THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

Nearly two-thousand years ago, four writers recounted the life of a man who lived just over three decades. A little less than 84,000 words cover the four gospels of the “Word” (John 1:1) that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). How would the angels have written the final three years of Jesus’ life? The apostle John acknowledges in the closing of his book, “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). It seems so small in comparison to the scale of His life yet such a complete record that no other proof is needed of His existence. Even three years causes one to ponder the brevity of life of one that would change the face of mankind forever.

Matthew gives us the Jesus of the Jewish people to believe that the promises of the Messiah are found in the life of the one born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of scripture. Often through Matthew’s writing are found the expressions, “then was fulfilled” (Matthew 2:17), “thus it is written” (Matthew 2:5), “was spoken by the prophet” (Matthew 3:3) to show the heritage of Jesus. Mark declares to the Gentile world the evidence of one who came to save all mankind. The message is quick, clear and with power – appealing especially to the Roman mind.

Luke, the gentle physician, helps us embrace the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth. Through his writings the historian declares in simple tones the life of the son of Joseph “as was supposed” (Luke 3:23) … “the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38). John, beloved of the Lord, departs from the pattern of the other writers and majestically reveals the divine nature of “the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

The three years of Jesus’ life changed the world. Our calendars testify to the carpenter from Nazareth every time we inscribe a new year. The teachings of this Galilean rabbi have established governments and destroyed others. No life in the history of man will ever rise to the influence of the one whose life ended on a Roman cross. By His own words, no other being will bring man to the Creator but Jesus Christ. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:6-7).

After His death, disciples would give their lives spreading the teaching of the one called “Christ” (Acts 2:36). They would be beaten and killed because of His name. Lives would be spent in teaching and proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world (Colossians 1:23). Kingdoms and empires would rise up in opposition but unable to quench the thirst of those seeking the “living water” (John 7:38). The pages of His life – three years - would be spread to the four-corners of the earth unabated. Today we still live under the influence and power of those brief years.

The first thirty years of His life were significant but with little testimony. The final years of the life of Jesus is where eternity depends. Without the message of those brief years, man would have no hope and no promise. Thank God for three years. The real joy of those three years is found at the end – which is the beginning – HE LIVES!

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:25).

The prophet James, the brother of Jesus, teaches us that we need to remember the source of all good and every blessing we enjoy. We are totally dependent on His gracious hand for every physical and spiritual gift.

I do not religiously observe December 25 as a memorial to Jesus’ birthday, since His authorized memorial is the weekly Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:42; 20:7). Yet, in this holiday season of exchanging gifts with loved ones, we should pause to remember and thank Him who is the source of every good thing we enjoy, even the air we breathe and life itself. “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

In our modern, technological age, when we marvel at the great “advances” mankind has made, I am reminded of this Resolution of the United States Senate (1863), which was signed by Abraham Lincoln as a Proclamation for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting, from which I quote in part: “We have forgotten the gracious Hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.” We need such humility and appreciation for God’s providential help today.

In remembering the Giver of every good gift, I greatly appreciate the statement of President Thomas Jefferson in his Second Inaugural Address (1805): “I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our fathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life; who has covered our infancy with His providence and our riper years with His wisdom and power, and to whose goodness I ask you to join in supplications with me that He will so enlighten the minds of your servants, guide their councils, and prosper their measures that whatsoever they do shall result in your good.” I was fortunate to have the opportunity to share this with the Madison City Council, upon leading the opening prayer for their recent city council meeting.

Even if men forget God, He is good enough to send the sun and the rain (Matthew 5:45). He does not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Perhaps there is hope and time enough for men to turn to the gracious God, who longs to give the best gift of salvation from sin to those who obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 22:16).

The mercury has been rather erratic here recently; down into the teens a time or two and then up into the mid-70's. Even though I am a native Floridian, I thoroughly enjoy the colder weather and love it when we experience some winter weather down here. Now, do you know the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat? A thermometer is circumstantial--it rises or falls depending on its surroundings or circumstances. A thermostat is influential--depending on how it is set, it causes its surrounding to either rise or fall.

What kind of Christian are you - a thermometer Christian or a thermostat Christian? Thermometer Christians are circumstantial - they just adjust to what everyone else in their surroundings are doing. If the family is together and having a fun time, they fit right in with a smile on their face. If they are at church or at a gathering with other Christians, they fit right in and use holy speech and conduct. If their co-workers are sharing a filthy joke, they fit right in and double over in hysterics at the punch line. Their character and morals rise or fall depending on their environment.

Thermostat Christians are influential because they affect those in their surroundings by the things they do. If the family gets together and tension fills the air, they mollify them by kindness, goodwill or even humor. If co-workers are sharing a filthy joke, they let them know it is not appropriate or unappreciated.

Jesus spoke about being a Thermostat Christian in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

A number of years later Peter said, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 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" (1 Peter 2:11-12). Help to improve the environment and circumstances around you. Raise the conduct of others by your conduct.

You see, Peter knew personally what he was writing about because earlier in his life, he behaved like a Thermometer Christian when he was carried away with the crowd and acted hypocritically. Take a few moments and read Galatians 2:11-21 and realize that we all need to be on guard against such behavior. The apostle Paul confronted Peter for this conduct and "withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed" (v. 11).

I am sure that one of the biggest contributors to the confusion, dissatisfaction, distraction and weariness of our lives is that they are too complicated. Our lives are filled with too much clutter. We are living in a hall of mirrors so that we cannot distinguish between reflections and reality. We are constantly running into walls and in circles without making any progress.

Let me make a couple of suggestions. First, set priorities. List what must be done in your life. There are many things I want to do that I have left undone for many years. I still haven't finished that children's book I started twenty years ago. I keep meaning to get with my friend Steve to work on our music. There are projects galore around my house that need some attention.

But my days are focused on accomplishing one thing. Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Jesus told Martha that only one thing was necessary. Think about that. There is only ONE necessary thing. If you leave that out nothing will ever be right. We will never find peace and calm. But if we focus on that one thing, the will of God, everything else will fall into place.

Second, set goals. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:26, "Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air." How do you "aim" to accomplish your priority in life? Are there "unnecessary" things that are standing in your way? The Hebrew writer says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

Is your life tangled up and tied down so that you feel that you are getting nowhere with God? Perhaps it would help to sit down and make a list of your obligations. What are your "goals" this week, this month, this year?

Can you accomplish those goals without altering the priority of your life? How many "goals" are really "clutter"?

Understand, not every moment in life has to be momentous. We need times of rest and laughter. But act according to plan and with purpose.

You are not building a house just because you are blindly swinging a hammer! You are more likely to put holes in the wall than to accomplish anything worthwhile.

Today's Prayer: "Lord, teach me how to simplify my life. I'm not asking that my life not be full. I'm asking that You help me identify the clutter. Help me to get rid of stubble and hay of my life and to build with gold and silver. Keep me from juggling a thousand meaningless baubles so that I can hang on to what is precious."

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23).