Timeless Truths About The Bible

Jarrod Jacobs

                   The Bible is a powerful tool (Jer. 23:29). It is a warrior’s weapon (Eph. 6:17; II Cor. 10:3-5)! Unfortunately, the Bible is something that is taken for granted by many in our society. It is treated by some as a book of myths and legends, as a magic charm, and other things. It is time that we learned what the Bible truly is, and respect it for what it is.

                   A good way to appreciate the Bible is by noting its inspired descriptions. The Bible is described as the “sword of the Spirit” by the apostle Paul. “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm .... And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:13-17). Hebrews 4:12 declares God’s word to be sharper than any “two-edged sword.” When God’s word is handled accurately, it results in people being cut to the heart (Acts 2:37)! If people are not cut to the heart at the preaching and teaching of God’s word, something is wrong with the preacher or the listeners! We must handle God’s word correctly (II Tim. 2:15). May we remember God’s word is a “sword” and use it as a good soldier should!

                   God’s word is also compared to a fire. Jeremiah wrote, “Is not my word like a fire declares the Lord … ?” (Jer. 23:29). Just as a fire can burn off the chaff in the field, so also, the Lord’s word can burn away the “trash” in our lives to reveal a heart ready to do His will. In connection with this, I find it fascinating to read that when the disciples spoke with the Lord on the road to Emmaus, they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Lk. 24:32).

                   Another description of the word of God is “truth.” In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He readily proclaimed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). In a world known for dishonesty, God’s word is truth! Never forget this!

                   Just as we see timeless truths in the description of the Bible, we also see timeless truths when observing people’s reactions to it! When people hear God’s Word, they will react in one of two ways without exception. They will either accept and obey God’s word, or they will reject and dismiss God’s word. Let us look at some examples of this.

                   First, we see Abraham. He displays a heart of submission. When called by God, he answered, “Here am I” (Gen. 22:1) and was obedient to God’s command. In contrast, when Pharaoh heard God’s word, he hardened his heart (Ex. 5-12). Again, we find that the apostles showed their submission to the Lord when He spoke, but many of Jesus’ disciples “walked with him no more” when He said something they did not want to hear (Jn. 6:66-69).

                   Friend, which best describes you? Do you act like Abraham or Pharaoh when you read and study God’s word? Will you be like the apostles of the Lord, or those foolish followers who left the Lord when He expected them to change? Let us all show the proper respect for the word of God. Let us read, study, speak, and submit to God’s word (I Pet. 4:11; Eph. 4:3).

“759 Ways To Improve Your Life”

Jarrod Jacobs

                   The above title was on a magazine cover I saw once. As I read that title, I could not help but stand amazed at the extent to which our society has become enamored with self. Is it not amazing that someone could find “759 ways” to improve one’s physical life, and in all of this could not see that there is but one thing that will make the greatest improvement? The greatest improvement for a person is the salvation of one’s soul from sin! Yes, it is the soul of man that needs help, rather than the body, for this is the part of man that endures! The apostle Paul wrote, “... though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (II Cor. 4:16). In addition to this, we learn, “For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (I Tim. 4:8). True “improvement” is going to come when we endeavor to make our souls right with God. This results in a permanent change for the better. It is not to be found in spending our lives in the pursuit of physical perfection, a temporary improvement at best (I Pet. 1:24)!

                   Such Biblical facts as these ought to show us that spending our days in pursuit of “759 ways,” to improve our physical lives really does little for us. Our focus ought to be on finding that “one thing” which will improve our spiritual lives now and prepare us for eternity! Let us focus upon the soul and be determined to have it cleansed from sin and prepare ourselves for eternity! How is this done? It begins with obeying the Lord’s plan for salvation (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). Bear in mind that we need to continue by being faithful to God (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10). We need to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). It is tragic, but for many in this world, the last thing they think about is their soul! It is too easy to place jobs, retirement, hobbies, yard work, friends, and family responsibilities ahead of our soul and our relationship with God. Some think, “I’ll worry about my soul later.” Yet, many in this world do not have a “later” (Prov. 27:1)!

                   Parents, what thought have you given to your children and their precious souls? Remember, you have been entrusted with these dear ones, and are to train them up right (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:3-5; etc.). Parents, have we ever considered the fact that such passages as Matthew 5:14-16, 7:12; Ephesians 4:25, 29, 31; II Timothy 2:2; and others apply in our homes? We cannot go on “auto-pilot” when raising our children! Do not assume children have Bible knowledge simply because they sat beside you in church services! Furthermore, don’t assume YOU have acquired sufficient Bible knowledge (Eph. 5:17; II Tim. 2:15) if YOU have done nothing more than occupy a seat beside your children!

                   It is high time we stopped looking for “759 ways” to improve our physical lives and look for the ONE THING that will improve our souls! When the soul is right before God, then the physical life will follow. Isn’t this Christ’s point in Matthew 6:33? However, if we think that improving the physical body will improve the soul, we have put the cart before the horse! Think seriously about how we are living now, and how we can prepare for eternity! (II Cor. 6:2)

Don’t Believe Your Eyes!

Jarrod Jacobs

                   Magicians’ sleight of hand fools most people when it is done correctly. When watching them, we are wise when we heed the warning, “Don’t believe your eyes.” Many a short man has been made taller on television and in the movies by filming him next to his “leading lady” while he stands on a box! Many a computer has generated scenes and events for movies that could never have happened otherwise. Again, don’t believe your eyes! Since our senses, especially our sight, can be misled, does it not then make sense that through our senses, specifically our sight, Satan will tempt us to do evil? This is what he does!

                   In the beginning, Satan tempted Eve by encouraging her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This was a violation of God’s command (Gen. 2:17, 3:4-5). When, among other things, Eve “saw” the fruit was “pleasant to the eyes” she ate of that fruit (Gen. 3:6). This was not the only way Satan tempted her, but the lust of the eyes, the appeal to what her eyes saw, was a key element in her temptation, which led to her sin, and ultimately to her spiritual death (Gen. 2:15-17; Jas. 1:14-15).

                   In like manner, we must be careful with what we look at from day to day. For example, Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). He was wise and saw the dangers associated with using his eyes and mind to lust after a woman. Christ also said that our sense of sight could lead us into sin. He said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). Let us pay close attention to these words! Both God and Satan know that the lust of the eyes can lead us into sin. Therefore, we must be on our guard to make sure we do not sin by lusting after others, whether it is a person at work, at school, on television, on the computer, in a magazine, etc.!

                   Another sin we can commit with our eyes is when we have a “proud look” (Prov. 6:17-19). God hates the proud look; it is an abomination to Him. In contrast, God’s commends humility in all people (I Pet. 5:5-6).

                   The apostle Peter wrote to the Christians, warning them about false teachers. He described false teachers in the following way: “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing” (II Pet. 2:14-15). Notice that these people had “eyes full of adultery”! How did they get that way? Does this description sound like these people are the kind of people who are going to encourage us in things which lead to Heaven by their examples? When people around us have eyes that are “full of adultery”, don’t believe your eyes (or theirs)!

                   At times, our little children sing the song, “O, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.” After reading of God’s warnings concerning our eyes, isn’t it time for the adults to sing (and live) this song as well?

Unless The Lord Builds The House …

Jarrod Jacobs

                   About 1000 years before Christ, David wrote, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain…” (Ps. 127:1). These words are just as true today as they were when they were penned. Unless the Lord is building the house, (i.e., one’s family) the efforts of men are in vain.

                   How can the Lord build our house? Allowing the Lord to build our house means that we are allowing the Lord to take first place in our lives. All that we do and say in our home must be based upon what the Lord has already said (Col. 3:17; I Pet. 4:11). When a husband and wife submit their lives to the Lord’s will (Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:2-3), they will be truly blessed by God.

                   Some today try to say a family can include two men marrying one another, or two women marrying one another. Some have said that polygamy is acceptable before God. Yet, when we read the Bible, we see that God has described who can be married and why. In the beginning, we find that God created man and woman, and these two, male and female, are the ones to be married (Gen. 2:18-25). This was God’s plan from the beginning. Jesus also repeated the truth of Genesis 2 in Matthew 19:4-6.

                   Sadly, our world says that marriage should only last so long as it is “convenient” for both partners. In fact, one practice becoming more widespread is children being brought into the world without folks feeling the “need” for being married. There are many people today just “playing house”. Sometimes, people are living this way because they allowed their passions to get out of control, and what was beautiful within the relationship of marriage (I Cor. 7:2) was made ugly due to sin. Sometimes, this behavior is excused as a way to get a “tax break” or a check from the government. How terrible that we justify our sins in the name of money! We need to get acquainted with I Timothy 6:10! This society has forgotten the words of Scripture which say: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterous” (Heb. 13:4).

                   Others wish to make things “legal” and be married, but they have either divorced for an unscriptural reason, or have married someone who does not have the Scriptural right to be married (Matt. 5:32, 19:9). In such a case, they are not allowing the Lord to build their house, either. God does not sanction sin. He does not bless people spiritually for their wrongdoing. Since this is true, we know that those trying to build their house in this way are doing it in vain. They are trying to build a house without the authority of God (Matt. 7:21-23).

                   Are we trying to build our house without the Lord? If so, why are we doing this? David makes it clear that it is a waste of our time to do so. Let us humble ourselves before God and accept His way of doing things. God loves us and He always has our best interests in mind. Yet, when we try to build a house without the Lord, we will fail every time.

“What Is The church Of Christ?” (#2)

Jarrod Jacobs

                   Yesterday, we studied about the church of Christ and learned that the church was founded by Christ and is made up of Christians (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47, 11:26). It is not a building, but saved people (I Cor. 12:12-14). We learned about the organization; the work God gave the church to do; and even that the church of Christ simply uses the Bible, and not man’s ideas, for its rule of faith and practice (I Pet. 4:11).

                   Another truth about the church of Christ is that it is not a denomination. In other words, the church of Christ did not separate from another religious body as the Protestants did the Catholic Church. Several hundred years ago, these people “protested” the practices of the Catholic Church and broke away from it. The church of Christ, however, did not break or sever ties from any other church, because the church of Christ existed BEFORE all other churches began (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:38-47; Rom. 16:16)! Therefore, those belonging to the church of Christ (Christians, Acts 11:26) are not a part of a denomination. They belong to the one body, the one church described in Scripture (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4; Col. 1:26). The Lord’s church has been in existence since the first century and will be delivered up to God one day (I Cor. 15:24). Do you belong to a denomination? If so, why?

                   The worship of the church of Christ becomes a subject of discussion with folks at times. Jesus demands that our worship to God be “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). What does this mean? In this text, the word “in” means “in connection with.” Jesus was literally saying that true worshipers must worship God in connection with the spirit, and in connection with the truth.

                   The word “spirit” means those things related to the spiritual realm. Jesus shows that the true worshippers need to be focused on spiritual matters, not physical. Paul wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). That is why true churches of Christ do not engage in pie suppers, raffles, bingos, church-sponsored schools, etc. Such is contrary to her spiritual nature!! What is the “truth”? Jesus says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Jesus said God’s word EQUALS the truth. Scriptural worship demands that we worship God with our focus on things spiritual, and worship in connection with what the Bible says!

                   At the same time, God demands certain acts in our worship to Him. It is not left up to us to worship God any way we please (Jer. 10:23)! God has never left man to worship as he sees fit, but has always described and specified acceptable worship. Under the New Covenant, we see that worship to God includes partaking of the Lord’s Supper and giving of our means every first day of the week, as well as praying, preaching the gospel, and singing (Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2). These acts of worship to God were done in the first century, and the church of Christ continues to do them today.

                   Does your church worship the way the Bible teaches? Examine the Scriptures and compare what you do with what the Bible has specified.