nothing new under the sun

A couple of week's ago my editorial revolved around God and technology and the thought that the world is pretty much the same now as it's always been. That people are still people and operate by the same desires, emotions and lusts that they've always had. We even used the words of Solomon spoken in Ecclesiastes about there being "nothing new under the sun...." Having said that, I'd like to sorta continue on in that vein for today's lesson.

Before we get into the lesson specific, let me remark on something we hear said about some of our congregations from time to time. You hear someone lamenting that many congregations are comprised of "old people" and of not having very many younger members. I said "lamenting" because it seems these statements are spoken as if this situation is a bad thing.

Now I can't speak directly for generations before mine, but I wouldn't be surprised that these utterances haven't been heard since shortly after the church was established. But let me ask you to think about something for a moment and the comments I'm about to make will serve to lead us into the body of our lesson.

Is a congregation comprised of older folk necessarily a "bad thing?" I don't see it as such. I see some blessings from this congregational situation. I think that older members are more grounded in the faith and less likely to be blown around by the "winds of doctrine" that pervade the religious world. Whereas, I see the younger generation more susceptible to teachings that are, shall we say, more modern. More appealing to the appetites and emotions of younger people and, by that appeal, they accept false and erroneous teachings. Maybe I just think that younger folks "ears itch" more than their elders.

As to the relationship between the older generation and the younger I'm going to remind you of a couple of examples to make my point. First, if you're like me and have raised children up into their teenage years you'll easily grasp the gist of this example. Parents are "old fogies" and we just don't understand how things are in this advanced day and age. They're not interested in the advice given by their parents yet, will believe anything someone their age tells them. It's frustrating, isn't it? Helps me to understand why Solomon said what he did in Eccl. 1.9.

It frustrates me because they don't understand that others have traveled down the "proverbial road" ahead of them and would like to see them avoid some of the traps, snares and pitfalls that we know are there. Parents don't want their children to suffer some of the things we learned the hard way. But, like I said, we're old fogies and don't really know how things are done these days. Here's a clue for them: things were done in the "olden days" just like they are today. There's just more people doing them and the pitfalls come quicker due to technology.

My second example comes from the account of an older versus younger generation situation that ended up creating much grief for the nation of Israel. Before I tell you about it, let me issue a caveat here: any relation to ancient Israel's situation and our governments today (city thru federal) is strictly coincidental. But, Solomon's words about there being "nothing new under the sun" is certainly born out by these possible coincidences.

I would direct you to open your Bibles and read the 12^th chapter of 1 Kings and confirm that I relate this account accurately to you. Up unto this point, Israel had been a great kingdom, led in succession by Saul, David and then Solomon. In the closing days of Solomon's reign we find the people suffering under a heavy load of taxation and forced labor because of a lot of public works instituted by the government. There was much unrest in the country over their situation.

Then Solomon died. His son, Rehoboam, the heir apparent to the throne, sought some advice about ruling the kingdom because of the complaints by the citizens. In verse 6 we see that he first consulted with the "old men" or should we describe them as "elderly counselors," who offered this advice: that if he would be as a servant to the people, to answer them and to "speak good words to them" that they would serve him "forever." That Solomon had made their "yoke grievous" and "heavy" and they advised him to lighten it.

As we see in verse 8, Rehoboam didn't much care for the advice he'd received from the "older counselors" and consulted with the "young men." The guys he'd grown up with and therefore, more inclined to his modern way of thinking. Here's what they said about how his administration should operate: they told him he should tell those whining, complaining subjects that "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges." (A more injurious type of whip) (1Kgs. 12:10-11 NKJV)

The account goes on to say that when he returned to address the people, that he rejected the advice given him by the "elders" and he spoke to them "according to the advice of the "young men." He basically told the citizens of his kingdom that, if they thought they had it tough under the labor and taxes of his father, they hadn't seen "nuthin yet."

Well, were there some serious consequences that occurred because of Rehoboam's choice of whose advice to follow? As some TV personality used to say, "You bet your bippy" there were. 10 tribes seceded from the kingdom and formed their own and selected a guy named Jeroboam (no relation to Rehoboam) to be their king. From that day on and because of his leadership, that nation went away from God by worshiping idols and progressively got worse. To the point that God destroyed all of them with the use of the Assyrians.

Rehoboam's kingdom, the nation of Judah, managed to last a few more years than it's northern neighbor, Israel, but God eventually settled their hash by allowing the Babylonians to take them into captivity. A lot of "proverbial dominos" got knocked over by Rehoboam's choice of whose advice to follow, didn't they?

I guess, in closing, that I offer these words of advice: Don't despise the counsel of those older than you. They've walked down life's road ahead of you and can tell you where to place your feet as you travel it. Does it make much sense to follow the advice of someone who doesn't have anymore knowledge of the road than you?

In our second example, a lot of people suffered and ended up losing everything simply because of Rehoboam rejecting the advice of the "older folks" and choosing to follow the advice of those who didn't know any more about life and God's wisdom than he did. Always remember: if we reject the wisdom of God we are in danger of losing our soul, which is far more valuable than even an earthly kingdom.

Ron Covey

　

What is our value to God?

As I age I grow more jaded when reading about multi-million dollar expenditures
by the Federal Government.  The one I read about this morning, however, received
my enthusiastic approval.

About 1,200 acres of mountain land in the region I call home will be purchased,
thanks to a grant received by the U.S. Forest Service.  Rocky Fork will, after
this purchase, comprise 10,000 acres of unspoiled forest land.  From my few
visits there, I've been mighty impressed.  Sights I've seen remind me strongly
of the Great Smoky Mountains.  (You can see a couple of my photos from Rocky
Fork at http://joycaster.com/pb/wp_e46e1459/wp_e46e1459.html.)

The price to obtain these 1,200 acres will be $5 million.  In my book, that's
expensive.  But that's a bargain when you consider that this is undeveloped
land, and will remain that way for future generations to enjoy.  If you, like
me, lament the spread of asphalt and concrete, you are glad to see blocks of
natural beauty preserved for future generations.

There are many items we could name that are valuable only if they are unspoiled.
A gallon of milk today is more expensive than ever before.  Would you buy that
jug if you spotted something inside?  No matter what it might be, we don't want
to see any objects in our milk!  We would absolutely refuse that milk if it were
spoiled.

Marriage vows are valuable, a bond that is supposed to last many years.  But if
one of the parties spoils the vows, even if for a brief "fling", the value is
shattered.  A few couples are able to recover, but most don't even try.

What is our value to God?  It depends on whether we are unspoiled or not.  James
gave a simple description of a life that will please the Lord: "Pure and
undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James
1:27).  How difficult is that challenge, though?  Have you tried eating
spaghetti while wearing a white outfit?  Similarly, temptations to sin abound,
and each of us have been spattered (see Jeremiah 10:23, Romans 3:23).

John also challenged us to remain unspoiled: "My little children, these things I
write to you, so that you may not sin. ..." (1 John 2:1).  Realizing, however,
that such an ideal is so difficult, he went on to provide help for those who
fail: "... And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous."  No, we are not unspoiled.  But yes, there is help available.

What is that help?  Not surprisingly, it is something unspoiled: "...  you were
not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless
conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18,19).
Christ's blood is valuable ("precious") because it is unspoiled.

What does it say about God that He would be willing to provide such valuable
blood so that we might be cleansed?  Without that blood we are spoiled, and our
value vanishes.  But by coming to the blood of His Son, our value is restored.
What love has been shown to each of us!

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit
and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these
ideas further.

Timothy D. Hall

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On what day is Easter?

Well, another year has gone by and we've arrived at the first "religious"
holiday of the year, Easter Sunday. I have some strong thoughts about this
day and I hope that I don't "rain on your Easter Parade" but I'd like to
share them with you. Right out of the gate, I'll state my opinion about the
special significance of this particular Sunday. There is no "special"
significance! As far as the Gospel is concerned, it is no more significant
than any other Sunday. Much of the "religious world" celebrates it as
"special" only because man denotes it as such.

Now I'll admit that Easter does have some noteworthy meanings to me. It
means long waits for a table at the restaurant, highways crowded with
travelers, recreational facilities crowded and having to pay higher prices
due to "holiday rates." Plus many opportunities to spend money on gifts
appropriate to the occasion or new clothes. (Can't go to church once a year
in old clothes, can we?)

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that when man makes up a special
holiday a purchase of some sort is necessary? I'm sure this is just a
coincidence, aren't you?
What it doesn't mean to me is any kind of "special" religious significance.
It has no more significance than any other Lord's Day and requires no more
or less observance on our part as Christians. It certainly is NOT the one
day a year that I feel I should attend a worship service. Nor are there any
different acts of worship necessary to be observed than those we observe
every Sunday.

I indicated above that the Easter Sunday that the religious world has set
aside as a "special" Sunday was created by man and not according to any
scriptural command or inference. The Bible simply tells us that the church
met on the 1st day of every week and conducted the appointed acts of
worship.

Man has not only made one particular 1st day of the week as a "special
convocation" but has added several other "special" days surrounding it. He's
made the 40 days prior to Easter Sunday a "special season" and named it
"Lent." Then he's created "special convocation" days that he's named "Ash
Wednesday," "Palm Sunday," "Maundy Thursday," and "Good Friday" just to name
some of them.

As an indication of man "adding" to the Gospel Word, these days are called
"Holy Days of Obligation." In other words, man has determined to "obligate"
members to worship on these "special" days too. I see this as running
counter to the words of Christ in John 4:24 where He defines what true
worship is. That we are to worship God "....in spirit and in truth." To my
understanding, that means "truth" as God presents it and not as man does.

Well, someone may play the "devil's advocate" here and ask "What's wrong
with making the "first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal
Equinox" (how man arrives at which Sunday is "special") a very "special"
holy day for everyone to observe? Did you pick up on the fact that this
"special" Sunday is a different Sunday every year? Last year Easter Sunday
was "Holy" three weeks later than this year.

My answers to the "devil's" question are thus: first off, from a temporal
view, I turn to the commercial aspects of Easter. Earlier I mentioned the
gifts, the clothes, the inconveniences, but let's add some other
materialistic things that man has tacked on to this "special" day. We now
have "passion plays" and "sunrise services" for which we are required to
purchase tickets in order to attend.

I've actually seen denominational churches in our area, expecting so many
attendees on Easter Sunday that aren't usually there, splitting their
services and requiring tickets to attend them. It just seems to me that, as
sure as night follows day, when man "obligates" something religious, there
is money to be made surrounding the observance of that "obligation." That's
just my observation.

However, my foremost opposition to there being "special" Sundays such as
Easter, is that it is not scriptural. It is neither commanded nor inferred
in the Scriptures to be set aside as any different from all other Sundays.
And, in effect, by man creating this "special" Sunday, he has lessened the
significance of the other Sundays of the year. Therefore, people see them as
not being as important and then they have no compunction to observe them.
They can just save their religious activities to this one "special" Sunday.

And then we see these man-made observances becoming "traditional," don't we?
In thinking about this, I'm reminded of something Jesus told the Pharisees
in Mark 7:6-13 where He was condemning them for their "vain worship"
practices. That they were "teaching for doctrine the commandments of men."
That they were holding "the tradition of men" as obligations for everyone.

But here's the crux of the matter. Notice how He wraps up His condemnation
of their practices with these words in verse 13: "Making the word of God of
none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such
things do ye."

I don't know about you, but I certainly do not want to be seen by God as
being Pharisaical. I want to follow what the Gospel DOES command and
celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ EVERY first day of
the week. Every Sunday and not just on one "special" Sunday of the year.

I think that these "traditions" of men also has another effect upon
"religion." Perhaps their intent is to cause people to be MORE "religious,"
at least for a short time on this "special" holy occasion, but I see it as
having just the opposite effect. I see this "tradition" as making people
LESS "religious" the rest of the time. In so doing, I see this as
identifying with the Pharisees and "making the word of God of none effect."

Well, as our lesson has been about the observance of man-made holidays and
their religious significance and, having last Sunday fresh in my mind, let
me close today's efforts with one more comment offered in a more
light-hearted vein. I got a chuckle out of this little story when I read it
and perhaps you will also.

"An atheist was heard complaining to a Christian that they had special
holidays such as Christmas and Easter. That Jews have their special days
too, like Passover and Yom Kippur. That most all religions seem to have
their holidays, but we atheists don't have any recognized national holidays.
It's not fair. It's discrimination."

The Christian replied, "Well....why don't you celebrate April 1st."

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" Psa.
53:1

Ron Covey
　
　
　

Life is a BIG risk!

          Tournaments are stressful. Whether it's the Bowl Championship Game or the NCAA Final or the Super Bowl, there is a lot of tension. And that's just among the fans! Some fans get so anxious that they can't even watch the game. They get up and walk around or even go outside. If there is so much apprehensiveness in such a tournament, why even play?

 

          If the possibility of your team losing causes such an emotional burden and psychological hardship, why do you even want your team to make it to the final game? Why would you want your team to play that final championship match when the risk of losing is so big? The potential embarrassment that comes from the University of Kentucky losing to their rival, the University of Louisville, does not stop Wildcat fans from wanting UK to play U of L. Why not? 

 

          Because if the risk of failure is so big, it is because the reward is commensurate or greater. In sports, the reward is bragging rights. It's a trophy. It's a banner to hang from the ceiling. It's the opportunity to wear "Champions" t-shirts for a year. For the coach, it's probably a huge bonus. 

 

          Life is a big risk. The risk of failure is horrendous. It's an eternity separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It's an eternity in a fire that is not quenched (Mark 9:48). It is an endless round of torments (Luke 16:23). It is a gloomy, utter darkness (Jude 13). It is an eternal immersion in a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). It is an eternal odor of rotten eggs with no end (Revelation 19:20). It is an eternal weeping (Matthew 8:12). It is an eternal pain generating gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28). The risk of failing to live a life that honors God is tremendous. 

 

          But that's because the reward for living a life that honors God is commensurate or greater. It's an eternal home with God (2 Corinthians 5:1). It is an eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ (John 14:3). It is an eternity with the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). It's a life that has no end (Matthew 19:16). It is a home that has no end (Luke 16:9). It is an eternal treasure of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). It is a comfort which no end (2 Thessalonians 2:16). It is a redemption that is eternal (Hebrews 9:12). 

 

          That's what makes life worth living.

 

--Paul Holland

 

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun

 

                        "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what

                        will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl. 1:9)

You know, we're living in an age of discovery, aren't we? Maybe I should say, an age of constant discovery. There seems to be new discoveries all the time and it's gotten to the point that it's almost hard to keep up with the latest ones.

There's probably a few people left who can remember the first automobile or the first airplane. More left who can remember the first commercial radios. A lot still around that remember the first TV's. On the other hand, there's also a few generations among us that have no personal knowledge of things like rotary telephones, fountain pens or wringer washing machines, to name a few.

Isn't technology great? I like to remind my Bible class, at some appropriate point in a lesson, that there is nothing new on the earth, it's just that technology makes it possible for us to get in trouble faster. But think about it, it wasn't too many years ago that we heard men of science telling us that man would never venture into space, much less walk on the moon.

One of the problems I see that rises from all of our technological advances and our thirst for more and more knowledge of things, of our drive to unlock the secrets of our world and the universe, is the advancement of man and the lessening of God. That man seems to see himself as the "ultimate" or maybe as a law unto himself. That God is irrelevant. Or as the college professor in the 60's said, "God is dead."

I guess that my editorial thoughts today are directed toward setting the proper perspectives in our minds. Towards causing us to remember that God is the Creator and we are just creatures. We are not the "be all" and "end all" no matter how smart we become or how advanced we are in our experiments and discoveries.

A lot of our younger generations sometimes get the idea that all of this stuff we have in our lives just came along for them. That they are the ones responsible for our societal advances and those of us raised in the "dark ages" are just beneficiaries of their greatness. I'd wager that the younger generations of Solomon's day probably voiced the same opinions, thus the words he wrote in our above passage from Ecclesiastes. That there is nothing new "under the sun." That what has been - will be, and what was done - will continue to be done.

In carrying out my lesson plan for today, let me remind you that this search for new things, our desire for more knowledge and wisdom, is nothing new to the latter generations or even our century. A long time ago men were holding themselves up as "the ultimate" as to knowledge and self-sufficiency. Were seeing themselves on a par, wisdom-wise, with God and even way back then were diminishing the authority and power of God.

Read with me the words of the apostle Paul in his 1^st letter to the church at Corinth. "...the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1Cor. 1:22-25)

After reading what Paul wrote a couple of centuries ago, I don't see that much has changed as far as man thinks. The seeking of wisdom is in keeping with the words of Solomon - there's nothing new, what's been done is still being done. Man was intellectually comparing himself with God clear back then and still does today.

In a moment I'm going to voice my opinion on something that I perceive as another problem in relation to how man exalts himself and in doing so, denigrates the power and authority of God. But first, I'm going to say something that might strike you as strange. I totally abhor people such as talk show host Bill Maher who revile and belittle God and religion in general. I abhor atheism in general and actually feel sorry for them because I believe what the Bible says will be their end reward.

But, I will say this about them - they are publicly honest in stating their beliefs and there are many so-called "religious" personalities who are not. I say this because they are professing to be "for God" and preaching a "gospel" that is a perverted form of "The Gospel." They change it to fit what they think their listeners want to hear. In my estimation, they are publicly dishonest.

Here's the problem short and sweet. It takes as much authority to change a law as it does to make a law. Therefore, anyone who thinks themselves to be on an authoritative or intellectual level with God and can teach or preach something different from that which He delivered, in effect, exalts themselves and makes God irrelevant. I feel sorry for them also at the day of recompense.

The Bible has a real neat word for that sort of offense. God calls it "gainsaying." As in the "gainsaying of Korah" that we read about in Jude 11 which refers to the rebellion of Korah and his disciples reported in the 16^th chapter of Numbers. As a matter of fact, some versions use the word "rebellion" in Jude 11 instead of "gainsaying" and that very accurately describes what Korah was up to and what our modern day "gainsayers" are doing - rebelling against God.

Here at the Highland Church of Christ we teach God's Word as it was delivered to man and we do not see ourselves as having the authority to change one iota of it or teach anything other than the Gospel brought by Jesus Christ. To do otherwise would place us within the dangerous area of presuming that we are equal to God and therefore can change what He has spoken.

I see "presumption" as being on an equal basis as "gainsaying" or "rebellion" to God and I, having read the accounts of what God wrought upon those convicted of such behavior, believe that a person should strive diligently (another Bible word) to avoid being guilty of those sins. Perhaps we should echo the words of the Psalmist David when he prayed:

"Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:13-14)

Ron Covey

　

When does spring start?

There has been much discussion the last few weeks about how much earlier spring
has arrived.  Blooms that are typically not seen until early April appeared a
month early.  Many attribute this phenomenon to global warming; others claim
that there are cycles our climate follows.  I don't claim to have the answer,
though I think stewardship of our planet is always a good idea.

Aside from blooming plants, there have been human signs that warm weather has
arrived.  A short walk around my neighborhood would provide these sightings:
Lawn mowers being used with more gusto than is seen later in the mowing season;
people taking walks or jogs; shorts and sandals in abundance; and the planting
of flowers, shrubs and vegetables.

It's obvious spring is a favorite time of the year for many.  The return of the
sun's warmth and longer hours of daylight are a happy break from the bleakness
and chill of wintertime.

Why is it people are not as enthusiastic about the effects of the Son?  For
every benefit of spring you can name, I can list many more that come as a result
of Jesus Christ.  But it seems many in our world couldn't care less.

Peter summed up the benefits of the Son in remarks recorded by Luke in Acts
3:19: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  Yes, deciding
to follow Jesus carries with it a commitment.  One must "repent and be
converted", suggesting that a large-scale change must take place in that life.
But the benefits will be well worth it, Peter argued.  The convert would see
"times of refreshing".

Spring is a time of refreshing.  Trees that dropped dry leaves in the fall put
out new leaves in the spring.  Grass that has been brown and brittle suddenly
returns to its beautiful green appearance.  Earth is refreshed in springtime, a
display that prompts people everywhere to marvel.

That's the difference Christ can make in a life.  Paul described the process:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved
us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Picture the scene: We were alive once, but sin strangled our souls to the point
of bringing us down to death.  Normally such would be abandoned; there is no
hope of reviving the one who died.  But God "refreshed" our spirits in Christ,
and raised us up with Him.  The story gets better still when Paul says we have
not only been raised, but made to "sit together in the heavenly places".

Make no mistake about it: Being "in Christ" makes all the difference.  But how
does a person reach that condition of being in the Son?  Galatians 3:26,27
provides the answer: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Romans 6:3,4 teaches the same truth; God, who raised His Son from death, will
also raise us from the death of sin when we put off the old man of sin and are
buried with Christ in baptism.

Admit it: You love spring and the refreshment it brings to earth.  So do I.
Just imagine how much greater is the refreshment our souls enjoy when we allow
the Son to enter into our lives!

Timothy D. Hall.