THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

This time of year is filled with anticipation and excitement, as young people who have spent more than half of their life in school will graduate and move on to the next phase of their lives. With eagerness, graduates will enter the world with naïve expectations and goals. There will be many lessons to learn from the “university of hard knocks” and without proper guidance, these decisions will lead to life long regrets. How can the young secure their hearts to make decisions that will offer a life time of rewards? The answer lies within the pages of God’s word.

The fifth book of the Bible is a place of transition for a newly formed nation. From the days of Abraham in Genesis through the stories of the Exodus, the nation of Israel was formed and delivered from the bondage of Egyptian oppression. Because of rebellion, the nation had spent forty years wandering through the wilderness. Joshua has taken the lead of the nation following the death of Moses. The Lord’s advice to Joshua in Joshua 1 is an important foundation that young people should build their lives upon.

In verse two, Jehovah says to Joshua – “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” Joshua needed to recognize that the days of Moses were passed and that a new day dawned. There was a time of mourning for Moses (Deuteronomy 34) but those days were passed. There was work to be done and goals to accomplish. The Jordan River needed to be crossed to conquer the land. Joshua should focus on the task at hand without the regrets and disappointments of yesterday.

Someone once said, “We are victims of our past, prisoners of the present and judges of our future.” The days of High School are over and the expanse of life is before each graduate. An eye of anticipation should prevail as each graduate begins to set the course for his or her life. There may be regrets in life and disappointments but what matters now is establishing solid patterns of decisions that will lessen the regrets of the future. “Now therefore” signifies the face being set for the challenges of tomorrow.

God tells Joshua to “arise and go over this Jordan.” This is the importance of action and direction. Talking about conquering the land of Canaan did not get the job done. Crossing the Jordan and going about the work of God’s plan required action. In life, there will be many Jordan’s to cross. There will be Jericho’s that give us great victory (Joshua 6) and there will be failures as in the day of Ai (Joshua 7). The difference between Jericho and Ai is whether one trust in the Lord and obeys him.

Joshua was promised by God that in obedience, no man would be able to stand against the people of God nor would God forsake them. (Joshua 1:5) The most valuable tool the graduate can take with them in life is the promise of God given to Joshua. If one will fully trust in the Lord and seek His guidance in life, great victories will be achieved. Forsaking Jehovah will only bring failure. It takes courage to face the uncertainties of the future. “Be strong and of a good courage.” (Joshua 1:6) Be alert to the wiles of the devil (1 Peter 5:8) and follow the admonition of Paul in Ephesians 5:15,16 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

The final advice is never to let the word of God depart from your life. “Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left … not depart out of thy mouth … meditate day and night … observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:7-8) The decision is yours graduate. Let Jehovah God rule in your life and guide your steps.

Are you a Christian yet? If not, why not? Here are the top 10 reasons why some people delay in becoming a Christian, along with a brief response:

10. "A lot of Christians are hypocrites." - This is a true statement. Many Christians are hypocrites. This should not be too surprising, because there are bad apples in every basket. The standard to which God calls us should not be judged by a few bad apples. Besides, would you rather spend a few years, putting up with a few hypocrites in church, or spend eternity with all of them in hell? (Matthew 13:24-43)

9. "I am not good enough." - When one becomes a Christian, it is not because he, or she is good. In fact, we become Christians because we recognize that we are not good. We are sinners. The redemption of the Christian is based on grace and faith, not one's own righteousness (Romans 3:21-28). If it was based on righteousness, nobody would be a Christian, much less be saved (Romans 3:23; James 2:10-11).

8. "I do not know enough." - Do you believe there is a God? Do you believe that Jesus is His Son, who died on the cross to save us from our sins, and was resurrected to give us hope? Are you willing to accept Him as your Lord and Savior, to follow Him wherever He leads you? His commands are simple: After hearing the gospel, you must believe, repent from your sins, confess Him, and be immersed in water into His body (Romans 10:8-18; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-27). The rest will come with time and diligence (I Peter 5:10; Hebrews 5:12-14). Trust Him.

7. "It is too hard." - Being a Christian is hard work. Before one becomes a Christian they should count the cost, and commit themselves to Christ, whatever the cost (Luke 9:57-62; 14:26-35). However, you should know that choosing not to be a Christian will produce a life that is even harder (Matthew 11:28-30). To help us, God has provided spiritual tools that enable us to grow as a Christian and overcome this life (II Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-18). These tools are only available to Christians (Ephesians 1:3). If we run away from the difficulties of being a Christian, we will run straight into a trapped life of ruin and misery, which will bring insurmountable and eternal difficulties.

6. "I am too wicked. God could not forgive me." - What have you done? Have you persecuted Christians? Forcing them to blaspheme their own Savior through slow and painful torture? Have you persecuted them to the point of death? If God can accept Saul, the persecutor of Jesus and Christians (I Timothy 1:13-16; Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-22), and if He can forgive those who crucified His own Son (Luke 23:33-34; Acts 2:36-47), then will He not readily accept you (Luke 15:1-32)? Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, including yours (I John 2:2; I Timothy 2:5-6).

5. "But, that means my family is going to hell!" - Once someone realizes the truth of his condemned state, it does not take long before he considers the fate of his loved ones. This realization often produces much worry and heartache. Such a person may allow this concern to overpower his desire to save himself. However, denying the truth will not change their true state before God (I Corinthians 4:1-5). The only real hope of saving your loved ones is to first become a Christian, and then you can reach out to them with the gospel. Ignoring the judgment to come does not make it go away. Turning a blind eye only makes condemnation inevitable (Romans 11:7-10).

4. "God is merciful. He would not condemn me." - God truly is merciful. He does not want any to be lost (II Peter 3:9). That is why He gave His Son to be sacrificed upon the cross, thereby giving us an opportunity to be saved (John 3:16). However, the Lord is also just, and He will one day return unexpectedly, as a "thief in the night" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3). Then the door of opportunity will be closed, and only those who are prepared will be saved (Matthew 25:1-13). At that time, He will be "revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 2:7-8). This is God's promise and warning. Will you ignore the warning?

3. "I am a good, moral person. God would not condemn me." - On that last great day, there will be many surprised people, whom we might would consider good, moral people. Many might have even acknowledged Him as Lord (Matthew 7:21). Some might have gone so far as to have performed many great works in His name (Matthew 7:22). However, if they have not obeyed and performed according to the Lord's command, then Jesus will not recognize them, and they will be eternally condemned (Luke 13:23-27; Matthew 7:21-23). Are you obeying the Lord's command (Mark 16:15-16)?

2. "I'm not ready yet. Maybe tomorrow?" - Some people want to finish sowing their wild oats. Once they have had their full of sin and its pleasures, then they plan to offer their ragged life to God, just before they expire. Such people underestimate God. He will not be tricked, or mocked (Galatians 6:7-8). You will reap what you sow. In reality, the race is not to become a Christian before you die, but to repent before your heart becomes hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, unable to hear the word and repent (Hebrews 3:13; Luke 8:4-15).

1. Me, myself, and I - Few, if any, would readily admit this is the reason for delaying their conversion. However, at some point, all of the nine above reasons cease to be barriers, and they become excuses, masking their own selfish, stubborn rebellion as the true reason (Romans 1:18-32). However, such people will one day find themselves surrounded by all the selfish beings that ever lived, angels and people (Matthew 25:41-46). How effectively will you be able to serve yourself and find happiness in that realm of eternal evil, darkness, and suffering, where nothing good dwells?

If you are delaying becoming a Christian, then please answer the question, "Why?" What stands in your way between you and the Lord? Why will you not do what you know to be right? How do you know this is not your last chance before you either die or your conscience becomes so hardened that it can no longer be pricked by the truth? If something still stands in your way, please talk to me, or any Christian, about it. There is nothing worth losing your one and only eternal soul (Mark 8:34-38)!

When Peter penned his first epistle, he exhorted the pilgrims to whom he wrote to consider how short life was and the reality of the coming of the Lord. In part he said, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:7-9). When times are tough like they are now, good advice is worth more than the riches being lost daily. Peter’s application of the end of all things suggests the urgency of making certain lives are ready to meet the Lord. This admonition is needful for every day of our lives because we do not know when death will be the unwelcome guest in our homes (Hebrews 9:27) nor when the Lord will return (2 Peter 3).

There is a need for serious minded people. The cares and riches of this world tend to lead to frivolity and failure to properly put the mind in frame of the serious nature of life. We do not live in this life to secure a place in this life but rather we live with the conscious realization of the world to come. When the doctor tells the patient that life is short and death is certain an overwhelming gravity engulfs the heart with the realities of life. Peter’s admonition is for all men to live each day with the serious reality of life. Death will come to all men if not in the coming of the Lord.

With this realization is the need for serious, watchful prayer. Why would Peter suggest the need of prayer during this time? One reason he explains later in 1 Peter 5. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is very productive in helping people turn their eyes away from the end of times and act as if they would live a thousand years. The Lord wants us to see the end of time coming and Satan wants us to ignore it. Through prayer we must look through the eye of faith at the coming of the Lord.

Being watchful in our prayers is part of the armor of God. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:17-18). Watchful people are prayerful people. Those who do not pray do not watch. Prayer helps us see the truth of death. Prayer directs our minds to the throne of the Father so that when He sends His Son to gather all saints home it will not be a surprise to those who were watching and praying (Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36).

The final admonition in our text is the importance of showing love and compassion to one another. Fervent love is a deep affection and regard for brethren. The bond of love holds God’s people together (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 1:22; Colossians 3:14). The end of all things demands joining forces against Satan with the love of the Father. In our trying times we need each other for support. Fervent love and hospitality is the ointment of compassion on the wounds of our troubled day. We do not grumble nor murmur but exhort and encourage.

Are times tough? Be of sober mind, pray without ceasing, show love for one another and be filled with the spirit of benevolence “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

§ The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the “get rich” theory of life. (Theodore Roosevelt)

§ Contentment is not found in having everything but in being satisfied with everything you have.

§ God will take care of man’s spiritual needs provided man will consent for God to do it his own way. (K. C. Moser)