THE CONVERSION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR

THE CONVERSION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR

 

Nebuchadnezzar was a ruler of the Babylonian Empire for some forty years (from near the close of the 7th century B.C. to 562 B.C.). His conversion and why he needed to be converted is detailed Daniel 4. Before looking at his conversion, we need a bit of historical background concerning the connection of the Babylonian Empire with the people of God, the Kingdom of Judah.

 

Following the death of Solomon in c. 933 B.C., the one united Kingdom of Israel, composed of the twelve tribes, divided into two separate kingdoms. The tragic story of the division and why it occurred is recorded in I Kings 12 and II Chronicles 10. Ten of the twelve tribes revolted against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and the rightful heir to the throne, and formed a separate kingdom under Jeroboam. These ten tribes retained the name of Israel and were known as the Northern Kingdom. This ten tribe kingdom did not have a single good king during the entirety of its existence! In 721 B.C. this kingdom was attacked by the Assyrians and taken into captivity, never to return as a distinct kingdom of its own.

 

The other two tribes—Judah and Benjamin—remained loyal to Rehoboam, and because Judah was the larger of the two they became known as the Kingdom of Judah or the Southern Kingdom. This kingdom fluctuated between good and bad kings. After the captivity of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians the Southern Kingdom continued for another 100 plus years before being attacked by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar and taken into Babylonian captivity. Among the first to be deported from Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were given Babylonian names, but Daniel continued to be known as Daniel rather than by his Babylonian name of Beltezhazzar while the other three became (and remained) famously known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. In Babylon, these men were given positions of authority (see Daniel 1).

 

Nebuchadnezzar had a series of dreams that Daniel was able by the Spirit of God to interpret. Daniel 2 records an exceptionally important dream that foretold the setting up of God's eternal kingdom, the church (V. 44). In Daniel 4 we read of a dream by Nebuchadnezzar in which he saw an exceedingly high tree whose height reached to heaven. It was so large that it could be seen to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were lovely and its fruit was in such abundance as to provide food for all. In the dream a holy one came down from heaven and ordered the tree to be cut down, its leaves stripped, and its fruit scattered. The beasts of the field were to flee from its shade and the birds were to fly from its branches. However, the stump of the tree was to remain with its roots in the earth and a bronze band around it. The stump was to be watered by the dew of heaven.

 

Daniel was called in to explain the dream to Nebuchadnezzar. The tree and stump symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom which had grown strong and powerful. But Nebuchadnezzar had also become haughty and arrogant. (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had been thrown into the fiery furnace for failure to worship Nebuchadnezzar as God). Daniel informed Nebuchadnezzar that he would be driven from his kingdom until "seven times" (years) had passed. During these "seven times" he would dwell with the beasts of the field, eat grass like oxen, and be wet by the dew of heaven until he had come to know "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:19-25). The stump of the tree was left to assure Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be returned to him after he had come "to know that Heaven (God) rules" (Daniel 4:26).  In the meantime, Nebuchadnezzar was instructed by Daniel to "break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." He was told, "Perhaps there may be a lengthening (prolonging) of your prosperity" (Daniel 4:27).

 

Exactly one year later, Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace. He said (perhaps musing to himself), "Is this not great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:28-30). While his words were still in his mouth, a voice from heaven said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it has been spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:31-32). "That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like bird claws" (Daniel 4:33).

 

Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years as a mad man and as a beast of the field, experiencing all that Daniel had said would happen to him. "And at the end of the time" he said, "And I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?' At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down" (Daniel 4:34-37).

 

Thus we have the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar. He learned his lesson. How many today need to undergo a similar conversion from arrogance and pride to humility and a recognition of the omnipotence of God? Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

 

Hugh Fulford

Give More Earnest Heed

Give More Earnest Heed 

 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (Hebrews 2:1) 

The writer of Hebrews tells us in verse 2 of chapter 1 that God has in these last days spoken to us by his Son and he goes on to tell us that the Son is superior to angels or any man who has ever lived (Hebrews 1:3-13, 2:5-8, 3:1-6). Now he tells us to pay close attention to that which is spoken by the Son.  

We hold in our hands one of the greatest treasures the world has ever known, the Bible, the word of God. Every word of this great treasure is divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16). The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12-13). This great treasure is able to cleanse us and purify our souls (1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 1:22). This treasure is comprised of truth and it is truth that will set us free (John 8:32, 36, John 17:17).

For all who will allow it to do so, this great treasure becomes the power of God that leads to eternal salvation (Romans 1:16, Hebrews 5:8-9) We must give strict adherence to the truths of the gospel of Christ, the word of God, not to just some of them or only to the ones we like but to all of them without exception. If we neglect to feed on the treasure of God's word and be doers of that word (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Peter 2:1-3, James 1:22-27, 2:17-26), it will result in the truths that make us free and bring eternal salvation to slip from our minds and be forgotten. Don't let that happen! 

We are weak, frail human beings and if we do not diligently guard our hearts, it will be so easy to become engrossed in the pursuit of worldly things (wealth, homes, cars, possessions, things of all kinds) that we have little or no time left for spiritual things like studying God's word, praying, being involved in the work of the church. It will be so easy to become obsessed with material things, pleasures, amusements, recreational activities and allow those desires to leave no opportunity to do those things that will secure the eternal salvation of our soul to slip away (1 Cor. 15:57, 2 Peter 1:4-11, Hebrews 10:23, 2:1, Colossians 3:5-8).

 It is a great privilege and an honor to be a member of the Lord's church. To be called out of this world, to have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and be translated into the kingdom of God's beloved Son is cause for much rejoicing and praise to God (Col. 1:12-14). Giving heed to things spoken by the Lord, we must realize that we are a branch in Christ the vine. I cannot get by on the fact that the other branches are fruitful and function as they should while I do not and neither can you (John 15:1-8). We are a living stone in the building (1 Peter 2:4-5). I cannot get by on the fact that the other stones fit into their place and do their work well while I do not and neither can you. We are lights in the world and must shine (Matthew 5:14-16, Phil. 2:14-16). I cannot get by on the fact that other lights shine leading the lost and erring into the fold of safety while I do not and neither can you. 

Hold on to your faith so tenaciously that we will not falter or give up regardless of the struggles we face in this life (Hebrews 12:1-3).

 Charles Hicks

End of the Journey

End of the Journey

 

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it"--Ecclesiastes 12:7 

Today we are on a great earthly journey that began the day we were born. It is uncertain as to when our departure from this life will take place. Each day we live just brings us one step closer to the time when our sojourn on this earth will come to an end (Eccl. 9:5, Heb. 9:27). If we live another week, a month or even years, it will still be only a short time when we consider the eternity to which we are going (Psalms 90:9-10). We do not need to be anxious about the when or how of death. Our major concern should center on being ready to exit this world and enter the world that will never end (Eccl. 12:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 2 Corinthians 5:9).

   The words of Ephesians 5:14-17 sound out a great warning to us, especially verse 16: "Making the most of your time, because the days are evil".  Every step we take must be taken with great caution and watchfulness lest we find ourselves walking down that broad way that leads to everlasting destruction (Matthew 7:13).  Walk not after the flesh but strive to walk in a manner that becomes a faithful child of God (Gal. 5:19-25, 2 Pet. 1:3-11).

 Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow may never come, thus we must understand that all we have is this present moment of time and it can end in the blink of an eye. Now is the time to be obedient to the Lord (Heb. 5:8-9, 2 Cor. 6:2, Phil.2:12). Now is the time to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11-18), to set affections on things above (Col. 3:1-3, to lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21, time for those members of the Lord's church who have become lukewarm, indifferent, inactive and unfaithful to come home, repenting and praying for God's forgiveness (Rev. 3:15-16, 1 John 1:9). Are you ready to come to the end of the way and take that last step through the door of death? Take heed, it may be later than you may think. Make peace with God while it is still today, tomorrow may be too late. Hear him, believe him, repent, confess him, be baptized for remission of sins, then live faithfully for and with him until that hour comes when these earthly bonds are cast off and we go to meet our God face to face (Romans 10:17, John 20:30-31, Acts 17:30-31, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 10:19-23).

 The end of this earthly journey for the child of God is a home of eternal rest (Rev. 14:12). The builder of that home has promised that he will come again and take us there to dwell with him (John 14:1-3). As I have grown older, I have become acutely aware of the insecurity of this earthy life. I have seen so many of my loved ones and friends slip silently through the door of death and I am keenly aware that my days on this earth are passing swiftly and all too soon I too will be leaving this world behind. Now, none of us knows when, where or how we will die. The only thing we know for sure is that the day is coming when our fleshly heart will beat for the last time. Does the thought of that day scare you or excite you (Phil. 1:21-23, 2 Cor. 5:6-9, Gal. 2:20). I venture to say that how you answer this question depends on the way you are living your life right now and how you view death.

 Charles Hicks

 

 

Afflicted But Not Crushed

Afflicted But Not Crushed

 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

 As we turn to 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and learn from Paul of the many trials and afflictions he faced, we can understand why at times he would have a troubled heart and even be puzzled as to why those things were happening to him. However, we learn from 2 Corinthians 4 that he did not allow those afflictions to fill him with anxiety and grief that would throw him into a state of hopelessness. Paul knew that he served a God who was willing and able to calm all the storms of his life (Psalms 23, Psalms 56:3, Isaiah 12:2-3, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:16).

 While we do not suffer the same afflictions Paul speaks about (hopefully never will), there will come into all of our lives those times when our human frame will be afflicted with events that will trouble us greatly. It does not matter how much peace and calmness may surround us, at any moment, often with no advance notice, our world can be turned upside down replacing that peace and comfort with a burden that will be difficult to bear. We serve the same God Paul served and like Paul, we must never allow the storms of this life to take control of us. When those dark clouds gather and the storms rage around us, turn it over to God, let him handle it.

 Some time ago, due to a medical issue, I found myself sitting in a room at the local medical center waiting to find out what was going to take place. There was a bulletin board in the room and as I sat there. I read these words. "Good morning. This is God. I will be handling all your problems today. So relax and have a great day," I know that these are words written by a human being but I do believe the thought expressed in them is biblical truth (Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Psalms 59:16-17)

 There is always a measure of strength, hope, comfort, calmness and peace available to sustain those who are willing to submit themselves to the Lord, ever trusting and confiding in him (Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalms 62:8, Proverbs 3:5, 1 Peter 5:6, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18) I love Psalms 4:8, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety." Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5) We sing a beautiful song by Eliza Hewitt, Sunshine in the Soul, that proclaims, "There's sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright, than glows in any earthly skies, for Jesus is my light. There's gladness in my soul today, and hope, and praise, and love, for blessings which he gives me now, for joys laid up above. O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine, when the peaceful happy moments roll; when Jesus shows his smiling face there is sunshine in my soul."

 As for me, this pilgrimage has been one great adventure. Sometimes it has been exciting while at times a little boring. There have been so many good days and there have also been many that were not so good. Recently, I received a post that truly sums up how I feel about my life: "I'm at peace today no matter what I'm facing, the Lord is with me." How about you? Always remember, the eyes of the Lord are in every place (2 Chronicles 16:9, 1 Peter 3:12, Hebrews 4:13).

 Charles Hicks

 

Bible Study on Greatness

 

Greatness 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1) 

 I once sat late into the night watching a college baseball game that went into extra innings. At stake was the opportunity to play for a national championship. The loser would have to go home. The momentum of the game shifted back and forth until one team did prevail. As I turned the television off, I said to myself, that was one great game.  

As I think about the matter of greatness, I find myself thinking about a lot of everyday things that surround us that are great. For instance, time, the period of our life from birth until death in which we experience the events that mold and shape our lives. Time is precious and priceless and it is fleeting, so use it wisely (Job 14:1-2, James 4:14, Psalms 39:4-5, Psalms 90:12, Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 5:15-16, 1 Samuel 20:3). It's a little like, here one day, gone the next. 

And what about love? 1 Corinthians 13:13, "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love." Love carries with it the thought of a strong affection for another arising out of personal ties, to reign in the heart deeply and firmly. There is no doubt in my mind that love is one of the greatest and most powerful principles of life. Our duties, our responsibilities as children of God are summed up in the word, love (John 14:15, Mark 12:30-31, John 13:34, 1Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:14-20).       The thought occurs to me that if everyone loved the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, if everyone loved their neighbor as they love themselves, what a great world this would be. 

The greatest purpose in life is to glorify God in everything that we do and say (Matthew 5:16, Romans 15:5-6, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:31). For so long as we live on this earth, our purpose, our ambition should be to be pleasing to the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:9). If our purpose is to glorify God, we must be willing to present our bodies as a living sacrifice acceptable to God, refusing to act in accordance with the standards and customs of the world (Romans 12:1-2). We must willingly devote our entire being to our God. It is just as we often sing, "All of thee and none of me." 

The greatest joy in this world today is the joy of salvation (Acts 8:37-39, Phil. 4:4, Psalms 51:12). Just knowing that there is a dwelling place, a building of God, a house not made with hands, free from all the cares, trials and burdens that often make this journey of life difficult awaiting our arrival brings to me and I pray to you also, the greatest joy imaginable (John 14:1-3, 2 Cor. 5:1-9, Rev. 21:3-4).

 The greatest things of life are not those momentary, fleeting experiences of our everyday life. I, for one, believe they are those things that pertain to God and the beautiful home prepared for us. I pray we never lose sight of the really "great thing".

 Charles Hicks

Will Rogers

 

WILL ROGERS

(Part 1)

 

"There was only one Will Rogers. His generation never produced a man with such a wide variety of talents. His genius was unique and it led him on to where he was sought by Princes and Presidents, but he always remained the plain, unassuming man to whom a lowly stage hand was just as important as a powerful statesman."

 

So reads the first paragraph of the last chapter of a most interesting book I recently read—WILL ROGERS: AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WILL, PRINCE OF WIT AND WISDOM. The book was authored by P. J. O'Brien and copyrighted in 1935, the year Rogers and his aviator friend, Wiley Post, died in the latter's small plane near Point Barrow, Alaska. In this and a following "News & Views," I hope to set forth some of the highlights of this delightful book about an unusual man. Page numbers for quotes from the book will be in parentheses.  (Note: Let it be remembered that not all of my "News & Views" deal with biblical, religious, or spiritual matters; occasionally I will address matters of a social, historical, political, sports, entertainment, or personal nature.  Such is the case with this and the following issue of "News & Views.")

 

The book opens with the account of the plane crash and the deaths of Rogers and Post. Originating in Seattle for what had been planned as a trip around the world in Post's small plane with him at the controls (Post had already flown two such trips by himself), the two friends had touched down in Juneau and Fairbanks, but fifteen miles out of Point Barrow the plane crashed. An Eskimo seal hunter heard the crash, made his way to the wreckage and shouted loudly to the men in the plane. There was no answer. The Eskimo then walked and ran the fifteen miles to Point Barrow, arriving three hours later. Reaching his destination, he gasped, "Bird men dead. Red bird blow up" (14). Thus ended the life of two great Americans: Will Rogers, star of stage, screen, radio, and newspaper, and Wiley Post, one of the true pioneers in American aviation, the first to fly around the world solo. Rogers was 55, Post was 35.

 

Will Rogers was born in Oologah, Indian Territory (later, Oklahoma) on November 4, 1879. Rogers said he was born "halfway between Claremore and Oologah, before there was a town in either place." Being born on election day, he said he had "the natural right to poke fun at those who sat in the high chancelleries of government all over the world" (23). And he did just that! No one was off limits to Rogers. He poked good-nature fun at Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Princes, Kings, business tycoons (including Henry Ford, Andrew Mellon, John D. Rockefeller), and others. The subjects of his jibes laughed as heartily as the rest. There was nothing mean about Will Rogers or his humor which came naturally to him. He remained a political partisan and spared neither Democrat or Republican where his jokes were concerned. Concerning his personal politics, Will said, "I am not a member of any organized party. I am a Democrat!" (With this statement, was he a prophet of later times?).

 

By the time Will was five years old he was riding a horse and spinning a lariat. He said: "like other Oklahoma kids, I was born bowlegged so I could set on a horse" (27). His mother wanted him to be a Methodist preacher, but she gave up this dream when Will ran away from home. He later returned home, but soon was working on various nearby ranches, punching cattle, engaging in roundups, and performing in local rodeos. He roped calves and wrestled steers. He had "the gift of gab" and was a master storyteller. As a result, his name and fame grew.

 

While still a young man, Rogers traveled much of the world. As a prerequisite for a trip to Europe, Will needed a passport, and in order to get a passport, he needed a birth certificate. He told the young lady clerk that he "had no birth certificate; and as for someone present at my birth and can swear to it, I think that's going to be rather difficult. You know the old-time ladies of which I am a direct descendant were of a retiring nature and being born was a private affair, not a public function. In the early days of the Indian Territory, where I was born, there were no such things as birth certificates. You being there was certificate enough. We generally took it for granted if you were there you had been born. That was about the only thing we didn't dispute" (26).

 

In November, 1908, Will married Betty Blake, a school teacher from Rogers, Arkansas. They had three children: Will, Jr., Mary, and Jimmy. Before they could walk, the children were put on horses' backs and taught to ride. It was said that when he wasn't writing or reading or sleeping, he was riding horseback with his children on his 1,500 acre ranch in Santa Monica, California. Will loved every foot of the ranch on which he kept 100 head of horses, many of them tough little polo ponies. He paid $3,000 for the first section of it, and when he died in 1935, the ranch was valued at more than $500,000 (between $11 and $12 million in today's dollars). He also owned a modest bungalow in Beverly Hills, and because he spent so much time in New York, he had a home out on Long Island (whether owned or rented was not made clear).

 

In his earliest years, Will worked in rodeos and circuses. In time, he caught on with the Zeigfield Follies. From there he graduated to stage productions. When moving pictures were developed he became an actor, first in silent movies, later in the talking movies. He was the most popular movie star of his time. In 1934 and 1935, he was rated as the actor who had drawn the largest number of patrons to the movie houses across the country. At one point, he signed a contract to appear in ten movies at a salary of $200,000 each, a handsome sum in those days. It was estimated that he brought $25 million into the Fox Company while in their employ.

 

On the movie set everyone loved Will Rogers and no one was envious of him. "Never did he demand anything as the highest salaried star in the business" (85). It was said that he spent half of his time on the movie lots "gabbing" with $5 and $10 a day "extras."

 

Will had a strict code of morals as to what he would do or not do in the movies. He would not portray smoking or drinking, although he did not object if other characters in his pictures did so when such was necessary to the plot. In one movie Will was supposed to take a cigar from his pocket and hand it to another actor. He refused to do so on the ground that he did not smoke and the action would be unlike him. "It was a mystery to many at the studio how a man who neither drank, smoked, played cards, golf, nor tennis could enjoy his fame as a host. The secret was in his conversational ability" (89). He bought chewing gum in large quantities which he handed out to young actresses to keep them from taking up the habit of smoking.

 

In March of 1930, Will signed a contract for fourteen radio talks of 15 minutes each for which he was paid a total of $72,000. Some protested that the sum of almost $350 per minute was far too much and Rogers could not possibly be worth that much money. Rogers also wrote regular columns for daily newspapers, and was in demand on the lecture circuit and as an after dinner speaker. He was a member of the Friars Club in New York City and often spoke at their dinners. At various times he was encouraged to run for public offices all the way from Mayor of Beverly Hills, to the governorship of both Oklahoma and California, Congressman, Senator, and President. He was a man of the people and all people seemed to universally love him. He was extremely charitable, the Red Cross and The Salvation Army being his two favorite charities. He often spoke on their behalf.

 

When Rogers died, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 persons filed past the catafalque on which his casket rested in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. "On the roads leading to the memorial park automobiles were jammed for miles, and thousands were unable to reach the cemetery" (231). Among those attending his funeral were Stepin Fetchit, who played in films with Will, Eddie Cantor, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, and more than 100 others of Rogers' closest friends. Four Indians from Oklahoma came in a dilapidated car with cards inviting them to attend the private services in the church for their friend. "Held simultaneously with the private services, a public memorial program was conducted in the Hollywood Bowl, where 25,000 persons gathered" (234) Memorial services were conducted at all the movie studios. "It was one of the rare occasions in theatrical history when the time-honored watchword, 'The show must go on,' was forgotten" (235). The movie industry came to a halt the day Will Rogers was buried. He was originally buried in a vault at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. In 1942, a sunken garden was built in front of the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma, and in 1944 Rogers' body was moved to the family plot in that garden.

 

In Part 2, I will attempt to capture some of Will Rogers' humor.

 

(To Be Continued)

 

Hugh Fulford

Troubled But Not Defeated

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you, Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid (John 14:27) 

Peace is defined as being free from agitation of mind or spirit; free from disturbance or turmoil. It is a state in which oppressive thoughts or emotions do not dwell within our heart. Sometimes peace of mind has more to do with what is being harbored in our heart than what is happening around us as we go about our daily activities. 

The peace that the world offers through wealth, possessions, entertainment and recreational activities is a short-lived peace because with the passing of time, it invariably is replaced with anxieties and fears. On the other hand, peace that comes from God is a lasting, enduring peace that will not fade away with the passing of time. When the peace of God reigns in our heart we can live every moment of every day confidently knowing that the all-seeing eye of God will be watching over us and will, if we allow him to do so, lead us safely through whatever betides us (Hebrews 4:13-16, Philippians 4:4-7, Isaiah 26:3, Hebrews 13:5-6). When Moses was 120 years old, he delivered his final message to all Israel in which he told them, "The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deut. 31:8). While we live under a new and better covenant, there is not a shred of doubt in my heart that what was true for Israel is just as true for you and I today. 

John 14:1, "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." Placing our trust and confidence in God and his Son, Jesus, we will have all the support we need to free ourselves from any heart trouble that threatens our peace James 4:6-10, 1 Peter:5:6-11). Isaiah 40:31, "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."  The antidote for the troubled heart: wait on the Lord, walk hand in hand with him, obeying him, leaning on him, trusting and confiding in him and every step of the way, living by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20; Isaiah 12 :2-3). 

We are weak, frail human beings and things are going to happen to us that will cause our hearts to be troubled and sometimes those things will seem unbearably harsh but they must not be allowed to overwhelm us and take away the peace that passes all comprehension. We have limited abilities but we serve a powerful loving God in whom there are no limitations. We can be sure that when we talk to him, when we praise him for his love, goodness and mercy, when we pour out to him the feelings of our heart, he will answer (Philippians 4:4-7, Hebrews 4:13-16; Psalms 35:15-19, Psalms 121:1-3). 

I may not understand everything that happens to me in this life but this one thing I do know, the God I believe in, the God I serve, the God in whom my faith, trust and confidence lies does know and understand and because he loves me, I may be troubled in heart but it will never defeat me. 

Charles Hicks

 

 

We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord

 It Sure Is Good To Be Home 

We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:9)

 It seems that I have reached a point in my life in which I find myself often walking down memory lane. Sometimes the memories are filled with a touch of sadness and heartache. But more often than not, they are filled with memories of events that brought immeasurable joy into my life. It is one of those memories that inspires today's message. One day I told my wife that I was going to buy a motorcycle. Her response, You're crazy. Long story short, she loved riding that motorcycle with me. Over the ensuing years, we often would take off for several days on trips that would cover 2500 plus miles. Today, as I think about those trips, I remember how upon arriving back home, she would get off the motorcycle and say as only she could, it sure is good to be home.  As I sit here thinking about how she felt, the thought overwhelms me that one day I want to stand in the midst of the wonderful city of God and say to her, it sure is good to be home! Home at last, O what a day that will be.

 I remember the joy of those motorcycle journeys and at the same time I remember they were not always smooth and easy. Sometimes we encountered conditions that made them very difficult. Once, returning home from Madison, Wisconsin, we were caught up in a fierce thunderstorm. Thunder roaring, lightning flashing, wind howling and raining cats and dogs and we are out in the middle of nowhere with no shelter in sight. Believe me, we were thankful when finally, we did get to a place of safety.

 Now, the thought occurs to me that as we make our way through this life it will not always be an easy journey. God has never promised us that we will have a life free from difficulties, burdens or trials. He has promised that so long as our commitment to him remains sure and steadfast we will never encounter any storm of life that we cannot conquer (Rom. 8:28, 31-39. Heb. 2:16-18, Heb. 4:13-16, Phil. 4:6-7, Heb. 13:5-6).

 Hear the promise of the Lord made to Israel long ago, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous hand" (Isaiah 41:10). There is not one ounce of doubt in my heart that this promise holds true for you and I today. He is the strength of our life and he will uphold us as we fight the good fight of faith against the afflictions and temptations of this life (Psalms 91:1-4, 121:1-8, James 4:7-10, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Phil. 4:13, Heb. 12:1-3).

 "Life's evening sun is sinking low, A few more days and I must go to meet the deeds I have done, where there will be no setting sun."  On that day I want to arrive on the heavenly shore and simply say, it sure is good to be home. How about you?

 Charles Hicks

 

Pure In Heart

Pure In Heart 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8) 

The World Book Dictionary defines the word pure as not mixed with anything else, unadulterated without defect, correct. Its companion word, Purity, is defined as free from moral corruption or evil, freedom from foreign or inappropriate elements. 

Purity of heart is one of the absolute requirements that must be met by anyone who desires to have a good standing before God. Under the Old Covenant, according to Psalms 24:3-5, there were four requirements for a good standing before God: clean hands, pure heart, truthfulness, and lack of deceit. Living lives marked with these attributes would result in blessings from God. Today, even though we live under a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:7-13), is it not unreasonable that these same requirements are essential for us to have a good standing before God in order to receive his blessings and one day be at home with Him in heaven?

 Now, I submit to you that having clean hands, being truthful and not deceitful will be impossible without being pure in heart.  Proverbs 4:23, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." Jesus proclaims in Matthew 12:34 that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The eternal wellbeing of our soul depends in large part on the desires that are allowed to take up residence in our heart. Make no mistake about this, the desires of our heart will be a determining factor in the kind of zeal, enthusiasm and commitment we have for loving and serving our God.

  Psalms 37:3-7 Is a beautiful passage full of great advice that if followed will be of tremendous help as we strive to watch over the desires of our heart: Trust in the Lord and do good. . .cultivate faithfulness. . .delight yourself in the Lord. . .commit your way to the Lord. . .trust also in Him. . .rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. . .cease from anger and forsake wrath. . .do not fret.

 A pure heart is one that has been cleansed and justified through the redemption and forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus (Colossians 1:12-14). It is a heart evidenced by a constant, steady pursuit of things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good report (Philippians 4:8). It is a heart that diligently perseveres in seeking things above, a heart set on things above not the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2; Matthew 6:19-21; Matthew 6:33; Romans 12:1-2). Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay in order to maintain the purity that will allow us to one day see God and be at home with him in heaven. We must dedicate our life to the Lord God with a commitment that runs strong and deep within our heart. Study very carefully Mark 12:30 and as you do, pay close attention to that little three letter word, all.

 If we are going to have that pure heart that will put our name in the Lamb's book of life and keep it there, we must be willing to commit our entire being, our entire life, everything we have to our God.  It truly is and must be as we sometimes sing, "None of self and all of thee." To God be the glory forever and ever!

 Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

 

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

The Steadfast Love of the Lord 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion", says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him" (Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV). 

The love of the Lord for us is an everlasting love (Psalms 100:4-5). His faithful love for us is so abundant and overflowing that it is difficult to utter words that can adequately describe it (Psalms 36:5; 1 John 4:16-19; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 5:7-9). Without the enduring love of the Lord, we would be without hope of a better day (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 John 3:1-3; John 14:1-3). He never stops loving us even when through the weakness of the flesh we give him reason to do so. There is nothing that can separate us from his love (Romans 8:35-39). Psalms 100:5 proclaims in no uncertain terms that the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in you" (Psalms 31:19). What would we be and what would our life be like without the goodness and steadfast love of the Lord surrounding us every moment of every day? So long as we continue to walk each day with him, his enduring love showers us with mercy, kindness, care, forgiveness, comfort, and peace (Psalms 86:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Titus 3:4-5; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 4:6-7). 

Never forget that that with the enduring, steadfast love of the Lord reigning supreme in our life will enable us to walk confidently down the pathway of life knowing that in His hands we are safe from all harm. There is a version of the song, God Is So Good To Me, that begins, "I've had some bad days and I've had some hills to climb, I've had some sad days and then a weary mind, But when I look about and think these things out, All the good days outweigh the bad and I can't complain." 

Life without a fearless trust in the Lord that allows us to embrace His goodness and feel His steadfast love surrounding us would be difficult and dreary. We never know how the Lord is going to bless us His love for all who take refuge in Him, bless us He will! With our hope firmly set in Him, we can with calmness and peacefulness of soul pillow our heads in sleep each night and when we arise in the morning do so rejoicing that we have been granted the privilege of seeing another sunrise. We don't know what the day will bring forth but we do know that because of His steadfast love and His mercies that never cease, with our hope in Him, He will lead us safely through the day (Psalms 23; Isaiah 40:28-31). 

"Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust (Psalms 103:13-14). 

Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

Laying Our Burdens Down

Laying Our Burdens Down

 

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13) 

I love the message that springs forth from one of our great old songs that proclaims in no uncertain terms, "no tears, no tears up there, no tears in heaven will be known." I don't know about you, but as for me, this pilgrimage of life has been and really still is a grand, exciting adventure. I have experienced a lot of happiness, joy and peace of mind. This journey has also at times been one of sadness, pain and heartache making it a troublesome journey. I venture to say that as you reflect on your life, you will nod your head and say, Amen.

 I love this life and want to stay here as long as possible even though my physical body being burdened groans more and more with each passing day causing me to think often of being absent from this body and being at home with the Lord where there will be no tears, no burdens to bear, no sorrow, pain or heartache (2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Revelation 21:1-5). I know that this world is not my permanent abiding place and neither is it yours (Hebrews 9:27, Philippians 3:12-14, 20).

 Heaven is the final resting place for the faithful child of God. Thoughts of heaven are full of joy bringing comfort and peace to our weary soul.  Listen to the beautiful words of Jesus found in John 14:1-3. "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

 One day our old physical body will be finished, we will lay it down and move out to that radiant dwelling place prepared for us. Hear Paul as he says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." That my friends is the Christians view of death. To be absent from this earthly body and be at home with the Lord is a day to anticipate with great joy (2 Cor. 5:7-9)

 Once there was a time in my life when it seemed as if time moved so slowly. It seemed to take forever to go from one birthday to another one and from one Christmas to another Christmas was an eternity. Years ago, I often heard my children as they anxiously looked forward to some event still days ahead say, "I just can't wait" and truth be known, I have said the same thing and I suspect all of this is probably true for you also. What I am trying to say in a feeble way is that this is the way we should feel about heaven—Just can't wait. Yes, as I stated in the beginning of this message, this pilgrimage has been an exciting adventure but like a wanderer home from his travels, my soul thrills at the thought of going home to my eternal dwelling place. How do you feel about all this?

 I leave you with these words from Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ 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 up for me."

 Charles Hicks

Look What You Made Me Do

Look What You Made Me Do 

Genesis 3:12--"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I did eat." 

Look what you made me do! How often do we hear this statement? Long ago in the Garden of Eden the first man and woman sinned. Eve had her excuse: "The devil made me do it". Adam had his excuse: "The woman made me do it" (Genesis 3). Later, we find Aaron building a golden calf and with the people of God, bowing down before it and he had his excuse: "The people made me do it" (Exodus 32:21-24) In 1 Samuel 15 we find King Saul sinning and again his excuse: "The people made me do it". The practice of blaming someone else for what we do began a long time ago and it continues even now in our present age. 

We must be careful that we do not place ourselves in compromising situations where worldly living, lust, and self gratification are indulged in (Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Romans 12:21, James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 1 John 2:15-17).). If we, for whatever reasons, choose to participate in activities where sinful conduct or questionable activity is taking place, make no mistake about it, it is very likely that the day will come when we too will say: "Look what they made me do" in an effort to justify ourselves. 

The great tragedy of this is that countless numbers of people will one day stand before God in judgment unprepared (Acts 17:30-31). I do not pretend to know exactly what will take place on that great day or how the judgment will be conducted but I can say with certainty that it is an appointment that has been made for us and we will keep it. Having said this, I can envision vast numbers of people attempting to shift the responsibility for being unprepared to others. It might be directed at a preacher or teacher who did not teach the truth according to God's word (Matt. 15:8-9, 2 John 9, Gal. 1:6-9, 1 John 4:1). Others will have placed themselves in compromising situations thereby attempting to shift blame to someone else (1 Thess. 5:21-22). Still others may try to shift blame to parents who did not set the right example before them and did not train them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4, Prov. 22:6). Yes, the excuses will go on and on but they all come down to one thing: "Look what you made me do". Excuses may be offered but all of them will avail nothing. It still remains that each one of us as individuals will eventually answer for ourselves (2 Cor. 5:10, Romans 14:12; Eccl. 12:13-14; 2 Tim. 2:15). 

Charles Hicks