer establish contact with God. As a jet pilot, I am very familiar with the Air Traffic Controller system. Without it, flight operations in the United States at altitudes above 18,000 feet are impossible. See those wispy contrails of moisture in the sky from a passing jet? Each one of them is in constant communication with a ground controller in some nearby sector who sits before a radar screen upon which is a blip of light which represents that airplane.

Beside that light is a computer-generated readout obtained from the flight plan and the transponder code from the airplane, identifying the aircraft by number, giving its altitude, its ground speed, and other information.

When the jet has progressed to the point that another radar sector can better receive its electronic image, the controller issues a command, “United heavy 456, contact Albuquerque Center on 134.45.” The pilot (or, usually, the co-pilot) acknowledges the command, switches radio frequencies, and says into the microphone, “Albuquerque Center, this is United 456, level three seven zero.” The center acknowledges, and the crew knows the controller on the ground has identified the blip on his screen, sees it in clear relationship to all the other electronic blips, has heard audible confirmation that the transponder readout of the jet’s altitude is accurate, and can keep all the aircraft in his sector at their assigned altitudes, at appropriate distances from each other, avoiding disastrous collisions and loss of life. Ham radio operators use the same thing—certain frequencies—to contact other ham operators half a world away.

Opening a prayer with the humble words “Our Father,” is like establishing positive communication with a controller. We must be on the right “wave length” to communicate with God. Actually, our own spiritual state; whether or not we are willing to obey God, whether we are asking according to His will; our personal life’s current condition—our attitude—these are as highly significant in communicating to God as having the right frequency on a VHF radio transmitter.

Isn’t it more than mildly curious that Jesus did not say we should immediately state our own names, addresses, and social security numbers when we pray? But He didn’t. God’s great mind is vastly superior to the minds of all humans and all computers combined. When we establish contact with God, He instantly knows exactly who we are, where we are, what we are doing. So the expression “Our Father” is far more than a mere “religious” title of some sort; it establishes a contact with God; it acknowledges that we are His offspring. It is the way He wants to be addressed.

Jesus Christ intends we learn all there is to know about our Heavenly Father; get to really KNOW Him, through the scriptures, and through Christ’s own examples. Jesus Christ was the “stamped impress,” or the exact similitude, the “carbon copy” of the Father.

The apostle Paul wrote to the scattered Jews of the Diaspora, “God, who at different times and in various manners spoke unto the patriarchs by the prophets, has in these later times spoken unto us by His Son, who He has appointed Heir of all things, by Whom He made the Universe. Who, being the very brightness of His glory, and the express image [exact replica] of the Father’s Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had, by Himself, purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3 paraphrased).

The Greek word for the word “image” is karakter, from which we take our English word of similar spelling, with all it conveys. Paul was inspired to say that Jesus Christ was an exact replica of the Father; that His personality, His character, were as if a mirror image. The more you learn about Christ, His teachings, examples; His lifestyle, His miracles, His tenderness, compassion; His anger at posturing religionists; His feelings toward the sin-sick and afflicted, the more you learn about the Father in Heaven.

His own disciples were curious about this “Father” of whom He so frequently spoke. Once, overcome with curiosity about Jesus’ frequent references to His Father, one of His disciples asked, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be sufficient for us.” But Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not known me, Phillip? He that has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9, paraphrased). Thus, we learn that God has “human” form, or, more to the point, that we human beings are made in the image of God.

The Bible says His eyes are upon those that seek after Him, speaks of His arm not being shortened that it cannot help in time of need, speaks of His face shining upon the just.

The Bible gives us many examples of men’s encounters with angels. They appear as human beings, as in the case of Christ’s appearance to Abraham, and the two angels who rescued Lot. So man-like did they appear that the citizens of perverted Sodom lusted after them (Genesis 19:1-5).

Moses, overcome by curiosity, asked God to show Himself. God declined, but, after insistent appeal, allowed Moses to see His hind parts as He passed by—saying, “No man can look on the face of God and live.” In the first chapter of Revelation, Christ is pictured in His resurrected glory as having head, torso, arms, legs, feet. God’s Word says He made man in the image of God, that God has the same shape and form as do we humans.

Unfortunately, the average person who recites the “Lord’s Prayer” may know little or nothing of Jesus’ examples, His teachings and instructions, His personality, His life’s record. He may not know, for example, that Christ was an ordinary-looking person, impossible to pick out of a crowd; that the Bible says He had “no form or comeliness, that when we see Him, we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2).

If we expect answers to prayer, we must come to know to Whom we are praying—really communicate with Him. How can we expect an answer to prayer if we are praying “vaguely,” as if in bluffed images? Can the jet pilot contact the ground controller by simply dialing any frequency out of the hundreds that are available? Can you call a friend by dialing random numbers on your telephone? Can you write to a relative by addressing your letter, “Dear Someone, somewhere”?

The key to answered prayer is to establish contact. Prayer is not empty ceremony, it is powerful, personal, private communication. It must be a two-way communication, or it is meaningless!

And remember, Jesus Christ didn’t say, “IF” you pray, He said, “WHEN” you pray! Jesus Christ set an example of prayer. He prayed for literally hours at a time, rising early in the morning to go to a private place, climbing a steep mountain to escape His disciples and the crowds, finding a place to be alone with His Heavenly Father in earnest prayer.

Christ prayed until He perspired with the effort, prayed with groans and cries, prayed aloud, or prayed within Himself, in His mind. The Gospels are replete with examples of His life of closeness to God—His life of prayer.

Christ made His prayers personal. On many an occasion, it was as if He interrupted a human conversation to speak to His Father in heaven.

At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus had listened to the frantic weeping of Mary, and all of Lazarus’ family and friends. Because of their anguish, and because of His own pain upon seeing their lack of faith (not because of a sense of “loss” or pain on his own part for He knew what was to happen), Jesus simply “…lifted up His eyes, and said, ‘Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.’ And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, ‘LAZARUS, COME FORTH’ and he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’ ” (John 11:41-44).

In this inspiring account, Jesus had been engaging in conversation with those surrounding Him; then, by merely shifting His gaze upward, began communicating with His heavenly Father.

A great miracle resulted.

Christ was in constant contact with God. He didn’t need to “work up” faith, or force Himself into a certain “mood” before talking with His Father. He merely addressed Him; began talking to HIM, instead of other humans nearby. He immediately established contact with God, because He thought of the specific Being with whom He had shared eternity; His mind was clear about what He meant when He addressed the “Father” in heaven; He was constantly in communication with Him through prayer, and not only prayer, but fasting with prayer. Christ met all the criteria for answered prayer; He was deeply imbued with the Spirit of God, He knew the Father, He was utterly selfless, and He was wholly trusting, faithful. Therefore, He was answered in dramatic, miraculous fashion. Christ understood how to pray.

God intends that we come to that same understanding; that we follow Christ’s example. God is not remote, aloof, impossible to know. On the contrary, He says He reveals Himself to us through His Son, through the pages of His written Word, so that we need not create a fantasy-figure, a vague, unreal “Someone” of our prayers, but pray to Him, personally!

To many of us, God has been like a “divinized” father-figure. Many speak of “The Man upstairs,” or “Somebody up there who likes me,” or the “Great Someone in the great somewhere. “Millions, of course, speak of God in slang and profane terms, cursing with His name, and that of Christ, as if in smug self-assurance there really is no God who stands behind His command, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Eternal thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” Is there one out of a thousand who thinks of the true God, the Father of Jesus Christ, in an informed, intelligent manner, as he prays?

Prayer, after all, is the most private conversation possible. It is time for confidentialities, secrets, confessions, admissions, requests, urgent, heartfelt appeals. It is more intimate than writing in a diary, more personal than sharing secrets with a dear friend. Therefore, it is necessary to know Who we are addressing—really KNOW.

The next time you pray, go through a mental check list. Have you repented of your sins? Are you approaching God as a little child? Do you envision Him as the perfect kind of Father; the absolutely ideal, kind, generous, loving, forgiving, father you may never have had? Do you see Him, at the same time, as of awesome power and ability, able to punish and exact the consequences for sin, as well as able to be generous with His gifts? Do you hold Him in wondrous AWE, having that Godly fear (not terror) that a small child might have for a father who not only loves, but disciplines?

God expects you to claim His promises, to come to Him as His loving, humble child. If you truly believe that He is your Spiritual Father; if you are as eager to confide in Him as you were to crawl into your father’s arms as a little child—then go to Him—let Him know how you feel— call Him “Father” each time you pray, for that way, you’ll always know He is listening!

After all, He says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matthew 7:7-11).

What father is it who has been able to refuse a trusting, sweet, obedient, loving child who comes with a petition? Are you a parent; a grandparent? Can you refuse your own flesh reasonable requests? Nonsense. No, we’re pretty much pushovers when our beloved children come to us in a moment of need. How many skinned knees, cut fingers, bruised lips have we tenderly dressed? How many times have we “kissed away the pain” of a crying child? How deeply have we hurt when our children are hurt, or sick? You cannot feel as deeply as your Heavenly Father feels toward you; human emotions simply fall short. So go ahead, claim God’s love, claim His promises. After all, God listens to His own kids first, doesn’t He?

CHAPTER THREE

“Who art in heaven…”

Where is heaven? An altogether familiar word to hundreds of millions, the term conjures visions of streets paved with gold, “heavenly mansions,” spirit beings playing on harps. Then there are the dozens of jokes about “St. Peter and the pearly gates.” Heaven is supposed to be the place where all our deceased loved ones, the “good” people, are.

She has a heavenly body—we had a heavenly time—it was a heavenly dish; we use the term in everyday conversation, and in slang. Many use heaven in supposedly mild forms of profanity, in spite of the fact that Jesus Christ said we are to “Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth, for it is God’s footstool” (Matthew 5:34-35).

All religions speak of some other-worldly paradise, whether it be a beautiful oasis, an island in the sky, or some utopian place of eternal bliss and happiness. Clearly, the Bible identifies “heaven” as the place of God’s throne. Yet, the word “place” is hardly applicable to our finite minds, for we are dealing with a spiritual realm of which we know only very little.

Most of us think of heaven as “up” there, somewhere. But “up” is a relative term, conveying the exact opposite meaning to Australians and Americans. The word “out” would be more correct. Out from our round sphere called earth in the midst of a solar system revolving about our orange dwarf star we call the sun.

Is the place of God’s heaven further away from earth than our own galaxy we call the Milky Way? Astronomers estimate there are two hundred billion, billion stars in our own galaxy, many of them larger than our sun. They tell us there are perhaps millions, or billions, of other galaxies.

To the layman, the most introductory study into the vastness of our universe is mind-boggling, incomprehensible. Yet, the God to Whom we pray is the Creator of all things, abides in heaven somewhere, and calls all those billions of stars and planets by name! Astronomers know where countless stars are. But where is heaven? No powerful telescopes, no space probes have captured the image of heaven on film, or transmitted it to earth stations on computer-enhanced images.

“I believe that Someone, in the great somewhere…” goes a line in the improperly named song, “I Believe.” (It should be called, “I Guess.”) The great “somewhere”? Is that where heaven is? Doesn’t the concept of heaven sound vastly far off, perhaps light years away – further than the other side of a black hole in the universe, when you stop to think about it?

When we were growing up, we were taught relative proportion. Remember the pictures and words about how far, how big, how long, how short, how tall? We studied pictures of mice and elephants together, of man and the great blue whale. We compared ants and the Statue of Liberty, an ocean liner and a locomotive, a bicycle and a 747. When Jesus gave us His outline for prayer, He said we should pray to our Father who is “in heaven”. He did not say this to confuse us, but rather to give us a sense of comparison, of proportion.

It is good for us to realize that we are on this good, green earth; that it is a round orb, endlessly making its annual journey about our sun; making its daily revolutions, the moon faithfully completing each monthly trip around our earth right on time. It is good for us to contemplate the vastness of our universe as a testimony to the work of the hands of God; a glittering, awesome, incomprehensible, mind boggling proof of His creation—His limitless power. The solar system and the universe give us a sense of proportion! Ever stand next to the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park? This forest giant dwarfs puny man—It contains enough wood to construct forty five room houses; was probably a little sprig of a tree just after the flood of Noah!

As the story goes, a lady aboard a 747 commented to her fellow passenger, “Oh, look at all those people down there—they look like ants!” To which her companion replied, “They are ants, my dear, we haven’t taken off yet. “ A flight in an airplane can give us a sense of proportion; we see huge buildings, whole cities, as but specks on the landscape. An ocean journey, especially if one encounters a storm, can quickly reduce us to our appropriate size. Prayer is like that. Jesus intended us to pray to our Father “who is in heaven,” as a reminder of proportion; of how GREAT is God, and how puny, how small, insignificant and temporal, is man.

However, most of us quickly lose this sense of proportion once outside astronomy class. Oh, we know, intellectually, that we live on a round earth. We know there are other human beings about 8,000 miles from us, straight through the planet. But we are not, in a daily sense, truly conscious of the fact. We speak of the sun “going down” or “coming up,” not of the earth rolling away from the sun, or rolling toward it. We awaken in the mornings utterly unaware we have just completed an 8,000 mile trip; that we are now about 8,000 miles distant from the place we were, relative to the stars, when we went to sleep.

We know astronomy has debunked the superstitions of the dark ages about a flat earth, that our daily weather satellites bring back incredibly detailed pictures of our entire planet, with the cloud formations clearly seen. Still, most of us live as if blissfully unaware of our temporal place on a planet that has been likened to but one grain of sand in all the seashores of earth in comparison to the number of celestial bodies in the Milky Way.

When we pray, Christ wants us to get our minds on God, on heaven—away from this earth with its mundane concerns. He wants us to project our thoughts out through space to the very place of God’s throne.

The Bible reveals there are three heavens. The first is identified as the mantle of air that cloaks the earth; our atmosphere.

The very first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning, God [Hebrew: Elohim] created the heaven and the earth. “ The Hebrew word for “heaven” is shameh (pronounced shaw-meh’), meaning “to be lofty,” as the sky, or “aloft.” It means the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as the higher part of our universe where the astral bodies revolve, and is also used to refer to the place of God’s throne.

The word has three different usages which are clear only from the context.

Notice a couple of examples: “And God called the firmament heaven” (Genesis 1:8). The Hebrew word “firmament” is raqiya which means “an expanse.” The Bible says, “And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…” (Genesis 1:14). Obviously, the word shameh, translated “heaven,” is not here referring to the place of God’s throne, but at once to our earth’s atmosphere and to space—the physical universe.

Notice the usage of the word in relationship to our atmosphere: “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven [shameh] were opened” (Genesis 7:11). There are many other examples. Genesis 8:3 speaks of the rain from heaven being restrained.

Most of the places in the Old Testament where the word heaven is used, it is shameh, and refers primarily to this earth’s atmosphere, or to our solar neighborhood. When Elijah was “taken up into heaven,” for example, he was transported into the sky, carried out of sight—not taken to the place of God’s throne.

This is obvious, in the light of Jesus’ positive statement, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13). Also, speaking of Elijah, Paul wrote, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises” (Hebrews 11:13).

Not understanding the three usages of the Hebrew word for heaven, many have assumed Elijah was taken to the place of God’s throne; instead, he was transported to some other place on earth, there to live out his days in peace. The Bible says he died “in faith, not having received the promises.”

Three different meanings are possible from the Hebrew shameh. The first is our atmosphere, the air surrounding our earth where the birds fly, clouds form, and aircraft navigate. Air is matter, of course, composed of various gases, and is very much a part of our earth. The second is our solar neighborhood and outer space. The third usage is the heaven of God’s throne.

In order to determine which is meant, one must discern by the context. Notice: “Then hear thou in heaven [Hebrew: shameh] thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest … hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place… “ (1 Kings 8:39-43). So prayed Solomon at the dedication of the temple. He obviously refers to God’s throne, yet uses the identical Hebrew word for heaven which was used in connection with rain falling, or the heaven where the stars are, which is shameh.

Notice what Paul wrote: “…I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man… how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter…” (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

The language Paul heard may well have been the “new language” God will give the entire earth at the establishment of His Kingdom. He says, “For then I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Eternal, to serve Him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9). The words were “unspeakable” in a beatific, holy sense.

In vision, Paul said he was given a glimpse of heaven itself. He called it paradise, said the language was unknown to him. He calls this paradise, this place of God’s throne, “the third heaven.” Paul was obviously acquainted with the other usages of the word shameh, or he would not have specified “the third heaven” when speaking of the heaven of God’s throne.

Our heavenly Father is a Spirit Being. Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).

God exists in another dimension from ours—the spirit world. The method of communication with God our Father, who is Spirit, must therefore be spiritual, not physical. Radio and television are physical. One could dial in any frequency known to man on powerful transmitters and never be heard of God. He is available only on spiritual wavelengths; He is instantly available when we meet those spiritual criteria. Addressing Him as our Father; acknowledging that He is in heaven—envisioning heaven; seeing, as clearly as we can, God’s surroundings, His majesty, His greatness; this is what Jesus intended.

We must communicate “in the spirit,” not via the air waves. God is composed of Spirit—he is not flesh and blood, and if we are to reach Him we must do so in a spiritual dimension—prayer!

Think of some physical analogies. Perhaps we perceive radio and television as mundane, since they are so commonplace. And yet, radio and television waves that travel through space can teach us a great deal about prayer.

Right now, wherever you are, you are being bombarded by hundreds, perhaps thousands of unheard waves of sound. You have only to turn on a portable transistor radio set to prove it. Your human ear cannot detect these sounds, for they are emitted on frequencies not available to normal human perception. Yet, they are constantly bombarding you, filling the room where you are sitting, the automobile in which you are riding. So it is with spiritual communication.

Somehow, we are able to project our thoughts through spiritual channels directly to God’s throne in heaven, directly to the great mind of God Himself, by being on the right spiritual wavelength.

Jesus did not use the analogy of radio to help us understand prayer. But if He had, He would probably have shown how each of us is like a powerful transmitter. He might have explained how we can select the right frequency with which to communicate our heartfelt thoughts to God—that conversion, baptism, the broken-hearted humility and contrition God desires in His children is prerequisite to establishing contact, as surely as selecting the correct frequency on a VHF radio.

Perhaps He might have shown how, when we are truly “in the Spirit”—that is, thinking spiritually, our minds attuned to the things of God, and not the mundane concerns of this life— we can communicate with God as surely as a space satellite can communicate with a ground station.

It is an apt analogy. The human brain is capable of much, much more than we suppose. Many of us operate at about ten percent of capacity. We all know about strange “psychic” powers, about ESP, and kinetic energy. We have marveled at true accounts of how, during World War II, a wife screamed out in anguish at the precise moment her husband was killed overseas; how twins seem to know when something wrong has occurred even though separated by a continent; how our minds are capable of some kind of little-understood “spiritual” kind of communication.

Never underestimate the power of our human minds. God says “there is a spirit in man” (Job 32:8; Proverbs 20:27; Romans 8:16), and reveals that when He begets us with His Spirit, He gives us a new kind of spiritual power, of spiritual perception. It is not difficult to “tune in” to God. He is instantly able to receive our signals. We have but to worship Him in spirit, ensuring we have followed His required criteria of repentance—then approach Him using the formula Christ gave, and, instantly, He is receiving—He is listening.

Light travels at the speed of 186,282 miles per second. Without light, we could not live. It is our source of energy from the sun, and light from the sun is the source of the stored energy of the earth—the fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, representing billions of creatures of the distant past whose lives, flora or fauna, depended upon energy from that same sun.

The visible light we see is but a fraction of the waves of energy with which science is familiar, however. Electromagnetic waves transmit energy in pulses, or waves, up to hundreds of miles long; or in short waves of less than a billionth of an inch.

A serious study of light—what it is, how it works, how it affects our lives—can give one a perception of how prayer might work. Though He does not say so directly, Jesus’ instructions on how we should pray seem to imply that each human mind is like a powerful transmitter, that we have only to tune in to the proper “wavelength”—in this case, a spiritual channel—and we can communicate with Almighty God in heaven. Of course, the properties of electromagnetic waves, from cosmic rays, gamma rays, X rays and ultraviolet rays to long wave radio frequencies are limited by our physical universe and known laws.

Is spiritual communication so limited? Or is there something beyond the properties of light and energy which belongs in another dimension from ours about which we know little?

Let’s take a look at that quotation from the apostle Paul again, in which he said to the doubting Areopagites, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needeth any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’ ” (Acts 17:24-28).

Notice Paul said God is “not far from every one of us,” that He is immediately available, approachable. When we pray to Him as our Father who is in heaven, we need not be intimidated by the vast distances of our universe. First, God’s heaven may be far closer to earth than we imagine; second, our human minds, together with God’s Holy Spirit, may be capable of communicating in an instant, in milliseconds, directly to the mind of God.

We ask, “What does heaven look like?” Is it really all golden streets, heavenly mansions, and pearly gates? Listen to this description: “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me: which said, ‘Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.’ And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

“And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine [sardonyx] stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts [Greek: zoon—”living creatures”] full of eyes before and behind” (Revelation 4:1-6). These living creatures are mentioned in greater detail in Ezekiel’s first and tenth chapter, where the throne of God was seen by God’s prophet Ezekiel.

He wrote, “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month… as I was among the captives by the river Chebar [Kabour], that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God…” Notice the description of God’s throne: “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire unfolding itself [Hebrew: “flashing continually”] and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

“Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass.

“And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

“Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

“As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle…” (Ezekiel 1:1-10).

One must read this entire chapter for the whole description—for it is fascinating. That there is no doubt it is a description of the throne of God, even though Ezekiel was not allowed to look upon God’s face, is evident from the text. He said, “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above it.

“And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

“As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Eternal. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spake” (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

The Bible identifies the “four living creatures” as cherubim, created angelic beings who are at God’s throne, and who apparently accompany Him wherever He goes. The true cherub of the Bible is hardly a tiny naked baby with a bow and arrow, called “Cupid.” Rather, cherubim appear as huge creatures, having manlike characteristics, plus the faces of oxen, eagles, and lions.

These “host of the heaven” were worshiped anciently. They can be seen in form as the Sphinx, guarding the tombs of ancient Pharaohs; as the “Winged Bulls of Bashan,” and the winged bulls guarding the palaces of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian kings (replicas are in the Louvre, and the British museum). God placed a cherub to guard the way to the tree of life after Adam was ejected from Eden, no doubt giving rise to pre-flood tales of monsters guarding fabulous treasures, remnants of which tales are found in Jack and the beanstalk, St. George and the dragon, and other myths wherein a dragon-like creature, breathing fire, guards priceless treasures.

Apparently, there are dissimilarities between “seraphim” and “cherubim,” as will be seen from careful comparisons of Isaiah’s sixth chapter with Ezekiel 1 and 10.

God’s throne was also seen in vision by the apostle John, who, on the Isle of Patmos, received the prophecies of the Apocalypse. He says, “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing’ ” (Revelation 5:11-12).

What? No St. Peter standing at the pearly gates; no angels playing on harps? Instead, a throne seen as set upon a translucent “sea of glass,” perhaps like quartz, or onyx; a brilliantly-hued, super-bright Personage on the throne. At His right hand, Jesus Christ in His glorified state. Before Him, twenty-four “elders,” or wise spiritual counselors. All about Him, countless angels. The picture of God’s throne is a stunning, awesome one—replete with multitudes of angelic beings singing in inspiring tones about God’s magnificence. When we pray, we should address God our Father in His heavenly setting letting our minds picture, as near as we can, the glorious magnificence of His throne. We should pray directly to Him.

John prophesied that God’s throne will eventually come to be on this earth! He wrote, “And He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb … the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; … for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).

There are more than five hundred references to heaven in the Bible. By studying descriptions of heaven, the details the Bible gives concerning the throne of God, we may indelibly impress upon our minds the true biblical picture of heaven, replacing the myth, superstition, and vague unrealities of the past. In doing so, we remove one more obstacle to prayer—open up one more important key of access to God.

The phrase, “Our Father, who art in heaven,” is meant to be much more than mere sanctimonious rote – it is an intelligent address, a method of communication with God. If you were to write to our president, you would probably address your letter, “The President of the United States, The White House, Washington, D.C.” Your mind would envision the stately mansion in which so many of our presidents have lived.

So it is with addressing your prayers to God. Jesus intended you retain in your mind a vivid picture of the setting in which God lives; that you see Him as if in a blaze of super-bright light, brighter than several suns, surrounded by billions of angels, with the twenty-four elders at His left hand and His right. Of supreme importance, we must realize that the risen Christ is sitting at the Father’s right hand, waiting for your prayers, eager to make daily intercession to His Father on your behalf.

The next time you pray, do so after looking up and reading for yourself several of the graphic descriptions of God’s heavenly throne. Pray intelligently, with understanding. When you do, expect answers to your prayers! Claim God’s promises boldly, as a trusting child goes to his father in perfect confidence his requests will be answered. Think on all you have learned in these few chapters, and use this knowledge!

CHAPTER FOUR

“Hallowed be Thy name…”

Do you know God’s name? Millions speak of “God,” either in prayer, or profanity. But “God” is not so much a name as it is a proper noun, connoting divinity. A dictionary definition is, “God, the Maker and Ruler of the universe; the One Supreme Being.” As we shall see, this definition, leaves much to be desired. Millions assume, when they speak of “God,” that they refer to the One Jesus called “Father,” the Creator, as they suppose, of the Old Testament; the giver of the Ten Commandments; the God with whom the ancients dealt. This is untrue. As we shall clearly see, the Bible demolishes cherished myths, casually assumed tradition. Much more is implied by the word “God” than we may have realized.

The first place in the Bible where we encounter the name “God” is in the very first verse of Genesis, the first chapter: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…”

The Hebrew word is Elohim, which occurs 2,700 times in the Bible. Its contextual connection is with the creation, and illustrates its primary meaning—that of the divine family of Beings who did the creating. Elohim is a plural word, and connotes more than one personage. Notice, “In the beginning was the Word [Greek: Logos, or “Spokesman”], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men … He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name,…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-14).

This unmistakable reference to Jesus Christ plainly says that He, the member of the divine family called the Logos, or the “Spokesman” of the Elohim (more than one—a duality of persons) did the creating! It also tells us something else rather startling to familiar traditions and concepts: That, when Jesus tells us to pray to “Our Father,” He is not telling us to address the God of whom we generally read in the Old Testament Scriptures! For, as shocking as it may appear, the Bible is replete with proof it was the One who became Christ who is the God of the Old Testament!

Notice further proof: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom He made the worlds [Greek: aion, or “ages”], Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Therefore, the one personage of the dual name for God, Elohim, we see in the first verse of the Bible is that same One who was to come into this world: Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Remember, Christ said, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:18).

Christ came to reveal the Father to the world for the first time. He said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him” (Matthew 11:27).

The name Elohim connotes the Son as very God; as the living Word, who did the creating. Notice, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of every creature; for by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:14-17).

Notice contextual proof that Elohim means more than one person:

“And God [Elohim] said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness…” (Genesis

1:26).

The next name for God we encounter is Jehovah which is a name used in covenant relationship between God and His creation. The name means, “The Ever-living One; the Eternal; the One who was, and is, and is to come.”

The name Jehovah is combined with ten other words in the Bible, forming ten different “titles” for the divine personages.

They are: (1) Jehovah-Jireh, meaning God will see, or provide. Read Genesis 22:14 for an example. (2) Jehovah-Ropheka, meaning the God who heals us. See Exodus 15:26. (3) Jehovah-Nissi, meaning Jehovah my Banner, or Shield. See Exodus 17:15. (4) Jehovah McKaddishkem, meaning the God who sanctifies you, or sets you apart as holy. See Leviticus 20:8. (5) Jehovah-Shalom, meaning the God who sends peace. See Judges 6:24. (6) Jehovah-Sabaoth, Jehovah of hosts, or multitudes. See 1 Samuel 1:3. (7) Jehovah-Zidkenu, meaning God our Righteousness. See Jeremiah 33:16. (8) Jehovah-Shammah, meaning God is there, emphasizing the nearness of God. See Ezekiel 48:35. (9) Jehovah-Elyon, meaning the Most High God. See Psalms 7:17. (10) Jehovah-Roi, meaning Jehovah my Shepherd. See Psalms 23:1.

It is fascinating to see how David was inspired to use seven of these names and titles for God in His inspiring 23rd Psalm! Read it in your own Bible. In verse 1 you will see number (1), above; in verse 2 Jehovah Shalom, or number (5) above; in verse 3, both number (7) and number (2) are used; and in verse 4, number (8); finally, in the fifth verse, both Jehovah-Nissi (3), and Jehovah-McKaddishkem (4) appear. Thus, in this moving Psalm, very possibly the one on Christ’s lips as He died (see the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, together with Psalms 22, which is obviously prophetic), seven names, or titles, for God appear!

There are many other names of God in the Bible: A few are, JAH, which is Jehovah in the special meaning of having become our Salvation; EL, which means “the Almighty, “ and ELOAH, which is God in connection with His will and purpose, used primarily as “the Living God,” in contrast to dead idols.

The word ADON is one of three additional titles, all of which are generally translated as “Lord,” but which convey special meanings. ADON is the Lord as Ruler in this earth; ADONAI, the Lord in relationship to this earth, and ADONIM means, generally, the Lord who rules His own.

Jesus Christ said we are to show honor, respect, even awe toward the name of God, by including in our prayer, “Hallowed be Thy Name.” He intended that we come to understand the many names and titles of both Himself and His Father; that we come to know the usage of His names and titles as they relate to various situations. For example, if one were to pray to God for healing, it would be altogether appropriate to remind God that one of His very names is Jehovah (or Yawveh) Ropheka, God our Healer.

Notice the annunciation concerning the name of Christ, “… and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The name “Jesus” is a proper name, coming from the Hebrew Joshua, or Yashua. The two are perfectly interchangeable. The Je prefix in the name as translated into English is indicative of the Hebrew Jah, or Yah, together with the remainder of the word, and means “God our Savior,” or “God who is our Salvation.”

In this same passage, Isaiah 7:14 is quoted. Notice the verse from Isaiah, “Therefore the Lord [Hebrew: Adonai]Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name ‘IMMANUEL.’ ” The name means the Lord as connected to, or in relationship with this earth, or “God with us.” It is so translated by Matthew, who writes, quoting Isaiah, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name IMMANUEL, which, being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

It is fascinating to note that never, not once, during any personal conversations when the disciples of Christ were addressing Him directly, did they call Him “Jesus.” Always, it was “Master,” or “Teacher,” or “Lord,” as titles of great respect. Though they were to use the name Jesus in later writings, they never called Him by that name face to face.

The Third Commandment says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

Obviously, using God’s name in profanity is a direct, flagrant violation of this command. Profanity turns God’s face away from us; it insults His divine integrity, deliberately hurls epithets, curses, vile utterances toward God. It is a capital crime exactly on a par with murder, according to God’s law, and will not go unpunished. God says the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Using God’s name in profanity is a sin, just as it is sinful to use His name in monotonous repetition.

Man has found many devious methods of “pretending” not to swear, yet using similar sounding words and names, or using the first letters of “Jesus Christ” in profanity. Millions say “Jeepers, Creepers,” or “Jeeze.” They say “Jumpin’ Jimminy,” or “Jehosaphat,” which includes a tide of God. The slang words “Gee Whiz” and “Judas’ Priest” are references, albeit supposedly “indirect,” to Jesus Christ. People say “For the land’s sake,” or even use the name of the capitol city of ancient Judah, “Jerusalem” as a byword. Why? One wonders whether rebellious men have searched the Bible to see what God says don’t do, and then proceeded to do it. Want an example? Notice the following passage from the famous Sermon on the Mount:

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, ‘Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:’ But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King … let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:33-37).

Yet, how commonplace are such expressions as “merciful heavens!” or “heavens, no!” How many times have you heard people using various oaths to proclaim their honesty? Even our childhood nursery rhymes teach us to ignore Jesus’ commands; the little pigs, when refusing to allow the wolf into their house say, “Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin,” but Jesus said we are not to swear “…by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black” (Matthew 6:36).

Could it be many of us who plaintively cry, “O God, where are You when I need you,” have unknowingly severed contact with God as surely as if we had pulled the plug on our reading lamp? Could it be we are overlooking the biblical requirements to successful prayer, short- circuiting our communication with God—placing barriers between ourselves and our divine Father in heaven, so He will not listen?

He says, “Behold, the Eternal’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1, 2). The remainder of the chapter is a powerful indictment against all who have not repented of sin, who have not come to God as a little child: “We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar like bears, and mourn sore like doves; we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the Eternal, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood” (Isaiah 59:10-13).

God tells us any lack of communication is simply not His fault, but ours! He is there— waiting, listening, ready to receive our cries. Is He our Father? In other words, are we His begotten children, repentant, of contrite spirit and humble heart? Do we truly seek His will in our lives, as well as His special favor from time to time? When we acknowledge the awesome holiness of God’s name, praying “Hallowed be Thy Name,” we need to realize how truly great is God; to understand the limitless power which can be unleashed by His great name.

Great miracles were accomplished by Jesus Christ, and astounding miracles were performed for the apostles. In each case, it was through recognition of the awesome power inherent in God’s name! Jesus absolutely promised His disciples would accomplish even greater works than He did—through prayer, through faith, and through the powerful name of Jesus Christ!

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it!” (John 14:12-14).

“In my name” also connotes asking according to His will and purpose; asking according to His authority.

Striking examples of the veracity of this promise occurred in the first few years of the early church. For example, Peter and John, who recorded the words above, were entering into the temple only days after the resurrection of Christ when they saw a crippled beggar. Read the Bible account of what happened: “…and a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called ‘beautiful,’ to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.

“Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, ‘Look on us!’ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk! And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:1-9).

Notice that the cripple did not seem to know who Peter and John were—only that they were worshippers, about to enter the temple. Notice too that he did not expect to be healed; he looked expectantly at them, expecting “to receive something,” obviously a small amount of money. This miracle was performed for the purpose of evangelism as is clear by the following texts. The crowds were amazed; a great discussion arose. Peter then began another of his stirring messages, referring to the miracle they had seen.

Was there ever a greater way to gain the attention of a crowd? Peter said, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we made this man to walk?

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up … whom God raised from he dead. And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:12-16). Though we may only remember it from childhood Bible tales, the account of Moses’ calling; how He came into the presence of God at the burning bush is fascinating, stirring. Israel was in slavery. Moses, like all his compatriots, was a product of the Egyptian society; he had been raised by a daughter of the reigning Pharaoh. After fleeing for his life when it was discovered he had killed an Egyptian for mistreating one of his fellow slaves, Moses encountered God, who appeared to him in a bush which seemed to burn, yet was not consumed. The interesting story is found in Exodus, the third chapter.

After God instructed Moses to take off his shoes, He said, “ ‘I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God..” A few verses later Moses asked, “… behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, ‘The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you’; and they shall say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say unto them?’

“And God said unto Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM;’ and He said, ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.’ And God said moreover unto Moses, ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations’ ” (Exodus 3:6-15).

The Hebrew for the expression “I AM THAT I AM” is ‘Ehyer ‘Asher ‘Ehyeh and means what it says, in the sense that God proclaims He is the One who is self-perpetuating, with life self-inherent within Himself; the One who was, who is, and who is to come.

A fascinating reference is made by Christ in the New Testament to this name of God, another obvious proof that the Member of Elohim who did the creating was the One who became Christ. Christ was confronted by the leaders of the synagogue following a sensational healing of a man born blind. The entire chapter is an incredible study in human bigotry, fear religion, how churchmen can sometimes keep their members in a constant state of concern over being “put out” of their church. Finally, the argument became so heated, the Pharisees accused Christ of being illegitimate. Jesus managed to raise their anger to white hot heat when He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

“Then said the Jews unto Him, ‘Thou are not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?’ Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM!’

“And they took up stones to cast at Him…” (John 8:53-59).

This is unmistakable reference to the same name used by the same personage of the God family to Moses. It enraged those who heard it, for they knew He was clearly stating He was God in the flesh.

To us today, it is another confirmation of the absolute divinity of Christ — His pre-human origins—that He was the God of the Old Testament, the One who dealt with the patriarchs and prophets, the One who appeared to Moses, the One who wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger.

What’s in a name? Today, many prospective parents find names in books of names for babies; perhaps name their children after relatives, or others they have known and admired. Many are named for famous persons; many are named almost haphazardly. Humorous stories abound about families so large their frustrated parents began calling them “Al, A2, A3,” and so on. But God names things what they are. He called man Ish in Hebrew, merely meaning “Man.” “Woman” was Ishah, or the one who came from Ish. “Adam” meant, literally, “red clay.”

God’s names are meant to convey to us His many divine attributes; His love, mercy, patience; His kindness, gentleness, goodness; His magnificent power; His eternal character. In the Oxford Press edition of the King James Bible, with the concordance, there is a section under “Proper Names” devoted entirely to the many scriptural examples of the qualities of the divine family.

Is your name important to you? Do you know what it means? Are you proud of your name? The word “name” conveys reputation, and quality of character. When we speak of a man having a good name, we mean a good reputation. Surely, when you name your children, their names become who they are. When we speak a name, our minds instantly give us the complete understanding of who we mean, depending on (note this well!) how well we know that person. If it is your spouse, then your usage of his or her name conveys an immediate picture of the total person. That’s the way Jesus Christ wants us to address God. He wants us to come to know Him—to understand how thoroughly, how completely, God knows us!

David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24).

When we read the Psalms, like Psalms 51, David’s heartfelt prayer of repentance after the affair with Bathsheba, we come to understand why David was “a man after God’s own heart.” God simply loves a broken and contrite heart, a prayer of repentance, a deeply felt, sincere, personal prayer for forgiveness.

Constantly, David exulted in the name of God. He prayed, “Bless the Lord [Hebrew: Jehovah, or Yahveh, The Eternal] O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Eternal, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things…” (Psalm 103:1-4).

And again, “Praise ye The LORD, praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and evermore” (Psalm 113:1-2). Here, the Hebrew expression is Hallelu-Jah. Psalms 111 through 113 are known as the “Hallelujah” Psalms. Each is a moving call to prayer, praising the great name of God. The 111th is an acrostic Psalm, and includes the phrase, “Holy and reverend is His name.” This is one reason I have never accepted the title “Reverend,” though I am an ordained minister. The Bible says His name is holy and reverend; I doubt that any man’s name is to be reverenced. There are dozens of references to God’s name in the Psalms; David continually praised the name of God; thought on His great qualities of character. David is the only man in history who earned the rich accolade, “A man after God’s Own Heart.” Was it because he was able to deeply repent when he had sinned; because He continually prayed to God, constructed dozens of poems set to music, praising His holy name?

When Jesus said we should pray “Hallowed be Thy Name,” He intended we know the great and holy names of God, and to know that those names and titles help us to understand God as our Father in heaven, to really come to know Him.

The first thing we usually say to someone when we meet for the first time is, “Hello, my name is…” We then call them by name. God wants us to know His great names, to appreciate their great significance. Perhaps, after reading this brief chapter, you will be much better equipped than before to put real meaning into your prayer the next time you say, “Hallowed be Thy Name…” You might want to remember that God is our Protector, our Provider, our Banner and Shield; that He is our Life-giver; that He is our Savior. Think on His names; pray to Him directly— by name. After all, He knows who you are!

CHAPTER FIVE

“Thy Kingdom come…”

When these words are recited in responsive readings in church, what comes to mind? For over thirty years in the ministry, I have noticed how many tend to “blank out” literal meaning of our language when it comes to “spiritual” sounding phrases, biblical language.

It is as if when biblical language is used, words suddenly take on an utterly meaningless, esoteric, “other-worldly” sense, like they don’t really convey the same sense to our minds that those same words might if spoken by the layman.

For example, if one were having a conversation with Prince Charles of Great Britain, and said to him, “I hope you are King, one day,” hastening to make sure he understands you wish no ill towards his mother, Queen Elizabeth, both would understand precisely what was meant. If one said, “I believe your reign will be the most magnificent in the history of Great Britain,” it would be equally understood, if a little pretentious.

But when we utter those same words toward God—asking that His prophesied Kingdom come to this earth, do we really know what we are asking?

Just what is the Kingdom of God? Is it merely a figurative phrase which means, in some vague “spiritual” sense, “heaven,” where God lives? Are we merely intoning an oft-repeated phrase which means something like “right on, Lord,” in the same way an Englishman might sing, “Rule Britannia?”

As the story goes, a little girl was being instructed by her Sunday school teacher about the three Hebrew children and the fiery furnace; how the astrologers came in before king Nebuchadnezzar and said, “O king, live forever.” The teacher asked, “And then what happened, Susan?” The child furrowed her brow, thought a moment and then with sudden inspiration said, “So right away, the king lived forever!” Is “Thy Kingdom come…” spoken like that? Like a childish fantasy, or a spiritual mystery?

Most professing Christians believe they go immediately to heaven when they die. Then why pray for God’s Kingdom to come to this earth, if that’s what we are really doing when using the Lord’s Prayer as our outline for prayer? Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 5:3). But why did He also say, virtually in the same breath, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)?

Jesus spoke continually of His coming Kingdom. He uttered many parables about it, showing its character and nature. Many prophecies portray His coming Kingdom—some in fine detail, even to the point of answering such questions as “Will there be cities in God’s Kingdom” and, “What happens to those who remain alive, as human beings, when Christ comes”?

So, why not investigate this fascinating subject without preconceived ideas, traditions, or casually-assumed concepts? Let’s take a careful look at what the Bible actually says about this wondrous Kingdom of which Jesus spoke so often, the Kingdom He said we are to pray for!

John the Baptist was characterized as a type of Elijah, who was to “prepare the way” for the coming of the Messiah. John’s ministry was a great one, coming to the attention of tens of thousands. His preaching was fiery, impassioned, urgent. Thousands were moved to repentance, receiving baptism, calling out to God to forgive their sins. Notice what Matthew recorded, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, ‘Repent ye; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaias, saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight’ ” (Matthew 3:1-3).

John’s message was about the Kingdom of God. He preached about the imminent appearance of the Messiah, saying the One who would follow Him was much greater than he; that he was “unworthy to loose the latchet of His shoes.” He said Christ would powerfully stir them, sifting the wheat from the chaff; bringing to light the innermost thoughts of the heart, calling upon God’s people to repent. John portrayed Jesus Christ as a coming King, who would one day rule over all the earth.

Christ’s message was also about the Kingdom of God. Millions have been taught to revere Christ; we have heard impassioned evangelists telling us to “receive” Christ. Many have supposed the “gospel” (which is merely a strange sounding “religious” word to most) is a story about Jesus Christ; mostly concerned with His person, what He did, His miracles, His parables, His examples; His life’s ministry, death, burial, and resurrection. The word “gospel” seems synonymous with “religion,” as in “gospel singers,” and “gospel music.” Many assume the Gospel is a “story about Jesus.”

But, notice, “And from that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ ” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus was a Preacher. His message? It was a good news announcement (the meaning of the word “gospel”) about the Kingdom of God. Notice again, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

Matthew’s account refers to Jesus’ message as the “Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven,” while Luke’s parallel account calls it the message about “the Kingdom of God.” The two terms are interchangeable—the message was about God’s great government; His law-abiding, reigning Kingdom, which Christ prophesied would come to this earth. Is the Gospel, then, only a message about the person of Christ, or does it include much, much more? Make no mistake. The Gospel indeed includes a message about Christ. He is absolutely central to the Gospel; He is its focal point, the Messenger who brought this wondrous message to earth from His Father, and Who is its central character. Yet, there may be another aspect to the Gospel many have missed: the story about the Kingdom of God.

What is that Kingdom? We speak of the “Kingdom of Great Britain,” or this or that kingdom of history, and we know we speak of a political entity consisting of certain peoples ruled by a monarch. Each such kingdom must consist of at least four things: (1) a King, or Sovereign; (2) territory, over which that Sovereign reigns; (3) subjects, or citizens living within that territory; and (4) laws—a system of government through which the Sovereign rules.

Using the four main parts of every kingdom, let’s see some Bible examples which will help us obtain the meaning from the words, “Thy Kingdom come.”

No doubt, you are familiar with the annunciation of Christ’s impending birth. It is a favorite story at Christmas, recited in thousands of church services. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord [The Eternal] is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’

“And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

“And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be Great, and shall be called The Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end’ ” (Luke 1:26-33).

Is this mere “spiritual salt and pepper” to flavor a verse in the Bible, or does this annunciation from a powerful archangel mean exactly what it says? David sat on the throne which God said would “never depart from Judah,” the throne promised to Abraham’s seed as an eternal inheritance resulting from His faith in God.

The throne of David was reconfirmed to David as a perpetual throne, which God said would never pass from this earth. The question concerning just where this throne may be today is one which should properly require a full book, or perhaps several, to explain. However, this has already been done in the past. Suffice it to say, God swore by Himself that David’s throne would remain in perpetuity, with a member of the same lineage—the seed of David himself seated upon that throne until Christ should return to this earth in glory, as King of kings.

A strange prophecy in the 22nd chapter of Isaiah about Shebna, the treasurer of Judah during the reign of Hezekiah, confirms this, as does the prophecy of Ezekiel 21:25-27 concerning the many “overturns” of this throne, until it would reside in a distant land far from its original setting, and there be “no more overturned,” until “He come whose right it is.”

The point is, the archangel said Christ would “inherit the throne of His father David, and of His Kingdom there would be no end.”

That Jesus Christ is prophesied to come back to this earth is absolutely cast in concrete, so far as Scripture is concerned. There are literally dozens of references to that fact. Notice the first message to ever come to earth when Jesus was taken up following His resurrection: “…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven [the sky]? This same Jesus, Which is taken up from you into heaven [God’s throne], shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1: 11).

Christ said, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works” (Matthew 16:27).

During His last supper, Jesus promised, “… I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). When Christ comes again, He is coming back to this earth. Notice a few striking proofs: “Behold, the Day of the LORD [Jehovah, or Yawveh] cometh… then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations… and His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east … and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee…” (Zechariah 14:1-5).

John saw visions of the coming Kingdom of God on the Isle of Patmos, at the very end of the first century. His famous “Apocalypse” (Revelation) contains many references to Christ as King of the coming Kingdom. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war … and the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-15).

One of the major promises Jesus Christ gives to those who become His fellow-servants is co-rulership over the nations of this earth during His one thousand year reign. He said, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26). And again, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

John also saw a vision of the millennium—the one thousand year reign of Christ—in which it was made clear that those who repent, who live lives of overcoming, as Christ said, shall join with Christ in administering God’s great government. He wrote, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Jesus Christ came to this earth for many reasons. He came to bring a message from God the Father called the Gospel. The word Gospel merely means “good news” or “happy announcement.” The good news is that mankind will not perish from this earth in a thermonuclear blast, that God will step in to save mankind before that ultimate disaster occurs. The good news is, we can repent, beg forgiveness of our sins, turn to God’s way of life, live a life of overcoming, and have opportunity to share with Christ in setting aright the chaotic turmoil on this earth; to abolish from earth sickness and disease, poverty, squalor, crime, drug abuse, wars; every evil.

Christ also came to call and train His disciples, delivering the Gospel to them, commissioning them to carry on after His return to His Father; to preach the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God in all the earth as a witness unto all nations (Matthew 24:14).

He came to disqualify Satan as present evil world ruler (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4), and to qualify as future Ruler of earth (Revelation 3:21). Christ came to live a perfect life, condemning sin in the flesh, proving it is possible for humankind, with the power of God, to resist Satan, overcome the world, and conquer human nature. He came to die for the sins of the world, to become the Savior of mankind. He came to fulfill many Old Testament prophecies concerning His Messiahship, and to proclaim many prophecies concerning the end of the present world civilization (Matthew 24; Luke 21; Mark 13).

Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the soon-coming KING of God’s great Kingdom for which we are to pray.

The second main part of every kingdom is territory. We have already seen many biblical proofs that the territory of God’s coming Kingdom is on this earth, which is why Christ instructs us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come.” Notice several additional proofs:

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God’ ” (Revelation 21:1-3).

Conditions to become extant on earth are described in vivid detail in Isaiah 11: “But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked … The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Eternal, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:4-9).

There is simply no mistaking the import of these verses. God’s Kingdom will rule on this earth. There are no bears, adders, poisonous snakes, lions, wolves, and goats in heaven. This passage plainly describes the conditions to prevail on earth after the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ.

Notice further, “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain [biblical symbol for God’s government] of the Eternal’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains [over all other physical nations, great and small], and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

“And many people shall go and say, ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Eternal [Jehovah, or Yawveh], to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths:’ for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem.

“And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:1-4).

Micah prophesied, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Eternal shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it.

“And many nations shall say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the house of the Eternal, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths:’ for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem.

“And He shall judge among many people and shall rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Eternal hath spoken it” (Micah 4:1-4).

Angels, as if voicing the exultation of the saints who are to inherit God’s Kingdom are heard to sing… “and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5: 10).

It is plain, then, that the Bible teaches the Kingdom of God will reign right here on this earth for one thousand years following the six thousand years allotted to mankind. Christ is the King of His Kingdom; the earth is His territory, where He will rule.

And the subjects of His Kingdom? First, those who are begotten of God’s Spirit; who are the children of God. Notice, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive, and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds [this earth’s atmosphere] to meet the Lord in the air [this earth’s atmosphere]: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). And we shall be with the Lord where the Lord will be, which is right here, on this earth.

Notice further, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the Firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s, at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Notice again the scripture we read in Revelation, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment [rulership; power to reign as co-rulers with Christ] was given unto them, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Clearly, the citizens of God’s Kingdom are, first of all, the divine family of God; Jesus Christ, as the Author and Beginner of life, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Under Christ, the saints of all history. He said, “And ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of God…” to the people of Palestine. Christ is called the “Firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29), who shall also be resurrected to eternal life at His Second Coming. As we read in 1 Corinthians the 15th chapter, it will be “each man in his own order,” Christ, who is the Firstfruits, and “afterwards, those that are Christ’s at His coming.”

Those who are to be subjects of this great world-ruling Kingdom are the remnants of all nations on this earth—perhaps billions of human beings. Notice: “And the Eternal shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be One Lord, and His name One … and men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (Zechariah 14: 11).

Later, God says, “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Eternal of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).

Christ is the King; the earth is His territory, and the nations of this earth are His future subjects. Obviously, the nations are not subject to Christ today. This is not a world of God’s design. He has allowed mankind the free moral agency to select his own governmental systems, economies, religions. God is not the author of this world’s societies. But He will be, in the future.

The fourth part of every kingdom is the legal system by which it rules—its system of government, or the laws regulating such kingdom. As we have already seen in several scriptures, God says “The law shall go forth out of Zion.” God’s laws consist of the Ten Commandments as Christ magnified them, plus many other statutes and judgments.

The Bible is a book of law in one sense, a legal document proposing a covenant between God and ourselves. It spells out the great rewards for obedience; proposes that God become our God, and we become His people. It proposes eternal inheritance in His Kingdom for our willingness to humbly submit to His rule of law in our lives. Jesus Christ greatly enlarged upon the Ten Commandments, making them infinitely more binding, exalting the strict letter of the law to a spiritual plane, in His famous Sermon on the Mount. The laws of God are summarized in the great commandment, “Thou shalt love the Eternal thy God with all thy heart, and all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

The “Golden Rule” is perhaps a hackneyed phrase to most. But it is, after all, the very basis of God’s system of law. We literally are expected to live by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” and not by bread alone (Matthew 4:4). It is God’s will in our lives that we should “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

God’s perfect laws will be enforced during the millennial reign of Christ. And what a happy, joyous time that will be!

You see, God’s perfect laws are the laws and principles that produce everything we really want; success, happy marriages, healthy children; peace in our land, good weather, good health, long lives, thrills, excitement, enjoyment, fulfillment! When we break His laws, they break us. We don’t need to “know” about gravity and inertia in order to be severely punished if we are involved in a fall from heights, or an automobile crash. These inexorable laws take their toll whether we know of them or not. And so it is with God’s laws.

God’s spiritual laws are hidden, unseen. Few seem to know they are breaking God’s laws involving human relationships when their marriages fail, when true friends are turned away, when reputations are destroyed. Few seem to know we are breaking God’s laws involving our health, our physical well-being, when we eat fatty foods, accumulate too much cholesterol in our veins, and develop heart disease. Anciently, God commanded Israel “Thou shalt not eat the fat.” It has taken science thousands of years to begin telling us the same thing.

When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we should think on the marvelous world that will be in the future—the world of God’s love, His laws which are set in motion for our good. Think of a world without hunger, without disease, without war! Christ will impose His government over all this earth so there will be no such thing as crime, no more desertions of mates and abandonment of one’s own precious children; no more divorce and broken homes. No more drug addiction, no pornography! When you study the scriptures about God’s great Kingdom, contrasting it with conditions on this earth today, it becomes very meaningful to pray—and to really mean it when you pray, “Thy Kingdom come!”

We are familiar with such terms as “the plant kingdom” or the “animal kingdom.” We speak of the “kingdom of man.” The Kingdom of God is not only the coming government of God to be put in place on this earth under Christ as world ruler. It is also the governing, ruling family of God, for God is reproducing after His own kind, enlarging His family, begetting tens of thousands, ultimately millions, of additional children to be born into the family of God.

The nations of this earth are original families grown great, into nations. Many political entities are “melting pots” of various races, as America, Britain, and others, but it was not always so. Many of the nations of the “third world” still represent original tribes; family groups grown great into a political, geographical entity.

The Kingdom of God is not only futuristic, in the sense of Christ’s coming Kingdom to rule on this earth; it is also the growing FAMILY of God, into which Christ says we can be born.

Now do you see? There is a great deal implied when we pray for God’s Kingdom. Christ said “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17-23). He said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye might be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

And what a beautiful prayer! When we pray for God’s Kingdom, we are asking God to hasten an end to every possible evil; to hasten the glorious, utopian reign of Jesus Christ on this earth! We are showing God our earnest desire for world peace; for an end to war, human tragedy—for an end to death!

When we pray “Thy Kingdom come,” we are once again expressing our loyalty toward God, our trust in His promises, our belief in Jesus Christ as King of kings, our confidence He will return to this earth in triumphant glory, to bring world peace at last!

Finally, we are praying for God to hasten the day when we shall be given His ultimate promise—eternal life! The greatest event in all history will be the moment of the establishment of God’s glorious KINGDOM on this earth. No wonder Jesus said we should continually pray for that day!

CHAPTER SIX

“Thy will be done…”

It is easy to recite these words in a quick responsive reading. They certainly sound pious enough, unthreatening. After all, none of us consciously hopes to be out of step with God, deliberately opposed to the divine will—except perhaps atheists and agnostics. Even those not especially religious, who have no special interest in church-going, like to maintain a personal philosophy of a sort, comforting themselves in the thought they are not really a “bad” person, that they have a unique, comfortable relationship “with the Man upstairs.”

How often have I heard it? One will embarrassedly acknowledge, “Well, I ain’t been no saint—but I think the Lord will understand when the time comes…”

These plaintive gestures toward a God of convenience are undiluted human nature. It seems natural to forget God in our daily lives; then turn to Him in a sudden frenzy of need, calling out our self-pitying complaint, “O God, where are you when I’m in pain?” We do not deliberately intend to treat God as a piece of treasured bric-a-brac to be placed on the shelf to grace a breakfront, to be polished for display on special occasions. It is not that we plan to treat God as if He were our servant, instead of the other way around.

Many seem to believe God is like the Genie that startled Aladdin when he polished the ancient lamp. We have but to rub the lamp with the magical words, “Our Father who art in heaven…” or even an informal, “O God, help me!” and expect God to come trotting to our aid.

For centuries, man has asked, “Why does God allow wars? Why, if God says He is good and merciful, does He permit babies to be born blind, deformed?” A rather abrupt and perhaps slightly insensitive answer would be the analogy of homosexuals praying to God in self- righteous indignation, “O God, why AIDS?”

Why, indeed? Let God answer, “Wherefore God gave them up to [allowed them to have; permitted them to exercise their own wills] uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who exchanged the truth of God into a lie [margin], and worshiped and served the creature [including man; themselves!] more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature; and likewise the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet [fitting]” (Romans 1:24-27).

God allows the natural consequences of man’s actions to obtain. He has set in motion natural laws; forces, energies. God is the Creator of this universe, of earth, and all life upon it, including micro-bacterial life. When man breaks God’s laws, those laws come crashing down upon him, not only in a spiritual sense at the judgment, but here and now!

Men lust for power, covet the possessions of their neighbors; they harbor hatreds because of racial, linguistic, cultural differences. They are especially intolerant of the religious beliefs of others. In all this hatred is the disease of war. War stems from the lust for power, among other passions. God allows wars, accidents, sickness, because those things are the natural outcome of God permitting the free exercise of human nature. Is anything more pitiful than a newborn baby that is deformed, or blind? Have you ever seen a pregnant woman smoking, drinking, eating harmful foods? Widespread information is available today about the direct cause-and-effect relationship between alcohol and a developing fetus. And what about venereal disease? It is known that syphilis causes blindness in babies. God does not cause sexual promiscuity, remember. He has chosen not to prevent it. You see, the Ten Commandments are not preventive legislation. God commands. But He leaves the choice up to us.

Remember our scenario of the smoker who found God interfering with his habit? It is the same right across the gamut of all human activity contrary to the expressed will of God. We may cry out our complaints about the effects of certain causes, but we would be enraged if God forcibly removed our free volition—took away our freedom of action. In other words, we would be extremely upset if God removed from us the opportunity to commit the cause that produces the wrong effect!

To be brutally frank, we seem to want God to allow us to sin, but to remove the penalty!

What you are about to read from your own Bible may appear a little shocking at first. Yet, upon reflection, you will see the logic in what Jesus said. He had launched into a discussion of false prophets, as He did on many occasions. He said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” He then gave the analogy of judging a religious leader in the same fashion as one would judge a tree, or vine—by the fruit it produces. Speaking of false prophets He said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15-20).

Now, notice what may appear to be a startling statement at first reading: “Not every one 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” (Matthew 7:21).

Why startling? Because it is obvious the recognition of Christ as Savior, believing on Him, calling out to Him by name is not sufficient. Yet, millions have heard the strident voice of evangelists pleading, “Only believe!” Many seem to believe that they may be saved by merely “believing on the name of Jesus.” Not so. Christ said “…even the demons believe, and tremble.” No, God requires much more than lip service.

What are those requirements? Christ said, “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

The Bible is the written will of God. It can be likened to the “handbook” about mankind. It is revealed knowledge, information we could find from no other source. God’s Word does not purport to be a text on science, engineering, chemistry, or architecture. It is a text, instead, which explains who and what God is, and all about mankind! It tells us why we were born, why we were put on this earth, what is the purpose and ultimate destiny of every human creature.

Doing the will of God is not threatening. It does not mean a life of asceticism, of abstinence, of “Don’t do this, and don’t do that.” The will of God toward us is that we live life to the full, that we meet with success, reward, happiness, fulfillment! Notice: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health…” (3 John 2).

God is portrayed as a loving Father, One with vast resources, great wealth—not only in material things, but in great and good gifts which could never be purchased with money. However, like any loving Father, He wants only the best for His children. Because of His vast knowledge and experience, He knows we tend toward many things that are going to bring us the wrong results!

God knows there is a cause for every effect. If we would listen to Him, we could learn the cause of all the suffering, heartache, trauma, sickness and disease, failure, poverty, crime and wars which stalk this earth. There is a cause for lung cancer. Millions know one of the main causes—cigarette smoking. Yet, they persist in slowly polluting their lungs, perhaps robbing themselves of many years of life. Many cling to stories about various long-lived individuals (George Burns and his famous cigars are an example) who seem to sail merrily through their 80’s with no difficulty, and continue to smoke. Yet, when hundreds of thousands of Americans go to their deaths through the years, suffering the slow agonies of lung cancer, perhaps undergoing chemotherapy, radiation treatment, surgery, only to be followed by a lingering death under massive sedation, both they and their loved ones call out to God—sometimes in heartbroken desperation, asking Him to spare their lives.

There are causes for broken marriages, failed businesses, poor health, alienated children, group and tribal instincts which lead to political ferment; causes which produce wars! The protracted struggle in the Mid-East is an example of the centuries-long, implacable hatreds between two of the great religions, two separate racial groups. After a few decades, the hatreds wax so white hot no one remembers the first “incident” which triggered the constant acts of terrorism; interminable war.

By the same token, there is a cause for the right result. We know what causes good health: plenty of exercise, a good, balanced diet, and avoidance of harmful substances. But do we know the cause which will produce happy marriages, obedient children, successful lives? Those causes are set forth in God’s Word, which is His written will as expressed toward us.

God’s Word contains plenty of information concerning the state of marriage! Several of the Ten Commandments bear directly on the family. God says, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long on the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Could close family ties, honoring parents and grandparents—familial love and respect—be a cause for longevity? Gods Word says it is. He commands, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” and “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” Unfaithfulness is probably the major cause of ruined marriages today; yet, virtually all entertainment—the motion pictures, television, magazines, books—tend to treat casual sex, and its effect, divorce, as something to be done, something virtually “natural.”

Millions of young people have “live-in” mates, with no true bonds of marriage, and upwards of fifty percent of babies born in our inner urban areas today are illegitimate.

The cause for all this chaos in the family unit—the building block of society—is that God’s laws are being broken. Broken laws mean broken lives. We break them, they break us—it’s just that simple.

God’s Word says much about rearing children. It portrays proper roles for father and mother, and strongly encourages the closest possible family ties. Christ said divorce is a sin, that it should be avoided! This is not to say God cannot forgive sin, for He can, and will, when we call out to Him in real repentance. But, when we repent, God wants us to quit sinning. He will not save us “in” our sins; He will only save us “from” our sins!

God’s will toward us is benevolent, kind, solicitous, loving, caring. David said over and over again, “For His mercy endureth forever.” There is nothing fearful or “bad” for us in the expressed will of God.

Too many have equated the will of God with one or another of the organized religions. Recoiling from offensive religionists, from this or that television evangelist they may feel is not exactly sincere, some make the mistake of throwing out the baby with the bath water. But we must not compare human beings to God, no matter how “religious” they may seem. Usually, the successful, well fed, second-martini-for-lunch-bunch have little time for God. That is, until they develop some terrible disease, or their business collapses, or their marriage is destroyed. Why? Why not go to God when times are good, and pray they’ll stay that way? God wants us to prosper. It is not His will that we suffer heartache, sickness, want. Like any loving Father, He wants us to be happy!

Many seem to feel God’s ways are drab, dull, uninteresting; that He gave us “Ten don’ts” by which we should live. They seem to believe “fun” and “sin” are synonymous. Not so. Christ said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10: 10).

What kind of a God is our “Father” in heaven to whom we should pray? Notice what He says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

Do you really want God’s will in your own life? Notice Jesus said we should pray, not for our will to be accomplished, but God’s. No one came face to face with this choice in a more bitter moment than our Savior, Jesus Christ.

After His lengthy final supper, His discourse to His disciples following the Passover, Christ and His disciples went out of the city to the Mount of Olives.

There, He went a distance away from His disciples and prayed in an agony of intensity. He knew the minutes were fleeting; He knew Judas Iscariot had fled the dinner a few hours earlier, that armed men were on the way to arrest Him. He knew what this dark night would bring. With perfect clarity, He could see His own body being ripped and torn by a cat o’ nine tails, a crown of thorns cruelly jammed down on His head, lacerating the scalp. He could picture the agonies awaiting Him as they pounded spikes through His hands and feet, hoisting Him into the air on a stake to die a slow, pain-wracked death for the sins of the world.

Did Christ merely toss off this horrible ordeal with some Godlike “macho,” some super human reserves of courage and bravado? Note well the biblical account: “And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me…’ ”

Here, Christ was plainly asking His Father if there was some other way this fateful hour could be resolved. His total humanity comes clearly into focus; we see Him as lonely, forsaken— facing torture and death, praying with all His might that God could find some other solution. In asking this, Christ was clearly expressing His own will, His own point of view. But instantly, with no pause in His praying, He quickly said, “Nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done!” Let’s read the rest of this stirring passage: “And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:41-44).

No wonder God’s Word says, “When He had, by Himself, purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

Probably, we tend to pray for our will to be accomplished without realizing it. After all, most don’t pray except in emergencies, tragedies, when we hurt, or when we are frightened because of the suffering of a loved one. By the time many get around to prayer, the die is already cast. They only pray in times of desperate need. They are surely going to be asking, “My will be done—my request be granted; my desires be fulfilled,” if they are only moved to pray in a dire emergency which stresses those needs.

It is not easy for those who rarely pray to ask for God’s will to be done. Actually, prayer and Bible study are inextricably linked. It is impossible to draw close to God in prayer without drinking in of His written Word. In that Word, we learn of His will toward us we learn how to ask “according to His will.”

Prayer, after all, is petition. It is not easy to get on our knees with hearts filled with urgent requests, and ask, instead, that God’s will be done—and not necessarily our own. It is especially difficult if His will in some matter proves to be the opposite of our own. Notice the experience of the apostle Paul: He had a terrible affliction. There is strong indication it was a disease of the eyes, perhaps cataracts. On one occasion he signed one of his letters in very large characters to attest to its authenticity (Galatians 6:11), leading to the assumption he had great difficulty in seeing.

He related how he had asked God to remove this affliction: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations [referring to the vision he had seen of heaven], there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

I know people whose strength is made perfect through weakness. Paraplegics, who spend their entire lives in motorized wheelchairs, can make those of us who have normal use of our limbs shrink in stature spiritually, when we see their courage and their faith. There are innumerable examples of incredibly courageous people who have found seemingly bottomless reservoirs of strength in terrible adversity. After knowing God’s will was different from his own, Paul meekly said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong!” (2 Corinthians 12: 10).

What an incredible example! Yet, is there any more beautiful example than the one we read concerning Christ Himself.? This is the epitome of selfless prayer, of beseeching God for HIS will and purpose to be accomplished, subjecting our will entirely to His.

Let’s face it, most of our lives are taken up with pursuing our will and purpose. The vast majority of our waking hours are spent in three self-directed purposes: self preservation, self determination, self perpetuation.

We cannot ask that God’s will be done unless we are willing to submit to His will. What does He require of us? He tells us we must repent of our sins. And what is sin? God says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Paul wrote, “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” (Romans 12:1-2).

God’s will toward us is that we come to Him as His children; that we ask forgiveness of our sins, receive baptism, and become a begotten child of God through receiving of His Holy Spirit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” said Peter to thousands on the Day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:38).

Paul says, “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk [live] in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). God says we can change, that we can start afresh, begin anew! He is willing to wipe clean the slate of our sins and mistakes, blot it all out as if it had never been, allow us to begin a new and different way of life as if a new-born child without a single bad mark against us. It is His will to give us of His Holy Spirit to help us overcome the trials and troubles that seem too big for us.

There is a story about the man who supposedly died, and, when confronted by Christ in His Kingdom, said, “Lord, I want to thank you for helping me through life. I looked back along the trail, and noticed two sets of footprints almost all the way, so you must have been right there beside me. But, tell me, Lord, why, when I got to those rocky, steep places did I see only one set of prints?” To which the Lord supposedly replies, “Because that’s when I had to pick you up and carry you.”

Each of us possesses a natural human mind prior to conversion. In other words, we are concerned about material things, those things that are of this mundane world—carnal, physical, natural. We have no spiritual perception if we have only a natural, or carnal, mind. Oh, we may be “good” people, the way this world would look at it—we may be trustworthy, faithful, hard- working; we may possess qualities of character which cause others to admire us. But, unless we have repented of sin, we still possess what God calls a “carnal” or fleshly mind. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

It is impossible to ask for God’s will to be accomplished in our lives if we are not yielded to God’s laws, if we do not sincerely thirst for God’s purpose to be accomplished in our own personal life. Such a prayer cancels itself out immediately, for it is obviously insincere. We must not ask for something we do not truly desire, something we are not willing to receive. God is eager to answer the prayers of His children if we pray according to His will. We have only to sincerely want His will in our lives in place of our own.

It is peculiar to human nature that we want other nations to obey God’s will; we want our neighbors to obey God’s will, but, for some reason, we tend to avoid applying His will in our own lives. We wish with all our hearts that the Soviet Union would yield to God’s laws, that they would “beat their swords into plowshares,” dismantle their nuclear arsenals, and turn all those tanks into tractors so they could feed their population. We wish they would disband their multi-millions of Red Army soldiers, that they would immediately cancel their plan for world conquest, order all their spies home from nations around the world, and live at peace and harmony with all nations. We wish all child abusers, pornographers, dope dealers, rapists and murderers, would repent of their sins, turning their lives over to God in an agony of self- abhorrence for what they have been, and allow God to totally change their lives.

We could wish that others around us obeyed the golden rule, that our neighbors were kind, considerate, law-abiding; we could wish they were perfect examples of the will of God in daily action. It sure would be nice to live in a region where all our neighbors were in submission to the will of God, wouldn’t it?

Yes sir, what a world it could be if all our neighbors obeyed the will of God! What a world it could be if the Soviet Union turned to God with their whole heart—as a nation!

But, on the other hand, we have been talking mostly about us, you and me, in this chapter, haven’t we? Maybe we become frustrated over being unable to change the Soviet Union, or stop abortion, or crime, or prevent wars. But there is something important we can change, with God’s help. Us!

CHAPTER SEVEN

“On earth, as it is in heaven…”

Heaven is depicted to us as the most glorious, beautiful, peaceful, harmonious, fabulous, rapturous paradise possible to imagine. Adjectives fail to encompass the picture we see of God’s heaven in the Bible. God reigns supreme; He is the absolute Authority, but God is a benevolent, merciful, forgiving Monarch. In heaven, we see order instead of chaos, beauty instead of ugliness, system instead of confusion; the epitome of all that could possibly be desired in the most perfect state.

God is the supreme RULER in heaven. But His rule is not arbitrary; not selfish, egocentric— It is not rule for the satisfaction of the One doing the ruling, but government for the sake of the governed. God is the greatest possible expression of self-government, for He rules Himself! God is perfect character. There is no higher power which prevents God from making mistakes, sinning, falling short. God is self-ruled to perfection!

It is this perfect character God wishes us to attain. He is ruled best who is ruled least. This is a principle of God.

And what is perfect character? It is the ability to discern the difference between good and evil; discern right choices from wrong choices; to clearly perceive the end result of all human actions, and the will power to force oneself to choose the right!

God is reproducing after His own kind. He is engendering children on this earth who are to mature through overcoming every human challenge, to finally be inducted into the family of God. He seeks to make each of us into one of His children, to give us eternal life. We are but a physical prototype of what shall be, a clay model made in God’s image. It is our human destiny that we should become members of God’s family.

In order to produce perfect character in us, God knew it would require the free exercise of personal choice—free moral agency. Character is not created automatically, but developed through a lifetime of imposing self rule on one’s own human appetites, overcoming the downward pulls and tugs of the flesh, overcoming Satan and evils in society, through the powerful help of God’s Holy Spirit.

When we pray that God’s perfect will, His system of government come to this earth, we need to acknowledge this world’s societies and institutions are not, in the main, of God’s design. God has given mankind 6,000 years to learn the lesson that man cannot achieve utopia through his own carnal struggles, that he was made to need God in his life, and in his society. When we pray God’s will be implemented on this earth as it is in heaven, we need to pray with the fullest comprehension of the sharp contrast between the two; the awareness of just how far man’s societies have departed from the will of God.

Today, this world is in chaos. Enough nuclear explosives exist to destroy the world perhaps twenty times, and the big powers are building more. Proliferation of nuclear weapons continues at an alarming pace; nations such as India, China, Israel, South Africa, have the bomb. Dozens of smaller, third-world countries possess nuclear reactors which produce plutonium; many of them are nearing production of nuclear weapons.

If we were all the same color, spoke the same language, worshiped the same God; if there were no chauvinism, racism, nationalism, we would still face the greatest problem looming before mankind—that of overpopulation. As the sub-Sahara attests, millions die from malnutrition, starvation and disease each year. The population of the world will double a few years into the next century; double again about thirty-five years later. There is no way to avoid food wars from engulfing much of the impoverished third world.

America and Western Europe, together with Japan, find themselves in the first-class passenger compartment of our spaceship earth, with about 90 percent of the remaining passengers in the economy compartment, separated only by a flimsy drape. Will the suffering, hungry, squalid, diseased, angry billions of the third world long be content with their plight?

Overpopulation is the most sinister of all global problems, for it recognizes no racial, political bounds.

Global pollution continues apace; solid waste, air pollution, water pollution. Thor Heyerdhal reported that, during his epic voyage from Egypt to South America aboard a papyrus-reed raft, he was never out of sight of flotsam injected into the oceans by man. Not once, during his thousands of miles of drifting through the Mediterranean and across the central Atlantic, was he out of sight of garbage, cans, bottles, oil slicks, plastic wrappers—some evidence of pollution in our oceans. We are all familiar with the deadly canisters of toxic poisons dumped into the oceans following World War I; the nuclear wastes being dumped into the oceans today, supposedly safely encased in concrete; the daily pollution of our seas by the effluent from thousands of rivers and streams; the huge oil slicks from accidents involving super tankers; pollution from oil production accidents off shore. Globally, man pollutes his environment through nuclear accidents like Chernobyl, or destroys life in the rivers and seas as deadly hydrocarbons are leached into the streams and rivers, and into the seas from farms using oil-based herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers to raise crops.

The diminution of strategic materials is of great concern. World reserves of fossil fuels, germanium, molybdenum, aluminum, chromium, are being used up rapidly. Not only is the list of endangered species long and growing longer, but the rapid depletion of raw materials is also of grave concern.

No new fossil fuel is being formed. Perhaps billions of years ago, at the “great die off” of the dinosaurs, billions of tons of animal and vegetable material were buried deep beneath the surface of the earth in cataclysms unimaginable to the human mind. Oil, coal, natural gas—these are the relics of a bygone age, another world—the waste of a period of time on our earth when the continents (no doubt, in completely different configuration) teemed with life of a different kind. Each day, as we burn millions of gallons of this fossil fuel, we edge nearer that time when there will be none left. Our earth is finite, like a space capsule that carries its own fuel, oxygen, water and food. No new fossil fuels are being formed; no mass burials of billions of animals is occurring today. How many years are there before man depletes his energy supplies?

Of grave concern is nuclear war by accident. Can the big powers continue to play the deadly game of stockpiling ever more destructive nuclear weapons, the while making futile gestures at arms controls, living in that gray area between the peace which can seemingly never be achieved and the war which must never be fought? Many a novel has pictured a nuclear submarine captain going mad or a nuclear bomber hijacked; a conspiracy of generals to launch a nuclear war. Are each of these scenarios so far-fetched? In our war of nerves, there are human beings in those nuclear submarines, armed with enough missiles to wipe out many large population centers. Can human beings always be trusted to remain stable, even when placed under almost unimaginable strain?

The socioeconomic picture of our globe is not inviting. Hundreds of millions lack the basic necessities of life; food, clothing, shelter. Even among the industrialized nations, vast disparities exist between the privileged and the disenfranchised, the well-to-do and the poor, the majority and the minorities, the overstuffed and the hungry.

Clearly, the good green earth is not a place of great tranquility. Daily reports of the protracted wars raging—Iraq and Iran, the latest car bombing in Beirut, the latest terrorist incident in Europe, the latest airplane bombing or hijacking, the latest blast in Belfast. These and our daily crime reports tell us man has not learned to live alongside those with different color, different language, different religion.

But it was not always so. Once, this earth was a place of beauty, harmony, perfect peace. It looked like a vast garden from one pole to the other. The Bible proves there was an earlier creation, long before man—a pre-Adamic creation perhaps several billion years in the past. A great archangel was placed over the earth named Lucifer, which means “shining star of the dawn” or “light-bringer.” He is one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible, along with Gabriel and Michael.

The Bible depicts the whole world like the “Garden of Eden,” with Lucifer and millions of angels given responsibility for the earth. Let’s see what happened:

“In the beginning God [Hebrew: Elohim] created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1: 1-2).

The Hebrew words for “without form and void,” or shapeless, in confusion, are tohu and bohu. Yet, the Bible tells us, “For God is not the Author of confusion…” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Also, notice Isaiah 45:18: “For thus saith the Eternal that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain [Hebrew: tohu], He formed it to be inhabited.” God clearly says the picture we see in Genesis the first chapter of this earth completely submerged under the seas; a picture of chaos and confusion, darkness, lifelessness, was not the original condition of earth. God did not create it that way.

The key is found in the word “was” in the phrase, “The earth was without form.” The word should be translated, “The earth became without form.” The Critical and Experimental Commentary says “…Dr. McCaul has shown that the verb ‘was’ is, in some twenty places in this chapter, used as equivalent to ‘became,’ and that elsewhere it has the same significance…”

The Critical and Experimental Commentary article on this chapter contains three possible explanations for the reconciliation of Genesis 1: 1-2 with science. It says, “The third scheme of reconciliation supposes the intercalation of a long and indefinite period between the original creation and the state of things to which the second verse refers. An immense interval, of which no record has been preserved, succeeded, during which the earth passed through the various changes which geology has traced, accumulating the successive strata, with their entombed inhabitants, which its bowels contain; then, at some undescribed period in duration, it became the subject of a superficial catastrophe, by which it was thrown into general dislocation and disorder, overrun by an inundation of waters, and darkened, by an accumulation of thick, vapory mists” (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Jamieson, Vol. 1, p. 3).

But how, why? Geologists know this earth has been subjected to many ages of chaotic disarray. The majority of all rocks are sedimentary, or water-deposited. Fossilized ripple marks in stone, the evidence of ancient seashores, the aeons-long formation of coral atolls suggest that our earth was subjected to countless inundations; that monster storms ravaged the continents over millions of years. The movement of continental land masses along the tectonic plates of this earth is now fairly well-known. Anciently, our continents were in far different arrangement. How else did seabed fossils come to be easily visible in the tops of the Rocky Mountains; the Alps?

Somehow, from the early picture of absolute beauty, splendor and peace of which we read in the Bible, the earth was destroyed. But how?

Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10: 18). This was said in response to the joy His disciples evinced upon returning from their first evangelistic journeys. They were exulting because they discovered the name of Jesus Christ caused demons to obey them, that they had power over evil spirits through His name. When Christ said He saw the fall of Satan like a brilliant streak of light plummeting down to earth, comet-like, He was once again attesting to His pre-human existence with God the Father. He was showing He was present when a titanic struggle took place, and Satan, defeated, was cast down to earth. He was showing His disciples they had power over Satan’s cohorts through the use of Jesus’ name.

John wrote, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born” (Revelation 12:3-4). Later, John said, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).

Study those words carefully. If they are to be understood literally, we may be looking at the answers to age-old questions about the chaotic condition of our solar system; the bleak, lifeless, pock-marked surfaces of Mars, Jupiter, and the other planets; the ravaged surfaces of their moons and our own.

We also see that heaven was not always the place of supreme tranquility it is today. There was a time when a battle took place so unimaginable, so gargantuan in scope that it defies the mind of the most inventive science-fiction writer.

We may be looking at evidence of the original “Star Wars!”

Now, let’s see what the Bible says about this event. Isaiah 14 is a chapter dealing with type and anti-type: Satan, and the king of Babylon. All the Bible commentaries and Bible handbooks acknowledge that the language of the middle verses of this chapter means Satan. Notice, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [Shining star of the dawn] How art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, ‘I will ascend unto heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars [symbol for angels] of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the MOST HIGH’ ” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

This verse reveals much about Satan’s origins. It tells us he was an archangel with a name which meant “shining star of the dawn,” and that he was on this earth, below the heights of the clouds. Notice further information in another chapter of the Bible dealing with type and anti-type, this time between Satan and the prince of Tyre: “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou was created.

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:12-15).

The Ark of the Covenant, carried by the Levites in the wilderness and later placed in the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple, was constructed with two angelic beings called “cherubim” whose outstretched wings almost touched over the “Mercy Seat.” This was a picture of God’s throne. As we have seen, there are “cherubim and seraphim” about God’s throne. The reference to Lucifer apparently shows an earlier position of great station, next to the throne of God. Then, we see he was assigned to this earth when the whole world was of beauty. Finally, we see the metamorphosis from wise and beautiful to jealous and scheming, the struggle of Lucifer to unseat God; his defeat, together with one third of the angels of heaven, and his violent expulsion from heaven. Lucifer was cast back down to this earth at the climax of a battle so titanic, so vast in its proportions, that the human mind cannot begin to imagine it.

Now, see what we have learned: The earth was originally not in chaotic disarray. The picture of the creation of Genesis 1 is not the original creation, but the re-creation of the physical surface of this earth and the creation of man, together with most known types of animals and fish of the present world.

Both the Bible and geology tell us there was an earlier creations time when this world teemed with life, when the frigid, northern areas of permafrost and frozen tundra were in fact semi-tropical (mastodons have been unearthed in Siberia; they were warm weather mammals), when weather patterns were completely different. Our present-day fossil fuels are derived from this ancient world of teeming life.

Space does not permit a thorough discussion of the deposition of coal beds, oil reserves; the graphic story of fossils in the rocks; how the dinosaurs, and vast numbers of other species suddenly disappeared, as if from some gargantuan catastrophe. One very possible theory has to do with a comet, or gigantic meteor smashing into the earth with the force of hundreds of multi-megaton H-bombs, spewing into earth’s atmosphere billions of cubic yards of pulverized rock and dust, bringing about an immediate ice age. The initial shock would have destroyed all life on earth, caused earthquakes of unimaginable intensity, brought about tidal waves thousands of feet high, literally rocked the earth in its orbit.

Is that how it happened? We cannot know for sure, but we do know that our solar system shows mute evidence of massive destruction in the past. No new craters hundreds of miles across are being formed on our moon. Was the earth impervious to these showers of asteroids and comets? Probably not.

Both astronomy and geology tell us of mind-boggling catastrophes in the past history of our solar system; of the explosion of stars, and the forming of new ones; of the coming into being of planets, and the destruction of planets. Radiocarbon dating of fossils generally concedes the earth to be about four and a half billion years old. Did God place Lucifer here, with about a third of the angels, in that distant age? Did their rebellion and the ensuing war in the spirit world result in the destruction we see? There is strong indication it did.

God’s Word shows Satan was expelled from heaven, that he was “cast down” to this earth. Here, he is called the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). He is called the “adversary,” the “accuser of the brethren,” and the “tempter.”

All of us are aware of stories about the devil. We eat “devil’s food” cakes, and take pictures of “the devil’s punch bowl” at the seashore. Most believe he appears as an evil-looking man with spade beard, pencil-thin mustache, smallish, wicked-looking horns, a red body stocking and a pointed tail. Not so. The Bible says he appears “as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11: 13-15) and warns Christians about his subtle religious deceptions.

God’s Word reveals Satan is largely responsible for the chaos on this earth, that He influences nations of people, heads of state. Can anyone truly understand the mind of a totalitarian leader like Adolf Hitler apart from Satanic influence? Those close to him told of a mysterious power that seemed to emanate from him; of his towering, demonic rages. Somehow, he exercised a magnetic, evil influence over millions. His pogroms against the Jews, his incredibly inhuman “final solution” for millions in his death camps, his demoniacal military genius—these and other traits strongly suggest that Satan himself possessed Hitler’s mind.

Clearly, God’s will is not being accomplished on this earth today. The societal structures of man are not of God’s making; not pleasing to God. Man’s civilizations are based upon the human emotions of vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. They are wholly carnal, filled with competition, strife, avarice, cunning, vengeance, hatred. That is why God wants us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” When we utter these words, we need to see the desperate plight of this war-weary, sin-sick world; to see it from God’s perspective!

God is able to hear the piteous wails of the starving; the crying of deserted, lonely and abused children; the screams of the wounded and dying in the bloody conflicts of man. God sees the inhumanity, the callused disregard for human rights and simple human decency by despotic human leaders. God sees and hears it all—those terrible things we see but glimpses of in our daily news.

God is working out a great purpose here on earth, a purpose in which your life figures prominently. He wants us to know that we’ll never escape this human experience alive, that we have a personal destiny to fulfill, that we were put on this earth to become something so wonderful, so beautiful, so powerful, that our minds cannot encompass it. We were made in God’s image as a physical prototype—to ultimately be born of God, to become His children, members of His own family! He wants us to see that there is the alternative of eternal life over eternal death, that we have only to repent of our sins, call out to a loving Father in heaven for His divine grace, and He will hear; He will induct us into His family if we surrender our wills to Him, and begin to apply His laws in our lives.

I doubt there has ever been a morning so beautiful a husband has turned to his wife and said, “Dear, isn’t this a lovely day to go out and shop for a casket and a burial plot?”

No, we tend not to think of such things , choosing to pretend, as it were, that we are rather permanent, impervious to the madness of human folly, accident and happenstance that demand the lives of others all around us. But any day—any day at all—is a good day to seek our God, to pray to Him. He says, “Is not this the fast [spiritual service] that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that you cover him; and hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Eternal shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the Eternal shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say ‘Here am I!’ ” (Isaiah 58:6-9).

Some day, in the not too distant future, God’s way of life will be imposed on this earth. What a great day it will be to read in the headlines how factories are progressing in converting guns to hoes and rakes, tanks to tractors, bullets and bombs to useful tools. God says, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.’ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

Christ’s outline for successful prayer, the “Lord’s Prayer,” as we call it, instructs us to pray for that glorious day!

Pray for God’s perfect will to be accomplished in your own life first; then pray it will be accomplished in others! But you must really want what you pray for. You must learn to pray, as did Jesus Christ your Savior, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done, right here on earth, here and now, just as your perfect will is always loyally and faithfully done in heaven above!” God loves prayers like that. Study David’s prayers, and you will quickly find why he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” What a description! How would you like it to be said of you? It’s possible.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Why pray for just barely enough to last the day? Why not pray for enough food to last a lifetime? What about security, comfort in our old age? Is it contrary to God’s will to be “survivalist” in our outlook; to store foods, emergency supplies, batteries, gasoline, water; to look out for ourselves so far as the future is concerned? Did Jesus really mean what He said about praying only that we receive, each day, enough for our daily needs?

Christ emphasized the importance of relative values. There is quite a contrast between those who have settled the big questions first, such as repentance, conversion, baptism—surrendering their will to God and making His kingdom their primary goal in life—and those who never truly get around to asking the big questions in the first place.

Christ knew most are concerned about purely material goals. He said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Mammon is an Aramaic word, meaning “riches.”

Jesus Christ knew human nature right down to the core. He understood perfectly the driving forces which motivate most men: vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, vengeance; the purely materialistic goals which most strive to achieve. It was the abandonment of these false goals Christ urged; the acceptance of His example, teaching, and His sacrifice for our sins. Christ is not urging poverty. He is not saying it is a sin to be materially comfortable. God is not especially attracted to the poor over the rich; it is the other way around. The wealthy rarely have time or need for God; the poor recognize their need.

Is it God’s will that His people be poor? No, Christ said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10: 10). Many of the most famous men in the Bible were wealthy. Abraham was the owner of thousands of head of cattle and sheep. His household numbered many servants. Likewise, Isaac and Jacob, who inherited much of their wealth from their parent, and continued to prosper. David was king of Israel and Judah, lived in a palace for a fair part of his life; yet was a “man after God’s own heart,” because he never coveted wealth. He had not obtained the throne through political machinations, but was appointed by God because of his qualities of character.

God says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…” (Proverbs 13:22). Not only does God expect His people to prosper, He expects them to build a significant enough estate that they leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.

The apostle John wrote to Gaius, a generous, apparently well-to-do member of the church, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2).

God is the owner of all wealth: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Eternal of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). God is our multitrillionaire heavenly Father who owns the universe. He has set down principles, which, if they were industriously followed, would result in material success as well as moral and spiritual well-being. With God it is a matter of priorities. Which comes first: material gain, success in business, money, or God’s Kingdom?

I knew a multi-millionaire who had all the things money can buy: mansions, limousines, fabulous art collections. He made his money in mining, then branched out into the stock market and real estate. By the time of his death in the 1950’s, he was reputedly worth over 200 million dollars. I saw him from time to time in the last years before his death—lonely, reclusive, miserable. His only son had killed himself during a lawsuit between father and son over money. His wife had died several years earlier. During his last years, he was seen going into pawn shops, bargain basements, run down stores in the skid row section of Los Angeles, purchasing various things at random—old shoes, lamps, objects which he didn’t need, and couldn’t use. When he died, a lonely old man, his home was auctioned by the managers of the estate for less money than it had cost to build the iron grillwork fence and stone walls around it.

I knew some students who he hired to maintain his considerable grounds. Yet, even though they were only being paid $1.75 per hour, he refused to pay them after a week’s work for some petty complaint or other. When the mansion in which he lived was renovated in later years, it was discovered there was a huge tank in a basement room adjacent to an indoor swimming pool, and that the tank had been tapped directly into the city’s main water supply. He had received millions of gallons of unmetered city water over fifty years. He had money, the trappings of material success. But, like so many others, this was never enough. He could neither buy nor steal what he coveted the most: happiness. Contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction, these were denied him.

J. Paul Getty, one of the richest men in the world, was once quoted as saying he would give all his millions for just “one happy marriage.” Like many of the very wealthy, he discovered true friends are hard to find. Unfortunately, the wealthy must forever remain suspicious of the true motives of friends.

Yet, despite the countless examples of wealth coupled with misery, no matter how thoroughly documented, those lacking wealth cheerfully quip, “So let me be miserable in style!” It is impossible to convince those who have never possessed much money that it can be a powerful evil. They simply believe they know better. The lust for money is condemned in the Bible, and called a “root of all evils.” With this lust for money comes every assorted form of crime and violence known to man. It is the subject of countless novels, motion pictures, television shows. Those who write for the public know money, power, sex are what sells.

The most common form of idolatry in modern professing Christiandom is the lust for money. Sometimes, it seems money is the main thing on many television evangelist’s minds, much to the discomfort of many of their viewers. Personally, I have refused to follow the common tactics of fund-raising used by most; in more than thirty one years of radio and television evangelism, I have never asked for one cent over the air, in any personal-appearance campaigns, or even in our own church services. I sincerely feel the Gospel simply cannot be for sale. Yet, I recognize the right of others to ask. The desire for money, power, fame, importance, can become a powerful temptation. It is a subtle idolatry, not remotely realized by millions of churchgoers who would be shocked if Christ Himself were to point out their improper priorities.

A false god is whatever gets between you and the true God. What drives you? What motivates you? What really turns you on? The tables at Atlantic City and Las Vegas are garrulous testimony to the “get rich quick” philosophy of millions. Casino operators know as well as clergymen that gambling can become compulsive—a powerful lust that is as pervasive, as tenacious as drugs or alcoholism. Many a business has been destroyed, families broken, reputations sullied by inveterate gambling. Millions look for the fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—that’s why many states have turned to lotteries in a desperate bid for infusing new life into sagging state economies.

Remember the account of the black janitor in New York who found the sack of money that had tumbled out the back of a Brink’s truck? An honest man, he immediately returned the bundle, which contained many hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was rewarded—a couple or three thousand, as I recall. The story made banner headlines all over the country—and then his miseries began. People began ringing his telephone, cursing him, calling him foul names, saying he was a “dumb s.o.b.” His wife was plagued continually while he was at work by similar calls. People began driving by his home, honking their horns and shouting gross obscenities out the window. His children were terribly ridiculed, persecuted in school. Finally, he had no recourse but to move to a different city, lose himself, change his life. His neighbors couldn’t understand that kind of honesty.

Of course, the ones who persecuted this gentle, decent, and honest man were viciously angry because they wished with all their hearts they had been the ones to discover the Brink’s sack. It would have been the stuff of their dreams. They hated the honest black janitor. They were jealous. They were also thieves at heart, consumed with avarice.

Millions worship at the altar of success. They drive themselves relentlessly, sometimes sacrificing personal health, mental tranquillity, friends, even marriages, in order to gain material success. Jesus’ command that we pray for God’s sustenance one day at a time has to do with the poison of idolatry; worshipping things, the things money can buy; worshipping power, success.

What is success? There was a newspaper story about a distraught, mentally disturbed man in New York who gulped down poison just after he had poured lighter fluid on himself, quickly slashed his wrists, then struck a match and jumped out a multi-storied building to his death. This man wanted to make sure he was successful—at suicide. But success is measured in this world by the size of one’s bank account, not the quality of one’s character. There are many filled wallets and empty lives.

Jesus spoke a parable concerning success. He told of “…a certain nobleman [who] went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds [a sum of money], and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come.’

“But His citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto Him, to whom he had given the money, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading.

“Then came the first, saying, ‘Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.’ And he said unto him, ‘Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.’ And he said likewise unto him, ‘Be thou also over five cities.’ And another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin, for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.’

“And he said unto him, ‘Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

“And he said unto them that stood by, ‘Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.’ (And they said unto him, ‘Lord he hath ten pounds,’) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.

“But those mine enemies, which would not that I reign over them, bring hither, and slay before me” (Luke 19:12-27).

In a parallel analogy, the “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30), Christ said the money was given to each servant “according to his several ability.” The lesson is clear that Christ is speaking of Himself as the Nobleman. We are the servants, to whom Christ has given individual gifts—our own personalities, abilities, natural talents. Each of us is expected to produce according to our natural abilities. It matters not that one is more able than the other, the proportionate degree of success is the same! The servant who hid his talents like money in a mattress was the one who was chastised.

Those to whom Christ delivers the largest sums are expected to be busily occupied in becoming a success. Here, Christ is not impugning increase; He is not disparaging gain. No, He is encouraging it!

Notice the underlying approbation of the free enterprise system. The wealthy landowner has the perfect right to commission employees as he likes. He has the right to strike separate bargains, sign different contracts, deliver different commissions, according to his assessment of each man’s natural abilities.

Obviously, Christ is using successful enterprise as a type of building character; overcoming sin. Not everyone starts even. Some have inherently more natural ability than others. Still, their reward is the same, spiritually, if they overcome to the best of their natural ability. Christ is not disparaging money. He is using money as an example of Christian overcoming, showing it is a matter of priorities. Those who covet wealth are guilty of idolatry. Idolatry and covetousness are sins, which are punishable by eternal death, loss of God’s Kingdom! Learning how to handle material success, how to handle money wisely and generously is a powerful test of character, a measuring rule which is used by God to determine our fitness for His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ was not an ascetic. He did not enjoin upon us lives of abstinence, poverty, failure. God does not glory in the lack of accomplishment, inability, indolence, laziness; He is not impressed by the vanity of the poor. (Yes, even poor people can have vanity coupled with hatred of the wealthy, it is one of their main defenses against pangs of conscience, a method whereby they can convince themselves their plight is always someone else’s fault, which, in some cases, it is.) These two parables show Christ expects His servants to prosper. God does not automatically reject those who are successful.

David’s son, Solomon, became king over Israel. He expanded the Davidic kingdom; built a magnificent temple to God, palaces, public buildings. He had a throne of pure ivory carved for himself, imported peacocks and apes, exotic animals from India; imported metals from the British Isles. His kingdom was magnificent to the point of breathtaking splendor. Queen Hatshepsut of upper Egypt, most probably the “Queen of Sheba” of the Bible, related how her visit to Jerusalem had “taken her breath,” when she saw the beautiful buildings, balustraded, terraced gardens, flowing streams, reflective pools, fountains, the fabulous treasures of Solomon’s temple and palace.

Solomon was one of the wealthiest men of all time. He wrote of the entire experience of amassing his wealth. “I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

“So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour … then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). The book of Ecclesiastes is an object lesson in priorities. Time and again, Solomon mused on the fact that “one event happeneth to both the wise and the fool,” meaning death; he pondered the final end of those who had spent their lives in amassing wealth, only to leave it to others, and to go down to the dust of earth in the same fashion as the poor. Finally, he said, “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

Solomon almost became a candidate for suicide. But, as he continually said, his philosophical pursuits were governed by the retention of his unusual amount of wisdom which God had given him. Even though giving himself over to every sensual pleasure; drunkenness, sex, sumptuous banquets, concerts; the trappings and entertainment of kings; he retained his insightful wisdom. At the end of it all he wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man.” (The words, “duty of” in the KJV are italicized, indicating translators added them later). When Solomon spoke of “vanity and vexation of spirit” he used an expression which means, literally, “striving after wind.” He knew the lifelong struggle for material wealth was like trying to seize a handful of air in one’s grasp.

Solomon came to see relative values. Since death is the common occurrence, recognizing no class, no position, no amount of material wealth, he came to understand that each individual should live to the very best of his ability; that the “whole man” was only attainable through the keeping of God’s commandments, study of God’s word; discovery of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Without understanding the purpose of human life, Solomon came to see, life was merely a “striving after a handful of wind.”

Yet, for all his wisdom, Solomon’s heart was turned away by his many wives and concubines during his old age (1 Kings 11:1-9).

Jesus Christ did not imply we should live in a state of uncertainty concerning our next meal, that any degree of material success, any accumulation of wealth, is inherently wrong. With Christ, it was all a matter of priorities, of emphasis. He gave the parable of “Lazarus and the Rich Man” to illustrate the sin of calloused disregard for the plight of the poor (Luke 16:19-31). Christ also spoke of the deceitfulness of riches in His famous parable of the sower. The seed that fell among thorns was analogous to “he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he become unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

Again, it is a matter of emphasis. Christ said, “Therefore I say unto you take no [anxious, worried] thought for your life; what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and body than raiment?” Then followed His examples of how God clothes the beautiful flowers of the field; how He feeds the fowl of the air. Christ asked, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

“Therefore take no thought [the Greek word means “anxious thought” –conveys fear, worry, concern], saying ‘What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

“Take therefore no [anxious] thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”(Matthew 6:25-34). Notice Christ says God knows we have need of “all these things.” It is a matter of emphasis. Where are our hearts and minds? Are we so busily concentrating on making ends meet, earning a living, or attempting to amass wealth, that we have no time for the very purpose for our lives? God wants our priorities straight first, then He promises to supply our every need.

An outstanding example of wrong priorities occurred when Jesus offered a very wealthy young man a discipleship. The youth asked Christ, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him… ‘if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments!’ He saith unto Him, ‘Which?’ Jesus said, ‘Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ The young man saith unto Him, ‘All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.’

“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, ‘Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly [with great difficulty] enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.’ His disciples were dumbfounded at this saying, but Jesus said, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ ” (Matthew 19:16-26).

God does not say it is impossible for the rich to enter His Kingdom, He merely says it is extremely difficult. Why? Priorities. Christ warned, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” How many truly secure rich people are there? How many are consumed with worry, anxiety? How much is enough? The sorrowful human examples are legion; history is replete with the common human tragedy of the utter devastation wrought in human lives through great wealth. How many “stars” have there been who have simply been unable to handle “stardom,” and whose lives were ruined as a result? Priorities. If we know and are busily fulfilling the purpose in our lives, no amount of wealth will corrupt us. But if we are pursuing success, glamour, fame, wealth; the things money can buy as ends in themselves, then we shrivel up inside; we become avaricious, cunning, deceitful, utterly selfish. These base human motives bespoil the beautiful character God wants to see developed in us as surely as a vial of acid will ruin a great painting. Again, it is a matter of priorities.

In a stinging condemnation, James indicts the indifference of the very rich toward the poor: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

“Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth [Lord of Hosts]. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned the just; and he doth not resist you” (James 5:1-6).

Here, James cites fraud, murder, deliberate exploitation of labor as crimes which resulted in ill-gotten gain. This is not a general condemnation of anyone who happens to have material substance, but an indictment of those who cheat, steal, and murder to become rich. As such, it is a perfect indictment against organized crime, against those who become super-rich trafficking in drugs. This is wealth accumulated at any price, riches no matter what.

Christ’s instruction to pray for our sustenance “one day at a time” becomes much clearer in the light of James’ statement, “Go to now [Or, “come on, now,”], ye that say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:’ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that,’ but now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing [boasting of the future without regard to God] is evil” (James 4:13-16).

Priorities again. If the would-be businessman were to take God into His business as a partner, saying, “If it is God’s will, I will go to such and such a city, and buy and sell, and get gain,” and if he means he will conduct his business according to God’s will, as we saw in chapter five, then His priorities are straight; he is placing God and His Kingdom first in his life! Such a man will not profit illegally. He will not attempt to achieve success through cheating his neighbor. He will not evince calloused disregard for the poor.

When Christ says to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” He wants us to remember His vitally important statement, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). He wants us to remember the terrible fragility of our lives, our temporality. The prayer of the righteous thinks first of the needs of others, addresses the needs of the poor, the sick, the diseased, the crippled and helpless, the lonely, the injured and the dying. Then, the prayer of the righteous asks, “Give us only that of which we have need,” in a selfless, giving, sharing attitude of concern toward fellow man.

Here and there, we have been amazed at the examples of the super rich who seemingly could not give away their money fast enough. There are inspiring accounts of magnanimity, altruism almost beyond belief. Such examples prove it is possible to become very wealthy without allowing money to corrupt character.

It is not wrong to go to God with a request on our lips; to include the words, “Give us…” in our prayer. It’s all a matter of priorities.

There are not a few examples of extremely wealthy, successful men who retained sight of moral values; whose wealth, instead of corrupting them, made them great. Such a man was Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie was born the son of a small businessman in Scotland; his father owned a handloom business. Unfortunately, the competition of steam power forced the Carnegies out of business in about 1848, and they decided to emigrate to the United States. Young Andrew was only 10 years old when he got a job as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory at 20 cents per day. He was a precocious lad; his keen mind brought him to the attention of a supervisor in the engine room where he learned how to be an engine tender. Next, his arithmetic and good penmanship earned a promotion to clerk. Then he got a job as a telegraph messenger, which, due to his curiosity about Morse and telegraphy, resulted in a job as telegraph operator. Meanwhile, he became a part-time newspaper reporter, specializing in the telegraphic end of the news.

That resulted in his appointment as telegraphic train dispatcher to the Pennsylvania Railroad. Later, he became personal secretary to the general superintendent of the railroad, Colonel Thomas A. Scott. When Scott became vice president of the line, he named Carnegie superintendent of the Pittsburgh division. Learning of the booming sales of the Pullman sleeping-car system, Carnegie shrewdly invested in the Woodruff Company, which held the original patents. His soaring dividends went into carefully selected oil lands around Oil City, PA. When the Civil War broke out, Carnegie was put in charge of eastern military railroads and telegraph lines.

Carnegie saw, in about 1862, that wooden bridges were going to be replaced with iron ones. He organized the Keystone Bridge Company, which constructed the first iron bridge across the Ohio River. Later, as a result of this experience, he left the railroad to construct the Union Iron Works, which included furnaces and rolling mills. By 1888 he had acquired a controlling interest in eight other steel works around Pittsburgh, mostly due to the practice of using slack periods to improve plants and purchase new equipment, so he was ready instantly when business picked up again. This placed him far ahead of his competitors. His profits soared, and by 1899 he consolidated all of them into one gigantic company, the Carnegie Steel Company. By 1901, Carnegie retired from business life and transferred his company, valued in 1901 dollars at $500 million, into the still larger United States Steel Corporation, formed by J. Pierpont Morgan.

Carnegie began to write; to travel. His book The Gospel of Wealth caused quite a stir on both sides of the Atlantic, for he had developed a philosophy which said, in brief, that the very wealthy should be governed by a sense of argent oblige; that the accumulation of material wealth and prosperity carried with it an obligation to use that wealth for the public good.

He set himself to give his money away wisely—realizing this was no easy task; that money is power, authority; that it can ruin lives as well as enhance them. Carnegie established institutes and foundations; the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh was originally endowed with $24 million, and included a museum of fine arts, a music hall, a museum of natural history, and an institute of technology with a library school. He established the Carnegie Institution of Washington to encourage scientific research; the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission to recognize heroic acts performed in every day life; the Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with gifts of $22 million, $10 million, $15 million and $10 million, respectively.

He became a renowned and successful author, writing many books, including Triumphant Democracy, Problems of Today, and An American Four-in-Hand in Britain.

Carnegie died at the age of 84, having lived a life of success; of travel, study, creativity, energy, productivity, and generosity. He gave away huge sums of money, such as the $135 million he gave to establish the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the purpose of the “advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.”

The accounts of fame and fortune corrupting we mortals are more plentiful than those relating largess, but Carnegie’s example proves it is possible. Christ does not smile on poverty for its own sake. It is not “righteous” to be poor, any more than it is automatically evil to be rich. Character is what counts.

It is a supreme test of character to get on your knees and pray, “…and give us this day our daily bread…” and really mean it!

CHAPTER NINE

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…”

God wants us to pray for forgiveness. It is one of the most vital prerequisites to successful prayer; when we are repentant over our personal shortcomings, calling out to our heavenly Father for forgiveness, He is eager to listen. David said, “The Eternal is gracious and full of compassion” (Psalms 111: 4). One of God’s great qualities is that of mercy.

What response do we want from our children when they have committed some grievous error? Isn’t it deep contrition; genuine remorse? The attitude of broken-hearted repentance is something God almighty loves to see in His children. He says “…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor [Hebrew: “lowly, humble”] and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).

When Christ said we should pray for forgiveness, He specifically said “debts,” or “trespasses,” which mean, in a generic sense, “sins.” And what is sin? “… Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Christ magnified the Ten Commandments by His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” and by all His teaching, and life’s example. He said though murder was a capital crime, carrying the penalty of death by stoning under the letter of the law; hatred in one’s heart toward any fellow human being was an equal sin; God counts it murder, and the penalty is death. Christ made the Ten Commandments much more binding, lifting the law to a spiritual plane.

It is a sin to break even what Christ called the “least” of His teachings. Sin is not a vague something that is “displeasing to God,” nor is it a list of taboos concerning personal tastes and life styles, any more than righteousness is turning around three times a second, sprinkling salt over one’s left shoulder, and mumbling a mantra while balancing on one leg. “Debts,” or “trespasses,” are infractions of God’s law as magnified by Christ. They are human actions stemming from human attitudes that are disrespectful toward God and harmful to fellow man. Some kinds of sins hurt in three ways: They hurt our relationship with God; they hurt our fellow man, and they hurt us as a natural consequence.

God’s laws are established for the good of mankind. They are not negative; rather, they are the formula for everything we really want; physical well-being, happiness, success, a long life!

When we break God’s laws, we incur a double penalty. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The death which is the penalty for sin is not the event which happens to us all, good or bad. God says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Death is natural. It is the one great event common to all human beings, but this first death is not the penalty for sin. Yet, the Bible says the wages of sin is death. What is the answer?

Christ said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life … the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

“For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:24-29). The Greek word for “damnation” is better rendered “judgment.”

The resurrection from the dead is one of the most clearly and oftstated doctrines of God’s Word. The entire 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with this important subject. Notice only a few excerpts: “Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: Whom He raised not up if so be that the dead rise not … but now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept … even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:12-23). Toward the end of this chapter, Paul says, “Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep [die the first death], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

The Bible says those who are the “dead in Christ” will rise to meet Christ at His coming, and shall reign with Him in His glorious Kingdom for 1,000 years. Notice: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

But what about those who are non-Christian when they die? What about the third world countries: the billions of human beings in the Soviet Union, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ? God’s Word says, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:4-5).

The wages of sin is not the “first death” which happens naturally to every human being, including the finest people who have ever lived. No, the final payout for sin is described in the latter part of Revelation 20: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things written in the books, according to their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [Greek: hades, meaning the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell [hades] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:12-15).

The answer is, God Almighty has decreed there is coming a resurrection from the dead, both for the just and the unjust. The first resurrection we have seen described takes place at the second coming of Christ, and is the resurrection of the “dead in Christ.” Christ said, “Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God, and ye yourselves cast out” to those who plotted His murder. The second resurrection takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, and is a great, general resurrection of all who have never heard the name of Christ; who have never had opportunity for salvation.

The metaphor, “death and the grave are cast into the lake of fire”, is grim warning of the final fate awaiting those who will not repent; who remain incorrigibly contrary to God’s will, His purpose in their lives, His holy laws.

It is given to all men once to die, but this is not the penalty for sin, per se. Though one may die as a direct result of sin (as murder, or suicide), the penalty for the perpetrator is not this first, physical death. The penalty for sins not repented of is death for all eternity, a most horrible death, final destruction in a lake of fire.

Notice the dead are said to be judged out of things “written in the books.” The Greek word for “books” is biblos and, transliterated, means “Bible.” How are we, this living generation, judged? God says, “The time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). We are judged today according to the standard of God’s written Word. God will not change His method of judgment. He says He is the “same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and “I change not…” (Malachi 3:6).

Remember, judgment is not synonymous with “sentencing.” The childhood picture we were given was as if there is some mysterious book, probably kept by angels, which contains every evil deed we have done; that, when we face “St. Peter at the pearly gates,” angels consult this terrible record of all our personal sins, and it is decided whether we “go up, or go down” to heaven or to hell. Not so. The Bible says Christians are judged over the period of their entire lives by those things written in the Biblos, meaning the Bible, the written standard of God. God does not change His method of judgment. Those coming up in the great, general resurrection will also be judged from the Bible, just as we are being judged today.

Furthermore, since Christ tells us to pray for forgiveness on a daily basis, that means we can have a daily “clean sheet” so far as any record of evil deeds is concerned! What is that worth to us? Of what value is it to know that Jesus Christ, as our Intercessor, sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven to make daily intercession on our behalf, turning to His Father and saying words to this effect: “Father, I understand that person; I understand those temptations, those sins—I ask you to forgive that person.” God says, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true [as the tabernacle in the wilderness], but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).

If you have little confidence in your own prayers, how much confidence can you place in the prayers of Christ Himself? He said, “Neither pray I for these alone [His disciples], but them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). Jesus Christ is our personal Emissary in heaven; our own personal High Priest. He is there to make daily intercession on our behalf, if we will only call out to God the Father in His name. No wonder Christ wants us to repent of sin! Can any man, no matter how impassioned, no matter how eloquent, accurately portray for us the awful consequences of unrepentance, or portray for us the breathtaking splendor of God’s Kingdom as an opposite reward? Our personal shortcomings and sins are the most important obstacle to successful prayer! God says, “Behold, the Eternal’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity” (Isaiah 59:1-4).

God wants us to come to Him in a continual attitude of contrition for our human failings, always cognizant of our sins. John, writing to Christians, said, “If we [we, who are Christians] say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

When we pray…. “and forgive us our debts [sins], as we forgive our debtors,” we are automatically acknowledging the conditions God has imposed on our own forgiveness. What are those conditions?

Peter asked, “ ‘Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘I say not unto thee until seven times: but, until seventy times seven!’ ” (Matthew 18:21-22). Christ immediately followed this rejoinder with a parable about forgiveness; how a king forgave a huge debt to a man, who, now relieved of his debt, discovered a friend who owed him money, and promptly had him jailed because he couldn’t pay. The result was that the king discovered the matter, and threw the first debtor into the dungeon. Christ concluded, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother’s trespasses” (Matthew 18:23-35).

When Christ gave His outline for prayer we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” He said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14).

That’s pretty plain. When we forgive, God hears our prayers for forgiveness. If we harbor resentments, grudges, spites, petty hatreds, remembrances of carnal human hostilities between ourselves and any other fellow human being, it cancels out our prayers as surely as pulling the plug to our lamp. God simply does not hear us if we have the slightest resentment in our hearts, the slightest lack of forgiveness toward fellow man. The bulk of the lesson of the Sermon on the Mount, in which we find Christ’s outline for prayer, is taken up with the same subject.

Christ said, “Judge not [condemn not] that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, ‘Let me pull out the mote of thine eye:’ and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

“Mote-casting” is a favorite pastime of many Christians. Somehow, we delight in gossiping about the frailties, mistakes, inadequacies, faults, poor taste, or lack of social graces we see in our own friends and neighbors. We tend to see with the sharpness of an eagle’s piercing vision the tiniest infractions committed by others. Yet, we tend to be blind to the same things in ourselves. It is this peculiarly carnal, human tendency to criticize our neighbor that God wants rooted out of our character. What if God were spiteful, petty, vindictive? None of us would be alive! But no, He is generous, kind, good, longsuffering, patient, tolerant, eager to forgive. If we are to be inducted into God’s own family, He wants us to be like He is!

Jesus Christ wants above all things for us to repent of our sins. He tells us to pray for forgiveness on a daily basis, for He knows we can only live life “one day at a time.” Even as He tells us to ask for our physical sustenance; protection from sickness, accident and disease on a daily basis, so He encourages us to remain in a daily state of contrition toward God.

We all know the biggest little word in the English language: “if.” Christ tells us we will be forgiven IF we are willing to forgive others. The key is in the phrase, “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors!”

Peter said the three-fold key to salvation is, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Jesus said, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” and, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

David was a man after God’s own heart because He was repentant when he had sinned. Motion pictures have depicted David’s affair with Bathsheba; his calloused decision to send her husband, Uriah, to the front lines in an impending battle, sure to result in his death. A child was engendered as a result of his adultery, and God allowed the child to die. When God caused David to see clearly his great sins, adultery compounded by murder, David cried out in anguish of soul.

The 51st Psalm has come down to us as an example of repentance. David cried, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness: … wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight: … purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow … hide thy face from my sins, and blot out mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:1-10).

This entire Psalm should be read by any of us who seek God’s forgiveness, for it is a moving example of a truly repentant man, who had to come face to face with his own monstrous guilt, whose sins had so sickened him he felt self revulsion, anguish of heart over them, who cried out to God for forgiveness. No wonder God said David was a “man after God’s own heart.” God shows us He loves to see contrition in His children, even as we want repentance in our own child. We don’t punish to exact vengeance. We don’t punish, or take away privileges from children to “get even.” No, we are so solicitous of their welfare, we want the most salubrious possible result of necessary constraints—heartfelt contrition!

The apostle Paul was a man of great hatreds prior to his conversion. Armed with letters of authority from the chief priests, he was on a mission of hate, compelling Christians to blaspheme the name of God under torture. He was seeking to stamp out the new Christian religion through force of arms. Yet, when on the road to Damascus, he was suddenly stricken by a heavenly light; heard a thunderous voice saying, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Blinded, he could only grope for someone to assist him. God sent one of His servants, Ananias, to lay hands on him and say, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized … and straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; is not this he that destroyed them which called on His name in Jerusalem, and came hither for the intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ (Acts 9:17-21).

Paul, as he came to be named, became one of the most dedicated, humble, hard-working Christians of whom we have record. He was used to write fourteen books of the Bible. But never once during his ministry did Paul forget who he had been, what he had done; he said, “And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme” (Acts 26: 11), and cried out, “For I am the least of the apostles, that I am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9).

Paul never became forgetful of his old sins, even though he knew he had God’s forgiveness. He was a beautiful example of one who, though forgiven, never became intolerant of other men’s sins. He wrote, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do … now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:14-24).

Paul wrote, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1: 12-16).

Jesus Christ of Nazareth died to save each one of us. Paul knew his own life’s work was set forth as an example of Christ’s love and mercy; that we, today, can come to understand the depths of God’s forgiveness. We, you and I, are among those “which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.”

We know, then, that God only forgives us as we forgive others. We also know He won’t hear us if we have a spirit of lack of forgiveness, or if our own sins have canceled out all communication with God.

How to receive an answer to prayer? First, repent of our sins; call out to God for forgiveness. Do as Peter said, to those who had been so stricken by what He said about Christ on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). When you repent, go to God feeling deeply, with the clearest possible introspection, a genuine emotion of self-disgust, self-revulsion over what you have done, what you have become! A part of what we have been, as carnal human beings, is vindictive, spiteful, short-tempered; desiring vengeance! These motives are prominent among those of which we must repent. Once we have repented, then forgive! Forgive others from the heart, even as you want God to forgive you! Forgive!

Think of a few people you know—family members, business associates. Do you know anyone against whom you have certain hard feelings; old grudges, resentments, hostility? If so, get on your knees and ask God to help you come to an attitude of love and forgiveness toward them. Are you easily irritated? Do people make you angry in crowds, in restaurants, lanes of traffic, the check-out line in the supermarket? Are you easily tempted to sneer at the foibles of others?

Take a few moments to think introspectively about the kind of person you are. Do you tend to overlook the faults of others? Are you tolerant, not easily angered? Do you encourage those who make mistakes, such as your own children, or do you tend to criticize, saying, “You stupid child! Look what you have done! What am I going to do with you?” When you should have said, “That’s all right darling, I’ll help you clean it up, and then I’ll show you how not to make the same mistake next time!”

Can you honestly say you don’t hold anything against anyone? If so, you can go to your private place of prayer and pray in confidence, asking God to forgive you this day for your daily infractions against His perfect will; “as I am willing to forgive others,” and really mean it!

Remember, prayer is a time for secrets! You can confess things to God that cause the most bitter anguish of soul. He will keep your secrets. After all, He saw you when you committed that particular sin anyway—God, Christ, and several million angels—and they’ve never told anyone about them yet, have they? God knows our every act, hears our words, knows the thoughts of our hearts. So when you pray for forgiveness, get specific! At the same time, get specific about your forgiveness toward others. When you think about Mary, George, Helen, or John, think of specific things that might have irritated you; realize they are people made in God’s image just like you are; think of them as God does. Remember, Christ said He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Paul wrote, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If God has loved us at our worst; allowed His own Son to die for our sins, what right have we to harbor feelings of anger toward any other human being?

When Jesus spoke of forgiving one’s brother, He likened it to bringing a gift to the temple. He said, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift before the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Do you sincerely want to receive an answer to prayer? Then do as Jesus Christ says, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Want to make a new start, a new beginning? Then get in touch by letter, telephone, or in person with someone you love, but against whom you have had some bad feelings. Tell them you want to apologize. Tell them you’ve been wrong to be unforgiving. Ask them to forgive you; you’ll be surprised how quickly old wounds will heal! Then, go to God on your knees and ask Him for forgiveness as part of your prayer requests. God can’t turn away from His own children when they come in that attitude. He says so!

CHAPTER TEN

“And lead us not into temptation…”

The Greek word for temptation is pierasmos, which means adversity, a trying situation, putting to proof, discipline, provocation. Actually, the phrase would better be rendered into our modern English: “And allow us not to be led away of temptations.” God emphatically says He will not tempt us!

Notice what James, the Lord’s brother, wrote, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man!

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

“Do not err, my beloved brethren [by thinking God tempts us] every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:12-17).

At first glance, it appears Christ is telling us to pray that God will not lead us into temptation; as if we would be tempted of God if we did not pray otherwise. But no, we find the Bible says God is neither tempted, nor will He deliberately tempt anyone.

Satan is called “the tempter.” He is called “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). Peter described Satan as a “roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Satan is a very real being. He has destructive powers which he can use insofar as God allows (read the example of Job’s trials—how Satan caused the death of his family and servants), and is aided by literally millions of fallen angels called “demons.” These powerful spirit beings are able to influence, and sometimes even possess, human minds. There is simply no question whatever of the existence of these spirit cohorts of Satan.

Christ encountered many who were possessed of demons, and cast the demons out, restoring these afflicted humans to their normal, rational state.

God promises His children protection from Satan and his demons. He says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). James also wrote, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). We need not be in fear of demons or Satan, but we do need to be aware of their power, of their evil influences. God says it is the demons who fear; that, in the presence of Christ and His Spirit, they must shrink away in fear.

There are three major sources of temptation of which we should be aware: Satan, society, and our own human natures.

Remember the Bible’s description of our natural, fleshly minds? We are “not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” in our natural human state prior to conversion (Romans 8:7). Human nature contains vanity, jealousy, lust, greed, avarice, cunning, selfishness, and, now and then, beneficence, selflessness, and surprising humanitarian instincts. How many hundreds of books are there concerning the human mind; our ego, our psyche, our mental, psychological and spiritual makeup? Human nature is a mixture of good and evil. The most evil person who ever lived might contain certain good qualities; the finest may contain various evil qualities.

When we were born, we were an altogether sweet, precious, innocent, beautiful little life to our parents. They showered love and affection on us; showed us tender concern, the finest care. We did not learn how to reciprocate this outpouring of loving concern until many years later. Some never do. No, for all our innocence as a little child, we were mostly a collection of unbridled physical appetites.

As an adult, when we are uncomfortable, hurt, hungry, cold, or tired, we express ourselves in controlled ways. We may be vindictive toward one who has hurt us, or we may snap at someone, “For Pete’s sake, (why do we say that—why not “For John’s sake,” or “For Elmer’s sake?”) close the door, I’m freezing to death!” A spouse might snap at a mate, “Will you turn off that light, so I can get some sleep?” But normally, we don’t explode in mindless tantrums over minor discomforts. By adulthood, we’re supposed to have outgrown all that.

As a child, we simply yell. We fill our lungs with air, kick, wave our arms about, and scream out our hurt, frustration, anger, and self pity. What parent has not moved with compassion to see the lower lip of their tiny infant curl downward, the eyes fill with tears, the plaintive wail of absolute self pity, as if to say, “You must hate me terribly, to make me feel this way?” Babies have no sense of fairness. They wail as if their little hearts will break even as Mom is doing everything in her power to coddle and love them.

As a little child, we are completely unacceptable to normal society. We are blissfully unaware of all social graces. We cannot control our bodily processes. We drool, burp, spit up, urinate and defecate with gleeful abandon—and unless our parents are quick to clean us up, we will play in it all if they let us. We do all of this happily unaware that it is unacceptable behavior. Why? Because we are, at this stage, a collection of appetites and emotion. There is no character development as yet, only human functions and uncoordinated motor facility.

The first area of development is physical. Then, we begin to grow mentally. Like punching information into a computer, our little minds begin to absorb knowledge and experience like a sponge. The last way most people grow up is emotionally; some never do. The rarest maturation of all is to grow up spiritually, through repentance, and receiving God’s Spirit.

Everything we know; about history, philosophy, science, theology, was “programmed” into our mental computer by our teachers, parents, friends; by influential people around us and through experience. Many of us have never taken the time to study and think through our religious concepts; many merely inherited them through parents and friends. We tend to trust the “professionals” when we look for help in real estate, tax returns, or purchasing a car. It is the same in religion. Somehow, we have acquired a false concept about God; about just what it is He is supposed to be doing here below. That’s why we cry out “O God, where are You when I need You?” We tend to feel our troubles are somehow God’s responsibility, that He could do something about them if only He would.

As carnal humans, we do not really single out God in heaven above for our anger. At least, most of us don’t. But indirectly, in our self-pitying, self-conscious, egocentric plunge through life, we tend to lash out at God. “Why me?” “Why does everything bad happen to me?” In our petulance, it is as if the very elements have contrived to thwart us. All “Sunday hackers” in the golf world know this is so. They do not doubt for a moment that the weather, the ball manufacturer, the club-maker, the lie of the land, the root beneath their ball, or the fellow on the adjacent green who said something during their backswing all conspired to ruin their shot. They can be heard fervently cursing these and other factors, or making extremely harsh and repeated reference to divinity as they hook, slice, shank and skull the ball around the course. Few recognize the real problem—the loose nut on the end of the shaft!

Psychologists know most—that’s right, most human beings are afflicted with a vast inferiority complex. It is virtually axiomatic that some of the greatest achievers in society were those with the largest inferiority complexes; those who sought to prove to themselves and the world at large they were not as inferior as they believed themselves to be. Inferiority can be a driving force which produces boundless energy in some people, forcing them to struggle continually for success.

God’s Word shows this is not God’s society; this present world with all its evils is not of God’s making. He is not generally intervening in human lives today. It is only when we come to realize God is not a God of convenience; He is not a part-time “helpful Genie” to bail us out of trouble, but otherwise remain somnolent and avoid restraining us from our own self-willed choices; only when we understand that mankind has invited God out of its social structures that we finally see this present evil world in its true perspective. We are just “out here,” taking our chances like anyone else, unless and until we repent of our sins, and come to God the Father through Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Then we can use the outline of the “Lord’s Prayer” in a daily sense, and we can expect dramatic results! Want to overcome temptations in your life? God will help you, as long as you are willing to do your part.

What are the temptations Christ says we should pray to avoid? We know the most obvious ones, surely; stealing, cheating, robbing, lying, plotting revenge or murder. But most of us are rarely “tempted” to commit a crime. The temptations most common are those of appetites. Our human appetites involve the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and feel. As Solomon said, “All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). When are we truly “filled” with sated senses? Solomon wrote, “All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8).

The lust to see can become an obnoxious human passion in some cases. We’re all familiar with “rubber necking” motorists who cause horrible traffic snarls on the freeways when they go ever so slowly past an accident to see the jangled metal, bleeding bodies, and general chaos. The desire to see this or that distant place, beautiful scene, or smoking disaster, has led millions of humans like thundering herds of stampeding wildebeests to rush here and there in order to fulfill the desire of the eye, to see! “I want to see, Daddy!” we yelled as children, when standing in the third rank as the circus parade went by. Satisfying the desire to see is not a sin in itself, of course, any more than eating is a sin, or an inordinate temptation, so long as we eat those things which are healthful, and which do not harm us. God says He is the heavenly Father “…Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things” (Psalms 103:5). It is only when the desire to see becomes lust, when appetite leads to careless disregard for others, that the exercise of our physical senses becomes sinful.

The “desire of the eyes” becomes a sin when lust enters; when lust has conceived. It is this lust which supports a multi-billion dollar porno industry. The basest of all examples is the kind of under-the-counter home video or film which actually portrays a real murder which is committed during some orgiastic sex scene.

The desire to fulfill our appetites leads to an enormous host of sins, spiritual and physical. Drinking, smoking, overeating; these can cause lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, gout, kidney stones, a number of other diseases, and are directly linked to substances we ingest in order to satisfy sensual cravings.

And what is more tempting, to those possessing a “sweet tooth,” than a big, three-scoop banana split laced with syrupy sauces? What is more tempting to a voyeur than an X-rated book store or nude peep show? What is more tempting to an alcoholic than a bottle of Glen Livet Scotch? Physical temptations of the appetites are as commonplace as breathing. They come to us in a daily barrage of advertising, human contacts, and our own physical senses. As Freud understood, one of the most powerful appetites in the human creature is that of sexual fulfillment.

Two of the Ten Commandments deal directly with sex. One says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” and the other says, “Thou shalt not covet.” The breaking of God’s laws governing sexual behavior has led directly to the gradual destruction of our homes and families. Our nation is only as strong as our homes. When this essential institution is in chaotic disarray, our society itself is in deadly peril. As we learned earlier, only approximately fifteen percent of our homes in the United States are traditional, with father and mother in Godgiven roles. Much of entertainment, much of literature, seems aimed at satisfaction of the sensual pleasures of sex. The effect of all this is divorce, abandonment of children, desertion of mates, child stealing, millions of single parents, and soaring statistics concerning murders within the family. Homicide is increasingly “home-icide,” for police statistics tell us the most common murders are among family members.

If you sincerely desire to be in control of your own life; to make your own decisions, coolly, calmly, and rationally, then you need to sit down and make out a private list of your most acute temptations. Those you recognize, at least.

Are you overweight? What are your favorite foods? What substitutes are there? Have you read any of the many books available on eating right, altering your diet, starting an exercise program? Have you had a complete physical exam in the last year to determine your level of blood cholesterol? Millions of Americans seem to ignore the many warnings, and the body count of the dead from heart attacks continues to climb. Even young athletes, who outwardly appear to be in supreme physical condition, can drop dead of stroke or heart attack, because of our high fat diet. Anciently, God said, “You shall eat no manner of fat” (Leviticus 7:23). He knew what He was talking about.

Do you smoke? There are many Schick centers; help is only as far away as the yellow pages. There are many books and magazine articles on the subject. Do you sincerely want to break the habit? You can, with God’s intervention, plenty of will power, and some human help, as well.

Singling out one temptation at a time and overcoming it is an exhilarating experience. God loves an overcomer! Christ said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

One of the most frightening and ominous of all temptations common to Americans today is that of drugs. Does any of us need to be told about the enormity of the problem; of the new, purer form of cocaine called “crack” which has killed top young athletes, and which is powerfully addictive, probably from its very first use? Millions of Americans are hooked on drugs.

Are drugs part of your own problem? If so, the first step to overcoming it is to admit it. Many lie to themselves, play clever little games about how they are able to “handle it.” Reformed alcoholics and drug addicts can tell you about the clever little lies they uttered to their innermost psyche: “I can handle it.” Most go through protracted periods of denial. They deny they have a drinking problem. They deny they have a problem with drugs, telling themselves they are in complete control, that they can handle it.

Recognizing the lies, admitting you’re in trouble, can be the first major step toward overcoming such a powerful addiction. Of course, at the addiction state, we are far beyond what James talked about concerning temptations. He said a man is enticed of his lust, remember, and that when lust has become action, then sin ensues. And sin, says your Bible, “brings forth death!” Do you have certain temptations you hope with all your heart you can overcome?

It is important that we pray specifically about temptations. Single them out. Talk to God about them. Tell Him how badly you are “hooked” on this or that temptation in your life. You see, Jesus Christ of Nazareth was tempted too! Surprised? But why should you be? Christ was human; He was all man. Every common temptation of the appetites and senses was experienced by Christ. But with a difference! He overcame the temptations. They never became lust, and lust never conceived into sin. Yet, He experienced the tug and pull of appetite, of the temptations common to every one of us. Notice, “For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:16-18).

Jesus Christ had all the normal, robust appetites of any other 30-year-old Jewish man of His day. He could look on the beauty of young girls and experience powerful attraction—yes, temptation! He could see the hatred directed toward Him and be tempted to answer back in kind; He could see and smell foods He knew He should not eat; He could desire to sleep until late into the morning, when, instead, He would rise up early, go to a private place, and pray.

Whatever passions, emotions, sensory desires are common to us all—Jesus experienced. But He never sinned! Temptation never got the better of Him. It never became lust! Study the 4th chapter of Matthew, and the account of His temptations from Satan himself, during a time when Christ was at His very weakest physical condition, having fasted for forty days and forty nights! This is an account of a titanic battle being fought, a struggle of will, for the dominance of this earth. Christ met every villainous temptation and challenge of Satan; conquered Satan, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and Christ’s own Spirit of obedience to His Father in heaven.

Many fail to understand that God is not intervening in this world except in special cases; that He hears and answers prayers for those who obey Him; that answered prayer is not for everyone.

Have you ever known people who were bitter toward God? I have. I knew of a deeply religious young woman who lost a child at birth. She could not reconcile the loss of her child with the loving, kind, merciful God of whom she had heard. She felt betrayed; as if God had singled her out for especially harsh treatment. Beside herself with grief and agonizing loss, she screamed out against God. I heard later that she became so severely mentally disturbed she had to be institutionalized. A rare case? Perhaps. Yet, there are many of us who have difficulty reconciling personal tragedy with the concept of a God who is loving, kind and good.

Soldiers involved in the stinking carnage of warfare, shockingly and brutally brought face to face with the fact that war is not the way the movies portray it; that it is not glamorous or heroic; that it is only gnawing, mindless fear, the shrieks of wounded and dying buddies, the stench of death; many such men have completely lost all faith in God; many have denied His existence. Others have experienced the exact opposite effect. Many have found God on the battlefield. Many have been unable to account for their survival except through God’s help.

Why is it so difficult for some of us to see that God is not the Author of man’s sins? That God is allowing us free choice; He is not actively intervening in this world in any general sense; He is not preventing the wretched effects of the evil causes man sets in motion? Is it because we have somehow believed God is desperately trying to save this world, now? Many envision a spiritual “tug o’war” between God and Satan; they believe God is desperately trying to save as many souls as possible; that the Devil is trying to keep them “lost.” Impassioned evangelists paint vivid pictures of the pangs of hell, cry out for people to be saved as if the very next day would be too late. Perhaps all this religious hype has contributed to the very common assumption that this is God’s world, that He is actively involved in it, that He is trying very hard to save this world.

But the Bible says otherwise. Satan is described as having deceived all nations (Revelation 12:9). Christ said humanity is spiritually blinded of its own choice, and that God has allowed man to go his own way, apart from God. Humanity has invited God out of its societies, and God has cooperated.

Christ did not try to save all those He could during His human life span! When His disciples were puzzled because Christ spoke to the crowds in riddles, they asked, “Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, ‘Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given … therefore I speak unto them in parables, because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias, which saith by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing, LEST at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.’ ” (Matthew 13:10-15).

Christ also said, “None can come unto the Son, except the Spirit of the Father draw Him.” Although many have assumed Christ came to save everyone He could, He specifically stated He clouded and concealed the meaning of His words; “lest they be converted!” God has a time schedule; He is working out a master plan here below. It was not God’s intention that Christ attempt to save the world during His physical life; nor is it His intent to save this world now. The concept of a spiritual “tug o’war” between God and the devil is untrue. It pictures God as weak, ineffectual. If God wanted to save the world now, He would be doing it.

It is only when we understand God’s great master plan for salvation that many of the myths and superstitions melt away. The tendency for many to feel resentment toward God for seeming aloofness stems directly from their erroneous concept that God is actively intervening in this world now; that He is desperately trying to save it. But no, He is now inviting a few, here and there, who will hear His voice, and who will repent of their sins, receive baptism, and His Holy Spirit. He is not trying to save Japan, China, Russia, India, all of Africa and Southeast Asia nor any other nation, per se. The billions are deceived; believing in false religions, false gods. The Creator of heaven and earth is not trying to change that just yet. He will change it, in the not too distant future, probably in the lifetime of most of us living now.

God is not intervening to punish sinners, any more than He is intervening to save them. He is presently following man’s own choice, which is a “hands off” policy. It is only those who invite God into their lives who experience divine intervention. He seldom interferes, otherwise, except in major world events as He must, from time to time, to see to it His purpose is fulfilled.

Somehow, churchmen have instilled in us the concept that God “punishes” us for the slightest infraction; that, when some terrible thing happens, it is God, punishing us for our wrongdoing, sitting in His heavenly armchair zapping us with His lightning bolts of divine wrath.

Believing God is a God of convenience—that He is waiting, watching, to step in at the last possible second and save us from our own tragic mistakes—many turn on this “God” of their imagination, begin to scream out their indignation at the supposed slight. They cry out, “O God, where are You when I need You?” To which God might well reply, “The same place I am when you don’t seem to need me.”

Should we have a bit of religion; believe in God “just in case.” Many live their lives in complete ignorance of God and His laws they have never read the Bible, let alone studied it; they don’t have the slightest concept about the real Jesus Christ of the Bible. Then, when tragedy strikes, they suddenly call out to God, crying in desperation for His divine intervention. I have always wondered if there are any atheists suspended by one leg from a rope in a deep coal mine, or drifting helplessly on a life raft in the middle of the South Pacific. Most people, regardless of personal philosophies, seem to turn to God in prayer when terrible tragedy strikes.

Does God single out some for special punishment? Does God take out His wrath and vengeance on those who are especially wicked?

Jesus ran head on into such reasoning. He had been told of a couple of cases of mass death; one, a tragic accident, the other, mass murder.

Luke wrote, “There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish’ ” (Luke 13:1-3).

What did He mean? First, it is plain these unfortunate victims of Pilates’ soldiers were not “sinners above all the Galileans.” Jesus said so. But their deaths were meaningless. They died, not for some great cause; not as martyrs for a special purpose, but ignominiously, anonymously. We know nothing else of this incident except what we can glean from the sparse details. Here was a mass murder; yet Christ said God had nothing directly to do with it; God was not exacting vengeance because these were more evil than anyone else.

Christ gave another example: “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5). An accident had occurred. Perhaps ancient mortar had crumbled, and a cascade of stones came down; a section of wall from an ancient building buried eighteen men beneath tons of rubble, killing them. It was a well-known tragedy; Jesus speaks of it as a familiar event. Yet, many had been “supposing,” searching for answers, pondering the meaning of this mass death. Surely it was more than just bad luck? Surely, there must have been some terrible sinners among them? No doubt, there had been much gossip about supposed causes, suspicions concerning divine wrath.

But Jesus said God simply had nothing to do with it. These men were the victims of time, and chance, and circumstance. They died meaningless deaths; they were not Christ’s disciples, not converted, not yet begotten members of God’s own future family. Their deaths were tragedies, like so many thousands of tragedies down through the centuries. Did Jesus mean if we repent, we will not die? No. It is given to all men to die once; the Bible is a book about the deaths of its heroes, a book of martyrs for great causes. All the apostles died; many of them were martyrs. But we have no record whatever of any of them dying through accidents, or in purposeless, mindless slaughter. Paul was martyred. Tradition says Peter was crucified upside down. James was beheaded. Steven was stoned to death. These men stood for a great cause; lived lives of overcoming, hard work, and a powerful witness for Christ. They were allowed to die, yes. But their deaths were not random, happenstance, accidental.

Without God in our lives, we are just “out there,” taking our chances like anyone else. We are like so many faceless, anonymous human beings; a part of the mad rush for material goals; the massive tide of cursing, crying, bawling, complaining human beings struggling toward material goals, living our lives filled with short-range objectives; sometimes betrayed by our machines, or run over by our toys. When those things happen, it is not God “zapping” us because we are especially evil; it is merely time, chance, and circumstance. But Jesus says when we become converted God makes a difference between us and those who do not have God’s protection.

When Jesus says we are to pray “And lead us not into temptation,” He means we should ask God for special strength to resist the temptations that come to us every day. God will not lead us into such a situation, even if we do not pray to that effect, for God clearly says He will never tempt us.

God promises to help us overcome temptations. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [permit] you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10: 13).

Are you tempted to sin in various ways, against God, against others, against your own mind and body? God understands. Christ sits at the Father’s right hand, turns to Him and says, “Father, I understand that temptation, for I experienced it.” In Christ, we have an experienced High Priest and Counselor, an Intercessor who is there to help us. Take your private, personal temptations to God in prayer. Christ said, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40), and Peter wrote, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations…” (11 Peter 2:9).

And remember, temptations are only the first step toward sin. After temptation comes lust. When lust has conceived, and some action takes place, it is sin. That’s why Christ says pray to avoid and overcome temptation because prevention, after all, really is the best cure.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“For Thine is the Kingdom…”

At the conclusion of His sample outline for prayer, Christ said we should acknowledge the absolute supremacy of God in earth and in heaven. The beginning of this acknowledgement is the admission that the government of the whole universe is securely in God’s hands.

When we have reached the point of recapitulation in our prayers; we have prayed for forgiveness, we have forgiven others, we have made known our most urgent heartfelt needs— especially the needs of others first—we then begin saying, in effect, “Father, I know you can do this; I know you will do it, because you are in control. You have the absolute authority; you are the Ruler over all!” We acknowledge God is on His throne, that He is the Omnipotent God, that He is able to answer our prayers.

As we saw in chapter five, the Kingdom of God is very real; it is to be established on this earth at the second coming of Christ to rule for 1,000 years. We saw that God’s Kingdom consists of Christ as King; subjects, both human and spirit; territory, meaning this earth and the whole universe; and laws by which His Kingdom governs.

Why then, does Christ say we should begin the conclusion of our prayer with the seemingly repetitious statement, “For thine is the Kingdom?” Is this merely “spiritual salt and pepper,” some spiritual-sounding flavor to prayer? Far from it. As startling as it may sound, one of the great purposes in Christ’s sojourn on this earth in human flesh was to qualify as future World Ruler; to overcome the power of Satan who is the present evil ruler of this earth—now disqualified, but not yet removed!

You may not have realized that Christ’s encounter with Satan in the wilderness was, in fact, a struggle for rulership of the world!

Let’s notice what the Bible says: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’

“Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, ‘If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Eternal thy God.’ ”

Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, ‘All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.’ Then saith Jesus unto him, ‘Get thee hence, Satan;’ for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Eternal thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’ Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him” (Matthew 4:1-11).

All of us have engaged in tests of physical strength at least a few times in our lives; perhaps athletic contests, lifting weights, arm wrestling, or some other test. Have you ever worked as a ditch-digger for eight straight hours? Ever been so physically exhausted you threw yourself into bed and slept for about nine hours without turning over? Long, arduous hours of hard labor can be exhausting. But mental struggles can be even more enervating! A battle of the will can leave you as physically weak as a test of physical strength! In Christ’s great struggle of mind and will power, He was pitted against the most subtle, wily, seductive spirit on earth. And this when Christ was at His weakest, near starvation.

This was a clash of wills. Christ could never have overcome Satan’s temptations without having fortified Himself with many hours of fervent prayer! By fasting coupled with prayer, Christ was extremely close to God; imbued with God’s Spirit. Yet, when He met Satan in this great contest for mastery of the earth, He did so with His spiritual reserves only; God did not Personally intervene; no angels came to force Satan to leave. Now, notice the variety of temptations, and notice Satan’s boast that he is presently in charge of the governments of this world. Satan first tried to probe into Christ’s mind, to see if the slightest bit of ego or vanity was there. He said, “IF You be the Son of God…” disdainfully, contemptuously. Have you ever had someone scorn you, ridicule you, attempt to “put you down”? Ever had someone act as if you are beneath contempt, completely unimportant? It rankles, doesn’t it?

What would be the response of most of us, especially if we occupied an important position? I am reminded of the story of the young recruit who had barely received his haircut and dungarees at the U.S. Naval Training Station in San Diego when he was put to work mopping and waxing the hallway in the Administration Building. The Commanding Officer of the Station, an Admiral, came down the hall, and the boot said, “Hey, buddy, gotta match?” The Admiral smiled, took out his lighter, and lit the recruit’s cigarette. Just then, a Lieutenant who had been hurrying down the hallway, and who had seen what had happened, shouted, “TenSHUN!” at which command the boot snapped to attention. “Why you stupid meathead!” raged the Lieutenant, “Don’t you realize this is the Commanding Officer? How dare you speak to an officer like that!” and proceeded to make exceedingly uncharitable references to the boy’s probable genealogy. The Admiral watched with a bemused smile, and as the boot stammered out a thoroughly frightened apology, said, “That’s all right son, just make sure you don’t ever do that to an Ensign!”

If you have traveled abroad very much, you may have run into the kind of pompous vanity that seems common among some men in uniform, such as customs officials, or military personnel of some third world countries. When you see their chests full of medals, especially if they are in a tiny country which has never been involved in a major war; when you see the large bands of gilt leaves on their caps, the gleaming epaulettes, doesn’t it make you wonder? What major campaigns, what great battles, what personal acts of heroism do all those medals represent? The “Battle of Ougadoogou Swamp?”

How well I remember a rumpled official in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, many years ago, who, to show his contempt for Americans, sent my Spanish professor and me to the back of a long line of those waiting to pass through customs control after we had arrived at the customs window first. His swaggering authority was hugely impressive—to him. It seems axiomatic that the less the authority, the more those carrying such authority tend to be impressed by it.

Make no mistake. Satan knows human nature pretty thoroughly. He is fully aware of the generous amount of ego and self importance that beats within many human hearts. The slightest lack of proper respect toward authority can bring surprising rebuke in many cases.

But one who possesses real authority does not find it necessary to continually prove it. Nor does he (or she) find it necessary to explain it or defend it. A strongly authoritarian person is usually filled with feelings of inferiority. True authority comes from within, comes from strength of character, from a cool assessment of ones own abilities. A person with large responsibilities, and therefore authority, does not need to continually display it.

Satan was attempting to bring about an angry, petulant retort when he said, “IF thou be the Son of God…” The carnal reaction would be “What do you mean, IF?” No doubt followed by a rebuke and an immediate reassertion of position, of authority. But Jesus Christ was utterly devoid of vanity and pride. He recognized Satan’s ploy instantly. He was not for an instant led away by the temptation to put this sly upstart “in his place,” as most might have been. No, instead, He quoted Scripture to him.

A word about Satan’s attempts to quote Scripture: At first blush, it almost appears that this is the classic “religious argument,” with two individuals each attempting to get the better of the other by quoting Scripture. One recites a text to prove a point; the other comes back with a different text which seems to knock out the first one. But is the Bible really capable of just any interpretation? Can we quote one scripture to destroy the meaning of another? No, far from it. The Bible is the most perfectly cohesive book that has ever been written; in it’s original languages, it is absolutely flawless.

When Satan quoted a section of one of the Psalms, trying to tempt Christ to throw Himself down, he deliberately twisted the meaning of the scripture promising God’s protection. Christ knew the devil was perverting the verse; for God will not protect anyone who deliberately casts himself down from an height. The verse is a promise to protect God’s own people from accidental falls, not to prevent them from deliberately tempting God!

Then came the moment when Satan told Christ he, the devil, was the master of all the kingdoms of this earth. Notice that Christ did not rebuke Satan for his statement, nor contest it. By His silence, we can see He took no issue with Satan’s claim that Satan had the power to give the governments of this world into another’s hands.

Satan is called “The god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and is described as a serpent who “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

It was after this final test that Jesus issued a command! Previously, He had met the devil “on his own turf” so to speak. He was so hungry He must have been near death. Most of us would have had neither the physical stamina nor the mental and spiritual tranquillity necessary to endure forty days of fasting. But now, Christ issued an order, and the devil had no choice but to slink away in surly obedience.

Satan had no recourse. He clearly understood the magnificent display of character; of spiritual power Christ had illustrated. He was defeated, and he knew it! Christ had won this great struggle through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The whole point of Christ’s fasting was to move all human, physical strength aside, to overcome Satan’s greatest temptations by the power of God’s Spirit, and not by any human feats of strength!

There are many interesting points to notice. First, the number forty is always used of a period of testing in the Bible. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years before entering the promised land which was a symbol of our life on this earth—a lifetime of tests and trials—prior to entering God’s Kingdom. There are details gleaned by carefully comparing Luke’s account of this event with that of Matthew which prove there were not necessarily only three temptations. Nor are we to assume these temptations took place over a period of brief moments—about the length of time it takes us to read the account in the Bible. This clash of wills may have lasted for many hours, or several days.

Notice that when the agonizing trial was over, “Angels came and ministered to Him.” Christ was exhausted. He needed water, food. Now that He had successfully passed every test, won the greatest battle of His life, did God actually perform for Him the very miracle Satan had so slyly suggested? We cannot know, of course, but when the Bible says angels ministered unto Him, it means they accomplished more than simply patting Him on the back! He needed water, and food. No doubt, they supplied it! Even as God miraculously sent manna from heaven to feed His infant nation Israel, so it may be that Christ ate “angel’s food!” But during the trial, God the Father did not personally intervene. No angelic help was given until after Christ had won the victory. Christ had fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights! His spiritual strength was equal to the tremendous task before Him. When the test came, He had to face it with the spiritual reserves He had acquired through fasting and prayer! On one occasion, when His disciples could not cast the demon out of a child who was thrown violently to the ground, they asked Him why, and He retorted, “This kind cometh not out but by fasting and prayer.”

Perhaps it is time we saw Christ as more of a Hero, the Victor of great battles, the Overcomer of superhuman tests of strength, and not as a very nearly effeminate, soft, philosophical individual who seemingly walked through life with profound statements always on His lips, but who never got His hands dirty; never experienced the sweat, toil, exhaustion and near despair that is common to man. Many find it difficult to relate to the Christ Who is portrayed to them in the pictures commonly found in Bible book stores, or in the pages of illustrated Bibles. And no wonder—if they have not known of the real Jesus Christ, the One who is the Savior of all mankind.

It is easy to see how Sunday-school teachers can keep the attention of their little charges by graphic accounts of David versus Goliath, the stripling overcoming the giant with a slingshot; tales of Sampson’s prodigious strength; of Daniel, standing coolly courageous in the lion’s den; of Noah, building his ark, and collecting all the animals. But Jesus? Most little children are not particularly impressed by Jesus as He is typically portrayed. About the time they learn He tells them to “turn the other cheek,” and they think about the neighborhood bully, they begin to wonder about this “Jesus” of whom they are told.

But the real Jesus of Scripture was a Person of fabulous accomplishment; the bravest man who ever lived! This struggle against Satan was far tougher, of much greater duration, and carried consequences far beyond those of David’s battle with Goliath. Had Christ failed, He would have sinned, by giving in to Satan. He would have lost His spiritual destiny; to return to the right hand of God. He would have lost His crown as future King of the universe! We would have had no Savior! Victory for the allies in World War II meant the physical salvation for countless millions. It meant freedom for most of Europe, for Britain and the United States. Had we lost the war, we would have been enslaved. Millions died to save many millions more. The dropping of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justified by Truman by determining that it shortened the war by several months, and, therefore, saved perhaps a million or more lives. But if Christ had failed His battle with Satan, it would have meant the loss of all mankind. Christ was struggling not only for reward; for the supremacy—He was fighting for survival!

Do we realize what terrible hunger can accomplish in we humans? Have you read about the Donner party? About the crew of the whaler, Essex, smashed and sunk by the frenzied charge of a great blue whale several hundred miles off the coast of Chile? Have you read about what some frenzied inmates of concentration camps did to their own fellows in order to survive? There have been many horrendous, gruesome cases of people resorting to cannibalism down through history. Extreme hunger is not some easily conquered appetite. It can literally turn a cultured person into an animal.

A vivid account of a family’s survival aboard a small boat in the South Pacific was written some years ago. The sailing vessel in which they were making a lengthy cruise caught fire, and they were forced to abandon ship. They drifted for weeks, living on what meager supplies they had quickly salvaged, and, finally, on a chance sea turtle or fish they caught now and then. They were nearing starvation. They related how they would spend hours discussing favorite restaurants; going into the most intricate details of food preparation, talking of the meals they would enjoy when they were finally rescued. They watched each other rapidly lose weight, become emaciated, nearing starvation. This particular story had a happy ending, for they were ultimately rescued after being adrift for several weeks, and so far as I know, the family did exactly as they had so longingly discussed—survived to enjoy those meals they had so yearned for. Have you ever been excruciatingly hungry? Ever fasted for three or four days at a time?

When Satan began describing bread to Christ, he no doubt gave glowing descriptions of food, not necessarily only a loaf of bread, but probably went into great detail, portraying in vivid, colorful words the tempting sight and smell of delicious foods of various kinds. Remember our discussion of appetites? Judging from the enormous number of us who are carrying entirely too much weight around for the good of our hearts, appetite can be quite a problem. The Bible says Christ was tempted in every point just like we are! Paul wrote, “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). The suggestion to merely command stones to become bread was a deliberate, clever and powerful one; Satan tried to attack Christ in His most vulnerable areas.

But Jesus Christ immediately thought of how the life we live is much more than “meat,” more than continually imbibing the physical, chemical elements of matter in order to keep our bodies functioning. He knew the life of us all is centered in the spiritual portion of our human minds; that there is a spirit in man, and that the careful protection of that spiritual essence, nurturing it toward spiritual perfection, guarding it against pollutants of any kind, is far more important than maintaining and prolonging this physical life. He instantly quoted Scripture to Satan, saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God!”

As bread—food—gives us our physical life, so God’s Holy Word gives us true life! Life everlasting; life for all eternity! Christ plainly said so, yet His disciples and His persecutors all were puzzled, and some of His disciples left Him because of the seeming impossibility of what He said.

Christ portrayed Himself as the Living Word which must be ingested, imbibed. He said, “I am that bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48-51).

This saying was so puzzling, so difficult for them to understand, that many of His own disciples forsook Him right then and there! It was not until the Last Supper, Christ’s final Passover, that they came to understand. Christ is the “Living Word,” meaning, metaphorically, that when we drink in of God’s living witness, the Bible, we are drinking in of the nature of Christ. Spiritual food sustains our spiritual growth, and is vastly more important than the temporary perpetuation of this physical life. Christ knew this, and it sustained Him. He was not susceptible to thoughts which would result in depravity, as some have been when resorting to ghastly acts in order to survive. Spiritual survival was more important to Christ!

Next time you pray, why not do so with an open Bible before you, referring to the words of the “Lord’s Prayer” as an outline for your prayer. As you progress through this rich outline; covering thoroughly each point, calling to mind what you have learned in preceding chapters, you will finally come to the concluding words. When you acknowledge, “For thine is the Kingdom…” think about what you are admitting! First; to Whom are you praying? Why, to God, the Father! Yet, it was Christ who conquered Satan; who qualified to receive the Kingdom of God on this earth, wasn’t it?

Notice the answer: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:22-26). Yes, Christ qualified to become the future World Ruler. He disqualified Satan. But Christ is not yet on this earth, and Satan is not yet removed. Christ conquered through the power of God’s Spirit; He did so in fullest partnership with His Father; He did so to deliver the Kingdom to His Father in heaven. He wants us to acknowledge that the Kingdom of God is securely in the hands of the Father in heaven.

As a powerful article of faith, we acknowledge that God has the strength, the ability, the authority, to answer our prayers! We are saying, in effect, “Father, I know you are going to hear and answer this prayer, for you are the One in complete control; you are in charge; you are the Great Ruler; you sit on your throne over all governments, powers, authorities—the Kingdom is YOURS!

Suppose you had a loved one who had been wrongfully thrown into jail. Suppose you finally, after months of trying; writing to congressmen, senators, contacting attorneys, talking to the news media, writing letters to the warden, and writing to the White House, received a telephone call from the President of the United States. Suppose he said, “I have reviewed the entire situation, and I have called the governor of your state, who will call the warden. Your loved one will be released immediately!” Would you have faith it would be done? Yes, we can have faith in human powers and authorities. If you receive a government check if you have overpaid your income tax, do you doubt for one instant it will be good when you deposit it in your checking account?”

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. What is a government check? It is merely a piece of paper. It is a written promise. It has no intrinsic value. It is not silver, or gold, or even paper money. Yet, when you take it to the bank, you have perfect faith it is good; that it will be cashed, and you can purchase goods with the money. The Bible is like that. It is a written promissory note. You can depend on it! Paul wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11: 1).

God answers our prayers when we pray in faith. But faith is nothing more than believing God is perfectly able to do what He promises, believing He is in charge! He will answer your prayers because He is in charge; He has the authority to do so!

Harry Emerson Fosdick said, “It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.” It is faith that releases your prayer, sets it free, sends it loud and clear to God. When you conclude your prayers with your acknowledgement that God is in control, then let go of your prayer. Don’t pick it apart, rethink it, or keep tagging on unessentials. Let it go. Give your concern to God. Have faith and He will answer!

CHAPTER TWELVE

“…and the power…”

We are all familiar with many applications of the term, “power.” Political power, military power; horsepower, electrical power, or the civil rights chant, “Power to the people!” Just as we acknowledge in our prayer that God is in complete control; that He rules in heaven above; that He is soon to rule this earth when we pray “For thine is the kingdom…” so we should realize the immensity of His limitless power.

As we shall see, knowing something about the power of God can be a vitally important item of faith. When you’re sure someone is capable of performing some act, you have confidence it will be done. Faith is confidence, assurance your prayer will be answered because God has power to perform mighty deeds. But unless we know what is the power of God, the repetition of the familiar words, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,” sound more like spiritual poetry; as if we are merely intoning the required words with a group of the devout in church, insuring the commas are all in place, the emphasis is just right, the words uttered in proper cadence.

Do you know of examples of God’s power? When you say, “for thine is the power…” do specific concepts of God’s great power come to mind? Mostly, our minds conceptualize the power of man. We are impressed by displays of power. The marching of armed men; columns of tanks, armored vehicles, missile carriers; these are the trappings of military parades intended to impress and intimidate. No one understood the trappings of implied power better than Adolf Hitler. When we see the news photographs of the mighty 16-inch guns of a battleship firing; a flight of F-16 aircraft unleashing rocket attacks; or the launch of a Titan missile, we are suitably impressed. We know we are seeing frightening engines of destructive power.

I have been as impressed as anyone with military power. As a young sailor aboard an aircraft carrier during the Korean war, I shall never forget the moment I heard the captain announce over the ship’s loudspeakers that we had joined elements of the 7th fleet off Wonsan; how he advised all those not on duty to come topside when they could, to see the magnificent sight of all those American ships.

Thankfully, I was in the gunnery department; my duty station was only one deck below the flight deck, and my battle station was that of captain’s talker for the gunnery officer. I scrambled up just one ladder, out the hatch onto the starboard side of the flight deck, and took a look about me. There, only a few hundred yards away, were two other Essex class aircraft carriers just like the USS Antietam. The battleship Iowa was there, as were some heavy cruisers, several light cruisers, and a large number of destroyers. Ships were everywhere, extending over the horizon. I knew there were others, too distant to be seen. It was a mighty armada. Standing there with the wind in my face, seeing these mighty ships ploughing along through the steep gray swells of the South China Sea, I was exhilarated with a sense of pride, of belonging to a great nation, of being there, offshore Korea, for a noble cause.

The implied power in all those guns, in those dozens of aircraft with their bombs and rockets and machine guns, in the sleek gray shapes of those destroyers plunging along like so many watchdogs over their larger charges—it was heady wine.

Many times during my two years aboard ship, I stood just above the twin 5 inch/38 anti-aircraft guns while they were firing. Just above them and immediately below my station was a 40mm quad mount. The deafening blasts from those guns, the acrid smell of burnt cordite, the bits of charred cork that smudged my face as the winds blew their clouds of smoke toward me is still a poignant memory. That’s power, up close.

How well I remember my very first trip aboard a jet airliner in the winter of 1959. 1 was aboard the first nighttime flight from Los Angeles to New York by American Airlines after they had just taken delivery of their very first Boeing 707. Though I was a seasoned traveler by then—having flown all over the country, throughout Europe, Central and South America aboard everything from old DC3’s to DC7’s and Super Constellations—I was not prepared for the thrill of my first jet ride.

This was different! When we took off, I was not anticipating the incredibly steep deck angle, nor the surprising acceleration on the takeoff roll when the engines were brought to full power. I seemed to be pushed back into my seat by some invisible force; the aircraft lifted off and began to climb at what I thought was an impossible angle.

But this was nothing to compare with the many times I observed launches from Cape Kennedy. I covered the entire series of Gemini-Thor-Agena launches, and was on hand for the manned Apollo flights. The first time I was in the forward press stand for the launch of a huge Saturn 5 rocket, I could scarcely believe my eyes. Not so far distant from us was a huge rocket the size of a thirty-six story office building! Brilliant lights illuminating it in the predawn darkness revealed tendrils of vapor slowly rising from the rocket, hinting at the liquid fuels inside. I was to do a television program during the launch commencing with the final seconds of countdown, and continuing live, on camera, throughout the launch and the hoped-for successful aftermath.

As the countdown reached 0, and the instantaneous blast of bright flame and white smoke burst from beneath the rocket, we saw the huge missile begin to slowly rise. I had been giving the dimensions of the rocket, the names of the crew aboard, their mission. I had described to my viewers the incredible power of that gigantic missile—seven million pounds of thrust were to be generated from those Saturn 5 engines! Then, the blast of sound reached us. The ground shook under my feet. My ears were filled with a thunderous roar; it was the loudest sound I had ever experienced. We were buffeted by shock waves from the nearly instantaneous explosion of thousands of gallons of fuel. The change in my pocket jingled, and it felt as if two mighty hands were beating against my chest. It was impossible to keep my voice from trembling as I described the launch; the incredible courage of our astronauts who could calmly sit there in that capsule atop a massive bullet, going through their prescribed routines as if what they were doing was somehow routine, normal. Talk about power! I was witnessing mankind departing from the earth! Those men over there were going to the moon!

As a pilot, I have flown eleven different types of jet aircraft, over sixty different airplanes in all, including singles and twins, land and sea planes. I became familiar with the powerful thrust of their engines. Accumulating thousands of hours in the Dassault Falcon Jet, I crossed the Atlantic at the controls of the airplane nearly fifty times. The Falcon was a dream to fly, and I never tired of its safe, dependable, powerful performance. We would lift off at about 120 knots, get the landing gear and the flaps up, and accelerate to 200 knots (the fastest speed allowable in a control zone) in only a few moments. Our rate of climb fell off as we went higher into the thinner air, but we would generally climb at an initial rate of from four to six thousand feet each minute depending on our weight.

Once above 25,000 feet or so, it was a different story. The last 10 or 15 thousand feet of our climb had to be accomplished at a much reduced rate, so that our average climb to cruising altitude was about 1,000 feet per minute. We generally planned to get to our cruising altitude in about the same number of minutes as the altitude—37 minutes to 37,000 feet.

But when I flew the Grumman Gulfstream II, a larger, more powerful airplane, we could make it from a standing start at the end of the runway to 41,000 feet in just 14 minutes! The fuel aboard the GII weighed more than the combined weight of the Falcon, including 11 passengers with baggage.

But our modern jet fighters can lift off, pull straight up, and reach an altitude of over 50,000 feet in about three minutes! That’s power!

We’re all familiar with, and impressed by, the technology of man. The awesome power unleashed in the explosion of a hydrogen bomb looms ominously in the back of our minds. Who has not seen the photographs of that towering column of water, smoke, and debris from the explosion of the first hydrogen bomb at Bikini—the great ships of the U.S. Navy dwarfed by that gigantic, mushrooming cloud? That was the world’s most powerful explosion, ever.

But what about God’s power? Does God have power to compare with the thrust of a jet engine, the blast of a 360-foot long rocket, the explosion of a hydrogen bomb?

Have you ever heard evangelists talking about God’s power? I once saw a large advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, announcing an evangelistic meeting under a huge tent. The ad said great manifestations of God’s power were to be performed; that the sick were to be healed; the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see. This particular night was billed as “double portion night,” implying that the evangelist had the power to somehow control the production of miracles so that on the preceding night, only a “single portion” of God’s power would be available, but on this special night, a “double portion” would be evident. Forgive me, but I was skeptical of such a claim.

Since I had begun to study the Bible by this point in my life (it was about 1955), 1 spoke to my wife about it, and we decided to go to the meeting along with another young couple attending the same college. I wrote of that experience in my book, The Real Jesus. It was the only time I ever attended such a meeting in my life. It was quite an education. This is how I described it in my book:

“During one session of the meeting… the wildly-weaving, hoarse-voiced, colloquially-accented southern evangelist who claimed to be having almost daily communication with ‘The Lord,’ was calling upon personal testimonies from the audience. From time to time a person… would rise, wave both arms, and scream out some unintelligible utterance… it seemed to be both enjoyable and intelligible to many others in the crowd because it would usually bring forth shrieks and moans of ecstatic agreement.

“There was a group of teenagers sitting directly in front of us, and they seemed to be under the tutelage of an… older teenaged girl who was urging her younger brother, ‘Go ahead, you can do it, there’s nothing to it!’ and gave him an outpouring of… urgent instructions.

“On a moment’s sudden inspiration… adding to our growing and acute discomforture, because suddenly all eyes were turned in our direction, the girl jiggled herself into position, and, springing onto the seat of her chair with all the grace of a rhinoceros, began to wave her arms ecstatically in the air and shrieked a series of piercing testimonies, interrupted by breathless screams of ‘Bless You Jesus! Bless You, Jesus!’… then she said the name… over and over again…

“Even though those of us sitting immediately behind her knew that all this was a carefully contrived demonstration in which she hoped to encourage her younger brother to throw off whatever remaining constraints of propriety and etiquette he may have had… the wildly gesticulating figure came to the immediate attention of the… evangelist on the platform who then confidently affirmed… over his microphone that what was happening in our vicinity of the tent was in fact a ‘direct message from God!’

“…Soon, it came time for the taking up of an offering. This was my first and only experience with what I heard described as a ‘silent offering.’ The evangelist said he only wanted to hear the ‘whisper of bills.’ No vulgar, noisy, obscene jingling of change! He then gave a quick financial report which was delivered with the same fervor and intensity as portions of his sermon… it seemed that ‘the Lord’ had managed to send him head over heels in debt, and the evangelist then proceeded to enlighten us [as to] what the tent cost… what it cost for payments on his buses, trucks and other vehicles in the traveling caravan, and many other costs which soared up into the thousands of dollars.

“Then followed the promise of yet stranger miracles. But these miracles were the other edge of the sword. Many of the devout were warned with absolute assurance that if they held back their money, it was quite likely they would arrive home and find it in flames! They were threatened with head-on collisions at intersections, heart attacks, a telegram saying their mother had died, and everything from liver attacks to instant senility.

“It must have frightened the daylights out of enough of them that they parted with a surprising amount of their money, but even this was insufficient, because after what was apparently one of the quickest tabulations in all history of accounting procedures, the evangelist and his staff took up yet another collection… stating they were some $700 short, which meant the evangelist had to convince only seven people in this vast crowd of thousands that God had especially called and appointed them for the purpose of providing [this] required deliverance.

“I was beginning to get a clue as to what was meant by ‘Special Blessing Night,’ or ‘Double Portion Night’ or that we would ‘See Miracles.’ The evangelist was receiving very special blessings, double and triple portions, and it surely was a miracle the way those people parted with their money.”

I have never forgotten that experience. Of course, the traveling evangelistic campaigns of that particular man are over now, for he died many years ago, reportedly of acute alcoholism. I saw nothing I could remotely equate with God’s power. On one occasion, the evangelist seemed to become engaged in a fight with the devil and communists all at once. He shouted out his height and weight, whipped off his jacket, clenched his fists and professed willingness to do battle right there and then. The audience cheered. Most people in that tent seemed to really enjoy the show.

Were we witnessing the “Power of God” as billed? I do not doubt many of the faithful in that tent were positively thrilled with the meeting; that many experienced moving, emotional heights. Surely, the frequent applause; the tears of joy, the ecstatic moans of agreement were real enough. But somehow, our little group of four was not able to enter wholeheartedly into the proceedings. Maybe it was that the evangelist failed to recognize the wholly contrived demonstration of the young girl in front of us. Maybe it was because I could not equate the power of God with the volume of a loudspeaker, or truly believe the wetness on the evangelist’s hands was “holy oil” as he claimed.

Have you ever seen a demonstration of the “Power of God?” Surely the power of Almighty God is more than the power of loudspeakers and amplifiers. Surely, it is more than the sound of an evangelist’s voice? Where is the power of God when we hurt; when we’re involved in terrible tragedy?

God’s Word says a great deal about God’s power. The very first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created…” What is “creation?” Remember the first proof there is a God? It is that creation demands a Creator. Creation means the universe and the solar system; every portion of matter, and the laws that act upon it. What does it take to create? To bring something into existence from nothing? God says He is the Creator of all things; that He created matter.

All matter is made up of atoms. Yet, man has never seen an atom. It is only within the last few decades that scientists have been able to demonstrate the existence of the atom, have been able to identify its various parts, and have been able to unleash energy from the very “building block” of the universe, the hydrogen atom.

You are composed of atoms. The air you are breathing, this book you are holding, the clothing you are wearing, is composed of atoms. Each atom contains a nucleus and many other components, such as neutrons, protons, and electrons. Electrons are negatively-charged particles which circle about the nucleus at a distance of about 10,000 times the diameter of the nucleus. There are many other atomic subparticles, some of which have a life span of only a couple of billionths of a second.

Each atom is like an infinitesimally minute solar system. It is as if the nucleus were the sun, and atomic particles were the planets with their moons, circling about the nucleus. It requires several atoms in composition to form molecules. A molecule is the smallest particle of matter containing chemical elements. Water as we know, is composed of H20, or, two hydrogen atoms combined with one atom of oxygen.

In a sense, all matter is merely stored energy. Atoms are like tiny dynamos; electrical energy in rapid motion. Yet, when they are grouped together in certain ways, they appear as “matter.”

Though it may sound strange, energy is matter, and matter is energy. Each atom is a tiny energy source. The closer we look into matter, the more difficult it is to see. A molecule of some substance or other would be visible only under powerful microscopes. But the atom is so tiny it remains completely invisible, even to the most powerful electron microscopes. Yet we know it is there! We know, through experiments in nuclear physics, of what it is composed, how it acts. But it is invisible!

No wonder God says “…that which may be known of God is evident to them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him are clearly understood by looking at what He has created; even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20, paraphrased). If we see some huge structure, we marvel at the hands that made it. A trip to New York by someone who has lived all his life on a farm, or in a small village, brings exclamations of awe at the huge buildings—the Empire State, the World Trade Center. Millions stand at the foot of Mount Rushmore and marvel at the skill, artwork, and dangerous struggle it required to carve the faces of presidents out of solid stone. Men discover ancient monoliths in Tibet, or China, or in Iraq and Egypt, and marvel at the massive work it must have required. The great pyramids have astonished and impressed mankind for thousands of years.

Man’s great works impress us. But Who made the stone from which these marvelous structures were fashioned? Who created gravity, inertia, the laws of physics and chemistry that are immutable, powerful, eternal?

From ancient times, men have recognized the power of the sun. They have known it required the sun for their crops to grow; to provide daylight, warmth, the seasons. Instead of wondering about the Maker of the sun, they have worshiped the sun, itself. As God says, “Who changed [exchanged] the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature [that which is created] more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25).

Perhaps it is no wonder the ancients, with no knowledge of physics, chemistry or astronomy worshiped the sun. All energy with which we are familiar comes ultimately from the sun. The sun is our solar system’s “furnace”; its power source. Talk about power! Think about our sun for a few moments:

The sun averages about 92 million miles away from earth, holding our entire solar system in its powerful gravitational field. Only about one hundred billionth of the sun’s expended energy reaches earth—all the rest is lost in space. Yet, with this minute portion of our sun’s energy, all man’s energy derives. All our fossil fuels; coal, oil, are stored energy—ancient life forms which received their sustenance from the sun.

How does the sun generate its energy? Our sun is like a gigantic nuclear furnace, with hydrogen fusion occurring in its core, sending violent gamma rays rushing toward the surface about 300,000 miles away. The sun is about 864,000 miles in diameter. Experiments with nuclear fission (the atom bomb) and nuclear fusion (the hydrogen bomb) have demonstrated to scientists that the process by which our earth receives its energy is exactly like that of the explosion of a hydrogen bomb. Hydrogen is fused into helium at a temperature of some 25 million degrees. A vast mantle, whose size is unknown, absorbs the powerful bombardment from deadly gamma rays, changing them into slower-moving forms like ultraviolet waves and x-rays. The next layer of the sun is called the “photosphere,” which is thought to be a turbulent region perhaps 80,000 miles thick. The chromosphere, the outer layer of the sun, is the portion we see. It is perhaps 10,000 miles in depth, and consists largely of hydrogen gas.

The outer atmosphere of the sun is called the “corona,” and is only visible near the surface of the sun, yet extends invisibly all the way to Mercury, about 36 million miles away.

The sun has been photographed many times by using powerful telescopes which obscure all but the outer layer of the chromosphere and the corona, or by photographing hydrogen’s red wave length. These photographs reveal the sun is exploding in continuous eruptions called “spicules.” These gaseous explosions are like volcanic eruptions; they extend out into space for several thousand miles, and last only a very few minutes. There are about 20,000 such “spicules” visible at any one time.

Huge eruptive loops, prominences, and arches have also been photographed. One of the largest ever recorded occurred in June, 1946, lasted about two hours, and extended nearly a million miles into space before it disappeared. Sometimes, these loops and arches appear to ignite in space, soaring back down to the sun’s surface. The average temperature of these surface storms appears to be 10,000 degrees F. Most are associated with interference of radio communication on earth, and are connected with “sun spots,” although not consistently.

The power of the sun staggers the imagination. Yet, the sun is but an “orange dwarf” star in comparison with many other stars in our galaxy. For example, if our sun were moved to the position of any of the stars in the “Big Dipper,” it would be invisible to the naked eye, for it is 14,000 times less luminous than any of those stars. If Betelgeuse, the super-giant in the belt of Orion, were moved into the position of our sun, its huge mass would absorb most of our entire solar system, with Earth, Venus, Mars, and Mercury orbiting within the chromosphere of that super-giant. Our sun is more than 100 times the diameter of the earth, but Betelgeuse is more than one million times larger than the sun.

Most of us live in blissful unawareness of our universe, of our solar system, and our position in it. We say the sun “rises” or “sets,” remaining largely unconscious of our daily journey. Few of us awaken in the morning aware that we have just completed about an 8,000 mile trip, that our relative position to the sun has changed by the rotation of our good, green spaceship. Our minds simply boggle at the distances, sizes, shapes, and measurements of the solar system, our galaxy, and the universe. Our planet is like but one speck of sand in all the seashores of the world in comparison to its place among the stars. The distances between stars is as if one were to change one cubic inch of water into steam, and then disperse it through 30 trillion cubic miles of space, each invisible droplet of steam representing a huge star.

One thing we can know. We can know the sun is a continuous, daily display of awesome, stupendous, mind-boggling power! Our Father in heaven and the member of the divine family known as Jesus Christ created all that! God says, “To whom then will ye liken me? or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou,… ‘my way is hid from the Eternal, and my judgment is passed over from my God?’ [In other words, “O God, where are You when I need you?”] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Eternal, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding” (Isaiah 40:25-28).

When God wanted Job to repent of his self-righteousness, He turned to creation. He said, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

“Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened, or who laid the cornerstone thereof? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

“When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness as a swaddlingband for it. And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed’? Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?… hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee, or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

“Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, that thou shouldst take it to the bound thereof [can we see to the “end” of the blackness of the universe?] … knowest thou it, because thou wast then born, or because the number of thy days is great?” (Job 38:1-21).

After God showed Job the greatness of His power; after Job came to see himself in true perspective for the first time in his life, Job said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

How many of us are like Job? We have “heard” about this “God” of whom evangelists speak. We have a certain “belief” about God, a personal philosophy. We have certain vague, nebulous concepts about who, or what, God is. But have we ever really set our minds to study the work of God’s hands? Have we ever absorbed as much knowledge about our earth, all life upon it, our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe—and wondered in ever-increasing awe at the mighty hand that produced it all?

Newton didn’t invent gravity; he merely defined it. But what is gravity. Do you know? Why do stars like our sun hold planets securely in their “gravitational field”? What is magnetism? What is nuclear energy?

Whether we look out to the macrocosm (out into the blackness of space), or into the microcosm (inside an atom, which is mostly space), we see the same great pattern of creation. God is the great Creator of all things. He has all power!

When Christ commissioned His disciples to tell of His resurrection, He said “ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [Greek: aion]. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus Christ healed dozens of people instantly! Peter was inspired to say to a crippled man, “Rise and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” and the man stood for the first time in his life. Christ raised Lazarus from the dead; Peter raised Dorcus from the dead. Startled, shocked onlookers saw deformed limbs suddenly made whole; the sickening sight of lepers, with their whitish, decaying skin instantly become as pink and fresh as a newborn baby’s skin. The disciples saw one stupendous-miracle after another. They were witnesses to Christ’s resurrection; they saw Him on many occasions in Jerusalem, in Galilee—and they believed. The apostles were told, “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me… unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Startled thousands saw flickering crowns of real flame seem to settle on the apostles’ heads; glittering, fiery crowns, distributed equally among them, as each began to speak, one at a time, telling of the miraculous things they had seen. The miracle of understanding foreign languages was given to thousands; the apostles spoke miraculously, the people heard miraculously, and three thousand people were converted and baptized in only one day (Acts 2:41).

The apostles were believed because they believed! They knew what they had seen, heard, and experienced. They were eyewitnesses to the brutal murder of their Lord, and witnesses to His resurrection! Their faith was boundless—because they knew. You can come to know the power of God by learning about the things His hands have made, by drinking in of His written Word, by hearing His servants preach the truth from that Word, by fervent, private, prevailing prayer. You can tap the mighty power of God in your personal life!

Are there conditions to prayer? Certainly. But they are good, healthy, wholesome conditions. God says, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:22-23).

When the apostles prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, they knew that powerful name could unlock absolutely limitless power! Peter was not in doubt when he lifted the crippled man to his feet. He had not the slightest iota of fear or doubt. His mind was not on himself, thinking, “What if this doesn’t work? I’ll look like a fool.” He was filled with compassion for the crippled man. He was in instant communication with Christ. It was as if his mind’s eye could see Christ sitting on the right hand of God in heaven. He knew he was tapping the very power of the universe. The crippled man supposed Peter was about to give him some money, instead, Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth RISE up AND WALK!” And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:5-9).

Notice that the crippled man “expected to receive something” of them. He hadn’t the slightest inkling of what was to happen. When Peter stopped to look at him, he supposed Peter would give him money. This was a clear example of an apostle exercising the gift of healing; of the faith of Peter, irrespective of the faith or belief of the crippled man.

Does God heal today? I know He does. I have seen miracles with my own eyes. I would not be here, except God had miraculously healed my mother many years ago. When my wife was eight months along toward the birth of our second child, we were in Europe with my parents and my brother. One day, she felt severe pain, low, on her right side. She looked, frightened, and called me in to see. She had ruptured! There was a large purple and blue spot, with a portion of the intestine obviously protruding through the lower abdominal wall. I saw it and touched it. We asked my father to join me in prayer. James says, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14).

We knelt by her bedside, and my father used a little bottle of oil like the one we both carried, placing a drop or two of olive oil on her head. We both laid our hands on her, and prayed earnestly for God to heal her. I thought how God is our Designer and Creator; how it was He who designed the female body to give birth to children; that it was ridiculous for the stress of carrying a child to cause a rupture; that God had the power to heal this wound, and close it up. We claimed God’s promises, saying we knew God would hear, and heal, because He could not deny His own promises; could not deny the sacrifice of His own Son.

A day or so later, we were in Switzerland. My wife excitedly called to me from the bedroom, and I rushed in. She said, “Honey, look! It’s gone!” Her abdomen was as smooth as before! It was as if the rupture, with the large, blue-black area of bruise, torn flesh and swelling had never occurred! We were moved to tears; we were ecstatic with joy, and rushed to tell my parents and my brother.

This was an absolute miracle. No one can ever tell me God does not exist, or that God cannot perform a miracle. There is no medical textbook ever written which can explain away what I saw with my own eyes, what I felt with my own hands. We knew she had ruptured. We knew God had miraculously healed her!

I have known of dozens and dozens of miraculous healings in my more than thirty-one years in Christ’s ministry. I have heard personal testimonials, read letters by the score of those who have experienced dramatic healings; those who have been blessed with new jobs, increased income, or been delivered out of terrible trials. I know all things are possible with God.

Are you personally familiar with the great power of God? You can read an article in an encyclopedia about the atom, about the sun, about nuclear energy; you can study the miraculous process of reproduction and human birth; you can study gravity, inertia, the cleavage properties of minerals, the formation of crystals; biology, chemistry. The more you know about matter, about our material universe, the more you know about God’s limitless power.

Christ said we should acknowledge, at the conclusion of our prayers, that God has the power to perform what He promises! We say to Him, “I know you can do this, Father, for you have all power; there is nothing you cannot do!” Christ’s outline for prayer, commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer,” urges us to think deeply about God’s great power; then to pray in faith, without the faintest shadow of a doubt, that God will answer our prayers!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“…and the glory, forever,”

The term “glory” is commonplace. We speak of a “glorious” sunset, a “glorious” morning. How many synonyms can you think of for “glory”? You might think of magnificent, beautiful, awesome, fine, sumptuous; of great praise and honor; of renown; a source of pride and joy; radiant beauty, brightness, splendor, brilliant, lovely, superb, excellent, great, super, terrific, bright, or perfect. Holy, righteous, hallowed, to be praised—how many expressions are there?

Shakespeare spoke of the “glorious planet sol,” referring to the sun. Something having glory is that which deserves fame, something of such magnificence that it virtually defies description.

Christ wants us to understand and appreciate the splendid magnificence of His heavenly Father; to understand that nothing on this earth—be it gold, silver or precious metals, the finest and rarest of diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the finest works of art, the most glorious sunsets or breathtaking scenery in nature—can compare with the awesome, stunning glory of God. Have you ever heard of religious people who speak of “glory”? Often, charismatics equate glory with “exultation,” or “joy.” During a particularly enjoyable charismatic meeting, one may be heard repeating, “Glory, glory, glory, glory…” until the sound loses all meaning to both the speaker and the listener. As a commonly-used religious expression, the term has become synonymous with “good,” or “praise.” One might say, “Well, glory be!” as a happy exclamation. Of course, we’re familiar with morning glories—the flowers—and who hasn’t known at least one girl named “Gloria?” But none of these meanings were intended by Christ in the outline for prayer, as we shall see.

I well remember an occurrence which illustrates a common misapplication of the term. Two friends of mine were conducting a tour, visiting and baptizing those who had written to the church requesting water baptism. Baptism was by immersion, just as practiced by Baptists, and many others. During one outdoor baptismal ceremony, the two men were standing hip deep in a small farm pond with a beaming, happy, black farmer’s wife who had just been baptized. As they turned to wade back to shore, a pickup truck slid to a stop in a cloud of dust, a man jumped out with a shotgun, and shouted to his wife in alarm. Obviously, she hadn’t told him of the event, thinking he would be away. He thought, for his part, that someone was trying to drown his wife. All he saw was two white strangers standing in the middle of his pond, dripping wet, with his wife between them. Seeing his anxiety, frightened over possible consequences, she happily shouted, waving both hands exultantly in the air, “It’s all right, honey! These men is from the church, and I is in my glory!”

It’s a common expression. “She is in her glory,” someone might say, referring to a debutante at a ball, or a bride at a wedding. I have related the true story about the farmer’s wife many times, and it never fails to bring a chuckle from the audience.

From time immemorial, men have attempted to depict the glories of God. The ceiling of the Cistine Chapel in the Vatican is a well-known example, with the magnificent painting by Michelangelo of the fantasized scene of The Creation. How many thousands of fine Belgian tapestries, beautiful paintings, frescoes, friezes, icons and sculptures are there which attempt to inspire concepts of the creation, or great religious events; of angels, Mary, Christ and God?

We all know western art traces its origins to religious works; attempts to convey to the mind of man the splendor of God; of creation, of the birth of Christ; His passion; His resurrection; imaginary concepts of heaven.

All of us enjoy gazing upon things which are inspiring, pleasing to the eye. Who cannot be moved by the spectacular scene of breakers crashing upon the rocks of a rugged seashore, the spray flung high into the air? Who is not inspired by fabulous landscapes; scenes of our National Parks like Yellowstone and Old Faithful; Yosemite; Mount Rushmore?

For millennia the pastime, and sometimes the business, of the very rich has been to collect breathtaking works of art; porcelain, glass; sculptures of marble and bronze; tapestries, works of gold and silver; jewelry, inlaid, skillfully-made furniture, intricate, hand-made instruments such as an Amati or a Stradivarius violin. There is something deeply satisfying, rewarding, inspiring, about being surrounded by things of fabulous quality; of breathtaking beauty.

The finest material things are made by the skilled hands of master craftsmen. We gasp in amazement at the intricately-carved ivory and jade of Chinese artists; at the minute stitchings of the finest Belgian lace; at a landscape by Bierstadt, or the stained glass windows of Notre Dame. I well remember a Louis XIV harpsichord owned by a multi-millionaire in Pasadena, California. The inside of the lid featured a magnificent hand painted scene of stylishly-dressed men and ladies of the King’s court; the case of the instrument was of the finest rare woods, bordered in gold. Such treasures are beyond price. Have you ever looked in awe at the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London? Is anything more beautiful than the huge goose-egg sized diamonds in the crown, and the scepter?

Yet, for all the loveliness of man-made or man-shaped things, what can surpass the things we behold in nature itself? What can compare with the sight of a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird, hovering effortlessly over a bright red hibiscus, sipping of the nectar? I remember the story about a multi-millionaire owner of some of the big casino hotels in Las Vegas and South Lake Tahoe who, his fortune made, purchased a remote lodge in the most inaccessible part of the western mountains. He had to be flown in to the ranch in a small airplane, equipped with “STOL” (Short Take-off and Landing) equipment. There, he basked in the beauty of nature; fished for trout, observed the deer and elk which grazed in nearby meadows. There, he found peace—surrounded, not by the tapestries, objects of art, paintings and expensive furniture of his grand hotels or many mansions—but by God’s creation.

I have seen some of the most beautiful man-made buildings, works of art, jewelry: I have visited Versailles; The Vatican, with its famous museum and the huge, awe-inspiring basilica of St. Peters. Il Duomo in Milano is very impressive, as are the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace in London; the Louvre, El Escorial, and the Taj Mahal. I have been inside Notre Dame, in Paris, a number of times. I have seen the palaces of kings; been inside many beautiful mansions, chateaus, country homes of the super-rich. As a guest of Princess Lillian of Belgium, the second wife of King Leopold, I stayed in their lovely chateau at Hinteriss, in the Austrian Alps just over the Bavarian border from Bad Tolz. The structure was an exact replica of centuries-old Tyrolian mountain homes; constructed without the use of a single nail. It was situated alongside a rushing river, surrounded by soaring peaks. The royal family of Belgium enjoyed their many visits there, in a family-owned game preserve about the size of Yosemite National Park. It was, in every sense of the word as we commonly use it, glorious.

And yet, what can compare with the glories of the sun; of the solar system; of the universe? Remember the description of the sun’s awesome power in the preceding chapter? Such splendor pales into insignificance the little things created by the hand of man. Just as we acknowledge that God has all power; that He is able to intervene in our lives, when we become obedient to Him, when we go to Him as His own little children with our requests; so Christ wants us to acknowledge His great glory.

The apostle Paul wrote of the glories of the universe; of earthly and celestial bodies. He said, “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body … As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, [die] but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:40-52).

What a striking passage! Can we begin to comprehend it? Can we take it all in? God tells us we can actually become changed from human to divine, from flesh to spirit, from mortal to immortal, from earthy to heavenly. From a physical, mundane, temporal, fleshly body with our worries and concerns; our aches and pains, our physical debilities and limitations, we can become glorious, godly, spirit beings—inducted into the divine family of God—born into His glorious Kingdom!

It is always nice when a friend says, “My, you’re looking well!” Or, when someone comments on our physical appearance—complimenting us by saying we look younger than our years, or saying our skin seems to have such a healthy glow. All of us want to look well; to exude vitality, energy, well-being, health; to appear robust. But what a contrast between our frail human bodies and the glorious picture Paul gives of the resurrection! What if our bodies suddenly took on the shine of a billion diamonds, of burnished gold, of translucent pearls and onyx, of the dazzling brightness of the sun? That is what Paul said the resurrection is like!

As Isaiah wrote, “He giveth power to the faint: and to them that have no might He increaseth strength … they that wait upon the Eternal shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. “ And to the dead God will say, “Arise! Shine! for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Eternal is risen upon thee!” (Isaiah 40:29-3 1; 60:1).

The Bible tells us men have been perennially curious about the glory of God. They have wanted to see His splendor. However, Christ said, “Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape” (John 5:37). He also said, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13).

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses was overcome by curiosity. After many encounters with this Divine Being, Moses could no longer contain himself. In a touching account, we read of how God understood, and partly relented, to satisfy a little of Moses’ acute longing.

“And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord [Yahveh] talked with Moses.

“And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man at his tent door.

“And the Eternal spake unto Moses face to face [in a cloud—not literally; Moses could not see His face, as is proved in the context] as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp; but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

“And Moses said unto the Eternal, ‘See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

“ ‘Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way that I might know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.’

“And He said, ‘My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.’ And he said unto Him, ‘If thy presence go not with me, carry us up not hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are on the face of the earth.’

“And the Eternal said unto Moses, ‘I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.’ And he said, ‘I beseech thee, shew me thy glory!’

“And He said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Eternal before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.’

“And He said, ‘Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.’

“And the Eternal said, ‘Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen’” (Exodus 33:9-23).

What an inspiring account! Can you imagine it? Moses actually beheld the back of God Almighty! God would not allow Moses to see His face; but He understood, and tried to satisfy insofar as He could, Moses’ burning curiosity. It is a touching story, this interrelationship between God and His prophet Moses, a man unique among all other human beings, a man to whom God spoke “face to face,” out of a cloud, as if “to a friend.”

When Christ was about to be crucified, He prayed the real “Lord’s Prayer.” This is not an outline for prayer, as is the case with the words we have been studying, but the prayer Jesus prayed just before He was led away to be killed. Toward its conclusion, Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

“And the glory which thou gavest me have I given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am: that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:20-24).

Have you ever wanted to share some accomplishment, some ability, some performance, with a dear friend? Does an artist paint rare masterpieces only to be stored in the closet? Does a superb athlete perform only for the physical exercise? Does an operatic quality singer perform only in the shower?

How well I remember learning to swim, as a boy. My parents had been away, and I was spending the summer at my grandmother’s farm. When they left me there, I was unable to swim. When they came to pick me up, I was swimming, diving, enjoying outings in the Molalla River, in Oregon. I well remember my frustration when, piping shrilly to my parents to watch my new accomplishment, they seemed preoccupied. I called, “Look Mom! Look Dad! I can swim!” whereupon I dove through a big truck inner-tube, to come to the surface only to find my parents were engrossed in conversation with my uncle and grandmother on the shore. How badly I wanted to show off my newfound ability. It’s a common human desire. I find it very touching that Jesus Christ prayed to His Father that He could ultimately show His disciples His great glory He had shared with the Father from eternity; that He wanted them to really see Him, as He really is, in all the splendor of His Kingly office!

The Bible pictures Christ in His glorified state in metaphorical language. In the first chapter of Revelation, John describes how he was given a vivid vision of events to occur during the famous “Day of the Lord” of prophecy. He wrote, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book,’ …And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

“And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell [Greek: hades, meaning “the grave”] and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter’ ”(Revelation 1: 10-19).

Can our minds picture such a radiant vision of glory and splendor? Christ appeared as if His face shone with the full strength of the sun; His eyes like leaping flames of fire; His head as white as snow; His feet as burnished brass. When He spoke, John thought His voice was as powerful as the roar at the foot of Niagra Falls. No wonder the vision was so overpowering, so awesome and magnificent that John fell down in a faint!

There is no more detailed picture in all the Bible of God’s throne than that of Revelation the 4th chapter. Let’s notice what it tells us. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, ‘Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.’

“And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

“And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine [sardonyx] stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne were four beasts [Greek: “living creatures”] full of eyes before and behind.

“And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf [an ox], and the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like an eagle.

“And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him: and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.’

“And when those living creatures give praise and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘For thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure [will] they are and were created” (Revelation 4th chapter).

The Bible reveals that cherubs, far from appearing as naked babies with bows and arrows, appear as a lion, an ox, an eagle, or a man. Study the apparition of God’s throne which appeared to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1 and 10), how each creature had the four faces of a man, a lion, an eagle, or an ox. God placed two cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life after the expulsion of Adam. Remember, Adam lived almost one-sixth of earth’s recorded history until now. The garden was no doubt there until destroyed by the flood of Noah’s time, about ten centuries later.

Cherubim are pictured in the ancient monuments. In the British Museum and the Louvre are casts of the huge creatures carved from solid stone guarding the palaces of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian kings such as Sargon and Asherbannipal. Each features the huge bodies of lions or oxen, with the heads of men, wings of an eagle, and hooves of an ox or claws of an eagle. Various representations of these four creatures are found throughout the ancient Middle East. The Sphinx is a case in point, as are many other representatives of “the host of heaven” in ancient art and monuments.

From whence came the fabulous myths of the dragon (or the giant, or the beast) who guards castles filled with treasures—the fable of St. George and the Dragon, for example—but from the oft-told stories handed down through the generations of those intrepid adventurers hundreds of years after Adam’s expulsion who ventured too close to the entry of Eden, and were repulsed?

The Mexican aboriginals, the Aztecs and other races, worshiped a “winged flying serpent” they called Quetzalcoatl. Quetzal means flying creature, or bird; coatl means serpent. The Hebrew word for “serpent” in the account of the Garden of Eden is nachash which means, not so much a snake, as an upright, serpentine-like creature with wings, like an artists conception of a dragon. Satan is called a “dragon” in Revelation 12:9. He was called “the cherub that covereth” (Ezekiel 28:14) when in his pre-Satanic state, as “Lucifer,” or “Light Bringer.” As such, he was in close relationship with God’s throne. Cherubim appear to have four wings (as in Ezekiel 1), while seraphim (Isaiah 6) have six. Why the living creatures surrounding God’s throne in Revelation 4 have six wings, yet seem to evince the characteristics of cherubim, which usually have four, is puzzling. Perhaps they are cherubim of a different order which are not otherwise mentioned in the Bible. In any event, they are huge, powerful, spiritual creatures, after which families of fleshly creatures are patterned.

The cherubim surrounding God’s throne evince the characteristics of the four creatures supreme in their own domain: the eagle, as king of all flying creatures; the ox, as largest, most versatile and useful of all domestic animals; the lion, as king of beasts, and emblem of many nations; and man, under whose hands God has placed all other creatures.

Can our minds imagine it? We see the brilliance of a rainbow shining with bright, emerald-like hues, behind which are rolling clouds, lightning and thunder flashing and roaring. A dazzling throne with the brightness of several suns radiates from beneath the rainbow, upon which God is seated. A translucent, sparkling, clear, quartz-like “sea of glass” or large floor stretches toward the throne. Seated on each side are twelve (twenty-four in all) white-haired sages, or elders, wearing dazzling garments white as snow, their heads adorned with sparkling golden crowns. Guarding the throne are four huge cherubim, each with four different faces (hence, many “eyes”). Billions of angels are there; heavenly choruses singing, the elders fall to their faces, casting their crowns at the feet of Him that sits on the throne, and sing honor and praise and glory to Him. Such a breathtaking spectacle is simply too magnificent, too bright, too beautiful and overwhelming to imagine! Such is the GLORY of Almighty God!

To most of us, God is somehow remote, distant, unseen. Only by drinking in of these glorious scenes, thinking deeply about them, meditating profoundly over what we have read, can we begin to envision the magnificent glory and power of God. What a difference it makes when we talk to God in a personal sense directing our prayers to Him seated on His glorious throne, and not just some figment of our own imagination.

Jesus Christ prayed fervently that His disciples and “those that should believe on Him through their word, “ which includes us, you and me, could some day see His glory! For now, we must be content to envision it as the Bible portrays it. Yet, the time is coming, God says, when “We shall be like Him, for we shall SEE HIM AS HE IS !” (1 John 3:2). Paul said so! When we are resurrected, or physically changed, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” we shall inherit God’s own glory! Then, our visage will no longer be mottled flesh. No more aches and pains. No more tears. No more physical limitations, sickness, debility. Then, boundless energy! Endless youth! Limitless vitality! Eternal life! And glory, beyond our ability to imagine! Yes, we must acknowledge God’s great glory when we address Him in our prayers. God loves our praise—He returns our love, many times over. So pray to Him, as Christ outlined we should. Pray in faith, believing!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“…Amen!”

We’re all familiar with the practice of saying “amen” at the end of a prayer. The word Jesus used is the Greek version of the Hebrew word, amen, which comes from a root word, aman, meaning “to build up or support: to foster, as a parent or a nurse: to render, be firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; to be true or certain.” It connotes steadfastness, surety, verity, trust.

The word means “so be it,” or “so let it be done.” The first place the word is used in the Bible is Numbers 5:22, in connection with an oath administered by a priest to determine infidelity in marriage.

In Deuteronomy 27, the word is found 13 times in connection with a series of curses, or condemnations, recited by the Levites. An example: “And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, ‘Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Eternal, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’” (Deuteronomy 27:14-15).

This was solemn public acknowledgment and agreement. They were answering, “We agree, so let it be done—let it be accomplished exactly as stated.”

David wrote, “Blessed be the Eternal God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 41:13).

There are three uses of the word: (1) Initial amen, referring to the words of another speaker. See 1 Kings 1:36, where Benaiah said, “Amen: the Eternal God of my lord the king say so too.” (2) Secondary or detached Amen, the complimentary sentence being suppressed, as in Nehemiah 5:13: “Also I shook my lap, and said, ‘So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.’ And all the congregation said, ‘Amen’ and praised the Eternal. And the people did according to this promise.” (3) Final amen, the most common usage, as in the “Lord’s Prayer,” illustrated by the Apostle Paul when he wrote “…I will pray with the understanding… else… how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say ‘Amen’ at thy giving of thanks…” (1 Corinthians 14:15- 16).

There is a further, deeper meaning. “Amen” is used as a name, or a description of Christ, and God. “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness; the Beginning [Beginner] of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). Since God has self-inherent eternal life the Perpetual, Eternal, Ever-living God—and since “amen” means “So be it,” and God introduced Himself to Moses as “I AM,” meaning the One Who was, and is, and is to come, it is natural that the Hebrew expression which connotes steadfastness, truth, positiveness, endurance, absoluteness, finality, surety, should be applied to the divine family.

Men have incorporated the names of God into their own names from time immemorial. My own middle name is a shortened form, or “nick name” for “Theodore” (although “Ted” is my legal name), which means “Gift of God.” A translator’s error in Genesis obscures the true meaning of the verse, which should read, “…then began men to call themselves by the name of the Eternal” (Genesis 4:26). This is said at the birth and naming of Enos, the first letter connoting El, or God. From that time forward, hundreds were named after the divine names and titles. “Elijah” means, “El,” He is “Jah,” or, “God, He is God.” Names like Elishiba, Elisha, Joel (Jah- El), Enoch, Jared, Joshua, and so many others include one of the names of God.

The concept of an “omen,” meaning a supernatural indication of some sort, whether evil or good, stems from ancient usages of the Hebrew word aman, from which “amen” derives. Ancient Pharaohs included this name in their titles. “Amenhotep” is one example.

Paul uses the word in expressing the truthfulness, verity, surety of the gospel and of Christ’s teachings. He wrote, “But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay [or, vacillating, hesitant, ambiguous, unsure]. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus [notice the Greek name for God, Theus, in the name], was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Corinthians 1:18-20).

What should go through your mind when you conclude a prayer with the expression, “Amen”?

Let me draw upon an analogy. The difference between many amateur golfers and professionals is that the professionals have a “grooved swing.” Through constant practice, careful attention to the fundamentals like grip, stance, takeaway, movement of their hips and legs in coordination with the upper body, keeping the head still, they learned long ago to make their swing constant, almost automatic. The amateur golfer, on the other hand, is continually “picking his swing apart.” He may stand over the ball, saying to himself “Keep your head down; check your grip, look at your stance, take away by, ‘curling under’ with the three fingers of the left hand, move the right elbow closer to the body,” and a host of other things. The result is a timid, erratic, sometimes wildly off center shot. Millions of amateur golfers are continually looking for the “secret” to a better golf game.

This continual search for perfection is why golf clubs and clothing and all associated paraphernalia are a multi-billion dollar business. It is why so many read the many golfing magazines, or purchase video tapes and recordings, and buy books and manuals hoping to improve their swing.

What they are doing is picking their swing apart. They stand over the ball, thinking anxiously of the things they should have long since committed to memory; long since made apart of them, until it became habit, automatic!

The professional doesn’t “pick his swing apart” any more. It’s a “natural” swing, because he has grooved it into his mind indelibly, with a tremendous amount of practice, not to say natural ability and athletic coordination.

What should occur to your mind when you conclude your prayer with “Amen” is that it is finished. It is accomplished. God has heard. It will be done. He has promised. It is conclusive, final. Once you have spent twenty or thirty minutes or even an hour on your knees with your heavenly Father, it finally comes time to give the prayer to God; to leave the results with Him. That’s when it’s time to say, “Amen,” which means, “So let it be done.” It means, “It is finished.” And it means something else! It should mean to you—In faith—that you are saying to God, “Father I know you have heard and I know you will answer.”

When you say “amen” you let go of your prayer. You don’t continue to “pick it apart,” worry over it, repeat it over and over again. Now, it’s time to leave the result with God.

Study the context in which Jesus gave the sample outline for prayer. You will be shocked! Do you know Jesus was condemning the practice of monotonous repetition? Do you know He was condemning the Pharisees for their “oft-speaking” and their repetitious prayers in public places, saying they “think they shall be heard through their much speaking”? Actually, the famous “Lord’s Prayer” is not a prayer at all, but an outline for meaningful prayer. Christ specifically forbade monotonous repetition! But what have many sincere but misinformed religious people done? They have memorized the outline and endlessly repeated it in public places; reciting it as if a talisman, believing this is somehow pleasing to God. Not so. Christ specifically condemned the practice of repeated, public prayers.

So now you know. Now, you know how to pray. Now, you know the conditions to answered prayer, as we saw them in Acts 2:38. It is my own fervent prayer that the writing of this book has proved to be inspiring, informative, encouraging, deeply rewarding to those who read it. I dare to hope, and make it my prayer to God in concluding these words, that this small book may change human lives for the better. If such occurs in only one instance, it will have been well worth the effort. For of what value, after all, is only one human being, inducted into the very family of God—glorified with Christ in His Kingdom? I would encourage you to read this book more than once, to look up, and read for yourself each scriptural reference. Most of all, I would encourage you to pray. As you have seen, we could spend an hour or more praying about each word or phrase of the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” and even then, we would have just begun. As I related at the beginning, I know God answers prayers. I have seen miraculous answers within only moments; I have seen answers delayed for years; I have come to understand that sometimes the answer is either “no,” or, “not yet.” Paul besought God thrice, and knew the answer had been delivered—but the answer was “no.” No one has some magical formula which makes the Great, Awesome Creator of the whole universe jump to our whims, or hasten to satisfy every need. Certainly, I do not. I have known of those who have prayed for years for specific requests which have been denied them. Why? Is the answer somewhere hidden within the beautiful thing God is shaping of each of our lives? Does it have to do with faith, and with character?

On the other hand, I have known of those who have cried out to God in time of need, and have received dramatic, almost instantaneous answers. As a witness to miracles, I can say with Job, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

Amen.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The post ANSWER to Unanswered Prayer first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The world in which you and I live is a God-rejecting, God-defying world. It is a world of hundreds of “religions,” yet a world of chaos, violence, disease and war.

Paradoxically, some of those nations whose religions permeate all facets of life seem to be among the most impoverished, millions of their citizens living in squalor beyond comprehension. Some humans still worship cows, just as rebellious Israel made a golden calf in Sinai, believing, from their experience in Egypt, that God looked like a cow.

The world is not “at one” with God. It does not acknowledge the one true God, nor His Son who died for the sins of all mankind, Jesus Christ.

In the so-called “Christian” world, millions profess the name of Jesus Christ, yet refuse to follow His example, or to do what He plainly commanded. “Why call ye me, ‘Lord, Lord,”‘ cried Jesus, “and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

“In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Millions profess to worship Jesus Christ. They call Him “Lord,” and claim to have “accepted” Him as their Savior. Yet, they refuse to obey Him! They will not follow His example. Peter wrote……. Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin [He kept His Father’s laws perfectly], neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21,22).

Paul described our world as being filled with those who are “…Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness [man-made religions; religious creeds, rituals, ceremonies], but denying the power thereof'” (2 Timothy 3:3-5).

Mankind does not accept God as RULER. They refuse to surrender to God in abject repentance for sin, which is the transgression of God’s perfect law (1 John 3:4).

The nations of this world are far from being “at one” with God. Instead, they are in opposition!

This is Satan’s world, not God’s.

The governments of this world are neither of God’s choice, nor of His design. God is not the Author of this world’s commerce and industry, of its science or education, of its institutions or its religions.

Can anyone doubt this?

This world’s governments are not capable of bringing peace and prosperity to their citizens. Instead, the teeming billions of human beings in all their hundreds of countries are in the grip of poverty, squalor, disease, malnutrition. Chaos, confusion, anarchy, rampant crime reign supreme.

Your news tells you of massacres–wholesale murder all over the world. In Brazil, lustful would-be gold miners brutally massacred virtually an entire tribe of “stone-age” Indians–covetous of their land, and corrupt police “death squads” massacred unarmed civilians, including children, in a slum in Rio De Janiero. In former Yugoslavia, so-called “Christians,” either Roman Catholics or Greek Orthodox, slaughter Muslims. In Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, and many other Arab countries, more than a dozen Arab terrorist groups of varying sizes continually plot the overthrow of their own governments, or plot how to launch terrorist attacks against Israelis and Americans all over the world. As the PLO and Israel search for peace and Palestinian autonomy, rival Palestinian terrorist groups murder, riot, and threaten assassinations. Israel launches attacks into Lebanon in what amounts to full-scale war in retaliation for the most recent wave of terrorist murders of its citizens. If these events fade quickly in the past by the time you read this booklet, rest assured they will be replaced by equally vicious crimes.

Look at your own local news, no matter where you live. Continually, you read of violence, mayhem, drugs, child abuse, kidnappings, robbery and murder. Today, many European tourists are becoming fearful of visiting Florida because of vicious murders there; youths targeting tourists because they believe they are carrying large amounts of money. The murderers are usually teenagers, out on parole. One had a list of arrests several pages long.

Earlier, I had wanted to visit our brethren in the Philippines during 1993. However, because of several kidnappings of Americans by communist terrorist groups, I was advised against going. From Britain, where Mr. Ronald Dart described hearing an IRA bomb exploding nearby, to Germany, where “skinheads” in a Neo-Nazi group are murdering Turks and other foreigners, it is the same. Violence and murder reign. Chaos and confusion prevail. There is no fear of God in our lands, no respect for human rights and decency, and no remorse.

Suddenly, following the end of the cold war, the whole world seems to have erupted in a satanic frenzy of ethnic and racial hatreds, in political strife and confusion, in economic duress.

As if to match this turbulence among nations, world-wide weather has been convulsing in violent cataclysms. Destructive hurricanes have smashed into south Florida, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Japan, and other countries. Massive earthquakes have taken terrible tolls in life and property from San Francisco to northern Japan. Record-breaking floods have cost countless billions in America’s heartland. Drought grips part of America, while massive floods soak other parts.

Need I go on? All you need do is to watch morning news on CNN, or one of the other news stations.

What is going on? Will we look back some day and surmise that the prophesied GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21,22) really began to gradually come upon us in the mid 1990s?

Are we living in the time prophesied in God’s Word when “…the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12)?

Satan is the “God” of This World

God says Satan the devil is that arch-demon who “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). That deception began with the beginning of human history, in the Garden of Eden, and the first lie, spoken to our first parents.

God had said Adam and Eve would suffer the penalty of death if they disobeyed God, and partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan said, in effect, “God knows better than that. Why, that fruit is to be desired to make you wise like He is. You will not surely die.” (See Genesis 3:4,5). He hinted that man has an “immortal soul,” that there is something eternal within man.

The Bible is replete with examples of how Satan has continually conducted his campaign of attempting to overthrow God. Study Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14, which give insights into Satan’s earliest origins, his expulsion from heaven to this earth.

From the beginning, Satan has appeared at the most crucial moments in man’s history. He was present in Eden, to deceive our first parents through Eve, bringing about original sin. He was allowed to appear before God to chide Him about Job (Job. 2:1-7). He was present at the birth of Christ to inspire Herod to kill thousands of innocent children (Matthew 2:16). He was present to tempt Jesus Christ shortly after His baptism (Matthew 4:1-11). He entered personally into Judas Iscariot to betray Christ to be murdered (John 13:27). He continually attempted to influence Peter, and it was only through Christ’s own prayers his hand was stayed (Luke 22:31,32).

Peter wrote, “Be sober [notice! Combating Satan requires sobriety; solemnity, not rejoicing], be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

“Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8,9).

Satan is described as “the god of this world.” Listen! “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world [this age, this time, this society] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4).

He is also the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). God actually allowed Satan limited power over the weather in the case of Job, when Satan caused a tornado to destroy Job’s house and family.

From Genesis to Revelation, Satan the devil appears continually as the “accuser of the brethren,” as the “adversary,” as a “roaring lion,” as “the tempter,” as a “serpent,” or whispering enchanter, as a rebel against God, as a dragon. He is called Abaddon, and Apollyon in the Greek.

Throughout the seasonal pattern of God’s plan as revealed in His annual holy days, Satan’s evil dimension is noted.

In the typology of the Passover, for example, Pharaoh is a type of Satan, while Egypt is a type of sin, under Satan’s domain. The name of the wilderness (a type of trial and testing during the Christian life) was “Sin.”

Leaven, which is not to be eaten for seven days during the Days of Unleavened Bread, is a type of sin, of which Satan is the author. He is the first sinner in the history of the creation.

Satan, the present evil world ruler, has held sway over the minds and hearts of men for thousands of years. Here and there, God has called a few men and women to receive the gift of repentance. He has opened the minds of a few rare individuals who have chosen to obey God; to surrender to God in heartbroken repentance, be baptized, and receive God’s Holy Spirit.

But those who have answered God’s call are in a tiny, insignificant minority. Never did God’s Word prophesy that the church Jesus built (Matthew 16:18) would become a large, visible, politically active, wealthy religious organization which would be a part of this world; involved in various community, county, state, or national causes; trying to make this evil world a better place!

Nor would Christ’s church attempt to win the favor of those lost in Satan’s world. “Woe be unto you when men speak well of you,” He warned. Never would God’s church seek approval from the world, or from its religious organizations. Never would it compromise God’s truth in order to win favor with man and their worldly churches and organizations. Never would it compromise God’s Word in order to avoid persecution!

Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock, it is my Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Everywhere in prophecy, the true church is described as a persecuted few; a small, scattered, weak church, consisting of those individuals who “have not denied [Christ’s] name,” and who “…keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 3:8; 12:17).

God is Not Intervening in This World Today

This world is completely opposed to God. Its governments, institutions, societies and its religions are not of God, but are, instead, influenced by Satan.

Do you fully realize what you have been reading? Do you know that advancing this very truth nearly resulted in Christ’s murder at the very beginning of His public ministry? Satan’s religious leaders were VIOLENTLY OUTRAGED when Jesus told them this obvious truth, and immediately attempted to murder Him!

Notice it, in your own Bible.

Jesus Christ was invited to read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, where He had spent His youth……. and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

“And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book [scroll], He found the place where it was written:

“’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.’

“And He closed the book, and He gave again to the minister, and sat down.

“And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.

“And He began to say unto them, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.’

“And all bare Him witness [listened intently], and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?”‘ (Luke 4:16-22).

Put yourself into the picture. Try to understand what was happening here. The Pharisees (“Apartists,” or “Separatists”) and the Sadducees (a more “liberal” religious sect, which had charge of the temple in Jerusalem) were the “spiritual” leaders. Their proud history stretched back to the days of the Maccabees–to the time just following the Jewish return from Babylonian captivity during the time of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel, and the rebuilding of the temple.

To the Pharisees, just as in the case of millions of Americans, Britons, Australians, South Africans, and Canadians, they lived in “God’s country.” Theirs was the “true religion,” they thought. Whatever God was doing, He was doing it there!

Just like many an American “evangelist,” they no doubt claimed, “God is moving mightily among us just now!” They pointed to acts of charity, or demons cast out, or real or imagined hearings, and spoke of how “God is working miracles” here among us!

Their proud history was all GOD-CENTERED, so far as they were concerned. From their clothing styles to their fastings; from their alms-givings and tithing to their many meetings and special “love feasts” for the poor–they were involved deeply in doing God’s work, so far as they were concerned. They were “God’s people” doing “God’s will,” and having “God’s authority.”

It was the pagan world around them that was in darkness. They dwelt in the light! They were the “chosen ones,” dwelling in “God’s country.” All around was Gentile heathenism. In their synagogues, and in their streets; in their private meetings and public assemblies; in their banquets and feasts, and in their temple was GOD, and HIS TRUE RELIGION! They were GOD’S OWN MINISTERS!

Or so they believed.

But here was Jesus Christ, saying to them He had been sent to preach the gospel to the “poor.” He had been sent to “heal the brokenhearted” who were right there, seated in that synagogue, under the “spiritual” leadership of those rabbis, in that city, Nazareth, on that day! He had been sent to set spiritual captives free–captives who were seated there, in that synagogue, in that city, right then!

He had been sent to give the spiritually blind the ability to see; to set at liberty those who were being “bruised,” and exploited! He boldly proclaimed that this prophecy was being fulfilled right there and then in that synagogue.

Immediately, the Jewish leaders were furious!

This was preposterous to them! “Spiritual captives” THERE, in their own synagogue? Ridiculous! Were they not the spiritual leaders of their docile, obedient congregation? How dare this young upstart say such outrageous things? He might as well have accused them of being under Satan’s influence, deceiving their people, placing grievous burdens upon them, exploiting them!

As is always the case, when a carnal human mind is confronted with the Word of God, which is sharp, like a two-edged sword, and whichcuts and stings when it is wielded; when the carnal mind refuses to look into that spiritual looking glass and repent, it instead resorts to personal denigration, personal attack!

They scathingly said, “Wait a minute! Isn’t this just a local boy? Isn’t this old Joseph’s son?”

This ridiculous charge bears studious contemplation. As Christ Himself said, a prophet has no honor in his own country, or among his own kin. Familiarity breeds contempt. This is a Satanic emotion, not a Godly one.

The greatest respect, the greatest love displayed in all the universe, is the love between God the Father and Christ the Son of God. No contempt here, in spite of countless billions of years through endless eternity of familiarity.

But the carnal mind, influenced by Satan, is a mind of vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. It is a mind which is also afflicted with a sizable case of inferiority.

Those who accuse, “He is one of us,” as if such a statement discredits a person, do not realize how they are indicting themselves with their ridiculous accusations.

Many years ago, I read some cheap religious tracts which accused my father, Herbert W. Armstrong, of having been “one of us,” meaning the denomination which published the tract. To these vain, accusative religious bigots, the worst thing they could say about my father was that he had supposedly once been one of their own number. He never was. He had never darkened the door of one of their churches, to my certain knowledge. He had never met with their ministry, never attended a single one of their meetings.

These religious zealots, in their eagerness to attack and ridicule, were either deliberately lying, or simply didn’t know what they were saying. Think about it. What was it about them which was so discrediting, so evil, so utterly contemptuous, that association with them automatically discredited anyone who had once fellowshipped with them?

Human nature seems to say, “If I know him, he can’t be anybody worthwhile, or important. “What is unsaid is, “If I know him, since Iam of no worth or importance, he must really be a no-account.”

The Pharisees likewise didn’t understand what they were accusing. To them, it would have been impossible for anyone of any importance to have come from their town of Nazareth. They didn’t realize their accusations were actually directed at themselves; that they were saying, “We can’t be of any importance or account.”

Their anger deepened to murderous rage when Jesus said, “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal thyself: Whatsoever we have heard done in Capemaum, do also here in thy country.’

“And He said, ‘Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.

“But I tell you of a truth, [note this well!] many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon [this was in modem-day Lebanon, a city then populated by Gentiles, not Jews], unto a woman that was a widow.

“And many lepers were in Israel in the days of Eliseus [Elishal the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman, the Syrian” (Luke 4:23-27).

Do you understand what Jesus was saying?

He was telling them that God was not working among the nation of Israel or Judah to heal, or to perform miracles, during the powerful ministry of witness and warning of Elijah or Elisha! Instead, God did not intervene in the case of destitute widows, or those starving due todrought sent as a national punishment. He intervened only in the case of the Gentile widow in Sidon, and a Syrian king!

This was historically true, and they knew it!

Yet, because it stung them and plainly showed how God had rejected their forefathers because of their sins, they were outraged! Jesus used these examples to back up His bold statement that, at last, God had sent His Son to release spiritual captives right there, in Nazareth–that God had not been working there previously!

Jesus was shattering all their carefully-arranged hierarchical pomp and religious pretense! He was plainly telling them God has not been among you! He has not been working here until NOW, THIS DAY, THROUGH ME!”

Notice: “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath.

“And rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereupon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong.

“But He, passing through the midst of them went His way,

“And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days” (Luke 4:28-3 1).

Imagine this! From the middle of a religious service on the Sabbath day to a raging, hate-filled mob in only moments of time, this group of venomous, pompous, vain, self-righteous religious bigots sought to do murder, with no hearing, no trial, no appeal! They were rendered so insanely furious with the indictment Jesus Christ had hurled at them they wanted to kill Him right then and there!

Jesus Christ looked very average. No doubt, in the melee, some of His disciples managed to gather around Him. He could have pulled his hooded cloak around him, and, as those in the front ranks milled about, pushing and shoving, shouting, throwing dust in the air, and falling down, He made good his escape, not being recognized in the confusion.

Fascinating piece of history, isn’t it?

Ironically, there are thousands of professing “Christian” ministers who would be rendered just as furiously angry TODAY if a true servant of God told them plainly that GOD HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AMONG YOU!

To be told this is not God’s world seems so strange to so many! To be informed that this is a world under the sway of Satan seems preposterous!

Yet, this is precisely what your Bible says!

The nations are deceived! Millions, who profess Christ, refuse to surrender to Him, refuse to obey Him!

Christ said, “Why call ye me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

He said, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

“But IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9).

Paul wrote, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Obviously, there are those who are involved in a “form of godliness,” in “organized religion,” but who possess all the evil attributes of Satan so thoroughly described in the preceding verses!

Strangely, one sees more of the abominable, hateful, Satanic attitudes of vengeance and hedonism among “religious” organizations than in the public at large!

This is not God’s world! It is AT-ODDS with God, contrary to God, in rebellion against God.

It is a world lost in a Babylon of religious, political and ethnic hatred and confusion!

God says, “Come out of her [spiritual Babylon!], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

Now, perhaps we can see more clearly WHY God revealed to His people Israel all the important typology of the somber, holy Day of Atonement. “Atonement” means “at-one-ment.” It pictures the human condition, under Satan’s influence, as being lost in sin; being in opposition to God, desperately needing reconciliation and forgiveness. More, it pictures the ultimate cause of sin, the first sinner, and the “father of liars,” being put away to never more influence mankind!

Rejection and Betrayal

Have you ever experienced rejection from someone you loved? Have you ever been deserted by dear friends? Have you experienced the trauma of divorce, or abandonment? As I write, it is now more than twenty long years since I was completely rejected and abandoned by some I counted among the very closest friends I ever had. Friends with whom I shared hundreds of thousands of miles of travel, hundreds of dinners, hunting expeditions, fishing, sports-countless hours of close contact. Furthermore, some of these former “friends” were ordained into the ministry! Not only dear friends, but my own human father!

To this very moment, I have never received a letter or a telephone call from them.

If you have been divorced, you know how horribly painful such an experience truly is, most especially if you were the one who was rejected.

Your Father in Heaven, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth, know the feelings of rejection and betrayal!

In the very beginning of our physical universe, the divine creating Family, Elohim, (which we refer to as “God”) created a fabulously beautiful, perfect universe, a perfect world. Millions do not know that there is a completely misleading mistranslation in the second verse of Genesis 1.

Notice: “In the beginning God [Elohim, a plural noun] created the heaven and the earth.

“And the earth was without form, and void: and darkness was upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:1,2). As you read the remainder of the chapter, you are left with the impression that God created the world in blackness, with tossing waves completely covering the land surface; that all was chaotic, and in confusion.

The Hebrew words for “without form, and void” are tohu and bohu. Here is what Dr. Builinger says in his notes on Genesis 1:2: “Without form = waste. Heb. tohu va bohu. Fig. Paronomasia. Ap. 6. Not created tohu (Isa. 45:18), but became tohu (Gen. 1:2. 2 Pet. 3:5,6). “An enemy hath done this” (Matt. 13:25,28,39. Cp. 1 Cor. 14:33). See Ap. 8″

Isaiah 45:18 plainly says, “For thus saith the Eternal that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain [Heb. tohu], He formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the Eternal.”‘

The Companion Bible note on this phrase: “In vain = tohu. The same word as in Gen. 1.2 (“without form”). Therefore it must have become tohu: which is exactly what Gen. 1:2 declares.”

Now, HOW did God’s original, beautiful, flawlessly PERFECT creation become a chaotic scene of death and destruction; of stygian blackness covering a raging sea; of continents submerged beneath the water?

To read of the original condition of earth, turn to Ezekiel 28:12, where the “king of Tyrus” is used as a type of Satan, the devil (see Bullinger’s marginal notes, or any commentary): “…thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets [drums] and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God: thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity [sin; lawlessness] was found in thee.

“By the multitude of thy merchandise [your trafficking, or going about from here to there; your “busyness,” which means “calumniator, or slanderer,” as one who slanders and gossips in a moral sense] they [these many occasions of sin] have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness [splendor]…” (Ezekiel 28:12-17).

Lucifer was breathtakingly beautiful. His name meant “Shining Star of the Dawn,” or “Lightbringer.” This description of Lucifer’s original condition bears very careful inspection; careful meditation.

For comparison, and a few additional details, notice Isaiah’s description: “How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

“For thou hast said in thine heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides [recesses] of the north:

“‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the MOST HIGH [Hebrew: Elyon, which is from El, and Elohim, as the “Possessor of heaven and earth.”]”‘ (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Here was a splendid, bright, shining, beautiful creature, an archangel, whose very name connoted his shining countenance. He was given command of this earth. He walked up and down in a land called “Eden” which existed perhaps billions of years ago, not the “Eden” of the recreation of earth long after its destruction, but the original “holymountain of God,” probably located somewhere in what is today the “Middle East.” This was a land of fabulous jewels; sparkling emeralds, topaz, diamonds, were everywhere about. Gold was common.

We are not told how long Lucifer ruled over the earth, nor how much power God allowed him during that period. One thousand years is to God like only one day to you and me. How long did God enjoy the beauty, the charm, the magnetism, the friendship, loyalty, and easy-going camaraderie of Lucifer?

God says he was a perfect creature in all aspects. Could not God have enjoyed His association with Lucifer, originally?

We are told, however, that Lucifer began “merchandising.” That is, he began to talk to the countless angels under his control, and perhaps to others who were under Gabriel or Michael. He began to allow jealousy of God’s supreme position of authority to eat on him. He began to see God in an unfavorable comparison with himself.

His reasoning is extant in billions of humans. “I am better than you are,” reason many. Vanity consumed Lucifer. Like most vain people, he suffered from a deep-seated inferiority complex, for he knew, deep within himself, that he was inferior to God; that God was more powerful. As Lucifer contemplated all that God controlled, envy and covetousness crept in. Lucifer began to become dissatisfied with his fabulously beautiful portion of God’s realm. Now, the jewels and gold seemed commonplace. The earth, down here under the clouds, was truly ,’mundane.”

He began to exacerbate the situation, continually gossiping, talking, excusing and justifying himself, dropping innuendoes and hints that God was somehow not fair. The more he engaged in this “trafficking,” the more corrupt he became, morally and spiritually.

Finally, he betrayed God, and, taking his angels (all of whom had been completely subverted by his charm, and his charismatic personality), he attempted to attack God on His throne and overthrow Him! He attempted the very first palace coup in all the history of the universe.

We cannot even begin to imagine the titanic struggle that took place. It was the original, primeval, “star wars” that ensued; planets and stars collided, were hurled out of their orbits. The earth’s surface was wrecked, utterly destroyed.

Today, when we gaze into space, we can see the results of this titanic struggle for control of the universe. The lifeless, pock-marked hulks that are the moon, or Mars and many other planets with their ugly, misshapen moons; the poisonous Venusian atmosphere; billions of meteorites, which are just so much space debris from explosions; all present mute testimony to us of vast events in the ancient past which caused all this wreckage.

Evolutionists speak of their pet theory about the “big bang,” as if it were a mindless act of “nature,” which was the original creation. It was not. The debris they see is the result of the destruction of an earlier, perfect creation.

Did Lucifer’s betrayal and attack upon God affect God’s attitude at all? God is love, according to His Word. He is gentle, kind, good, giving, merciful, longsuffering, and forgiving. Since God’s very nature is love, and since God desires man’s love in return, was it not painful and deeply disappointing to God to see the most beautiful creature of His handiwork, Lucifer, turn into a vicious, hating, lying, spiteful rebel, trying to overthrow his own Creator?

Do you see? The very first estrangement, the first time there was OPPOSITION, the first time there was betrayal, rejection, and war against God came perhaps billions of years before Adam!

The Rejection and Betrayal of Christ

Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He was God in the flesh, the original “Spokesman” of the Godhead, who did the creating!

“In the beginning was the Word [Greek: Logos, meaning “Spokesman”], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“The same was in the beginning with God.

“All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it

not.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

“The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

“He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world

knew Him not.

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not…” (John 1:1-11). Here is irrefutable proof that the One who became our Savior, the Member of the Godhead who was born Jesus of Nazareth, is the Divine Member of the Godhead who did the creating! He is the One who said, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Genesis 2:26), who dealt with Abraham, who parted the Red Sea, who gave Moses the law at Sinai.

Notice that He was with God, the Father, and yet “was God.” Our English word “God” is often taken to mean “God, the Father,” though it actually comes from any number of divine titles, and must be understood from the original languages, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Jesus Christ plainly spoke of His “Father” in heaven. He said He had come to reveal the Father. He prayed to His Father, talked to Him, and said He spoke not of and by Himself, but that “The Father hath given me a commandment; what I should say and what I should speak.”

Those who espouse the nonsensical “Jesus Only” theory ignorantly deny dozens of plain scriptures which proves the duality of the Divine Family.

Notice that the Creator, now in the human form of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, “came unto His OWN.” He was born into the Jewish race.

Paul wrote, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:12). The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well asked, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, asked drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? (for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans)” (John 4:9).

In both Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogies, Jesus’ legal human ancestry is plainly traced back to His eponymous ancestor, Judah, whose name “Judahite,” or “Yehudi,” became shortened to “Jew.” Those antisemitic bigots who refuse to accept Jesus Christ’s Jewish ancestry show themselves to be exactly what they are-racist, hate-filled, prejudiced, arrogant, and completely ignorant of the Scriptures.

Christ came unto His own people, His own race, His own tribe! He was to say, on various occasions, “A prophet hath no honor in His own country, or among His own kin.”

Notice Isaiah’s inspired prophecy: “For He shall grow up before Him [Jehovah is implied] as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness: and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:2,3).

Jesus Christ knew rejection. Though He was perfect, though He preached love and forgiveness, He was hated by the Jewish religious leaders, rejected by His own family and near kindred.

Satan, the original traitor, appeared immediately at Jesus’ birth, and, through Herod’s pogrom against thousands of innocent little babies, sought to destroy Him. Satan appeared to Jesus at His testing in the wilderness, during a forty day fast, attempting to overthrow His faith; attempting to charm, enchant, persuade, influence–trying his best to get Christ to worship Satan.

Christ passed each grueling test, finally commanding the devil to leave, and then, exhausted, received succor from angels (Matthew 4:11).

All during Christ’s ministry, Satan was present. He attempted to deceive Peter (Luke 22:3 1). He did deceive, heavily influence, and finally enter personally into Judas Iscariot. Satan, through Judas, continually attempted to influence the other disciples against Christ, just as Lucifer had originally become corrupted by his “trafficking,” or his “merchandising”–talking, accusing, influencing, justifying, attempting to persuade other beings against God and His authority (see John 12:4 with Mark 14:5 and Matthew 26:8,9).

Finally, Satan entered into Judas at the last supper (John 13:27) and betrayed Christ to the Sanhedrin, leading to His murder.

Satan, the great traitor toward God, was continually present at every great and momentous event concerning God’s plan of redemption and salvation, attempting to wreck God’s works; derail the plan of salvation.

Notice that Christ was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Do you know what it is to have beloved friends, even close family members, “hide their faces” from you, cut you off, refuse to see you, or even talk, or write? I do. If you have, you know there is no physical pain which is equal to this decades-long mental and emotional pain of rejection–knowing others despise you!

The estrangement of this world against God is a total alienation. It is complete.

As they rejected Christ, so did the world reject His disciples, as He prophesied: “They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God a service.

“And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me” (John 16:2,3).

Now do you understand how complete, how total is the spiritual darkness and Satanic confusion that grips this world–yes, including the world of religion?

There is need for the world and the very solar system itself to be restored to a condition of being “AT ONE” WITH GOD!

Because the process of alienation has been so painful, the holy day which pictures the reconciliation and final removal of all the sources of hostility, rejection, and hatred also features something painful: an”affliction” of our lives, through fasting!

A “Feast” of Fasting

Now, let’s come to understand the symbolism and typology of the somber Day of Atonement.

“And the Eternal spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation [a commanded assembly] unto you; and ye shallafflict your souls … and ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Eternal your God.

“For whatsoever soul [person] it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among His people” (Leviticus 23:27-29).

That “afflicting your souls” means fasting; abstaining from food and water during that entire twenty-four hour day, is crystal clear from the Scriptures.

For example, fasting for the wrong reasons is depicted by the prophet Isaiah: “‘Wherefore have we fasted?’ say they, ‘and Thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul and Thou takest no knowledge?’ Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors.

“Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high…” (Isaiah 58:2-4).

Fasting for the wrong reason is merely going hungry. Christ showed how the spiritually proud Pharisees did this: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure [contort; twist] their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head [wash and comb your hair-this is not a “spiritual” ritual, but instructions to appear properly groomed], and wash thine face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Fasting means completely abstaining from food and drink for the period of the fast. Notice how the Assyrian king of ancient Nineveh, at the warning from Jonah, proclaimed a fast: “…and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

“And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

“‘But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

“‘Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?’

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not” (Jonah 3:6 -1 0).

Notice it was not the fasting which moved God to change His mind. The fasting moved the people of Nineveh to change THEIR EVIL WAYS. It was the fact that they repented, that they turned from their evil way of life, from violence and crime, that moved God.

Fasting is not for the purpose of “getting God’s attention.” It is, instead, for getting our attention on God.

Fasting is temporary rejection of, and control over, our human, physical appetites. Hunger is a powerful feeling.

Millions of people, especially in the Western world of affluence, are terribly overweight. Millions are accustomed to satisfying every whim of appetite; greasy, fat-laden, poor quality quick foods; candies, ice cream, desserts. Millions “snack” at the first little twinge of hunger, devouring grease-laden potato chips, Fritos, “snacks” of all kinds, laden with chemicals, artificial flavorings and colorings, sodium and salt. Go to any good book store, and purchase a good book on nutrition, and learn of the incredibly debilitating eating and drinking habits of millions of our people. Then, you will come to understand much more about such terrible diseases as cancer, heart disease, emphysema, diabetes, and so many more, and why it is that “health care” is such a major economic and political issue in our time!

Millions are eating themselves to death without realizing it! Millions never allow themselves to experience hunger, while, in the “third world,” hundreds of thousands are dying of starvation.

The Christian life of overcoming is one of controlling our physical appetites! Solomon wrote, “Be not among winebibbers [excessive drinkers]; among riotous eaters of flesh [selfish, gluttonous eaters]:

“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty” (Proverbs 23:20,21).

Jesus Christ said “…when ye fast” not, “if” ye fast. When the disciples of John, the Baptist, complained about Jesus’ disciples ignoring weekly, ritualistic “fasts” like those of the Pharisees, they asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

“And Jesus said unto them, ‘Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast”‘ (Matthew 9:14,15).

He was referring to his being killed, resurrected, and assumed into heaven, saying after His departure His true disciples would fast.

Fasting, controlling the human physical appetites, and drawing close to God in prayer is part of the Christian life. Are there those who fast only one day in the year? Probably.

Strangely, there are those “spiritual liberals” who like to deceive themselves into rationalizing away the requirement to fast on the Day of Atonement! Others, completely captive to their own stomachs and physical appetites, like to argue that they can “fast” but merely drink water during the Day of Atonement.

Such people are plainly carnal, “of the flesh,” concerned with physical, fleshly appetites! To them, it is “unfair” that they should go as much as a single day of their lives without food and water! They want to “argue” and “reason” their way around God’s commands, allowing their stomachs to rule their minds, instead of the other way around. Like Esau, many are willing to miss out on the Kingdom of God for a mess of pottage!

But God says that those who do not fast shall be cut off from God, and His people!

No so-called “Christian” can argue that Jesus did not enjoin fasting upon His church! The Bible is replete with examples. Christ chided His disciples on one occasion when they attempted to cast out a demon, and could not. Christ told them that “this kind cometh not out, but by prayer and fasting!” (Matthew 17:21).

Since every converted member of God’s church is commanded to fastfrom time to time, WHAT BETTER DAY TO DO IT–TOGETHER, AS A CHURCH–THAN ON THE HOLY DAY OF ATONEMENT?

Luke, the historian, notes how the “fast,” which is the Day of Atonement, was so prominent in their seasonal reckoning that it was commonly used as the point in the Autumn when the winter storms would begin in the Mediterranean.

He wrote, “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was already past, Paul admonished them…” (Acts 27:9). The Companion Bible accompanying note says, “i.e., the tenth day of the seventh month, the day of Atonement, about Oct. 1st.”

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance explains the Greek word used for “fast,” which is nesteia, to mean, “abstinence (from lack of food or voluntary and religious); spec. the fast of the Day of Atonement.”

Luke wrote between 59 and 61 A.D., or about thirty years after the resurrection of Christ! Everything that had supposedly been “nailed to the cross” had disappeared thirty years before. Yet, here was Luke, one of Christ’s close confidants and a writer of the account detailing the events in the life of Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, and casually using one of God’s annual holy days as an important point in the seasons!

Notice how God’s prophet Joel said the time would come when, during the Great Tribulation, just before the terrible Day of the Lord, the leaders of the nation should call fasts for His people: “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Eternal your God, and cry unto the Eternal,

“Alas for the day! for the day of the Eternal is at hand, and as a destruction from the ALMIGHTY [El Shaddai] shall it come…” (Joel 1:14,15). In the next chapter, Joel wrote, “Therefore also now, saith the Eternal, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mouming:

“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Eternal your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.

“Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Eternal your God?

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly…” (Joel 2:12-15).

Since God’s Word commands us not to “forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching,” (Hebrews 10:25), it behooves God’s church to obey God in observing His holy days; to obey Him in fasting and prayers, as He commands, on the solemn, meaningful, somber, most holy DAY OF ATONEMENT.

Notice carefully how God has arranged His holy days so they reveal, progressively, His great PLAN of redemption and salvation.

The Day of Atonement falls between the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles. Just as the book of Revelation reveals, Satan is bound and hurled away from the earth after the Second Coming of Christ (which Trumpets foreshadows), and before the beginning of Christ’s 1,000 year reign, foreshadowed by the Feast of Tabernacles.

Very briefly, the Passover depicts the first step in the plan of redemption; the slaying of the lamb pictures Christ’s sacrifice and our acceptance of it. The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures Christ becoming part of us, through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Christ said He was that “Bread of Life” that was come down from heaven, and said, “He that eateth of me shall never die.” Not only does eating unleavened bread show we are partaking of a sinless life, but the unleavened bread pictures Christ.

Next comes Pentecost, or the “Feast of Weeks,” or “Feast of the Firstfruits.” The word Pentecost is from the Greek, which merely means “fiftieth.” God told His Levites to count from the morrow after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread seven weeks (seven meaning perfection, completion). On the morrow after the seventh Sabbath was the “Feast of Sabbaths,” or “Firstfruits.”

On this day, Christ sent the Holy Spirit upon His apostles (Acts 2). This is the “birthday” of the church–the first time in all history when God made His Holy Spirit available, freely, to all who would repent. Christ is the FIRST of the “firstfruits” of mankind. He is called “…the Firstborn among many brethren,” and “…the Firstfruits of them that slept” (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20). This important holy day shows the incredible truth we have been discussing previously; how only a very rare, tiny minority are being called now; that God is NOT TRYING TO “SAVE” THIS WORLD NOW; that only a small firstfruits for God’s kingdom has been converted, and called into God’s true church.

Next comes The Feast of Trumpets, which pictures the announcement from heaven of God’s intervention in human affairs. Not only does it look forward to the great final trumpet (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:50-52; Revelation 11:15), but it represents all of God’s continual witness and warning down through the centuries. Isaiah said, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). The ultimate meaning of the Feast of Trumpets is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, after God has caused the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, which is the good news of Christ’s soon coming to RULE this world, to be preached among all nations.

The method of mass communication used in ancient Israel was the trumpet call, or the blowing on the horn of a ram, called the “shofar.” There were various sounds for the calling of assemblies, for marching orders, for the announcement of holy days, and for warning of approaching enemies.

God promised He would not leave this world without a witness; thatthe world would be warned of impending punishments for sin; of disease, economic collapse, and war. Throughout history, God has sent His special messengers; first, the prophets, then Jesus Christ, then His apostles, and finally His church, to blow the trumpet of witness and warning, as watchmen (Ezekiel 33) to inform people of what was to come!

Eventually, the whole world will hear the blast of the trumpet of God (Matthew 24:3 1), announcing Christ’s return.

But when Christ comes back to this earth, the world will not immediately accept Him. Peace will not immediately prevail. Instead, Christ will administer, personally, the immediate punishment for sin upon the “beast” and “false prophet,” and then God will send a powerful angel to hurl Satan away from this earth and BIND him for one thousand years so he can no longer influence mankind.

Notice one of the very first acts to be accomplished by Jesus Christ when He returns to this earth in power and glory: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written; that no man knew, but He himself.

“And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall RULE them with a rod of iron [see Revelation 2:26]: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

“And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS … and I saw the beast [the coming military leader of the “beast power,” a ten-nation combine which will fight Christ at His coming (see Revelation 17:12-14)], and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.

“And the beast was taken [captured; arrested], and with him the false prophet [see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 with Revelation 13:11-18] that wrought miracles before him, with which he had deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [abyss, a metaphor for “the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13)] and a great chain in his hand.

“And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

“And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-3).

Men divided the manuscripts into chapters. The original scrolls had no such divisions. Here, the thought flow continues, uninterrupted, from the Second Coming of Christ to the binding of Satan.

First, then, Christ administers the death penalty–death by fire to the vicious, mass-murderers, the beast and his religious cohort, the false prophet. The very next event is the binding of Satan, and removal of him from the earth into some far off “black hole” in the universe pictured as an “abyss,” where he is to remain alive, yet completely powerless to influence the world, for the entire millennial reign of Christ with His saints.

With this information in mind, turn to and study Leviticus, the 16th chapter, and come to understand the interesting typology.

Types and Shadows of Things to Come

Only once each year was the high priest to come into the “holy of holies” inside the tabernacle (later, the temple). Read carefully through Hebrews 8 and 9 for a fuller understanding.

“And the Eternal said unto Moses, ‘Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat [a type of the throne of God], which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

“Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering” (Leviticus 16:2,3). Verse six explains that the young bullock for a sin offering is for Aaron and his family to make an “atonement” for himself and them. The ram for the burnt offering was on behalf of the congregation of Israel (verse 15).

“And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and for his house. And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Eternal at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

“And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Eternal, and the other lot for the scapegoat” (Leviticus 16:6-8).

Notice that the first lot is “FOR THE ETERNAL.” It follows that the second lot, the goat which is called an “azazel” in Hebrew, falsely translated “scapegoat” into the English, is NOT FOR THE ETERNAL, but for some other representation.

Hastings says, “The living goat was then brought near; and the high priest, having placed both hands upon its head, confessed over it all the sins and offences of the Israelites; after which the goat was led away by a man standing in readiness, into the wilderness for ‘Azazel,’ that it might bear the iniquities to a land ‘cut off,’ i.e., to one remote from human habitations, from which there was no chance of its bringing back its burden of guilt” (Dictionary of the Bible, James Hastings, Vol. 1, p. 199).

Here, the sins are not forgiven, not expiated by the shedding of blood, but instead are still alive, the guilt still remaining upon the head of the live goat, which is led by a man specially selected for the task into a remote wilderness, from which it will never return.

This is a perfect type of what you read in Revelation 20:1-3: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [metaphor for an “abyss,” or an empty void, without human habitation] and a great chain in his hand.

“And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

“And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that that he should deceive the nations no more…”

When does the binding of Satan occur?

Immediately after the Second Coming of Christ and following Christ having thrown the beast and false prophet into a lake of fire!

Note this sequence of events well! Satan is bound after Christ’s coming, which is pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, yet before the beginning of the Millennium, which is foreshadowed, in part, by the Feast of Tabernacles. Which holy day comes between Trumpets and Tabernacles? The Day of Atonement.

The forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood.”…. without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). The Passover lamb, the daily and special sacrifices; the slaying of the bullock for Aaron and his family, and the slaying of the goat “for the Eternal” all picture CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD for the sins of mankind. But the second goat, the “Azazel,” is NOT FOR THE ETERNAL, but is for the purpose of remaining alive to bear the sins and guilt of Israel far, far away into a distant, uninhabited wilderness.

This does not picture forgiveness of sin, for no blood is shed. Therefore, the theory that the live goat, or “Azazel,” which is sent into a desolate, uninhabited wilderness pictures “forgiveness of sins” is utterly impossible. Instead, it pictures how Satan, who will remain alive for eternity, will be burdened with memories of his iniquities and sins for ever and ever.

Think of it! Laying upon the head of the live goat, like virulent bacteria and viruses, all the sins of the world, the goat is sent into a remote, desolate wilderness. The wilderness, or “Arabah” was always used as a type of sin.

While God will forgive and forget our sins, Satan the Devil has no capacity for remorse or forgiveness and will NEVER FORGET. He will remain alive, REMEMBERING!

Therefore, though God, our Creator, completely forgives and forgets your sins and mine, our “partner in sin,” the original sinner, the one who influenced us to sin, will remain alive, continually remembering! He will be alone. There will be no light to see. There will be no companionship. He will remain alone with his torturous thoughts, his bitter memories, for all eternity.

Many of the major religious beliefs of this world have been subtly implanted by Satan–doctrines that picture him, his state of being, and his future, rather than the plan of God.

Satan has deceived the world into believing God is part of a great spiritual triumvirate, while Satan, himself, is one of only three archangels mentioned in the Bible. The Divine Family of God consists of Father and Son. DUALITY is seen throughout nature: two magnetic poles, two sexes; man has two eyes, two hands, two arms, two feet, two ears, two legs. There is the “first man Adam” and the “second man Adam” (referring to our first parent and our spiritual Savior–1 Corinthians 15:45-49). The Bible has the Old Testament and the New Testament. There is the physical and the spiritual. Everywhere, God has placed duality throughout creation. Electricity has a positive and a negative charge, and there are many other examples in the physical creation to illustrate duality. Yet, millions believe in the false doctrine that God consists of a “Trinity” of Persons.

Satan has also deceived mankind into believing man has an “immortal soul.” But Satan has been created as an immortal spirit, who will live forever. Satan has convinced mankind that sin is punished by eternal punishing, not eternal punishment. Yet, Satan will be punished for all eternity in the “blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13).

Thus, the live goat, with all the sins of Israel laid upon him, represents Satan, remaining alive, with the bitter memories of his betrayal, his rebellion, his unceasing sins.

Betrayal, Estrangement, and Atonement

Previously, I asked if you had ever been rejected, perhaps divorced–whether you had ever been despised by someone you loved. Now, think of that person. How painful would it be if, even at this late state, a complete reconciliation could occur?

It is much easier to ask forgiveness than it is to give it! The penitent one is emotionally moved; ashamed, disgusted with himself. When true repentance occurs, it is a natural desire to ask to be forgiven, to shed the painful feelings of guilt that weigh like a terrible burden on the mind.

The one who is wronged, however, experiences far different feelings. Because it is so difficult to forgive; much more difficult than to ask for forgiveness, Jesus instructed His disciples about forgiveness. Peter had asked, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? ‘Till seven times?

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21,22). Then Christ instructed them about the parable of the unjust servant, who, when forgiven a huge debt, turned about and had a man who owed him but little thrown into jail.

The landowner who had originally forgiven his servant the large debt heard of it, had him arrested, and thrown into prison.

Jesus said, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:35).

Continually, Jesus Christ stressed forgiveness as a part of the character of a Christian! Why? Because it is contrary to human nature to forgive! Instead, the one wronged is prone to demand far more display of contrition; far more restitution than the repentant one is able to give.

How many times have we heard the terms, “I will never forgive him for that”? Or, “That is absolutely unforgivable”? Jesus said……. if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15).

It is part of God’s nature to be a FORGIVING God. He had said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

As we have seen, God was betrayed by one of the most beautiful creatures in all the universe, Lucifer, who became twisted and perverted into the embodiment of hatred, spite, contempt, bitterness, sin and evil!

Does God have no feelings? Did not this grieve our Heavenly Father, and the “Logos,” or the One who became our Savior? Of course it did!

Did it not grieve Christ to see all His disciples forsake Him as He suffered on the stake? God commands us: “…grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

It is because both parties feel affliction when a reconciliation occurs; because BOTH parties have been grieved–especially the one who was wronged–that removing the wrong, assuaging the guilt, becoming “at-ONE” again is so painful!

Joyous at the end, the process of repentance, and being forgiven is painful while it occurs.

Perhaps now we can see, as never before, why our Heavenly Father commands us “…ye shall afflict your souls” during the somber Day of At-One-Ment!

David cried out, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119:67).

When we abstain from food and drink from sunset to sunset during the holy Day of Atonement, we should not think about how pitiful we are, how hungry we are, how we desire food! This defeats the purpose of Atonement.

Rather, we should get our minds off physical things, and think only of spiritual things. We should think, again, of how much God has suffered for mankind! How God was betrayed by Lucifer; how Satan destroyed the original creation; how Satan deceived our first parents; how he attacked Job; how he influenced Herod to kill thousands of innocent babies; how he tempted Christ; how he influenced Judas to betray Christ; and how he is our adversary, “accusing” us before God, day and night!

We should realize that we have had an evil partner in sin! We should soberly contemplate how GREAT is God’s mercy toward us, that He should say He will “remove our sins from us as far as the East is removed from the West,” realizing how Satan, laden with his share of our guilt, will be hurled into the “blackness of darkness for all eternity”!

Only when all this is accomplished will this world, under the righteous reign of Jesus Christ, become once again truly “at one” with God!

How fervently we should pray, “Thy Kingdom Come…”

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President Bush has dubbed all the more than one half million American servicemen and women who participated in Operation Desert Storm, “America’s Heroes.”

We all know what heroes and heroines are. They are people who are admired for their great deeds, bravery, or noble qualities, according to the dictionary. Originally, the term “hero” meant a person who was a demigod—half a step above mortal humans, not quite divine, endowed with supernatural strength and powers.

The heroes of history are many. To even begin to list the names of the heroes of but one nation would require many pages. In a continual procession of parades, welcome home parties, public appearances and media events, America celebrated the homecoming of her living heroes, culminating in perhaps the greatest Fourth of July celebration in the nation’s history when hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on parades, parties, and fireworks displays.

People admire other people who excel or succeed. In a special way, we tend to admire those who have performed a truly “heroic” deed, like rescuing a potential drowning victim, foiling a bank robbery, winning a major championship, setting a new record, or climbing the tallest mountain. Most especially, millions admire people they dub “stars” (an incredible accolade all by itself, since a star is a sun or a super nova, a million times larger than our sun), who act in movies or television.

In early frontier American actors and actresses were held largely in contempt, assumed to be what their careers required: less than honest, fraudulent; a put-on, a mimic; someone who hid his or her true character behind an assumed one, and who, often as not, was considered to be a con artist and a thief as well.

With the advent of motion pictures, all this changed.

Today, “movie stars” are the fascinating idols of millions. This is why they are in such demand by “peep hole” and “dirty linen” type publications, like those festooning the check-out counters in thousands of super markets with blaring headlines about this or that screen idol’s homosexuality, or latest divorce, remarriage, or paternity suit, or alleged drug use. Many movie magazines, and classier, slick and successful ones like People, continually explore each and every available tidbit, real or imagined, about these movie idols.

Their biographies are usually instant best-sellers. It seems to matter not that some are perverts, drug abusers, or converts to this or that Indian guru with Zen Buddhist or TM connections; nor whether they die of AIDS—still, they are “stars,” to be adored, admired, worshiped.

Should the average politician or CEO of a major corporation be exposed as a closet queen, or become the defendant in a lawsuit from a homosexual live-in, his career is over.

Not so with a “movie star.” His or her career is only enhanced. Like a herd of grunting, squealing Yorkshire hogs, the general public lunges toward the slop trough of purely fictionalized people—fantasy land characters who do not really exist—voraciously shouldering each other out of the way to be first in line to see one of their idols on stage, or deftly pressing their hands into wet cement on Hollywood Boulevard. Once within sight and sound of their “star,” they stare glassy-eyed, their breath coming short, clutching autograph pads, appearing as if in the final stages of a pseudo-sexual paroxism, absolutely mindless in their wriggling, clammy-palmed, sensual enjoyment.

Each year, they spend prodigiously to read interviews, biographies, scandals, confessions, and largely fictitious and inventive snippets about their idols of television and screen.

The new host of idols are not known to most of the population over 30. They are often rail thin, pasty-faced, pimply youths with a chronic sniffle from the smack, crack, or heroin they use, wearing clothing obviously retrieved from a trash bin behind your local Goodwill store, replete with beads, weird symbols, gold chains, a couple of frayed holes which were probably eaten into the denim by acid.

When it is rock concert time, they leap onto center stage carrying a musical instrument to the shrieks of a maddened crowd of youths in various stages of alcohol or drug-induced inebriation.

With pallid, pock-marked faces, large, irregular noses, bad teeth, and a shocking thatch of orange-yellow hair flaring forward from the top of their “Mohawk,” clutching a microphone in a huge outdoor stadium, wildly mincing, gyrating, kicking, wriggling, stamping their long, bony feet, they effect weird imitations of burlesque dancers as they bump and grind their way through a clashing jumble of noise called a “song.”

The audience goes wild as a pimply-faced “star,” hair wildly flopping, leaps onto center stage, jabbing his guitar into the air like a lewd phallic symbol, and screeches unintelligible noises into a microphone accompanied by the maddening booming of drums, and the ear-shattering wail of electronically boosted, vibrating strings.

The glassy-eyed crowd of worshipers seems to go immediately into a trance. They shriek and scream, shake their heads, stamp and jerk, twist and spasm as if in the throes of demon possession.

The other day, some in such a crowd were killed, others injured, in a mad melee. Sometimes, when for some reason (perhaps a drug overdose?) their “idols” do not show for such a concert, the enraged “fans’ riot, having decided to kill each other.

The themes of these “heavy metal” and “acid rock” and “hard rock” and “satanist” groups are usually suicide, mutilation, satanism, murder, nihilism, and death.

To many people over 30, their words and their music are about as amusing as watching a 40-year old documentary about some stone-age society in Papua painting each other with ashes and cow urine, so they discount them as merely a “bunch of kids having a good time,” confident they will soon grow out of it.

But music and acting are only a part of the modern scene of idol worship.

Professional Sports Idols

Each week through the seasons, millions avidly watch sports “heroes” batting baseballs, slam dunking basketballs, smashing golf balls, swatting hockey pucks, throwing long “bombs” into the end zone in a football game, or perhaps sweating and posturing in a so-called “wrestling” match.

Our “heroes” call down enormous salaries for all this—some as high as three to five million dollars in a year—to keep us admiring their incredible athletic prowess and skill.

Just a month or so ago, an American football player who is reportedly being paid four million dollars a year to play in Canada brought the stands to their feet when he returned the opening kickoff 78 yards. He didn’t score in the game, but the sports commentators all agreed he was “well worth” the money he was paid for those moments of adulation.

From the military to corporate business; from the science lab to the ski slopes; from the high school homecoming game to the outdoor rock concert, the adored, the admired, the respected, the fascinating, gifted, wondrous, talented, groovy, tough, brave, “far out” and courageous continue to overawe, dazzle, delight, fascinate and inspire millions with their own special kind of “heroism.”

Perhaps the highest paid of all are the pugilists. For some reason, probably because their size, weight and power tend to produce more knock-outs, the heavyweights are the highest paid of all other boxers. But 17 million dollars for a few rounds of boxing?

How many times has the general public responded like so many hogs trampling each other to get to the trough in their eagerness to pay money to see some tired old has-been attempt the come-back trail?

Presumably, the next time Mike Tyson fights to regain his heavyweight title, he will make enough money to represent a sizable portion of the national debt. This translates into several thousand dollars for each punch—whether it lands or not.

Someone once did some figuring, and found that some superstars in the sports world are paid, say, 12,000 dollars per basketball goal, or several thousand dollars for every pitch, or stolen base, or hockey goal. Is it somehow obscene that these sports idols can be paid more money for one single act that millions of Americans—many of them World War II veterans and their spouses—make in one year?

Is it equally obscene that such “heroes” are making more money every single day than the entire average yearly incomes of perhaps four billion people in hundreds of nations the world over?

But who pays them?

The public. Perhaps you.

With the advent of television, all has changed. Sports heroes of the past made only tiny fractions of the money commonly paid to professional athletes today. By throwing money at their feet, the public shows its worshipful attitude toward these paid professionals; adores them with the dollars they earn, which represent hours and hours in the work place, money they would grudgingly resent to give to the federal government in taxes, or pay for a speeding ticket, or give to charity, or to the work of God—but money they cheerfully pay to see their idol!

Morning Worship Hour

All the major networks do it. Each morning, taking large segments of “prime time,” they interview the “star” of the day; rave, chortle, gurgle, squeal, laugh, chuckle and delightedly comment about the role he played, the song he sung, the book he wrote, his latest divorce, or how he recently overcame his drug habit.

Millions sit, fascinated, as everything from personal tastes in jewelry, diet, exercise, reading, cosmetic surgery or self-hypnosis are explored.

In my own case, each time Good Morning America announces they are about to review the latest movie, and interview the “star,” I instantly do one of two things: (1) flip the channel to CNN; (2) get up and go to work on my next article.

The interviews are a tiresome repetition of questions and answers about the “stars”‘ personal life, latest misfortune, drug bust, divorce, release from prison, hit single, book, live-in relationship, whopping film success, cosmetic surgery, fight against AIDS, lawsuit against some peephole magazine, or homosexual proclivities.

“Is it difficult for you, being away on location all the time, being away from the family?” asks the famous interviewer, usually a “star” of the top rated major networks—one “star” interviewing another.

“Oh, yes,” he or she will answer. Then, the millions of lesser mortals sit there and listen to the “hardships” of this grueling life the poor “star” is forced to live—a life which nets them a million dollar motor yacht, several Rolls Royces, Ferraris, Mercedes, antique cars and other motorized toys, five or six houses, two or three condominiums, a private golf course, tennis courts, six swimming pools, furs, jewelry, and a bank account that would make Lee Iococa jealous.

It’s a tough life.

Just this morning, immediately before coming into my study to sit before my word processor, I flipped off ABC’s Good Morning America, which had begun the tiresome “morning worship hour” routine with their “star” of the day. This “star” was playing a “new role,” excitedly gurgled Joan Lundun, herself a “star” of television news. The role was some kind of “terminator,” who changes into metal, absorbs bullets, and generally slashes, stabs, and machine-guns his way through countless humans in non-stop violence.

ABC reported the movie had made something like 17 million dollars in the first few days at the box office.

Once I heard what the interview was going to be about, I went through my usual routine. Since they were finished with the news; said nothing about Israel or the Mideast; said nothing about the Soviet Union, or Yugoslavia, or Mount Pinatubo, but were going to spend television time worth perhaps 20 million dollars to interview this “star” (whose name I never caught, and wouldn’t recognize if I had, and would not repeat here in print even if I knew it) I came directly into my study, sat down at my word processor to type out these words—this specific subtitle.

I am at least as interested in the private or public lives of “stars” as I am in going directly to the local barber shop, and spending the entire day watching haircuts. I am even less interested in their professional performances.

Yet, if such a “star” has written a book, acted in a TV series soon to be released, or sung a song to be released as a single, such interviews are guarantees of instant success—a few minutes of coyly quipping their way through the adoration, being quixotic, enigmatic, shy, brazen, entertaining, or huffily indignant as required—and the millions avidly watching all this drivel are guaranteed to stand four abreast around the block, patiently waiting in line to see the latest film in which this person “stars.”

Amazing that our idolatry has required that we change a gargantuan portion of God’s creations super nova—an exploding, radiating, helium/hydrogen sun into a verb, for pity’s sake!

Acting is pretending.

Why not call them all “pretenders,” or, better yet, “fakers”? Somehow, the introduction, “And now, the faker, Joe Jones,” does not carry the same luster as “star.” The other day a famous comedian-actor, a “star,” was being interviewed, and said plainly he was a “good liar.” He said all acting was “lying,” since it was a put-on role. At least, he was honest.

What if they were introduced: “And now, the consummate liar, Joe Jones, pretending in his false role as…”?

But no.

“And now, the star of our show…”

Sunday School Heroes

Which kid in America ever traded “Bible cards”? When you hear of some fortunate person finding an ancient baseball card in an attic, and being paid several hundred thousand dollars for it, you are hearing of idolatry in a bizarre form.

Perhaps it is difficult to imagine that the tens of thousands of little cards with baseball player’s pictures on them which came enclosed in bubble gum packages in the 1920’s and ’30’s could make you rich, but such is the case.

Millions of kids who are now in their 70’s remember Babe Ruth, Lou Gerhig and Dizzy Dean, but how many of them ever traded pictures of Samson, Daniel, Noah, or Christ?

Consider the plight of the poor Sunday-school teacher (a term which should be investigated, since God says the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath): How do you make the Bible interesting to elementary school children?

It is fairly simple.

You wax eloquent with stories about David and Goliath (carefully omitting the fact that David collected two hundred fleshly proofs he had slaughtered two hundred Philistines to gain the hand of Saul’s daughter in marriage, of course, since there is no telling how much brain damage such historical events could cause to a 10-year-old), or about Noah and the animals and the ark, or about Daniel in the lion’s den, or about Samson and his haircut, or about, about, about—well, maybe a little about “Jesus,” and how He loved little children.

Jesus?

Here is the Person who gave His name to the professing religion of “Christianity,” the One Whose name is on myriads of bumper stickers (“Honk if you love Jesus”), the One Who is the subject of tens of thousands of sermons and Bible studies each week, and the One Who would come in dead last in any list of heroes, “stars,” or “matinee idols” of the general public.

Consider major magazines and their search for the most important people in all history. Invariably, Adolf Hitler Winston Churchill, FDR, and probably Atilla the Hun are included. But Jesus?

It is no wonder it is difficult for the average Sunday-school teacher to interest children in Christ, for the false Christ of this world—the one with effeminate features, long hair, petulant look, white robe, open-toed sandals, shepherds’ crook, carrying a lamb, never existed. The real Jesus Christ didn’t look like that.

He had short hair; was common-looking—an average Jew of His day; managed His family’s business from his early teens until the beginning of His ministry at about age thirty; worked as a site-preparer, mason, contractor, builder, and carpenter; had at least one home of His own, perhaps two; was the member of a family of at least seven children.

What is an Idol?

Everyone knows what an idol is—or so they think. An idol, to most, is a statue. It is a figure carved in stone or wood, representing some ancient culture’s idea of what their “gods” were supposed to look like.

Who is not familiar with the idols of ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome? Who has not seen pictures of the huge stone idols of Easter Island, or the “totem poles” of the Indians of the Pacific Northwest?

Idolatry is as old as human civilization itself. Men want to see their “gods,” to have them where they can approach them, touch them, throw money and jewelry at their feet.

The ludicrousness of such practices is shown by God through Isaiah, who wrote, “Thus saith the Eternal the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Eternal of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God … fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.

“They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable [desirable] things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

“Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

“Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

“The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

“The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

“He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

“Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

“He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

“And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

“They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand” (Isaiah 44:6-18).

Is idolatry “out of date”? “Surely,” one would reason, “there is no idolatry among Christian nations today.”

The Forces in Your Life

What drives you? What energizes you, motivates you? Think about it. Millions are inspired, enthused, excited, driven, by things like The Wheel of Fortune, or The Price is Right, where they can enjoy, vicariously, others striking it rich—winning fabulous vacations, furniture, a new car, or perhaps a hundred thousand dollars cash.

Millions more enter the more than one dozen “sweepstakes” continually bombarding your home as junk mail. Just this morning, in our prayer breakfast, we read at least two letters from poor people, people with terrible health and financial problems, who urged us to pray they would win the sweepstakes. Sorry, but we do not believe God intervenes in such things.

Most people, without consciously realizing it, worship the things man’s hands have manufactured! They eagerly desire, to the point of coveting, new homes, double ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators, a host of appliances and gadgets, work-saving devices. They worship things, like boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, airplanes, and, especially, cars.

Millions attend “boat shows” and “car shows” each year, exclaiming over, gazing at, touching, sitting in, lusting after the “sexy-looking” sports cars on display.

Do you doubt it? All you need do is look around you. We are amaterialistic, hedonistic society, a modern civilization whose imaginations are inspired by things.

How earnestly, eagerly, excitedly, would the average person accept the news he or she had won a new car? How excruciatingly avaricious are millions about buying such toys—possessing them, driving them?

Dream vacations, exciting travel, luxuries—especially money—is what inspires, excites, “turns on,” and DRIVES millions of people. It is what makes their hearts beat faster, their breath come short, their palms sweat.

It is the stuff of their dreams.

And all that, whether we want to believe it or not, IS IDOLATRY! It is the breaking of both the First and the Tenth Commandment, for it is worshipful concern over something other than God.

Paul wrote, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection [illicit, illegal, wrong desires and lusts], evil concupiscence [strong desires; especially of a sexual nature], and COVETOUSNESS, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

Shocking though it seems, idolatry is one of the most COMMON of all sins today!

How to Exchange Wrong Desires and Thoughts for Right Ones

How do you get rid of negative thoughts, doubts, or evil compulsions? How do you quit lusting after things men’s hands have made, or get rid of your desire to look at, listen to, and hear about various “stars,” and other so-called “heroes”?

David knew how.

He wrote, “O Eternal, thou hast searched me, and known me.

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

“Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Eternal, thou knowest it altogether.

“Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

“Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

“For thou hast [formed] my reins: thou hast [knit me together] in my mother’s womb.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

“My substance [body, or being] was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:1-17).

David absolutely marveled at the incredible magnificence of such things as human eyesight, our ability to hear, to taste, to smell, to feel; the various bodily functions and systems, such as our skeletal, circulatory, digestive, muscular and nervous systems—the way we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

When was the last time you picked up an encyclopedia, and turned to the article entitled “Eye”? Few take the time to really study into the intricacies and marvels of God’s magnificence creation!

God says: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold [back] the truth in unrighteousness;

“Because that which may be known [about] God is manifest [evident] to them; for God hath shown it unto them.

“For the invisible things of [about] Him from the creation of the world [by looking at the creation—that which has been created!] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God; neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:18-21).

When was the last time you studied articles in encyclopedias about birds, their beaks and claws, their migratory patterns, nest-building habits, camouflage and other survival techniques? When was the last time you looked up and read articles about our fabulous universe, the Milky Way, the solar system, our sun, the moon, and the other planets?

The way to get negative, fearful, doubting or lustful thoughts OUT of our minds is to put Godly, positive, beautiful, inspiring and worshipful thoughts IN!

Each day, there are millions who become irritated, angry with other drivers who slow them down because they want to rush home from work to be in time to watch The Wheel of Fortune. How many Americans, Britons, Canadians or others are eagerly rushing home because they want to spend time talking to God in prayer?

Again, you need to wonder, deeply inside your own introspective thoughts, what it is in your life that “turns you on,” concerns you, excites you, inspires you, and gets you truly motivated.

Is it the thought of wealth, trips, cars, homes, a movie star, an exciting movie or television show, or your neighbor’s wife?

Or is it God’s Word, the Kingdom of God, to know more about Jesus Christ and His soon-coming intervention in human affairs? Is it God’s marvelous creation, His laws, and His glorious plan of salvation?

Almighty God simply will not settle for second place in your life!

He says you “Cannot serve God and mammon [this world’s materialism and its money]—that we must worship God and “Him only shall we serve!”

How much of a habit is your television set? How many books or magazines are in your home which are adulations and adorations of so-called “stars,” and other “heroes”?

Are you the kind of person who would be extremely excited if you had an opportunity to be next to, perhaps touch, talk privately to, or obtain the autograph of a so-called “movie star”?

Are you practically addicted to certain game shows, television “soaps,” or video movies?

To test yourself, you might try unplugging your television set for one full week just to see whether or not you have terrible “withdrawal” symptoms—the surest sign that you have become actually “hooked” on the Satan-inspired, worthless, time-wasting “entertainment” of this present, evil world!

Make no mistake. Idolatry is one of the most COMMON of all sins today! It is a sin to place anything between you and your great Creator God, who gives you every breath of air you breath!

Only when He is first in your life, when you have given yourself to Jesus Christ of Nazareth in unconditional surrender, and when you are motivated, excited, interested, inspired, and really “turned on” by the things of God and His soon-coming Kingdom, will you come to know that you are utterly free from the sin of idolatry.

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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

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The taunting chant picked up in intensity, punctuated by the unbearable sight of Wanda’s pigtails bouncing up and down saucily as she, too, joined the little group who had now abandoned their skip rope to take up the cry, “Jimmy’s got a girl friend! Jimmy’s got a girl friend! Jimmy’s got a girl friend!…”

It was like a song, an old remembered refrain he had sung to himself at least a hundred times, consisting of only three notes that somehow contrived to rake against his brain like that horse-faced teacher’s chalk had in English class when she made his skin prickle with the squeaking sound she had made writing on the blackboard.

They had been jumping one at a time when Gloria suddenly jumped into the middle of his turn and caused him to miss a step and fall awkwardly against her. Together they had yelped as the rope struck their ankles with the sting of bristle-stiff hemp, and then they had been on the ground, with Gloria’s skirt embarrassingly high and Jimmy’s arm somehow around her shoulders.

He had leapt to his feet then, trying not to look, checks burning with shame as the laughter began, and his arch enemy (that little smart aleck from the other side of town) began taunting him—”Jimmy’s got a girl friend! Jimmy’s got a…”

He had shyly pulled Wanda’s pigtails once because he had heard some of the older boys in the third grade say the girls liked it and that was why they wore their hair like that. He liked Wanda and made up daydreams about her. Now even Wanda was there with her face swimming through the mist that clouded his eyes, nagging him like his own mother, joining the insufferable chant that, if it didn’t stop, would reduce him to quivering jelly.

The recess bell rang loudly, and Mrs. Shuey, their teacher, clapped her hands from the porch nearby. “That’s enough, children!” she said with her high-pitched, cracked voice. George slowly began to coil the rope, the first to quit the chant. But the bell and Mrs. Shuey’s voice had done it, and finally the ordeal was over.

But the shame remained.

He didn’t like Gloria at all. She was too forward, too much like a boy—and she was fat. It was all her fault. She had jumped right into the middle of his turn, and just because they had fallen … It just wasn’t fair, but he felt ashamed—somehow guilty.

Simple cruelties of childhood can contrive to produce long remembered feelings of guilt in everyone. Shame, embarrassment, guilt—all are insufferable wounds to ego. Throughout all our lives we human beings seem unable to rid ourselves of feelings of guilt. From earliest memory we were shamed, made to feel dirty, evil, forgetful, inadequate and guilty. From playground encounters with other children to the rebukes and punishment of thoughtless parents who reinforced our feelings of guilt, most humans have been molded and shaped into many complex personality quirks that plague their minds.

Guilt and inferiority go hand in hand. Millions of seemingly outgoing, dynamic, successful people have been driven by inner feelings of inferiority. Seeking continually to prove these nagging doubts wrong, to demonstrate to themselves and to their friends they are not truly inferior (as they believe, deep down), they struggle to achieve, to succeed.

The Beginnings of Guilt

Thoughtless parents begin the process, cruel playmates refine it, and human feelings of inferiority complete it. Guilt. By the time most of us are adults, we have an intricate maze of subjective perceptions, concepts, apprehensions, doubts, fears, worries, neuroses, fixations, hatreds, anxieties and defense mechanisms. Our minds are terribly adept at fending off the truth about ourselves—far more effective than the most sophisticated radar-jamming devices. We are willing to go to almost any lengths to quiet these nagging inner voices—from frequent visits to a favorite shrink to pilgrimages to a neighborhood church.

The Freudian aspects are not to be ignored, for many of the most poignant of the guilt feelings stem directly from witless teachings passed on by ignorant parents and thoughtless friends and revolve around sex. (No doubt there are people who believe anyone under five feet, six inches of the male species overindulged in masturbation [it will stunt your growth, the parent said]. And that carries horrible specters of unimaginable problems for midgets).

Ignorant masses of guilty people contrive to foist these same psychoses off on the next generation in spite of the imagined freedom of a sex-conscious, anti-Augustinian society. In the early teens youngsters become deeply conscious of their developing bodies, and with that consciousness come various hang-ups, doubts, anxieties, shame and guilt. The lies are endlessly promulgated that sexual prowess relates directly to size, so millions of males grow up feeling inadequate. Statistics would be impossible to collect showing the direct relationship between these lies perpetuated in high-school locker rooms and broken marriages, homosexuals, impotency or even suicide, but the relationship is there nevertheless.

Inferiority, Inadequacy and Guilt

All human beings feel inferior. Guilt and inferiority go hand in hand. Society demands success. To be successful is the only acceptable goal in life, and success is measured not by what we are but by what we have. When we are unsuccessful—that is, when we have fewer things than others—we feel inferior and guilty. There must be some reasons why we are unsuccessful or we wouldn’t be unsuccessful. Those unspoken reasons haunt us, for we suspect our friends are continually speaking of them behind our backs.

Are we lazy or just lacking in initiative, inventiveness, energy and zeal? Are we lacking in education and ideas? Since we tend to measure success by material possessions rather than quality of character, our success or the lack of it is terribly, painfully visible.

The neighborhood, the size and appearance of our homes, our automobiles (which are statements of our personality and our success), the club to which we belong, if any, and even the more personal aspects of dress, personal taste and culture are vastly important to our image.

How many millionaires are there who lack any specifically important goal in life other than making money? Making money was a means to the end of owning things, and the size, location and quality of those things was the statement, visible to the whole world, of their true character. Rich is respectable.

There are probably as many successful, rich, prominent people who became so because of their desperate desire to overcome their guilt feelings, their inadequacies, their lack of success and suspected inferiority as there are those who were unaware of such nonsense.

Adolf Hitler had only one testicle. He had a deep, bitter hatred of an unsuccessful father and a deep, hidden mother fixation. His Freudian relation with Eva Braun was more as the passive, hurt, needy child creeping into a protective mother’s arms than it was of lover, master or man. He was impotent, and the knowledge drove him to wild, demonic energy to be successful before the whole world in order to remove the gnawing pain of his deepest personal failure.

Despots do not become inadequate so often as the inadequate become despots.

Human nature is vanity, jealousy, Just and greed. It is, above all else, ego. The blatant egotism of people, so obvious to their detractors, stems from their deepest feelings of jealousy of others more successful and of their own inadequacies, feelings of failure and guilt. Some of the vainest people you know—insensate, lacking in sympathy for others, narcissistic to the extreme—are very likely driven by deep feelings of inferiority and guilt.

But there is a way to rid yourself of these feelings of fear and guilt!

The Fear of Death

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” There is a root cause for fear and guilt.

God’s Word says people are like slaves to their own passions and appetites. Here’s why: “…that through death He [Christ] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14,15).

Believe it or not, fear of death is a powerful, underlying motivation in the minds of millions. The world’s great religions and thousands of sects and cults are built on this fear, at least to some degree.

For millennia human beings have pondered the unknowns of life after death, of the great nothingness beyond. Through their fears of death and their desperate tenacity to life, they have followed every conceivable form of religion from the staid, formal ceremonials to the weird, bizarre, cultic rites.

They want to know. The desire to be sure of one’s personal destiny has led many a questing churchgoer from one religion to another striving to find that ultimate, magic solution.

Today the effects of “future shock” are upon us. In an overpopulated, polluted world of potential nuclear holocausts—a world of fantastic, noisy, hectic, awesome technology, a world of rapid travel, instant global communication, hydrogen bombs, nuclear ships, laser rays, skylabs, Venus probes and the remote hopes of cloning—millions are frustrated, disappointed, fearful, doubtful and wondering.

Whether it involves failure on the job, personal tragedy or loss of a loved one, we can all experience a “what’s the use?” attitude to the point of contemplating suicide. Today even very young teens and small children have been known to take their own lives!

Of course suicide is the ultimate way out chosen by people who have allowed great discouragement to get them down. They simply cannot face life any more.

But no suicide should ever take place if a person truly understood the real purpose in his own birth—why he is here!

If we could understand the latent potential within each of us, we could begin to shut out of our minds these feelings of doubt, inferiority, futility, discouragement and frustration.

The Psychological Placebo

Is it really possible, by reading an endless series of books, journals, articles (including this one), to “kid” ourselves out of our troubles? Can any of you who are bedridden actually kid yourself into thinking you are not in bed? Can a person recovering from the shock of having lost a loved one—or even the loss of a limb or eyesight or the experience of total bankruptcy—”delude” himself into thinking all this has not occurred?

Can people who have undergone the shock of sudden unemployment, a broken marriage or any number of other personal tragedies simple “talk themselves out of” their despondency?

How many psychology books are there that advance empty theories of confidence in yourself, attempting to show people how to overcome feelings of insecurity, despondency and disappointment? Unfortunately most of the “cures” do not seem to remove the root cause of the problem.

But let’s get to the heart of the matter.

There are two major areas that have to do with the root causeof all these negative feelings. The first is what you think of yourself! The second is what others think of you!

Let’s deal with the first one.

What are YOU? Have you ever really thought back to your own origins? It is true that the archaeologist’s spade proves to us that the footprints of humankind lead away from the Middle East. Without a long dissertation on history, suffice it to say that every human being has grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.

Americans were moved deeply watching Alex Haley’s Rootsand Roots: The Next Generations on national television; millions saw the former production twice. This black American’s noble search for his origin captured the hearts and imaginations of those who vicariously accompanied Haley on his quest.

But, though few would like to admit the veracity of the very truth of God, we can all trace our “roots” and our origins right back to the three sons of Noah mentioned in the sixth and seventh chapters of the book of Genesis! Beyond that we can trace our “roots” right back to Adam, the first man on the earth!

Of course millions of people do not believe in God. Not that they have “disproved” the existence of God, they have simply allowed their minds to be clouded with dozens of evolutionary and atheistic concepts and have never tried to prove it one way or the other. But, to anyone who is willing to prove the existence of an all wise Creator God who is the Life Giver, Law Giver, Creator, Sustainer and the Great Being who answers prayers, they could come to know a great deal more about themselves than could any skeptic or atheist.

A Spark of Life

What are you?

You are a spark of life in the vastness of an interminable, unbelievably awesome universe. Your life is yours. You have a right to be here! Your life once was only a potential for life and did not exist of and by itself. At one instant in time, at the very beginning of your own life, there were millions of potential human lives struggling toward one female ovum in the womb of your mother. But that one male sperm cell that was to unite with the female ovum and become you won the frantic quest, and at that instant a new human being began to be formed!

David wrote of these marvels in the Psalms, showing his awe at the existence of human life and its marvelous and miraculous origins.

Yet there was a moment in time when, although the potentialfor you” existed, “you” did not yet exist. Then, at the uniting of those infinitesimally small seeds of human life, you—yes, you—began.

By the miracle of begettal designed by the awesome mind of the Creator God, the very pattern that was to become you—all that you were to inherit from your parents, including, but not limited to, your height, general weight, stature, shape of head, pigmentation, color of hair and eyes, texture of skin, your very nature and possibly the tenor or timbre of your voice, certain personality attributes and abilities—was beginning to be formed in the womb of your mother.

Too often too many people “sell themselves short.” Buffeted all their lives by feelings of inferiority, tossed to and fro by feelings of self-doubt, continually attacked by the shark like environment of their earliest schoolyard experience on up to the mature experiences of adult life, they find these feelings of inadequacy and inferiority continually heightened as they are made ever more poignant and unbearable by being constantly exposed in the light of the successes of others.

There was the story some years ago, for example, of a young Puerto Rican-American who in utter desperation and self-disgust gulped a deadly poison, doused himself in lighter fluid, struck a match and then, after all this, leaped out of a window of a skyscraper! As grisly as it sounds, this was a man who wanted to make sure!

Not knowing the tremendous potential of human life, not being even a little bit “in awe” of his own meaning, origins and ultimate destiny, this man “succeeded” in killing himself.

Suicide is a sin, a sin that can and will be repented of in the resurrection. When Jesus Christ of Nazareth raises that young man from the dead and teaches him what the ministry of this world should have been teaching him all along, perhaps he will repent and learn then what you can learn now!

Consider Your Potential

Though the Bible encourages a person not to think more highly of himself than he should, too many people, drifting into feelings of despair, doubt, inferiority and discouragement, do not think enough of themselves! However, there is a great difference between thinking of your potential in the very family and the Kingdom of God and your actual “net worth” as a person today.

Believe it or not, the Bible teaches that we should not have the kind of self-confidence” promoted by most of the psychology books! As a matter of fact, one might assume God says we should feel exactly the opposite from the approach presented to us by most psychologists.

Jeremiah, writing about the human mind and human nature, said, “The heart [the mind] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked [margin: sick]; who can know it? I the Eternal search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9, 10).

The apostle Paul said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18). Here Paul was talking about the “downward pull” of human nature!

He said later, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

In explaining this downward pull, he said this, “The good that I want to do, I can’t do, and the evil which I really don’t want to do, I find myself doing!

“Now, if I do that which I don’t want to do, it isn’t really me that is doing it, but sin that seems to dwell in me.

“I have found there is a law that, when I want to do good, evil is present within me.

“Actually, I delight in the law of God after the inward man—but I find another law in my physical members, in conflict against the law of mind, which tends to bring me into captivity to the law of sin which rages in my members.

“O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from this body of death?

“But I thank God that through Jesus Christ our Lord it can be done!

“So then, with my innermost mind, I myself—the real me—serve the law of God, but with my physical, fleshly body I tend to serve the law of sin” (Romans 7:19-25, paraphrased).

When Job repented he “came to himself.” That is, for the first time in his entire life, with all of the ego, jealousy, vanity, especially his incredible amount of self-righteousness, stripped away, Job saw only the true emptiness that was within.

He said to God, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees You. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5,6).

But, once a person has come to this total awareness of the law of “sin and death” that rages in our members and has come to the point of abhorrence of self, it is to be immediately replaced with the true appraisal of the ultimate worth of oneself—that is, the ultimate potential that is there!

Even as Jesus said no man yet has “hated his own flesh,” so these scriptures in God’s Word are not intended to replace feelings of false self confidence with great feelings of guilt.

Unfortunately some religionists have gone to an opposite extreme! In their haste to do away with all the “pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps” philosophies of pseudo success, they have tended to shift to the opposite extreme of instilling in people feelings of total worthlessness!

Some religious teachers urge upon people continual feelings of rejection, worthlessness, guilt, vanity, carnality, enmity and hostility toward God, futility and uselessness. Such feeling can in extreme cases lead toward suicide and sometime do just that.

In my own personal experience I recall that a few years ago a Bible instructor in the college of which I was president was giving one of his “don’t-live-a-double-life” lectures in the freshman Bible class. Unfortunately this very stern and harsh lecture concerning the secret sins in people’s private lives happened to be scoring far more telling blows in the mind of at least one frightened, defeated and frustrated young person than the professor might have known.

Consequently the young freshman, his mind filled with feelings of total frustration and discouragement, walked straight out of this professor’s classroom, continued several blocks to Pasadena’s famous “Suicide Bridge” and leaped to his death in the arroyo below.

How about that as a “fruit” of religious teaching?

By means of a lecture on the secret sins of people’s private lives, a young man was so deeply thrown into the blackest kind of discouragement and despair that the only way “out” he could see was to hurl himself off a bridge.

Does God really intend this kind of self-hate?

We shall see!

Should You Hate Yourself?

The apostle Paul said, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24).

Was he lying about his deepest feeling of self?

Did Paul really feel “wretched”? He said he did, and he said so under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit—the “other Comforter” Christ said He would send and which He called “the Spirit of truth.”

Some assume Paul didn’t really mean he had any personal feelings of spiritual inadequacy and seem to feel Paul was only “faking it,” only attempting to appear “humble.”

No, Paul meant it fully. However, he was contrasting himself in his purely human, day-to-day physical state with the perfect spiritual law of God (Romans 7:14).

When making such comparisons any human being is bound to fall far short. What about even thinking a thought tinged around the edges with evil? What about moments of irritation, anger or even hatred? If you experience these, then you have in that moment broken the spirit of the Ten Commandments—broken the law, sinned! John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins [to Him, not to any human priest, or to other human beings], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8- 10).

Paul was not afraid to acknowledge that he fell short of God’s perfection.

He knew that—putting all his past sins and experiences and his present difficulties (striving to do the right thing and falling short) into one lump sum—he came up feeling inadequate.

But on balance you need to equate these statements with other scriptures wherein Paul was speaking of self-righteousness and feelings of self-worth.

Paul was concerned for the fledgling Christians of the Corinthian church. False ministers were turning their heads, making them feel true righteousness came from such physical efforts as circumcision, various physical rituals and rites and self-righteous pharisaical attitudes.

To shame some of these new Christians who had begun to be impressed by the “credentials” of such “great men,” Paul wrote, “Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

“For you suffer fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise. For you suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

“I speak concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly) I am bold also.

“Are they Hebrews [these false teachers]? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death oft.

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

“Besides those things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities” (2 Corinthians II: 18-30).

Later he said, “…For in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:11,12).

Paul had said at the beginning of this discourse, “For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5).

One of the wonderful things about the Word of God is that it allows the human nature of its strongest heroes to shine through. We are able to see the humility and meekness of Paul when he says he is “wretched” when measured against God’s righteous, spiritual, perfect law, yet see his boldness in comparing himself with the “very chiefest” of the other apostles, human beings just like Paul and men who had the same carnal pulls of human nature.

Paul’s sarcasm toward the false teachers, his willingness to descend into the “foolishness” of carnal comparisons of various ethnic and religious “credentials,” is obviously an exercise in futility. Yet he shows that, if those are the standards by which the Corinthians were going to judge he stood head and shoulders above the others who were leading them astray.

Still, even in the boldness of physical comparison, Paul maintained his meekness. At the end of the entire dissertation he said “though I be nothing” (2 Corinthians 12:11).

Paul could feel “wretched” by comparison to God’s perfect, righteous, spiritual law, but he could hold his head high when carnal-minded religious teachers wanted to hide behind “spiritual credentials.” Paul had an accurate appraisal of self-worth. He said Christ had revealed to him, “…My grace is sufficient for you,” and continued, “… for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Through Jesus Christ, on faith, Paul could feel strong. He could have total confidence, a deep flowing sense of complete commitment of purpose, of an ultimate goal and of self-worth in knowing he was accomplishing his own personal destiny in spite of his personal failings.

By looking to Jesus Christ as his righteousness and not searching into his own feelings of inner guilt or inadequacy, by having the faith to know he was forgiven when he sinned, he pressed toward the calling of Christ with his eyes firmly fixed on his Savior—filled with absolute conviction that the final outcome would be right!

Paul never became suicidal with despondency, even though he had more than enough to bother his conscience, or to hurt his feelings, or cause for complaint through physical suffering, rejection, persecution and fear of death.

Did Paul Become Discouraged?

Anyone reading through the scriptures above (“…five times received I forty stripes save one”) carefully and trying to imagine exactly how it feels can understand. Paul was lashed to the stocks, stripped to the waist and beaten with whips five times, when even the shame of feeling one cut of a lash would be forever indelibly imprinted on the mind. Notwithstanding the physical anguish, what about the damage to the spirit? Many a man has been reduced to a whimpering, fear-ridden shadow of a man by such horrible beatings. Prisoners of war can testify to strong men being turned into craven collaborationists through physical torture. Yet Paul endured such terrible suffering and, not only endured it, but also was able to use the experience in teaching others.

Once Paul was stoned. So far as he knew the end of his life had come. He was stood up against the wall, the traditional stoning place where those guilty of alleged capital crimes were put to death, and a large crowd proceeded to hurl hundreds of stones at him. The hail of rocks of every size that could be hefted and hurled was impossible to dodge. Finally, after his back, sides, anus, shoulders, head, face, legs and every part of his body had been struck until he was a mass of purpled and blackened bruises, with welling cuts and abrasions, he fell into a heap, partially buried by the growing mound of stones.

At length someone shouted for the hail of rocks to stop, and, stooping to check whether their victim was indeed dead, tried to find signs of life.

Paul’s pulse was so low, the heart a mere faint flutter, that his antagonists assumed he was dead, so he was dragged out of the city and rolled over a slight precipice.

No doubt friends later picked him up and cared for him (see Acts 143:19,20).

What does it take to discourage someone?

Paul had more reason than ninety percent of the human race for feeling a “what’s the use?” attitude! No one would have blamed him if he simply gave up and quit.

But he didn’t.

Do you know why?

Paul had been party to horrible outrages against Christians, and it constantly sawed against his conscience.

In the stoning of Stephen, Paul (whose name was Saul then) was an interested spectator. Though he didn’t take part directly, he nevertheless guarded the garments of those who did and watched the murder take place. “Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul” (Acts 7:57,58).

No doubt thoughts of this participation in a stoning came back clearly while Paul was himself feeling the sickening shock of jagged rocks thudding into his flesh and bones years later.

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles … As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3).

A Complete Transformation

After being struck down and blinded on the road to Damascus, Saul underwent a complete transformation in his life. He became converted, completely changed! From a carnal-minded, hostile, hate-filled murderer of men and women, a tyrannical terror whose very name conjured up visions of ghastly suffering, Paul (even his name was changed) became one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving, forgiving, longsuffering Christian men in history. His letters are wonderful testimony to his humility. His self-effacing attitude of gratitude for Christ’s loving mercy and his perseverance under the most unimaginable trials and suffering are wonderful examples.

Paul spoke of the great change in his life in his life in his defense before King Agrippa. “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

“And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities” (Acts 26:9-11).

Paul’s conscience was washed clear and clean by the atoning sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ long before he made these statements to Agrippa. Yet the poignant, painful memory or having actually tormented poor human beings to the point of forcing them to scream out curses against God before they died plagued his mind.

He knew he was forgiven, knew Jesus Christ had spoken to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:14,15) and remembered vividly the time he had spent with Christ (who appeared to him over a long period of time), and still he was able to remember with a good deal of shame the horrible things he had done (see 1 Corinthians 15:8; 9: 1; Galatians 1: 12,17,18).

During the rest of his ministry, Paul was continually able to contrast his past actions with the love and mercy of Christ. He was able to keep a proper balance between the knowledge of his past sins and his feelings of unworthiness and humility as a result, and, on the other hand, his feelings of self-worth. Paul knew he was a leading apostle and said so.

“For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5); “…for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing ” (2 Corinthians 12:11).

With Paul it was a matter of keeping his goals clearly in mind, never deviating from the whole absorbing, consuming purpose in his life, and never accepting a diffusion of goals, false, aimless, useless goals, or being subject to dark feelings of self-pity and inferiority.

He very likely had a terrible physical infirmity (Galatians 6: 11; 4:15 and 2 Corinthians 10:10) to add to his troubles. Evidence indicates it may have been a disease of the eyes, causing not only partial blindness (to prove the authenticity of his letter to the Galatians he said, “See how with such large letters I have written to you in my own handwriting”), but the additional burden of physical ugliness.

For all this Paul was not discouraged or tormented by feelings or worthlessness.

Look at Paul objectively—try to imagine him as a man you know, a neighbor perhaps. Here was a man who had violently persecuted Christians, even causing them to curse God before they died, a man whose conscience would forever be indelibly burnt with the recollections of those persecutions. He said “[I] was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief .. Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief’ (1 Timothy 1: 13-15).

He said, “For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…” (Galatians 1: 13).

Here was a man who constantly bore the shame of his past sins even though he knew he had been forgiven—who always stayed humble through that knowledge. “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born [Greek gennao, meaning “begotten”] out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:8,9).

Yet, in spite of these memories, Paul was able to hold up his head in confidence and say on other occasions that he was no “one whit behind the very chiefest apostles.”

Here was a man who lived alone—not being married because of the terrible hardships he suffered in the preaching of the Gospel.

Analyze his life up to this point.

Deny Christ’s Blood?

How many people do you know (including yourself) who allow knowledge of their past guilt to drag them down? How many people are there who actually deny the blood of Christ through their guilt?

How do you deny Christ’s blood? If you feel His shed blood is not sufficient for you personally—that you are a special exception, that your filthy past is so bad that you certainly cannot ever be forgiven—then you are denying the power of Christ’s sacrifice! But His shed blood is perfectly adequate, totally efficacious for you. How many tens of thousands of “tired old Christians” are there who have given up in defeat, who are just slipping along in life, harboring feelings of discouragement, doubt, fear and worry because of their own personal sins?

How many are there who have swallowed Satan’s lie that if you sin in this or that category, and you are forgiven, and then, if you sin again in the same category, you are all finished?

Listen! the only sin that is “unpardonable” sin is a sin from which a person refuses to beg God’s pardon!

Jesus Christ was “Himself tempted in every point like as we are,” and the Bible says the greatest men of Scripture—David, Elijah, Moses and others—were “men of like passions with us.”

So one of the first steps to a real cure for discouragement is to quit thinking your case is different! Wake up and realize that your problems are no worse than those faced by thousands and thousands of others—and probably nowhere near so great! Think about Paul again. Have you ever been shipwrecked? Have you ever been beaten with canes? Ever been whipped almost senseless—not once, but three, four and five times? Ever been stoned and dragged unconscious out of town and left for dead?

Probably not.

No matter how terrible your own personal problems may seem at the time, you can probably think of any number of people who are worse off, who are suffering trials that are almost unimaginable. Practically every day you read in the papers or hear over the news of people whose loved ones are murdered, raped, robbed or injured in automobile accidents. You hear of the incredible poverty, squalid conditions, disease and death in the overpopulated, underdeveloped countries. What is your situation in comparison with others?

Settle the Big Question First

The second step is to completely rid yourself of feelings of guilt!

But how?

Jesus said, “Repent!”

To repent means to be deeply remorseful and sorry you have broken God’s holy, righteous and spiritual law (Romans 7:12-14). “…Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

When one repents and is baptized (Romans 6), God promises to forgive! “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

“Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies … The Eternal is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the Eternal pities them that fear Him” (Psalms 103:3-13).

John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The really biggest question of all is what happens when you die?

God’s Word says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). That means death from which there is no resurrection—death for all eternity!

Remember it is given to “all men once to die” because that is the very nature of man since Adam.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The natural death that comes to us all from some final cause or other is not the punishment for sin. It is natural, set in motion at creation. We are born, we live, and we die. But the wages of sin is “the second death” (Revelation 20:14) in a lake of fire (verse 15).

The greatest question in your life is a question of eternity. God wants to grant you eternal life, life forever, which is very God-life, being made a member of the very family of God.

Jesus Christ is called the “firstborn of the dead” (Colossians 1: 18) and the “firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Christ is the “firstfruits” of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23).

When you are born of God by a resurrection from the dead, you inherit life eternal! Notice. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order. Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming … the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death ” (1 Corinthians 15:19-23,26).

That ultimate enemy, that greatest of fears, that dark, unknown mystery—death—needs to be conquered in your mind. Christ has triumphed over death, destroyed its powerSatan is characterized as the former “lord of the dead,” as the one have power over the grave. And Christ, through being killed, being buried and then resurrected, has overcome that power and has destroyed the power of the grave.

What you need to do is to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from death! That is the really big decision in your life.

It is a more important decision than marriage, purchasing a home or an automobile or having children. It is more important than having an operation or any other choice of life.

The first step toward overcoming doubt, discouragement, fear, worry and feelings of futility is to repent and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior! He said, “Repent you, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Let Go of Your Faith

Next, you need to quit worrying your faith!

Tens of thousands of people think they might be forgiven. They hope they might have been forgiven—they once remember asking God for forgiveness—but they’re not quite sure.

They listen to the devil’s lies. Satan is the constant “accuser of the brethren” who day and night keeps trying to fill God’s ears with accusations against God’s people.

He is the original sinner, the first liar and the very architect of all sin! He is the origin of your sins too! Not that you didn’t have something to do with your sins—vou did—but Satan was the primary influence in your sins. As such he has his guilt to bear too. You didn’t sin alone. You didn’t sin because you wanted to. You probably wanted to rationalize around in your mind that what you were doing was somehow right under the special circumstances.

You wanted to “do right”—you wanted to “be good,” but somehow the desire to do good was not quite strong enough to overcome the pull of your own human nature, your physical lusts and appetites, and the unseen, powerful influence of this world and of Satan the devil!

Like Paul you found it was like a natural law that, when you wanted to do good, evil was present with you. That was Satan! He must bear his guilt in your sins, and finally God will place squarely upon Satan that guilt, where it belongs (That act is pictured by the solemn observance of the Day of Atonement, one of the seven annual Holy Days of God, showing Satan finally bound and the world at one with God).

Don’t believe the present lies of Satan, who likes to nag around the edges of your consciousness and try to convince you that you weren’t really wholly forgiven! Satan would like you to worry about your forgiveness—to worry over your faith!

Like a little puppy “worrying” a rag in playfulness, many people keep worrying over their faith. Instead of just dropping the matter, believing completely that they have been forgiven, they allow their present tendencies toward carnality to cast doubt continually on their past conversion, make them doubt God, doubt their repentance and baptism, doubt God’s Holy Spirit!

You need to quit worrying your faith, and let go of it!

Baptism: a Type of Burial

The purpose for baptism is to act out a burial ceremony. Read Romans 6. God tells us we are “buried by baptism” as if we are considered dead to the law. God’s law demands the death penalty, but Christ has suffered that penalty for us in our stead. His death, burial and resurrection are symbolized in our taking of the Passover (Lord’s Supper) once each year to reconfirm our acceptance of His shed blood for the removal of all past guilt, and by the ceremony of baptism, being lowered completely into water as a symbol of burial!

Funeral directors explain that funeral services help bereaved family members accept the fact of death. When one dies, is he merely taken quietly away and buried with no ceremony? No, a church or chapel service is usually held. The body may even be on view, and there may be a grave-side service with relatives actually witnessing the interment of the coffin. Though always painful, this ceremony helps the grieving survivors accept the fact that death has taken place. Seeing the funeral service or the burial indelibly forces upon the memory that one has died, that death is final!

Have you ever dreamed that someone who had died was still alive? But, awakening from such a dream, you probably were forced to remember the funeral, the burial. No matter how vividly your memory tried to convince you that person was not really dead, you reminded yourself that you knew that person had died, that you had seen his dead body or that your other relatives had, and you realized it was only a dream.

This tendency to resist accepting the fact of death is why the families of “MIAS” (soldiers “missing in action”) or families whose loved ones are listed as “missing” in an airline crash or ship disaster or storm have such a difficult time. They always hold out hope their loved one still lives—since there was no proof of death! They believe, sometimes against all odds and over a span of many years, that their loved one is still alive!

But, after a funeral service has occurred, no matter how badly they might want to think their loved one is still alive, they must face the incontrovertible fact that death has occurred!

Satan wants you to believe your “old man” (Ephesians 4:22) is not really dead. He wants you to believe your old self is like a “missing-inaction” report, probably still alive! If he can get you to doubt your conversion, doubt your baptism and doubt you have truly been forgiven, then he has you actually doubting the power of Christ’s blood, the power of His death, burial and resurrection!

But Satan is a liar and the father of all lies!

If you repent, the next step is baptism.

Baptism is a symbol of your burial. The “old man of sin” has been destroyed, and, when you are brought up out of the water, a water 11 grave,” after a moment’s complete submergence (baptism means “immersion,” not “sprinkling” or “pouring”), all your sins of the past are left behind!

All of them!

You need to believe that, to come to know it!

Perhaps a few mental thought processes could help. You know that many relatives visit a grave to place flowers upon it from time to time. Have you ever thought (if doubts nag your mind) about the site of your baptism? You should think of it as a grave site, the place where you left your sins behind. I am not suggesting a visit to a river bank or baptismal pool in someone’s basement or a church; I’m suggesting that the site of your baptism is like a permanentplace, a permanent happening that actually occurred there! In that point of time, you left your sins behind!

You need to have the faith to know that your old man is gone—dead, buried—to know that you are walking in newness of life. “… Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

“If you then be risen [by being brought up out of baptism] with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God … For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:4-6).

A New Life!

When one is truly converted, a new life begins!

The Bible speaks of “walking” (living) in newness of life—a different way of life from that prior to conversion.

Your repentance, baptism and total change of attitude are brought about by receiving the very mind and nature of God—His Holy Spirit!

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace … But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:6-11).

When your human, physical existence is “quickened” by the Holy Spirit, it means being made truly, spiritually alive. A new creature, in Christ, has begun.

You are then called a “babe in Christ,” a newly begotten new creation!

Think about it.

How many little babies do you know who awaken each morning with a monstrous cloud of guilt hanging over them? Why should a new creature, a little baby in Christ, feel guilty, ashamed, condemned or embarrassed?

No! Healthy little babies are usually the happiest little creatures alive, gurgling their joyous acceptance of life with smiles and laughter toward their parents when they are well fed, comforted and cared for. They are a new human life, and they are innocent—no feelings of guilt!

When you repent and are baptized and receive God’s Holy Spirit, you become a new creation of Christ, and you should feel innocent, because you are!

What About Present Sins?

If you were converted at some time in the past, but you still have difficulty in overcoming feelings of guilt, it may be that you do not understand how you can be forgiven for presentsins—or sins and mistakes you may have made since your baptism!

Remember. “… God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We were living in sin, in a constant sinful state, contrary to God’s laws, carnally minded and hostile to the way of God and the Ten Commandments of God.

But, when we repent, Christ’s shed blood forgives us of our past sins! “Much more then, being now justified by His blood…” (verse 9).

Justified means being forgiven of past guilt! It is not blanket forgiveness of present and future sins and mistakes, but the removal of all past sins and mistakes up to and including the moment of baptism and the laying on of hands for the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit. Christ’s death removes your past guilt—but it requires a living Savior, the life of Christ as a daily High Priest at the right hand of God the Father, to forgive you on a daily basis!

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled [justified] to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life!” (Romans 5: 10).

Notice the future tense in this scripture concerning the process of being saved—the present progression of a Christian who will make mistakes on a daily basis but who is looking to the daily intercession of a living Savior for forgiveness!

Millions falsely assume the “death” of Christ saves you automatically, that there is nothing further you must do! But notice that your own Bible plainly states it is His death that removes your past guilt and that it is His life, His daily intercessory work at the right hand of God, that can forgive you now and tomorrow and the day after!

God’s Word says, “If we [we who are Christians, we who have already been baptized and have received the Holy Spirit] say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8,9). John is writing to convertedpeople. People who had already repented, been baptized and had hands laid on them for the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Yet he says, “If we say that we have not sinned,” it is made clear that all Christians still fall short of the mark of perfection, still make mistakes, commit sins, omit the positive actions of love and faith toward others on a virtually daily basis! “If we [converted Christians) say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10).

This is the crux of guilt feelings on the part of converted persons.

Many believe the devil’s lies that—since they were once converted, baptized and received the Holy Spirit and then they weakened, they “backslid,” or they “went back into a life of sin”—they can now never be forgiven.

Oh, they want to be forgiven—they desperately want God’s help. They want to be restored to the love, mercy and goodness of Jesus Christ. But they feel they are a special case, so low, so dirty, so no-account, so useless and so guilty that God just cannot put up with them any more.

The strongest proof that Jesus Christ can, and will, still forgive you is your own deepest desire that He do so! If you want forgiveness, you can be sure you have not sinned willfully.

These wonderful scriptures prove that even Christians can, and do, sin!

They also prove that God is willing to forgive you when you sin—If you sincerely and humbly call out to Him and ask for Jesus Christ’s daily intercession.

What About Long—Term Sinning?

But what about habits such as profanity, lying, smoking, drugs or sex problems?

Will Jesus Christ forgive you when you know in your heart that you should not do something, such as smoking, but you do in on an almost continual basis?

First, let’s understand that smoking is a physical matter, an assault (and insult) against your body. It is only “spiritual” in the sense that it may break the commandment against “coveting” (to lust for physical satisfaction of the senses). It is not the grossest of all sins—it is not the most obnoxious, hated, ugly, evil act of all time—as some might portray it. But it is something Christians should not do.

Let’s assume you are a smoker and you want to repent and be baptized and receive God’s Holy Spirit.

But then for some reason—the same old companions, same bowling team, same restaurants or bars, same business or job—you revert to your old habits and are tempted to smoke again.

Is this the unpardonable sin?

Absolutely not! You probably need help with the problem since it can be as much a problem of the nervous system and have deep physiological roots as well as psychological ones. The Schick centers can give people help, and there are many excellent books written by former smokers that can help. God can help through prayer. You can change your places of recreation, alter your daily routines.

But, even after trying all this, suppose you slip up now and then?

God can still forgive you if you want to be forgiven! You will eventually break that grip on yourself with His help!

What about a person who is virtually a prisoner to medicines or drugs?

God still loves that person. Jesus Christ understands his terrible human weaknesses—He stands ready to help lift away the burden of “the sin which doth so easily, beset us” (Hebrews 12:1) when He is called upon for help.

Notice. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:2-4).

What? “Resisted unto blood, striving against sin”? Then you are pictured (even as a baptized, converted Christian), not as a posturing, self-righteous, pharisaical, “perfect” person who never sins, but as a struggling, working, praying, strivingperson doing daily battle against your sinful nature just as the apostle Paul said he did!

You have probable “resisted unto guilt” or “resisted unto hopelessness” or “resisted unto your near total exhaustion” against some temptations of your flesh—but have you “resisted unto blood, striving against sin”?

Probably not.

David prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only [all sin is against God], have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge. Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me … Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalms 51:2-7).

This beautiful psalm of repentance is a good one to read on you knees, to make as your own prayer to God. Next time you are showering or bathing, you might be saying to God, in your mind, that even as you are being physically cleansed (just as David referred to “hyssop,” which is a strong cleansing agent), so you ask God to cleanse you spiritually.

Close the Door on Sins Past

When you go through a door and close it behind you, you might think that is the way your old sins were left behind—like the closing of a door, the closing of an old book, the final, absolute departure from sins that are past.

You need to let go of your faith—quit “worrying” it—and trust God for your forgiveness.

Remember, then, that you are not the only one with problems. There are tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people who have similar problems, and many of them even worse problems than you have.

Remember that God loves you, that He is not willing that “any should perish.” Remember that Jesus says to you, “Come unto Me, you that are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

He says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

You need to enter into a personal relationship with your Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who can wash away all your sin. He can become your daily High Priest (Hebrews 9:14-28) to help you with every personal need.

You need to know, and know that you know, that all guilt has been buried—washed away, forgotten—removed from you completely.

You need to know you are a “new creation” in Christ, like a newborn baby, completely free from your guilty past and joyously looking forward to each day in the knowledge that if you do make a mistake you can be sorry about it, repent of it, go to God in prayer and ask for forgiveness from it, and go to sleep that night knowing you are forgiven.

If you wish personal counseling, and if any of our ministers or helpers can serve you in any way—if this booklet has inspired further questions, or if you want to discuss your own spiritual needs—then please write to us and let us know.

And remember, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven!”

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post How to Get Rid of GUILT first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

How many truly happy married people do you know?

What about your own immediate family? Were your parents happily married? Divorced? What about grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other, more distant, kin? What about your fellow employees, acquaintances, friends?

One might answer: “Well, my parents divorced when I was very young, and I was raised by my grandparents. My dad used to beat my mother. She became an alcoholic, and got married two more times. My dad got on drugs, and eventually did a jail term.”

Another might say: “My brother divorced when he was only twenty, after being married less than two years. My sister got pregnant when she was sixteen, and had an abortion. Then she married another guy when she was only eighteen, and they split up in about six months. Now, she’s on her third marriage—but I don’t think it’s working out.”

Still another might say: “I was sexually abused by my dad. It just about destroyed any chance I might have had for a happy marriage. I finally told my husband about it, so he would understand why I was having so many emotional problems relating to our sex life. He was unforgiving. He seemed to think I was the one at fault, and he left me, and finally filed for divorce.”

Sound familiar?

All you need do is to interrogate your memory. Such tragic, wretched, painful lives are all around you. Of course many who will read this booklet are themselves wretchedly, unhappily involved in heartbreak and disappointment revolving around a bad marriage.

Divorce, desertion, abandonment, child abuse, wife beating, violent crimes, like murder between family members, have become commonplace today. “Homicide” has become “home-icide,” for a significant percentage of murders are perpetrated by members of the same family.

For every effect—like our runaway divorce rate, our millions of single-parent homes, our abortions and illegitimate children—there is a cause.

What are some of the causes of our wretched, shattered homes, our staggering divorce rate?

You Are a Product

You are the sum total of all the influences and experiences that have shaped your mind. You are the product of a factory. That factory consisted of your parents, married or divorced, happy or unhappy; your peers in each phase of your life; your education; your choices in entertainment; in short, everything which has become lodged in your mind through the channels of the five senses.

You were born into a “ready-made” society.

You did not devise, plan, or invent any facet of society: its mores, its religions, its sociological, philosophical or political ideologies. Instead, through the process of digesting information and accumulating experiences, you are a product of a ready-made society—albeit a society in the throes of continual change.

One of the most dramatic changes within the past fifty years has been that of the disintegration of the family. As an avalanche of sexual information has poured out through the various entertainment and educational media; as the Supreme Court has relaxed laws regulating prostitution, homosexuality and pornography; as motion pictures and TV have saturated the public with raw sex scenes, the family has suffered accordingly.

Studies prove youngsters are now becoming “sexually active” in grade school; many fourteen and fifteen year-old girls are on the pill, while some schools provide condoms for boys barely in their teens. Texas is currently considering passing laws requiring sex education from the first grade about homosexuality as an “alternative life style.”

What was your experience regarding sex education; counsel and advice concerning dating; how to select a mate; life-long commitment; fidelity; the awesome responsibilities of marriage?

When were you ever taught that Almighty God has set living laws in motion governing all human relationships particularly marriage—and that breaking those laws exacts fearsome penalties? The chances are more than ninety-nine to one against your having received such teaching.

Did your parents (if you came from a home consisting of two parents, or even one parent) ever teach you, painstakingly, as well as by example, how the living laws of God govern marriages? Were you ever taught principles concerning how to select a mate, how to prepare for marriage, what marriage is, how to insure your marriage is successful, happy?

If you are like most people, your formative years were largely devoid of any such teaching. Probably, you saw no ideal examples of happy, long-term, Godly marriage relationships, unless you idealized your grandparents. There are exceptions, of course, but the average person simply had no such example, no such teaching. As the population has grown, additional millions of children join the ranks of those already warped, twisted, grotesquely molded by lack of a stable family environment.

Were you an abused child? If so, you know how terribly you have had to suffer through life, how such painful childhood experiences and shameful memories have distorted and damaged your mind and innermost feelings, how difficult it is for you to be completely “normal” in your marital relationship.

Were you an orphan? An abandoned child? An illegitimate child? A child from a single-parent home? Reared by grandparents, or foster parents? In any case, your “factory” which helped shape you, make you what you are, was deficient in many ways. Therefore, the product: You are suffering deficiencies which are not your fault, and over which you should feel no guilt.

If you are of the millions who have gone through divorce, whose marriage is miserably unhappy, perhaps you should commence the healing process by first looking to find the root cause of your marital failures. Come to understand all the influences which have shaped you, made you what you are. Then, where you can come face to face with your own responsibility for your attitudes and actions, repent of them. Where you can understand that other influences—an abusive parent, for example—was largely responsible for some of your psychoses, then you can conquer such attitudes by admitting their cause, analyze why you act the way you do, and work to overcome them.

Coming to understand that you are a product of your upbringing does not suggest that, as an adult, you do not accept responsibility for your actions. Rather, it should be the beginning of a healing process, a way of overcoming subconscious guilt, a first step toward a new and different outlook.

Learning by Example

By the time children are five, the die is largely cast. Most parents have no idea how indelibly, how powerfully, their examples are influencing their children and determining what they shall become as adults.

Parents who fight in front of their children; an abusive father; a shrill, critical mother; parents who do not show the kind of love and understanding toward each other or their children represent a factory which is producing inferior, sometimes warped products. Most abusive adults were themselves abused. Children from broken homes are more likely to divorce; children who were reared in a stable home, with sound values and high moral standards, are more likely to have a longer lasting marriage.

In dozens of ways, many of them subconscious, virtually unnoticed, children learn by example. In a home devoid of lively conversation, a home dominated by television, it is likely children will be uncommunicative, intellectually incurious, more a product of the mindless insanity produced for children on television than the deliberately shaped product of two loving parents who are deeply concerned about what kind of adults their children will become.

In a hostile environment; with husband and wife shouting at each other in front of the children, using obscenities, perhaps smoking, abusing alcohol, you can virtually guarantee the children will imitate such behavior in later life.

Faced with the fact her child had committed a heinous murder, a mother said, “I can’t understand it. I always gave him everything he ever wanted.” Thousands of parents utter similar disclaimers, like the father in Dallas recently who displayed a picture of his son to the media, saying, “See? See how he is smiling? He was a good boy—always smiling…” His son had helped tie up three teenaged employees of a sporting goods store, tape their mouths, and then brutally slash their throats with a knife. When police arrived at the apartment where the boy was staying, he jumped into a pickup truck and tried to run them down. They shot him dead. The father could not understand.

Surely, his son could never have perpetrated such a vicious, brutal crime. But he did. Most people tend to smile when it is picture-taking time. But the momentary flash of a bulb cannot hope to capture even a clue as to what is going on inside a human mind. Somehow, that boy’s factory: his family, or lack of one; his entertainment, his peer group, his school; the things he watched on TV, or read in books and magazines, contrived to produce in him the brutal, calloused, pitiless character which could deliberately tie up, then slash to death three fellow human beings.

What kind of factory produced you? Think back to your childhood, your earliest recollections of family life. Believe it or not, much of your own psychological and emotional makeup may be traced to your formative years—from birth to about five—years of which you may remember little.

Were you the product of a warm, loving, stable family with a father who was a good provider, a mother who was a fine homekeeper and mother to her children? Were you shown examples of honesty, integrity, hard work, thrift, loyalty, and a belief in God?

Millions today would answer, instead, that their parents were involved in a bitter divorce, or say they do not remember who their father was, or say they were brought up in a foster home, or by their grandparents. What were the examples of family life around you? What about your aunts and uncles, your grandparents? If you are a divorced person, a single parent, a mother of an illegitimate child, perhaps you should think deeply about why these things happened to you. What were the examples which helped form and shape your innermost emotional responses to life?

Most of us are unaware of the extent to which society affects us. Consider the case of Lot and his family. Christ said, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

“They did eat, they drank, and married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

“But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

“Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man shall be revealed … remember Lot’s wife.

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lost his life shall preserve It…” (Luke 17:26-33). Christ said to remember Lot’s wife because she is a perpetual reminder of how deeply one can become calloused by society, how much a part of this world we can become.

Lot’s wife, even as she was being saved from certain destruction, was so attached to her home, her neighborhood, her environment, that she looked back upon Sodom with longing, and instantly became a “pillar of salt.”

Think about it. The account is found in Genesis the 19th chapter. God sent His angels to rescue Lot and his family. The perverted Sodomites of the town demanded the two (who were manifesting themselves as human beings) be brought outside the door of the house so they could perform gang rape! Lot, obviously knowing that these men were special, desisted. Yet, as a comment upon his character, and the extent to which the perverted society in which he lived had distorted his values, he offered his two virginal daughters to the perverts outside his door in place of his two guests!

Ponder this for a moment. Who, in today’s society, would consider such a choice? Who would rather see their virginal daughters viciously gang raped, possibly murdered, rather than offend two perfect strangers?

This is a powerful comment on how strongly one can become a part of society; can inculcate the perverted, God-defying immorality of one’s peers.

Yet, Lot was described thusly: God “…spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes [which demonstrates God’s righteous WRATH against homosexuality] condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [conduct] of the wicked:

“(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds)…” (2 Peter 2:5-8).

So, though Lot was described as “righteous” so far as his avoidance of the perverted excesses of his society, “righteous” insofar as keeping God’s Ten Commandments in the letter, notice how his values had become affected by his environment!

Lot’s wife, even as God’s angels were saving her life, found herself yearning for her old, perverted environment—neighborhood which had almost destroyed her two daughters. Therefore, Jesus Christ used her as a perpetual example, a powerful warning against being a part of this world!

You need to ask yourself just how much you are part of this evil world, and how much you have come out of this world, spiritually.

God says: “Love not the world [society], neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh [which destroys marriages], and the lust of the eyes [same comment], and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Only by identifying the underlying causes of marital unhappiness and all forms of sin can one begin the process of repentance, and begin to turn one’s life around.

Man Did Not Invent Marriage

Marriage is not a passing social phenomenon, a creation of society, an institution established by the courts. The origin of marriage is the same as the origin of mankind. It is traceable to the creation, to God’s divine laws given to our first parents, Adam and Eve.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the foul of the earth, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image ofGod [Elohim] created He him; male and female created He them.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

The Bible reveals that God has a torso, a head, legs, arms, hands, feet, and all the characteristics of His human creation. Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father,” and the Bible clearly says that God’s “arm is not shortened” that it cannot help, and that His “eyes are upon all the earth,” and makes many other references to the fact that we human beings are made in the image of God.

Therefore, the first man and woman were created absolutely perfect in every detail.

“And the Eternal God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [nephesh].

“And the Eternal God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed … and the Eternal God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

“And the Eternal God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

“And the Eternal God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help meet [“fitting”] for him … and the Eternal God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

“And the rib, which the Eternal God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: She shall be called Woman [isshah] because she was taken out of Man [ish].

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2).

For hundreds of years, countless thousands of theologians and laymen have labored under the false assumption that the first sin was a sex sin. Millions have assumed the “forbidden fruit” merely represented the sex act, which is a completely ludicrous assumption when one looks at what the Bible plainly says about the very purpose for the creation of both sexes: (1) God told our original parents to “be fruitful and multiply.” (2) He commanded man to “cleave unto his wife.” (3) He said they were to “become one flesh.” (4) The Bible plainly says “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4).

God performed the first “marriage ceremony” when He presented Eve to Adam, and Adam acknowledged that she was “bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.”

Not only did God establish the institution of marriage, His laws revealed to man deal specifically with the family unit.Read through the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 again. Notice how many apply either indirectly or directly to the family.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Eternal thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation [implying families, generation after generation of them] of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:3-6).

Notice the Fourth Commandment: “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Eternal thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates…” (Exodus 20:9,10). Again, this commandment presupposes a family unit, with children present; a landowner and provider who is responsible for his wife, children, and employees.

Notice the Fifth Commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Eternal thy God giveth thee” (Verse 12). Once again, the presupposition is that of a strong family unit, with honorable parents in the home; respectful, obedient children who enjoy “long life” as a result of listening to their parent’s instructions, as well as being blessed of God.

The Seventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (verse 14). Adultery is sexual intercourse with someone other than one’s spouse. This law is aimed right at the very heart and core of the institution of marriage, and is intended to protect and preserve it. The breaking of this law is at the root of millions of broken homes, wife and child abuse, knock-down, drag-out fights, desertion, divorce—even murder!

Notice the Ninth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (verse 16). A “neighbor” is presupposed to be another family, living nearby, not merely a single person. Of course, by extension, one’s “neighbor” is any other human being, but the indication here is more of a communal one, as the next commandment proves.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s” (verse 17).

Thus, several of God’s Ten Commandments, which are the very foundation of all of God’s laws, relate directly or indirectly to the institution of marriage.

Christ’s Magnification of God’s Ten Commandments

In the famous “Sermon on the Mount,” Christ magnified the Ten Commandments, lifting them to a spiritual plane, showing how the spirit and intent of the law applied to every human act and thought.

He said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery:’ But I say unto you, that whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her in his heart hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27,28).

Thus, it literally breaks God’s law for any married person, male or female, to lust after someone other than his or her married spouse. James wrote:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13,14).

Temptation is one thing, lust another. Temptation occurred to Christ Himself. He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christ could look upon the beauty and desirability of young Jewish women of His day, and experience the momentary temptations of the flesh. But He did not dwell on it, did not allow His mind to imagine the sex act with them. He prayed to God, received the strength to resist the temptation so that it never grew into lust.

Christ showed how God’s law not only prohibits acts which would destroy a marital relationship, but prohibits thoughts, lust, which would essentially do the same thing! Christ applied God’s laws in a spiritual sense, showing how they apply in every aspect of daily life. Specifically, He urged people to obey God’s laws concerning marriage, to avoid breaking those laws, to avoid divorce!

Does the Bible Allow Divorce for Any Reason?

Shortly after addressing the subject of lust, and how it can break the law against adultery, Christ addressed divorce: “It hath been said, ‘Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:’ But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication [Greek, porneia, from which “pornography” and similar words are derived] causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced [for reasons other than those covered by porneial committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:31,32).

Again, Christ is expounding God’s laws which are set in motion to preserve and protect the institution of marriage.

He says divorce is allowable because of porneia, but constantly emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, urges married people to avoid divorce.

“The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

“And He answered unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

“And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

“They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication [Greek, porneia], and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matthew 19:2-9).

Thus, Christ showed there can be exceptional situations where divorce is allowed, but His emphasis was clearly on maintaining the family unit, commanding “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder!”

The Bible reveals only three reasons for divorce:

(1)Fraud. If either partner takes marital vows fraudulently; not revealing certain things (such as a false claim of virginity, [Deuteronomy 22:13-21]) which, if revealed, would preclude the marriage, then the Bible views such a “marriage” as never having been bound in the first place—not a real marriage at all. While a civil divorce might ensue, the biblical approach would be that such a marriage was completely fraudulent, and is rendered null and void by the discovery of the fraud. An example would be a marriage where one partner or the other had been homosexual, and, after a time, reverted to such behavior, but the spouse was completely unaware of such characteristics prior to the marriage ceremony.

(2) Porneia, which means adultery or fornication, incest, “to act the harlot,” or to “indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or practice idolatry.” Adultery constitutes biblical grounds for divorce, as does homosexuality, child abuse incest, transvestism, voyeurism (indecent exposure, etc.) or any other sexual perversion such as sodomy or bestiality. Christ’s famous “exception clause” in Matthew 19:9 makes it clear that marriages can be dissolved because of porneia. This includes idolatry, for porneia is not limited to sexual aberrations.

(3) Unbelief: paganism, rejection of God’s truth. Paul was inspired to write, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord [Paul was quoting directly from Christ at this point], Let not the wife depart from her husband.

“But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

“But to the rest speak I, not the Lord [He spoke under divine inspiration; as an apostle, but was not quoting directly from Christ in this instance], If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him [even if she is not a member of God’s church, is not converted, is not a “believer”], let him not put her away.

“And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

“For the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

“But if the unbelieving depart [from the spouse—from the marriage] let him [or her] depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace” (1 Corinthians 7:10-15).

The expression “is not under bondage” has been variously interpreted. To some, it appears to imply the believer is not”under bondage” to renounce his or her religion in order to remain with an unbelieving spouse. To others, it infers the believer is “not bound” to remain married with an unbeliever who is “not pleased to dwell” with his or her spouse. In any case, it is obvious that when an unbeliever “departs” he or she is negating the marital vows, and the believer is loosed from the marriage.

Notice it is not the believer who precipitates the breaking of the marital bonds, but the unbeliever. The believer, bound by God’s laws, must make every effort to preserve the marriage. Notice further: “Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? [have you been previously married, but are now single—”loosed”—as a result of divorce for a biblically approved reason?] seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou has not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned…” (1 Corinthians 7:27,28).

Clearly, there were those who had been “loosed” from a previous marriage, either as a result of fraud (annulment), or porneia, or because an unbelieving spouse had deserted the marriage. There were also those who had been divorced, for whatever reasons, before becoming believers. While Paul’s advice was (“for the present distress”, verse 26) that such a person, now loosed from a previous marriage, would be better off to remain single, he clearly says that if such a person remarries, he or she has “not sinned.”

Tragically, some have perverted these Scriptural principals concerning marriage. In some cases, a so-called believer has divorced another believer simply because his or her spouse was a member of another church organization which believes and teaches essentially the same thing! Each shall answer to Christ in the judgment for his own decisions.

Are you a person who has been contemplating divorces If so, have you taken all the steps you ought to take to prevent it? Have either of you sought marriage counseling? Have you prayed together, studied books on marriage and divorce together, sought solutions such as a temporary separation? I urge any person contemplating divorce to go to a book store and purchase The Case Against Divorce by Diane Medved, Ph.d., published by Donald L. Fine, Inc. It explains all the temptations associated with divorce—the lures, the lies, and the “emotional traps of divorce—and the seven vital reasons to stay together.” I highly recommend it.

What does God say about divorce? He says He hates it!”For the Eternal, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Eternal of hosts: therefore take, heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously” (Malachi 2: 16).

Dating: Preparation for Marriage

Modern “romance” revolves around the sudden attraction between two members of the opposite sex which happens some night “across a crowded room.” Hundreds of “romantic” songs, novels, movies, TV shows deal with how people “fall in love.”

But it is impossible for any human being to “fall” in love. Love is not an accident. Love is a deep, outgoing, selfless emotion of concern; a desire to share, to give, not to get; to preserve, defend, protect. Love involves sacrifice more than gratification, giving rather than getting, sharing instead of taking.

When the romantic movies and novels deal with what they call “love,” they are in reality dealing with lust. A pretty face, a marvelous body, an athletic physique, while attractive to the eye, have nothing to do with character. Some of the most attractive people can be the most egocentric, selfish, spoiled, grasping, greedy, emotional, fiery tempered human beings you will ever meet. Many of your grandparents’ old adages: “Beauty is as beauty does,” or “Beauty is only skin deep,” were right on the mark. Quality of character is what is important, not the way the skin happens to be stretched over your face.

In today’s promiscuous world of hedonistic abandon, it is openly discussed on various of the television interview and talk shows how youths of only fourteen are “sexually active.” Young teens freely talk of their attitudes toward whether they believe it is all right to have sex on the first or second “date.”

Decades ago, a concerned father might have warned a young teen-age daughter how boys have “only one thing on their minds,” and cautioned them about rape. Today, all of society, including the social structures of elementary and junior high schools assume “dating” has, as its primary objective, sex. Dating for the purpose of mutual enlightenment—a trip to a theme park, a museum, a library, a documentary film, to one’s parents’ home for dinner—such would elicit yawns of total boredom from millions of youths.

Practically all entertainment, especially the semi-pornographic magazines available in practically any quick stop grocery store, urge young boys to view women as an object of lust; just so much meat, to satiate physical appetites. How many millions of girls grow up to detest this attitude in young men? Millions of young women desperately want to be loved because of who they are, because of what they believe, their likes and dislikes, their personalities, their hopes and dreams, their goals in life. They want to be loved for themselves, not callously taken for granted as an object to satisfy sexual lust.

Of course, it works both ways. Many men are shocked to realize women flock to male strip joints, to tuck dollar bills into the skimpy “G strings” of male dancers especially chosen for their muscular builds and good looks. Men seem to think that voyeurism, lust; gazing on naked women is the private right of men, only. For women to avidly study the centerfolds of Playgirl magazine outrages many of them.

All such “entertainment,” all such “literature” is sin; it is of Satan, completely evil, and should be shunned as one would shun deadly poison. A mother of three or four; a grandmother who has worked all her life to raise her children, cook for and keep the home for her husband, was not meant to compete with teen-aged models willing to pose stark naked before professional photographers—like a kind of photo session prostitute.

It is because of this avalanche of sexual trash that millions of young people’s values are as twisted as a licorice stick.

Dating should be for the purpose of getting to know one another, not getting into bed with each other. Whether you want to believe it or not, if all the necessary parameters of mutual likes, hobbies and interests, intellectual curiosity, socioeconomic, political and spiritual values were perfectly compatible, sex would automatically be mutually enjoyable, satisfactory in every way in marriage! Sexual compatibility is the result of outgoing concern, tender giving, sharing, not in going lust, which is utterly selfish.

Years ago, when I was teaching classes on the subject of Family Relations, I would ask mixed classes of one hundred or so, “How many of you young men would want to marry the town prostitute?” No hands went up.

“How many would like to marry the girl who only went to bed with ten other men?” Same response.

“What about only two or three men?” No hands up.

“How many of you would like to marry a virgin?” All the hands were in the air immediately. Of course, this was a church-related college, and the young people had, in the main, come from church members’ homes. Still, even though one must be willing to forgive a loved one’s past, and one may feel very blessed to marry a person who has had a few sexual experiences in the past, repented of them, and is now in love with a potential spouse, there are millions of people with no church affiliation whatsoever who secretly hope and dream to marry a virgin.

I would ask the women the same questions. I would receive the same response. Each sex wanted to find a mate whose first intimate sexual experiences would be shared in marriage.

Today, upwards of eighty-five percent of young males have experienced sexual intercourse prior to marriage, and approximately sixty-five percent of young women.

For every effect, there is a cause. It may take years for hidden scars to affect one’s marriage, but you may mark down, and never forget, that premarital sexual relations will seriously scar a marriage; those who marry after having been promiscuous have seriously diminished their chances of experiencing a truly happy, fulfilling, long-lasting marriage.

God’s Instructions About Marriage

God inspired Peter to write, “Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conduct coupled with fear.

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

“For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

“Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement” (1 Peter 3:1-6).

To seriously propound such instructions today would result in hoots of derision and scorn from the vast majority of women.

Instantly, it would be pointed out how many husbands are dolts, lazy, gluttons, drunkards, wife-beaters, child molesters, deserters, unfaithful; unable or unwilling to provide for their wives; not worthy of the slightest bit of honor, let alone subjection.”

Unfortunately, there are literally millions of disappointed, frustrated, angry wives and divorcees whose horror stories about their husbands would read like a litany of crime from a desk sergeant’s arrest report. But wait. God’s laws concerning marriage are neither unfair nor unreasonable. If only women could realize God’s laws concerning the woman’s responsibilities in marriage could save their marriages; could work to cause their husbands to become the kind of husband they might wish!

Notice how Peter brings up the same situation that prevailed in Corinth, where Paul spoke of the believing wife that had a husband that “believed not,” and urged the believer to keep the marriage together. Peter says a God-rejecting husband, one guilty of various crimes and sins against God and man, might well be “won by the conduct of the wives.”

Poison plus poison does not equal no poison. Two sins do not equal no sin. A husband like one described above does not automatically represent an excuse for a wife to disgustedly reject God’s laws regarding her responsibilities. If her husband is a sinner, a ne’er do well who will not provide for her, perhaps using excessive amounts of alcohol, speaking abusively to her, this does not automatically release her from obeying God’s laws of marriage!

Let’s suppose, hypothetically, that a married woman is called into God’s truth; repents, is baptized, and becomes a true Christian. Now, she seeks to obey God in every aspect of her life. Studying her Bible, she reads passages like that above. Perhaps she studies diligently such passages as Proverbs 31 (please read it thoroughly), and Titus 2.

Because she knows repentance means change, she begins to change her entire life as it relates to her home, her family, and her husband.

Suppose her husband is astounded by the example she begins to set: He notices she is a much more diligent housekeeper; the beds are neatly made, the floors vacuumed, the closets neat. His clothes are washed, dried and folded in their place. The kitchen is spotless; the bathrooms gleam. He comes home one evening to find the lights low, a couple of candles on the table, which is set with tablecloth and their best dishes and crystal. She has prepared a special roast, and is serving it by candlelight.

Suppose she is completely changed in the manner of her personal hygiene. Her hair is done up beautifully, her clothes are tastefully chosen. She acts like she thought the governor of the state had shown up for dinner.

What would be the response of the average man?

Suppose she sees to his every need, makes him as comfortable as she can, and, later that evening, spontaneously puts her arms around him, tells him how much she loves him,, and kisses him?

One could write a book of such suggestions. Such bookshave been written, of course, as have many articles in women’s magazines. Little notes saying “I love you” in hubby’s lunch pail; special treats for dinner; planned social events you know he likes—all play their part. Those who believe their sexual relations are not what they should be can find help easily by perusing the many titles available in any large book store and purchasing one or two for careful study. Dozens of articles are published each year aimed at precisely such needs.

But how many people actively pursue such avenues really look for help in making their marriages work? Sadly, too few.

If you are a woman, ask yourself how you would act if a dignitary—say, the President of the United States—were coming to dinner?

What would you be doing for the day or so prior to his visits What would your home look like? What kind of dishes would you prepare? How would it be served?

Of course, one might say, “Oh, sure. But this is only my husband we’re talking about.” Christ said it perfectly: “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).

Familiarity does, unfortunately, breed contempt.

Peter’s reference to Sarah calling Abraham “lord” does not presuppose the use of any such titles today. Nor does it require wives to call their husbands “Mister.” But “dear” or “honey” goes a longer way toward happy marriages than “dinner’s ready,” (with a whisper behind the hand, “you jerk!”).

God’s Word strongly implies that any husband whose wife begins treating him like she might if he were Jesus Christ Himself would be completely won over by the wife! Talk about melting hard hearts, about causing a man to feel shame for his own shortcomings—such conduct on the part of a wife would almost guarantee wonderful results.

Almost.

Unfortunately, there are some men who would only become more abusive as a wife becomes more compliant. In such cases, it is important for the “believer,” in this case the wife, to obey God in all particulars regarding the marriage first. Her husband’s doltish behavior does not negate her responsibility before God.

This is not to imply the wife has no further options if, even after she has gone the extra mile, her husband is Still unmoved by her example. If he is unfaithful, guilty of porneia, then she has the option of divorce. If he is a dedicated unbeliever, and is not pleased to dwell with her, she need not remain bound in such a miserable relationship. However, God says he hates divorce, and it is far better to save the marriage if it is at all possible.

Now, notice what the Bible says about the husband’s responsibilities: “Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge [with wise consideration], giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life [partners together, sharing God’s precious gift of human life]; that your prayers be not hindered [because marital strife is only possible where prayer has been neglected]” (1 Peter 3:7).

Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, even as [in the same manner as] Christ also loved the church, and I gave Himself for it;

“That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word [metaphor for baptism and conversion],

“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle [like a beautiful bride, virginal, chaste], or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:25-30).

Just as the wife is told she should reverence and love her husband as if “unto the Lord,” so the husband is told he should love his wife as Christ loves the church.

How does Christ love His church? First, it is called “the body of Christ.” As Paul wrote, no man hates his own flesh (Ephesians 5:29). Christ so loves His church that He gave His back to be lashed to ribbons; gave His body to be smitten, kicked, beaten; a crown of thorns jammed down upon His head, ripping His scalp; a spear thrust in His side; cruel spikes driven through His hands and feet—He died for His church!

God’s instructions toward husbands show that a man should so tenderly love, revere and honor his wife that he makes a sacrifice of his life for her! By becoming her protector, her provider, her life’s partner, her only lover—he devotes his life to her, sharing the “gracious gift of life.”

Any woman so loved would be moved to reciprocate.

Today, millions of men treat their wives with disrespect, even contempt. Many speak of “my old lady” (when they are perhaps in their twenties or thirties), or use slang, profanity, crude nicknames.

To countless husbands, their wives are objects to satisfy sexual lust from time to time, and little else. How many wives could tell you how their husbands “take them for granted,” treat them as they might a chattel, an employee?

But a marriage is like an herb garden, waiting to be tenderly cultivated, groomed, and harvested; like a masterpiece of a painting, waiting to be completed. Any husband who treats his wife with the utmost respect; who tenderly honors her; who uses only terms of endearment toward her; who provides for her, protects her, continually shows her how much she means to him, will be very pleasantly surprised at how she reciprocates!

Think for a moment of God’s laws regarding the responsibilities of each partner in marriage. Marriage is not a “fifty-fifty proposition.” Too many people wait on their spouses to measure up to their idea of what is required. The concept of half and half implies one goes only to the point of one’s “half’ of the marital obligations, and then impatiently, angrily, demands the spouse measure up by accomplishing the other half.

But if either partner applies God’s laws of marriage, as seen above, one hundred percent, without waiting for the other partner to “measure up” in any way, there is a great deal of room for overlap! If both were to give one hundred percent effort to the marriage, there would be enormous room for overlap!

In other words, there would be a virtual guarantee of a truly happy, fulfilling, rewarding, exciting, wondrous marriage—one which would last for a lifetime!

Modern Marriage: Upside Down

We’ve all heard it: “My wife and I only argue about the really big issues. We’ve been married twenty-five years now, and a big issue has never come up,” or, “I make all big decisions, and my wife makes all the little ones. We’ve never faced a big decision yet.”

Dozens of adages characterize marriages which jokingly acknowledge that the husband has abrogated his responsibilities, that the wife is in charge. God says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the church: and He is Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:23,24).

Paul wrote, “The aged women … [should] … teach the young women to be sober [wise], to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5).

In a marriage characterized by the examples listed above, there would be little room for acrimony, for violent disagreement, and loud arguments.

Today, however, millions of marriages are in a shambles. Millions of couples are away from the home—both parents working, children farmed out to expensive day care centers, or with baby sitters or grandparents. America’s sagging economy has slipped so badly that even though both parents work, it is still barely enough to get by; millions cannot afford a home.

Once God’s laws have been cast aside, once the woman has abandoned her God-ordained role in life, and entered the work place, unusual and unnecessary stresses are placed on the marriage. Jobs and salaries are in comparison. Women’s lib, and feminist considerations enter in. Is she working just as hard, perhaps longer hours, and paid less?

Job relationships enter in. Is she attractive? Do other workers make passes at her? Is she sexually harassed on the job? Is he attracted to other women he meets where he works?

God prophesied through Isaiah: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths … moreover the Eternal saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet [an ancient custom was to wear tiny bells on the feet]: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Eternal will discover their secret parts.

“In that day [The Tribulation and the Day of the Lord] the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their [various pieces of personal decoration and jewelry] … and it shall come to pass that instead of a sweet smell there shall be a stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

“Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

“And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground” (Isaiah 3:12 -26). Here, the “daughters of Zion” picture the whole of Israel. God uses, by analogy, the decadent state of women to depict the character of the nation, and prophesies national punishment in warfare—the Great Tribulation.

God says: “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, ‘We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.’ “In that day shall the Branch [Christ] of the Eternal be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel” (Isaiah 4:1,2).

Take a close look at the covers of a dozen women’s magazines sometime. Look at the ads inside, and compare them carefully with the lengthy description of the “daughters of Zion” in Isaiah 3. Study the eye shadow ads, the lipstick ads, the perfume ads, the ads for under garments, facial creams, beauty aids of all kinds. Think about it.

On the positive side, there are dozens of articles which are aimed at women in the home; recipes, decorating ideas; articles mentioned earlier which are written by marriage counselors, aimed at troubled marriages.

In the main, however, as the Virginia Slims cigarette ad says, “You’ve come a long way, Baby.” A long way down; a long way away from God’s laws; a long way toward marital unhappiness, frustration, disappointment, unhappiness, and divorce!

Who is ultimately held responsible because “children are their oppressors, and women rule over them”? Men. Think about what you have read concerning God’s laws of marriage. Laws which command women to be “obedient to their own husbands,” and “keepers at home.” You and I both know that such assertions, publicly preached from pulpits today, would be met with hoots of derision and scorn from millions of women.

Why? Because so few men are worthy of being over their families; because so few men are worth the effort.

Long since, the word “obey” was taken out of the wedding ceremony. “Till death do us part” has been replaced by “I’ll take the house; you get to keep the car.”

Like it or not, accept it or not, marriage is a microcosm of God’s Kingdom. Whether or not we will be in God’s Kingdom depends very substantially on the kind of home life we maintain!

You Need God in Your Marriage

There never has been a perfect marriage—not in the Garden of Eden, not between David and a single one of his wives, not in the age of the Puritans, not in or out of any church.

This side of the Millennium—and likely not even then, there never will be! Does your marriage fall short? Probably. But by obeying God’s laws, marriage can be infinitely better, happier, than by paying the penalties when those laws are broken.

When troubles come, how do you cope?

When arguments ensue, how do you solve them?

If God is a part of your marriage, there is a way which is so simple, so effective, that is seems elementary. If God isnot a part of your marriage, then the way to solve family troubles is to invite Him into your life, into your home!

God says “…the carnal mind [fleshly, physical—apart from God’s Spirit] is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

The human mind, apart from God’s Holy Spirit, is filled with vanity, jealousy, lust and greed. It is inordinately egocentric, grasping, haughty, imperious, scornful, combative, disdainful, self-centered.

When two people who fell “in lust” with each other (before he became a slovenly pig in a soiled T-shirt with a two-day stubble on his face, burping beer in front of a football game on TV; before she put on forty pounds, developed a muddy complexion, and started wandering around the house in hair curlers and a ragged terry cloth robe) suddenly look around and realize they have little in common, a wretched home life is the result.

Without God in their life, without God’s laws of marriage being fully understood and obeyed, they have little or nothing in common. A sure formula for divorce is “two carnal people, by dawn’s early light—too much in lust to say goodnight.”

What goes wrong? How do so many marriages fall apart?

A frustrated wife might say, “I don’t know what’s gotten into George. When we were first married, he was romantic, attentive; he would bring me flowers, leave me little notes inthe refrigerator. He was on time for dinner, and would buy me gifts. Now that we’ve been married fifteen years, and have two growing children, all the romance is gone. He even forgot our anniversary last year. We almost never talk. He gets home exhausted, takes his dinner in to eat it in front of TV, and then goes to bed in a couple of hours. And we fight. Every time I bring up something, he seems to react angrily.”

A frustrated husband might say, “Blanche has turned into a harridan. When we were first married, she was loving, sweet—a lot of romance; fun and games. She would pin notes inside my jacket, have cards delivered to me at the office—you know, saying she loved me an’ stuff. But after the kids came along, she acts like she’s bored and tired all the time. We have almost no social life. When I come home, she hits me with stuff like how the refrigerator went on the blink, or one of the kids got in a fight, or the goldfish died. Then, she gets in my face and chews me out for being uncaring when I don’t seem to show her the interest she wants. Lately, we’ve been yelling at each other a lot.”

Sound familiar?

Marriage counselors will recognize elements in each hypothetical case that are present in practically all of their counseling sessions—usually, sessions with married women in their thirties and forties.

Because of ignorance of God’s laws regarding marital relationships, because carnality, millions of selfish human beings find the first flush of romance slowly dying; find that the harsh realities of struggling to make ends meet, dealing with in-laws, children, a bad environment, sickness; an endless series of frustrations, failures and disappointments, contrive to strangle the last vestiges of romance. One day, they wake up to realize their marriage is empty, boring, unfulfilling.

How Not to Solve Family Arguments

Here are several formulas which are guaranteed not to work in your marriage, formulas for failure:

(1) Be sure to place the blame on your spouse for every problem. Make sure, in your most acidic, hateful tone, he or she understands that you hold your spouse responsible for the current situation. Pontificate. Show him or her you are perfectly unassailable, that you are totally innocent. He or she is wholly in the wrong.

(2) Clam up. Give your spouse the “silent treatment.”

After a period of time (perhaps months, or years, or a lifetime, depending on how stubborn your mate really is), the other will relent, and admit it is really his or her fault.

(3) Call your spouse names. Get ugly. Use four letter words; sound like a mule skinner cursing out a mule. This will contribute to the tender, loving environment you really want. Also, it will surprise you what an elaborate vocabulary your spouse really has. Be sure to say these things in front of the kids, so they can grow up using them.

(4) Always use the word “always,” or “never.” Like, “You always embarrass me…” or, “You never do anything for me.” This will guarantee instant agreement. Your spouse will immediately agree he or she invariably acts the way you insist.

(5) Play a role from the latest movie, or novel you’ve read. Be petulant, or withdrawn, or play hurt. Act out a role—that way, your spouse will be sure to fulfill your fantasies. You imagine he or she will wonder, “I wonder what I’ve done wrong now?” and be moved to find out, and repent. They will ask, “What have I done to hurt you, dear?” Then, they Will dissolve in heart-broken repentance, and do better.

(6) Withhold sex. Resist every intimacy. Turn a cold shoulder. Kick your spouse away from you in bed, even if he or she should accidentally touch you. Tell them to “get over,” and say, “Don’t touch my body with your body!” That way, you will be sure your spouse will eventually get so wound up, and so deprived, he or she will repent in a flood of tears, and confess what a jerk, or a harridan, he or she has become.

(7) Resort to physical abuse. That way, the neighbors will call the police, or the wife can sue, and the children will run next door screaming, “Daddy is killing Mommy!” Also, the wife can display her black eyes and cut lips for the newspaper photographers, and the negatives will be impounded by the court when your trial for assault comes up.

(8) Develop bad habits. Take up smoking, drinking, and/or drugs, or all three. See how far you can degenerate. That will ” show” the spouse how much you really love her or him; he or she will get the obvious message that you are really only doing these things out of frustration; to get his or her attention. It will show your spouse that what you really want is love, kindness, consideration, respect, and honor.

(9) Start staying out late. Never tell your spouse where you are going, where you were, or who you were with. Keep him or her guessing. This will make your spouse jealous, and he or she will realize it’s time to shape up.

(10) See a lawyer about a divorce. If you are doing all the above, it is a sure thing you’re going to need one.

Of course, any such tactics are a hateful violation of God’s laws, and guaranteed to make a bad situation even worse. Yet, such tactics are resorted to by millions of people on a daily basis.

When you want him or her to change, do you resort to abusive language, indictments, accusations? Do you use words for clubs, hitting the other over the head with plenty of verbal blows?

Why not sit down, and calmly ask yourself, “What result do I seek?” If the result is one of peacemaking, one of rekindling love, consideration, respect and honor, then why not show love, respect, and honor? Does the average person react lovingly to verbal abuse?

How to Solve Family Arguments

If you really want to solve family problems, then invite God into your family life. Turn to God’s Word in contrition and humility, and study it.

Find out what repentance is; what sin is, and follow God’s miraculous formula for overcoming hateful, despicable carnality. Change from vanity, jealousy, lust and greed; from egocentric, hateful contempt to the qualities of God’s Holy Spirit.

God says, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness [both physical and moral], lasciviousness [lawlessness], “idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, “envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I told you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, “meekness, temperance: against such there is no law…” (Galatians 5:19-23).

What a contrast! Any couple conducting their marriage with “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, etc.” is pursuing a formula which guarantees success!

Study the beautiful “love” chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. Here, the Greek word agape, which is rendered “charity,” is better understood by our English word “love.”

Paul wrote, “Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

“Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own way, is not easily provoked, does not immediately leap to wrong conclusions, thinking evil;

“Does not rejoice in sin and lawlessness, but rejoices in the truth;

“Endures and desires to cover all things, believes the best, hopes for the best…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, paraphrased).

A person in whom dwells the Holy Spirit of God, which is the mind of Jesus Christ, will not use the terribly sinful, abusive and abrasive tactics listed in the previous section.

Instead, he or she will be living by God’s instructions involving marriage, exemplifying the attributes of God’s Holy Spirit as shown in the scriptures we have just read.

Want to solve a family argument? Then approach your spouse with love and humility. Recognize and humbly acknowledge your own faults and shortcomings. Choose the right time, the right place, and use the right manner in presenting the problem you hope to solve.

First, pray about it. Pray on your knees, by yourself, not only for the wisdom and the guidance you will need in presenting the problem to your mate, but also asking God, as did David, to “search me and try me, and see if there be any evil thing in me,” acknowledging and confessing your own faults and sins!

Then, if your spouse is willing, get on your knees together, and take the entire problem to Almighty God in prayer!

The prayer should begin with the acknowledgment of one’s own shortcomings; a prayer for forgiveness for various oversights, bad attitudes, harsh words, or whatever has contributed to the problem that is currently troubling your marriage. After acknowledging one’s own faults and sins, the person leading in prayer should ask for God’s direct intervention in the marriage, citing several of the scriptures you have read in this booklet, asking God to help each partner to use, as a daily guide; to literally live by God’s instructions!

What wife would not be moved to tears if her husband, contritely and humbly, perhaps with tears in his own eyes, is asking God to forgive him for having failed to treat his wife with the same tender love, care and honor that Jesus Christ has bestowed upon His church? What husband could remain unmoved if his wife is asking God’s forgiveness for having failed to treat her husband as if he were the Lord Jesus Christ Himself?

A truly converted person should be fully equipped to successfully solve family difficulties, problems, arguments as they arise. But only by inviting God into your family life!

It is because you live in a Godless, sin-sick, decadent society of carnal-minded, self-seeking people who are daily violating God’s laws that you see the wretchedness of divorce, wife beating, child abuse, and even murder that characterizes so much of society today!

This brief booklet cannot begin to claim to be the “last word” on how to have a happy marriage. The yellow pages of your telephone book probably list a large number of marriage counselors, and many of them are well qualified to help. The shelves in a large book store in practically any city of any size contain many titles dealing with troubled marriages. A few I can heartily recommend are Marriage and Sexuality (Vol. 1); Doctor Dobson Answers Your Questions; and False Love and Other Romantic Illusions (Why Love Goes Wrong and How to Make it Right) by Dr. Stan J. Katz and Aimee Liu, published by Pocketbooks.

There are many, many others.

But the best book of all and the one which I recommend the most, is the Holy Word of Almighty God—the Bible.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post How To Have A Happy Marriage first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you.” How many times have you heard it? The lilting little ditty that is sung as a congratulatory song on the occasion of the anniversary of one’s birth is heard continually in restaurants as serving personnel gather around a table carrying a small cake with candles, briefly interrupt everyone else’s meal and depart amid a smattering of applause

Who has not seen the shy, smiling face of a child presented with a single scoop of ice cream and a lighted candle light up with barely suppressed glee when his parents wish him a happy birthday in a restaurant?
But where did the custom originate?

Are its roots buried in pagan antiquity? Is it another deception Of SATAN, who seeks to delude sincere people into believing in and accepting the practices of this world which block out of their minds the customs and practices enjoined by the Creator God in the Bible?

The Earliest Birthdays

Have you ever researched the subject of “birthdays”? Few have. If you do, be prepared for a surprise. Very little is available outside of Bible encyclopedias!

Naturally, customs vary widely from culture to culture. Birthdays are not celebrated in the same way universally. The Bible history books and encyclopedias invariably refer you to the most ancient birthday celebration of which there is mention, that of one of the Pharaohs of Egypt, during Joseph’s time.

The account is found in Genesis the 40th chapter.

Two of Pharaoh’s personal servants had incurred his wrath in some way—both had been thrown in prison, where they encountered Joseph, who had been railroaded into prison by the wife of Potiphar, whose advances Joseph had spurned (chapter 39).

Both had a disturbing dream.

Notice the account:

“And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

“And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold a vine was before me:
“And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

“And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.

“And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

“Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

“For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

“When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

“And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head..

“And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof. The three baskets are three days:

“Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

“And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the  head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

“And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
“But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
“Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.”

A birthday of a king, prince or ruler was viewed as an occasion of state. Some scholars had assumed the custom was only found among Persian kings, but the famous “Rosetta Stone,” a trilingual archaeological find unearthed in Egypt, which led to the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphics, mentions birthdays in a decree concerning the observance of a birthday feast for Ptolemy Epiphanes (one of the later, lesser kings of Egypt).

In Genesis 41, you see that two full years passed before the butler remembered his promise to Joseph. Pharaoh had a vivid dream, called all his counselors, and wanted to know the interpretation. The butler heard of it (verses 8, 9) and informed Pharaoh of Joseph’s plight in prison.

Joseph interpreted the dream informing Pharaoh it was from God, and not from man (verse 16) and was appointed virtual ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself.

Read the following chapters—the moving account of how God used the occasion of Pharaoh’s birthday celebration to spare the butler—who remembered Joseph—who was used to save Egypt from famine which saved the family of Jacob and all of Joseph’s brothers—which resulted in the birth of a great nation which was born out of captivity, sent into Sinai, and then into the promised land!

It has been suggested that, since the baker was hanged, the occasion of Pharaoh’s birthday was an EVIL event. Linking this with the only other mention of a “birthday” celebration, that of Herod during Christ’s time, a case has been made against birthday celebration. The reasoning is as follows:

“Since ‘birthdays’ are only mentioned twice in the whole Bible—and since both are in connection with PAGAN kings, and since, on each occasion, a death (murder) occurred, it is obvious birthdays appear in a pagan, EVIL context in the Bible, and are to be avoided by Christians.”

But is this really a fair understanding of these events?

“Read all of Genesis 39 through 50! You will come to see that the Pharaoh of that time was quite an understanding, generous man—that he provided the family of Joseph with protection; with plenty of land (Goshen), and that the Egyptian people made great mourning for Jacob (Israel) when he died (Genesis 50:3, 4).

It is extremely unfair to link the birthday celebration of Pharaoh only with death. Remember, the butler was spared: One live was saved. One life was lost! But wait! The sparing of the butler’s life led to the sparing of Joseph’s life—which led to the sparing of the WHOLE FAMILY OF ISRAEL, AND THE BIRTH OF GOD’S OWN NATION!

This was all as a direct result of God’s gift to Joseph of the interpretation of dreams. The argument that a great deliverance—a great and generous saving and preserving of life—occurred as a result of Pharaoh’s birthday celebration is actually a stronger argument than the negative reasoning that, since a death occurred, the occasion of birthday celebration is pagan, and should be avoided: One life lost, countless lives saved.

But what about Herod’s birthday?

Turn to and read all of Matthew 14:1-13.

Herod, befuddled with wine, became obsessed with lust over Salome, following her sensuous dance. Notice that he “would have put him to death” (John the Baptist) much earlier, but “…feared the multitude” (Matthew 14:5).

This is an important point, for it renders entirely incidental and coincidental the events that transpired on his birthday.

Herod had already plotted to murder John. It remained for him to bolster his courage, and find some excuse or other with which to allay the anger of the people, who looked to John as a prophet.

Herodias was not unaware, no doubt, of Herod’s attraction to her daughter, Salome. The mother and daughter plotted to play upon Herod’s lust, and his wine-induced magnanimity, to kill John.

Was Herodias secretly hoping the masses would be so incensed it would result in Herod’s overthrow or murder—In order to punish him for his lustful attitude toward her daughter? The account does not say, but it is instructive to notice Herod promised Salome “up to half the kingdom” (Mark 6:23).

Was this merely a form of speech, or was Herod so infatuated he was hinting to the girl she would replace her mother?

Mark’s account adds details not included by Matthew (Mark 6:16-29), showing that Herodias was far more the instigator of John’s murder than Herod.

Herod’s birthday was completely incidental, providing merely an opportunity for Herodias’ plan. Note that the celebration of Herod’s birthday is explained as a generous gesture on his part—that OF GIVING a party for others, not “having” a party for himself. “And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to [for] his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee . . .” (Mark 6:21).

Historical evidence firmly proves that birthday celebrations among rulers were universally used as a time for magnanimity; for generosity—even for the release of prisoners (as in the case of the butler, and, later, Joseph), rather than as a time for death, or murder.

If the strongest “proof” that birthday celebration is “wrong” is the argument that a death took place on that day—then WHY DO CHRISTIANS OBSERVE THE PASSOVER—The “LORD’S SUPPER”—THE OCCASION OF CHRIST’S DEATH?

The “Birthday” of Jesus Christ

The “greatest” Christian holiday is “Christmas,” which allegedly celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ. The real truth about Christmas will SHOCK YOU. It long antedates Christianity; the origin of all its accoutrements and trappings, including Santa Claus, reindeer, the yule log, the holly wreath, Christmas trees and ornaments are entirely pagan. For years, God’s church has shown the world the real truth about God’s annual Holy Days as opposed to the purely pagan days revered by the Christian-professing world such as Christmas, Easter, St. Valentine’s Day, New Year’s and others.

Could it be, however, in the sincere and zealous attempt to prove the pagan origins of Christmas that some have, unintentionally, tended to minimize the greatness of the EVENT of Christ’s birth?

Remember, Christ had a “birthday”! That is, there was a day on which Christ was born!

Can anyone read the Bible accounts without coming to the realization that this was a STUPENDOUS event in heaven and on earth? Perhaps too many have glossed over these portions of Scripture, turning from them with the barest reading and little appreciation, because of oft-repeated maudlin sentimentality connected with the commercialized “Christmas season.”

Read Matthew’s first two chapters; Luke’s first two chapters; and the many prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus Christ!

The Bible shows myriad’s of angels rejoicing in heaven, shouting out their joyous announcement that the Savior of all mankind was born! They said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men of good will” (as the original should read) (Luke 2:14).

God caused the Magi, perhaps representative of a mystic sect of Persia (some speculate they were students of Zoroaster) to come and do obeisance before the babe, Jesus Christ, perhaps thus symbolizing that all classes, all peoples, all races, and even the religions of this world had to acknowledge that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was truly the very Son of God!

There is still a good bit of mystery surrounding the purpose of the visit of the Magi, but it is obvious that whoever they were they came a long distance to acknowledge Jesus as King!

Think of it!

Mary was informed by a great angel she would become the mother of Jesus Christ. Zecharias’ dumbness, the “magnificat of Mary,” the rejoicing of the angels, the visit of the Magi (there may have been 12, 20 or more than 100—the Bible does not specify three), the visit of the shepherds, plus rejoicing in heaven above, all give testimony to the greatness of the EVENT of Christ’s birth!

Even though the exact date of Jesus’ birth is carefully obscured, two of the Gospel writers go into great detail about the utter magnificence of the EVENT! Let’s face it: The fact of the birth of your Savior is one of the most important central facts for your eternal life! For, if Jesus Christ had not come into the flesh as a human being, born of the virgin Mary in a manger in Bethlehem, you would have NO SAVIOR!

God nowhere commands us to celebrate the date of Jesus’ birth! Rather, the Bible is silent on this point.

Certainly, however, the Bible gives us the picture of great rejoicing in heaven; the details of the angelic announcement to Mary; the visit of the Magi and the shepherds in order that we can profoundly rejoice in, and appreciate the fact of, Jesus’ birth—the momentous event in history when VERY CREATOR GOD life was born as HUMAN life! Surely this will always be the GREATEST “day of birth,” or “birthday,” IN ALL HISTORY

Is it wrong to celebrate birth? Is it wrong to celebrate LIFE? What about the birth of a future KING? What about the birth of the future KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS?

One thing is sure. The angels greatly rejoiced!

Notice! “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you GOOD TIDINGS Of GREAT JOY, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE.

“‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’

“And suddenly there was with the angel A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST, praising God, and saying, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH, PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN [among men of good will: margin]” (Luke 2:10-14).

Obviously, the angelic hosts in God’s own heaven were rejoicing—celebrating—this greatest of all human births.
Does this imply Christians should have large, lavish “birthday parties”?

Of course not! It does not relate at all to human practices and customs.

The Bible neither enjoins birthday celebrations upon Christians, NOR does it condemn them!

There is no such thing as even a veiled reference to Jesus Christ condemning social and cultural customs such as certain banquets and festivals on important occasions. Rather, the first miracle of Jesus is performed in the context of supplying additional wine for a great “wedding feast” at Cana, in Galilee!

Jesus, by His presence at this feast (it may well have been the marriage of a close family member, and Mary may have been involved in its preparation), distinctly shows it is perfectly acceptable for Christians to take part in such social customs.

Surely it is not wrong to give gifts! No Christian believes it “wrong” to give a gift to his or her children, husband or wife, loved ones or friends, or, for that matter, completely unknown poor people.

The occasions for such gift—giving? Perhaps one of God’s annual Holy Days, such as the Feast of Tabernacles (a good time to give your children a gift!). Perhaps at the beginning of school; on one’s anniversary, at a wedding or a baby shower, a “going-away” present, or when one moves into a new home.

WHY, if all of these occasions are perfectly “right” and “Christian” occasions to give a gift, is it taboo, and viewed by some as a SIN, to give your child a gift on the anniversary of a certain number of years of life?

As we have explained for years, the wise men, when arriving at the bedside of Jesus Christ, gave to Christ their gifts! Simply because there were three categories of gifts given—frankincense, gold and myrrh—many have assumed there were only three wise men. Not so. There may have been many more than that, or there could have been only two.

However, it is obvious they gave gifts OF GREAT value!

One could argue until he is blue in the face that these were “Persians,” and therefore pagan! They may even try to distort and twist the Bible to the point they deny that the family of Jesus used the valuable gifts for His clothing, education or their own personal needs.

But this would, in fact, be twisting and wresting of the Scriptures—would be utter nonsense—and would deliberately ignore the FACT that on the occasion (it could easily have been one year after His birth) of Jesus’ birth, gifts of great value were given!

There is a familiar argument that, since Jesus was a KING, and since it is “custom” never to appear in the presence of a king without a gift, the Magi brought gifts!

However, this is not merely a casual visit to a king at any month, during any season, or on any day. It was the fact and occasion of His birth! No amount of reasoning can do away with the fact that these gifts were BIRTHDAY GIFTS!

Remembered Family Examples

One of the biggest birthday parties I ever attended was one arranged and paid for by my father, Mr. Herbert W Armstrong. It was on the occasion of my grandmother’s 80th birthday. “Grandma” was born the year after President Lincoln was shot. She had lived from 1866 to 1946; an age that saw the invention of the automobile, the invention of the airplane and the beginning of the atomic age!

Grandma had never been inside an airplane. In order to bring her to Portland, Ore., to the home of my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Don Edmundson, my father paid for her airline ticket aboard a Douglas DC-3.

My sister and I still have motion picture footage of that birthday party; virtually all her living children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were present—there was a big cake with plenty of candles, gifts, a big banquet-type meal, games in the backyard, much picture taking, and of course a lot of love, affection and congratulations toward Grandma, who was now an octogenarian!

As I was a growing young boy, I was always wished a “happy birthday,” and little gifts were given me. Nothing elaborate or expensive ever fell my lot; we were a very poor family, living in the midst of the Depression. However, my mother would prepare a special dish, or perhaps present me with a piece of cake or ice cream on my birthday.

The family never “celebrated” birthdays as a family; we never “threw a birthday party” for one another, or invited outside guests—the only “birthday parties” I ever attended of this nature were, as I said, that of my grandmother, or that of other school friends. However, through all the early years of God’s Work “birthdays” were certainly not viewed as “pagan.”

On the day I was 21, my father and mother, my brother, Richard David, my sister Dottie and her husband, Vern, all drove from Pasadena, Calif., to San Francisco, where I was stationed aboard an aircraft carrier at Alameda.

We were about to leave for Korea, and I had just turned 21.

On this occasion, my father and family took me to “The Top of the Mark,” the fabulous restaurant atop the Mark Hopkins on Nob Hill in San Francisco. I was treated to a marvelous steak dinner; champagne, the well-wishes and love of my entire family, and my father handed me 21 crisp new $1 bills! No big sum today, perhaps, but to a sailor in 1951 it meant a lot!

During all the early years of Ambassador College, my father would continually tell the church, where we met in the old “Shakespeare Club,” how he would send my grandmother “two dozen long-stemmed red roses” together with a card or a brief note, perhaps taking them over in person, on the occasion of her birthday!

The church always congratulated my grandmother, for she attended church up until the very last, and was much admired and loved as she gradually reached the ripe old age of 96, before she died.

Was this a pagan practice? IS it EVIL, and “satanic,” to graciously, generously and in love congratulate a loved one upon reaching certain important plateaus of age?

Let’s look, now, at the “overview” revealed in the Word of God.

The Bible Records

Have you never noticed the remarkable number of chapters in the Old Testament which had to do with the ages of patriarchs, kings, military leaders and prophets?

Each generation is painstakingly recorded, genealogically, with the age of each man at the birth of his firstborn son carefully noted.

The Bible keeps careful records of the age of certain righteous men when they were called; the age of kings when they were anointed; the duration of the reign of a king, patriarch or prophets; the age at death, and even the place of burial! Moses was 40 when he fled Egypt; 80 when he was called; then he led the children of Israel for 40 years (symbolic of the time of testing), and died at age 120 in the wilderness.

The combined time of David’s reign over both Judah and Israel was 40 years.

A Levite had to be 40 years of age before joining the temple choir.

The age of Abraham and Sarah when Isaac was born is noted.

You can probably think of many other examples. Question: WHY? Why, if noting the anniversary of one’s birth is absolutely pagan, unimportant, something we might as well forget, does the Bible take such pains to preserve exact ages, the duration of the reign of a king, the age of a prophet at the beginning of his ministry, even certain important years of Jesus’ life? Remember, God is the author of time!

Time and distance are actually one; “time,” being measured by the distance the moon travels around the earth, the distance the earth with its moon travels around the sun, and the daily revolutions of the earth on its axis. Almighty God set all this in motion.

It has been observed that God always does things “on time.”

Through the weekly cycle, we can come to understand a type of the overall 7,000-year plan of God. God has allotted 6,000 years for man to “do all his labor”; to strive to find the ways and means of governing himself apart from his God, but has allotted the seventh 1,000-year period for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ!

The week is not a casual period of just “any seven days,” but is a divinely ordained unit of time!

Believe it or not, so is the year!

GOD set the earth on its axis. It is God who designed the seasons, causing all of nature to respond to spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Almighty God begins to reveal to man the use of time very early in the Bible.

When God first called Israel it was to reveal to Israel the “beginning of months” and to wean them away from the purely PAGAN calendars of heathen races (Exodus 12:2).

Then God began revealing His annual festivals! (Leviticus 23).

Please notice the great importance Almighty God places upon annual events! By reminding ancient Israel once each year of the Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, God continually ensured Israel would not forget that HE was their Savior, Protector and Provider, and HE would set up His future government on this earth!

Every time ancient Israel lost sight of these annual anniversaries of God’s great events of the past, or the annual forerunners of great events of the future, Israel degenerated, descended into moral, spiritual and economic chaos, was attacked by enemies and suffered from war.

In the great restorations of the Bible, a righteous king would rediscover those annual Holy Days, rededicate the people to keeping those annual events, and God would once again begin to BLESS His people! (2 Chronicles 29 and 30).

The point?

It is GOD, not some pagan king, who set before His people various anniversaries—perennially kept, ANNUAL, “once-yearly” events which were to be observed!

What does this prove? Merely that the observance of certain important events on a once-a-year basis are decidedly NOT pagan, but were instituted of God!

Almighty God is the “INVENTOR” of time! It is HE who marks the human life span according to a certain number of “years.”

Is there ever a single day of your life that goes by but that you know “how old” you are? How many times have we asked little children their age to see them smile shyly, perhaps put three fingers in the air and then tell us they are “two”? What parent has not instilled in a child the consciousness of his annual cycle of growing one year older—reminding the child of his birthday? What’s yours? Immediately a certain date of the calendar comes to mind. Is this PAGAN? Would God rather you FORGOT how old you are? Is it evil, satanic, pagan and WRONG for someone to congratulate, wish good health and long life to a person who has become an octogenarian?

What about a child of 5; a young person who has reached teenage; a son or daughter who has become of legal age; or someone who does not like to be reminded he is now 50?

It is God who gives the human life span. “Threescore and ten” is considered the normally allotted life span given of God—and there is no scripture from Genesis to Revelation which says it is a sin for us to keep track of the passing years. Neither is there a single scripture which says it is a sin for families to rejoice at a patriarchal father reaching a great age; or hugging and loving a child, giving them a gift and congratulating them on the occasion of a birthday!

Is Dead Better Than Alive?

Some have thought to use the lament of Job, during his incredible sufferings, as a “proof text” that “birthdays” are not to be observed.

Job said, “Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost [expire] when I came out of the belly? Why did the knee prevent [come before, so as to meet] me? Or why the breasts that I should suck? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: than had I been at rest … or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been: as infants which never saw light” (Job 3:11-16).

Obviously, Job, in his self-righteousness, unable to see the real sin within him, is feeling deep self-pity. He is “wishing he had never been born”! Millions have experienced the feeling.

But is the extreme depression of acute human suffering; the moribund desire to cease to exist—to have never been—biblical grounds for condemning the celebration of LIFE and of the significant years of a human life?

Some have tried to pair Job’s statement with that of Solomon, concerning the day of one’s death. He said, “For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 6:12; 7:1).

Those who used this scripture to condemn birthdays were truly “broadminded,” like the river that was so broad it became only one inch deep! Their shallow reasoning did not see the fallacy of attempting to wrest this easily understandable lament into some vague condemnation of remembering “the day of one’s birth.”

Should one, then, celebrate, instead, the day of the DEATH of a loved one? How ludicrous it would be to see a family enjoying a special meal, celebrating and giving gifts to commemorate the day of the DEATH of a family member.

No, Solomon was lamenting the terrible trials and troubles of this vain life. His book is written from man’s point of view, and it shows Solomon became a candidate for suicide. Th him, life was futile at best! (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

Perhaps one could understand the scripture better in the context of Paul’s statement, “To die is gain,” and his desire to be securely in the hands of God, in death, knowing He was going to be in God’s Kingdom in the resurrection!

On the other hand, God does not want a Christian to hate his life!

He wants us to hate SIN! And He wants us to hate sin within US, but the Holy Spirit is to impart unto us LOVE, JOY, PEACE! (Galatians 5:22), God’s Spirit gives us happiness; the literal “CELEBRATION OF LIFE,” life MORE ABUNDANTLY—and LIFE FOREVERMORE!

God does not intend we spend our allotted time on this earth in misery, hopelessness, futility, shame, fear, inferiority and self-hatred!

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have LIFE, and life MORE ABUNDANTLY” (John 10:10).

The Age of Responsibility

All societies have recognized that children and adults are different—that adults, who have become educated, mature and who have accumulated wisdom and understanding with age, should do the decision making.

It is universally understood that children are not of sufficient mental development and capacity to vote, to enter the military service, to drive an automobile, to serve on a jury, to be licensed to carry a firearm or to be elected president.

Generally, age 21 has been universally considered as the first year of true adulthood—two years past “teenage,” in English parlance.

Laws concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages, voting, etc., have changed now and then. In the main, one must be 18 prior to being legally able to purchase alcohol—some states require youths to be 19.

But in Judah, during Jesus’ time, a young lad was considered to become a member of the adult community at age 12!

Notice the account of what happened when Jesus turned 12!

“Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when He was 12 years old [He was then entering his first ‘teenaged year’] they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:41-52).

Read the entire account to verse 52, and notice how God specially inspired Jesus, even at age 12, to astonish the learned doctors of Jewish law by His understanding.

How did Jesus know He was 12?

Was it PAGAN to keep track of His age—to remember the day of His birth? The Bible obscures it from us—but surely His mother and physical, foster father, Joseph, did not conceal the date from Him. Incidentally, it may be that Jesus was born on or near one of the autumnal Holy Days! He was born in the late autumn, and not in December! Was He exactly 12 1/2 at this Passover? Remember, He was cut off in the middle of His 34th year, age 33 1/2, approximately. His ministry began when He was “about 30,” and lasted 3% years. For approximately the next 18 years, after He was said to be “twelve years of age,” the Bible is silent about His life. Neither is Joseph ever mentioned again. Perhaps he died soon after Jesus and the family returned to Galilee.

But notice the Word of God does inform us of certain years during Jesus’ life; tells us “how old” He was!

This was not hazy guesswork—there may have been a family celebration, according to custom, on His 12th birthday. But the Bible is silent on this point—just as it is silent on whether or not “birthday observance” is of any consequence, one way or the other.

We have covered, thoroughly, the only two places in the entire Bible where the word “birthday” is used.

As you have seen, in the case of the Pharaoh of Egypt there were countless lives SPARED; the butler had his job restored and his life spared, though the baker was, indeed, hanged.

In the case of John the Baptist’s death, the birthday celebration was largely coincidental to the death—for Herod wished for John’s death long prior to his birthday, and Herodias plotted it, merely using the occasion of the birthday celebration to entrap Herod.

Remember the release of Barabbas?

It became custom among many societies for the birthday of a king to become a national holidax,. Usually, the birthday of the ruler was accompanied by some act of great generosity or magnanimity. Notice that Herod threw a banquet for all of his officials they did not throw a banquet for him! However, among the Jewish leadership in the temple, the occasion for a great gesture of magnanimity became the Passover! Notice. “Now at that feast [the Passover] the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

“And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:15-17).

Barabbas went free, and they crucified Jesus Christ!

Today, modern rules of nations have adopted different customs. No doubt you are familiar with the commutation of sentence granted long-term criminals at “Christmastime” by the president of the United States. It is not without precedent that, after having served a sentence of quite a number of years, even a person convicted of murder might find himself in receipt of a “presidential pardon” at Christmastime!

Some have reasoned that, because a death occurred on each occasion where the word “birthday” is mentioned in the Bible, this is obvious biblical implication that we should avoid celebration of the day!

The shallowness of this reasoning is immediately apparent when we look at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Passover!

Christians are commanded to celebrate the event of Jesus’ death, Annually! Rather than shun or avoid this day, we are enjoined to observe it!

“The Birthday of the Church”

WHY did Jesus command the disciples to “wait for the promise from on high” and require them to delay departure from Jerusalem until the Feast of Pentecost?

It is obvious that Almighty God was determined to bring about the “birth” of the New Testament Church of God on the very day among His annual Holy Days which symbolized the first- begotten from the earth; the Feast of the “Firstfruits”!

For years I have emphasized to the Church of God that the Feast of Pentecost is the “birthday” of the true church! It commemorates that great event nearly 2,000 years ago when the Holy Spirit came SUDDENLY, as with a mighty ROAR from heaven, lighting up the heads of the individual apostles as if with “equally distributed tongues of fire” like fiery crowns—and caused them to begin inspired messages, praising Almighty God and testifying concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

This was the very day on which the “other comforter” of which Jesus spoke came suddenly upon the twelve! That same day 3,000 were converted and baptized!

Almighty God had determined that His church was to be “begotten” on that very day which signifies the “firstfruits” of the harvest!

This occasion is observed annually by God’s people—It is a day of rejoicing; a “FEAST” to the Eternal, a day which symbolizes the greatest GIFT Almighty God could ever give humankind; the gift of His own divine nature the very Holy Spirit of God!

“Is Tradition a Sin?”

As the early New Testament church grew, Almighty God allowed the establishment of certain church traditions. These were oftentimes oral decisions made either by smaller groups of the apostles or the entire conclave.

One of the most outstanding examples of how God used His ministry to “bind” new traditions is found in the sixth chapter of Acts, when, “necessity being the mother of invention,” the apostles ordained men to the “diakonate,” and a new “function” was established in the ministry of the church.

The apostle Paul often referred to the “traditions” he had left behind, enjoining upon such churches as that at Thessalonica, and others, that they “. . . stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye had been taught, whether by word [orally], or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Paul wrote: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

It is not “sinful” for God’s church to establish certain traditions. Likewise, it is not wrong or sinful for a family to establish certain “family traditions.”

An annual family reunion; a birthday celebration for a much-loved and revered family member; an annual family camping trip or picnic—If such events become “traditional,” and become a much-anticipated and deeply enjoyed family tradition, this is well and good in God’s sight.

To this day, the Jewish race celebrates the “Feast of Purim,” which began back in the days of Esther.

However, the origins of the festival are partially rooted in paganism.

This festival was observed during Jesus’ day—no doubt was commonplace among the Jews—and yet not one word of condemnation is ever given. Neither does the Bible itself condemn the establishment of the custom among the Jews.

The name of the feast comes from the Persian word “pur,” which means “lot.” As you read in the story of Esther, “In the first month, that is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is the month Adar” (Esther 3:7).

Now notice Esther 9:26: “Wherefore they called these days ‘Purim’ after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they should keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

“And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.”

Read the rest of chapter 9, and notice how Esther, who was then the queen, wrote a royal decree to confirm the practice of the observation of the feast of “Purim.” Yet “pur” meant “the casting of lots” and was a heathen Persian custom in an attempt to find a “propitious time” by the practicing of casting lots.

The feast of “Purim” is not condemned in the Bible, even though the name itself was derived from a heathen custom of attempting to “ascertain the most propitious times” by the casting of “lots,” which may have been a form of throwing dice!

Those who believe Almighty God wants His church to compile talmudic liturgy; providing each professing Christian with literally tens of thousands of meticulous “dos and don’ts,” are doomed to sad disappointment.

The Christian is NOT carefully buffered by 10,000 stamps of approval or disapproval on every conceivable human nuance of behavior, thought, act, deed or custom labeled “Approved/Disapproved by Spiritual Good Housekeeping”!

National Holidays Not Forbidden

Does it make any sense that some few would single out “birthdays” as being pagan, calling any birthday observance whatever a SIN, and yet cheerfully and freely observe other national holidays, including the “birthday” of the nation itself?

Think for a moment of some of the national “holidays” which are observed by God’s people. There are no restrictions preached from any pulpits I know of concerning workmen taking a day off from their labors; families enjoying visits to relatives, picnics and recreation, going to parades or entertainment events on major national holidays!

Certainly, God’s people everywhere join in and appreciate the symbolism of the day of their national independence! In France, it is “Bastille Day,” and in the United States it is “the Fourth of July.”

The birthdays of famous people are also celebrated. In the United States, many working people are given time off on the occasion of Washington’s birthday.

Memorial Day, Labor Day, Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, as well as Thanksgiving—none of these carries “taboos.”

Yet, in an obscure manner, celebrating the fact that a woman is a “mother,” and a man is a “father,” means celebrating the fact that he or she was responsible for giving birth to a child!

To those who believe it is a “sin” to hug your child, give him a gift, perhaps even including a candle in a cupcake and singing to him the well-known little ditty called “Happy Birthday,” we must ask the question: “Does the Bible teach that the punishment for wishing your child a happy birthday is GEHENNA FIRE –loss of salvation, and destruction for all eternity?

What a ludicrous contrast!

In a world FILLED with suffering and war, divorce, child abuse, homosexuality, venereal disease, incest, robbery, rape, murder, disease, malnutrition, poverty, squalor, racism, hatred and violence, it seems absolutely ludicrous that a “super-religious” people would put out the finger and condemn the practice of family members wishing their own child a “happy birthday”!

It is difficult for me to believe my father was guilty of a great SIN in staging a big birthday party for his own mother on the occasion of her 80th birthday! In the mid-1970s when I heard he had taken a special trip in the Gulfstream-II from Paris to Rome for a special dinner on the occasion of his fiancee’s birthday, I realized he still felt birthdays were an important occasion. Certainly, a fabulously expensive trip from one famous world capital to another; a great meal in a world-famous restaurant and perhaps a gift given in congratulations was a “celebration” of some sort!

Strangely, there are those who have divided families over the nonsensical condemnation of birthday observance!

Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, that HE has commissioned His church to do FAR GREATER DEEDS in this world than indulging ourselves in snatching away a moment of happy excitement from a beaming child who is about to start to school at age 6, and whose parents have just wished him a “happy birthday”!

There simply is no teaching in the Bible concerning birthday celebration one way or the other. Anything can be grossly overdone; any custom can become “paganized” by adding any number of pagan superstitions, like “wishing” when blowing out the candles of a cake.

An annual, lavishly expensive “party” with 100 guests to celebrate a birthday would seem greatly overdone. Christians are commanded to live their lives “in moderation,” not ostentation.

Certainly, God has not commissioned His ministry to write a talmudic tradition of thousands of “dos and don’ts,” stiflingly regulating every area of personal and family choice. The “leaven” of the Pharisees was SPIRITUAL PRIDE AND VANITY—SELF-righteousness! Strangely, there are those who believe in making “birthdays” a GREAT SIN—and who pride themselves on shunning what appears, to them, to be a “pagan” custom. How strange.

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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

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In God’s theocracy of Israel, God insisted He had a prior claim on a flat 10 percent of the increase of the labor of His people. Put another way, God insisted no power in the universe had any authority to rob you of 90 percent of everything you produced! What if you and I could keep 90 percent of our income?

I watched a television interview with a published author on a major news network a few months ago. He insists the United States Internal Revenue Service is unconstitutional, that it exercises powers it does not really possess, and that the U.S. Congress is “cowed” by the IRS.

He related how a man in a northwestern state was sent a bill by the IRS for about $70,000. But the bill never arrived. Among the some 45,000 mistyped addresses by sloppy clerks in the IRS, his tax bill had the wrong address on it.

Years passed. Finally, the statute of limitations had run out. But eventually some clerk in the massive bureaucracy discovered their mistake, and promptly sent the man a huge tax bill, including “penalties,” for more than a quarter of a million dollars!

They said he should have chased down the IRS, and insist that they chase him, so he could pay the tax they said he owed!

Stricken, knowing the huge bill bankrupted him, ruined his business, the man committed suicide.

His widow fought back in tax court. Eventually, she won, after paying large legal costs.

And so it was that a handful of uncaring, unfeeling, government employees destroyed a human life, destroyed a family, destroyed a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice.

In another story, a couple of entrepreneurs, a man and wife, owned their own eighteen-wheeler, and crisscrossed the country hauling freight.

The IRS allows travel expenses in connection with one’s business, such as motels, meals, gasoline, and the like, as a deduction. The couple owned a home, and always came back to their home between trips. But since they traveled so much, the IRS decided the cab of their truck was really their home, and forced them to pay tax on all their expenses.

Then there was the story about a couple whose children were in a day care center while they both worked. The IRS invaded the day care center, separated their children, placing some in one room, and the rest in another. IRS agents then barricaded the two rooms, pushing tables against the doors. Upon the tables, they placed the stacks of IRS forms they wanted the couple to sign, acknowledging they owed the IRS.

When the couple came to collect their children, they were forced to sign the forms before they could have their children.

Each year, a significant number of Americans commit suicide because of IRS penalties and harassment.

Whether you live in the United States or not, how much do you pay in income tax, state income tax, sales tax, hidden taxes, luxury tax, hotel tax, airport tax, state tax, county tax, school board tax, local tax, and a plethora of other taxes? How much of every dollar you earn is taken from you by some form of government?

In his sensational book, The Tax Racket, Martin L. Gross has exposed “Government Extortion From A To Z.” He covers such things as “Marriage Tax,” “School Tax,” “Social Security Tax,” “Airport Tax,” “Luxury Tax,” “Gasoline Tax,” “Personal Property Tax,” “Value-Added Tax,” “Small Business Taxes,” “Junk Food Tax,” “Inheritance Tax,” “Telephone and Cable Taxes,” “Options, Stocks and Bonds Taxes,” “Hotel and Travel Tax,” “Income Tax, Federal, State, and City,” “License Taxes,” “Nanny Tax,” “Gambling Tax,” and many, many others. I heartily recommend it to anyone—so long as you realize the net result may be a growing rage against the incredible drain on the average person’s income as a result of government excesses!

Early on in the book, Gross explains how all of us work for the government the first several months of the year; how and when we arrive at “Tax Freedom Day,” or the day in the year when we begin working for ourselves and our loved ones.

He wrote, “Today, our ‘Tax Freedom Day,” when we stop working for governments and put the first bite of tax-free food in our mouths—for U.S. citizens, is May 6 nationally. Bad enough, but in New York it extends to May 24, some 144 days into the year. Connecticut pays until May 22, followed not far behind by Minnesota, New Jersey, and California.”

America Is Under a Curse From God

There is a cause for every effect. Today, our nation reels under massive debt. We have gone from the largest creditor to the largest debtor nation in only a matter of a few years. Today, we are so deeply in debt that we rival nations like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

Our vanquished enemies of World War II have burgeoned up to superpower status, enjoying a standard of living in many cases higher than that of the United States. Germany and Japan are being heard from in the global political arena, and as I have been warning for years, are even now moving into the international military arena. Japan’s yearly expenditures for armaments are more than Britain and France combined.

Our families are being destroyed. Our schools are lowering standards, then claiming the students are getting better grades. Uniformed officers must patrol many schools; metal detectors are in place to apprehend students carrying weapons. Drugs, sexual promiscuity, early pregnancy, unwanted babies, and abortion stalk the classroom.

America staggers under a massive burden of crime and violence, all the while gobbling up unbridled orgies of murder, dismemberments, shootings, stabbings, and gigantic explosions in a never-ending series of megaviolence in the movies and on television.

A new computer chip, called the “V” chip, was recently announced, and received President Clinton’s endorsement. It will allow parents to block out violent, objectionable programming on their home TV sets. Television industry leaders were quick to defend their outpouring of death and gore, and the media surmised that the installation of the “V” chip would probably be a signal to the producers of violent television to produce even more violence than before.

Twenty-year studies by universities are not necessary to prove the direct relationship between television violence and growing violence, smoking, drug use, and alcoholism among America’s youth.

Millions of Americans lock themselves in while criminals roam freely outside.

Tens of thousands of frightened people go to sleep on the floor, on mattresses, in rear rooms, because of random drive-by shootings in gang-ridden neighborhoods’. Tens of thousands of Americans are murdered every year. Your nightly TV news features the latest shootings, stabbings, arson, riots, burglaries, drug busts, and shoot-outs with police.

The criminal justice system is so overloaded that only a fraction of offenders ever come to justice. Thousands of killers languish on death rows in America’s prisons, living for years; decades in many cases, without ever paying for their violent crimes.

We can’t build prisons fast enough. The moment a new prison is built, it is overcrowded.

Meanwhile, we suffer from disease pandemics like AIDS, herpes and warts, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, emphysema, breast cancer, cancer of the lymphatic system, cancer of the liver, lung cancer, and cancer of the bone marrow, called “leukemia.” We are afflicted by skin cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, drug addiction, blindness, deafness, eczema, dozens of skin diseases, baldness, loss of vision, arthritis, cancer of the prostate, cervical cancer, Parkinsons disease, flus, colds, night sweats and worries, insomnia, manic depression, mental disease, dementia praecox, paranoia, fear, Alzheimer’s disease, gout, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, chicken pox, typhus, smallpox, bubonic plague, the fear of the spread of the Ebola virus, viral infections of all kinds, schizophrenia, and dozens of other ailments.

Millions of Americans have up to five or six of the above. Over a hundred million people suffer from some form or other, and perhaps two or three, chronic diseases.

One of the largest items for millions of Americans living on fixed incomes is what they have to spend on pharmaceuticals, medicines to relieve pain.

Why?

Because our peoples are under a curse from God! There are living laws in place which, when they are broken, cause the poverty, squalor, sickness and disease; which cause divorce, venereal disease, illegitimacy, and AIDS.

There is a cause for every effect. The effects we have dealt with above are destroying the fabric of our nations. The average home is in deep trouble. Normal marriages, with father and mother in their God-ordained place, rearing their children in the knowledge of God; knowing right from wrong, good from evil, are giving way to “live-ins,” homosexual “marriages,” and millions of “singles” who may have been divorced once or twice or more, and who have young children.

The obvious cause of increased youthful crime and violence, the growth of neighborhood gangs, drug abuse, smoking beginning in the sixth and seventh grade, and alcoholism in high school is the disintegration of the family. God’s laws were set in motion to preserve and protect the family. Ignored, broken, those same laws carry the penalties we see everywhere around us.

What Are Your Hopes and Dreams?

What do you really WANT out of life?

First, you very likely would like to have at least ONE MILLION DOLLARS! The reason I placed this first is because, even though millions of people have completely misplaced priorities and false values, it is MONEY they covet more than anything else.

But, aside from plenty of money to spend on physical things, what do you want? How about good health; a total absence of debility, aches and pains, sickness and disease? How about a body like those depicted in some of the exercise programs you see on TV? How about being eternally YOUNG and powerful, with strength and plenty of energy and vitality?

And how about peace of mind? Millions of us are stricken with fear, worry, anxiety, depression; a huge percentage of the population are mentally ill, barely able to function day to day.

Along with peace of mind, how about happiness? Think of all the things we really WANT! We want success, abundance, prosperity; we want fulfillment and we want LOVE; someone who adores us; someone with whom we can share all the wonderful things of a full, zestful, interesting, exciting life!

We want happy marriages, healthy, respectful, obedient children! We want long lives, and plenty of time to do the things that are so appealing to us, like traveling to exotic places, spending time on the fabled south sea island, basking in the sun!

Oh, we could go on and on about the things we WAN’I’! But what do most people have? They have the OPPOSITE of all these things.

Millions live lives of frustration, emptiness, anxiety, stress, and sickness. Millions are uneducated, unemployed. Millions live in terrible poverty, barely eking out a kind of “existence” that is hardly describable as a life.

Millions are divorced—many for the second and third time! Millions more are single parents. The very fabric of family life in our societies is coming completely apart!

Just as there are causes which produce penalties—all the evil things around us we don’t want—so there are causes whichwould produce all the things we do want.

Let’s turn to the word of the Almighty Creator God of all of mankind to see WHY all these curses have come upon us! First, God promises US GREAT BLESSINGS if we will obey the laws that produce those blessings:

He says, “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3,4).

What does such a fabulous promise mean to farmers and orchard-keepers? What does it mean to national economics? What does it mean to starving nations, in the grip of famine, when other countries blessed by God can send them millions of tons of food?

“And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely” (Leviticus 26:5).

That means God promises to control our weather in such a way that food can be grown all year around!

But look at the massive onslaughts of winter storms that have afflicted our peoples! RECORD-BREAKING COLD has gripped our nation in recent months, cause massive destruction. Before that, there was the most mind-boggling FLOODS in our history that caused billions in crop losses; that interrupted shipping on our major river systems and our interstate highways.

Then there was Homestead, Florida, and a season of one hurricane after another that dealt the U.S. Gulf coast massive blows!

Why? Is all this just a cycle of some kind? Is it merely bad luck? Or is Almighty God involved in some way?

Christ said droughts and famines, increasing earthquake activity and massive disease epidemics would signal that the great tribulation is near! Are we nearing that time?

After revealing all the bountiful blessings our peoples would reap if we obeyed God’s laws that produce them, God listed the curses that would come upon us if we did not!

Is there anyone, from lowliest person standing dejectedly in the unemployment line to the most prominent members in the congress who can say, “America is a nation that obeys God?”

God says, “But if ye Will NOT hearken unto Me [and we have not!], and Will NOT do all these commandments [and we have not done them!]; And if ye despise my statues, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I will also do THIS unto you: I will appoint over you terror [and millions live in fear and terror!—terrorism is now striking even in the heartland of America!], consumption, [flu and colds, respiratory infections are now one of the MAJOR health problems and causes of death in the United States!], and the burning ague that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it” (Leviticus 26:15,16).

Then follows a series of horrible curses that would be laid upon those who despise God’s laws, and who abhor His righteous judgments. Drought, famine, disease, defeat in war, and eventual captivity are prophesied to happen to those who reject God’s laws.

God shows that rejection of His righteous laws causes the automatic curses that come upon us.

What Christ Said About Employer-Employees

Read Matthew 20:1-16. Study this portion of Scripture carefully.

In this story, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Who will soon rule this world as King of kings and Lord of lords, upholds the absolute sovereign right of any landowner or employer to cut individual contracts.

There is no concept here of a “level playing field” for workers, or of organized unions, to strike against the employer, or torch his home or fields, There is no concept here of government interference in the marketplace. Instead, idle workers are offered, individually, a contract. Each likes what he hears, and accepts his contract.

One cheerfully agrees to work for the day for a set wage.

Another cheerfully agrees to work for half as long, for a set wage. Still another agrees to work for only an hour in the late afternoon for a set wage. That each is paid the same amount is irrelevant in Christ’s example, for each agreed to a specific set of terms.

Thus, Christ upholds the right of an employer to pay whatever is agreed upon, as well as the right of any worker to decide to work for the amount offered.

Prior to the hiring, the idle men had no jobs. They could have refused the offer of work, or argued about the pay. Instead, each agreed.

Thus, Christ condemns the entire concept of “collective bargaining” and a “guaranteed minimum wage.” Instead, He upholds the personal sovereignty and dignity of each individual.

Of course, the deeper spiritual implications of what Christ taught are obvious. God calls some to labor a lifetime, struggling against Satan, against the world with its pulls, tugs, and attractions, and against the appetites of human nature, before eventually entering God’s Kingdom.

Others will be among the “last, who shall be first,” and will repent at the time of the heavenly signs (Revelation 7), calling out to God in fright, shock, and remorse. God will hear them, forgive them, and bring them into His Kingdom. Should those, then, who labored long complain? But why? They are not only granted eternal salvation, but they are rewarded according to their works.

There is no “collective bargaining,” or “guaranteed minimum effort,” or “affirmative action” on the way toward God’s Kingdom.

The Way of Giving

There are two opposite ways of life revealed in God’s Word. The way of “getting” is the way of this world. It is the way of greed, avarice, cunning; the way of competition, jealousy and strife.

The world’s economics are fueled by this way. The stock markets, futures trading, speculation, mutual funds—the entire global economy is fueled by the fundamental greed of human nature.

But God’s way, the way of Christ, was the way of giving! The most oft-quoted scripture in the Bible is John 3:16, in which says, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The perfect love of the Father toward the Son was expressed in letting go. In giving. What could be a greater sacrifice?

Jesus Christ continually exposed the carnal-minded way of getting of this world. He said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Jesus called the way of this world the way of “getting,” and of placing great value on material things, “mammon.” He said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

He went on to describe the average daily way of life lived by millions. It is a life of fear, of anxiety, of worry and apprehension about the future. He said, “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Wherefore take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or, ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ For after all these things do the nations seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (verses 25-32).

God knows we have need of the necessities of life! It is a matter of priorities. If we put His Kingdom first, He promises to supply our needs.

The Guilt of Judas

Judas Iscariot was a thief, a liar, a cheat, a posturer. Yet, he was self-righteous; he completely ignored his own avariciousness and hypocrisy. Consequently, he was Jesus’ foremost critic. Judas was a living example of the old saw, “Methinks m’ lord protesteth overmuch.”

He was also an example of the axiom, “whoso accuses is usually guilty of the very thing of which he accuses another.”

On two different occasions, as Jesus sat at supper with His disciples and friends, Judas criticized Him for “extravagance.”

It was six days prior to the final Passover when “they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him [Lazarus had been raised from the dead only days earlier]. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

“Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray Him, ‘Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?’ This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag [common purse], and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, ‘Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always”‘ (John 12:1-8).

Judas’ insidious carping infected some of the other disciples as well. Four days later, Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, in Bethany, for another supper. “There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, ‘To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor”‘ (Matthew 26:8-12). The first occasion was when Mary poured ointment on His feet. The second was when an unidentified woman poured ointment on His head. The two events were several days apart.

By the time of the second supper, in the home of Simon the Leper, Judas’ constant criticisms had taken root in the minds of some of the other disciples, so that several of them, unnamed, criticized Christ for allowing this “shameful waste.” It was shortly after this supper that Judas, overcome with jealousy, resentment, and hatred, went to the chief priests and bargained for money to betray Christ (Matthew 26:14,15).

The carnal mind seeks to justify itself. Guilt is turned away from self, directed in self-righteous wrath at the innocent. Thus Judas, whose conscience was writhing inside him, built up in his mind a huge, wrathful desire to “get even” with Jesus.

Long before, Jesus had plainly said before them all, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a demon?” (John 6:70). Judas knew who and what he was. Yet, in his twisted mind, even though he clearly knew Jesus also knew who and what he was, Judas sought to assuage his own screaming conscience by continual criticism of Christ!

This is the “Judas factor.” It is the unbridled greed, coupled with vanity and jealousy, that causes human beings to become covetous of material things. It is the spirit of betrayal, of thievery, and of false accusation. It is the spirit of Satan, not of God.

Millions are afflicted with it. Material, carnal, wholly temporal, it is the swelling greed that leads huge chemical companies to produce dangerous compounds that can pollute whole watersheds, bays, and estuaries, and cause massive changes in marine biology.

It is the greed of industry and technology that pollutes, ravages, and destroys a once pristine environment. It is the greed of politicians who will lie, cheat, connive, conspire, posture—do anything to remain in a position of power.

It is the greed of thugs, muggers, robbers, arsonists engaged in insurance fraud, and those who would kill their own parents to seize their inheritance.

It is the greed of extortionists, who would deliberately entrap public officials in order to obtain money; the greed of those who commit horrendous crimes like murder, who then sell their stories to screenwriters or journalists; the greed of those with top secret security clearances who would sell their country’s secrets to an enemy for money.

Concerning those who would attempt to lead God’s people into false doctrine, or to “lead away disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30), God says their motives are transparent—that they covet money, and they covet power.

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:5-10).

Nowhere does the Bible say “money is the root of all evil,” as people misquote this verse. No, it is the love of money—placing money between the person and God, lusting, coveting, desiring, dreaming about money!

Money, as a medium of exchange, can be used to accomplish great good. It can be used to build beautiful homes, purchase healthful food, obtain an education. It can build marvelous institutions, relieve suffering and poverty, and care for the sick.

Money can be used to preach the gospel by purchasing television time, publishing, traveling, preaching.

It is the perversion of the lust for money, which is so commonplace today, which eats at character like a cancer.

The Judas factor is like a virulent poison, infecting the minds of millions, in every country and every race.

Judas—an Insider Who Worked with Jesus

Just as Judas was one of Christ’s own original twelve disciples—an insider, so it is that God’s Word warns there will be those who will draw back in the latter days; those who will get their eyes on the tithes of local congregations, and who will begin to find excuses to become independent, so those tithes will go to the local minister, and not to help accomplish the work of God.

Judas was Christ’s worst critic. He was a traitor. He was a thief. He wanted to run things himself. He coveted money and power.

As Paul warned the ministry of the church in Ephesus, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made your overseers, to feed the flock of God [it is GOD’S FLOCK not the flock of the local pastor], which He hath purchased with His own blood.

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30).

What would be their motives? “To draw away disciples after themselves.” To gain a following. To become the one in charge, and to reap the harvest from having gained a following of people, who would look to their new leader, who would tithe and give offerings to him!

Paul warned Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times [the times we live in, now!] some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits [Judas became possessed of the devil himself], and doctrines of devils [demons]; Speaking lies in hypocrisy [when they know better]; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” (1 Timothy 4:1,2).

Paul said they would have a “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5), but their primary character would be as ‘lovers of their own selves, covetous [lusting after physical, material things], boasters…traitors, heady [selfwilled; headstrong], highminded [filled with ego and pomposity]” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Today, there are thousands of different “ministries.” There are hundreds and hundreds of different denominations. Each Sunday morning, one may scan many different television programs where the speaker is continually pleading for money. They present books, albums, tapes, magazines—and then say “For your gift of only (perhaps $30.00 or so), we will send you this free book.” That dozens of these “ministries” are actually running a business is plain.

But we believe this is not God’s way.

Instead, we believe we must rely on God, on faith, to put it in the hearts and minds of those who receive FREE tapes and literature from this work to voluntarily begin to GIVE to the work, so that we may have to give to others!

We know that this is the work of God, and not of mortal men. We know that it is God Who will bless it. Therefore, rejecting the way of Judas, the way of betrayal, covetousness, and greed, we embrace the way of God—the way of Jesus Christ, who said, “Freely ye have received. Freely give!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post Money and the Judas Syndrome first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The preceding story was related to me by the father of the boys, an executive in the radio business from Alaska, when he attended the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Chicago, Illinois.

I had been invited to give the invocation at a dinner for about 2,000 radio-station owners and managers from all over the country; the main speaker that day was Paul Harvey.

During the recess after lunch, one of the radio executives asked if he might ask me a personal question. He then related the tragic story of his two baby sons’ death. He had already asked his own pastor, or perhaps two or more ministers. He and his wife were searching for some understanding; they needed to know WHY—WHY would a loving God allow this to happen?

How WOULD YOU ANSWER?

If there IS a God, and if GOD IS LOVE, then WHY?

Now, if someone asks some other person that question, he has a perfect out. All most people have to do is to cluck away sympathetically, or, if genuine emotion is really felt, show some sincere empathy with such a tragically bewildered parent. However, it only requires a polite disclaimer: “I’ve always wondered about that too,” or, “Well, I don’t know. I lost a son in Vietnam, and I have never understood why he had to die when all these others…”

But this was different.

I am a minister.

He had asked a minister: a man who had been preaching the Word of God over his radio station for years, a man who had just finished delivering a heartfelt prayer to God in front of 2,000 hard-bitten businessmen.

No minister could simply shake his head and profess he didn’t have the answer to such a tragic, perplexing question. But the gentleman told me he had already asked two or three others, and they merely muttered something vague about “mysterious” ways of God and faith and such, and allowed as how “His ways are past finding out.”

By the time the man and his wife wrestled with these vague generalities for a while, they were as distraught and puzzled as ever. Hurt, bewildered, feeling deserted in their most desperate hour of need, they kept reliving their anguished attempts for hour upon hour to revive their twin boys, their frantic mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, their desperate tears, their prayers.

“WHY DID GOD LET MY TWO BABY BOYS DIE?”

I began to explain.

Tragedies—by the Millions

I told the man I could only try to understand the depth of his grief and that I would fall short—that only a parent who had actually experienced such heartbreak could really empathize with him. Then, in nowhere near so detailed a fashion, I began to explain why God had not stepped in to prevent their deaths.

The man and his wife were not alone in their suffering.

That same night—from Africa to Japan, from China to Brazil, from Canada to Australia—millions of tragedies were unfolding. Tiny babies were dying of malnutrition and starvation, a slow, terrible death of hunger far different from drifting off to sleep, the sleep becoming deeper and deeper until death.

I mentioned, without attempting to overstate the case, about the distraught parents I had seen interviewed on TV whose children had been kidnapped and killed, about the hundreds of automobile accidents that same night, about those born deformed, blind and diseased. I tried to show, in a brief few moments, that the whole world “groans and travails in pain” (Romans 8:22).

In war, it seems, it is always the innocent bystander, the children, the women and the elderly, who are victimized. Today, in nations all over the world, vicious terrorism is aimed at the helpless civilians whose only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despots carry out vicious pogroms, attempting to eliminate all opposition.

WHY do about 50,000 Americans die every year in automobile accidents? What about the tens of thousands who LIVE THROUGH THE ACCIDENTS to spend the remainder of their lives disfigured, crippled and in pain?

And WHY WAR?

WHY does God allow such a mountainous pile of human woe and misery? Human ears cannot hear the wails and weeping of the hundreds of thousands, the screams and sobs of the injured and dying, the moans of those in their hospital beds. But GOD CAN!

So WHY does HE ALLOW IT?

If God is God, then He is ALL-powerful! God’s Word says He knows every hair on your head, every sparrow that falls. He says He cares even for the birds that fly and other living creatures—and that HE CARES FOR YOU!

Then WHY?

Not God’s World?

This is not God’s world! That’s right, it is not God’s world, not His society, not His social, economic, religious, cultural or governmental system. It belongs exclusively to man, but it is under the invisible sway of a great archdemon called Satan the devil!

He is called the “god of this world.” Notice! “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), utilizing the very elements (as in the case of Job and the whirlwind that destroyed his family) of this earth for his evil purposes.

He is a “roaring lion” walking about, seeking “whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He is that great fallen archangel, called a “dragon,” who deceives the whole world! (Revelation 12:9). He currently possesses rulership, the control and sway over governments of the world, over the nations.

On the other hand, God says the “world is mine, and the fullness thereof!” God is the supreme RULER in heaven who says, “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold he taketh up the isles as a very little thing … It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in…” (Isaiah 40:15-22).

How can this be?

Is it Satan’s world? Or is it God’s world?

The answer is it is GOD’S EARTH, God’s “world,” in the sense of the good green spaceship earth He gives us to live on and from which we came. But it is SATAN’S SOCIETY, Satan’s CIVILIZATION!

Jesus prayed: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

“They are not of the world” (John 17:14-16).

From the Beginning

From the very beginning of recorded civilization—from the Garden of Eden—mankind has rejected God’s laws, God’s way of life, God’s rule over mankind! Adam and Eve began the first “scientific experiments in attempting to follow Satan’s wily “advice” and try to determine for themselves, apart from God’s revealed knowledge, whether the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was fit for them.

From the days of the ancient patriarchal society until the flood, only a small handful of men would follow God’s laws, His way of life. The majority went their own way until God said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh…” (Genesis 6:3), and the whole world, save Noah and his family, was destroyed by a flood.

Soon Nimrod, a “mighty hunter,” and his mother-wife, Semiramis, a high priestess of Baal worship, organized some of the first cities on earth, gathering people together into a manmade “society,” the first true “city-states” of history. He built Babel (called Babylon), and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar (Chaldea) (Genesis 10: 9, 10).

By the time of Abraham, the whole of the earth, save a tiny handful of men who were obedient to God’s laws, was in the spiritual darkness of Satan’s sway, having gone into polytheism (the worship of nonexistent pagan “gods” of their own imagination) and suffering every evil as the result.

Following the generations of Abraham, to his grandson Jacob (whose name was changed to “Israel”) and his sons, who are the progenitors of the “twelve tribes of Israel,” the Bible shows God once again intervened in the affairs of manmade governments. He called HIS OWN NATION out of slavery, under Moses, and established them as a “kingdom,” a human society under an appointed human government, which was under God!

But, even before coming to Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments, the people began to murmur against Moses and began rejecting the government of God!

“How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” asked God, before He gave the codified Decalogue! (Exodus 16:28).

Then came the delivery of the Ten Commandments. One of the most important principles of Scripture is revealed in that context during the great and awesome ceremony of the quaking, smoking and fiery mountain, the giving of the Ten Commandments and the people’s acceptance of God’s laws!

Earlier the people had said, “All that the Eternal hath spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). But, following the spectacular sights of the mount, and the delivery of the law, notice what happened! “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

“And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but LET NOT GOD SPEAK WITH US, lest we die” (Exodus 20:18,19). The people didn’t want any direct communication from God; they wanted God to go off somewhere and disappear and not frighten them like that; they wanted a go-between, an intermediary!

Following the establishment of Israel in their own homeland, God ruled over the people through His human servants the judges. It was like a theocracy: God dealing directly with the judges and they in turn dealing with the people.

But during Samuel’s day the people decided they wanted a KING, just like other nations! They wanted a tall, attractive, human ruler, a person who would be a mighty military leader, a person of striking appearance and charm. “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Eternal.

“And the Eternal said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected ME, that I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM!” (1 Samuel 8:6,7).

Through Ezekiel, God showed that His people had continually REJECTED His laws, His statutes, His WAY OF LIFE, down through the centuries! “Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their father’s idols. Wherefore I gave them [over to] also statutes that were NOT good, and judgments whereby they should NOT live. And I polluted them in their own gifts [pagan sacrifices], in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Eternal” (Ezekiel 20:24-26).

Over and over again, God’s Word stresses how His people TURNED AWAY FROM HIM! Time and again He shows how the “whole world lies in darkness” and says, “There is NONE that is good, no not one!”

From the days of the ancient Israelites until now, people have not wanted God to interfere in their daily lives!

Put another way: People don’t want God “Sticking His nose into their business”! They want to be FREE to make choices and decisions, live their lives as THEY see fit without any outside interference, restrictions, laws or penalties!

Notice! In speaking of the period of the judges God says, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6), and “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in HIS OWN eyes!” (Judges 21:25). This is the LAST verse of one of the bloodiest books in the Bible-filled with the wars, murders, intrigue and heartache of carnal human nature. And the reason for all this is plainly stated: “Every man did that which was right in his OWN eyes!”

That is the very ESSENCE of human nature!

Human nature is vanity, jealousy, ego, greed and lust! It is a SELF-oriented, SELF-willed, SELF-determined, SELF-centered spirit of SELF-seeking! Perfect self (complete, not “perfect” spiritually) is found in the major ingredients of self: (1) self-preservation, (2) self-determination and (3) self-perpetuation!

People do NOT WANT GOD INTERFERING IN THEIR PRIVATE, PERSONAL LIVES!

Consider the smoker or drinker, or the person who habitually exaggerates or lies. Do such persons want an invisible presence to STOP them from reaching for their cigarettes? Do they want God, in unseen, spiritual POWER, to PREVENT them from satisfying their physical lusts? Would a person wish God to prevent him from tipping a glass of liquor to his lips or cause him to be tongue-tied and UNABLE to speak each time he lies or exaggerates?

Can you imagine the scene?

A person would attempt to reach into his shirt pocket for a cigarette. But a strange look would come over his face as his arm stopped halfway up, and his fingers could not reach his shirt! He would struggle, try his other arm, try forcing the one arm up there with the other hand! His face would grow beet-red with anger and frustration! He would begin to thrash around in his chair and then fall to the floor in every conceivable, contorted position. He would desperately struggle to reach those cigarettes! He would be screaming, yelling, and cursing! He would call upon a friend and ask him to give him a cigarette, only to find the friend, TOO, couldn’t reach HIS!

Can you imagine it? They would probably go completely CRAZY in frustration—probably go mad.

No, people don’t WANT God around on a moment-to-moment-basis, interfering in their private lives, forcing them to do what is RIGHT and what is GOOD for them, instead of allowing them to do what is NOT RIGHT and what is BAD for them.

It is Your Own Choice

You are a free moral agent! You are a creature of free choice. God MADE you that way! You are a tiny spark of life in the black vastness of a limitless universes human being, on planet earth, with the vast potential of being made a very son of God, being born into His very FAMILY someday, becoming LIKE HIM! (1 John 3:2).

But, believe it or not, God has not willed to produce “Instant character”!

He knows that perfect character takes VOLITION; it takes the cooperation of the person who is building that character! Character is the ability to discern the right from the wrong, and then the WILLpower to FORCE the self to CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAY!

That is a choice God will NEVER make for you!
Notice this! “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil; in that I command thee this day to love the Eternal thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest LIVE AND MULTIPLY: and the Eternal thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

“But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

“I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely PERISH, and that ye shall NOT prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over to Jordan to go to possess it.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:14-19).

God says we must CHOOSE!

He earnestly hopes, yearns and wishes that we might choose the way HE wants us to choose—to choose life! But He decreed that WE MUST MAKE A CHOICE!

Few realize that by delaying their choice—putting off their choice, as if attempting to defer the final day when they must “choose ye this day whom ye shall serve,” as Elijah said to those who were following the prophets of Baal—they are actually CHOOSING DEATH! By failing to choose LIFE, they do not realize they are NEGLECTING salvation!

“How shall we escape, if we NEGLECT so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him … ?” (Hebrews 2:3).

We are completely free to CHOOSE the way of life we wish.

Do you know you could choose, if you wish, to WORSHIP THE DEVIL? God will not interfere. He will not intervene. You are free to do so if you so will it.

Many times sincere Christians are simply AMAZED at how God seems to stand by, NOT PREVENTING evil actions of evil men. Years of patient service, of church-going, prayers, study and striving to live a clean, righteous life can make many people unaware of the immense capacity for EVIL of other men. Often the sincere sheep of Christ’s fold are simply AMAZED that God seems to allow various assorted forms of evil to occur, almost as if, once a person is in God’s own protections member of the very Body of Christ, the Church—it is IMPOSSIBLE for him to act in such a terrible fashion!

Many times people are INCREDULOUS that God “permits” other men to act in satanic, evil fashion—failing to realize that God DOES NOT DEAL IN PREVENTIVE LAW!

This is a vitally important point!
It is paramount in understanding WHY God allows human tragedy, human suffering or human failure!

Think for a moment! Do the Ten Commandments PREVENT SIN? No, they only point out WHAT IT IS! They tell men: DO NOT SIN!

God shows elsewhere (Romans 6:23) that the wages of sin is death, death for all eternity, death from which there is no resurrection! He says (Romans 3:23) that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Could anything be clearer, concerning the LACK OF intervention in His creation, the attitude of letting MAN make the decisions, the concept of free moral agency? Call it a “hands off” policy, if you will!

God says, “DON’T SIN!”

He says, “CHOOSE LIFE!”

He urges men NOT to sin, and then shows that all have sinned! He shows, then, that HE HAS NOT PREVENTED man from sinning! The law exists—immutable, unchangeable and eternal. But the law of God is not being enforced by unseen policemen. There are no arrests made for breaking it, only for breaking the laws of man, if and when some of man’s laws happen, albeit by accident, to overlap the laws of God.

No attorney files charges against you for lusting, for having another god in place of the real God, for lying, stealing or Sabbath-breaking. No judge passes sentence on you to punish you for these sins, which God says are worthy of the death sentence!

But God DOES take note! In His heavenly “court” each sin is carefully noted, each infraction written down, as it were. But, when those sins are REPENTED of, the slate is wiped clean through the atoning blood of Christ, and God says He will remove your sins as “far as the east is removed from the west,” and “their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more!” (Hebrews 8:12).

Though God’s law is SPIRITUAL, and just, and holy, and good (Romans 7:12-14), it is not yet being enforced in human societies! Though there is an automatic penalty for breaking God’s laws—the penalties of sullied conscience, broken character and ruined lives—the millions are UNAWARE that their daily problems come from the consequences of rejecting God’s laws, from inviting God to “get out” of their lives!

So God pleads with all flesh to CHOOSE LIFE. He shows we are free moral agents, free to make any choice we please. He shows that He will not—NOT YET—interfere with whatever choice we make, even though He urges us to make the RIGHT one!

Choosing to repent—to get on your knees before your God and your Savior, Jesus Christ, and call out to Him for forgiveness for your sins, to ask Him for His saving grace, the undeserved PARDON for iniquities, to apply the sacrifice of His shed blood to cover YOUR sins—all this is YOUR PERSONAL, PRIVATE CHOICE!

When and if you ever MAKE that choice, then, and not until then, will God begin intervening in YOUR PERSONAL, PRIVATE LIFE!

“Just in Case”

Millions have a “just in case” religion! They may go to religious services a few times a year, or even regularly, as a habit, as a part of the expected daily way of life of a religious community.

But many of these same people would not hesitate to lie just a little, to cheat a little, to minimize or exaggerate the truth just a little, to lust after material goods or other persons, to dishonor their parents or cut a few corners on their income tax reports, or to break God’s Sabbath day in either ignorance or intent.

But when trouble strikes they hope God will be RIGHT THERE—on the spot, NOW!

It has been said there are no atheists to be found on life rafts after days at sea with no food and water; no atheists to be found hopelessly lost in the woods; no skeptics, doubters and agnostics suspended by a fraying rope near the bottom of a well.

Dozens of thrilling escape stories—whether during war or from the hazards of shipwreck, landslide, flood or fire—relate how people, in extreme moments of terrible stress and fright, will call out to God!
Usually they’re PRETTY DIRECT ABOUT IT!

Though they may be a little embarrassed by having to “say grace” over a meal, or be called upon for a reading or a prayer in church—maybe a little taken aback by being chosen to prepare a study for the businessman’s Bible study—now, suddenly, they cut through all the embarrassment, all the formality! They call out to God, probably even forgetting to say anything by way of introduction! Thousands have yelled at the top of their lungs, “O GOD! SAVE ME! ”

Sometimes God has done just that! Other times it seemed He didn’t hear or didn’t act!

Who can say why, in different circumstances?

But many a person has made a “pact” with God in such times of dire stress. A famous movie star had a skiing accident on the slopes. A ski pole became embedded in his chest and actually partially pierced the outer wall of the heart! He was millimeters from death. A big, rugged, muscular man, about six feet, six or seven inches and extremely handsome and masculine, he lay there with the realization death was upon him.

Months later, after skilled surgeons and specialists had removed the deadly metal and attended his wounds, he had recovered. He related on national television how he had come to a very deep, personal relationship with God during that time, that he had dedicated his life to an entirely new set of values and standards, that the very purpose in living and the meaning of death had become profoundly interesting and important to him.

How many people have called out, “O God, if you’ll only do this or that or the other, then I’ll do this and that and the other”? How many millions have silently promised they’ll quit smoking, or cussing, or drinking; that they’ll start going to church somewhere or in other ways “turn over a new leaf’ and start cleaning up their lives, if only God will grant them a special miracle, perhaps save the life of a loved one, a child?

MILLIONS suspect there may be a God.

They express it in many ways, usually in vague terms about the “great Someone out there somewhere,” as in “somebody up there likes me!”

And those suspicions are right. There IS A GOD! And, without their knowing it, He is only a prayer away. He is NEAR unto those who call upon Him—not “way off somewhere” in the great nothingness of space, unable to intervene or help!

But, you see, there is an AUTOMATIC breaking of that connection, just like someone blowing up a power station and plunging a whole city into blackness, if you only give token lip service to Him, only have Him in your mind “just in case,” but do not let him RULE in your daily life!

All have sinned! And sin is the transgression of God’s perfect LAW, the Ten Commandments! (1 John 3:4). Jesus said, “REPENT ye, and believe the gospel!” (Mark 1: 15).

This is the same as saying CHOOSE LIFE!

But, by merely living what most people would call a “good life” apart from the daily obedience to God’s perfect law, you AUTOMATICALLY separate yourself from God! HE DOES NOT SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM YOU; it is YOU who breaks the “circuit.”

The Holy Spirit of God is described by Jesus Christ as “rivers of living water” (John 7:38). He describes God’s Spirit as wind that flows back and forth (John 3:8). Electricity and magnetism are not “inventions of man” but the miracles of a divine Creator Being who set in motion the forces, energies and laws that regulate matter! There is DUALITY throughout God’s creation. Positive and negative, north and south, the magnetic poles of the earth!

You have been created to need God’s Holy Spirit! The “spirit in man,” which is that spiritual essence that lifts the brain of man to the level of MIND, far, far above that of animals, is capable of being begotten with GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT! Think for a moment of the analogy of human, physical birth! The male sperm cell must unite with the female and the union of the two produces a new, separate HUMAN LIFE!

Christ is the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29), and we are to become HEIRS of God, BORN of God, by a resurrection When we are BEGOTT’EN of God, a new spiritual being has begun, is being formed, as surely as tiny, microscopic human babies begin in the womb of the mother at conception!

But God’s Holy Spirit doesn’t enter our elbow, or our knee, or our big toe! It comes INTO OUR MIND! Perhaps we are “negative” and God’s Spirit could be likened to “positive.” When the TWO unite, a spark of life is struck, a current begins to flow, and we are spiritually alive!
When you turn on your light switch, you are establishing a connection which permits a current of electricity to flow! The current flows through the incandescent bulb, heating its element white hot and giving off light. Break the current and the light is shut off!

God Almighty is NEAR to those who want to establish a DAILY RELATIONSHIP with Him, who want to receive of HIS HOLY SPIRIT through repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands! But those who have NOT received of that Spirit are NOT CONNECTED to God—there is a barrier between them, a separation!

But WHO CAUSED THAT SEPARATION? Who threw the switch? Who cut off whom? People wonder why God does not seem to be instantly available when they need Him—and usually they only need Him when they really “need” Him.

“Behold, the Eternal’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1,2).

No, God is not inferior, ill-equipped or unable; HE is not weak or sleepy and inattentive to answer when we call, but He says OUR SINS have created a BARRIER between the human race and God! He says WE are responsible for “pulling the plug” and causing that separation! He says WE are the ones who have broken the circuit—HE isn’t! God says we have it backwards!

He says we ought to be asking, “O man, where were you when you needed God?” NOT asking, “O GOD, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?”

The difference is, we need God ALL the time, and we begin to think we only need Him in emergencies!

But most people do not feel they are separated from God, do not feel cut off, rejected of Him, as if they are outcasts and contrary to God! Most people feel they are reasonably “good,” that they are undeserving of life’s tragedies, miseries, disappointments and unhappiness.         Millions of us ask, “Why me, O Lord?” when problems come.

Being Carnal is not an Insult

What is our “goodness” before God? Millions of us feel we’re not so bad, feel we’re making reasonable efforts at being good people—minding our manners, being friendly, striving to measure up to acceptable behavior before our friends and neighbors. Millions of us might be embarrassed to sit down to dinner with robbers or murderers. We don’t count ourselves “criminal” or “bad people” in any sense of the words. We do the best we can. So what’s wrong with that?

There may not be all that much “wrong” with millions of people who feel they are “good people” in the sense of criminally wrong, evil through and through. Oh, they might scream or yell at their mate, or cuss just a little now and then, or maybe they smoke, or some of the more liberated ones even sample a little marijuana on occasion. Probably they don’t feel especially sullied at going to R-rated movies or telling sex-oriented stories or purchasing one of the many pornographic magazines.

Life the way millions live it can be pretty tedious. What with the continual conversations about injustices on the job, low pay and high prices, terrible tax burdens, consumer rip-offs by profiteering companies who seem to care more for the dollar than their customers’ health or wellbeing, it’s enough to keep most people a little on the sour side.

We have our minds on the mundane, the day-to-day struggles of living in this clashing crescendo of too much, too fast, too soon, or not enough, not when we want it, and much too late. We’re occupied with ourselves, our own self-struggles, the day-to-day pursuits that secretly drive us, that urge us onward, that make us what we are.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).

To be “after the flesh,” the way the old King James translation has it, means merely to be human, to be earthly, fleshly and minding the things of our own humanity. It is not meant to be an insult, saying we’re less than human or somehow so evil that we ought to be taking the kicks and curses every day. It is only stating the simple facts of our fleshly humanity.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

These same millions, including millions of church-going people who feel they are “good folks,” can be carnally minded. That is, they are mostly concerned, in a day-to-day sense, with the problems of our own environment, our own personal problems, our desires, hopes, dreams, lusts, secret inner urges, our irritations, jealousies, resentments and hates.

The word “carnal” means “fleshly.” In Spanish, the word for meat is carne. When you buy a can of “chili con carne” you’re reading a Spanish label, not an English one, which says you’re buying chili with meat in it. Perhaps God means to tell us all we’re really only a group of “meatheads” who think in the mundane sphere of our own personal, physical senses, looking out at the world around us as though we wore the proverbial card shark’s green eyeshade, pulled well over our brows, so we can see only the “around,” only the immediate horizon, never looking up, as it were, at the broader vastness of God’s great realm in the whole universe.

God doesn’t mean to insult us by telling us we’re carnal! Our babies are born that way—we were that way—and there is nothing sweeter to loving parents or to God Himself, probably than a newborn, tiny baby.

Perfect humanity, perfect carnality (which is not perfect in a spiritual sense, but is “complete” in its fleshliness, its earthliness), is pretty well incorporated in the mind of a tiny child. Innocent of any evil thoughts in a calculating way, the little baby is nevertheless a collection of the unbridled, unrestrained, uncontrollable impulses, emotions, bodily processes, lusts, appetites and fleshly senses that make us what we are. Hungry? The child will cry, waving its little arms and legs about, knowing no other way to express the physical discomfiture or to cry out for the warm, satisfying feeling of a full tummy and mother’s comforting smell and touch. So what’s so ugly about the carnality of a sweet baby? Nothing ugly about it at all; it’s the way we were MADE! But we were created as if partially incomplete! We were created as a potentially far greater being than we are! Our great potential, our immense, awesome, breathtaking spiritual possibilities—are beyond our human comprehension!

God has made us as vessels, incomplete without the missing ingredient of His Holy Spirit! Without it we can still be “good” part of the time or even most of the time. “Good,” that is, according to man’s own rationale, according to the assessment of the world around us, which the Bible proves is not God’s world, but under the invisible sway of the archenemy of mankind, Satan! (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:9).

Within our humanly devised societies, we can conform to standards that we feel are good and decent and still be totally “carnally minded” in the sense that we are omitting a vast dimension from our lives, NEGLECTING to do many things which God wants us to do—omitting thought, commitment and action which we should have as a very part of our beings!

God does not hate these carnal vessels He has created and made subject to vanities! “For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God [the resurrection to IMMORTALITY!]. For the creation was made subject to vanity [a useless striving after wind, false goals, false hopes, false objectives], not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope”‘ (Romans 8:19,20).

God is the Designer of the human mind and body, and He designed our human minds to need His Spirit! Without it we are carnal, taking chances with every other person in a fatalistic, worldwide game of “Russian roulette.”

Here we are in a motorized, mechanized, glittering world of technology, of machines and smoking engines, of aircraft, ships, trains and automobiles, of rushing traffic, humming elevators, screeching subways, purring fans and silent electrical switches. Sometimes our machines betray us, as did the automobile on the black, frozen night on the road from Fairbanks to Anchorage when a couple cried out in their anguish and despair.

From the hapless millions of the “third world,” the “have-nots” of the world who suffer from malnutrition and starvation, to the more than 50,000 Americans who die every year in automobile accidents, we take our chances with life-separated from God’s daily intervention, carnally minded (which is “death,” eventually), living our lives as best we can and looking about in outrage, bewilderment, helplessness, anger and shock when sudden tragedy overtakes us, wondering, “Why me, O Lord?”

No, it’s no insult to be carnally minded—to be told we are—but it is an insult to God for us to STAY that way once we know!

Time and Chance, and Circumstance

People of all races, languages and religions have differing concepts of God, of life, and death, and the hereafter. By the millions we humans like to believe our own concepts are the best. After all, it is our concepts we live with, not those of others.

Millions of us like to imagine, we have some sort of halfway relationship with “God,” either a cozy, personal relationship or a more distant, philosophical, fatalistic one. But the instant tragedy strikes—the moment we feel we really NEED the quick intervention of God—we call out to our concept, to our God, and stand bewildered, hurt and confused if the answer we seek is not immediately forthcoming.

The Greeks at Ephesus, in the first century, had many concepts of divinity. They were polytheistic, believing in “Diana” of Ephesus, to whom a massive, elaborate temple was dedicated, complete with its own prostitutes, whose trade was a practical part of the temple worship. There was “Askiepios,” the great “healing god,” who had another temple, and various ones dedicated to the cult of the worship of the emperor.

The people were as real as you or I.

They had concepts of a god, or perhaps several gods. And to them, as they talked to their gods and fingered their amulets, or prayed to their little statues in the niches of their homes or went to one of the awe inspiring temple services to watch the sacrifice of animals, or perhaps even of humans, they were quite “aware” of the other world in which their various deities dwelt.

They too had their concepts. They too had various cozy, personal relationships with the ideas in their own minds.

But Paul said of these Greeks’ former way of life, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and WITHOUT GOD in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).

Oh, they thought they were godly enough; they went to their religious services, they had their philosophic and even deeply personal relationships with their various “gods.” Perhaps, in their own way, according to their own sociological customs and traditions, they were good people” too.

But Paul said, “Wherein in time past you lived according to the course of this society—according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience—among whom we all had our daily way of life in times past following lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires and appetites of our physical bodies, and of our minds. And we were, naturally, the children of wrath and hatreds, just like other people. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love toward us … has raised us up together and made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:2-6 paraphrased).

Though the Greeks in Ephesus were “good Greeks” in many ways—and though they thought they had a relationship with “God” in one way or another—the truth was they were “without Christ” and without God in the world!

But, people reason, they just were dumb, polytheistic, ancient Greeks, and we know better!

But DO WE, really?
Then why do we observe some of the same ceremonies and customs they did? Why do we call our months by the wrong numbers and pagan names? Janus was a pagan deity, and we still use “January”; September is the ninth month, but “September” means the seventh, “October” the eighth, “November” the ninth and “December” the tenth, when they’re actually the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth. That’s because pagan Roman emperors had to name months after themselves, to elevate themselves to the level of “Juno” the goddess of love, sex and fertility (which is why we have “June brides”), so, when Julius Caesar gave himself thirty-one days, Augustus, not to be outdone, decided to have the same number and “stole” the day from “February.”  Millions still observe the “Satumalia” under the name of “Christmas” with its symbols of sex and fertility (holly berries and mistletoe), with its identical trappings of the same ceremony that antedates all Christianity.

We observe, by the millions, the same “Ishtar” (pronounced “Easter”) in commemoration of Nimrod’s wife, Semiramis, found as “Isis” among the Egyptians and “Diana” among the Ephesians and Greeks. The trappings are the same: rabbits for rapid procreation and fertility, eggs as a sign of life and sex, lilies because of their obvious symbolism representing copulation—but the same millions who do all this do not see the ancient pagan mysticism and instead claim to see “Christ.”

In these and literally dozens of other ways, we live our daily lives in a paganized society, oblivious of the origins of our customs and rarely, if ever, asking WHY we do the things we do!

In our own way, we are just as paganized and “without God in the world” as were the ancient Ephesians and Greeks. The difference is, our names for God are not “Zeus,” or “Diana,” or “Askelepios”; they are “God” and “Jesus.”

But do these names we use remind us of the real divinity of which they speak? A name should have meaning; it should convey the personality and being of the person or object being named. Many times, in discussion, someone has asked you if you knew a certain person. Your mind scans your memory bank of that name and tries to select a face, color of hair, a personality. Sometimes you have made the mistake of saying you thought so and found later that you didn’t really know the person being spoken of—It was someone else. Sometimes you have answered yes and you were right.

Job thought he knew “God.” He prayed, worshiped, spoke endlessly of this “God” he thought he knew. Read the laborious arguments he advanced in his own self-righteous cause against his antagonists in the book of Job! But finally God Himself spoke with Job, as the account goes, and began showing Job some things about the real God—His creativity, His omniscience and His power! In self-effacing humility, and in near shock over his stunned surprise at the great magnitude of God—at the incredible difference between the way he had imagined God to be and the way He really was—Job said, “…I have spoken things I didn’t understand, things too wondrous for my mind, which I didn’t even know. Hear, I beseech You, and I will speak; I will urgently request of You, and please tell me—I have heard of You, God, by the hearing of the ear—but now my mind’s eye REALLY SEES You. Because of this I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes!” (Job 42:3 paraphrased).

Like millions of us today, Job had a concept in his mind about “God.” When the name was spoken, his memory caused a certain image to leap into his mind. But, without his realizing it, the image that came to mind was false, a false image, just as surely as if Job were guilty of “idolatry,” of having another “god” before the REAL God—a different personality and being from the REAL God. The ancient Ephesians were not different. They too had various false, imaginary images of who “God” was, and they were even farther afield than Job.
What about you? What about those who suffer with the day-to-day fatalisms of time, and chance, and circumstance? Most have totally false, ethereal concepts of “Jesus Christ” and “God”

Millions do not know the REAL God, the real Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

So, clothed in our own “goodness,” rationalizing ourselves into a reasonably acceptable behavioral pattern, thinking our own thoughts of religion, philosophy and moral codes, we feel cheated, hurt, bewildered, betrayed, when terrible times strike!

Jesus knew people were perplexed with these same questions during His day!

There had been two sensational mass deaths—one a mass murder, the other sheer accident—wherein many died. People were asking the same questions then that they ask today. “Why those poor people? Where was God when they needed Him? Why did God allow this to happen?”

Some of the religious leaders may have been equally as cruel, shallow and guilt-ridden as some today and might have answered, “Perhaps there were lessons they needed to learn.”

But does someone “learn a lesson” who is suddenly killed by tons of falling brick and mortar? Does a tiny, sweet child, going to sleep against the cold in a stalled car and then slipping into death through breathing poisonous gas, learn something? Do the anguished parents need this brutal lesson to shock some terrible sins out of their own lives?

Many miss the point entirely!

This is NOT GOD’S world! The millions have invited God OUT of their lives through their own free choice, and God is cooperating with them—showing it is our own way of life, our “sins and iniquities” (which we call “good”) that have separated us from God.

We are “without God” in the world, in spite of our form of religion!

Jesus was asked about two tragedies by people who had the same ideas of mysterious, selective punishment. “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

“And Jesus answering said unto the, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you NO! But, except you repent, you shall likewise perish!” (Luke 13:1-3).

Jesus was not saying these men “deserved” some terrible death—having been discovered sacrificing in some manner against Pilate’s decrees and having been summarily murdered on the spot! He said NO to the idea they must have been guilty of greater sin and specially singled out for God’s wrath! He said, in effect, it was simply a matter of “time, and chance, and circumstance.” And, except we repent, except we break down that barrier that separates us from God, except we establish a daily connection with HIM, “you shall all likewise perish.” He means we are only out here, in our technological world of machines which sometimes betrays us, taking our chances APART from any direct interference from God one way or the other!
He continued, “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them. Do you suppose they were sinners above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you No, but, except you REPENT, you shall all likewise perish!” (Luke 13:4,5).

Here He speaks of sheer chance. A mere accident. Ancient mortar finally loosened from its hundreds of years’ exposure to the wind and rain and a section of tower wall came crashing down on a group of eighteen men! This tragedy was well known, a mass death. The people had come to Jesus plainly puzzled over the deep spiritual questions about these two cases of mass death—one plain murder and the other sheer chance. Obviously, since Jesus so strongly addresses the questions of “sinners above all else,” the people had supposed this was the case. They were assuming God was RIGHT THERE. They assumed these men were going about their daily lives with their own concepts, their own values and standards, their own personal relationships with “God,” and could not imagine why that “God” was not INSTANTLY there to PREVENT such terrible tragedies!

Jesus showed God had NOTHING TO DO WITH IT WHATSOEVER!

God was not even IN the picture—for He had not been INVITED in! No, these men were not “sinners above all else”; they were sinners JUST LIKE everybody else! They didn’t think of themselves as “sinners,” for most human beings have trouble living with too much of a guilt complex. They, like most of us, probably rationalize around in their minds to the point they felt like reasonably “good people.”

Surely their friends and relatives who came to Jesus thought them deserving of better treatment at the hands of God than they got! But they, like so many millions today, didn’t understand that it was MAN who first invited God to get out of His world! It was MAN who said, “Don’t let God speak with us!” It was MAN who said, “Make us a king like the other nations.” It was MAN who cut himself off from God by his own societies, his own governments and socioeconomic systems, and his own free religions! It was man, through exercising his own free choice, who pulled the plug and separated himself from God so that he became without God in the world.”

God simply was NOWHERE AROUND when these tragedies struck. And, in that lonely, isolated car in that black Alaskan snowstorm, when those two terribly stricken parents tried to revive their little twin boys are in the millions of huts and hovels from Bangladesh to the Sub Sahara, from China to Brazil, where hundreds of thousands of little babies were likewise dying, though from slow starvation or the ravages of disease, and in all the trenches, foxholes, tanks, ships and aircraft of all our wars, as young men have been killed by the millions—God simply was not a part of it. He wasn’t in it, not involved. It wasn’t “His war”; it wasn’t “His society.”

God doesn’t bother with your life unless YOU ASK HIM TO IN ADVANCE!

Jesus said, “Except YE REPENT” you shall all “likewise” (though sheer time, and chance, and circumstance) perish!

It is only when we finally realize that we need God all the time—when we know we must repent of our sins and call out to God in repentance, calling upon the saving grace of the shed blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us of our carnality, when we are baptized (Romans 6), and when we OBEY the command of God to “REPENT, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)—that God says He is willing to make Himself a PART of our everyday lives!

God does not deal in preventive legislation. He does not PREVENT man’s wars, or our bad diets, or religious taboos and superstitions. He does not prevent us from manufacturing deficient automobiles that can kill us in bizarre circumstances. He does not PREVENT us from forgetting to leave windows open, if we are in an enclosed place, or shutting the engine off. He does not PREVENT ancient mortar from weathering, or brutal soldiers from killing.

But God promises to be a daily PART of our lives if we establish that connection! If we approach HIM. If we seek Him!

God says, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts. A people that provoke me to anger continually to my face … that say, ‘Stand over there by yourself’ to me and, ‘Come not near me”‘ (Isaiah 65:105 paraphrased).

He says, “Seek ye the Eternal while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake HIS WAY, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Eternal, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon!” (Isaiah 55:6,7).
Those poor parents weren’t being punished. They weren’t sinners above all else; they were good people, according to our own concepts of goodness. But God was not involved in their terrible loss any more than He was involved in the mass deaths during Jesus’ day, or in the wars and sufferings of man from the first murder until now.

YOU can have God’s tender mercies; YOU can have His DAILY intervention in your life; you can have the very mind and presence of Jesus Christ living His life over again within you, if you will do what Jesus asks!

“REPENT,” He says, “COME UNTO ME,” and says His yoke is easy and His burden light! He says He will draw all men unto Him and that He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should have eternal life!”

And those parents? Their dead twin boys? Probably they do not yet realize that in a very short time now those little boys will be RESURRECTED TO LIFE again—and, hopefully, their own parents by that time may well be in Christ’s OWN KINGDOM!

Spiritual beings, as loving parents, can take care of children MUCH more effectively than fleshly ones! God intends a happy ending, finally, even for the terribly stricken family who cried out, “O GOD, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?”

YOUR life can have a happy ending, from now on, if you are willing to discover the REAL Jesus Christ, willing to find out what is sin and to REPENT of sin, calling out to God to forgive you and to wash away your sins under the shed blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Then you will always know your God is near; you will know you need Him all the time, every day! He has already made it plain He wants You in His Kingdom, or you wouldn’t be on this earth in the first place!

It is you choice—your decision.

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The first words Jesus Christ spoke publicly were “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 4:17). Millions think they have “repented” if they have “received Christ,” or if they have “come forward” in an evangelistic campaign. They believe being sorry for certain lapses of morality; having acquired bad habits of the flesh, and “living a life that is displeasing to God” is adequate to obey Christ’s command to repent. The truth is, millions of Church-going, Bible believing nominal Christians have never been told; have never known WHAT it is for which they were told to REPENT! You will be astonished to learn the real truth from your own Bible!

How many times have you heard impassioned sermons from evangelists and revivalists urging their listeners to repent? Usually, a scathing condemnation of many kinds of immoral human behavior are fiercely denounced!

The evangelist may condemn, in any order, drinking, gambling, smoking, adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, “honky-tonking,” or, as one old “country” song went, “Cigareets, and whiskey, and wild, wild women!”

I have, in my more than 45 years in the ministry of Jesus Christ, seen a number of such “evangelistic” campaigns, including several from world-famous evangelists.

I have watched as THOUSANDS of people, many of them young couples, have slowly made their way down from the upper levels of a huge outdoor stadium to stand before the famous evangelist as a massive choir sang “Just as I am.”

Such people wanted to repent! They had been MOVED by the eloquence and the ringing intensity of the evangelist’s voice. The sheer size of the performance; THOUSANDS of people gathered in a huge stadium, the many HUNDREDS of others here, there, all around them who were leaving their seats and making their way to the platform proved to be the tonic that caused them to forget their embarrassment; swallow pride; take their husband’s or their wife’s hand, and respond to the evangelist’s final invitation. Perhaps some had been having marital difficulties. Some had been contemplating divorce. Some had terrible financial problems. Others had been fighting over his or her drinking or smoking habits. Whatever their personal problems, the evangelist seemed to show them a way out! All they needed was to “receive Christ,” or “Come to the cross” and all would be well! When they went through this emotional experience, they then supposed themselves to be “saved.”

Millions say, “ I got saved when I was only 18,” or, “I was saved much later in life.” They assumed that “coming forward” and publicly “receiving Christ” was all that was needed.

That, coupled with the momentary shame, embarrassment and emotion of the experience was to them “being saved.”

Perhaps the evangelist used the word “repent” somewhere in his sermon. In many cases, the word is not used at all. And in ALL cases, the evangelist does NOT EXPLAIN WHAT REAL REPENTANCE IS!

One thing is sure, the penitent ones standing near the platform do not ask “What, specifically, is it for which I am to repent?” Of course, they want to change. They want to get rid of the guilt which made them come forward in the first place. They “want God in their lives.” But they were not told what Christ Himself said, nor what Peter said about repentance!

Remember, Jesus Christ commanded, “REPENT ye, and believe the good news!” But repent of what? And believe the good news about what?

 The word of God is very specific about WHAT it is for which we are to repent! When thousands of stricken people cried out to Peter on the day of Pentecost, they were emotionally MOVED! They had seen each one of the twelve apostles mightily testifying about their own personal experiences with Jesus Christ. They had heard, probably for a couple or three HOURS about the many miracles they had seen Him perform; about how He walked on water; healed the blind and the deaf; how He was beaten, nailed to the stake, hoisted into the air, and how they SAW HIM DIE!

As they spoke, fiery tongues of FLAME leapt from their hair! The greatest “special effects” in HISTORY had occurred—but  they were REAL, this was no hallucination, or man-made smoke and mirrors — a great MIRACLE was occurring from God!

A thunderous roaring sound had filled the room, almost deafening them! Then, materializing from the ceiling above their startled heads, they saw a brilliant ball of FIRE descending! As it came down, it split into TWELVE SEPARATE TONGUES OF FLAME, and then lit right on the heads of Andrew, Matthew, Thaddaeus, Bartholomew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanite, James and John; brothers; the sons of Zebedee, Phillip, Thomas, Matthias, and Simon who was called “The Rock,” or Peter.

As each spoke, the thousands of pilgrims, representing at least 18 or more different dialects and languages, were dumbfounded! While they could not communicate with others near them, they saw that strangers from far off lands, such as Crete, Arabia, Media, Pontus, Asia Minor, Egypt, Rome, and other far-flung regions were listening intently!

They were exclaiming, nodding, looking at one another in amazement!

Gradually, it spread through the building that each one of the them were hearing each one of the apostles in their native tongue! This was not “unknown” tongues! It was not gibberish, or babble! No, it was intelligent speech; powerful witness; shocking, almost unbelievable words!

Some scoffed! As the final apostle prior to Peter finished speaking, Peter heard some saying, in their own tongues, “These men must be DRUNK!”

Finally, after each had spoken in his turn, it came time for Peter to speak: Here are excerpts from what he said, with a few inserted comments: “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

“For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day [early morning; wine shops were closed].

“…Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain [this shows incredible boldness and courage: he was plainly charging them with Christ’s murder!]

“Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

“For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved…Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

“…This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”

“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saithhimself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

“Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:14-37, excerpted).

Peter, his hair seemingly blazing, had stood there with the other eleven, speaking in a stentorian voice, relating the prophecies and the facts. With amazing courage, facing a crowd of THOUSANDS, he laid the responsibility for the murder of the Son of God right at their feet!

Had it not been for the powerful miracles they were hearing and seeing; had it not been for the ROAR that had filled the room; the spectacular ball of fire, dividing into twelve tongues of leaping flame, settling atop the heads of the twelve apostles, the crowd might well have turned on Peter in mindless RAGE! He could have been murdered on the spot!

But God had sent the visible and audible POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT upon His chosen apostles! He had SHOCKED the thousands with this dazzling, spectacular display! Then had come all those personal testimonies from each man. Thomas had no doubt told of how he had said he would never believe Christ was alive unless he had seen the wound in his side, and the terrible wounds in his wrists and hands; how Christ had MATERIALIZED in front of them; how He had come walking right through a stone wall! No doubt, he related how the Savior had come directly to him, and told him to put his hand into Christ’s side; and put his finger into the holes where the spikes had been cruelly driven through his wrists! One cannot help but imagine that Thomas became overcome with emotion when he told how he had knelt down, and proclaimed “My Lord, and My God!” as he saw the great wounds inflicted upon Christ!

One by one the twelve had spoken. Each man related his own personal experiences. No doubt several told of their agony of repentance when they realized that every one of them had forsaken Him and fled!

Now, Peter had courageously laid the responsibility for the murder of Christ right on the heads of the huge crowd!

Never had there been a time, before or since, when a crowd of people had been SO MOVED; so READY to hear what they needed to do to GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

Did Peter tell them to “join the church of their choice”? Did he tell them to “put your letter in a church”? Did he tell them “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved”?

Did he say, “Only BELIEVE”? Did he say, “Oh, there is nothing you must DO to be saved — all you need is to BELIEVE that you have been a sinner, believe that Christ died to save sinners, and accept Him as your Savior”?

Here is what your Bible says: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Sprit” (Acts 2:38).

What did he mean? What IS repentance? The dictionary says: “REPENT: To feel sorry; regret. To feel sorry for sin and seek forgiveness.”

What IS Sin?

Feel sorry for sin? But what IS sin?

Believe it or not, it is this precise question, and the plain Bible answer to it, that has eluded literally MILLIONS of church-going, professing Christians. Millions have “come forward” in an evangelistic campaign; millions have “joined the church of their choice,” who have NEVER REPENTED OF SIN, for the simple reason they were never told what SIN IS!

The other day, as I waited for my wife who was tending to her mother in a nursing home, I saw a religious magazine in the reading rack. I paged through it. I came to a page which was entitled, “The ABCs of salvation.” The magazine emphasized that “getting saved” is SIMPLE!

Here was the magazine’s “simple” formula: “A. Admit you have sinned. ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).” This is not an exact quote from Romans 3:23, which says … “sinned and come short of the glory of God,” but it gives the correct sense of the verse.

So one is to admit that one has SINNED! What does that mean? Did you ever do that? Did you ever “get saved” at a revival, or an evangelistic campaign, or at a Christian youth meeting? Did you ever sign one of these magazine or tract ads which give you the so-called “ABCs of Salvation”?

If you “admitted you have sinned,” to what did you admit? Did you admit to drinking too much, or running around on your spouse, or neglecting the kids? Did you admit you need to cut down on smoking, or quit cussing? Did you admit you have been a “bad person”?

The way the churches tell it, there are dozens of unacceptable acts which constitute “sin” and which “fall short of the glory of God.” As mentioned above, there are sometimes lists of evil-doing which might include “cigareets and whisky and wild, wild women,” or such things as fighting, stealing, lying, cheating, and running around on a spouse.

And, make no mistake about it, all those things are indeed SIN!

But can one “repent” of all such things, and STILL BE LIVING IN SIN?

The answer is a resounding YES, if you do not know WHAT SIN IS!

The magazine formula then said, “B. Believe in Jesus. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life’” (John 3:16). Again, the quotation is incorrect, but the sense is retained. John 3:16 actually says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

But what does it MEAN to ”believe in Jesus”? To millions of church-going professing Christians, it means, simply, that the figure they see in Bibles, on altars, in statuary, and in pictures sold in Bible book stores; a man with flowing brown locks, spade beard, sad eyes, with a halo, carrying a lamb in one arm,, and a shepherd’s crook in the other, wearing a white robe with open-toed sandals was the Son of God. To “believe in” Jesus is to believe that He was the Son of God. This ”Jesus” they are told to ”believe in” is the traditional “Jesus” of the Catholic and Protestant world. But wait! Do they truly KNOW the real Jesus Christ of Nazareth of your Bible and mine?

Consider these shocking facts!

1) Millions DO NOT KNOW the method of Christ’s birth.

2) They do not know when He was born: he was not born on, or anywhere near, December 25^th!

3) They do not know to what race He belonged.

4) They do not know WHY He came. They suppose He came to “nail His father’s LAW to His ‘cross’!”

5) They do not know WHAT HE TAUGHT! They suppose the Gospel is a story ABOUT Jesus, and do not know it is the MESSAGE HE BROUGHT to this earth from the Father!

6) They do not know WHY He commissioned His disciples.

7) They do not know what He looked like. They do not know the Bible says He did not have long hair; that He “had no form nor comeliness” and that he looked like any average Jewish young man of His day.

8) They do not know He was the firstborn of a large family; that He had several brothers and sisters; that His brothers are NAMED in the Bible!

9) They do not know that He came to ESTABLISH and MAGNIFY the Ten Commandments, lifting them to a spiritual plane, so that they reach into every human action and thought! They think, instead, that He came to do away with God’s law!

10) They do not know HOW HE DIED! Millions suppose He died of a broken heart!

11) They do not know IF HE WAS REALLY DEAD! Believe it or not, the Roman Catholic Church and the major denominations teach that Christ was ALIVE IN HELL! They say he was preaching to “spirits in hell” during the time He was supposed to be in the tomb!

12) They DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG HE WAS IN THE TOMB! Millions suppose He was only in the tomb for two nights and one day! They think He was entombed on “Good Friday” and resurrected on “Easter Sunday morning.” But Christ specifically said He would be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the tomb (Matthew 12:40).

13) They do not know WHEN He was resurrected! Millions suppose He was resurrected on Sunday morning. Yet, the Bible says He was GONE “while it was yet DARK, as it BEGAN TO DAWN TOWARD the first Day of the Week!”

14) They do not know WHY He was resurrected! If we are “saved” by Christ’s DEATH, then why was He resurrected?

15) They do not know WHAT CHRIST IS DOING TODAY!

That is an ENORMOUS amount NOT TO KNOW about someone!

Yet, millions passionately say, “Isn’t it NICE to ‘know the Lord’?” If you have not yet read my book entitled The REAL JESUS, by all means call, or write for it immediately! You will be sent your FREE copy by return mail! Also, ask for my sermon tape entitled, “The Jesus You Never Met.” It is astonishing when you come to realize that this world is worshiping a FALSE CHRIST, and not the real Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

In the final category, the magazine said, “C: Confess and leave your sin. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Again, the religious magazine misquoted the King James Bible, which says, “If we confess our sins [notice the PLURAL], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

How strange that the people who publish this religious magazine DO NOT KNOW WHAT PETER SAID are the true “ABCs of salvation!”

What did Peter say? He said, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

The true “ABCs of salvation” are VERY DIFFERENT from those presented in the religious magazine!

THE BIBLE DEFINITION OF SIN

There is only ONE SCRIPTURE in the entire Bible which tells us WHAT SIN IS!

It is found in 1 John 3:4, which says, “Whosoever committethsin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

There is not the slightest doubt that “the LAW’ means God’s Ten Commandments!

Notice some important proofs from this same letter from John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved:”

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 1:3, 4). Millions say, “Isn’t it NICE to ‘know the Lord.’” Yet, they break His commandments continually, not knowing what sin is!

John wrote, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). People like to say they “LOVE the Lord!” They speak of the love of God, and love of the Holy Spirit. And what does John say IS the love of God? “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).

The “transgression of the law” means the breaking of God’s TEN COMMANDMENTS!

In order for anyone to understand WHAT SIN IS, one must understand it is LAW breaking; the breaking of God’s LAW! Then, one must understand what the law says!

Here, verbatim, is what God’s law SAYS, which I have numbered for convenience:

(1) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

(2) “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

“And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

(3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(4) “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

(5) “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(6) “Thou shalt not kill [NOTE: The Hebrew word is Rawtsach, and means, “do no murder”].

(7) “Thou shalt not commit adultery.

(8) “Thou shalt not steal.

(9) “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

(10) “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thyneighbour’s” (Exodus 20:3-17).

Shockingly, only a very small percentage of professing Christians — people who “believe on Jesus” can remember FOUR of these Ten commandments, and even then, cannot remember them in order! Do YOU know them by heart?

Millions are convinced Jesus Christ came to destroy God’s law; to “nail it to His cross,” as they put it. First, you need to know WHO WROTE THE LAW. Who was the “God” who spoke to Moses? Who was it who said, “Let US make man in OUR image?”

THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Jesus Christ shocked the Jews, who, knowing what He was claiming, were so outraged they tried to kill Him on the spot! He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, BeforeAbraham was, I am.

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:56-59). Do you understand what Jesus was saying to them? Obviously, He was saying He was the very one who had appeared to Moses! He was saying that He had existed BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS ALIVE!

The Jews were very, very familiar with the account of Moses and the burning bush. They knew Jesus was claiming to be the very Person of divine Elohim who SPOKE TO MOSES!

“And Moses said unto God [Hebrew: Elohim], Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

“And God [Elohim] said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13, 14). Remember, the Hebrew word Elohim which is translated into the English word “God” is a PLURAL word. It means more than one! This is why your Bible says that “God” (Elohim) said, “And God said, Let usmake man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

Now, notice how PLAINLY the apostle John explained the pre-human existence of Christ: “In the beginning was the Word [Greek: Logos, meaning “Spokesman”], and the Word was with God [Greek: Theos, synonymous with the Hebrew Elohim”], and the Word was God.

“The same was in the beginning with God.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3). So the CREATOR of the universe, the solar system, this earth and all life upon it was the “WORD” or the member of Elohim who DID THE SPEAKING!

It was He who said, “Let the dry land appear,” and who said, “Let US make man in OUR image!”  Now, notice how John clarified this astonishing truth: “He was in the world, and theworld was made by him, and the world knew him not.

“He came unto his own [the Jews], and his own received him not.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:10-12). All theologians know that this last verse refers to receiving Jesus Christ as Savior! It is one of famed evangelist Billy Graham’s favorite scriptures! And of WHOM is it speaking? Why, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE! The GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT!

Can you doubt your own eyes? Do you doubt your own Bible?

Notice further corroboration: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3). Clearly, Jesus Christ was the “Creating Agent,” the “Executive,” or the “Spokesman” through whom God [Theos/Elohim;  plural names] MADE THIS EARTH!

Now, think of the vast significance of this truth!

This means that the One who dealt with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was none other than the One who became Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary! It means He was the person of Divine Elohim who WROTE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WITH HIS OWN FINGER!

This simple truth is utterly DEVASTATING to the doctrines of the majority of the churches of this world who teach that Jesus Christ came to DO AWAY with God’s law!

Christ said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19). The word “fulfil” is not a synonym for “destroy”! When one fulfills a promise, or an obligation, one does not DESTROY the obligation. One accomplishes, or performs the promise or obligation.

Jesus Christ KEPT the Ten Commandments perfectly, in the spirit as well as in the letter. His entire life was OUR EXAMPLE that we should follow: “ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:20, 21).

Christ said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  Millions give lip service to a “Jesus Christ” of their imagination; the FALSE image of Christ which has been presented to them by the mainstream religions. But they will not follow His example, nor will they do what He commanded!

The God of the Old Testament is usually indicated by the capital letters “LORD” in the King James translation. This English word is taken from the Hebrew YHVH, which contains no vowels. Some pronounce it “Yahveh,” and some, “Jehovah.” Whatever the English pronunciation, it means the One of divine Elohim IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with His people Israel — it means the One who BECAME CHRIST!

Did Jesus Christ come to destroy the law? Millions think He did! But this is a lie, and is at the root of many other lies and false doctrines! He says, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed (Malachi 3:6). Did Jesus Christ come to CHANGE what He Himself had written in the Ten Commandments? Did He come to DO AWAY with the law? He says NO!  The reason He says “therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” is because If He CHANGED, He would have abandoned the unconditional promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel), and would have destroyed the sinning Israelites long before!

It is only because He BOUND Himself by a promise, and that He will NOT CHANGE that binding promise that the Israelites were not destroyed.

Now, notice how Paul says Christ never changes: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). Christ remains STEADFAST! He DOES NOT CHANGE!

Yet, you have been told all your life that Jesus Christ was like a young man who came to this earth to do away with everything His FATHER (who people ASSUME to be the “God of the Old Testament”) put in place!

Remember, SIN is the transgression of the law; the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments as Christ magnified them. To repent means to be deeply sorry over having BROKEN GOD’S LAWS! Millions DO NOT KNOW THIS! They believe sin is merely a vague series of deeds or thoughts which are displeasing to God, but they do not know that sin is defined as breaking the Ten Commandments!

Notice how Paul urged the Romans to quit living in sin: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:11-13). Never forget as you read these words WHAT SIN IS! Sin is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments! It is the breaking of God’s LAW!

And what is “righteousness”? Here is the Bible definition: “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalms 119:172).

Paul continued to show how a life of breaking God’s Ten Commandments is like being a slave to sin! He said, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” (Romans 6:15). And what is GRACE? Millions have been deceived by the phrase “we are not under the law, but under grace.”

The false anti-law teachers delude people into believing that “grace” is a condition in which the Christian dwells! To them, “grace” means you DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP GOD’S LAWS! But look at the plain MEANING of the words Paul wrote! He asks, “shall we BREAK GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS because we are not UNDER THE PENALTY of the law?”

Notice his own answer immediately following: “God forbid! Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:15-19). Of course! Once one has REPENTED of having broken God’s Ten Commandments, one is made FREE from sin! The penalty need not be paid, for it has already been paid by the death of Jesus Christ! Christ died because WE HAVE BROKEN GOD’S LAW! He died to pay the “wages of SIN” (Romans 6:23) which is DEATH!

To become the servants of righteousness means we begin to LIVE WITHIN the Ten Commandments of God; we begin to OBEY them!

Notice how Paul expounds this vital principle: “What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin,but by the law [The Ten Commandments show what sin IS]: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead [that is, without his knowledge of the difference between right and wrong; sin and righteousness, he was unaware of sin; did not know what it WAS].

“For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came [to his consciousness], sin revived, and I died [we are counted as “dead unto sin” because Christ has paid the penalty in our stead].

“And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

“For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:7-12).

Here, Paul explains the very purpose for the Ten Commandments. Without God’s specific ten commands, we would not know what sin IS! It is only because the LAW says, “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” that we know such acts constitute SIN! The law does not PREVENT sin, it defines what SIN IS!

Jesus Christ died to SAVE SINNERS! He died to save them FROM their sins, not IN their sins! He did not die so they can saucily say “I believe on Jesus,” and then go back to living the same life of SIN they have always lived. Imagine the following scene: A man is brought before a judge for a felony. He has embezzled thousands of dollars from his company, and is facing a huge fine, and a long jail sentence. However, his employer is present in the courtroom, and is aware of the broken-hearted repentance of his employee, who has sobbed out his guilt; has asked for forgiveness, and has promised to repay all he owes.

The employer asks to speak, and is granted the opportunity: “Your honor,” he says, “John here has been a good, hard-working employee. He was tempted, and gave into temptation, and stole from me. But he has repented with tears. He is embarrassed and ashamed; he is aware that his reputation has been virtually destroyed. I have forgiven him. I see nothing to be gained by fining him, or by sending him to jail. Therefore, I am withdrawing the charges against him, and I move that this case be dismissed.”

Faced with no charges before him, the judge relents, and agrees that the embezzler may go. Now that John has been forgiven, is he free to go back to his company and steal again?

Paul says, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid!” (Romans 6:15). Our embezzler is now UNDER GRACE! He has been FORGIVEN for his theft! Grace is unmerited pardon. It is undeserved, unearned forgiveness! It is a QUALITY OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD, and it is NOT a “state” in which a person dwells which gives him or her license to SIN!

Remember, forgiveness is for SINS THAT ARE PAST, and “grace” is God’s graciousness; His forgiveness, His pardon extended toward us which we do not deserve, and have not earned!

Millions of sincere people have been brought, emotionally, to the place they were really WANTING TO REPENT! But the evangelist and his helpers had no idea what repentance really is, and did not tell then WHAT SIN IS!

For example, were YOU told, if you “came forward” in such a campaign, or “joined the church of your choice” and tried to “put God in your life,” that sin is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments? Were you specifically shown that the FOURTH commandment is exactly on a par with every other one? Were you told that Sabbath-breaking is exactly the same thing as MURDER?

No, you were NOT! That is not YOUR fault — it is the fault of the misguided, deceived preachers who are either deliberately or willingly ignorant of the truth of God! For a thorough understanding of how the fourth commandment is in full force and effect today, call or write for my free booklet, Why Keep Saturday For Sunday? Or, you can find it on our web site at www.garnertedarmstrong.org/, and print it from the site. It is astonishing, fascinating! You will be amazed.

Notice how Paul wrote of the STRUGGLE which ensues in the life of every Christian; how that, even though forgiven, our human natures continually strive against the spirit of God and His laws. I will paraphrase this passage for easier understanding: “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

“For that which I do I wish I wouldn’t do, and that I want to do I don’t do, and what I hate, that do I.

“If then I do that which I really don’t want to do, I consent unto the law that it is good.

“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

“For the good that I want to do I do not: but the evil which I don’t want to do, that I do.

“Now if I do the things I don’t really want to do, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

“I find then a law, that, when I want to do good, evil is present with me.

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members [human, physical appetites].

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:14-25).

The man who said he DELIGHTS in the law of God; that he SERVES the law of God DID NOT TEACH AGAINST IT!

The thrust of his words are clear; that each of us is involved in a daily struggle AFTER we have repented of sin (breaking the Ten Commandments)! We must overcome our own human carnal natures with all our physical appetites; we must overcome the world around us — Satan’s world, not God’s — and we must overcome Satan himself!

This daily struggle is like someone with a smoking habit, or a drinking habit, or a person who is a compulsive gambler!

Christians can, and do, sin! The word sin means “to miss the mark.” Every day, in some way or another, we miss the mark of perfection. John acknowledged this, and wrote of this daily struggle against sin: “If we say that we have no sin [John includes himself! He is writing to Christians!], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-4). Strong words, indeed. How many times have you heard people engaged in “praise worship” saying “Oh, how wonderful to know the Lord”? Yet, millions who say they “know” the Savior WILL NOT DO WHAT HE SAID, and they WILL NOT FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE!

Obviously, both Paul and John said we are engaged in a daily struggle with ourselves! It is because of this “law” of carnality which exists within us that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven as our daily High Priest!

Millions believe Christ died for the sins of the world. But those same people DO NOT KNOW WHY HE IS ALIVE!

The High Priesthood Of Jesus Christ

I am not a priest. The ministry of God’s true church are not priests! There is no human “go between” on this earth who is authorized to stand between you and God your Father in heaven above!

The entire book of Hebrews was written to the scattered Jews (diaspora, or “dispersed”) to show the efficacy of the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ! The book shows what Jesus Christ is doing on a daily basis NOW!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he [Christ] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18).

How plain! One of the major purposes for Christ to live here on earth for 33 years in the flesh was to EXPERIENCE the same temptations, compulsions, appetites, desires and pulls of the flesh as you and me!  The difference is HE OVERCAME THEM ALL!

Millions think we are saved by the DEATH of Christ! This is not true. We are RECONCILED (forgiven) to God by His death, but we are saved because He is ALIVE! “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8-10).

So Christ’s saving work was not finished when He died! Millions believe the statement, “Christ died to save sinners.” But they do not know what Christ has been doing ever since His resurrection, nor do they know what He is doing TODAY! Few know that Christ is WORKING FULL TIME on our behalf!

Notice, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

“Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity” (Hebrews 4:15, 16; 5:1, 2).

Jesus Christ is your High Priest! He is at the right hand of the Father in heaven. When you or I stumble, fall short, and “miss the mark,” we must get on our knees and go before that “throne of grace” and ACKNOWLEDGE our sins, and ask for God’s merciful forgiveness!

Christ then turns to His Father, having had the experience of struggling against sin and overcoming, and makes intercession for us! Read that beautiful quotation from 1 John again!

The “once saved always saved” concept in the minds of many is simply FALSE!

Jesus Christ said, “Enter ye in at the strait [stringent; narrow; difficult] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadethunto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14).

Notice how Peter spoke of how DIFFICULT it is to overcome, and enter God’s kingdom: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:17, 18). Is this the way you have heard it? No. You have heard, instead, how EASY it is! Millions are told “only BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!”

Because salvation is a daily struggle, we have a faithful High Priest who DAILY makes intercession for us! Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren!” Notice, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:9-11).

Satan acts like a prosecuting attorney, constantly indicting, charging, blaming, accusing God’s people! When we sin, Satan saucily sneers about us to God, accusing us!

But Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is like the counsel for the defense. Turning to God the Father, he points out our tears; our broken-hearted repentance, and asks His Father to forgive us!

Now, review what you have learned:

God demands that we REPENT! The first words Jesus Christ spoke publicly were, “REPENT ye, and believe the Gospel!” Peter said, “REPENT, and be baptized…” (Acts 2:38).

Now, you know that repent means to be deeply SORRY; to be SELF-ABHORRENT; to be ashamed, embarrassed, chagrined atone’s SELF!

But WHY?

Paul showed how the Ten Commandments point out WHAT SIN IS! It is only when we realize that the breaking of ANY ONE OF THE TEN merits the DEATH penalty—death in Gehenna fire— unrelenting death for ALL ETERNITY, and only when we broken-heartedly acknowledge our sins before God and beg Him for forgiveness that we have truly repented! James wrote, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

Now we come to the TEST commandment! The one commandment which is HATED by millions of professing Christians is the FOURTH commandment!

 The Law of God Was In Force Before Sinai

There are many references to God’s laws and the points of the Ten Commandments, including the fourth one, prior to the codification of the Commandments at Sinai. When the One who became Christ wrote the Ten Commandments in stone, and handed them to Moses, He was  codifying the law, not inventing it, or bringing it into existence!

From time immemorial, even pagan kings and people living in the Middle East KNEW about God’s laws. Here is a major example: “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister [this was a lie; she was his half sister, so to him it was a “little white lie,” but it was deception, nevertheless]: and Abimelech king of Gerarsent, and took Sarah.

“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

“But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

“Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

“And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her [what IS sin? Sin is the transgression of the LAW; in this instance, the law against adultery]:

“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that arethine.

“Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done” (Genesis 20:1-9).

You cannot simply ignore this, and tear it out of the Bible! This occurred LONG before Sinai, long before there WAS any nation of Israel or Judah; long before Moses, and long before theLevitical priesthood! Here, the one who became Christ PERSONALLY kept Abimelech from committing a “GREAT SIN!” Abimelech, in that ancient time, knew more about God’s laws than thousands of so-called Christian preachers today! He knew God exists. He knew God had the power of life and death over him. He knew God’s fourth commandment meant what it says.

He knew the penalty for sin was death. He knew WHAT SIN IS, which is more than millions of professing “Christians” know today!

Notice another outstanding example—one which enrages the “Gay rights” people: “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Genesis 13:12, 13). Sodomy and homosexuality are great SINS! Read Genesis the 19^th chapter to see how Elohim (the Person of the Godhead who became Jesus Christ) sent his powerful angels to utterly burn to the ground the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins! Like a microcosm of Gehenna fire, God rained FIRE upon them — a horrifying, painful way to die!

Now, notice what God said of Isaac, Abraham’s son: “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

“And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Genesis 26:3-5).

Now, notice how God showed sinning Israelites that Sabbath-breaking was punishable by death; how the fourth commandment was in full force and effect prior to the giving of the two tablets of stone at Sinai: “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

“And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily” (Exodus 16:4, 5).

Then came the plague of the quails, in which many died because of their murmuring and complaining about manna! Notice what happened next: “And he [Moses] said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

“And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

“And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD [it was not a “Sabbath of the Jews!]: to day ye shall not find it in the field.

“Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

“And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” (Exodus 16:23-28). WHEN did this occur? Read from Exodus 16 to Exodus 20, about the sojourn of the Israelites in the Sinai desert, and how God eventually CODIFIED His Ten Commandments, by giving them to Moses engraved in stone!

But this codification of the Commandments did not bring them into existence! As you have seen proved from your own Bible, God’s Ten Commandments were in full force and effect LONG BEFORE Sinai!

God’s Ten Commandments have been in effect since the creation of Adam! Even the laws concerning clean and unclean meats were in effect many, many centuries before Moses! God told Noah, “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thyhouse into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female” (Genesis 7:1, 2). Those who argue that “the law has been done away” usually equate the laws concerning unclean animals, such as catfish and pork, with the Levitical priesthood! But the laws concerning clean and unclean were in full force in NOAH’s day!

Now, review what you have learned. God’s Ten Commandments were known by ancient kings during Abraham’s day. It was a “great SIN” to commit adultery. The men of Sodom were “sinners exceedingly” before God. It was a SIN to go to work to gather food on the Sabbath day! God provided double for them on the sixth day, the day of preparation, so they would not work on His holy Sabbath!

Chiding the rebellious Israelites, God said, “How long refuse yeto keep my commandments and my laws?” No amount of arguing, reasoning, or trying to set aside these plain truths from your Bible is going to exonerate Sabbath-breakers! The main TEST commandment was the Sabbath!

Think about it! Not a single one of the other nine commandments require you to stand out in your community. Not a single one impacts your job, club, lodge, family or friends! To honor your parents is praiseworthy in our society. To avoid stealing, lying, and murder is considered the thing to do. Of course, no one can tell if you are inwardly coveting, thus breaking the tenth Commandment, for you could sit in church services and let your mind lust for something which is not yours.

But not a one of the nine Commandments, omitting the fourth one, requires you to abstain from work on a certain day; not a one threatens your job, your profession, your affiliations and associations. Not a one would make you an object of scorn from any Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian or Pentecostal person. All churches believe in nine of the commandments!

But oh, that fourth one!  They HATE the fourth commandment! They will use every trick scripture, every possible “proof text” they can to delude people into believing the WHOLE LAW IS DONE AWAY so they can set aside the SABBATH!

But notice! “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

“Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

“Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

“For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

“Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain [the Kingdom of God!], and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:1-7).

Here, ETERNAL LIFE is a part of the reward for those who KEEP GOD’S SABBATH DAY HOLY!

The two major crimes and sins of ancient Israel and Judah were Sabbath-breaking and idolatry! Every time an evil king took the throne, and abandoned the Sabbath and set up idols, the nations were plagued, attacked, and often taken captive!

When a righteous king took the throne, and RESTORED the laws of God, God BLESSED the nation! Read the 23^rd chapter of 2 Kings about Josiah’s reforms—about how he reestablished the PASSOVER on the 14^th of Abib, and broke down the idols.

In summary then, the Ten Commandments did not come into existence at Sinai when Moses was handed the two tables of stone. The Ten Commandments were known by pagan kings. It was a GREAT SIN to break one of them. The sodomites were “sinners exceedingly” before God! Abraham KEPT God’s commandments, His statutes and His laws! Abraham is called “the father of the faithful,” and Jesus Christ told the Pharisees, “You shall SEE Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out!”

The Sabbath was not an afterthought. It was not capriciously “imposed” on the Israelites as a yoke of bondage! Almighty God (Elohim, including the One who became Christ) CREATED the Sabbath day!

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3). God’s WORK was finished, but His CREATING was not! By resting on the seventh day, He created the Sabbath.

The fourth commandment is DETAILED. It shows how the Sabbath is the memorial of creation itself; how it acknowledges God as Creator: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“For in six days the LORD [JHVH] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath both looks back at creation, and looks forward to the millennial reign of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth.

The time of God’s kingdom on earth is called God’s REST! Now, notice a wholly ignored and deliberately obscured scripture from your own New Testament which enjoins Sabbath-keeping on all Christians:

A Sabbatismos Remains To God’s People

Paul, in reminding the scattered Jews of their roots; of the exodus and the overthrow of the older generation in the wilderness, called upon the orations of Joshua as a type. The name Joshua in Hebrew is identical to “Jesus” in the Greek.

Joshua is a type of Christ. As the one who led the younger generation of Israelites across Jordan into the promised land, he appears as Christ, conducting us from this life in this world into His glorious kingdom.

Paul wrote, “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

“When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

“Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, Theydo away err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

“So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:7-14).Why do you suppose the translators knew to place capital letters on references to “To day,” even separating the word, unlike our modern English, which is “today”?

It is because Paul was referring to the oration of Joshua as the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land: “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

“Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your Godgiveth you to possess it.

“And to the Rabbinates, and to the Godwits, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.

“Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;

“Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising” (Joshua 1:10-15). No longer would they be undergoing the arduous trek in the wilderness. No longer would the hardships of dust, poisoned springs, snakes, heat, and every privation assault them. Now, they would enter a land of plenty; a land with grapes as large as grapefruit; flowing “with milk and honey.” Now, they could settle on this verdant, beautiful land, and build permanent homes. The entry of Israel into the promised land is a type of Christians being inducted into Christ’s kingdom.

It was pictured as REST. Every week, the Israelites were reminded to REST on God’s Sabbath day.

Joshua’s oration to the Israelites is used by Paul to the Hebrews as a reminder, not only of the type of the Israelites entering into the promised land as a “rest,” but also a reminder of the six “work” days of creation, and the setting apart of the Sabbath day: He said, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest [metaphor for the Kingdom of God], any of you should seem to come short of it.

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest [put as a question: “shall they enter into my rest?”]: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:1-3).

What did Paul mean by saying “we which have believed do enter into rest”? As you shall soon see, he is referring to the weekly Sabbath rest, and the fact that all early Christians kept God’s Sabbath day, as detailed in the fourth Commandment!

Note the SUBJECT of this entire passage! It is nothing short of a comparison between Sabbath-keeping and the millennial reign of Christ; a reminder of how the older generation of Israelites DID NOT QUALIFY to enter into “His rest,” the promised land, which was a type of the Kingdom of God! Paul wrote, “And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief [the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai]:

“Again, he limiteth [sets apart; points out; isolates]  a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:5-7). Read Psalms 95:7-9, where David refers to Joshua’s oration.

So Paul is saying God points out, specifies, or “limits” a CERTAIN DAY when He says “To DAY if you will harden not your hearts!”

And WHAT DAY IS THIS?

“For if Jesus [the translators saw the identical word for “Joshua” and substituted “Jesus” instead. But the entire context refers to Joshua’s oration, and the entry of the Israelites into the promised land] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day” (Hebrews 4:8).

Another DAY? What is this “day” referred to so often? What was the special “To Day” included in Joshua’s oration, repeated by David, repeated by the apostle Paul?

Let your own Bible answer: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). I have before me my old large type “studio Bible” I have used for over 40 years. It is the Authorized King James version, published by the National Bible Press, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the margin beside the word “rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is a note. It says, “Or, keeping of a Sabbath.” The word in Greek for “rest” which is used repeatedly in Hebrews 3 and 4 is katapausis.  This Greek word means “a reposing” or a “downsitting; a reclining.” The prefix kata means down in place or in time, and the suffix pausis you will recognize from our English word “pause.” A “down pausing” is meant; or simply a “rest.” or you will find katapausis in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, in the Greek dictionary section, under number 2663. By looking up the word “rest” as it is placed in Hebrews 3 and 4, you will see the number 2663 beside it.

But when you come to the word “rest” in the expression, “There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God,” you see a different number. It is number 4520 in Strong’s, and is Sabbatismos! Strong’s says: “Sabbatismos: from a derivative of 4521; a Sabbatism, i.e. (Fig.) The repose of Christianity—rest.”

The root from which Sabbatismos comes is the very next word, number 4521, which is Sabbaton, and means: “The Sabbath (i.e.Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observation or institution itself).”

No wonder, then, that the publishers of the National Bible Press King James Bible chose to place a note in the margin of Hebrews 4:9, to show that the word “rest” is NOT katapausis, as it is elsewhere in those two chapters, but a wholly DIFFERENT word, Sabbatismos, which means, literally “A KEEPING OF THE SABBATH!”

The passage should read, “Again, He limiteth a CERTAIN DAY, saying, in David, To Day, after so long a time: as it is said, To Day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

“For if Joshua had given them rest [katapausis], then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

“There remaineth therefore a KEEPING OF THE SABBATH to the people of God.

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his [at creation, when God created the Sabbath day by RESTING on that day] .

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [BY KEEPING THE SABBATH, AND STRIVING TOWARD THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHICH IT REPRESENTS], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:10, 11).

Jesus Christ plainly said, “And he said unto them, The sabbathwas made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath was not made “for the Jews!” It was made THOUSANDS of years before any person called a Jew was born! It was made AT CREATION. Which day, then, is “the Lord’s Day”? Why, the SABBATH of course! Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath Day.”

You need to read my extensive book, Why Keep Saturday ForSunday? look up every scripture in your own Bible, and prove this absolutely VITAL truth to yourself!

But, CAUTION! Read this next section!

How To Approach The Word Of God

Millions of professing Christians see themselves as judges and critics of the Bible. There are countless “amateur theologians” who “interpret” the Bible to suit themselves. I have known dozens of people in my nearly fifty years in God’s work who are suspicious, doubting, critical concerning “doctrine.”

Some voice it this way: “Well, you have convinced me about this point, but I just don’t see that other point!” Many “accept” certain points of truth grudgingly, suspiciously. I have received dozens of letters, and heard many, many personal testimonies from people who tell me, “It took me years to see the Sabbath law, and I am still looking into this idea about no ever-burning hell!”

What these people do not realize is that they are approaching the Bible with a CARNAL MIND! They fail to understand that it is REPENTANCE, baptism, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit which opens their minds to the truth of God! I have expressed it this way: “It is as if you were looking through a keyhole, and suddenly someone threw open the door!”

The carnal mind is ANTAGONISTIC toward God! Paul wrote, “Because the carnal [physical; fleshly, devoid of the Spirit of God] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

There are many who “search the scriptures to see if these things are NOT SO!”

In other words, many who are SHOCKED by what they hear me say on television, or what they read in my writing, hastily look into their Bibles trying to PROVE ME WRONG!

But notice the approach used by the Bereans, who heard the preaching of the apostle Paul: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

“Therefore [because they searched the scriptures in a POSITIVE manner; “whether these things were SO”, not “whether these things were NOT so!”] many of them believed; also ofhonourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few” (Acts 17:11, 12).

God says, “ Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:1, 2). Do you TREMBLE before the divine word of God?

Most people place themselves ABOVE the Bible! THEY will decide! THEY will determine. THEY will “prove all things.” Instead, people should see the Bible as FAR, FAR ABOVE them, and God above the Bible!

Jesus Christ said speaking of little children, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15).

Recently, a member of God’s church told me how he had wanted a family member to read the booklet Why Keep Saturday ForSunday? But the person simply threw it down angrily, and REFUSED TO READ IT!

God plainly shows that only those who are CALLED can understand: Jesus Christ said,  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

It requires a miracle from God to open an antagonistic, resentful, carnal mind!

Thousands have been shocked when they attempted to explain new truths which to them were WONDERFUL; truths which were beautiful, comforting, and which relieved them of old, fearful superstitions, only to find their loved ones angrily rebuffed them! This is why Christ said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

One should never attempt to “cram one’s religion down someone else’s throat!” All it does is alienate loved ones, family members and friends. Rather, one should be quietly exultant and thankful over learning God’s truth, then strive to live a shining example of “goodness, meekness, gentleness, faith” before others. Repentance means to CHANGE. It means “turn around and go the other way.” When loved ones see remarkable CHANGE in the lives of converted people, they are impressed by the examplethey see, and will not be impressed by any amount of preaching, arguing, or attempting to explain new truth to them.

Repent, and Be Baptized Every One Of You In The Name of Jesus Christ

Such were the inspired words of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Now you know what it is for which we are told to repent! We are to repent of SIN, which is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments as Christ elevated them to a spiritual plane! In other words, we are to repent even of evil THOUGHTS as well as evil actions. We are to repent of SABBATH-BREAKING as much as we would repent of lying, cheating, stealing, or murder!

Once we have truly come to self-revulsion over the things we have said, thought, and done which were contrary to God’s laws, we are commanded to be baptized!

The Greek word for “baptize” is almost identical to the English word. It is baptizo, and means to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet). It means to “immerse” in water! Notice Bible examples of baptism. One of the first is that of John the Baptist when Christ came to him to set us the example of water baptism: “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan [the Jordan River],

“And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:5, 6).

The word baptizo means “to plunge into,” and “to immerse,” so that the person being baptized is “fully wet!” It does NOT mean to sprinkle a little water from one’s finger tips into the face of a startled infant of six weeks! It is not a “christening!” It does NOT mean sprinkling, or pouring a little water over one’s head! Nor does it mean cavorting beneath a huge spray of water from a fire hydrant in the streets of New York, as one false religious leader obtained permission to do many decades ago, and call it “baptism.”

Ludicrously, many ancient paintings and woodcuts show imaginary pictures of John the Baptist standing knee deep in the Jordan River, with the penitent before him, as he uses his cupped hands to pour a bit of water over their heads! But notice, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16, 17) .

Notice that John resorted to those places along the Jordan which were DEEP enough to provide sufficient water for complete immersion: “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

“And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized” (John 3:22, 23).

Now notice the beautiful TYPE, or PICTURE that baptism represents: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin [shall we continue breaking the Ten Commandments?], that grace may abound?

“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:1-5).

When a person dies, one does not simply tie the corpse to a tree, and throw a handful of earth in its face! No, the dead are BURIED. Baptism pictures the death and burial of the “old man,” and the resurrection of the “new man,” or the “new creature in Christ!”

As Christ was BURIED in the tomb, so, as a type, or picture of His death for our sins, we are temporarily BURIED for a few seconds in water! Paul uses the words “buried,” and “planted” to illustrate this point. Paul explained how an entirely NEW WAY OF LIFE begins once one is baptized, and receives God’s Holy Spirit: “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Romans 6:10-12). When we commit sins, we come under the penalty of DEATH, for the “…wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). But when we repent, and are baptized, we are humbly accepting Christ’s death IN OUR PLACE! We are DEPICTING the death, burial and resurrection of Christ by our outward willingness to repent, and then be completely IMMERSED in water! Baptism symbolizes OUR DEATH as a result of sin, and pictures Christ’s death in our stead!

Now, think of the JOY of knowing what happens when one comes up out of the water of baptism! The rite of baptism WASHES YOUR SINS AWAY! It BURIES the sinful “old man” or “old woman.” When you come up out of the water, you are, at that moment, wholly SINLESS!

When God Forgives, He Also Forgets!

God says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). When God FORGIVES, He FORGETS!

Men almost never truly forgive, and almost never forget! God promises us, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalms 103:10-12). Almighty God says HE WILL NEVER MENTION our past sins to us again! “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turnfrom his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

“If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

“None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live” (Ezekiel 33:14-16). Just HOW WONDERFUL is that promise? To think that, at the time of our agonizing self-condemnation; our painful, embarrassed cries to God for forgiveness, we can eventually come up out of the waters of baptism, and know that EVERY SIN, from the bad things we did as children to the things we did in our teen age, to the sins we committed as adults, will be WASHED AWAY, and never again MENTIONED to us!

This should be the most JOYOUS news we could ever hear!

We now embark on a NEW life. We turn over a new leaf; a new page. We are as clean as a field of white, driven snow! Is that not cause for REJOICING?

But wait! IF THERE COMES A TIME when you become ANGRY with a fellow Christian, and decide to throw up his old sins at him, what happens to you?

Jesus Christ said, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors [in other words, exactly proportionate to our willingness to forgive others who have sinned against us!] .

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:12-15). Many thousands of professing Christians have GREAT TROUBLE with Christ’s commands concerning forgiveness! I want you to read a profoundly serious, sobering, and even shocking booklet about how professing “Christians” will use the knowledge of other persons’ sins! It is entitled Buried Sins And Spiritual Graves’ Robbers! 

There are MANY people who believe they have been forgiven, but who WILL NOT forgive others! Unknowingly, they are headed toward a LAKE OF FIRE instead of the glorious Kingdom of God! You need to MAKE SURE you obey, from the heart, Christ’s commands concerning FORGIVENESS!

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

“And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shaltforgive him.

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith” (Luke 17:3-5). How utterly CONTRARY to judgmental human nature to forgive someone seven times in the same day! No wonder the disciples asked Christ to “increase their faith!”

Peter asked Christ, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

“Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21, 22). Peter probably thought he was being very generous when he asked “‘till seven times?” He was shocked when Jesus Christ said, “Until SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN!”

If you take that literally, that means FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY TIMES!

But there are those who WILL NOT forgive their brothers or sisters in Christ unless their brothers or sisters repent TO THEM, in the exact manner, with the exact amount of broken-hearted, tearful remorse that they DEMAND of them!

Such people not only fail to see a vitally important biblical principle, they have no idea they stand in jeopardy of LOSING SALVATION and being thrown into a lake of fire! Once a person asks for forgiveness, saying “please forgive me,” it is NOT UP TO THE OFFENDED PARTY TO JUDGE THE DEPTH OR SINCERITY OF THE PROFESSED REPENTANCE!

No, it now becomes GOD’S responsibility! It is OUR responsibility to FORGIVE!

But what if we think the person is not really repentant? Should WE be the judge of their profession of repentance? God says NO! We have the responsibility to FORGIVE them! After that, it is God’s responsibility, not ours!

David prayed heartbrokenly for forgiveness after the affair with Bathsheba. He cried out, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalms 51:1-4). David was not required of God to go to the family of Uriah the Hittite, or the family of Bathsheba, and “make things right.” No, David repented before God! But there was a terrible PENALTY to be paid. The child which had been engendered died! David had to undergo horrible shame, embarrassment, and humility! Yet, God forgave him! Because David was a REPENTER when he had sinned, he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” He will be the KING over all Israel in the millennial reign of Christ!

But what if some in the “palace guard” who were close to David refused to forgive him?

What if some of them, so outraged over his licentious behavior, became filled with self-righteous wrath? After all, they had not heard his prayer. He did not repent before THEM! They did not know he WROTE the prayer he had prayed, and that God would preserve it for all time!

All they had to go on was the sight of their eyes and the hearing of their ears.

What if they decided to plot against David, and use his sin as proof that he was unqualified for his position as King? Would God have honored such a plot? Interesting questions, aren’t they?

God FORGAVE David! Now, anyone who JUDGED David was judging GOD, and not David! We have no record of any who did this, but, knowing human nature, do you doubt that there were those who judged him?

By all means, call or write for the booklet mentioned above!

Now, look at the fabulous, breathtaking CHANGE that occurs once we have repented, and been baptized!

“And Ye Shall Receive The Gift Of The Holy Spirit”

When Jesus Christ fulfilled His promise to send the “Comforter,” He did so with awe-inspiring miracles! First, a loud ROARING filled the large room where thousands were assembled! Then, right before their startled eyes, FIRE began to appear, coming through the ceiling! As the brilliant flames came nearer, they split into twelve equal parts, and each of the twelve fiery flames settled right on the heads of the apostles! (Acts 2:1-3).

Then, people representing at least EIGHTEEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES began hearing the apostles, one by one, relating their experiences with Christ; how they had seen His miracles; what He had said to them about His impending death, burial, and resurrection; how they had seen Him die, and then seen Him ALIVE again!

Remember, each of these pilgrims came from one country or another from hundreds of miles in all directions! Present were “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

“Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

“Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:9-11). Count that list! Here, at a minimum, were people representing at least eighteen different languages and dialects. The apostles were not speaking in “unknown” languages! No, they were speaking, by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, from their own minds and hearts, in their own tongue! Yet, God performed the MIRACLE of causing each individual to HEAR what was said in HIS language, or tongue!  They said “we do hear THEM speaking IN OUR TONGUES” the wonderful works of God!

This great miracle was VISIBLE! It was AUDIBLE! It was for a great sign to unbelievers; a miracle from God to grab their attention, and give divine POWER to the words of the eyewitnesses to Christ’s ministry; His death, burial, and resurrection!

These people did not see a ghostly apparition, like an obscure wraith, hovering about!

They did not see a “PERSON” walk into the room and perform this great miracle! Millions have been deceived into believing that God is a “trinity!” They are told that God is “three in one, and one in three.” To them, there is the “Father,” and the “Son,” and the “Holy Spirit”—each being a separate (yet together) individual of the Godhead!

You need to read my booklet entitled, Is God A MYSTERY? It completely demolishes the false doctrine of the “trinity.” God’s spirit is likened to fire, air, water, power, and life!

It is said to be “poured out,” and is said to have the power to “beget.”

The Holy Spirit of the Father is His life-giving power; His mind, His nature, His life!

Jesus Christ was the FIRST BEGOTTEN of the Father (Hebrews 1:6).

Remember, divine Elohim (more than one; the “Spokesman,” who became Christ, did the speaking) said, “Let US make man in OUR image!” But creation was not completed in the Garden of Eden, it was only BEGUN!

Consider the example of Jesus Christ Himself! He was able, through His divine power, to enter the microcosm, and become the life-giving seed which fertilized the egg in the womb of a God-fearing, righteous virgin named Mary! The angel had told Mary: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:30-35). Yet, though the angel plainly said it was the HOLY SPIRIT which would come upon Mary,  Jesus was to be called “the Son of God!” But IF the Holy Spirit is the THIRD PERSON of a “trinity,” then Jesus was NOT the son of God the Father, but the Son of the HOLY SPIRIT!

The truth is there IS NO TRINITY! The ancient “AthanasianCreed” adopted by an apostate church at the Council of Nicaeain 324 AD, claiming God is an “hypostasis,” and a “mystery,” is absolutely FALSE! God reveals Himself to us through His word! Everywhere, you see DUALITY in His creation: North and South poles; positive and negative magnetic forces, night and day, two sexes; male and female; two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet!

Plainly, God the Father is called the FATHER of Jesus Christ! Christ prayed to His FATHER continually! He said, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bearethwitness of me.

“Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” (John 8:18, 19).

This is a VITALLY important point! You need to know what it means to receive the Holy Spirit of God! It is not “spiritual salt and pepper” to make one feel good. It is not just theological double-talk, or sanctimonious nonsense to speak of receiving the Holy Spirit! What you must understand is WHAT HAPPENS at the moment you receive God’s Spirit. What change takes place?

Notice how often we are called children of God once we are begotten with God’s Holy Spirit in the Bible: Look up the following scriptures in your own Bible and read them: Matthew 5:9; 8:12; Luke 6:35, 36; 20:36; John 11:52; Romans 8:16, 17, 21; Galatians 3:26; Hebrews 2:13.

Here is one of the most profound passages of scriptures in the Bible: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [Greek: sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17).

THINK deeply about what you just read. Too many people read the expression “they are the sons of God” as if it were so much “sanctimonious” language; a kind of spiritual phrase which means we are Bible believing, church-going people, or that God likes us. But if you read that you are the son or daughter of your PARENT, you would know it is a literal statement of fact!

To become a son of God means exactly what it says! When you are BEGOTTEN of the Father, then He becomes your LITERAL Spiritual Father — the Father who has begotten a NEW CHILD OF HIS inside your human mind, by uniting HIS Holy Spirit with YOUR HUMAN SPIRIT! Notice that the Greek word for “adoption” means more than legal adoption. You do not become God’s adopted child, and He does not become your foster parent! No, He becomes your REAL SPIRIT FATHER, and you become a “new creature in Christ!” Notice how Paul puts it, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Few professing Christians understand the REALITY of this scripture!

Here, in summary, is what it means: It required both of your parents to produce YOU.

Your father’s seed united with your mother’s fertile egg, and, at the instant of conception, YOU were in existence! You did not come into existence a split second prior to conception, nor did you come into existence a split second later! You did not suddenly become you on the third or sixth week from conception, but at the EXACT MOMENT of conception!

Now, inside the womb of your mother, a NEW HUMAN BEING was living! Do you see the clear analogy? After all, God (Elohim) said, “Let US make man in OUR IMAGE.” Christ, who was the Logos who did the speaking was the FIRST BEGOTTEN from the Father among all humans! He is also called the FIRSTBORN among many brethren, and the FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

Since there are to be MANY BRETHREN who will also be BORN OF GOD, Christ is called the FIRST born, not the only born!

You and I have a human spirit. God’s word says, “…there is a SPIRIT in man” (Job 32:8).

Solomon wrote, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly” (Proverb 20:27). God gives us our human spirit: “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him” (Zechariah 12:1). When Christ died, He said, “…Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

The human spirit is that which lifts man far above the level of animals. It is where our conscience, our volition, our decision-making capacity, our personality, and our deepest, innermost psyche resides. The SPIRIT of man is directly connected to the brain of man, which gives us what we call MIND. The spirit is NOT CONSCIOUS APART FROM A LIVING BRAIN! When the brain dies, the spirit is ASLEEP!

Notice several proofs: “And as we have borne the image of the earthy [you and I are the “express image” of our human parents], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [We are created in the image of our HEAVENLY Father IN SPIRIT!].

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God [we can only enter His great FAMILY KINGDOM in our glorified SPIRIT bodies!]; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:49-52). Study the entire fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians. It clearly points out the vast difference between our human, earthly existence, and our future, spirit existence as a part of the very family of God! Notice that Paul says, ‘we shall not all SLEEP,’ meaning die!

Here is additional proof: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [elsewhere called “the dead in Christ”] will God bring with him.

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14).

Millions call the spirit in man the “soul.” They have been deceived into believing each of us has an “immortal soul” which remains CONSCIOUS when the body dies. But the words “immortal soul” are nowhere in the Bible! The word “immortal” occurs only ONCE in the Bible, in 1 Timothy 1:17, and speaks of Jesus Christ, who is immortal! The word “immortality” is found only five times. Paul, writing of God, said to Timothy, “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:16).

The spirit of man is NOT CONSCIOUS when the body dies, but is ASLEEP! Your Bible says so, over and over again! When the person dies, the “new creature in Christ” is still there, but IN A PROFOUND SLEEP! There is no consciousness; no awareness of the passing of time; no pain, no anxiety, no suffering! This is why Paul characterizes the sleep of the creature in Christ as being so SHORT a time as to be like a mere MOMENT, like the twinkling of an eye. He said, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead [they are DEAD, unconscious, NOT ALIVE!] shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

We are to be changed from flesh to spirit! From human to divine! From the children of our fleshly parents to the children of GOD HIMSELF! Christ is the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN!

Now, read these profound words again, and understand: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship!], whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

“The Spirit itself [God’s Holy Spirit] beareth witness with ourspirit [our human spirit; the “spirit in man”], that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17). And what has Christ INHERITED? He is the FIRST born of the Father by a resurrection from the dead!

You need to understand these words exactly as they are written! Millions “spiritualize away” the profound content of these words. To them, being a “child of God” is merely a spiritual-sounding phrase that means we are loved of God; that we are in His good graces; that we are a “Christian.” But they fail to understand that we are to be BORN OF GOD OUR FATHER in the SAME WAY as was Christ at the resurrection!

They fail to see we are to become a PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!

Your last name connotes your family ties. You are the son or daughter of your parents.

You were conceived by them. You were produced by them. They were recreating in their own HUMAN image! You were born of your mother. You became a member of their family!

The same thing occurs in the SPIRIT realm when you repent, are baptized, and receive the begetting Spirit of your HEAVENLY FATHER! He is not your heavenly Father in name only. When you pray, “Our Father which is in heaven,” you are not merely recognizing a title of God, but identifying yourself as HIS SON OR DAUGHTER!

When He BEGETS you as a “new creature in Christ,” you are HIS SPIRIT CHILD!

Just as your mother “hosted” your microscopic life at conception; just as you grew within her womb, so your own physical body is merely a temporary TABERNACLE in which the “new creature in Christ” dwells! Now, following repentance, baptism, and the begettal by your Heavenly Father, a NEW SPIRIT BEING has been engendered!

His Spirit has come to connect with your human spirit! The TWO spirits become ONE NEW SPIRIT. In your physical beginning, your father’s seed connected with your mother’s fertile egg, and YOU WERE THEN IN EXISTENCE! A NEW, NEVER BEFORE, NEVER TO BE AGAIN, UNIQUE HUMAN BEING was on the way!

When God the Father begets new children with His Spirit, a new, never before, never to be again SPIRIT BEING is on the way!

God’s church is analogous to the spiritual “womb” where each “new creature in Christ” is nurtured, protected, and fed. It is where the new creature GROWS toward maturity!

Paul wrote, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Now, look at the TRUE MEANING of what Christ told Nicodemus!

“You Must Be Born Again!”

It was the first time in history anyone had ever heard the phrase. Nicodemus, a leader among the Jews, was incredulous. To him, it sounded like Jesus Christ was suggesting that each human had to accomplish a wholly impossible act. Christ had told him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

As commonly known that former President Jimmy Carter was a “born again Christian.” People who say this about themselves are generally members of one or another of the “fundamentalist” Protestant church organizations. To them, “receiving Christ,” or “getting saved” is the equivalent of “being born again.” There is no way any thinking human being could come to such a ridiculous conclusion by reading what Jesus Christ actually said to Nicodemus, nor from Nicodemus’ incredulous response.

He told Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”(John 3:4). Did Nicodemus think Jesus Christ was using language which indicated a “spiritual experience”? Did Jesus’ plain statement, “You must be born again” indicate to Nicodemus that he should “pray the Spirit down”? Did Jesus Christ indicate that Nicodemus should “speak in tongues”? Of course not! No, the language Jesus Christ used was plainly speaking of real BIRTH! The birth of a human being is hardly an indication of something “spiritual,” or “Pentecostal,” or concerns “tarry meetings,“ or “praying the Spirit down!”

Christ used the same words He would have used had He spoken of any birthing process; whether human or animal! The Greek word is gennao. It means “to generate,” or “to engender,” or “to procreate,” or “to reproduce.” The Greek word means the entire process from conception to parturition, or birth! In English, we use “conception” for the moment of the creation of a new human fetus (or “zygote” as biologists call it), and “birth” for the moment of actual birth. But in the Greek language, the word gennao means the entire process!

Now, notice how Jesus Christ explained what he meant: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8).

You and I were born of our fleshly parents. We are flesh. Neither you nor I, speaking of  our physical bodies, are SPIRIT! We are physical, human, FLESH!

But Jesus Christ said when one is BORN OF THE SPIRIT he or she BECOMES SPIRIT!

Read it again. Clearly, when He said, “that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT,” He meant it exactly as it sounds! He went on to explain to Nicodemus that, when one is born of the Spirit, one becomes INVISIBLE TO HUMAN EYES. He likened the spirit world, and being born of the Spirit, to becoming LIKE THE WIND! He said we can hear the sound of wind, but cannot tell where it comes from, or where it goes.

How PLAIN! How SIMPLE when one sees what Jesus Christ actually SAID, and sees now Nicodemus knew Christ was NOT referring to some kind of emotional, sentimental, “spiritual experience.” Here is additional Bible proof: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die; the Bible continually describes death as a deep, unconscious sleep], but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [BORN AGAIN; changed from human to divine!].

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, and is therefore called “…the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

When you receive your Father’s Holy Spirit, you are begotten of Him. Then, you are to GROW in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Study the entire fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians. It plainly shows the vast difference between our HUMAN existence and the great CHANGE which is to occur either at the moment of Christ’s return, or at the resurrection of the dead!

Acts 2:38 In Summary

Now, review what you have learned. To repent means to be deeply, broken-heartedly SORRY you have BROKEN GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS as they were spiritually MAGNIFIED by Jesus Christ! Remember, Christ said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21-23).

To become enraged against a fellow human being, and to say “you worthless FOOL” is the SAME THING AS MURDER, according to Christ! This makes the Ten Commandments FAR MORE BINDING than the letter!

Repentance should include being deeply sorry for everything we have ever said, thought, or done which was in any way contrary to God’s law!

Real heartfelt REPENTANCE is PAINFUL! It is the agony of seeing ourselves as if a worthless piece of junk; a form of life lower than a worm! It is SELF-REVULSION; self-disgust; and complete SURRENDER to God and Jesus Christ! Paul wrote, “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 [changed! Repentance is a change of heart; a change in direction!] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1, 2).

Repentance will invariably involve TEARS! It is heart-rending! It is PAINFUL! No one sees one’s self as a worthless filthy rag; something one would find under a garbage can, without a real BLOW to the vain, egotistical, pompous, carnal-minded person we were before repentance!

Then, when we have really repented, Christ demands that we receive the rite of water baptism. This pictures the death and burial of the old, carnal, vain person; the “washing away of all sin” in the water, and the resurrection of a new and different person! It is an outward symbol also of our acceptance (in great thanksgiving and humility) of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When, hands are laid upon us for the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit, we are BEGOTTEN of God, who becomes our SPIRITUAL FATHER! He places His Holy Spirit together with our human spirit, thus CREATING within our minds A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This tender, innocent, pure, forgiven little spirit creature IS REAL! It is not merely an imaginary something which makes us “better persons.” It is as REAL, in the spiritual realm, as was that moment in time when your father and your mother caused your conception!

Now, you know there is much, much more to the command to “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

May God grant you real repentance, and make you a “new creature in Christ,” a new, never-before, unique SPIRIT being within your physical body, daily receiving the spiritual nutrition which will eventually allow you to be BORN OF GOD! When you are finally born of God, what will you be? Let the Bible answer: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:16-18). Exactly!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.


The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Pain And The Joy Of Repentance! first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Practically all human societies observe some kind of dietary laws. To Hindus, any meat is forbidden. In India, a vast nation which will soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country, there are millions of cattle. But the Hindus are vegetarians. The country is protein deficient as a consequence. In the 1970’s when India faced massive starvation, the world’s largest peacetime armada plied the oceans, bringing US grain to Indian ports, while millions of cows placidly grazed in the pastures, or ambled about in city streets, helping themselves to fodder from sidewalk vendor’s stalls.

Such is the hold of religion on the masses.

Islamic Arabs, together with other Islamic countries such as Indonesia, Iran, and Albania, eschew pork and seafood, adhering closely to the so-called “Jewish” dietary laws of the Bible.

But professing Christians, including Catholics and Protestants, believe it is perfectly all right to eat any of the forbidden foods listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Christ came to DO AWAY with those old laws, they say.

Coming right behind the weekly Sabbath as an object of hatred is any proscription against pork and unclean meats. Virtually the entire “Christian” professing world believes that the Old Testament is “done away;” that Christ came to “nail the law to His cross.” Later in this book you will see ample Biblical proof that the exact opposite is true; that Christ came to LIFT the law to a spiritual plane; to make it far more BINDING! But to get right to the heart of the matter, let’s first look at the “proof texts” used by those who argue that Christ “made all meats clean.”

A frequent passage quoted by fundamentalists to justify eating pork and seafood is found in Mark 7:15-23: “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

“And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

“And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

“Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? [Note: The Greek word “broma” is not strictly confined to meat, but can also be translated “victuals”].

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

“Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

“All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” The obvious spiritual lesson is that evil thoughts and motives defile a man spiritually, whereas any chance encounter with an inedible foreign substance in his food is “purged” in the digestive process.

Carried even further, the scripture is clear that, even in the extreme case of ingesting poison accidentally, and even if DEATH should occur as a result, this would not defile a man SPIRITUALLY, or cause him to lose eternal life! Notice that the subject matter had nothing whatsoever to do with clean or unclean meats!

The matter arose because of the Pharisees’ condemnation of the disciples’ practice of eating BREAD prior to going through RITUAL washings! The introduction to the entire controversy is contained in the first thirteen verses of Mark’s 7^th chapter: “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

“And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

“And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread [notice that not one word was spoken about meats; clean or unclean!] with unwashen hands?

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

“For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

“But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

“And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye” (Mark 7:1-13).

The context of the entire controversy had to do with “unwashed hands” versus the many ceremonial washings of the Pharisees! MEAT was not the subject, but unwashed hands! Christ spoke only of how dirt; some foreign substance, might become transferred from one’s HANDS to one’s food; how the digestive process “purges” any such foreign matter, but that the man himself is not defiled! All of the Pharisees, and every other Jewish person of the time, including Christ and His disciples, strictly adhered to God’s laws concerning clean and unclean meats. Meats were not remotely a part of this discussion! There is no justification whatsoever for wresting this simple analogy of Jesus Christ’s into a statement that He pronounced pork, possum, skunk, rattlesnakes, clams, lobsters, crabs and crayfish clean, and fit for human consumption!

Peter’s Vision

Usually, that distorted version of Christ’s analogy is coupled with the vision given Peter at the house of Cornelius, in which Peter is commanded to discontinue referring to Gentiles as “unclean.” Read the entire passage, taking careful note of the emphasized portions : “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

“And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

“And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

“Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

“And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

“But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

“And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

“This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

“Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

“And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

“While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

“Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

“Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

“And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

“Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

“And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

“But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

“And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for aman that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

“Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

“And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

“And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

“Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: [note this carefully: Peter did NOT say he had learned that pork and seafood was clean, but that no MAN was “unclean;” that God was not a respecter of PERSONS].

“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

“That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

“Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;

“Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.

“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:9-45).

Note the following salient points:

(1) Peter, even in vision, refused to eat unclean meats.

(2) He said he had NEVER done so, which proves he never did so during his three and one-half years’ experiences with Jesus Christ in the flesh.

(3) Peter was told, as a result of his refusal to eat unclean meats, not to CALL ANY MAN “UNCLEAN.”

(4) He was NOT told to quit calling MEATS unclean!

(5) Peter learned that God was not a respecter of PERSONS; nothing was said whatsoever about changing the laws of clean and unclean meats.

(6) This occurred YEARS after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; YEARS after Christ ascended to heaven! Anything which was “New” Testament in nature was long since in place, yet Peter still insisted that he had never eaten unclean meats!

His statement that he had NEVER eaten unclean things bears logical scrutiny. Clearly, Jesus Christ never said one word to His disciples during His earthly ministry about changing the laws concerning unclean meats. Had He done so, (and He had hundreds of opportunities), Peter would have learned long previously, directly from Christ, that pork and shellfish were clean.

Why would Jesus Christ wait for YEARS after the resurrection, and then, through an enigmatic vision, show Peter that it was alright to eat pork? Why only Peter? Why did not ALL the disciples receive the same vision, if that was the purpose of the vision? Clearly, the purpose of the vision was understood by Peter, and was immediately confirmed by his meeting with Cornelius and other gentiles; his witnessing to them, and God’s forgiveness and mercy extended to them by sending His Holy Spirit to convert them!

There is not the slightest hint in this passage of scripture that God ever changed His laws concerning unclean meats.

“Eat That Which Is Set Before You”

For decades, those who are convicted that pork and seafood (and all other unclean meats) are not to be eaten have wrestled with Paul’s statement in Romans 14, which SEEMS to say that if one is eating at a friends’ house, and one is presented with a dish of pork, one should “eat that which is set before him,” and “ask no question for conscience sake.”

Is that what Paul meant?

Here is the passage in dispute: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

“But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

“Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

“For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

“For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine [Greek: “oinos,” meaning fermented wine], nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

“Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:14-23). How ironic that many a self-righteous Christian-professing person strictly abstains from WINE, which Christ Himself drank, yet cheerfully devours catfish, shrimp, crab, pork, sausage, and many varieties of unclean meats! The fact that Paul includes the statement that, if it would offend a brother’s conscience one should abstain from either eating meat (no particular KIND of meat is ever discussed) OR DRINKING WINE!

Now, before coming to any unwarranted conclusions, notice carefully the CONTEXT in which this whole passage is contained. It begins with the first verse: “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

“For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks” (Romans 14:1-6).

The entire passage is concerning JUDGING one another because of certain personal choices, such as vegetarianism versus eating flesh, or perceived efficacy of one day or another.

There were “luck” and “unlucky” days among the Gentile traditions; days which were propitious for planting, for buying or selling, for marriage, or for travel. Notice that not one word is said about clean or unclean, for this was not the subject. The lesson of the passage was that the CONSCIENCE must not be defiled! This is why Paul said, “…he that doubteth is damned [condemned] if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Obviously, Paul’s expression, “believeth he may eat all things” does not mean that one believed he may eat carrion, or poisonous mushrooms, or ground glass and nails! Nor did it mean he believed he could eat snakes, mice, or pigs. The expression is clearly meant to imply that one person had no major dietary restrictions against EDIBLE MEATS, while another did have such restrictions, and believed he should practice vegetarianism!

Notice how Paul addressed the same problem among the Corinthians. It was the practice of the pagan Romans and Greeks to slaughter animals to various pagan “gods.” The animals could then be sold in the “flea markets,” or “shanties” where one would find street vendors, not unlike many “third world” countries today. Because many Christians believed the meat was somehow contaminated if the animal were killed in sacrificial rites, they avoided eating it.

Paul explained that a nonexistent “god” or pagan idol had no power to contaminate edible meat. Read the entire passage: “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?”

“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

“Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

“All things are lawful for me [did he mean robbery, or murder? Of course not! Obviously, all LAWFUL things, not unlawful things], but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles [street vendor’s meat shops], that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

“For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

“If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

“But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (1 Corinthians 10:19-28).

Here again, the entire matter is to avoid defiling the CONSCIENCE of a brother. If one person believed the meat had been offered in sacrifice to an idol, and was therefore contaminated, the person who knew that the idol had no power to contaminate the meat; that it was perfectly edible, should not exercise his “lawful” privilege to eat so long as it would offend the conscience of another!

Paul concluded the passage by saying, “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

“Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty to eat edible meat, even though sacrificed to a dead, non-existent “god”] judged of another man’s conscience?

“For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:28-33).

Again, in these lengthy passages of scripture, NOT ONE WORD is said about clean or unclean meats! The entire subject is “meats offered to idols,” and not whether skunks, possums,

squirrels, rats, or pigs are clean to eat!

Now, before dealing with some additional “proof texts” used by those who argue that pork and seafood are fit to eat; that they were “made clean” by Jesus Christ, who somehow CHANGED the Old Testament laws, or “did away with them,” let’s notice who it was who handed down the dietary laws in the first place!

“The LORD said…”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

“Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

“Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you” (Leviticus 11:1-4). The KJV (King James Version) of the Bible invariably uses the capital letters “LORD” when the Hebrew word comes from “YHVH.” Of this expression Bullinger says, “JEHOVAH [JHVH or WHVH]. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, Jehovah is the SAME GOD in covenant relation to those whom He has created (Cp. 2 Chron. 18:31). Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS and IS, and IS TO COME.” Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4). 

This same appendix contains many of the Divine names and titles. Notice carefully that the Hebrew letters “YHVH” connote the SAME GOD as contained in the word: “Elohim.”

Elohim is a PLURAL word, meaning MORE THAN ONE. This is why your Bible says,

“And God [Hebrew: “Elohim”] said, Let us [MORE than One!] make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26,27).

Our English word “God” comes from an ancient Anglo-Saxon word, itself from an ancient Germanic word, “Gheu.” Etymologists believe the word connoted “to pour,” as in either a libation, or as in the pouring out of molten metal into a mold. Our language is PAGAN in origin. God will eventually give all human kind a NEW language, which is pure (Zephaniah 3:9).

Now, turn to and read, in your own Bible, a surprising truth which the anti-law preachers WILL NOT PREACH! It is PLAIN. It is SIMPLE. Even a child can understand it! Yet, they WILL NOT PREACH IT, for if they did, it would DESTROY their arguments against God’s laws!

WHO WAS ‘THE LORD’ WHO HANDED DOWN THE DIETARY LAWS?

The apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word [Greek: “Logos,” meaning “spokesman”], and the Word was with God [“Theos” the Greek equivalent of Elohim in Hebrew; Genesis 1:1], and the Word was God.

“The same was in the beginning with God.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made [clearly, we are being told about the CREATOR of the universe, this earth, and all life upon it!]. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John [referring to John the Baptist].

“The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

“He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

“He came unto his own [the Jews], and his own received him not.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

“Which were born [Greek: “gennao” either born or begotten], not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [Greek: “tabernacled”] among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-14).

Here, in your own Bible, is the clear proof that Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for the sins of mankind, is the CREATOR who said “Let there be light…let the dry land appear…let US make man in OUR image!” The Hebrew word “Elohim.” means more than one. It is a word like “family, group, or assembly.” One may attend church services for more than 40 years, and never hear that passage preached! WHY?

Simply because it would be DEVASTATING to the doctrinal stance of thousands of preachers! If they were to admit that the God of the Old Testament is the Person of Divine Elohim who BECAME CHRIST, then their false portrayal of Christ as a young man who came to do away with the Ten Commandments and the laws of the Old Testament would not stand up!

Notice further concrete proof: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3). So Christ was the CREATING AGENT who did the speaking; who gave the commands!

It was THIS Personage of the Divine Godhead, called “Elohim” Who said, “Let US make man in OUR image!” (Genesis 1:26). It was THIS Personage of Divine Elohim who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, and who said His name was “I AM.” Jesus Christ enraged the Jews by referring to His pre-human state when He told them,”Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

The One people call “Jesus Christ” is the One who WROTE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS with His own finger!

Now, you need to understand that God’s designation of “clean” and “unclean” among animals did NOT BEGIN WITH THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD!

If the anti-law preachers can convince you that the “dietary laws” were purely “ceremonial,” and then show that the Levitical Priesthood was eclipsed by the priesthood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7, 8, 9) then they believe they have scored a victory against “those Old Testament laws.”

But notice! “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

“Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

“Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

“And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

“And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

“And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

“Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

“There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah” (Genesis 7:1-9). Therefore, God (the One who became Christ) had revealed to mankind from the VERY BEGINNING which animals were fit for human consumption, and which were not! This had nothing to do with ceremonial rites! It had only to do with the nature of the animal itself; its dietary peculiarities, its digestive processes; its place in the ecosystem!

As a broad generality, many of the unclean animals and fishes, including bottom-dwelling creatures such as clams, mollusks, crabs, lobsters and the hundreds of varieties of catfish, are created for the purpose of scavenging. Even as vultures and other carrion-eaters feed on dead things, and thus fulfil the purpose of helping to prevent disease, so the carrion eaters of the seas, and of fresh water, perform the same function.

The result of eating unclean foods is not only SIN, since it breaks God’s laws, but is inevitably debility, sickness, and vulnerability to disease. It is well known that pork contains

a parasitic worm, which causes trichinosis.

The point is, the Creator of all life revealed to man which kinds of birds, animals and fishes were created for human consumption, and which ones were not! The Bible contains information to the created being, man, from the Creator, Elohim, which man could not have otherwise discovered for himself! While the FDA clearly approves of catfish, shrimp, lobster and crab meat, God DISapproves of all such carrion-eating bottom dwellers!

God’s laws do not concern themselves with appearance, taste, texture of meat, or even the dietary habits of the various creatures (for instance, it is well known that the domestic fowls such as chickens will cannibalize their own), but with the PURPOSE for which each creature was created and put on this earth!

Never forget what you have just learned! Jesus Christ of the New Testament IS THE GOD WHO GAVE THE DIETARY LAWS! He says “I CHANGE NOT,” and says, “Jesus Christ the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever!”

Now, notice some further examples of the anti-law teachers’ attempts to nullify God’s laws concerning unclean meats:

The Drowned Pigs of Galilee

Here is Mark’s account of an encounter between Christ and a “legion” of demons, who drowned a large herd of swine: “And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

“And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

“Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

“Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

“And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

“For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

“And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

“Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

“And all the devils [demons] besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

“And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

“And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

“And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil [demons], and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

“And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine” Mark 5:1-18).

Here, unclean spirits were allowed to enter into unclean animals (which were an abomination to Christ — He abhorred the fact that they were being raised in his nation) and the result was a mass drowning of TWO THOUSAND PIGS!

In one of the most grotesque wresting and twisting of scripture I have ever seen, I once read a religious tract which alleged that this proved that the PIGS WERE WASHED, symbolically, and therefore CLEAN TO EAT! Those who so blatantly pervert the scriptures shall have their reward in Gehenna fire if they do not repent.

Obviously, Christ knew that the demons would destroy the swine! He would never have permitted them to destroy sheep, oxen, or cattle; the livelihood of an honest and Godfearing herdsman. But the pigs? They should not have been there! The lesson is that Christ allowed UNCLEAN spirits to destroy UNCLEAN animals! Not one WORD about making pigs clean!

Meats Which Are To Be Received With Thanksgiving

Another example of the violent wresting of scripture is found in Paul’s instructions to Timothy concerning “spiritism” and the “doctrines of demons.” He wrote, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

“Forbidding to marry [commanding celibacy], and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

Notice carefully the portions italicized. This passage says nothing whatsoever about clean or unclean. Rather, it says one of the doctrines of demons wold be that one should abstain from eating meat (technically, the Greek word merely means “food”}. It was commonly believed by those engaged in witchcraft and “wicca” that animal food was unfavorable for the development of mediumistic powers.

Notice that Paul only speaks of meats which he calls “creatures of God,” which are to be received with “thanksgiving.” The meats he speaks of are those which are “sanctified by the WORD OF GOD and by prayer!” The word of God includes Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, along with Genesis 6 and 7! One cannot ask God to bless food which the Creator Elohim — the One who became Christ int he flesh — has Himself condemned for human consumption!

No amount of human reasoning or twisting of the scripture will render pigs, possums, coons, skunks, clams, lobsters, shrimp, crawfish, catfish or “road kill” clean to eat!

God says “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Since modern society is filled with “seafood” restaurants (indeed, many a menu has almost NO CLEAN FOOD listed therein!), and since “everyone is doing it,” including the members of hundreds of denominations — church-going, Christian-professing people all — it seems SO RIGHT!

For generations, men have eaten pork and seafood, and, in many cases, such abominable creatures as snails, eels and snakes!

Now, notice what your Savior says about the laws He will invoke; about the punishments he will decree when He RULES this world with a rod of iron during His millennial reign:

“For, behold, the LORD [YHVH: Christ as a part of “Elohim”] will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

“For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many [see Revelation 19:11-21].

“They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

“For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

“And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

“And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 66:15-23).

This is a clear prophecy of the second-coming of Christ; of the regathering of the scattered remnants of His people from nations all over the world; of the setting up of His world-ruling government!

We are much, much CLOSER now to that great event, which will come only after the Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, and the DAY OF THE LORD — the time of the intervention of God in human affairs!

The time setting is inescapable!

It is at the time of Christ’s return, and the establishment of His KINGDOM on earth!

And what does He say about those who insist on eating unclean meats, such as pork, other “abominations” and “the mouse?” You have seen it with your own eyes. It is in YOUR Bible! Yes, Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday (as He gave Adam and his family, and Noah, His laws about clean and unclean) today (they are just as unclean now as they were then) and forever (He will destroy those who defy Him, and insist on eating abominable, unclean things!).

The time is coming when neither you, nor any other person will be given a CHOICE about eating pigs, catfish, or oysters! No, then all will be FORCED to obey!

But in the meantime, those who insist on leaning to their own “understanding,” and on “going along with the crowd” (after all, aren’t those all good church-going people over there, enjoying that steak and lobster on a Sunday afternoon?) are actually in terrible jeopardy of LOSING THEIR SALVATION!

May God cause you to heed His word, and CHANGE your habits, if you have been eating unclean things!

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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

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The post “To Eat, or Not to Eat…?” That is the Question first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.