THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

The political year of 2008 will be engraved upon the pages of history as a most unusual time. Some describe the year as one of political turmoil. There is so much unsettling with the state of the Union, the affairs of State, the disturbing news of war that continues and moral values that seem to have lost any backbone at all. Everyone has an opinion about the Presidential race. In not too many months a new President will be selected. How will the country fare?

The fisherman apostle Peter was a tempestuous character filled with vim and vigor. He is renowned for his impetuous spirit that caused the Lord concern at times and yet found a source of strength for the Savior. Simon had many challenges to overcome from the reading of the gospels and the Acts. One cannot help but be moved by the change that takes place in the reading of Peter’s epistles. He is a different man there. Found within the words of his first epistle, Peter proclaims, “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

A simple four-point lesson of being a peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14) shows the relationship with humanity, the body of Christ, the Godhead and the government. The remarkable admonition of this verse is the consideration of giving honor to the king. While the date of 1 Peter is not determined with a complete authority, “numerous incidental and inferential references in the book fix the date within reasonably well defined limits … We may, therefore, with reasonable probability, fix the date of the epistle on the eve of the Neronian persecution.” (Woods, Guy N., A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter, pp16,17.).

Nero's rule is often associated with tyranny and extravagance. Space does not permit a discourse on the immoral, depraved, turbulent, corrupt world of the political atmosphere of Peter’s day. Just one name will sum it up: Nero. The early Christians lived in this type of world. When reading the epistle from the apostle of Christ, their hearts must have ached at the knowledge that honor was to be given to such a man as Nero. Adam Clarke said of this passage, “Pay that respect to the emperor which his high authority requires, knowing that civil power is of God; that the authority with which he, in the course of his providence, has invested him, must be respected in order to its being obeyed; and that if the man be even bad, and as a man be worthy of no reverence, yet he should be respected on account of his office.”

The apostle Paul wrote, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This is not a year of political turmoil; this is a year of devoted prayer for those who will be in authority so that gospel will continue to have free course.

Next year when a new President enters the Oval Office, those same prayers must be offered in respect and honor – no matter our political slant or view. Christians are in the world but not of the world. We are to stand above the rabble of dissent that disrespects those in authority (Romans 13:1-7). Just think … we could be living in the time of Nero … and then what?

There are teachings in the Bible that are not the easiest things to accept. Depending upon our own situation, some things may be more difficult than others. The temptation is that, when faced with a teaching that is not exactly what we want, we might "smooth" it down just a bit in order to make it more palatable. In other words, we might even "rearrange" some of God's teachings in order to make them fit what we like, rather than being determined to change our lives to fit what the Bible teaches.

The wicked king Ahab was not a friend of true prophets. When desiring to go to war against Ramoth-gilead, with Jehoshaphat as an ally, he called his own prophets to tell him what he wanted to hear (2 Chronicles 18). Jehoshaphat knew better, so he asked if there was "yet a prophet of the Lord that we may inquire of him?" Ahab was now going to have to face what he didn't want: the truth. "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla" (vs. 7). Sure enough, Micaiah told Ahab what he didn't want to hear, and Ahab had Micaiah locked up for it. It wasn't that Micaiah was mean or ugly about what he said; it's just that he told the truth.

God's people were warned by Isaiah about making an alliance with Egypt. They wanted to "execute a plan, but not" the Lord's (Isaiah 30:1). Through Isaiah, God said that these were "rebellious people ... who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord." Their attitude was manifest in their desire for the smooth things: "Who say to the seers, 'You must not see visions' ; and to the prophets, 'You must not prophecy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words (i.e., smooth things), prophesy illusions. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel'" (vv. 9-11). They had their own desires and really didn't care about what God had to say. This is a continual danger today.

We find a similar warning in the New Testament. Timothy was told to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). The urgency of being committed to preaching the word is seen in the next verses: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths" (vv. 3-4). Again, the temptation is that, when faced with difficult teachings, we may disregard truth in favor of the "smooth things." There will always be teachers who will smooth out the difficult things of God.

So we must examine our hearts. What do we really want to hear? Probably all would say that they want the "truth." Even Ahab said that. But in reality what we might really want is a smidgen of truth mixed with a lot of fluff. "Make us feel good about ourselves." "Build our self-esteem." "Just give us the positive." So the road is paved toward accumulating for ourselves teachers according to our own desires. Better be careful.

Even things that we hear a lot about may not be the easiest to accept. I believe that one of the most difficult statements is in Luke 9:23: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." We hear it; we preach it. But we still must admit that self-denial is, at best, difficult to swallow. We may even think we are practicing it, but then find ourselves swelling up with pride and selfish ambition. I would venture to say that herein lies the problem in most divisions within local congregations (see Philippians 2:3-4). It's not as easy as we think, for selfishness is too often rearing its ugly head.

Concerning an issue such as marriage and divorce, the disciples understood what Jesus had to say about it as being difficult: "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry" (Matthew 19:10). What Jesus said was strict enough that it caused the disciples to recognize that it was not the easiest teaching in the world. Our goal then, in dealing with an issue like this, is to arrive at truth, no matter how difficult it may be, rather than attempting to speak things that people selfishly want to hear because it accommodates their situation. This is true of any issue.

Worldliness, modesty, and a host of other issues can be rather difficult to hear for us. We don't want to hear about the things we must "give up" in order to faithfully serve the Lord. We don't like to hear those things that would cause us to make changes, however drastic, in our lives. We don't like to hear about the sins of which we may be guilty. So the ever-present temptation is, once again, to smooth out the difficult things and adapt God's word to our lives, rather than desiring to adapt our lives to fit the teachings of God's word. Even saying these things are difficult for me; I'm as guilty as anyone.

Attitude toward truth is really what's at issue here. Most of us say we want truth; now only each individual can look deeply enough into his or her heart to know if he or she really loves it. Just remember that God knows our hearts as well, and no matter how much we say it, if we don't love the truth deep down, delusions may be allowed into our lives so that we accept lies (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). That's a scary thought that motivates us to really examine ourselves.

Paul thanked God for the attitude of the Thessalonians, for "when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). May God help us all to attain to the same attitude. When teachings are difficult, let's not try to smooth them out so that they lose their force; rather, let's admit the obvious and seek to adjust our lives accordingly.

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich colors and bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing ragged pieces of cloth together, thread bare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives have been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter once in a while. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick myself up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judge me.

And now I had to find the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it is. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12).

Whatever hardships we may yet have to face, the help of God that has brought us this far is no small thing to be thankful for. Bogged down as we often are in the painful particulars of daily living, our perspective may be so confined that we suppose the bad outweighs the good. Like Job, we may foolishly wish we had never been born (Job 3:1-26). We may question whether there is any use in trying to go forward, or whether, if we do try to go forward, there is any possibility that we will find the help we need. But consider this: the person who is alive to ponder such questions is always a person on whom God has not given up. Without His constant grace, we'd not have made it this far.

The Scriptures teach that God is not only the Creator; He is the Sustainer of life. The Hebrew writer says that God "upholds" all things by His power (Hebrews 1:3). And Paul reminded the Athenians that it is in Him that we "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). If God ever withdrew Himself from us completely, we would in that instant cease to enjoy anything that deserves to be called "life." And very likely, in that instant we'd also be stricken with the consciousness of the good we had taken for granted, including the gift of all the time we used up questioning whether God had been good to us. It is, after all, only by God's grace that we have the "opportunity" to doubt Him.

Do we despise the grace that has upheld us? Though we have more than mere survival to be thankful for, can we not see even in this survival evidence that God is willing to help us? He has not only proven His power, He has proven His patience with us!

A failure of gratitude is one of life's more serious failures, and one that is fraught with danger. Without God's providence, we would have been vanquished long ago. If we don't acknowledge that He has graciously watched over us in the past, we may have to learn the hard way what the diminishing of His grace means in the future (Isaiah 5:1-7). But if we will look backward with the eyes of gratitude, we can look forward with the eyes of faith.