A Mess of Blood

A Bloody Mess

Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.

Blood is important to the life of all mankind.

Blood is important to the life of all mankind.

Worship settings today are relatively clean. Many auditoriums are fully carpeted with padded pews and air-conditioning. Flowers decorate the front of the auditorium as polished preachers, dressed in formal attire, stand behind large podiums. On any given Sunday, New Testament Christians can be seen wearing their finest clothing as they lift their voices in song to God. However, this “sterile” environment has caused many Christians to forget about the necessity of blood in our worship. I think many have forgotten blood is required for the remission of sins. The writer of Hebrews noted, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about blood.

From a young age, your dad was always intrigued by blood. During your lifetime you will encounter many people who get queasy (or even faint) at the mere sight of it. For some reason I was always drawn to it. Working in the emergency department, I witnessed firsthand more than my fair share. I can still immediately recognize the unique smell of iron-rich blood. The blood that has always held my interest is also a key component to the forgiveness of sins.

Approximately 4000 years ago, God took the Israelites out of Egypt and organized a priestly form of worship that was strongly dependent on animal sacrifices. Blood became a very real and a very prominent reminder of their obedience to God. We learn there were voluntary offerings (burnt offerings, meal offerings, and peace offerings) in which animals were bled and burned (Leviticus 7:12-18). There were also compulsory cleansing offerings (sin offerings and guilt offerings) that involved the blood and sacrifice of animals (Leviticus 4:1-6:7).

In order to truly appreciate the importance of this blood, consider what God said to Moses: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). In the prior chapter, we learn that part of the Day of Atonement required Aaron to “take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around” (16:18). This helps explain one of the major differences we see between the Tabernacle (or Temple) and our modern auditoriums. Unlike modern church buildings, the tabernacle was fashioned for offering daily sacrifices to God in order to keep this nation clean and acceptable to God. Think of it as a butchering and burning place rather than a room full of pews. Animals were routinely killed, cut up, and burned in an effort to make the Israelites clean. Blood was a part of how they presented themselves worthy of God’s presence.

However, the blood could not completely eradicate sins. We learn in Hebrews 11:4, “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” It would be Christ’s crucifixion that eventually nailed the Old Law to the cross (Colossians 2:13-15) and His blood that forgives our sins. “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12).

When Jesus went to the cross, He became a spotless sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The Bible describes it as, “The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). The priestly nation and sacrificial system was abolished with His blood. “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12). Suddenly the need for blood sacrifices disappeared and people could address God directly with Jesus as their mediator. Hopefully you can see why their form of worship changed dramatically.

We come into contact with the blood of Christ when we are buried in baptism (Romans 6:3-4). It is that blood that is able to continually cleanse us: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). So the next time you scrape a knee or cut a finger, take a second to consider what His blood did for us—and how special that His blood truly is.

Posted in Brad Harrub | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Mess of Blood

Drug Abuse

Current Drug Abuses

When we consider the problem of drug abuse in society, we naturally think about the most common of them, such as alcohol, marijuana and such like. Maybe we know some personally who have struggled with harder drugs (i.e., cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin). However, these that I have faced in my youth are now giving way to alternate substances and addictions, especially in the current generation of our youth. Please allow me to discuss a few of them.

There are many forms of drug abuse occurring today.

There are many forms of drug abuse occurring today.

First, the problems with substance abuse begin with obtaining common items around the house and abusing their use. I remember hearing about peers who would sniff glue, and I am sure that I had a large magic marker that was so big that if I had sniffed long enough, I would have gotten high (although I never did). Today, the term is called “huffing,” which has to do with inhaling household products. Unfortunately, this age-old practice of substance abuse has not faded away, and experts have begun to see an increase in teenagers huffing a computer cleaner called “Dust-Off,” a trend that began several years ago and is still ongoing. Easily obtained at retail stores like OfficeMax or Office Depot, youth are inhaling such to produce a high that lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. Harvey Weiss, executive director of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, said, “One of the attractions is that it can be felt almost immediately. You don’t have to wait for something to happen.” Nevertheless, this particular substance abuse can cause nausea, nosebleeds, impaired coordination and, in some cases, even death. According to a study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2010, about two million children ages twelve to seventeen had tried inhalants, the most popular being glue, shoe polish or toluene (a solvent). In addition, when considering common household objects and substance abuse, I must also mention Pharm parties—parties in which children bring medication from their medicine cabinets, throw them on a table, and pick through them, popping them as if they were candy. In fact, they are often referred to as “Skittles parties,” because of the amount of brightly colored pills. This is another rapidly gaining popular abuse of drugs, including OxyContin, Vicodin and such like. A report from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention several years ago found that more people die each year from prescription painkiller overdoses than from heroin and cocaine overdoses combined! According to Dr. Petros Levounis, director of the Addiction Institute of New York, “Addiction to prescription opioids has become the most important problem we face.”

Second, I am not only concerned with the insurgence of energy drinks in recent years, but I am especially alarmed at the studies showing the effect that such is having on elementary school children. Even with the absence of alcohol, parents must understand that these highly caffeinated energy drinks are dangerous to the health of children. According to Mike Gimbel, a national substance abuse educator, “Energy drinks are gateway for elementary school kids. They drink it like it’s water. Nurses have kids coming in with heart palpitations.” He goes on to say that elementary school students are even fascinated by caffeinated gel strips that one places on the tongue—one strip is equal to a cup of coffee, but children are putting five or six in their mouth at once! Therefore, one overdoses on caffeine just after three or four. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, overconsumption of caffeine, especially in young children with smaller bodies, can cause seizures, strokes or even sudden death.

Third, vaping is becoming a quite popular means of substance abuse. In case you are not familiar with this term, Oxford English Dictionary chose the word “vape” as its word of the year last year in 2014 (always trying to predict trends on the rise, they selected the term “selfie” in 2013). The term indicates “to inhale and exhale the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.” Unfortunately, the CDC reported last year that e-cigarette use has tripled among teenagers in just two years! More than a quarter of a million youth who had never smoked a cigarette used electronic cigarettes in 2013. In fact, the CDC also found that 44% of nonsmoking youth who began using e-cigarettes said that they intended to smoke conventional cigarettes within the next year. According to the figures from last year, 4.5% of high school students use them on a regular basis, and 12% have tried them at least once. One of the leading problems with this is that some people believe the false notion that vaping is a decent/safe alternative to smoking tobacco products, and we are beginning to see statistics roll in to prove otherwise. According to the recent study this year by the American Physiological Society, the nicotine in e-cigarettes is just as harmful as that which is in conventional tobacco cigarettes.

Any substance abuse is harmful to the body, which is the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Rather than taking in substances that are detrimental to the body (and by doing so, conforming to the world in the process), we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices that are pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1-2). The apostle Paul warned against anything addictive to the bodies (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12), and to the brethren in Thessalonica, he gave an admirable command for this subject: “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). The desire of all of these substances directly correlates to an inordinate desire of fleshly things (cf. Rom. 6:12; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 5:24; 1 Pet. 2:11). May we all, especially parents, educate ourselves to these sinful current trends of substance abuse, and may we all lead the way to living godly lives!

Posted in Sam Willcut | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Drug Abuse

Preaching the Resurrection

Preaching the Resurrection

It is remarkable how easy it is to overlook how God has expressed great truths using some of the simplest language. When Paul wrote the Corinthians he used the expression “first of all.” We sometimes use this expression when we have a long list of things which are of equal importance. We talk of the first item, not because it has greater importance, but simply because it is the first thing on the list. This is not how Paul used the expression.

Paul said, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). At first reading, it is so easy to overlook that which the Greek text makes so abundantly clear. Both the NASB and the ESV translations reflect this when they say, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received.”

The life of Jesus has many historical events which bring such joy to those who hear them, but there is one of greater importance than all the rest. His death, burial and resurrection surpass all the rest combined. They are the supreme events of all that He did. Without these He is just another prophet sent by God, but with these He is Supreme Prophet! His death and burial are indispensable in the story of our redemption, but it is the resurrection which gives meaning to both of these. One cannot honestly look at Christianity and walk away from it without dealing with that empty tomb.

The resurrection was at the heart of the preaching in the early church. It was mentioned four times in the sermon on Pentecost in Acts chapter two. In the next chapter it was mentioned twice in the sermon preached by Peter in the temple at the hour of prayer. Then when Peter and John were arrested they were brought before the Jewish council twice and on each occasion it was proclaimed. It was preached to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. Paul mentions it five times in the sermon he preached at Antioch. This pattern is found throughout the New Testament, where it is mentioned more than 150 times!

Now imagine that you had been with those women who first came to the tomb. You are faced with a decision—what happened to His body? Did the disciples take it? Did the enemies take it? Did grave robbers take it? The answer is found in the message from heaven given to those women, “He is not here…Come see the place where the Lord lay…He is risen…as He told you.”  Had you been with them and heard these words, what would you have thought? Our hearts sing, “We serve a risen Savior…He lives, He lives!’

 

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Preaching the Resurrection

The Final Judgment

You’ll Only Hurt Yourself

The prophet Jeremiah, in warning the Southern Kingdom of Judah of the impending wrath of God, told the people that the evil that Israel and Judah had done in provoking the Lord to wrath they had “done against themselves” (Jeremiah 11:17). When we consider the various stories of sin and judgment throughout the Bible we can only conclude that those upon whom the wrath of God fell got exactly what they deserved. Adam and Eve, Cain, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, Pharaoh, Israel and Judah, they all acted in such a way that only hurt themselves.

Judgment is coming, the trial will be over.

Judgment is coming, the trial will be over.

The natures of mankind and God have not changed and it is important for you and I to never forget that sin only hurts us and never benefits us. And while we all sin and continue to fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) we need to remember that God has provided a way in which we can be saved from ourselves (Titus 2:11–12). And there is an intimate relationship between the grace of God, faith, and works (James 2:26). We respond to Lord and His sacrifice by what we do versus what we did. This is brought about by the act of repentance and is the difference between the old man/life and the new man/life.

So when we stand before God in the Day of Judgment we will not do so to stand trial for we are living the trial now. Once we die, or if they Lord returns first, the judgment of guilt or exoneration will be sealed. So what happens at that Last Day?

The first consideration is the fact of separation: While here on earth the saved and the lost are mingled together (Matthew 13:30, 47–49). Physical death only separates us temporarily, but when Jesus returns all will be raised and a complete and final separation will take place (Matthew 25:31–46).

The second concern is that of proclamation. Judgment Day is about sentencing. Punishment or reward will be passed upon every person. When we die and enter the intermediate state it is primarily a private matter. But on that day Jesus will publicly proclaim,“come” or “depart,” and everyone will here and know. You may fool others while you are alive and they may continue to be deceived after your death. But you are only fooling and hurting yourself.

While these two purposes are certain, they would not necessarily be essential. So there must be a deeper meaning to the judgment of mankind. The third, final, and most important intent is that of vindication. Not our vindication, but God’s. The final judgment will demonstrate the righteousness and impartiality of God and no one will be able to honestly say, “That’s not fair!” They may beg, plead, and cry, but God is just and righteous. Everyone will be “without excuse” (Romans 1:20; 2:1), the will “have their mouths closed” (Romans 3:19), and everyone will glorify God!

You can live in disobedience and rebellion but you are only hurting yourself. The wise man hears and obeys (Matthew 7:24–25) and lives to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Final Judgment

Heaven or Earth?

Heaven or Earth?

Christians want to go to heaven! Why stay on earth?

Christians want to go to heaven! Why stay on earth?

There is a song entitled, “I’ll live in Glory” that is sung at many congregations. Its first line reads “I’d like to stay here longer than man’s allotted days”. The reference is to staying upon the earth. Many people, including myself, have said, “What!?!” The reason for this response is that we want to go home to God. We are tired of living in a world of sin, jealousies, violence, hatred, and evil. Don’t worry, there is nothing wrong with this response. It reminds me of the words of Peter regarding Lot and his deliverance from Sodom and Gomorrah:

• 2 Peter 2:7-8 – …Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):

Lot wanted to be free from the sinful atmosphere which surrounded him. But he is not the only man in the Bible who felt like this, Habakkuk a prophet of old had a similar response:

• Habakkuk 1:2-4 – O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.

These men old longed for the purity and holiness of God. Indeed, our senses should be appalled at the wickedness which surrounds us day after day. Romans 6:23 tells us: “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God…” Yet, Christians have left this lifestyle in seeking something better.

• Colossians 3:5-14 – Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

All of this being acknowledged, there came a time in my life that I realized, that I agreed with the phrase: “I’d like to stay here longer than man’s allotted days”. In a moment, I will tell you why. However, think for a moment about a man who desired to stay longer up on the earth than God had allotted for him. His name was Hezekiah. He was King over Judah. 2 Kings 20 and 2 Chronicles 32 records how he became ill to the point of death. He was told by God he would die. However, he prayed to God and God gave him 15 years more of life. In 2 Chronicles 32:25, we read: “But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.” Fortunately, Hezekiah humbled himself again, but we must be aware that if we have more time, we are also subject to further temptation.

Now, why did I come to agree with the phrase, “I’d like to stay here longer than man’s allotted days”, although I do not want to be surrounded by the sin of the world longer than I have to endure it and I realize with each passing moment “sin is crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7). The truth is I began to fear for my children. My job is to mentor and develop them to be strong in Christ.

• Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

It is my job to make certain that they learn what they are to do in Christ. It is my job to let them know He loves them and died for them. This is something that will be with them forever, it will not depart. It doesn’t matter what manner of trouble they get into, God’s truths will be with them to guide them out of it, when they cling to Him. I want them to have the best opportunity for everything to turn out right during and at the end of their lives.

• Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

With a promise like this from God, how can I not want to extend my days to be here for my children? Of course, as my children have grown, other realizations have become apparent. Someday, they will likely get married. I pray for their future spouses. I pray for their godliness. And yes, I pray for my grandchildren. I want to see my grandchildren.

• Proverbs 17:6 – Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

Indeed, as with my children, I want to raise righteous grandchildren. I want to establish generations of family committed to serving God. “I’d like to stay here longer than man’s allotted days”.

Certainly there is conflict present in wanting to be with God and wanting to be here for family. However, the Bible puts this conflict into an even clearer picture. Consider the words of the apostle Paul:

• Philippians 1:21-26 – For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul too wanted to be with Christ. To die would be gain for him. He would receive the reward of eternal life with the Father. Yet, he understood, there was work to be done. It is not just work for your children and your grandchildren. We have the blessing of sharing the gospel to all those who would receive it if we live. We will be able to provide an example and encouragement. The promise of eternal life does not go away, because we are here continuing to “fear God and do His commandments” as He desires us to do.

• John 4:35-36 – …Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes , and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”

These things being said, only God knows what day is our last. Whether we are here on earth a great number of days or a short span according to man, let us not forget our purpose to follow and glorify Him. Let us love our God, our family, our neighbors, and appreciate and understand the brevity of our days.

• James 4:13-15 – Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”– yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Posted in Travis Main | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Heaven or Earth?