The Road To Hell Part 4

In our study, “The road to Hell” we have made mention of the steps described by the apostle Paul as signs of apostasy.  Signs, which would let us know what road we are on.  Romans 1:21 gave us three of the four steps.  We start down the road to hell when we refuse to glorify God as God. Our next step is taken when we refuse to thank God. And Thirdly, we continue down this road when we “become futile in [our] thoughts.”

Note with me verses 22-25, “ Professing to be wise, they became fools, (23) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (24) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, (25) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Idolatry is the fourth step that can be taken down this slippery, windy road to eternal destruction, yes, idolatry!  You might be asking yourself, “What is he talking about? Educated people don’t serve idols anymore. Oh maybe in deepest, darkest, remotest, _________(you pick the adjective and location) you might find some idolatry going on, but not here in America!”  I suppose if the idolatry you are thinking about involves some carved image of gold, silver or wood I could agree with that but I speak of an idol, which lives, breathes, and is most definitely not made of gold, silver or even wood.  I speak of the human being.

In part 3 of this series I brought up the subject of evolution as manifestation of futile thinking.  As people start down this road and refuse to acknowledge God and only other “god” they can see to give credit to is self.  Our strength, our intelligence, our abilities become our idols.  No longer do people thank God for these blessings instead they begin to worship the creature rather than the creator.

We can certainly make an argument for the idolatrous worship of “mother earth,” “old growth trees,” jungles that are now called “rain forests” and one might even “spot” an owl being worshipped but our emphasis in this short article is the most hideous of all idols---man.

The Bible is filled from the Old Testament to the New Testament about warnings against idolatry as well as the consequences of engaging in it Acts 15:29; 1Cor 6:9-10; 1Jn 5:21.  However, as human beings we tend to give ourselves the credit for accomplishments rather than God.  When we elevate ourselves to that level we engage in idolatry. 

For an example of this we will once again use evolution.  According to these enlightened folks the universe created itself and man himself is responsible for what he is.  In the old Roman-Grecian culture the stars, sun and moon were worshipped as gods.  The Egyptians worshipped all manner of plant and animal life.  Today, there are no idols, no worship and/or homage to these things, however, what man has done today is not different from what they did in the past. They believed these elements had power in themselves and could control us. Today they believe they created themselves and have within them inherent power.  Mankind has made themselves the highest priority in their lives.  Those who believe in evolution are self-made, self-taught, and want to be self-governed.  Just as idolatry freed one from any need to glorify, honor, and submit to God, so also does evolution. In both systems everyone makes their own rules and under both all need to submit to God’s authority vanishes.

What makes this particularly hideous is the ramifications of this type of thinking.  The laws by which we live by originate with God.  Without a moral compass to guide us we are in a state of chaos.  We understand murder to be wrong because God has deemed it so…"You shall not murder” Exo 20:13. We also understand other conduct to be wrong, again, because God has deemed it so.  When we refuse to acknowledge God and begin to look at self for the decisions we make we get catchy little phrases such “situation ethics.”  Murder is permissible under certain circumstances, stealing is permissible under certain circumstances.  The same people who refuse to allow God given principles in our schools; our government, etc. are the same people who want to pass “hate crime” legislation. They feel murdering someone because of their color, race, or sex is a greater crime than murdering your average, run of the mill person. Can you see where I am going with this? On the hand they don’t want religion (God) to be brought into the picture because they are enlightened, they are self created, self made, self everything.  And yet, they want to tell us what conduct is wrong.  What right do they have?  Are the rest of us not self-reliant?  Does not Darwin himself “preach” (oh sorry, my mistake) teach survival of the fittest?  Murder is permissible if I deem it to be so. No one has the authority to tell me what is right and wrong! That should be the argument but we understand God considers life to be precious and ought to be respected.  Mankind cannot create a code of moral conduct because there is no higher authority than each man. Who is to say what is wrong and what is right? What a sad world it would be if it were up to human being to originate a code of moral conduct.  Our trust should be in Christ.  If this is done our road to heaven can be assured. Please consider the following passages.  “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” Eph 1:13-14 and “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Eph 3:17-21.

Carlos Aguilar

The disastrous consequences of parental indulgence are dramatically illustrated in the lives of three of God's great servants, Eli, Samuel, and David. Eli's sin, so serious that it caused God to condemn his house forever, was that "his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not" I Sam 3:13. Those boys' conduct was so offensive that worshipers began to hold the Lord's sacrifice in contempt I Sam 2:17.

Israel rebelled against God because Samuel's sons did not follow in their father's footsteps, but were intent on their own profit, taking bribes and perverting the course of justice I Sam 8:3-5. Adonijah, David's handsome son, rebelled and attempted to usurp the throne in David's old age because, never in his life had his father corrected him or asked why he behaved as he did I Ki 1:6. Termination of a priestly dynasty, Israel's rejection of God, and treason in the royal family all were the results of the failure of some of God's greatest servants to discipline their children. It seems incredible-that men so close to God would be careless in the discipline of their children. Parents must keep their priorities straight. Nothing must become so all consuming that we fail our children.

Today, a battery of authorities, doctors, and psychologists, government day-care advocates, and other experts who leave the impression that we know absolutely nothing about rearing our own children bombards parents. To be sure, we can all use help . . . but Christian parents must not be intimidated to the point of relinquishing their God-given responsibility to guide their children on the straight and narrow course of life Prov 29:15-17.

A child who lives without parental discipline is doubly cheated. First, he is being taught to be self-centered. Secondly, he is subconsciously learning that his parents are not genuinely concerned about him. Parents who really love their children provide the necessary discipline to cause them to grow into well-adjusted adult life.

It is essential for a child to know that his parents care about his behavior; that the way he thinks and acts really matters to them. God shows love for his children by disciplining them. The Bible says, "Whom the Lord loveth he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights" Prov 3:12. Our children will sense that discipline implies love.

We will make mistakes. Not being infallible, we have to rear our children according to the light we have. Hindsight often reveals that a certain discipline was not best. But that does not nullify the judgment that some sort of discipline was necessary.

Parents who ignore their child's misbehavior will receive disrespect in return, resulting in further patterns of misbehavior. Repeated neglect of disciplinary action will have tragic lifetime consequences Prov 29:15-17.

Training of children is not primarily the responsibility of the psychologist, the church, or the school. It is primarily the responsibility of parents Eph 6:4. We render a doubtful service to God and mankind if we save the whole world, yet lose our own children. Remember Eli, Samuel and David. After all, not only are they our children, they are also God's. He will help us make them what he would have them be.

The real answer then, is neither the ironhanded approach, nor the permissive indifference, which seeks to justify itself with a barrage of high sounding excuses, but rather the positive, yet firm hand, which love demands.

Just a Little Push

I was sitting in my car the other day when an old Model A Ford stalled nearby. The driver was utterly unable to start the old vehicle, and traffic was halted for a block. Horns sounded and angry drivers shouted their unpleasant words at the embarrassed man. After a time, the cars began to move around the unfortunate owner of the old Ford. Finally, one driver in the long line of cars drove behind the stalled car and gave it a push. Soon it began moving under its own power and traffic got under way again.

How like life that is! Someone is halted by circumstances. Most people shout their damnation upon the unfortunate individual and leave him to his fate. All he really needs is just a little push to help him get started along the way. All congregations have a few "Model A's" who need a little help getting on the move again. If you know of someone who is losing interest in Christ and the church, or someone who is mired up to their axles in personal problems, offer them a little encouragement. Just think-without your push, they may lose their soul.

~ author unknown

24 Years in the First Grade

Statistics show that if public schools met as often as Sunday Bible classes, it would take 24 years to get through the first grade! Many people attend about half that time, thus a span of 48 years in the first grade.

Solomon says that the trouble with knowledge is that it is limited. Yet, we live in a society based on knowledge, and hopefully, the element of wisdom. The trouble is that we concentrate so heavily on intellect of secular things that little, if any, thought is given to Bible knowledge.

Does it bother you who are fathers to know that your responsibility is in providing food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual nourishment? 1 Tim. 5:8. How long will it take you and/or your children to get through the first grade of Bible class?

As parents we, no doubt, have planned to some way or another send those dear ones to college or some institution of higher learning. We will spend thousands of dollars to see to it that they get that degree in whatever field will best prepare them for their careers here on earth.   

How much thought, time, and money do we put in on spiritual education to prepare for their, and for that matter, our profession, being Christians? Where Are You?

~Author Unknown

The Ox And The Atheist

The Story goes that a well-known atheist was riding with Alexander Campbell in a buckboard. As usual, they were discussing atheism. Campbell's visitor pointed to an ox grazing in the nearly field, and said: "I have no more fear of death than that ox." To which Campbell replied: "And no more hope, either."

How Long Does It Actually Take to Read the Entire Bible?

It takes 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the Bible at pulpit rate.

It takes 52 hours and 20 minutes to read the Old Testament.

It takes 18 hours and 20 minutes to read the New Testament.

It takes 4 hours and 28 minutes to read the longest section in the Old Testament, the Psalms.

It takes 2 hours and 43 minutes to read the longest book in the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke.

It takes 2 months and 10 days to read the entire Bible at a rate of 1 hour a day.

It takes 1 year to read the Bible 5 times and be one-third of the way through the 6^th time.

   Can you find a better way to spend your time than with the written Word? It seems especially so since Jesus said the words that He spoke shall judge a man in the day of judgment.         

- Pulpit Helps 

Sentence Sermons

When some say they want to serve God, they mean in an advisory capacity.