The 'Tie' That Binds

Perhaps the first thought that comes to your mind will be the beautiful hymn “Blest Be the Tie” but the title of this article is not taken from this song. It might seem odd but the ‘tie’ that I have reference to is the one that I wear around my neck on occasions. You see, the person who taught me how to tie a ‘half-Windsor knot’ was an older brother in Christ who influenced me greatly when I was but a lad and a member of my home congregation in Summerville, Georgia.

Brother Julius Sprayberry was our song leader and he often taught a Bible class on Sunday morning and/or Wednesday night. It was Christian men like him and brother Charles Cochran, along with several other Christian men and women who influenced my life for good. The widows of brethren Sprayberry and Cochran (Thelma & Frances, respectively) still attend the South Commerce congregation in my hometown. When I was a boy growing up in this small church there was no ‘youth minister’ as such but the love and influence exerted upon the young people by the adult members guided us in the way of the Lord and gave us a real sense of belonging and security. We did not have a ‘full-time’ preacher for many years but the men of the congregation would lead us in our worship assemblies. In fact, one of the members, brother Roland Hemphill baptized me when I was a lad of thirteen. These brothers and sisters in Christ were ‘just regular’ members.

It is a beautiful thing to witness members of a congregation fulfilling the thoughts found in Ephesians 4:15, 16: “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Professionalism was generally unknown among our congregations sixty years ago. We now live in a mobile society and families seemingly are always on the move from one location to another one and often there is not a real sense of having a ‘home congregation’ by many families today.

Over fifty years have passed since I left my home congregation for college. But I retain precious memories of the time we met in the American Legion Hall in downtown Summerville and later in the brick building that was constructed on South Commerce Street . I have a warm feeling in my heart and often tears will fill my eyes when I think of so many of those members who have gone to be with the Lord. I possess a deep sense of gratitude and debt to those godly men and women who loved me and encouraged me to live for Jesus and to preach the gospel. There was a time when Virginia and I lived in a small trailer on the campus of Alabama Christian College when the church back home learned of our lack of money and they sent us a check in the amount of fifty dollars. It might as well have been a thousand dollars for it provided food for us to eat. It was the love and compassion that motivated the gift that has always endeared the members in my heart.

I have a real feeling of loyalty to my home congregation. I have returned for gospel meetings and it was always a joy to see ‘old friends’ and to reminisce of years past. I would love for all of our children and young people to have such fond memories of a ‘home congregation’ and to know of their roots in spiritual matters. We owe a great deal to the ‘ordinary’ members of the church who live faithfully and carry on the work in a local congregation.

I seldom tie my ‘tie’ without thinking of brother Sprayberry who taught me how to tie the knot and who influenced me to live for Jesus Christ. And when I think of him I also remember fondly my home congregation. I firmly believe that God, by His infinite grace will supply unto us the entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11) where there will never be a separation from those of His children we have known and loved in this life. Here are two stanzas from the beloved hymn that we often sing and that expresses my inward feelings.

BLESS BE THE TIEBlest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we asunder part, It give us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again.

This World Has Many Choices; Eternity Has Only Two

The title of this article is found in the words of a religious song that I have heard over the radio several times. It is a moving song. One that really makes you think. God made man in His image and one likeness is that man has the ability to make choices in life. Adam and Eve made the wrong one and introduced sin to the human family (Genesis 2 & 3; Romans 5:12). The Israelites were required to choose to serve or Baal or God (I Kings 18:20, 21). Jesus invites mankind to come to him and He will give rest to all who decide to do so (Matthew 11:28 - 30).

Our Lord also presents to us two gates to enter and two ways to travel in this life (Matthew 7:13, 14). The decision an individual makes will determine the direction one will travel in this life and eventually where one will be in eternity. In this life we all make decisions small and great from day to day. Some of our decisions will bring joy to our heart while others cause sadness and unpleasant consequences. The young couple that commits fornication often affects adversely the conscience of one and perhaps both parties. And sometimes a child is the result of such an immoral deed and shame is felt among members of both families. Pity the person who becomes addicted to some form of drugs and destroys both body and mind. In a moment of anger a life is taken and the guilty party has to endure the consequence by spending his life in prison.

On the other hand a young person gives his life to the Lord and commits his life to serving His Lord and Master. Life is enjoyed and the mornings of each day is received as being beautiful and appreciated. Love is found in the heart of Christian young lady and marriage follows after a courtship with someone she will spend a lifetime with as they rear their children in the way of the Lord. In spite of the hardships and challenges in life they encounter, happiness is found in living for Jesus Christ and serving one another and others. A young man decides that his true desire in life is to live in a foreign country and teach and train people to become productive citizens. As long as a person has the mental ability and breath resides in his body, decisions can be made. But eventually the time will come when the capability to decide will cease.

Eventually the spirit of man will take flight and the body dies (James 2:26). The spirit returns to God and the body goes back to dust from whence it came (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The power to choose where one will be in eternity is past. We will have no power to have control over matters. In life there is the ability to do things our way and to make decisions but not so in eternity. That has already been determined by the choice one made while living. In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus makes it very clear that now He is the only one who has the power to decide where one will be in eternity. To those who gave their lives to Jesus and served Him faithfully in life they will hear this sweet invitation, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (V. 34). But to the majority who decided not to believe in and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, these terrible words will be heard, “Depart me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (V.41).

My dear friend if you will confess Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, He will confess you one day before His Father and the angels in heaven (Matthew 10:32, 33). It is my prayer that you will decide to confess Him now because if you do not, there is coming a day in which all mankind will confess Him but then it will be too late (Philippians 2: 9-11). When Jesus comes again and sits on the throne of His glory, judgment will have begun. Then it will the sheep or the goats, right or left, saved or lost, heaven or hell. Please make the choice to live for Jesus in this life if you have not already so in order that you may live with Him in eternity. This is my earnest plea and prayer for you.

GPS ~ God's Plan of Salvation

I had thought that I might enjoy having one but I never dreamed that someone would give me a GPS! Much to my surprise, some of my children gave me a GPS for a Christmas present. A son took charge of getting the thing ready for me to use in my car. He put the address of a local business into the GPS and this lady’s voice instructed me when and where to turn in order to get to my destination as I looked at a map where I was to travel. In case you might not be familiar with this gadget, here is a brief definition: “The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.” Theoretically I should never get lost while traveling when I use my GPS.

In the beginning of man’s existence on earth he was in a safe place and in a perfect relationship with Jehovah God. In a sense man was not saved because he had never been in a lost condition. But he became estranged from his God and in a lost condition because of his disobedience to the commands given to him from God (Genesis 2:15-17; Isaiah 59:1, 2; Romans 5:12). However, in the darkest day of man’s existence in the beautiful Garden of Eden, God’s plan for man’s salvation is found in Genesis 3:15 when the “seed of woman” was mentioned. The “seed” is also referred to as being the “seed” of Abraham. The apostle Paul defined that “seed” as being Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19, 16). The fact is, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God was referred to by John in Revelation 13:8 as being “slain from the foundation of the world.” The Lord God, in His infinite wisdom, foreknowledge and marvelous grace and love, planned aforetime to provide salvation for mankind through the death of His beloved Son (Hebrews 2:9; Ephesians 2:5, 8) John 3:16). Throughout the Old Testament there is the theme that ‘someone is coming’ and that being the promised Messiah who would bring salvation to the human race. Isaiah, the messianic prophet, prophesied hundreds of years before the coming of the Savior: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14); and His name was to be called Jesus “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus, in answering Thomas who asked Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:5, 6). The road map that leads to salvation and to the Father is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the only way (Acts 4:12)! So He says to all who would be His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The way that Jesus leads us is “narrow” and “difficult” but the reward is eternal life (NKJV, Matthew 7:13, 14). God has given us the perfect and complete directions in His Holy Word that will lead us to Jesus Christ and salvation (Psalms 119:105; John 6:44, 45; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:2-4).

God’s plan of salvation certainly involves man’s response. A person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24); repent of sins (Acts 17:30) and based upon a confession of faith in Christ, be immersed in His name for the remission of sins (Romans 10:9, 10; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Following in the steps of the Savior we will never stray from the way that is infallibly safe and secure and that leads to “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10, 11). May our attitude always be as found in the song, “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow”.

In Everything, Give Thanks

In I Thessalonians 5:18 the apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” A preacher by the name of Martin Rinkhard wrote the lyrics of the song, “Now Thank We All Our God” to be used as an expression of gratitude by his family at meal time. The unusual background of this song of praise was that it was written during the “Thirty Year’s War” when the preacher was conducting as many as forty funerals a day, including that of his own wife. Yet in spite of war and plagues, he was able to give thanks to God for his blessings. This true story amazes me but it does not surprise me. It seems that in times of extreme and difficult circumstances, people who believe in God can find in their heart expressions of gratitude. In contrast when a nation is greatly blessed with a bounty of material and physical substances there is a tendency of man to forget the source of such blessings.

It was said that the Lord sent two angels to earth to gather the petitions and thanksgivings made by His followers. Both angels returned to heaven in distress. The angel bearing the petitions was truly weighed down with his burden. The other angel bringing the prayers of thanksgivings was nearly empty handed. The lesson is obvious and clear. Most of God’s children are more apt to make requests, petitions and supplications rather than the giving of thanks. The nation that is greatly blessed with a bounty of material and physical substance is most likely to forget the source of such blessings. The writer James declared that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). The psalmist encourages us by his response from being a recipient of God’s blessings in this manner, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And I will call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:12, 13, 14, 17).

The children of the Heavenly Father should remember daily the blessings that flow from His bountiful hand of grace. Especially there should be an awareness of “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Everyday is Thanksgiving for the redeemed. However it is good that families and friends can be together on the national day of Thanksgiving. Let us never forget the sacrifices made by our forefathers and loved ones to ensure us of the liberties and freedoms we now enjoy and experience. “O, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8). “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:2).

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”