TO[2011 Articles] - HOME - [2013 Articles]
These articles are free to be reprinted with acknowledgment of the authorship of Kent Heaton.
2012 ARTICLES
The spirit of a fresh beginning brings out a supreme
desire to make life better with a new opportunity. A new page invites new words;
a new year suggests rededication; new relationships open doors for better
conversation; the harmony of a road not travelled will inspire many to seek
higher planes. Whatever the reason, the human spirit thrives on the unique
character of new beginnings.
With each passing year a resolution is born of the
remembrance of days gone by with its successes and failures. Birthdays
celebrated remind us of the passing saga of age. Plans made are realized and
sometimes dashed but the essence of life continues to thrive upon the reality of
one more day giving rise to one more chance. The New Year is a sign post in life
that helps man to remember the “vapor” of life (James 4:14). Was it not just
yesterday the world was consumed by the “millennial bug” of fear for the
changing of the calendar to another century? That was twelve years ago. Time
marches on.
Separating us from all other forms of life is a desire to
better our station in life. Being made in the image of an eternal being (Genesis
1:26-27) exalts our knowledge of the past with a dim hope of a future. The
resolutions we seek to make and then try hard to keep come from an earnest need
to rise above our failures and disappointment. “The ten pounds I resolved to
lose last year will be accomplished this year,” we say. Myriad are the promises
of resolution made from year to year and so often falling upon the cobblestone
steps of apathy and disinterest.
In our efforts to better ourselves we must find the moral
courage to stand against the despair that washes away our resolutions. We can
seldom be more than we desire to become. Our hearts must be firmly planted upon
the deeply devoted purpose of being everything to God He demands of our lives.
Great is the challenge to resolve to serve God. “So the scribe said to [Jesus],
‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there
is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the
understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's
neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices.’" (Mark 12:32-33).
I am resolved to learn there is but one God (Ephesians
4:6). I am resolved to love God with every bit of my love, my understanding, my
soul, my strength and to show love by caring for my neighbor. My resolution is
built upon the promise of God’s love for me (John 3:16) and the debt I can never
repay. I am resolved to meditate upon the words of God as they become my speech
(Psalm 1). My thoughts will become His thoughts. The words that I speak will be
seasoned with the salt of His grace (Colossians 4:6).
A new year has been granted along with each new day. The
joy of a new day is not promised as the hope of tomorrow is a fleeting wisp of
dew upon the ground. By God’s grace we live and breathe (Acts 17:25). My
resolution is to live that I may die in Christ where life is found (Philippians
1:21). My purpose each day is to please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1). “I am
resolved no longer to linger; charmed by the world’s delight. Things that are
higher, things that are nobler; these have allured my sight.”
Polyamorous is such a new word that the dictionary spell check did not recognize
it. However the concept of the meaning for “polyamorous” is nearly as old as the
existence of man on earth. By definition it pertains to “participation in
multiple and simultaneous loving or sexual relationships” (Dictionary.com).
Polygamy is a similar word suggesting more than one husband or wife. The meaning
of ‘amorous’ is to express romantic love or sexual attraction. Polyamorous is by
definition an acceptance of having several ‘partners’ in a loving or sexual
relationship. You can put a bow-tie on a rattlesnake but when all is said and
done you still have lethal creature that will kill you. Sin is like that too.
The prophet Isaiah defined “polyamorous” in Isaiah 5:18-21. “Woe to those who
draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope; that say,
‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know
it.’ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own
sight!” There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) as man tries to
redefine what the Creator has deemed wrong. God defines polyamorous couples as
adulterers.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of the vanity of man seeking the fulfillment of the
fleshly passions. A polyamorous couple is interested only in the selfish desires
of their own nature. Love as defined by these couples is suggested as a pure
kind of love and yet by their own admission (including studies of such couples)
the one factor they cannot deal with is innate in man: jealousy. Jehovah created
Adam and Eve; not Adam and Bob and Eve or any other combination. Even the
allowance of multiple wives in the Old Testament was fraught with jealousy
(Sarah & Haggar; Leah & Rachel).
Jesus Christ defined the marriage relationship as one man and one woman in
Matthew 19 and the apostle Paul confirmed this in almost all of his epistles.
Sexual immorality is condemned by the Lord on every level. “Do you not know that
the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will
inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Society may say that
fornication, adultery, homosexuality and sodomites are accepted but the Lawgiver
condemns them; and “there is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy”
(James 4:12).
Man is not the judge but the word of God is the judge. Jesus said, “He who
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word
that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Polyamorous
couples will never find the happiness they seek no more than homosexuals or
sodomites. Committed love is found when a man and woman love one another as God
has created in the family element.
Satan beguiles us in thinking that if you just paint something a different color
it will change the nature of the beast. He is a master craftsman at his trade
but people of God will see through the layers of deceit and reject him at every
turn. Call it whatever you like (poly-this or poly-that) but it is still what it
is. “Let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind about whether Tim Tebow
believes in Jesus Christ or not. The evidence has been clear since his first
introduction at the University of Florida and the national stage of football
highlight films. His faith continues to manifest itself in the NFL and has
become the lightning rod of admiration and ridicule on and off the field. Many
admire and praise him for the clear demonstration of his faith. Others detract
about his example with words of ridicule and sneering remarks. “Tebowing” has
become a part of our culture – good or bad.
The interest in Tim Tebow’s faith and his expressions of
faith cloud a deeper issue that lay at the heart of a question not asked. While
Tebow has had great success as a football player is it possible that Jesus
Christ is the reason for his success? Have we diluted the gospel of God to a
culture represented by a scrimmage of men vying for a leather pigskin? Is it
possible that Jesus died on the cross so we could win a football game? This is
not a criticism of Tim Tebow nor his extraordinary courage to show his faith in
such a public forum. In a world given over to anti-God forces we need more
examples of purity and deep faith. The question is whether giving God the glory
for a victory of an opposing team is what the Lord intended in the scheme of
man’s redemption.
When Denver defeated Pittsburgh were there any people of
Tebow’s faith on the Pittsburgh team that had the same faith as Tebow? By
losing, what did that say about Jesus not helping them win the game? The culture
of the modern gospel attributes the work of the Holy Spirit to carnal matters.
Jesus declared His work when He said, “the Son of Man has
come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10; Matthew 18:11). When
James and John wanted to send fire down upon a Samaritan village for refusing
the Lord, Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to
save them” (Luke 9:54-56). Have we taken the work of God and placed it
at a level where we expect to succeed in sports because we have God on our side?
The “health & wealth” gospel of our society has convinced
the masses that God will solve all their health problems, their financial woes,
their education challenges, the political movements and feed all the hungry and
clothe all the poor; and win football games if need be. Can we see Jesus hanging
on the cross saying, “It is finished” with football in mind? That makes as much
sense as the victory cry of a Roman gladiator giving credit for his victory to
Jesus Christ?
"The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4) is the focus
of the life of Jesus. He came to give men hope in eternal life through His death
so that death will not have the victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). His kingdom is
not of this world (John 18:36). The work of saving men’s souls does not involve
the carnal pursuits of a fleshly driven world. It is necessary to have faith in
God (Hebrews 11:6) but that faith will not always give us pleasure (Hebrews
11:35-38). Simon wanted to buy the power of God with money and discovered that
God’s will is not measured by matters of human wisdom (Acts 8:19-24).
As the salt of the earth and lights of the world (Matthew
5:13-16) we must present our lives in harmony with the will of God giving honor
as honor is due.
What Would You Do At The
Cross?
The scene of Jesus’ crucifixion was filled with paradoxes.
Golgotha was a place of death. It was the seat of execution where criminals were
slowly tortured to death for crimes committed. Calvary was not a place of joy
but grief filled with the stench of death as past executions still bore witness
of man’s barbaric ritual of killing. Citizens gathered in a morbid flow of
onlookers gawking at the condemned. Imperial Roman soldiers conducted the
business of killing in a proficient and gruesome manner. During the crucifixion
of Jesus even the religious leaders of the day came to the place of the Skull.
In the midst of such chaos and misery a lone figure hung upon a wooden tree
seeking to gain power over death, end the fear of man’s barbarism against one
another and unite the will of God with the heart of man.
Jesus died the most horrible death imagined by man.
Contrary to the beautiful scenes painted on the canvas of renowned artist, the
event of the death of Jesus was filled with misery, weeping, sadness, death by
sight, death by smell, death with the sounds and images of complete desolation.
The crowd that milled about the feet of the cross was a mixture of citizens,
rulers, soldiers and on both sides of Jesus hung two thieves (Luke 23:35-39).
Luke says the “people stood looking on” as if in a dreadful
attraction of what they were seeing unfold. Mary the mother of Jesus (at the
cross with John) knew more than anyone what was being done was wrong. Yet the
people stood by and said nothing. They were powerless to stop the engine of
death managed by the Romans. They were helpless.
The rulers and those that passed by scoffed at Jesus and
mocked him saying, “He saved others … himself he cannot save ... come down from
the cross and we will believe you.” Their jeering was not filled with love but
hatred towards one they acknowledged “saved others.” They could not see Jesus as
God’s Son on that day. In eternity they will face the same one and know that He
is the Son of God.
Romans soldiers are trained not only to kill but also to
taunt and make fun of those weaker than themselves. They would have given Jesus
good sport at their game of killing. Their interest was simply to make him
suffer more and scolded him as being the supposed “King of the Jews.” How
different that day when they stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
(Revelation 19:16).
Finally those crucified with Jesus under the same
condemnation of death plead with Jesus that if He were the Christ to save
himself and the two thieves; selfishness even on a cross. It was not about
saving Jesus but the thief wanted to find a way to save himself from certain
death. His only interest was himself.
The camera turns to the central theme of this place of
death – Jesus Christ. Throughout the whole ordeal of His arrest, trial and death
it was never about Himself but others. Now on the cross Jesus looks at the
people gathered, the rulers mocking, the soldiers reviling and the thieves
cursing and says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”
(Luke 23:34). Jesus saw the deeper meaning of His death as being the salvation
of the people, the soldiers, the rulers and his fellow victims. Grace was
granted to one thief and fifty days later the doors of grace opened to all men
(Acts 2).
The Angel Of The Lord Is On
Guard
Those early movies of Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan in the
wilds of Africa would give any child a fright to be in the dark. Imagine camping
in the middle of the dark jungle with the roar of lions all about. Fear would
hold anyone captive who did not keep a vigilant eye for danger. Sleep was
fretful without the confidence of security and safety. Life is more fearful than
the imagined distress of a young boy. There is a greater enemy that stalks about
our lives seeking to devour and destroy us. The apostle Peter knew what it was
like to face this beast. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of
God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He
cares for you. Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in
the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood
in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you” (1
Peter 5:6-10).
The devil is a very powerful foe and has destroyed millions
of lives. He is Hell-bound and will take as many of God’s creation with him as
he can. His wiles are full of deceit and the manner of his seduction is
overpowering. Every man should fear him. Yet, there is an answer to this
seemingly invincible braggart. Found in the psalms the poet David speaks of
those will trust in the Lord and declares, “The angel of the Lord encamps all
around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).
Consider the imagery for a moment. The child of God is
protected all around by the angel of the Lord. This is the same one who
withstood Balaam in Numbers 22; gave hope to Gideon (Judges 6); brought judgment
on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 24) and performed untold works for Jehovah God in
blessing His people: Hagar – Genesis 16; Manoah – Judges 13; Joseph – Matthew 1.
Why should the child of God fear the devil when the angel
of the Lord is on guard? If an angel of the Lord can destroy 185,000 soldiers in
one night, (2 Kings 19:35) why should I fear a lion whose sentence of death has
been measured fully by the blood of Christ? “What then shall we say to these
things? If God is for us, who
can be against us” (Romans
8:31)? “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who
is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
David reminds us in Psalm 34 the Lord is watching out for
us (v15) and will not let the devil have sway over us (v16-17). “Many are the
afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He
guards all his bones; not one of them is broken” (vv19-20). What have we to
fear? When the angel of the Lord camps around our lives there is nothing that
can separate us from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
8:39).
The angel of the Lord empowers us to resist the devil
(James 4:7) because he is on guard. There is no power that Satan has that will
break the bonds of protection given by God to His people. United with the power
of the Almighty the devil is nothing more than a whimpering toothless pup lion.
As the armor of God (Ephesians 6) protects us and guides our lives so the angel
of the Lord will protect us. Raise the banner of faith high with the knowledge
that the victory is ours (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)!
You Are Invited To A
Study Of The Bible
Beginning Sunday, February 12th, the Trenton
church of Christ will host a week long study of the word of God. There are
different names given to such an exercise. We use the term “Gospel Meeting” to
suggest the importance of the gospel of Christ being preached. In years past it
was called “Revival” as spirits were refreshed by the study of the Bible.
Whatever the name given the intended purpose is the same: open a door of
opportunity for you to study the word of God.
The Bible is a collection of books given to us by our
Creator so that we may know His mind and His will. While God reveals Himself in
the natural world (Psalm 19:1-6) we would not know the spirit of God unless He
revealed Himself in special revelation. From the beginning of time the Lord has
spoken to man in different ways (Hebrews 11:1) and now in “these last days
spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 11:2).
The story of Jesus is found only in the Bible. Our salvation is revealed only in
the word of God. Peter writes, “as His divine power has given to us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us
by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
Our purpose in having a gospel meeting is to allow everyone
to come and study from this knowledge given to us by God. We do not presume to
have all the answers but invite an open investigation of what we do and what we
teach. That is an honest statement. It is our belief that men can sit down
together in a spirit of unity and open the word of God seeking the truths found
in the Bible. Paul explained it this way: “When you read, you may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). We can understand what the
will of God is – it is imperative (Matthew 7:21).
Have we lost the desire for honest investigation? Are we so
satisfied with our system of belief that we are no longer challenged by a higher
degree of examination? The appeal we make inviting you to our meeting is not to
embarrass you or to belittle you because of what you believe. The power of the
gospel is in the word, not in men (Romans 1:16). We must stand upon what the
Bible says and that must be our blueprint alone.
It may be that you have never visited at the Trenton church
of Christ. Our services are uplifting with the singing of hymns praising the
Lord and edifying one another. Prayers will be uttered exhorting the blessing of
God upon the meeting. We have asked John Zellner to speak to us from God’s word
and he will deliver the message in a timely and forceful manner. Bring your
Bibles and read along with him. Study with him as he opens the book. If he says
something that is not understood he would welcome as a kind guest for you to ask
him. Our aim is to see what the Bible says and what the Bible says alone.
You will not be pointed out in any way but received warmly
as an honored guest. No collections of money will be suggested nor appeals to
such. All we ask is for you to visit with us and see how wonderful it is to
spend time in God’s word in the quiet of the hour. Do you want to learn more
about God? Come and visit. Sunday 9:30am/10:30am; 7:30pm Sunday – Friday. All
sermons are available on CD or DVD free of charge. See our web site for more
information and study material. www.trentonchurchofchrist.com.
On any field of competition the unknown factor of who gains
the victory is on the mind of every player. Locker room speeches offer hope and
assurance but until the final whistle is blown the victory can remain unsure.
Wars are frightening for many reasons including the fear of losing the battles.
Confidence of victory is a sliver of hope borne on cries of courage pushing men
forth to gain the final conquest. All of this is true but for one place: our
relationship with God and the triumph over the forces of Satan.
Is it possible to imagine fighting the greatest war in the
ages of eternity conducted against the greatest foe of all time with the
absolute and confident message of victory? As people of God we have that
victory. This promise is not a “may happen” or something we “hope” will come to
pass. The victory we have is our “blessed assurance” given through the power of
Jesus Christ in His resurrection from the dead.
The writer of Hebrews declared that all men will die and
all men will face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Men fear death yet in Christ
death is not to be dreaded with uncertainty. The certainty of death is clearly
marked in the marble monuments dotting the country side and the loss of loved
ones brings grief and sorrow. Yet in the dark face of death the Christian has
the light of hope and reality. Jesus Christ died on the cross to give us life in
His name (1 John 5:13).
Paul reminded the Corinthian brethren the resurrection of
Jesus Christ gives us the victory over death and hades. “So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up
in victory. O death, where is your sting? O hades, where is your victory?’ The
sting of death is sin, and the
strength of sin is the law. But
thanks be to God, who gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Death is
not to be feared because in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1) and in
the final judgment death and hades will be destroyed (Revelation 20:11-15).
Satan is our “adversary” (1 Peter 5:8) and while he is
pictured as a “roaring lion” we have been given the power over him. The greatest
tool the devil uses against man is to convince man that no one can resist him.
“The devil made me do it” may have made Flip Wilson (1933-1998) famous but many
today believe it to be gospel. The fact of scripture is that victory was gained
nearly two thousand years ago when Jesus rose from the dead and defeated the
works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
Sin does not have to have dominion over our lives (Romans
6:12-14). As people of God we can resist the devil and flee from him (James
4:7); refuse to fall sway to his temptations (2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians
6:18) and defeat him in every part of our lives (1 Peter 5:8-9). The book of
Revelation clearly shows forth the message of assurance given to all Christians
that victory is to the Lord (Revelation 19:11-16).
We win! Only by the grace of God but we win. How can we not
live lives of victory knowing this? “By this we know that we love the children
of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:2-5).