DON’T BLAME GOD

Whenever worship attendance is sparse, almost always, someone makes the comment, “Everybody is here that is supposed to be.” I know that is true. God always works everything after the counsel of His own will, and He makes no mistakes. (Ephesians 1:11) However, we must be careful as to what we blame on God. Our Lord has prepared a great supper and has bidden sinners to come. If you don’t come, that is on you, not God. By nature, we will not come to Christ that we might have life. (John 5:40) May God be pleased to make us willing in the day of His power. (Psalms 110:3)

Pastor David L. Eddmenson

From Death to Life Eternal

“For me to live is Christ; and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

My Lord Jesus is the giver of life. He is the sum and substance of life. He is my hope of life eternal. My hope is to see Him, to be like Him, and to be with Him forever. Therefore, for me “TO DIE IS GAIN.” I will be released from age and pain and gain a perfect body; I will be free from this sinful flesh and gain sinless perfection; I will be free from every trial, every heartache, and live in perfect rest and joy; I will enjoy perfect knowledge, immortality, and everlasting peace. GAIN is a weak word to describe such glory!

What is it then that makes us so fearful of death and so reluctant to part with this world? We may give a lot of reasons and feel that we are sincere and our reasons valid; but, to be perfectly honest, our problem is THE WEAKNESS OF OUR FAITH in Him and His Word. Our Lord said, “O ye of little faith, wherein do you doubt?”

Wherein do we doubt? His love for sinners? He gave Himself for us! The efficacy of His blood? It cleanseth us from all sin! The reality of heaven? “If it were not so, I would have told you!” The awesome miracle of being changed from the image of the earthy to the image of the heavenly? Is anything too hard for God? Here is where Abraham found righteousness. “He believed God and was persuaded that what God had promised, He was ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM!” Life eternal in Christ for those who believe is what He has promised, and He will perform! “Sirs, I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Welcome death, for with death comes LIFE ETERNAL!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1988)

THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall” (Malachi 4:2).

This is one of the many promises found throughout the scriptures that proclaim and declare unto us the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and salvation accomplished by HIM (2 Pet. 1:4). This promise is given to those that fear and reverence His name. We know the scriptures describe the ungodly as, "having no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom. 3:18). However, those that are humbled by Almighty grace, do have a saving and loving knowledge of God in Christ Jesus and truly worship and confess that Jesus Christ is all and all (Col. 3:11).

Notice several blessings that are given in this scripture:

1).The Sun of Righteousness shall arise. The Lord Jesus Christ is the very power and glory of the righteousness that every believer desires to be found in (Phil. 3:9; Jer. 23:5). It is only through the obedience of our Saviour unto death that fully answers to the demand of God's Holy Law (Gal. 3:13; Isa. 42:21). As there is but one Sun, so also there is but one Righteousness that justifies the ungodly, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:6).

2). There is healing (salvation) in His wings (person).Our Lord Jesus Christ is known as, Jehovah Rapha: the Lord that healeth thee (Ex. 15:26). Our Redeemer declared He was sent to heal the broken hearted (Luke 4:18). Pardon of our iniquities and the cleansing of our sins are only through His blood atonement (1John 1:7; 4:10).

3). You shall go forth (set at liberty).Believers have been set free from spiritual death (John 8:32-36) and made new creatures in Christ (2Cor. 5:17). Set at liberty to serve the Lord as a loving bond slave and given spiritual life to honor and worship (John 4:24).