Before the Womb and After the Tomb

There is a political philosophy which advocates that the government should dominate every aspect of one’s life from the cradle to the grave. We lived for nearly ten years in New Zealand, and the view there was described by the words, “From the womb to the tomb.” Without getting into an evaluation of this philosophy, let me tell you of another program that surpasses these.

Think of how the Bible describes heaven’s concern for us which precedes our earliest existence. Paul spoke of this when he affirmed that God “…has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim. 1:9). Paul also wrote to Titus about the “hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Tit. 1:2). Before time began! That’s when His care for us started!

His care for us even precedes the time we were placed in our first cradle. Paul told the Galatians that God “separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace” (Gal. 1:15). And God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). Some may see these as showing a unique relationship God had with His prophets, but it does show God knows individuals when they are in the womb.

David’s words leave little doubt about God’s concern for individuals before they are born. “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb… My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (Ps. 139:13,15).

He also cares for us in infancy. “But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts” (Ps. 22:9). He has His angels who watch for every child on this earth (Matt. 18:10).

Space does not allow us to show His presence throughout all of our lives, but He is present! His eyes are over us (1 Peter 3:12) and He never leaves or forsakes us (Heb. 13:5). He is also with us in death (Ps. 23:4).

From womb to the tomb? His care is better than that! He cares for us before the womb and after the tomb! This is not just a philosophy. It is an eternal truth from heaven!

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Consider Yourself Warned

Life is filled with warning signs like, Bridge Out Ahead . . . Poison . . . Do Not Operate Machinery After Taking This Medication . . . Rip Currents . . . Soft Shoulders . . . Road Narrows . . .  Do Not Pass . . . Detour . . . Travel Advisory . . . etc. We are wise to heed them. Have you ever considered the four places God placed a “Be Not Deceived” warning sign in the New Testament?

Jesus warned, “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name…” (Luke 21:8). It is ironic that this warning about false teachers was given to four disciples whom we think could never be deceived—Peter, Andrew, James and John. Now, if those men who had traveled with Him for three-and-a-half years could be deceived, shouldn’t we “Consider Yourself Warned”?

The second time the expression is found in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 6:9. “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.” In an age of increasing immorality, America should heed this warning sign from God. “Consider Yourself Warned.”

In this same letter, Paul gives the “Be Not Deceived” warning the third time. “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor. 15:33). We often give this warning about how evil companions corrupt good morals to young people, but older ones need to heed it just as much. If you think that your ungodly friends could never pull you down, you have already been deceived! “Consider Yourself Warned.”

The fourth time the expression is found is in Galatians 6:7-8. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Every person is either sowing to the Spirit or he is sowing to the flesh. Your life is either focused on this world and all of its deceptive appeal, or it’s focused on your spiritual side. If you think you can live in both of these worlds at the same time, you have already ignored the heavenly danger sign.

Wise individuals read and heed warning signs. Wiser individuals read and heed heavenly ones. Are you wise?

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Thank God for Lectureships

In the past two months I have been part of two lectureships (one in Ohio, the other in Indiana) and have been reminded of just how wonderful these events are. I understand the great interest many brethren have in such events.

Lectureships are a refreshing time of change from the mundane lives we live. Isn’t it so taxing on our spirits when we face the same routine day after

day, week after week? Even Jesus saw the necessity for a break from the rigors of life. He told the

disciples,“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). He and the

apostles separated themselves from the multitude and were refreshed. Lectureships do this for us!

Lectureships allow you to spend time with brethren. At the recent lectureships, I have had some of the most enjoyable times I could imagine simply by being with my brethren—not just during the lectures but in times between various sessions. I have rejoiced at seeing those I have known in the past, and have grown to love and appreciate the new ones I have met. These men and women are

going to be with me in heaven for all eternity. Time with them is a foretaste of heaven!

Lectureships challenge your thinking and rekindle new resolve. It is easy to become complacent and stagnate spiritually. Literally hundreds of hours are spent in preparation of lectures by those who speak, and I gain the benefit of all that time. Jesus described the kingdom being like a householder who brings new and old things out of his storehouse. Lectures remind me of things I have known in the past, and they open new horizons for study.

Lectureships increase faith in a faithless world. I live by faith; I walk by faith; I am saved by faith! But that faith only comes from time I spend hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). There is little in daily life that allows me time to mediate on the really important things in life. There is almost nothing in the media, the news, TV, radio or movies that produces faith. If my life is filled with that which chokes out spiritual time, then I am dying and may not realize it! Lectureships are some of the most important times when our faith can increase dramatically in such a short time.

Now think about all of this in view of our upcoming lectureship. We are just weeks away from the time when every one of us can be refreshed, be with our brethren, be rekindled and increase our faith! Make your plans, now!

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Is There Anything More Tragic Than This?

The pictures of the third world countries of starving children burn images in our souls that simply cannot be erased. In a land of obesity, we sit on our plush couches and are moved when we see the poverty in other parts of the world. Is there anything more tragic than this?

A study by the United Nations shows there are 800,000,000 starving people on this earth with 25,000 of them dying each day from starvation. It is hard to imagine this as we look at the abundance of food in stores. Yet, the reality is about 20 people have starved to death since you started reading this article. Is there anything more tragic than this?

As much as it may surprise you, the truth is that there is something more tragic! There is another death, not of thousands, but of hundreds of thousands each day. It is from spiritual starvation! There is no country exempt from this starvation. It is not just in the poverty-stricken, third world countries, but in the most affluent nations on this earth. Europe is filled with houses of worship that are empty! God has been abandoned there in almost every form, and the same thing is happening in our own land. We are starving to death and don’t realize it.

The spiritual food is all around us. The New Testament has been translated into over 1,100 languages and less than 3% of the world’s population does not have access to the New Testament. Americans purchase 40,000 Bibles each day. The spiritual food is all around us.

Yet, we are starving to death! Whereas just decades ago most Americans had a working knowledge of the Bible, the average attendee at churches today leaves worship “feeling better” without having been fed the food God provided.

Those of you who are reading these words, take time to evaluate just how much you are being fed. The parable of the sower describes how the word entered the hearts of some, but then they “…are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity” (Luke 8:14). Are you one who attends worship and Bible class regularly only to get your life so busy that the word is pushed out from your heart? The word can be removed by things not inherently evil!

The difference in the two kinds of death by starvation is so obvious. We are moved by the one and ignore or deny the other. There is a famine in America and we are starving to death. Is there anything more tragic than this?

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Thank God for the Challenges

You can call them whatever you want, but they are part of our lives and the life of the church. Some view them as grave problems. Others see them as insurmountable obstacles, certain defeats, or reasons to give up, but when viewed through the eyes of faith they are simply challenges on the road to heaven.

Thank God for challenges because they teach us to rely on Him. Every reader has one of the “insurmountable obstacles” in his life now or one which will soon be there. We never want them, but they are simply part of life. We need to have an appreciation for them because they help us realize just how weak we are. If we were stronger, we could “fix” them and they would cease to be problems. However, the truth is that such trials force us to admit our weakness and turn to God. Perhaps Paul said it best, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). That last phrase sums it up best—when I am weak, then I am strong.

Thank God for challenges for they strengthen our souls. The strongest oak is not the one which is nurtured in a greenhouse environment, but one that grows in the open where it battles against the storms around it. The same is true of Christians and the “storms” in their lives. Here is the way God describes trials, “The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4). The way to full maturity (perfection and completion) is to travel the road of adversity.

Thank God for challenges because they give us a sense of certain victory. We may not win every individual skirmish but the bottom line is that we are winning. Each of us has come a long way in our walk with the Lord and though it has at times been trying, we are better people now than we were before. This is because we are overcoming our encounters with adversity. Look back at your life. You are winning! There are challenges ahead, but you have been winning and with God’s help you will achieve victory!

Now think about the challenges around us and how God is working through us to become victorious. Our latest victory was the lectureship this past weekend. It was the finest we have ever experienced! If you want to know the primary reason, then read David’s article this week. Our finest days and greatest victories lie before us!

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