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Waldron Mission Fund |
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Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557 |
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Vol. 6 November 2003 No. 11
BULLETIN BRIEF |
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Question number 102 of 576 from THE LAMB/THE LION Why was the hour of trial coming on the whole world? In the text under consideration (Rev. 3:10) Christ shows that the principal "whom the Lord loves he chastens (Hebrews 12:6) is applicable to the whole human family; for He says, "the hour of trial" was to "come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth." This makes it clear that calamities, sufferings, sorrows, illnesses and disasters, which come on the human family because this is a sin-cursed world, do not come because they are sent arbitrarily by God, but come to bring mankind to repentance. All humanity needs to know that death, dying and disease (cancer, heart aliments, diabetes, etc.) are in this world not because God put it here. He made everything "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Death and all its attendant evils are in this world because Satan introduced sin into this realm where man dwells (Genesis 3:1-19). The apostle Paul tells us "through one man (Adam) sin entered the world (through the instigation of Satan - Genesis 3:4), and death through sin (which brought the consequence of being put away from the tree of life, which meant physical death - Genesis 3:22), and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:10). That is, all sinned representatively in Adam so when he and our mother Eve were put away from the tree of life all of us were separated from that tree. In other words we were cut off from that which could have given us the power of continuous life and health on this planet. Since we cannot eat of the tree of life on this planet and live forever (Genesis 3:22), God has "cursed the ground (because of sin being upon it) for (man's) sake" (Genesis 3:17). In spite of the fact that infidels may scoff at this principle, God out of a heart of love tolerates, allows and uses suffering to persuade men to give up things that are earthly, sensual and devilish for those things that are spiritual and eternal. As it is written: "The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). |
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THE WAY OF BALAAM Delbert Goins
Is it easy to follow in the way of Balaam? That is, to be carried off by worldliness and never know it? Indeed, it is! Nevertheless, we should remember the many examples of this in the Old Testament. Enticed by wealth and fame, Balaam, forsaking the right way to go astray, easily fell into the hand of Balak. The devil seems to find exactly the right weakness in man to hook and twist. No matter our age, we may be lured by the influence of Balaam. Under Satan's influence, David certainly was so enamored by his passions that he followed in the way of Balaam, when he misused kingly power to murder the husband of Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:15). After Uriah died, David married the woman; but it is very interesting how the Bible centuries later speaks of her as being "of Uriah" the Hittite (Matt. 1:6; cf.,2Sam. 12;15). . The Devil snared Eve who ignorantly submitted without question to his suggestion, "Oh, go ahead, eat this forbidden fruit. What's the harm in one bite?" (Genesis 3:6). So arrested by the idea, Eve suggests Adam eat also. In turn, he is caught up by the temptations of his wife, and he did eat. The Devil at sundry times and in divers manners uses this same tactic millions of instances each day, such as, "Oh, go ahead, have a beer. One drink won't hurt you." Millions become so enamored with an evil idea, they throw caution to the wind and submit. Then too late, they learn that submission has brought ruin forever, even though executed in unaware-ness. It is very much like the Athenians who ignorantly worshiped an unknown god. What a mistake Balaam made by listening to the appeal of men from Moab who were opposed to Israel's invasion of Canaan. About him, Peter's remark is instructive: "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unsteadfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; chilren of cursing; forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrongdoing; but he was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet" (2 Pet. 2:14-16). This prophet "loved the wages of unrighteousness" and his counsel caused Israel "to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor" (Num. 31:16; 25:1-3). King Balak, of Moab, received and entertained Balaam at Pethor in the mountains. It was a "last straw" effort that he called the prophet Balaam to place a magic charm, a curse or a hex to ban Israel from progressing into his territory. Balaam attempted to curse, intead as he spoke, Jehovah caused blessings to flow from his mouth. Becoming known as an example of greed, idolatry and fornication, Balaam was fired by Balak; nevertheless he tarried among the Midianites where he invented a plan so Jehovah would have but one course; curse His people. By his doctrine, he induced the Israelites to match sin with sin by committing licentious orgies and idolatry connected with the worship of Baal-Peor. His crafty counsel prevailed, and Balaam collected "great honor." The anger of Jehovah brought swift and severe punishment upon Israel through a deadly plague where more than twenty-four thousand perished (Num. 25:9). As reward for his crime, Balaam's end was death by the sword (Num. 31:8). Also, the Midianites were punished under the leadership of Moses and Phinehas (Num. 25:9). What a mistake listening to the appeal of those opposed to God. Today many adhere to godless activities (e.g., licentious dress like street walkers and dancing like prostitutes) and listen to charming petitions from scores of ensnaring vices [like homosexuality, fornication, adultery and such like (cf., 1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19-21)} and other things of the world through media, books, and Hollywood, each whispering that the world has something to offer. With heavenly wisdom and knowledge ringing in our ears, we must adhere to the word of Christ, influenced by His desire to bring salvation to a lost society. Be not influenced by the way of Balaam. 105 North 6th Street, Hubbard,TX 76648 |
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TWO INSECTS
Hugo McCord A tiny, frail, land-bound maggot, able only to wiggle, somehow transforms itself into a skillful flying machine, complete with antennae, gyroscopes, and wings (R. Platt, "Those Remarkable 'Two-Animal” Animals, " Readers' Digest, July 1970).
The pilot in that remarkable airship, flying faster than the eye can follow, executes a half-roll and lands upside down on the ceiling on six legs. From there, without the use of a runway, he can take ofF instantly. Helpless scientists can no more explain the change from larva to pupa to adult than they can explain the fly's aeronautical ability. When they speak of inborn "blueprints" or of "instruction data from the DNA," or of "the DNA code script" they are saying they have gone as far as they can, and have no answer without using the name "God."
Another example among thousands is the cicada, often called "the seventeen year locust." Cicadas have various cycles with the longest being seventeen years. Almost exactly on May 24 these insects climb out of a seventeen-year period spent some 18 inches below the frost line, underground. When they emerge they are still encased in a protective subterranean suit resembling plastic. After shedding the transparent suit, wings, never before used, but now ready for a new life, are dried in the breeze.
After mating, the female, equipped with a sharp blade, cuts under the bark of a twig, deposits her eggs, and then cuts the twigs three fourths through. As a result, the twig dies, falls to the ground, and carries the eggs to the soil. Then the eggs hatch, and the larvae dig into the ground.
The adults live only about three weeks, and never see their offspring. What makes them operate so? Their defense from being eaten by birds is an unbearable noise, equivalent to that of "a pneumatic hammer or a subway train screeching to a halt in an underground station." (Dr. James A. Simmons, Princeton University Auditory Research Laboratory, says the intense noise is 80 to 100 decibels measured 60 feet away.)
The intense noise damages eardrums, driving away birds and all other animal life. But some source gave the cicada a tiny muscle which automatically collapses his eardrum just before he "sounds off." Scientists know how the muscle operates, but they do not know how it could have "evolved" in one springtime to allow one generation of cicadas to mate and to preserve the species, nor can they explain the inborn seventeen-year almanac which the cicada carries with him underground. 5535 E. Evergreen, #7505, Vancouver, WA 98661 |
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FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS DON'T GIVE UP! Dan S. Shipley Few have served Christ under more difficult circumstances than did the apostle Paul. He acknowledges being pressed on every side, perplexed, pursued and struck down (II Cor. 4:8-10). Later (Chapt. 11) he details many things he had suffered as a minister of Jesus. Read the list and wonder whether he could endure such hardships and discouragement. Many lesser men have succumbed to less opposition, but Paul says, "we faint not" (II Cor. 4:16); i.e., "we do not lose heart" or, as a later version puts it, "I never give up." The secret to his endurance is revealed in this and following verses. With Paul, every Christian says, "I don't give up" because, although the outward man is perishing, "our inward man is renewed day by day" (v. 16). Aging and its infirmities are apparent to all. They remind us that this tabernacle of flesh is soon to be put off. With Paul's evaluation, we see the importance of being concerned with the spiritual over the temporal. Our inward man is strengthened as we lay up treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:20) and set our minds on the things that are above (Col. 3:2). No longer are we obsessed with making provision for the flesh; no longer will we be distracted by the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. As God's pilgrims who have learned the worth of the soul and the frailties of the flesh, we take courage and press on. We won't give up because we are able to see our problems and afflictions in perspective. Compared to the eternal weight of glory, they are light (v. 17). What some would call a dreadful load (especially in Paul's case) is seen as nothing in view of the glory awaiting the faithful. Our afflictions are light when compared with his and other early Christians. Also, they are temporary; "for the moment." Pleasure is fleeting, but so is pain. In addition, we see our afflictions as being beneficial as something that "works for us." We know that tribulation can contribute to steadfastness (Rom. 5:3). As Paul's "thorn in the flesh" worked for him, so can ours. For the faithful, blessings can be borne on the wings of tragedy. Adversity will come, but it will not conquer so long as we view it as being light, temporary, and beneficial. We do not give up because "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (v. 18). That is, we do not have undue regard for the temporal and transitory. We do not entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life (II Tim. 2:49) because we walk by faith not by sight. Like Moses, we endure "as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27). We won't give up because we long for that "building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens" (5:1). We have the greatest incentive for persevering! What earthly gain could possibly compensate for missing heaven and being at home with the Lord (v. 8)? So, "let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap..." Plain Talk- Vol. 15, No. 2, April 1978, URGENT REQUEST: Just as soon as you get a new address, whether from 911 or other please notify us. |