What Do You Hear?
Donald Grey Barnhouse once wrote: "Some years ago, musicians noted that
errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they
went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it
was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. Something
had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not
know there was anything wrong with the peals, and quite unconsciously they
had copied their pitch." *
Barnhouse made this application: "So we tend to copy the people with whom we
associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to
which we listen, almost without knowing it."
The Apostle Paul admonished, "Do not be conformed to this world" (Romans
12:1). "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world" (NIV). The
New Century Version states, "Do not be shaped by this world." Using
Barnhouse's analogy above, the truth of Romans 12:1 could be stated, "Don't
listen to the wrong music because it will make your life out of tune."
Now consider the rest of Romans 12:1 - "Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
The best way to have our minds transformed is by filling them with the Word
of God. The Psalmist said, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I
might not sin against You!" (Psalm 119:11).
Barnhouse added: "God has given us His Word which is the absolute pitch of
life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the
false in all of the music of the world." And, we will know what is true!
The Truth is: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans
3:23). We listen to the wrong people, conform to the wrong ideals, make bad
decisions, and we sin against God. We are heading down the wrong road
(Matthew 7:13-14).
The Truth Is: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16
ESV). God will save and give eternal life to 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 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 1:7-9).
The world will lead you astray and ultimately to destruction (Matthew
7:13-14). But God's Word is true and it will lead you to eternal life.
To whom or what are you listening? "Therefore consider carefully how you
listen" (Luke 8:18).
-- David A. Sargent
* From illustrations about worldliness in www.sermonillustrations.com
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Friday, August 7, 2020
Constants in a Changing World
Constants in a Changing World
"The only constant in life is change." - Heraclitus, ancient Greek
philosopher
Who could have ever imagined the changes that COVID-19 and the pandemic have
brought into our lives? One wonders what additional changes lay ahead.
Living in a constant state of change, it is good to be reminded of some
things that do not change.
God is still God. "For I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). The
psalmist praised God saying: "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will
endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will
change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years
will have no end" (Psalm 102:25-27). God is still God and is infinite in
all of His attributes such as holiness, omnipotence, omniscience,
omnipresence, and love.
Sin is still the world's greatest problem. COVID-19 is a terrible problem
in the world today, but it is not the greatest problem. Sin is the greatest
problem because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and dooms one to
eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Gospel still saves. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). The Gospel ("good news") is
that although every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God
(Romans 3:23), God loves each and every one of us and wants to save us from
sin (1 Timothy 2:4). He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son
to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
God will save those who obey the Gospel by placing their faith and trust in
Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and by being 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 1:7-9).
Heaven awaits the faithful child of God. An eternity in heaven where "God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away" (Revelation 21:4), is God's promised inheritance to His
faithful children (Romans 8:15-18). Please remember: earth is not heaven,
so we cannot expect heaven on earth. Christians, however, can look forward
to "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for" them (1 Peter 1:3-4).
In a world that is ever-changing, it's good to hang on to those things that
do not change. God invites each of us to cling to Him and trust His
promises. What God has promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:20-21).
Won't YOU cling to the Rock which shall not be moved through your trusting
obedience?
-- David A. Sargent
"The only constant in life is change." - Heraclitus, ancient Greek
philosopher
Who could have ever imagined the changes that COVID-19 and the pandemic have
brought into our lives? One wonders what additional changes lay ahead.
Living in a constant state of change, it is good to be reminded of some
things that do not change.
God is still God. "For I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). The
psalmist praised God saying: "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will
endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will
change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years
will have no end" (Psalm 102:25-27). God is still God and is infinite in
all of His attributes such as holiness, omnipotence, omniscience,
omnipresence, and love.
Sin is still the world's greatest problem. COVID-19 is a terrible problem
in the world today, but it is not the greatest problem. Sin is the greatest
problem because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and dooms one to
eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Gospel still saves. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). The Gospel ("good news") is
that although every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God
(Romans 3:23), God loves each and every one of us and wants to save us from
sin (1 Timothy 2:4). He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son
to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
God will save those who obey the Gospel by placing their faith and trust in
Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and by being 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 1:7-9).
Heaven awaits the faithful child of God. An eternity in heaven where "God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away" (Revelation 21:4), is God's promised inheritance to His
faithful children (Romans 8:15-18). Please remember: earth is not heaven,
so we cannot expect heaven on earth. Christians, however, can look forward
to "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for" them (1 Peter 1:3-4).
In a world that is ever-changing, it's good to hang on to those things that
do not change. God invites each of us to cling to Him and trust His
promises. What God has promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:20-21).
Won't YOU cling to the Rock which shall not be moved through your trusting
obedience?
-- David A. Sargent
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Helen Kehn
Never Alone
Helen Kehn told of how all her life she had been sheltered and somewhat
pampered by her family. She was the youngest of five children. She had
never known what it was to be alone. Her family was always together, did
things together, worked together, played together, sang together, and
worshiped together.
But she found herself at a time in life when her parents, her brother, and
three sisters had all been taken from her, the last two dying exactly one
month apart. She suddenly found herself in an empty house. She had never
had a key, for there was always someone there to let her in. Now there was
no one.
For a few weeks a niece stayed with her. But the time came when her niece
had to leave. Helen drove her to the station, drove back home, and sat in
the driveway for a while dreading to go in. Finally she steeled herself,
and for the first time in her life she walked into the house all alone. As
she walked up the steps, she prayed, "O God, help me."
The first thing she did when she got inside was to turn the radio on so
there would be sound in those silent, empty rooms. She walked to the
wardrobe to hang up her coat, when over the radio she heard,
"No, never alone; no, never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone."
It was the Old Fashion Revival Hour Quartet singing. Helen said, "To me it
was the very voice of God in answer to the cry of my heart. I realized as
never before that my Lord was there with me, and that I was never alone.
All my life I had depended on my family for companionship. From that moment
I learned to depend on Him."
"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews
13:5).
Denis Lyle wrote that he heard about a little old lady that was listening to
her preacher preach on Hebrews 13:5. The preacher noted that in the Greek
text of Hebrews 13:5, the word translated "never" is a double negative.
Reflecting the double negative, the text could be translated: "I will not, I
will not leave thee; I will not, I will not forsake thee." As the old lady
left the auditorium, she shook the preacher's hand and said, "God may have
to tell you Greek scholars twice that He will never leave you, but He only
has to tell me once." *
Only sin can separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and because of our sins,
we all have been separated from Him (Romans 3:23).
But God loves us so much that He doesn't want us to be separated from Him.
He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1
Peter 2:24). Those who accept His offer of salvation and eternal life are
reconciled to Him through Jesus, and He will never leave them alone.
God will save and give eternal life to 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 and continue to abide with those who continue
to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9). And when this life is
over, He will gather His children into His presence for eternity.
"No, never alone; no, never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone."
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from a sermon by Denis Lyle entitled "The Giant of
Loneliness" in www.sermons.pastorlife.com.
Helen Kehn told of how all her life she had been sheltered and somewhat
pampered by her family. She was the youngest of five children. She had
never known what it was to be alone. Her family was always together, did
things together, worked together, played together, sang together, and
worshiped together.
But she found herself at a time in life when her parents, her brother, and
three sisters had all been taken from her, the last two dying exactly one
month apart. She suddenly found herself in an empty house. She had never
had a key, for there was always someone there to let her in. Now there was
no one.
For a few weeks a niece stayed with her. But the time came when her niece
had to leave. Helen drove her to the station, drove back home, and sat in
the driveway for a while dreading to go in. Finally she steeled herself,
and for the first time in her life she walked into the house all alone. As
she walked up the steps, she prayed, "O God, help me."
The first thing she did when she got inside was to turn the radio on so
there would be sound in those silent, empty rooms. She walked to the
wardrobe to hang up her coat, when over the radio she heard,
"No, never alone; no, never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone."
It was the Old Fashion Revival Hour Quartet singing. Helen said, "To me it
was the very voice of God in answer to the cry of my heart. I realized as
never before that my Lord was there with me, and that I was never alone.
All my life I had depended on my family for companionship. From that moment
I learned to depend on Him."
"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews
13:5).
Denis Lyle wrote that he heard about a little old lady that was listening to
her preacher preach on Hebrews 13:5. The preacher noted that in the Greek
text of Hebrews 13:5, the word translated "never" is a double negative.
Reflecting the double negative, the text could be translated: "I will not, I
will not leave thee; I will not, I will not forsake thee." As the old lady
left the auditorium, she shook the preacher's hand and said, "God may have
to tell you Greek scholars twice that He will never leave you, but He only
has to tell me once." *
Only sin can separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and because of our sins,
we all have been separated from Him (Romans 3:23).
But God loves us so much that He doesn't want us to be separated from Him.
He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1
Peter 2:24). Those who accept His offer of salvation and eternal life are
reconciled to Him through Jesus, and He will never leave them alone.
God will save and give eternal life to 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 and continue to abide with those who continue
to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9). And when this life is
over, He will gather His children into His presence for eternity.
"No, never alone; no, never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone."
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from a sermon by Denis Lyle entitled "The Giant of
Loneliness" in www.sermons.pastorlife.com.
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