(Kent Heaton)
The fact that Jesus will return again is established by the mouth of angels in Acts 1:9-11,
"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'" What a wonderful thought to know that as Jesus came to the earth the first time to command sin, He returns a second time for salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)Paul referred to Jesus' return in numerous places of his writings
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom ... For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first ... For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." (2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:26) John, in the Revelation, wrote: "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20) The certainty of His coming is established in God's word and we must live each day with this realization and hope.The manner of His coming will be in person and with great noise as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The angels declare and John writes the coming of the Lord will be in the clouds. (Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7) No warning will be given to mankind to avert the just punishment or blessed hope of salvation.
"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:2,3)Men have sought for time eternal to learn of the day when the Lord will come. This cannot be known by man and is described as a thief coming in the night.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father ... Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming ... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (Mark 13:32; Matthew 25:13; 2 Peter 3:10)The purpose of His coming is not to establish the kingdom on earth. The kingdom of Christ has already been established as seen from Daniel 2:44, Mark 1:15, Mark 9:1, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4, Colossians 1:13 and Revelation 1:9. Jesus will not return to sit on David's throne as we see what Peter declared in his sermon of Acts 2:29-33 - that Jesus was sitting on David's throne. Jesus will not return to reign a thousand years on earth as His is now reigning:
"For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."The purpose of His coming again is to raise the dead (John 5:28,29; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17), to execute judgment (Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:31,32), to punish evil (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 20:15), to reward the righteous (Matthew 25:34, 46; 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Timothy 4:6-8) and to deliver up the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Revelation 22:12).
The Secret Things Belong To The Lord
(Kent Heaton)
Because of man's thirst for knowledge and the mysteries of the unknown, new worlds were established and unimaginable journeys achieved. The European mind set to find out what was beyond the horizon and thus the colonization of the Americas began. Through the eye of curiosity the question of a man setting foot on the moon became a reality. Diseases have been conquered, oceans opened up and a vast world that once was hidden from man is revealed.
There are many things that man has yet to discover and unfold. The cure for the common cold eludes man's greatest efforts. The mysteries of the stars remain millions of miles away. Man continues to inquire the answers to everything he can find and yet still will never be able to possess all knowledge. There are so many things that man wants to know and will never be able to understand. The first lesson man must learn in his search for truth is his own bounds of knowledge.
Moses reminded the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 29:29 that man is limited to what God allows him to discover and to understand.
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." The context of these words is Moses giving the law to the nation of Israel again and reminding them of God's power and His infinite wisdom. As with the nature of man, some may ask, "When will these things take place" or "How will they be fulfilled"? Moses' reply is that there are things that belong to God and to Him alone.The manner of God's revelation to man has only been to the measure of man's needs. There are many things that man has questions about that God does not reveal in His word. The spirit of the Athenians prevails in the mind of men to know what they cannot find out.
"For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." (Acts 17:21) There are many things that man will never know because God has not revealed them.Paul wrote in Romans 11:33-34,
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" God has reserved a myriad of things that man would seek to know. Why has he kept them from man? Peter answers in 2 Peter 1:3, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." What God has revealed to us is what we need to know about Him, His Son and His Spirit.The Bible is not an encyclopedia filled with every tidbit of information that would pass the mind of man. The Bible is the story of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of His statement in John 14:6,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The Bible is the revealed pattern of truth to guide men to Jesus Christ. We can only know and understand what God has revealed and no more.As Moses reminded the people of his day, our obligation and responsibility is to understand the words of God that are revealed.
"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30,31) The secret things of God belong to Him. The revealed words of God belong to us - to obey!Let Each Man Be Master In His Own House
(Kent Heaton)
Her name means "Beautiful" and God's word said, "she was beautiful to behold." She was the Queen of a vast domain that stretched from the borders of India to the sands of Ethiopia. Her husband was the most powerful man in the world as King of the empire of the Persians and Medes. In a day of great celebration, seven men came to the Queen and told her the King had asked for her presence at his table. The King's feast was "for all his officials and servants -- the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him -- when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all." (Esther 1:3,4)
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was "merry with wine," he commanded that the Queen be brought before him so that he may "show her off" to all those gathered. His intent was to put her before all those gathered to gaze and gawk at her beauty. Upon receiving the command to come, the Queen refused. The text gives no specific reason why she would not follow the King's command and while little is known about Vashti, some lessons can be learned.
The purpose of the King's command was one made in a drunken state. The Lord describes those who come under its influence as unwise. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1) Proverbs 23:29-35 describes the terrible impact of drunkenness and how, under the influence of alcohol, the "heart will utter perverse things." From his drunken mind, the King wanted to parade his wife as just so much flesh for all to look upon. She refused.
The book of Esther is about two women who had the courage to stand against the King. Esther would later take her life in her hands - trusting God - to approach the King. The example of Vashti to stand against the King and his command also shows a pattern of faithfulness. Her motives may not have been based upon the same ideals that Esther would later show but the example is clear. What her husband was asking her to do was improper.
The fear of the King (upon the advice of his advisors) was that other women would see this as an opportunity to rebel against their husbands. The decree went out that every person "in their own language that each man should be master in his own house." (1:22) This decree was based upon the refusal of Vashti to submit to the King's improper request.
The New Testament teaches that women are to submit themselves to their husbands - Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Titus 2:1-5; 1 Peter 3:1-5. The submission of the wife to the husband is to be according to the proper head-ship of the man. The husband should not ask the wife to engage in such activity that is improper nor against the will of God. Colossians 3:18 points out - "as is fitting in the Lord." This principle is shown by Peter in Acts 5:29 when he said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Our allegiance to God is first and then everything follows afterwards. Wives are to be subject to their husbands in every thing and husbands should not burden the wife with such things as would compromise her allegiance to God. The wife is obligated to refuse to submit to a request of the husband if such request is sinful and against the will of God. The master of the house is not the man but the Lord! 1 Corinthians 11:3 reminds us the head of man is Christ. Ephesians 5 illustrates the role of the man as the head of the woman in the same fashion that Christ is the head of the church.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33)Being Religious Without A Bridled Tongue
(Kent Heaton)
The impact of the word of God is only found when one goes beyond the hearing of the word and begins to apply it in his own life. James describes the importance of not only hearing the word but making application when he wrote, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." The word of God is to change our lives and by our example we will shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation when we become "doers of the word.". (Philippians 2:15)
Our speech is the greatest evidence of our applying the word of God to our lives. James discusses the difficulty of the tongue in James 3:2 - "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." People judge us by our speech and rightfully so as our speech comes from our heart. Matthew 12:35-37 records the serious nature of the tongue when Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." If we wrap ourselves in a cloak of Christianity and yet our words are not "seasoned with salt," then we will be found wanting in the day of the Lord.
Slander is an evil that proceeds from the heart of the fool. Proverbs 10:18 says, "Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool." The child of God is not one accused of slander as his example is one of honesty and purity. To slander someone is to practice character assassination. The intent of the one who slanders is to destroy the character of another person or persons. To belittle others is not in keeping with the law of God. The admonition of Peter is seen in 1 Peter 2:12 - "Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
In the same context we see Peter (writing during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Nero) exhorting the Christians to "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." (1 Peter 2:13-15) The conduct of the Christian should be one of example - even before those in ruling authority.
The mouth of slander is against the character of the child of God. The example seen by others will bring reproach upon the name of Christ and the church He died for. Again, James admonishes, "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." When the tongue is unbridled the religion of the one who slanders is useless to bring others to Christ. He deceives his own heart when he fails to see the example given by his coarse words and slander. "Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:10)
The difficulty with words is that when spoken - they can not be taken back. The same mouth that brought forth slander can also come words of repentance. If the heart of the child of God is seeking be a "doer of the word" then the admonition to repent and acknowledge sin is found in the mouth of confession. "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (Psalm 37:30,31)
The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy
(Kent Heaton)
William A. "Billy" Sunday said in a sermon, "The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion." (New York, 1914) At the completion of His creation, God looked upon everything and recognized that it was very good. All the needs of man were met in the creation to give him a reason to be glad and rejoice. Adam was in a beautiful garden with a beautiful companion to share his days with. They walked in the cool of the day with God and there were no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying and no pain. How joyous the world was in the peaceful time of communion with God. Then the serpent spoke to Eve.
God had warned Adam that eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would bring death. In partaking of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve took away the joy of God's presence and a separation filled with tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain would now be man's lot. Sin had engulfed the world with all its misery and blackness. The joy taken away through sin would not return to man in fullness until the coming of Jesus Christ.
The joy of being a Christian is the joy that is found in the Holy Spirit. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and "joy" is one of those blessed fruits. Joy is the expression of gladness and happiness of heart. While we equate joy with laughter and frivolity, true joy found in the fruit of the Spirit is much deeper. Joy is found in overcoming our tears, sorrows and afflictions. The church is Thessalonica "received the word in much affliction" but with the "joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 1:6) The Hebrews "took joyfully" the spoiling of the goods for the cause of Christ, "knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." (Hebrews 10:34)
Jesus is the author and the 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." (Hebrews 12:2) James admonishes Christians to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials." (James 1:2) The joy spoken of here is the blessed assurance we have in knowing that while we are enduring difficult times here on this earth, we look to our home where all these troubles will be taken away. The Holy Spirit is where we find this kind of joy as He bears fruit in us.
"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
(Matthew 5:12) Our lives are filled with the joy of righteousness and peace in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) Our prayers are filled with joy as Paul expressed in Philippians 1:4. Our hearts are glad with the knowledge that others are walking in truth. (3 John 1:4) Joy is found in helping the lost come to Christ. (Luke 15:10) Our hearts are filled with gladness to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel. (Acts 15:3)Life without joy and gladness is far from the fruit found in the Holy Spirit. Joy is gladness in the face of affliction and songs of praise in the moments of rejoicing. Partaking of the Holy Spirit produces joy and joy shines forth in ones daily life.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) This is not a single thought but a lifestyle that molds the life of the Christian. Joy and gladness will fill our hearts in the face of all things as we have the knowledge of the eternal joy that awaits the faithful. (Matthew 25:21)