THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE

As I look out the window and across the street I see a beautiful Bradford pear tree in full bloom and a Redbud tree also in full bloom. God, the Creator of the universe, is causing the vegetative kingdom which has been dormant to come alive! The display of such beauty that we presently see and will be seeing for weeks to come as the trees bloom and the flowers and shrubbery break forth their radiant colors should cause the believer’s heart to praise and glorify the name of the Almighty God. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 19:1-4: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork, Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” Someone has said that there are two books, nature and the Bible that declare there is a Supreme Being. The heavens and the earth in their splendor and magnificence should cause every person to have faith in God but that is not the case. The apostle Paul in writing about the depravity of the Gentile world in his day mentions this very thing in Romans 1:18-21: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Some people have eyes that will not see and hearts that will not accept the truth that God, by the power of His word, brought the universe into existence. With the renewal of life in the vegetative kingdom at this time of the year our hearts are made to think of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb. This is one of the cardinal doctrines of the New Testament. A part of the good news of Christ is the teaching regarding His resurrection from the dead. Had Jesus not risen from the dead early that first day of the week, His death on Calvary would be meaningless. We would still be in our sins, our faith would be in vain and we certainly would be miserable (See I Corinthians 15). The apostle taught in chapter fifteen that because our Lord arose from the grave we have the promise that we shall also rise from the dead at His second coming. Jesus Himself said as recorded in John 5:28: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” When I witness the beauties of spring with its shows of new life I cannot help but think of the words of my Lord Jesus Christ: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die, Do you believe this?” - John 11:25, 26

THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1, NKJV). During the last two weeks of March, 2021, the state of Alabama, along with other states in the south suffered scattered and severe damage and the loss of lives due to terrible tornadoes. In one community in Alabama, 5 lives were lost when a horrific storm hit their homes. It has been estimated that in about 30 seconds these precious lives were taken by the tornado. The people did not know they were going to die that day. No doubt, they all had plans for the next day following the bad weather. How often has this happened to individuals who did not know their earthly life would end on a certain day. In James 4:13, 14, we read, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” It was not wrong or immoral to make future plans to travel to a city and do business. The real problem in this context is to be found in verses 15 and 16: “Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” These individuals were making definite plans formulated by their own wisdom and pride and were leaving God completely out of their intentions. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. The wise man wrote in Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” The Psalmist prayed, “LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am” (Psalm 39:4-6). For whatever reason, the psalmist, in his deep emotions, desired to know when he would die. Perhaps it was the suffering he was experiencing but the exact time of his death was not to be revealed. It is worthy to note that mankind is “frail” and fragile when it comes to life on this earth. We just do not know the exact time when death may overtake us. Death may be compared to a hurricane. Because of prolonged sickness, we know death is coming and we have time to prepare for it. Then it may be like a tornado, death comes sudden and without warning. Someone has said, “What a transient, monetary being I am, how soon I shall cease to be, how little a while I shall continue.” Preparation to meet God when we die is more important than the time or the how we leave this world. Israel of old had committed idolatry and was steeped in sin of every kind. God was to bring judgement upon His people. The prophet Amos gave this warning: “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” This warning can be given to all of mankind. How we live is more important than how we die. Would you not study His Word, believe in His Son Jesus Christ, turn from your sins and be baptized for the remission of your sins while you have the time and opportunity (Romans 10:17; John 8:24; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:36-38? You will be saved by the grace of God and by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1, 2, 9;Acts 22:16;Revelation 1:5). PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD “Careless soul, why will you linger, Wandering from the fold of God? Hear you not the invitation? O prepare to meet thy God. Careless soul, O heed the warning, For your life will soon be gone; O how sad to face the judgment, Unprepared to meet thy God.”

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” These are the words of the “Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ, as found in Matthew 5:9. This beatitude is somewhat different from the rest, such as those who are “poor in spirit”, “those who mourn”, “the meek”, “those who hunger and thirst after righteousness”, and, “the merciful”. The reason being, the expression, “the peacemakers” implies an action on the part of the disciples. It is an adjective signifying peace-making. The “peacemaker” is to give “diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesian 4:3). The ‘peacemaker’ has to have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) in his heart. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1,2: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” We are not only to be ‘peaceful’, we are to be “peacemakers”. Abraham Lincoln said: “Die when I may, let it be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” Today, we need more people who will ‘plant flowers’ and ‘pull up the weeds’; meaning, there is a great need in our world to have more ‘peacemakers’ instead of ‘peacebreakers’! The Lord knows we have too many ‘peacebreakers’ in His church, in our community and in our nation. We live in turbulent times. Everywhere we find hatred, bigotry, prejudice, racism and violence existing, even in our own nation. It doesn’t take much skill to cause confusion in a family, in the church or in our society. It isn’t easy, however, to be a ‘peacemaker’ because you will be most likely criticized from every side. But, the ‘peacemaker’ is one who had rather suffer injury than to inflict injury upon others. He had rather settle difficulties through prayer than through force. This is the first beatitude “which shows blessedness pronounced as alighting upon a person, not in the first for some personal quality, grace or virtue, but his works sake in the interest of others, whether of family, the world or the church” - “For they shall be called sons of God.” The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:8-11, that if we love life, we should “seek peace and pursue it”.Christians are to “Pursue peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14). Of course, there is not to be a compromise when truth is involved. The question is, Am I a ‘peacemaker’ or a ‘peacebreaker’?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2021 H –HOLD FAST TO YOUR CONFESSION, JESUS OUR HOPE Hebrews 4:14; 10:23. A --ASSEMBLE TO WORSHIP GOD John 4:23, 24: Hebrews 10:24, 25. P --PRAY OFTEN I Thessalonians 5:17: Ephesians 6:18. P --PREPARE, PROMISED, AND PURPOSED GIFT. II Corinthians 9:5-7. Y--YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATIONS. Matthew 6:13 _______ N--NEGLECT NOT YOUR TALENTS. Matthew 25:14-30: I Timothy 4:14: James 4:17. E --EVERYONE DESERVES TO HEAR OF CHRIST. Mark 16:15: I Timothy 3:14, 15. W --WORKMANSHIP OF GOD. Ephesians 2:10: Titus 3:1. _______ Y --YIELD YOURSELVES AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST. Romans 6:16-17. E --EXHORT ONE ANOTHER. Hebrews 3:12, 13. A --ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE. Ephesians 2:5, 8. R --READ THE BIBLE DAILY. II Timothy 2:15; I Timothy 4:13