"COME BEFORE WINTER"

The apostle Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote the letter of second Timothy to his “son in the faith”, Timothy. This is the last recorded letter Paul ever wrote. In the 4th chapter, verses 9 and 21, there are two statements made by Paul that greatly encouraged the younger evangelist to make every effort possible to come see him before it was too late. Paul wrote, “be diligent to come to me quickly” (V 9); “Do your utmost to come before winter…” (12). There are two reasons implied in these statements for Timothy to make every effort to come to him as soon as possible. One is that winter would not be the time to travel by boat. The wintry storms made it very dangerous to travel on the seas. Paul had experienced shipwreck during that season of the year as recorded in Acts 27. No doubt, the most important reason for Timothy to make haste to come to him as quickly as possible is found in the words of Paul in verses 6-8: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Should Timothy tarry too long, it would be too late to see Paul alive for his “departure” was at hand, that his death was imminent. In life, there are words we need to express and actions we should take before it is too late, that is, we should do them before “winter” comes. Husbands and wives should express daily their love for one another. There is always the possibility of a heart attack, a stroke or an accident that could take the life of your mate. The last words spoken to your husband/wife could be, “I love you”. Parents need to express their love to their children, regardless of their age. They need to know you care for them, not only by the physical and material you give them, but, a hug and ‘I love you’ will give assurance to them that you really do love them; and, that you desire they live for Jesus Christ so the family can be together with God in eternity. Children need to express their love and appreciation to their parents as well. They should respect and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1, 2). Aged parents, especially, desire to hear from their adult children who live long distances from them. Siblings should stay in contact with one another. Efforts should be made to be together when possible. It is very difficult to give up a brother or sister to death. Wishing that you had expressed your love and care for one another after death has separated you from a loved one is of no avail. That is why you need to do it before “winter” comes, otherwise it will be too late. Also, brothers and sisters in Christ should express their love to one another. We are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). We are to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 14:12). We are the family of God. Those who have not given their lives to Christ and who have not obeyed the gospel (Romans 1:16; Acts 2:36-38) should no longer tarry because “winter” (death) might overtake them (Hebrews 9:27), and they would pass into eternity without God. “Winter” (death) is coming to us all. Now is the time for us to express our heartfelt feelings to our loved ones; and, to do what we can to help others while we have the time and opportunity (John 9:4, Galatians 6:10). The clock of life is wound but once And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own Live, love toil with a will Place no faith in tomorrow For the hands may then be still. Kenneth L. Fielder

PERFECT PEACE COMES FROM THE PRINCE OF PEACE

In the closing remarks of the second epistle that the apostle Paul wrote to the “church of the Thessalonians in God our Father the Lord Jesus Christ”, he wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16). In all of the trials, tribulations, disappointments and struggles in this life, children of God can find peace in our savior Jesus Christ who is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Edward J. Bickersteth, was on vacation in Harrogate, England and on one Sunday in August, 1875, he listened to a sermon by Canon Gibbon that was based on Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee. ” He was greatly impressed by the thoughts presented on this text. It was then that he took a piece of paper and began to write a poem that would become the moving and beautiful hymn, “Peace, Perfect Peace”. In this hymn, you will observe that in each stanza there is a challenge or a struggle presented for the believer; and, for each struggle, the author provides spiritual answers in the second half of each stanza. “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus—this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. It is enough; earth’s struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus call us to heav’ns perfect peace.” “There is no peace, Says my God, “For the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). But, to His disciples Jesus gave these assuring words: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The exhortation given by the apostle Paul as found in Philippians 4:6, 7, is also for “all the saints in Christ Jesus” today: “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” One fruit of the Spirit is “peace” (Galatians 5:22). To have this peace, one must be “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). Can you truly sing,”It is well, with my soul”, knowing you do not have this blessed peace which is to be found only in Jesus Christ? You are urged to give your life to Jesus in humble obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and trust in the Lord with all your heart, you will then have this perfect peace “which surpasses all understanding”.

THE SECOND GREATEST COMMAND GIVEN BY THE LORD

A scribe asked the Lord, “Which is the first commandment of all?” “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31 NKJV). The “first”, foremost, chief and greatest commandment is for a person to love God with all of one’s being. This is the vertical relationship that mankind can have with Almighty God. This is the most important commitment that a person can ever make. The second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, is horizontal, it is our relationship with our neighbor. The fulfillment of the second command is predicated upon one being in submission to the first commandment. The apostle John wrote, “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (John 4:21). John also wrote; “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20)? As you can plainly see, these commandments are closely bound together. Now if this is true regarding our brother and sister in Jesus Christ, would not the same principle be applicable concerning our relationship with our neighbor who is made in the image of God?. A certain lawyer asked the Lord, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of a man who had been stripped of all his clothing and severely beaten and left for dead. Two of the leaders among the Jews saw him and kept walking; however, a Samaritan stopped and gave aid to him as well as additional future help (Luke 10:25-37). An important lesson in this story is that whoever is in trouble or is in need is our neighbor and not just the ones who live near us. This love (Greek, Agape), is defined as being, “affection, good-will, love, benevolence: Of the love of men to men; especially that love of Christians toward Christians” (Thayer Greek English Lexicon). This love cannot be legislated by the government or by any human organization. This love has to come from a heart that possesses the love for God. The apostle Paul wrote “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.” Paul mentions varies commandments that one should keep and then he wrote, “And if there is any other commandments, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” He also wrote, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). This statement is so profound! This love is greatly needed in our world today and in our own nation. There is so much hatred in the hearts of many people. There is “harm” being manifested by evil deeds done by individuals and groups. In contrast, people who have the love of God in their hearts will only do good to their neighbors. This love is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Love is “a more excellent way” and its characteristics are found in 1 Corinthians 12:31;13:4-7. One characteristic of love is being kind to one another which is greatly lacking in our society today!. In closing, remember, “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

"I'M NOT THE MAN I USED TO BE"

This is a religious song that is often sung by different quartets, groups and individuals, emphasizing how that one’s life has been changed, “by Calvary”, noting the death of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for the sins of the world. Regardless how a person has lived previously, when a person believes in Jesus Christ as being the Son of God, is penitent of sins and obeys the gospel of Christ, his/her sins are forgiven and forgotten (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Hebrews 8:12). Mankind is not so merciful and forgiving. Recently, I read that “Boeing’s communications chief, who was forced to resign because of an article he wrote criticizing women in combat in 1987 - more than 30 years ago - when he was a Navy fighter pilot.” The gentleman explained he no longer held the same views about women serving in the armed services as he did when he was a young man. Nevertheless , he was forced to resign his position with the company. This is a prime example as to the extremes we are now witnessing in our nation. What if God treated mankind in like fashion as those responsible for pressuring this person to resign from his work with this company? Consider the following men who said or did something that was not in harmony with the will of God, the Lord forgave them and used them in His kingdom. Abraham, the ‘father of the faithful’, was not perfect. In two incidents he intended to deceive rulers in order to protect his life. When Abram “went to Egypt”, because of the beauty of Sarai, his wife, he said to her, “Please say you are my sister that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.” Thus Pharoah and others believed that Sarai was only a sister to Abram and not his wife (Genesis 12:10-20).While this statement was partially true, it was not the whole truth. Then there was the time when Abraham and Sarah went to Gerar. While there, he told others, “She is my sister”. King Abimelech took Sarah. God intervened and the king did not touch her. (Genesis 20). David, after much time and many obstacles, became King of Israel. God richly blessed him abundantly with power and material things. Yet, he lusted after a woman, committed adultery with her, and had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11) Peter denied his Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75). The apostle Paul, prior to his conversion, persecuted the church of the Lord (Acts 9). He referred to himself as being the “chief” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12:-15) Abraham matured in his faith in God and his belief “was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3,5). King David was truly penitent of his sins (Psalm 32; 51). The apostle Peter was truly sorry for his denial of Jesus Christ (Matthew (Matthew 26:75). Saul (Paul) believed in Jesus, repented and was baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 9:9-11;Acts 22:16). These individuals were not men they used to be. He did not hold their past mistakes, faults and sins against them. Have we not all thought, said or written something that displeased God and sought His forgiveness? We should be thankful for the infinite mercy of our Heavenly Father. God has given His children this blessed assurance: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).