THE WATCHMAN

So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel . . . (Ezekiel 33:7).

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes, and takes any one of them; that man is taken in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand (33:6).

And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28).

It is certainly a Biblical principle that those who know of danger are required to warn those who are ignorant of it.  After the warning has been given, it is for each individual to decide what he will do with the warning; whether to heed it or disregard it.  If the warning is disregarded, at the very least, the blood of the warned will not be required of the watchman.

A Christian does not need to be an expert on the "end times" to know that judgement is certainly coming--it begins at our personal death.  One of the reasons the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news is that it is only through Him that we will find commendation rather than condemnation in judgement and escape eternal destruction.

One of the responsibilities of each Christian is to be a watchman.  Christians tend to talk so much of God's love that they do not speak much of God's justice.  We know, of course, that there is no love if there is no justice and justice requires judgment. 

Are you being faithful as a watchman?  When we were vacationing in Keystone, South Dakota, some Christians had placed on a billboard a verse from the prophet Amos, PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD (4:12). Many people were seeing it--I wonder how many were heeding it and making preparations.  Perhaps you could do something like the Christians of Keystone.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

SUCK IT UP!

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:12-13).

There are times in this life when things do not go right, and one does not feel good.  When that is happening to you, just suck it up and just do it--do the right thing.  Stop whining, complaining and blaming and do the right thing.  The Hebrew Christians were being persecuted and the author of Hebrews had to remind them of their responsibility to remain faithful.  Sometimes we need to be reminded too, so suck it up!

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

HOME FROM VACATION

The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.  And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat (Mark 6:30-31).

Every year Helen and I attempt to have a family vacation, but with busy and conflicting schedules, only son Tom and his family, wife Suzi, grandson, Alex and granddaughter, Samantha could go with us.  We rented a cabin near Terry Peak, in the Black Hills, for our "home base" during the week; the temperatures are much more mild at 7,000 feet. 

Though we have vacationed in the Black Hills of South Dakota several times, it is always inspiring to see the great stone faces. They certainly cause one to reflect on the values upon which our great country is founded.  We also visited the Black Hills of Wyoming, they are not all in South Dakota, and drove on to see the Devil's Tower.  The geological formations in the Black Hills area are inspiring too, turning one's mind to God's providence as He formed, and is forming, the earth.

Any thoughtful tourist cannot escape the unjust treatment of the Native Americans because the white man wanted their lands and the gold.  Reminders are everywhere.  That being said, I do not know how it could have been different.  When one culture invades another, there will be injustice and people will die--that is the sad verdict of history.  Greed and lawlessness always seem to overcome the rule of law--at least until the Lord returns.  As a result of being in the Black Hills, I bought a book called KILLING CUSTER, by James Welch.  It is a history of Custer's last stand, the battle of the Little Bighorn and the fate of the plains Indians.  I am about midway through the reading of the book.

It was a great vacation.  Long hikes and good conversation are good for the body and soul.  Seeing sights and visiting attractions are tough on the budget, but even the Lord thought that it is good to get away for a while.  I hope you can have a good vacation too.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

USE THE BIBLE REDEMPTIVELY, NOT LEGALISTICALLY

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).

These are some of the most well-known Scripture verses in the Bible, and arguably, could be the most profound, though the message is easily understood.  The God of the Bible is not a god who rejoices in the condemnation of anyone.  He is not a legalist looking for the tiniest infraction of the law so that someone can be condemned to eternal punishment.  Rather, God's purpose is to free us, to heal us, to pardon us, to forgive us.  This he has done through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the ministry of Holy Spirit.

If John 3:16-17 indicates why Jesus came, shouldn't it follow that this is the way Scripture should be used as we minister to people?  It is not our purpose to condemn people with Scripture, but to bring them to health and wholeness.

Our Father's Love,
Tom