Receiving An Answer You Do Not Want

Jarrod Jacobs

            An old saying often repeated is: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” In like manner, be careful when asking a question, you just might get an answer that you do not want! This is what happened when the rich young man asked Jesus a question about eternal life. Jesus answered him, but the man received an answer he did not want, so he abandoned Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22).

            What about us? Do we sometimes get an answer from God that we do not want? How do we react when we learn that the thing we have been doing (or would like to do) is not authorized in the Bible? Do we say, “I’m going to do it anyway”? Do we get mad, or sad? Do we say, “God’s way doesn’t make sense to me”? Yet, when we are honest, we know that such responses do not change God’s word. Getting mad or sad, or protesting, or substituting our ideas for God’s does not change what has been written.

            There are several “answers” from God that folks have not liked in the past. For example, some do not like God’s answer to their question, “What must I do to be saved?” The Lord’s answer is faith in Christ, repentance of sin, confession of faith, and baptism (Heb. 11:6; Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:10; I Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:22-38; etc.). People have been told various theories, and so when they hear the truth, there are some folks who do not like God’s answer.

            Another “answer” not accepted by folks is God’s answer to the question, “What kind of music do You accept in worship?” God’s answer is vocal music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:15; etc.). Is this the answer men give to us? If not, then whose answer will we accept?

            What is the proper response when we get an answer from God’s word that we do not want? The answer is to be honest, and to accept what the Lord says. Yes, there are times when the answers do not make “sense” to us. This does not give us license to change the answer, though! “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).

The Priceless Word Of God

Jarrod Jacobs

            Have you ever considered the value of God’s word? Yes, many consider it worthless. But, for those who are Christians and love the Lord, it is priceless!

            It is priceless because God breathed out (inspired) His word to men by the Holy Spirit (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21). Therefore, what we follow today is truly God’s word, and not man’s. We could place a price on the word of a man, but never upon God’s word!

            It is priceless because it is eternal. Many of the books men write today are out of date before they are published! Yet, God’s word is up-to-date (I Pet. 1:25). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). God’s eternal word is just as true (Jn. 17:17), as accurate, as alive (Heb. 4:12), and as needed today as ever!

            It is priceless because it is truth (Jn. 17:17). There are no false statements in God’s word. Though not a scientific book, God’s word is scientifically true (Gen. 1:1-2; Isa. 40:22; Ecc. 1:5-7). God’s word announces the truth concerning what men must do to be saved (Acts 2:38). It tells us how to live while upon this earth (Phil. 4:8-9; Tit.2:11-12). God’s word directs our steps for living a morally pure life (I Tim. 5:22; Matt. 5:22, 28, 33-48; etc.). God’s true word is a priceless treasure given to men.

            It is priceless because of what it took to get His word to us. It took the blood of the Son of God, of martyrs, prophets, and others. It took people losing their livelihoods, friends, family; yea everything so that God’s word might be spread (Heb. 11:32-39). Look closely into the life of the apostle Paul and see what he endured in order to spread God’s word (II Cor. 11:23-28). Consider what our Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer at the hands of His own in order to preach God’s word (Jn. 1:11). Yes, many people knew that God’s word is priceless. Consider the price they paid in order to teach it to others!

            Do we appreciate this priceless word as we should? I hope we do! God’s word was GIVEN to men. Yet, it is more valuable than the world!

“What Gospel Preaching Can Do”

Preaching Divine Creation stirs the Evolutionist.

Preaching the one true church stirs the denominationalists.

Preaching against liquor stirs the drinker.

Preaching on modesty stirs the immodest.

Preaching on attendance stirs those unfaithful in attendance.

Preaching on pure speech stirs the gossip.

Preaching on dedication stirs the uncommitted.

Preaching on honesty stirs the cheat.

Preaching against sin stirs the guilty.

Preaching on Christ stirs those who love Him.

Preaching on Heaven stirs the hearts of those who want to go there.
 

 Come visit the Caneyville church of Christ and hear soul-stirring Gospel preaching (Acts 17:6; Rom. 1:16; II Pet. 1:13, 3:1)!!

Some Questions That Jesus Asks Of Us

            Questions can be effective tools in teaching and learning. Jesus knew the power of questions and asked them often in His teaching.

            When the Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to tempt Him, He asked them simply, “Have you not read …?” (Matt. 19:4). Friend, we will never know how to act or live unless we spend time reading the Bible (Eph. 3:4)! How sad it is to see people who seem to have it all, except a proper knowledge of the Scriptures.

            We need to know what the Bible says because these words will judge us one day (Jn. 12:48). Having a proper knowledge of the Scriptures provides us with what we need to handle God’s word correctly; and be thoroughly furnished in all good works (II Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17).

            How can we know the Truth if we never read the Bible (Jn. 17:17)? We will be confused and groping in darkness if we refuse to read God’s word and examine it daily (Ps. 119:105).

            Jesus asked two vital questions in Matthew 16:26: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26). These two questions speak the same truth. What could one give in exchange for his soul? In truth, nothing! There is nothing we could exchange that would be equal in value to the human soul. Yet, many people exchange their soul daily for drugs, fleshly desires, power, wealth, etc. How sad it would be to pass into eternity knowing the Truth, and knowing you exchanged your soul for some temporary pleasure!

            Hopefully, we can see how powerful questions can be. It was the asking of questions that brought Adam and Eve out of hiding (Gen. 3:9-11). It was powerful questions that confronted the Jews’ error in Jesus’ day (Ex. Matt. 21:23-27). Let us never forget these questions that Jesus asks us today. What are you reading? What will you give in exchange for your soul? Life is too short and eternity is too long to dismiss these essential questions!

The Founders And Early Leaders Of This Country Knew God ....
 

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

• “He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.”
• “God governs in the affairs of men; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, neither can a kingdom rise without his aid.” (See: Daniel 4:32, 5:21; Matt. 10:29, JJ)
• “If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world?” (See: Matt. 6:19-21, JJ)

George Washington (1732-1799)

• “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” (See: I Cor. 15:33, JJ)
• “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”
   

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

• “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

• “All things desirable to men are contained in the Bible.”
• “I am not concerned whether God is on my side or not, but I am concerned whether I am on God’s side.”

.... Our Country’s Leaders Need To Know Him Today!