A Question From God – 3

We find the image of the Kingdom of God being referred to as a vineyard throughout the Old Testament (Psa 80:8-16; Isa 5:1-7; 27:1-7; Jer 2:21). It was something the Jews were very familiar with. A hedge that ran the length of the property would protect the vineyard, it would also contain a tower and winepress. The tower was not merely for ornament, but a place of shelter for the watchmen, who should protect the fruits. The winepress was often made by digging out the earth and lining it with masonry.  These items were necessary to a vineyard.

 In Isa 5:1-7, we see exactly all these components are provided for. God provided everything necessary to produce good grapes. “Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: my Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.  "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.” God tells them what He had done for His people and will do. He had blessed them, protected them, and cared for them, only to have them become disobedient, disrespectful, and live as if they had no need for God.

 What More Could I Do?

 Right in the midst of all this, God asks, (vs 4) "What more could I do? He had kept all His promises, he had cared for them, He had provided for them, and He had blessed them. And in the context of the picture being painted by Isaiah, God had provided the vineyard with everything necessary for it to be successful and yield much good grape. Now, God, would punish, ignore, and destroy these same people. Think about this!! The all-powerful God asking, "What more could I do?" He looked upon the failure of His people as they had corrupted His purpose and plan for them; further and further into rebellion and He cries out, "What more could I do?" He had done all that His divine justice could do! In this respect He had exhausted heaven's resources. His justice now demanded that He follow through with the punishment long overdue. Almost all of us could enumerate at least some of the awful consequences that followed.

 Is this scenario not the same today?

 To the whole world the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”(John 3:16). The question comes up again, "What more could He do?" What God has done is completely sufficient for our entire spiritual and material needs. He tells us in Isa 1:18 that our scarlet colored sins will be made white as snow, in Heb 7:25 we are told that He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Christ, and James tells us in 1:17 that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” Again, "What more could God do?" The very same God who made the heavens by the breath of His mouth, and who spoke and it stood fast (Psa 33:6, 9) is the same God who sent His beloved son.  Now back to our question, because it doesn't stop there, vs 4ff. "What more could have been done...that I have not done in it?"  What more you ask?  Notice again what God has done.  In Titus 2:11-12 he says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Or consider 1John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…”  Paul describes it as an “indescribable gift” in 2Cor 9:15.

 A Love Letter From God

 The Bible is God's love letter to man. It is designed to give us the truth about life and godliness so that it can make us free (John 8:32).  That's shows God's love, he has made every provision for us to go to Heaven.  Must we be as the Jews of old and wait for the justice of His punishment?  Shall we continue to rebel and be disobedient in order to push us into eternity to face our Creator with such a lack of appreciation for what He has done for us?  Consider what Solomon said, Prov 23:26, “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”  That is, receive my counsel with your whole heart.  Solomon speaking in God's name and cause requires the heart to be given to him.  Then let your eyes, that is to say, let your mind seriously and practically consider my ways, the ways, which I prescribe to you. God has done it all.  He has “given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him…”(2Pet 1:3).  So, why not do your part? Why not come to God, why not draw near to him before it is eternally too late?

Carlos Aguilar

Home and Family:

Taken For Granted

    DON'T TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED! In the early hours of man's existence, God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make for him an helpmeet for him" Genesis 2:18. The beautiful garden would not have been a paradise without Eve. What a lonely existence man would have had without woman. Man has need for companionship, affection, empathy, and procreation. It is not good that man should be alone. Naturally, this applies to woman, too.

   Home is one of the sweetest and fondest words enshrined in human affections. Woman's greatest joy can come in making a happy home for her husband and children. It is very difficult to overestimate the worth of a good woman. Solomon recognized the virtues of a good woman and man's inability to get along without them. He said, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies, the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land" Proverbs 31:10-31.

   In Proverbs we also find such statements as "he who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord" Proverbs 18:22. Moreover "house and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from the Lord" Proverbs 19:14. We should not cease in the giving of thanks to the Lord if we have found a prudent wife. How fortunate we are if we have mutual love and companionship in our homes. If we do not have such a home, God can help us to achieve one.

   The Bible says love is as strong as death. Jealousy is cruel as the grave. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it. Solomon 8:6-7 Solomon also said live joyfully with thy wife, whom thou love, all the days of the life of thy vanity Ecclesiastes 9:9. If the home is not a happy place, someone has failed. Peter gave us instructions on how to live together harmoniously. He said, "Husbands, dwell with them (your wives) according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of live, that your prayers be not hindered" II Peter 3:7. She is not weaker in character and intellect, but she is weaker physically and man must understand her needs and limitations. He must also be aware of her ability to help him. He must also use his abilities in helping her. Wise men show an interest when their wives speak up, and weigh their wisdom, for many times their wisdom out-weighs that of their mates. Sometimes we rob ourselves of the happiness our heavenly father intended for us because we have not learned to enjoy the companionship of our Godly mates.

   Pitiful is the man or woman who exploits his mate and reveals secrets that should be kept between them. It is unbecoming and certainly not Christ-like to downgrade the opposite sex in story telling and off-color jokes. We are God's creation, each with a specific purpose and work. We're not in competition, and the female Christian is not seeking a false liberation, but is happy and fulfilled in the role that God gave her. Many of our frustrations are mental as well as physical ills, brought upon us by a lack of love and companionship in the home. Our greatest joy should come to us through our working together as husband and wife, and praying together with common interests and common goals. God has given us laws for our well-being, for God knows much better than we the things that are good for us and the things that make us happy (Matthew 6:8; Ephesians 5:25).

   Although you may deeply appreciate your mate, it can mean so much to the both of you if you will take the time to let them know it. Tell them how you feel and show them in a thousand little ways. It can mean so much. It is unfair and not Christ-like to take them for granted. Married people owe each other more than just a home, food and clothing. Your time, your attention and your interests are also extremely important in maintaining a happy relationship. Why not set aside a night each week for just the two of you to be together, away from family, friends and responsibilities. Go out for dinner or, if finances are a problem, just for a walk. Leave all your other responsibilities at home and don't even allow them to be mentioned. Believe it or not, the world will still be turning when you get back, and the happiness that such times will bring to both of you will be well worth the effort.    

~The Bible Research Library

MOTHER'S DAY AND HUMAN TRADITIONS

   Mother's Day is a warm and wonderful civil and social day. All who have been blessed by a godly mother are moved by sweet memories and loving feelings on this day. As we should be thankful every day and not just on Thanksgiving Day, so we should honor "father and mother," not on their day only, but every day (Eph. 6:1-3).

   Many churches will celebrate Mother's Day, giving more attention to it than to "the Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10). With carnations and corsages, amid applause, they will recognize "the eldest mother in our congregation," along with the one who has had "the most children." These same churches sponsor Halloween parties, conduct Easter egg hunts, and pass out candy canes at Christmas and interrupt worship services to give gifts to the preacher and/or the elders. Everyone smiles and beams with joy and pride.

   But it was not always so. When these things first occurred, they were met with wondering bewilderment by a generation which was unaccustomed to such spectacles. However, their initial doubts and fears were eased when they saw their loving mother's tears. So, they buried their questions and clapped for those who were being honored. Hesitance and reluctance gave way to acceptance. Yes, they took a pinch of bread and a sip of juice, but it was not the Lord's day. It was Mother's Day that they observed. "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mk. 7:9).

   These churches no longer advertise in their bulletins and on their radio program that "we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent" (1 Pet. 4:11). They no longer say that "we do Bible things in Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible names" (1 Cor 4:6; 2 Jn 9). No, those are the echoes of an age long forgotten. Instead, they speak of "This special day here in the life of our church family when we pause to honor" our mothers, our fathers, our graduates, or whatever the occasion may be. "Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain" (Gal. 4:10, 11). "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8).

   Also, these churches no longer issue strong, scriptural protests against the human traditions of Easter and Christmas. Oh, they may mildly disclaim them, but their works give credence to these human traditions which make worship void and vain (Matt. 15:8, 9). Soon, churches which now honor human holy days will begin to dispute and question heavenly ones. Their observances of Mother's Day and Father's Day will become more and more elaborate. Mean while, their "questions" about "some of our Restoration traditions" (weekly Lord's supper, music in worship, etc.) will be publicly aired. It is the way error works. It is how denominations are born.

   So, today, while we individually observe Mother's Day, let us resolve to worship our Lord "in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24). As my own dear mother reminds me, it is His day and not hers.          

Larry Ray Hafley

You should know that—

The faithful church (those called out)--

Worships in spirit and in truth
Jn 4:23-24

Meets on the first day of the week
Heb 10:24-25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:1-2

Worships with a cappella singing
Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

Prays
Acts 2:42; 1 Tim 2:1-2; 1 Thess 5:17

Edifies one another
Eph 4:16

Takes the Lord's supper on the first day of the week
Acts 20:7; Heb 10:24-26; 1 Cor 11:20-31; 16:1-2

Gives as they have prospered
1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8:1-5; 9:7