Was it an eclipse?

Eclipsed

 

“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.”

 

Was it an eclipse?

 

There was tremendous excitement in the United States on Monday, August 21, 2017, due to the total solar eclipse that occurred on that day.  Thousands of people traveled varying distances to places along the 70-mile wide path of the shadow of the moon that gradually arced over the continental U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.  The total solar eclipse on Monday was particularly rare because it was the first time since June 8, 1918, that the path of totality exclusively crossed the continental United States.  People in the path of totality were amazed as the moon blocked all of the light of the sun causing darkness to come at a time when it was normally broad daylight.

 

The passage above described another time that darkness covered the land.  Was it an eclipse?  Somehow, the sun was darkened or obstructed.  There was something much more important than an amazing astronomical event that was occurring on that day outside Jerusalem around 2,000 years ago.  Observe the text again:

 

“Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Mark 15:33-34).

 

What was happening?  Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was dying on the cross for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  Sin separates us from God and leads to our destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14).  But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

As the Son was suspended between heaven and earth, darkness came upon the land.  Shouldn’t it?  It was truly a dark day when Jesus paid the price for your sins and mine on the cruel cross of Calvary.

 

Yet because of His sacrificial death, you and I can enjoy the light of His mercy and grace!

 

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 17:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  The atoning blood that Jesus shed in His death will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

Somehow, miraculously, the sun was eclipsed as the Son of God hung on the cross for your sins and mine.  Don’t be amazed by the darkness during the day.  Be thankful for the loving grace that was extended to you and me… and accept it through your trusting obedience.

 

Won’t YOU?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

The Crucified Life

 

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

 

And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mark 15:9-15

 

Jesus knew He was to be killed. Crucified. Killed by being fastened to a wooden  bit of tree – a stake, perhaps, with added cross-piece to enable arms as well as legs to be attached. He came to give sinners eternal life, and they cried: “Put him to death. Impale him on a stake. Get rid of him! He’s no earthly good to us.” It was a crying shame! Jesus also wanted his follower to “take up his cross.” This essentially means to be crucified with Jesus!! Christ’s followers sometimes receive the Jesus treatment, no matter their good deeds. Note John 15:18-19.

 

The Greek word for cross is stauros - a “stake,” as in a fence stake. “Torture stake” in The New World Translation. “Crucify” is simply the verbal form of cross, as in “Crucify Him” in Mark 15:13. The New World Translation has, “To the stake with him,” because a stake was what Jesus and criminals were nailed to for “crucifixion.” Crucifixion just means being fastened to a cross or stake. For how Jesus was attached to the tree/stake/cross (tree because the stake was cut from a tree), see Acts 2:23; 5:30; 10:39; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24. Acts 2:23 says literally, “…you fastened to and killed.” Cross is implied but not actually included in the original text. Acts 5:30, literally, “… whom you slew and hanged on a tree.” Acts 10:39, “… you killed by hanging on a tree.” Galatians 3:13, “… cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”   “Take up your cross” is really, “be crucified; be put on a torture stake.” The Greek isn’t “take up your burden”!

 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

 

“I have been crucified with Christ” again uses a form of the same word, stauros. When we commit to taking up our cross and following Jesus we are committing to being crucified with Christ – to dying with Christ, and to living for Him and others. Christ’s suffering and death on the cross also left us an example to emulate (especially His response to the mistreatment), since we have been crucified with Him. 1 Peter 2:21-25. Our life then is no longer our own, for Christ lives in us. We live the life Christ lived. We do the things Christ did. We cop the reviling and mocking Christ copped. We do not revile or threaten in response to vile treatment – in the same way Jesus did not revile or threaten. We have the faith Christ had. (Galatians 2:20, in Young’s Literal, has “And that which I now live in the flesh, in faith I live of the Son of God …”) We live with the love of Christ, the truth of Christ, the faithfulness of Christ, the courage of Christ, the holiness of Christ, the will of Christ, the meekness of Christ, the Spirit of Christ. We live “in faith of the Son of God” totally.

 

Colossians 3:1-17 explains it clearly in behavioural detail: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord

Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

--David Carr

 

 

Hebrews 4:13

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do"--Hebrews 4:13

 

Today we see our great nation engulfed in a cesspool of wickedness that perhaps has never been seen since that day long ago when God looked down on his creation and saw that wickedness was so great that even the thoughts and imaginations of man's heart was evil continually (Gen.6:5). Our God still looks down on his creation and there is not one single transgression of his word on the part of man that escapes his eye. Anger , hatred, wrath, heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, covetousness (Gal. 5:19-21) along with all the deplorable sins recorded in Romans 1:18-32 are just a part of the sins that are filling the hearts of men today. Who would have thought a few years ago that the time would come when not only would homosexual and lesbian relationships would be accepted but same sex marriage would be accepted and promoted. Pleasure, recreation, amusements, possessions, wealth and self gratification have become the gods before whom untold numbers bow before. Despite the attacks being made on God and his word, he still reigns supreme, he stills rules and will forever. Men may belittle him and cry our against his word but none of them will prevail. God does look down from heaven and beholds all the sons of men (Psalms 33:13) and everything is naked and opened unto his eyes. In the end God wins (Psalms 119:113-118; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

 

Israel of old robbed of that which was due him (Malachi 3:8-9). Israel lusted after evil things (Numbers 11); they committed fornication (Numbers 25); they spoke against God (Numbers 21); they committed idolatry (Exodus 32); they murmured (Numbers 14).  It is clear that God knew what they were doing and they suffered some very sore punishments for their foolish acts (1 Corinthian 10:6-10). People wake up! God sees. God knows and he cannot be mocked without serious consequences resulting (Galatians 6:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

 

Charles Hicks

Margaret Court Australia

The Courage of One’s Convictions

    Margaret Court is a legend in the tennis world, at least in Australia. In the 1960s and 1970s, Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Fourteen years ago, Australian Open officials decided to honor Margaret Court by naming one of their premiere stadiums after her: Margaret Court Arena.

    That is, until Court decided to take a stand against same-sex marriage. Current and retired tennis stars (such as Martina Navratilova and Andy Murray) are trying to pressure the Australian Open to rename the court. Same-sex marriage is still currently illegal in Australia but Court began speaking against it as far back as 2012. For what it is worth, she is a “pastor.” Two months ago, Court announced that she would boycott Australia’s airline company, Qantas, because they support same-sex marriage.

    Our own big-mouthed tennis star, John McEnroe, wants to rub salt in the womb, so to speak. He offered that, once Australia legalizes same-sex marriage, he and Elton John will stage, in the Margaret Court Arena, the “biggest same-sex mass wedding ceremony ever seen” (World Magazine, July 1, 2017).

    It is unfortunate (probably inevitable) that same-sex marriage has become broadly acceptable. It is also unfortunate that the issue is causing intense culture battles around the world. We cannot help that. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20). But even if “evil hates the Light,” the Light cannot respond in kind. The Light must respond with love (Matt. 5:44), gentleness (2 Tim. 2:25), and truth (Eph. 4:15).

    Homosexuality is not the worst of all possible sins. I think we ought to be careful not to portray it as such. Yet, the repercussions of this sin, and the culturally-accepted same-sex marriage that follows, have not been felt in the modern era. How will it play out? Too bad we can’t ask the folks of Sodom and Gomorrah.

    However, even if/when homosexual marriage becomes as acceptable in our society as godly marriage, it will not mean the end of the church. It will not mean the end of the Gospel. It will not mean the end of Christianity. It will not mean the end of God’s prohibition. In fact, perhaps humans need to see and feel the repercussions of such a sinful lifestyle (at least in this life) before they realize they need God’s way; they need God’s pattern.

    When Rome fell, Christianity was left standing. I do not know what might happen to America but I’m confident Christianity will still stand and must stand to point the way back to the Light.

    Be faithful and be courageous. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).

 

Sending your child off to school for the first time

Marching On and On

 

I can relate to some of Ken Stegall’s experiences, can you?  In the midst of some major changes in the lives of my own family, Ken provides a poignant reminder of what is most important.  Maybe his thoughts will help you, too.  In an article entitled, “Time Marches On,” Ken writes:

 

For some of us it’s a memory; for others, you’re facing it now.  Sending your child off to school for the first time!  I was twenty-six years old.  In the words of a good friend of mine, “I could sort tigers!”  I could handle anything.  Nothing rattled me.  … Until I saw my little girl all dressed up in her new dress with a new book-satchel (before the days of backpacks), with this huge smile on her “big-girl face” – ready to go to school.  If someone had told me that I would have teared up, I would have laughed.  But I wasn’t laughing!  … Time marches on.

 

And then, about 12 years later, we made a trip to Searcy, Arkansas to drop her off at college.  The feeling came back.  Maybe worse.  The epitome of mixed-emotions!  We all knew it was going to be tough.  She had told me, “Daddy, I know I’m going to call you and beg you to let me come home.  Don’t let me.”  Easier said than done!  … Time marches on.

 

This year, Janis and I have two grandchildren starting college.  Their parents will have to remind themselves, like we did – “As much as this hurts, it’s the way it’s supposed to be.  It would really be sad if they were never willing/able to ‘leave the nest.’”  It’s hard when emotions get piled up together, isn’t it?  Happy… Proud… Sad… - all at the same time.  … Time marches on.

 

So, as someone who now has all these experiences under my belt, let me give those of you who are on the front-end of this journey a bit of advice.  The one thing that is the most important from where Janis and I are now is, did you teach them to love the Lord?  If you did, then all that other stuff that you would worry about… it’s taken care of.  Things like, Will they go to church faithfully?  What kind of clothes will they wear?  What will they do when they are on a date?  What will they be doing for entertainment?  What will they do when their friends want to do something they know is wrong?  What kind of person will they choose to marry?

 

What are you doing to ensure that they love the Lord more than anything or anyone else in the world?  Remember… Time marches on.  And you can’t back it up! *

 

Do your family members love the Lord?  Let’s personalize it: do YOU love the Lord?  How we answer the latter question will impact our answer to the first.

 

There are a multitude of reasons to love the Lord, but the greatest is that He died for us so that we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

 

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

Friends and family, if we love the Lord, then we’re going to do what He says.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

 

Do YOU love the Lord?  Won’t YOU do what He says?  Won’t YOU teach your family and friends to do the same?

 

Ken Stegall is so right… Time marches on.  “But he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

 

~David Sargent

 

* From “Time Marches On” by Ken Stegall, Woodland Oaks church of Christ, The Woodlands, TX as it appeared in Preacher Stuff Ministry Resource Exchange (8/2/17), edited by Dan Williams of Harding University.

 

David A. Sargent, Minister

 

Time Marches On

   For some of us it’s a memory; for others, you’re facing it now.  Sending your child off to school for the first time!  I was twenty-six years old.  In the words of a good friend of mine, “I could sort tigers!”  I could handle anything.  Nothing rattled me.  … Until I saw my little girl all dressed up in her new dress with a new book-satchel (before the days of backpacks), with this huge smile on her “big-girl face”- ready to go to school.  If someone had told me that I would have teared-up, I would have laughed.  But I wasn’t laughing!  … Time marches on.

   And then, about 12 years later, we made a trip to Searcy, Arkansas to drop her off at college.  The feeling came back.  Maybe worse.  The epitome of mixed-emotions!  We all knew it was going to be tough.  She had told me, “Daddy, I know I’m going to call you and beg you to let me come home.  Don’t let me.”  Easier said than done!  … Time marches on.

   This year, Janis and I have two grandchildren starting college.  Their parents will have to remind themselves, like we did- “As much as this hurts, it’s the way it’s supposed to be.  It would really be sad if they were never willing/able to ‘leave the nest.’”  It’s hard when emotions get piled up together, isn’t it?  Happy… Proud… Sad- all at the same time.  … Time marches on.

     So, as someone who now has all these experiences under my belt, let me give those of you who are on the front-end of this journey a bit of advice.  The one thing that is the most important from where Janis and I are now is, did you teach them to love the Lord?  If you did, then all that other stuff that you would worry about… it’s taken care of.  Things like, Will they go to church faithfully?  What kind of clothes will they wear?  What will they do when they are on a date?  What will they be doing for entertainment?  What will they do when their friends want to do something they know is wrong?  What kind of person will they choose to marry? 

   That little girl/boy with that so-cute-I-can’t-stand-it smile standing there with their new backpack ready to go to school for the first time is either going to make you the proudest person in the world, or they are going to break your heart like no one else could! 

   What are you doing to ensure that they love the Lord more than anything or anyone else in the world?  Remember… Time marches on.  And you can’t back it up!

                                                                                                                                                     

Ken Stegall

"FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD"