If Only

If we could understand…

The terror of sin…

The price of salvation…

The nature and magnitude of God’s grace…

The potential in prayer…

The blessings of Bible study…

The impact of influence…

The value of unity…

The dynamism of the church…

The glory of service…

The power of love…

The fragility of today…

The duration of eternity…

And the worth of one soul…

Then Christians would have no trouble

converting neighbors, family, friends or

the world!

Source:  The Visitor, 17 May 2009, Adamsville church of Christ

Tomorrow

The Brevity of Life

by B.J. Clarke

They didn’t even know what hit them. Some years ago, three professional baseball players, out for an evening of enjoyment and relaxation, smashed into a boat dock at a high rate of speed. Steven Olin died instantly. Tim Crews died hours later at the hospital. Both left behind young wives and young children. In a split second the youthful exuberance, earthly hopes, dreams and goals of these two men were snuffed out of existence. The high priced contracts they had signed were meaningless. They didn’t expect to die that night, but they did. He didn’t even know what hit him. He was sitting in his house in California when a large boulder came tumbling down the mountain adjacent to his home. It smashed through the roof of his house and landed on top of him as he was reclining on the couch. He didn’t expect to die that day, but he did.

They didn’t even know what hit them. Their names are recorded on the pages of Sacred Scripture for all to behold. Their lives were put out like a candle in an instant. Who can forget about Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10), the 250 men who offered incense (Num. 16:35), the thousands in the congregation of Israel whose lives were taken by the Lord “as in a moment” (Num. 16:45ff), the Philistines slain at Samson’s death (Judg. 16:29-30), Goliath (1 Sam. 17), Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:6ff), Job’s children (Job 1:18-19), 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (Isa. 37:36), the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:22), Belshazzar (Dan. 5:30), the 18 upon whom the tower of Siloam fell (Luke 13:4), the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21), and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)?

The aforementioned examples remind us of the need to heed the inspired words of Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Truly, there is but a step between us and death (1 Sam. 20:3). We are just a heartbeat away from eternity. We know not the day of our death (Gen. 27:2).

While it is true that God does not miraculously extinguish life today, and whereas we may never die suddenly and without warning, life is still very, very brief. James wrote, “Go to now, ye that say Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away” (James 4:13-14). The Psalmist declared that we spend our years, as a tale that is told. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:9-10). “Man is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and is cut down. He flees like a shadow and does not continue” (Job 14:1-2).

I do not expect to die today, but I might. So might you. That being the case, we must number our days that we apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psa. 90:12). We must redeem the time by being prepared at all times for the day of our death (Eph. 5:16). You are not ready to live until you are ready to die! Are you ready?

Source: Baldwin church of Christ Bulletin, 3 May 2009

Aged Christians

by Chance Hicks

The Word of God has much to say concerning those who are young and what they can accomplish in the work of the Lord.  Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of the young serving God.  These include men such as David, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  Paul even wrote to a young Gospel preacher, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

The young are important to the work of the Lord, but the Bible also has much to say about the aged.  The aged are special because they are to be honored (Leviticus 19:32) and because the days should add to their wisdom (Job 32:7).  Notice what the Proverbs writer said concerning the aged, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31).  However, as people age they often feel like they are no longer useful in the Lord’s service.  Is this the case or are the aged Christians useful to the Lord?  In order to answer this question, let us consider some examples.

Abraham was a faithful follower of God (Hebrews 11:8-19) who lived to the age of 175.  God had promised Abraham a son through which all nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).  It was not until Abraham was 100 years old that he was blessed with his son, Isaac.  Abraham was willing to serve God even if it meant sacrificing his only son, Isaac (Genesis 22).  Abraham, “the Friend of God” (James 2:23), was useful in the service to God when he was aged!

Moses faithfully served God during his lifetime (Hebrews 11:23-28).  Moses, the great servant of the Lord, lived to be 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:5-7).  It was not until Moses was 80 years old that God used him to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage.  Then Moses continued to serve the Lord for 40 years as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness.  Moses proved to be useful in the service of God even when he was aged!

John, one of the twelve apostles, served God when he was an aged Christian.  John was advanced in years when he was exiled to the isle of Patmos.  John was faithful to the Lord even when he was living in exile.  It was not until John was in his nineties that he penned the book of Revelation.  What great work the apostle John was able to accomplish as an aged Christian in service to the Lord!

Can the aged be useful in service to the Lord?  The answer is a resounding “Yes!” These great examples prove that the aged are very important to the Lord’s cause.  There are many things that aged Christians can do to work for the Lord.  One of the greatest works that they can do is to teach the younger Christians.  Paul gave Titus instructions concerning the aged and what they should be as servants of God: “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  The age women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not give to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:1-5).  Aged Christians are useful to the Lord!  May we always remember that no matter our age we can be useful servants in the kingdom of the Lord!

Source: The Visitor, Adamsville, AL, May 17, 2009