Saved by the Gospel

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) Before man had the completed Word, God revealed Himself to man in various ways. (Hebrews 1:1-2) Some of these ways included speaking directly to man, as He did in Adam’s case. (Genesis 3:9)  God sometimes spoke through a dream, as He did with Daniel in Daniel chapter 7. Today we can all own a copy of the Bible – where God reveals His will for man in written form.

Although God’s way of revealing His will to man today is different compared to from that of the Old Testament, the words of Proverbs 29:18 are still relevant. Without a knowledge of God’s will, we are all doomed to perish.

I’m thankful God has revealed His will for me through His inspired scriptures. But I’ll never come to a knowledge of that will until I open the book, read its pages with an honest heart, and apply it to my life.

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”  (Proverbs 13:7) At first reading, this verse may seem like some kind of contradiction. Not at all! Many people spend their wholes lives seeing how much they can accumulate in terms of this world’s goods. They’re proud to look at their portfolio with all its stocks, bonds and 401k. Sadly, some of these same people fail to realize that they are among the poorest people of all. You see, all these things are temporary. They are very short lived and are unable to provide any real security.

Conversely, a man may live here on earth in not much more than seemingly poverty and be among the richest of all men! How can that be? He can possess God’s spiritual blessings! Blessings that will stay with him throughout all eternity. The most important blessings of all! No wonder Christians can be described as the richest people among all the earth!

I wish I knew how to play the guitar. I even have one. So why don’t I know how to play it? I guess I’ve never wanted to play badly enough to take the time to learn. It’s hard! Seem funny? Maybe. But I know I’ll never know how to play until I take the time, and put forth the effort, to learn.

Bible study can be a lot like that. I’ve heard people say they wish they had a greater knowledge of the scriptures. But sadly, they often don’t desire this knowledge badly enough to take the time to learn. Without spending time in study and putting forth the necessary effort, they’ll never gain the knowledge they desire. There are no short cuts!

But it’s also true that there is no better, more rewarding, way to spend your time than in a study of the scriptures!  Psalms 119, verses 97 and 103 – “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day………….. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”

From Psalm 18:1-3 “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

This short text includes no less than eight expressions that describe the refuge God provides for His people - rock, fortress, deliverer, my God, strength, buckler, the horn of my salvation and my high tower.

When we realize that God, the object of our worship, serves as such a place of refuge and safety, no wonder we too can say, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.”

A great lesson can be learned from Nehemiah 8:1-12. The people gathered as one man. Unity among God’s people is as important today as it was in Nehemiah’s day. The people wanted Ezra to "bring the book," indicating they had a desire to hear God’s word.

Attention was given to God’s word. The Bible will be of benefit to us today only if we pay attention to what we read, realizing it can be understood.

Consider their attitude. The people stood, indicating they had an attitude of reverence toward the word of God. Ezra blessed the Lord, meaning he praised, or spoke well of, the Lord.

Consider their awareness. The people mourned when they were convicted of their sin. They had neglected God’s restrictions concerning marriage. They had failed to keep the Sabbath. They had forsaken God’s house. But God’s word was also able to bring them joy, just as it is able to bring us joy today.

It’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced on earth. Heaven, that is. Consider what Peter has to say about heaven in I Peter 1:3-5. Peter describes our inheritance in heaven as incorruptible – the passage of time can never cause it to corrode or decay. It’s undefiled – totally pure. No sin, not even a hint of sin, will ever enter therein. It does not fade away – we will never tire of its beauty. Heaven, what a wonderful place. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus’ words to not condemn all judging, but they are most definitely a warning against improper judgment. We judge improperly when we judge without mercy and love. We judge improperly when we judge without self-examination. Before judging others, we ought to make an honest evaluation of ourselves.

May we also practice Jesus’ words from John 7:24 – “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

In the midst of our country’s discussion concerning school shootings, abortion, homosexual relationships and even same sex marriages, it would do us well to remember the inspired words from Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” The answer to our problems is really not difficult: welcome God back into our society and exalt him as Lord. Accept God's Holy Word as the only legitimate standard of right and wrong. Recognize and respect the value of life. Unless and until that happens, we will continue to spiral downward.

The image of a skull and cross bones is often used to depict danger and death. It has been seen in a variety of places, from flags of pirate ships to poison bottles. Wouldn’t it be nice if sin came in a bottle labeled with a skull and cross bones? Maybe then people would realize the deadly nature of sin, for it really is a poison to the soul. James wrote, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15

Paul summed it up very clearly when he wrote, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12.) It is only right that Jesus would describe himself as the light of the world.

Light serves as a guide. Lights along an airport runway are used to enable an airplane to safely land. Lights are used on the ocean to guide a ship safely into harbor. Turning on a light allows us to walk safely across a room rather than stumble and trip in the dark. Jesus serves as a guide for us. His life shows us how we ought to live and what we ought to be. The inspired psalmist wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105