Stop and Think—Save the Children

Children are one of God’s most precious gifts next to salvation, prayer, His Word, the Body of Christ, and I suppose a few other things. I am burdened by the grave mistreatment of millions of these precious gifts worldwide. I am burdened by the grievous poverty that millions of children face every day. I am burdened that while I type ever so comfortably in my American home on my American computer, a small child is rummaging in a heap of garbage for his and his family’s next meal. I am burdened by the suffering of so many.

Stop and think. In Uganda children flee their homes and lives fearing that government agents will kidnap them and train them to become killing machines. They are displaced across an impoverished land, many concentrated in refugee camps where there is little food, little sanitation, and rampantly spreading HIV. In Romania over 100,000 children live in orphanages, due to a communist law that demanded women have at least five children by the age of 45 before they could receive contraceptives and abortions. Communism was overthrown in Romania, but the government remains quite socialist. The government-run orphanages are in terrible condition and are poorly staffed by unqualified workers. The children are given some basic means of survival, but little to no medical treatment, terrible facilities, and awful education. Children have been found tied to beds, some older children are never potty-trained, and younger children are given bottles of gruel instead of formula. “Children who are cross-eyed or show any form of disability are assumed retarded and are left to find their own food, beds, and clothes.” (check below for website quote) Hundreds of children are released each year from these orphanages to live on the street and fend for themselves. They have nowhere to go, no money, little employment opportunity, and many girls end up being forced into a career of “dancing” by foreigners who travel to Romania to exploit this situation (website at bottom of article).

Stop and think. Over one million children, mostly girls but some boys as well, are involved in some form of commercial prostitution in Southeast Asia. The children are lured into prostitution by their destitute conditions, fearing that they might starve otherwise. Even though prostitution is illegal in most of these countries the law is not enforced and western perverts travel to countries like Thailand to prey on the children. The western influence is what keeps Asian pimps in the business of sexually exploiting children. These children face a life-time struggle with venereal diseases, fertility, and pregnancy problems; as well as depression. There is the ever present danger of contracting the HIV virus, which leads to AIDS. Malnutrition, which these child-prostitutes will often face, negatively affects the survival chances of a person with AIDS. Yet more millions of children face propaganda and fear in Middle-Eastern countries. In Islamic Fundamentalist countries like Saudi-Arabia, children our taught from a very young age to hate anyone that does not adhere to their religion, and that martyrdom is the only sure way to Heaven. Child television shows that resemble America’s “The Wiggles” teach sing-a-long songs about martyrdom and hatred for Jews. A documentary on the Fox News Channel captured a little girl no older than six singing “I will become a suicide martyr, in battledress, in battledress!” Another little boy no older than three; was asked what he was going to do with the AK-47 he was holding upon which he responded “shoot the Jews.” Saturday afternoon cartoons consist of suicide bombers diving on American convoys while shouting “Allah Akbar!”

Stop and think. In countries like India children are forced to take dangerous jobs in vain attempts to raise money for food. Some children are employed in ship waste yards. Old abandoned freighters are towed to the ship deconstruction yards by multi-millionaires to be broken down piece by piece so that the steel can be sold on the market. These boys and young men cut the steel with welding units, but are given no protective goggles or gloves. They sit on the very steel bars that they and their co-workers are slicing, hoping to vacate the bars before they fall hundreds of feet below. The children are in constant danger of the massive ship walls falling on them as they work. Children are also in danger of the previously mentioned steel bars crashing onto their heads from above. It is not unusual for a brother to report back to her mother that her son died at work. Meanwhile these people live in shanty towns with little to no running water or food. Human waste fills the streets, and deadly but completely curable diseases like dysentery run rampant. Sometimes the people can find medical attention if the Red Cross sets up a small clinic, usually open only a couple days a week, otherwise these deadly but preventable diseases go uncured. Billions of children face similar situations worldwide. Billions of children are forced to find a week’s meal for their families in dumpster. Children bring home chicken bones so that the mothers can boil the bones in water, so as to provide their families with the nutrients found in the bones’ marrow. These children would dream of an opportunity to dig through an American dumpster if they only knew the amount of precious food we toss aside (Americans produce 200 million tons of edible food waste yearly). The fat of the steak that slides off of our plates into the dog bowl would feed a third-world family of five for a week. These children would kill, maybe literally, for the chance to dumpster dive at McDonalds, or any other fast food restaurant where burgers and fries that sat underneath the heat lamp too long are tossed out.

Stop and think. Why were you born in America? For what reason did God choose for you to be born in a land so bountifully blessed? Why did God bless you with so many material things? Why were you born in a land where the Gospel is so freely and readily available? Why did God allow you that opportunity? What did you do to deserve such blessing, such hope?

Jesus said “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Why were you born American? God chose for you to be born American. God chose for you to be free to share the gospel. God chose for you to be born with resources that you do not deserve, that you might feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the sick. It is not charity for us to give to Children’s Hunger Fund, it is our duty. Those who receive our gifts are the very embodiment of Jesus Christ. The child rummaging through the dumpster to find his meal is Jesus Christ. Christ is the one who hungers, who is naked, who is sick, who is poor; therefore, it is our duty to give to those who are Christ. Yet it is also our duty to give because we are able to do so. We must give more than money however, we must give all of our resources to those who are in need. We are the blessed with so many “things” that we do not need; therefore, it is our duty out of the overabundance with which we have been blessed, to give of ourselves to the needy. Yet if we merely give out of duty, then shame on us. If we give out of anything besides the overflow of love in our hearts, then shame on our selfishness and pride; we failed. If we give so that we can “feel good,” then may we incur all kinds of wrath upon our heads. Love for Jesus should overflow into an intense love for people, especially the least of these. If we love Christ in the way we ought, then we will love the “least of these,” with an intense passionate love that will drive us to our knees and faces daily begging God to help us help them. We will cry “Jesus, you are the least of these, how can we help you?”

Stop and think. In America, the land of freedom and liberty, children are raped and molested every day. 60% of convicted sexual offenders are on probation or completely free to roam. In 1994 almost 40% of all released sexual offenders committed another sexual offense within one year of their release. Jessica Lunsford, the girl for whom Jessica’s Law is named, was kidnapped, raped violently multiple times, and buried alive inside two trash-bags. Police found her body with two skeleton fingers poking holes out of the garbage bags as evidence of her struggle before her death. The man, John Couey was a previous sexual offender who failed to register upon moving to Florida, and was able to commit this awful crime. On the Apache Indian reservation in Arizona a missionary family drives a bus into neighborhoods rescuing children and taking them away from their terrible lives if but for a few hours. One girl rescued by these missionaries, and a group of Campus Christian Fellowship students from East Carolina University, smelled of alcohol and marijuana when she boarded the bus. No older than fourteen, this girl was given alcohol and drugs by her Uncle, who was attempting to get her drunk and high enough that she would not remember him raping her. Praise God her grandmother (who she lived with because her father murdered her mother and is in prison) discovered what was going on and found safety for her granddaughter. Sadly, situations such as this one are not terribly uncommon on the Apache Indian Reservation.

From Rwanda to Arizona children suffer from starvation, sexual abuse, disease, and death. So often we forget that this injustice occurs. The condition of others escapes our minds in our own busy, comfortable lives. So while we rest in our suburban homes, and drive our SUVs, I pray that we will take time to stop, think, and pray about the children. The worst suffering of these billions of little ones is that the vast majority of them do not know Jesus. What are we going to do? We cannot wait any longer, it is time for action. Go.

The Trinity

The Trinity. The very mention of that phrase evokes great emotion among a broad spectrum of people. For Christians who believe in the Trinity, it brings joy and excitement, for the awesome (literally full of awe) way in which God chose to reveal Himself to His creation as one God in three persons. For non-Christians it is the contradictory way in which Christians worship three gods while claiming to worship only one. For Christians who do not believe in the concept of a Triune God the Trinity wells up anger at the distortion of scripture since the Counsel of Nicea in 325 A.D. For others, many of whom having grown up in “church” and claim Christianity the word Trinity is but a word. Many Christians believe in the concept of the Trinity, but do not know why, and are often led astray by false religions claiming to have the proper explanation. Either way, the doctrine of the Trinity is perhaps one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. Truth is not relative, so one stance on the Trinity inevitably must be correct, and that is scripture’s. Let us clear up some misconceptions, combat a little false teaching, and delve into what scripture says about the Lord God Almighty, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Before delving any further we should adequately define the word Trinity. Easton’s Bible dictionary defines the Trinity thus:

A word not found in Scripture, but used to express the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons.
1. That God is one, and that there is but one God
2. That the Father is a distinct divine Person distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. That Jesus Christ was truly God, and yet was a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit.
4. That the Holy Spirit is also a distinct divine Person.

There are a few common objections to the Trinity. Perhaps the most popular among Christians is Pentecostal Oneness theology. Oneness theology stems from the early church heresy of Modalism, made popular by Sabellius. Oneness theology teaches that there is one God, and that He manifested Himself in different modes at different times in history, the Father first, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit. Another belief among Christians is that Jesus is God, so to speak, but He is a lesser God than the Father, and that they are two distinctly different beings. Other objections come from the idea that the Trinity teaches three gods, and therefore is polytheistic. Yet more objection stems from Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness teaching. Both teach that Jesus was a creation, like any other Creation. Mormons believe Jesus to have presented the Father with a plan of salvation greater than the plan Satan presented, and thus died for sin (though good works are still necessary in order for complete atonement). However Mormons believe the Father and Son to be completely distinct. Jehovah’s Witness theology teaches that Jesus was the first creation of God and merely a perfect man, not God in flesh.

The only way to properly deal with this issue is to examine the Truth of scripture and determine what the Bible says about the doctrine of the Trinity. Perhaps 1 John 5:7 will provide a strong starting point for this study, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” Let us delve into each of these who bear witness in Heaven: the Father, the Word (the Son), and the Holy Spirit, individually and uncover the Truth to be found.

In 1 John 5:7 the “Father” appears first as one of the three that bear witness in Heaven. There is little question as to the idea that the Father is in fact Almighty God. Some verses to back this idea include:

1. “He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’”-Psalm 89:26. This verse is part of Old Testament Messianic prophecy
2. “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”-Jeremiah 31:9. God declares Himself to be the Father of Israel.
3. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:16
4. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father”-Ephesians 2:18
5. Speaking of the Father scripture says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”-John 1:18

In the Old Testament there are several instances mentioned where if one saw the Father he would die instantly. Even Moses was not allowed to see the fullness of God’s glory in the account of the Exodus. When the high priest would make sacrifices in what was called the Holy of Holies, where they would encounter a portion of God’s glory but not the fullness of it, ropes would be tied around the waist of the priest, and bells on his shoes. This was in the case that he might enter into the Holy of Holies with un-confessed sin, for if he did then he would die and the bells would stop ringing; therefore, those holding the rope would know to drag the corpse out.

There is little doubt that the Father is in fact God. Questions are raised as to whether or not Jesus is God, and if He is then how He and the Father could exist as God simultaneously. Why would He pray to the Father if He was already God? Hopefully by examining scripture these objections can sufficiently be answered.

Jesus speaks about the Trinity/Godhead:

1. John 10:29-30 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
2. John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
3. John 17:11 “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are.”

In John10 and John 17 Jesus declares that He and the Father are in fact One. Think of it perhaps like a human, if you will for a moment. A human has a mind, a body, and a soul. Each of these must exist in order for the others to exist. Each part has its own distinct function, but each is equally human. Your mind is no less “you” than your body, or your soul. Think in this sense as how the Father and the Son are One, yet in the context of these verses existing in two very distinct places.

Let us examine the scriptures that attest to Jesus being God:

1. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”-Colossians 2:9. This verse leaves little question as to whether or not Jesus is fully God. See 2:6 for context.
2. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”-Colossians 1:15-19.
a. “Invisible God” in this context is the Father. It has been discussed that the Father cannot be seen, but Christ is the very image of the Father. Christ is the exact representation of the Father. When one sees Christ He sees God.
b. Christ is the firstborn over all creation. This is not to say that He is the first creation, but “firstborn” applies to the Jewish custom of inheritance. The firstborn is the recipient of the greatest inheritance and blessing from the father of the household. If ever the child born first is not allotted the greater inheritance, then the recipient of the inheritance is considered the firstborn. Christ is the recipient of the inheritance, having preeminence over all things.
c. By Him and for Him all things were created. That leaves little room for doubt that He had an instrumental God-size role in the creation. See Genesis 1:26.
3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”-John 1:1-5. See Revelation 19:11-14 for Biblical evidence that Jesus is called the Word of God. This is another passage that leaves little doubt as to Scripture’s take on the concept of Jesus being God.
4. The Son is seen throughout the Old Testament. There was a great deal of prophecy about the coming Messiah/Son of God, but He also makes pre-incarnate appearances as the Angel of the LORD, Commander of the LORD’s Army, and various other forms.
a. “Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.” –Judges 6:21-22
i. Notice Gideon cried, “Alas Lord God!” This is common practice when the Angel of the LORD appears in scripture. He is the only Angel anywhere in scripture who allows worship, and the only Angel ever called “Lord God.” A future blog/article will delve deeper into the case that the Angel of the Lord and other Old Testament figures of that nature are actually appearances of the pre-incarnate Messiah.
ii. Do remember that the Father cannot be seen according to scripture, yet the Angel of the LORD is worshipped as God. The person of the Trinity that can be seen is the Son.
b. Here is a list of a few other Old Testament passages dealing with the Angel of the LORD and other pre-incarnate Christ figures:
i. *Zechariah 2:8-13*
ii. Genesis 14:17-24 (see Hebrews 7 for further details)
iii. Genesis 16
iv. Genesis 32:24-32
v. Daniel 3
5. Hebrews 1:5-13 finds the Father actually refereeing to the Son as God.
a. “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “ Let all the angels of God worship Him.””-Hebrews 1:6. This is a quote from Psalm 97:7 in which the Father calls on the angels to worship the Son.
b. “But to the Son He says:
“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.””-Hebrews 1:8-9. The Father says to the Son “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” That speaks for itself.
6. “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”-Jeremiah 17:10. The LORD is the one who searches the heart.
i. “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”-Revelation 2:23. Jesus declares in His Revelation to John that He is the one who searches the minds and hearts. A clear indication that Christ is in fact God as the Father is God.
7. One of the more common objections to Jesus as God is that Jesus is recorded in scripture as praying to the Father. Oneness theology dismisses this idea by saying that the Son is praying to His own deity (in other words, He is praying to Himself). This is illogical, and ignores the fact that the Father is also seen throughout the Gospels (the Transfiguration, Christ’s Baptism, and so on). Jesus praying to His Father is part of His humanness. It is an act of submission. Is He therefore less than equal with God because of this act of submission? No, submission does not automatically cause one to be less than the one he is submitting to. Consider marriage:
a. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”-Ephesians 5:22-23. The wife is not less than her husband because she is to be submissive to him. She is simply playing a specific role in marriage. The husband, who is the spiritual-leader of the household, would not be able to lead if not for the role of a submissive wife. If both led then there would be no direction. But if he had no one to lead, then his leadership would be useless. Both roles are vital for a marriage to function properly; therefore, both members are of equal importance.
b. As with marriage, Christ role of submissiveness to the Father is of equal importance to the Father. Each “person” in the Godhead serves a role of equal importance, and therefore each is equally God.

Now let us examine to the scriptures that attest to the Holy Spirit (considered the third person in the Godhead) as God:

1. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”-John 15:26. Jesus announces the arrival of the Helper, who is the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is eternal, and did dwell in certain humans before the time of Christ, but He did not permanently dwell in any one person until after the crucifixion and resurrection.
2. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”-Matthew 1:18. How else could the Holy Spirit conceive the Son of God without in fact being God Himself?
3. “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”-Acts 5:3-4. By lying to the Holy Spirit Ananias did not lie to men, but to God.
4. “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”-Job 33:4. The Holy Spirit is seen in this verse as Creator of life.
5. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”-Hebrews 9:14. The Holy Spirit is said to be eternal.
6. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”-Ephesians 4:30. The Holy Spirit seals our salvation.
7. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”-Romans 5:5. The Holy Spirit has access to the heart and access to God’s love to be able to pour out the love of God on our hearts.

Conclusion: The most logical picture for the Trinity I have come across is evident within a human being. A human is made up of a mind, body, and a soul. Neither entity can exist outside of the other two, but each has a specific role in making a human a human. Neither entity is more important than the other two, but each is entirely human. Our God exists much in this way, in part so that He could reveal Himself to us in a way that we could understand.

Recieve the Word. Do the Word.

The Bible is the second greatest gift God has given to His people (salvation in Christ is the greatest). Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” God breathed His Word by the Holy Spirit to more than thirty men, so they could physically write the Scriptures that teach Christians how to obey the gospel. The gospel-the good news-is the means by which God reconciles man to Himself. Every story, every law, everything in the Bible (every word is true-God’s Word does not fail) points to the reconciling of man to God through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. James 1:19-26[1] teaches two ways in which Christians must interact with the Bible: Christians must receive the Word, and do the Word.

In verses 19-21 Christians are taught to receive the Word of God with humility (meekness). Christians receive the Word in a few different ways: through music (hymns contemporary and ancient), through preaching, through personal Bible study. We must be humble in our reception of God’s Word. Often the tendency for humans is to forget that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal, and their Creator. Humans contend with the words of Scripture as if they believe they know more than God. Christians should be slow to speak and quick to hear; God is the author of all things. There are hard teachings in Scripture, but Christians must receive those teachings, believing that God knows what is best and what is right. The Scriptures lead people to live lives full of joy and purpose; therefore, we must respect even the most difficult teachings for our sakes’ and for the gospel.

Christians receive the Word by allowing God to plant it in us like we are soil; so that it can grow roots, and bear fruit. A cherry tree implanted in the woods will bear cherries. The Word planted in us bears the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnesss, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”[2] In order for God to plant His Word in us we must be willing to study His Word often, and listen to His Word preached regularly. Study the Word daily. Begin your day with prayer and scripture reading, and end your day the same. Surround your day with the fellowship of God through prayer and His Word, and if your study is done with humility (a desire to learn and grow) then your tree will bear much fruit. Listen to the Word preached often (podcasts are useful tool for listening to the preaching of the Word on other days besides Sunday and Wednesday). The Bible is our source of Christian nourishment. In Psalm 119 David wrote, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

The Christian is not complete however, unless he becomes a “doer” of the Word, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Scripture teaches the Christian how to live according to the gospel-the good news that through Christ God reconciles man to himself by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:7-8). In Christ Christians are new creations; therefore our lives are radically different with Christ than without. If a person reads the Bible, memorizes every word, but does not change then, “he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” (James 1:24). The Bible is like a mirror in that man can look in its pages and see his own filthiness, and if he does not change then he remains filthy. Paul writes in Romans 8:13; “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” We do not have the power on our own to conquer sin in our lives, but if the Christian has placed his faith in Christ and therefore has received the Holy Spirit, and by the Spirit we can put sin to death. It is only by the Spirit that we “do the Word.”

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:25). Humans are slaves to sin from birth. God’s Word shows man how to be free from sin, for it is the perfect law of liberty. Salvation is not an excuse to sin void of any consequence; it is the means by which you are freed from sin, so that you can live. Sin=death; salvation=life. Apart from Christ every decision we make, or action we take, is an attempt to pleasure ourselves with something other than Christ. If we “do” the Word, by faith in Jesus Christ, then we can experience the true joy that is only found in glorifying God (we were created to glorify God).

The doer of God’s Word will love and care for those whom God cares for and loves. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”[3] In the context he meant that whatever we do to benefit the hungry, sick, naked, imprisoned; we do for Jesus. The opposite is true, in that when we ignore the hungry, sick, naked, imprisoned, widowed, orphaned, depressed, and lonely-we ignore Christ. A doer of the Word will love his neighbor as himself, and desire to meet the physical and spiritual needs of his fellow human beings. In order to meet a person’s physical needs we must do more than wish them well, but we must actually meet their physical needs. Tending to the physical needs of our fellow man requires self-sacrifice, but like 1 Timothy 6 says, we should be content with food and clothing, because we have faith in He who is eternal. We must also meet our neighbor’s spiritual needs, in teaching them the Word that we have received, the good news that man can be free from sin and live forever glorifying God.

The two greatest commandments can be summed up simply; “Love God. Love people.”

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[1] James 1:19-26 “Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law; the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

[2] Galatians 5:22-23

[3] Matthew 25:31-46,

Finish the Race

In a prison cell in Rome the Apostle Paul, nearing the end of his life, penned these words; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” When he wrote those words Paul knew his death was drawing near, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Paul knew that his death would not be a quiet passing into the night; rather, he would be martyred; killed specifically for his belief in Jesus Christ. With his impending death in mind Paul closed the last chapter of this his last epistle with a charge for his dear friend Timothy to; “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” Paul exhorts Timothy to continue the work of making disciples of all nations. Jesus revealed Paul’s mission to him through Ananias in Acts 9 when He assured him in a vision that the church’s greatest human enemy (Saul/Paul) would soon become her greatest ambassador. Christ says, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Paul is known as the apostle to the gentiles, leading the way in fulfilling God’s promise in the Old Testament that, “Those who were not my people I will call my people, and her who was not beloved I will call beloved.” (Romans 9:25; Hosea 2:23) Through great adversity and constant peril Paul fulfilled the mission Jesus gave Him, and was not be deterred by violence, hunger, storm, or prison. He was beaten savagely with whips and rods several times, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, and often served time in prison. His response to the ever-present danger he faced, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Reflecting on his life in that Roman prison Paul could say with confidence that he finished his race, kept the faith, and could look forward to receiving the prize-eternity with Jesus Christ. Who does not desire to have the fulfillment at the end of their lives that Paul had at the end of his; the satisfaction knowing that he did exactly that for which he was created?

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he provides the instructions necessary to run the race to the glory of God and live a life not wasted. In verses 1-10 Paul warns Timothy about false teachers, who have the appearance of gospel preachers, but are really only motivated by selfish gain. Their false godliness was a scheme meant for the sole purpose of garnering material wealth (1 Tim 6:5). He writes that there is great gain in being content with food and clothing, and that the pursuit of riches results in a man becoming entangled in a snare. In verse 10 he says that the root of all evil is the love of money, and that many have experienced great sorrow because they sought satisfaction in monetary gain. Human beings desire happiness. Most humans, apart from faith in Jesus Christ, will seek happiness in material gain. That is the essence of the American Dream:

Education + good job + wife/husband + 2.5 children + dog + white picket fence + big house = success. Success + you = happiness.

The human desire for joy is not a problem in and of itself, but the problem is that humans to seek joy in things that are not eternal. Material things fade, and are therefore incapable to provide lasing joy. That is why it is so common for people who have reached the pinnacle of success (Hollywood actors, Top 40 musicians, etc.) to attempt escape from reality through the use of mind-altering substances (drugs, alcohol, etc.). Many of the richest people in the world commit suicide, because once they have achieved that which they have worked so hard for, and discover that it still cannot satisfy their souls, they have nothing for which to live. That is why Paul writes in 1Timothy 6:8, “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” How can people be content with just food and clothing? Paul answers in 1 Tim 6:11-16:

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Turn to Jesus. Paul illustrates repentance (turning from sin to faith in Christ) as running quickly away from sin, like it is chasing you, and running after Christ (righteousness) like you’re a Doberman chasing a bunny-rabbit. In turning from sin to Christ you are “taking hold of eternal life.” Only God gives life to all things, and can satisfy men’s souls. Material things crumble but Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of Lords, and He alone has immortality, He dwells in unapproachable light, and has eternal dominion. Because Christ will surely return (v.14) and we will see Him in the fullness of His glory-we can be content in our lives with no more material things than food and water, because our joy is in the assurance that we have eternal life with Christ. Paul models this contentment when in jail he reflects positively on his life that was laden with trial—he looked forward to seeing Jesus face to face and relishing in His glory for eternity. Christians can also be joyful in the face of all kinds of hardship. Even if we face great trails in our lives, we are looking forward to Jesus’ return, and” though the sorrow may last for the night the joy comes with the morning.”

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