Many faithful Christians often beat themselves up over things they feel they cannot do in the work of the Lord, and it leads to excessive worry and concern that can be spiritually damaging. I personally have had numerous Christians approach me voicing their concern about not being able to effectively evangelize and preach to people. Their concern leads them to be worried about their soul’s salvation. I believe some of this is the fault of gospel preachers. We often pound the pulpit demanding that members be actively evangelizing everyday. Now, let me be clear. All Christians are responsible for studying God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15), sharing the truth of the gospel if the opportunity presents itself, and defending the hope we have in Christ Jesus. The apostle Peter wrote, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). But, we must realize that not every Christian is an evangelist just like every Christian cannot be an elder, deacon, or pulpit preacher.
Every Christian should have the desire to teach the truth, but some are just not equipped with the ability to do it as well as others. Some evangelists may not have the ability to give much or exhort as well as people who possess those talents. The apostle Paul stated, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). Notice Paul said that Jesus gave “some” to be evangelist. All Christians can evangelize to some degree and in many different ways, but that does not mean they are blessed with the ability to be an evangelist in the official sense of the word Paul was using.
Paul told the Romans “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom. 12:4-8). Paul is telling us that each member is blessed with different abilities, so Christians should find the abilities God has blessed them with and “use them”. Some may not be able to preach or evangelize; but they can give, exhort, serve, teach, or show mercy. Some of us may not be able to evangelize as effectively as others, but we must remember that we are indirectly teaching the truth when we diligently use the abilities God has given us for His glory. People are watching the way we live, and they notice what motivates us to live and act the way we do.
We need to change our mindset regarding the way we live our lives when we are away from the assembly of the saints. We encounter the danger of leaving our spiritual life at the church building and then label Monday through Saturday as our “secular” life. If we are living the way Christ expects, and knows we are capable of, then our everyday life should be evangelistic in nature. Think about this! When men are loving husbands and train their children in the way of the Lord, are they bringing glory to the Lord and evangelizing (Eph. 5:25; Eph. 6:4)? They are! When women profess godliness in their lives, respect their husbands, and faithfully care for their children; are they evangelizing through their example (Eph. 5:23; 1 Tim. 2:9; Titus 2:4,5)? They are! When Christians go to work and do their absolute best to serve God and bring glory to him through their work, are they serving the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31)? They are! When those Christians go to work each day to earn money to provide for their family and give to the church, are they serving and working for the Lord (1 Tim. 5:8)? They most definitely are! God has given us all different talents and abilities, so we must use the ones we have been blessed with to bring glory to God and His Kingdom. -Ed

We often fail to realize how we can say or imply things indirectly by what we do or fail to do. Forsaking the assembly of the saints is one example of when we do so. Our actions can have a huge impact on those around us. The New Testament commands us to assemble together to worship God (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:23; 16;1,2), and it clearly tells us not to forsake those times when we do (Heb. 10:25). The writer of Hebrews wrote, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24,25). God wants His followers to assemble together to worship Him and be there to help one another grow in the grace and knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. There are obviously times when we cannot make it to every assembly of the saints because of illness, emergency, or a job which requires us to occasionally work at the same time of worship. But, the Hebrews writer is not speaking about occasions like that. He is speaking about intentionally forsaking the assembly. When someone forsakes the assembly, he simply decides not to come when there is no good reason to prevent him from doing so. Those who forsake the assembly are those who find it merely inconvenient or have something else they would rather be doing with their time. When brethren choose to do so, they are not only disobeying a direct command of God, but they are also implying several things they may not immediately realize they are “saying.” Let’s consider a few things we are “saying” when we choose to forsake the assembly of the church.
1. When we forsake the assembly, we are saying that God is not the most important thing in our life. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Solomon wrote that the whole duty of man is to “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). When we forsake the assembly because we are a little tired, our child has team practice, or there is a television show we want to watch; are we saying that God comes absolutely first in our lives? Would we skip work on a regular basis for the same reasons? Would our employers be as understanding about such behavior? When we fail to assemble with the saints on Sundays or Wednesdays for reasons like these, we are saying to God and those all around us that God is not the number one priority in our lives.
2. When we forsake the assembly, we are saying to our bothers and sisters in Christ that we don’t love them like the Bible says we should. One of the purposes of coming together as Christians is to edify, encourage, and support one another. We cannot give the support, or receive it, if we are not present. The Hebrews writer stated we should come together to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). He also said we should “exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). Forsaking not only hurts the Christian who is forsaking the assembly, but also all those who miss the presence of the one not there. Remember, we show our love for God by showing our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 4:7-11).
3. When we forsake the assembly, we are saying to our children that worshipping God is not that important. Parents have the spiritual responsibility of “training up a child in the way he shall go” so that when he matures “he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). If we train our children to believe that missing the worship assembly is not a big deal, then when he is older, that is exactly what he will believe. How can we show our children that God must come first in their lives when we give priority to sports events, leisure activities, or time for relaxation? Fathers have been charged by God to bring their children up in the “training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Our children need to grow up seeing their parents put God first in their lives so they will follow their godly example. -Ed

The Bible repeatedly warns us of the dangers of becoming too attached to this world, because becoming too comfortable in this world may prevent us from making it to our true eternal home in heaven. God wants us to develop a pilgrim mentality. Christians should be a people on the move. The Bible is not saying we should be physically moving about like some tribe of nomadic people. It is teaching us that we should constantly be moving forward in our spiritual journey toward our permanent eternal home that begins at the end of this life. The life we now live is a probationary period dedicated to preparing us for what is to come. We place ourselves in spiritual danger when we become too attached to the things of this world and begin to love them more than the hope we have of the greater home God has prepared for us. The apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). He described us (Christians) as “sojourners” and “pilgrims” in this world. The lusts and desires of this world are at war with our souls, so we must develop the proper attitude in order to stay focused. Let’s consider some things we must all remember as we travel through this life as spiritual pilgrims.
1. The Christian pilgrim must be dedicated to the spiritual matters in life instead of the carnal. The apostle Paul admonished the church at Corinth because of divisions within the congregation. He said, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal” (1 Cor. 3:1). He went on to ask them, “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men” (1 Cor. 3:3)? He pointed out the difference between being spiritual people and merely acting carnal or fleshly. Paul spoke of this to the Romans as well when he said, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:6-8). We cannot set our mind on the carnal things of this world and expect to succeed in our spiritual journey to heaven.
2. The Christian Pilgrim must not get tied down to the things of this world if they are going to complete their spiritual journey. Imagine pilgrims and sojourners in the physical sense for a moment. Constant movement would be hindered by the accumulation of too much junk, or by becoming tied down with improper relationships. The same applies to the spiritual pilgrim. The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). We can’t become too friendly with the world and weight ourselves down with things that will draw our attention away from God. It will only impede our progress and put us at odds with Him. James wrote, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
3. The Christian pilgrim must realize that the love of this world only leads to sin, pride, and separation from God. When we begin to love this world, we begin to believe we can make it without God. Pride grabs hold of us, and those fleshly lusts that Peter spoke of begin to win the war against our souls. John warned of the dangers of loving this world. He said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15,16). Our love for God will keep us on the right course toward heaven.
We often sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” The song is based on a Biblical truth that we must all come to realize. We must develop the pilgrim mentality as we work our way through this world on our way to heaven. -Ed

Great men and women of the Bible were people of purpose, and Christians must compare themselves with these heroes of the faith and the commands of our Lord to see if we are as well. Ezra left the captivity of Babylon for Jerusalem eager to teach his people. It was said of him, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Daniel was taken into Babylonian captivity to be conformed to their ways where it was said; “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:8). Just prior to fleeing the seductive advances of his master’s wife; Joseph states, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God” (Gen. 39:9)? Ezra, Daniel, and Joseph are just three examples of godly people who had prepared and purposed their hearts to serve the Lord regardless of the cost.
It’s vitally important that Christians prepare and purpose their hearts to serve God early on in their walk of faith. The sooner we learn of the dangers, temptations, and challenges a Christian may face; we can prepare ourselves for handling them when they come. It reminds me of the saying: “Don’t wait until you are thirsty to start digging a well!” If we can educate ourselves of the possible challenges ahead, and then decide what our disciplined responses will be when they arrive, we will be prepared to defeat the obstacle with a heart that’s purpose is to serve God. Let’s consider a few ways we must prepare for the challenges to come, and examine our hearts for the purpose that is needed to stand by our decisions.
1. We must study God’s word to learn from the examples of those who endured the hardships, trials, and temptations we may face. Paul spoke of the sins and failures of the Israelites in the wilderness and warned the Christians at Corinth to learn from their example. Paul said, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Cor. 10:6). The actions of the Israelites serve as examples for us to learn from today as well. He later stated, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11). We must use their successes and failures to help us prepare for when we find ourselves in similar situations.
2. We must make the decision early in our walk of faith to stand by the convictions we learn from God’s word so when the situations do arise our hearts will be purposed to serve God. Making these decisions for how we will react to future incidents will help us prevent making the wrong decision when the temptation arises. It produces discipline that will grow stronger over time. Joshua expected this from the Israelites when he gave them his farewell address. He challenged them by saying, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15). Making the decisions before the challenges arise will lead us to develop discipline, preparedness, and purpose of heart.
3. We must trust in what we have learned from God’s word, and rely on our purposed decisions to do God’s will when our faith is challenged. We know “the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). As we grow in the faith with a prepared heart that is purposed to serve the will of God, we will be better prepared to ward off the fiery darts of the devil and the wiles of a sin sick world.
We cannot afford to wait until we thirst to start digging a well, and we shouldn’t wait until we are face to face with temptation to decide it’s time to spiritually grow up. When we fail to invest the time to prepare ourselves, we prepare ourselves for failure. We need to learn to emulate men like Ezra, Daniel, and Joseph who had prepared their hearts ahead of time for the spiritual challenges they would encounter in their service to God. -Ed

How do we know we really know God? How do we know if we are in the right relationship with Him and are living according to His will? If you were to randomly approach people and ask them how they knew they know God, you might be surprised at some of the answers you would get. Many claim to know God because of the feelings they have. You might hear statements such as, “I know I know God because I can feel Him in my heart.” Others may say they know God because they felt the Holy Spirit enter their hearts and make them a Christian. The New Testament never speaks of people who stated they knew God based on such feelings. So, how does someone really know they know God? The Bible does not leave us guessing regarding such important questions. We do not have to base our answer to this all-important question on something as subjective as human feelings or emotions.
The apostle John used the book of First John to state many things we as Christians can know. He tells us how we can know God, and know that we are in a right relationship with Him. He said, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word; truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:3-5). Let’s consider a few facts we can learn from this important text.
1. We do not have to trust our feelings to know if we are in a right relationship with God. This is a true blessing when we consider how often our feelings can mislead us. The Bible states repeatedly the dangers of trusting our own emotions and desires. Remember the proverb that says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25). The prophet Jeremiah said, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). Feelings are subjective, but the word of God is objective truth that can always be trusted as being accurate and infallible.
2. We can know that we are “in Christ.” Salvation is located in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10), and we have access to all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3). We are redeemed by and forgiven of our sins in Christ (Eph. 1:7). John tells us that we can know we are “in Him” when we keep God’s commandments. There is no guessing or wondering about our salvation. We can know for a fact that we are saved. We may not keep all of God’s commandments perfectly, but if we try the best we can, the blood of Christ will cleanse us of our sins when we do fail (read 1 John 1:7-9). Feelings cannot get us into Christ, but obeying the New Testament plan of salvation will (Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:27).
3. We can test those who may be false teachers. John stated that those who claim to know God, but fail to keep His commandments, are liars. We can “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) of those who may falsely claim to be Christians. Many false teachers claim to know God, but if they fail to obey God’s commandments we can “know” that the truth is not in them. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
Feelings and emotions are important. They help us realize the need for God in our lives (Matt. 5:3, 4), but obeying God is how we truly “know that we know Him.” -Ed

We live in a time when good role models are hard to come by, and this is all the more reason we should teach our children the need to look at what is truly important in life. Our media crazed culture is inundated with worship and praise for celebrities, professional athletes, and pop culture icons that have increasingly made a practice of letting down those who look up to them. I’m speaking of those who have earned fame and fortune from the talents God has blessed them with only to see it squandered away on drugs, illicit sexual behavior, or corruption. Many people, especially our children, look up to these celebrities as role models and examples only to be let down when the “big scandal” breaks in the national media. There is nothing wrong with having role models, and there are many great men and women now and throughout history who serve as influential examples for our children to look up to. But, recently, it seems like the reasons some people admire a person as a role model have changed. Today’s materialistic culture measures one’s greatness on what they have or what they have done instead of who they are. I can remember in my lifetime when those who earned the title of “hero” or “role model” earned it based on their character and not the size of their bank account, the number of movies they’ve made, or how many steroid-induced home runs they have hit. Our children will always look up to certain men and women of the world, but we must remind them that it is one’s character and integrity that makes a person a good example to follow; not the material or worldly status they obtain. Regardless of who our children look up to in this world, they need to be taught the importance of making Jesus the greatest influence of their lives. Let’s examine a few reasons why Jesus is the ultimate role model, and remember why we should teach our children to look up to Him before any other.
1. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life. We will never hear a news story break about how sin or pride ruined the life of Jesus. His life stands as a monument in time to what a life of character, integrity, and compassionate influence should be. Jesus will never let us down as a role model. He was the only human who ever lived without sin (Heb. 4:15), and we should teach our children to strive to walk in His footsteps everyday of their lives.
2. Jesus showed us that greatness comes through humility and serving others. Today’s world teaches our children to get everything you can as fast as you can. Jesus lived His life in service of others. Jesus was famous, but He always gave the credit and glory for His talents, power, and ability to His Father in heaven. Jesus teaches us that we have what we have because God gave it to us, and whatever we accomplish in our life should be done to His glory. Compare that with the attitude of many of the people our children look up to today.
3. Jesus defeated the very problem that causes some of our modern day role models to fall. He defeated sin and the devil! Sin is the source of every problem mankind experiences, and Jesus defeated it by heroically giving His life on the cross (Rom. 5:6-12). No matter how great someone may become by today’s standards; they can never save themselves from sin. All men “have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), and only Jesus can save us from the damage it has done (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the greatest role model that ever lived. He is the true Hero of the soul. -Ed

I think it is safe to say that John 3:16 is one of the most loved verses in the Bible. Those of the Faith cherish the verse for the wonderful truth it portrays while those who are unbelievers can’t help but be familiar with it from the many bumper stickers, signs, and other ways it is displayed by those who love it. The verse is a testimony of the love of God for mankind and His desire that they be saved by believing in His only begotten Son. Someone thought it would be interesting to see what would be left of the verse if we took out those parts that offended different groups of religious and non-religious people. This is basically what the unknown writer came up with. The verse states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Let’s consider what he said would have to be removed and why.
1. First, we would have to remove the word “God” because the atheists of the world are highly offended that we believe in any higher power that man is accountable to.
2. The word “loved” would need to be removed because the deist would not accept the idea of God continually loving mankind. They have the idea that God wound up the universe like a watch and then walked away to let it wind down on it’s own.
3. The word “world” would need to be removed in order to not offend those who hold to the doctrine of John Calvin. Calvin taught the doctrine of limited atonement which means that Jesus only died for the predestined elect. According to Calvin, God chose the elect before the beginning of time as the only ones who would be saved. So, according to his teaching, the word “world” could not fit into this beloved verse.
4. The words “He gave His only begotten Son” must be removed because they would deeply offend those who do not believe in the deity of Christ. The apostle John warned of those who would deny that Christ was the Son of God and that He came in the flesh. Of course the apostle John clearly states the deity of Christ in his gospel account when he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
5. We would have to remove the word “whoever” for the same reason we would have to remove the word “world” as stated in point number three above. The teaching of limited atonement will not allow for such a word in their doctrine of predestination. Calvinism takes the choice for salvation out of the hands of the sinner and puts it completely on God.
6. We must remove the words “believes in Him” because the phrase simply makes the verse too narrow-minded for many people. The Universalists believe that all men will be saved without meeting any conditions, including belief. There are also many who believe that “in Him” would mean salvation could only come through Jesus which some are just not willing to accept even though Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
7. The words “should not perish” would be considered too offensive to those who reject the Biblical teaching and concept of hell. Plus, the Universalists would also object to these words because of their belief that everyone will be saved.
8. Finally, we would have to remove the words “have everlasting life” because it would offend the atheists, Darwinists, and humanist who completely reject the concept of any type of afterlife.
So let’s see what John 3:16 would now look like if we dared to remove the words from it that would offend many of the different religious and nonreligious groups.
“For _____ so __________ the __________ that ____ _________ _______ ________ __________ _______ that _____________ _____________ __ ____ ________ ____ ________ but ______ ______________ _______” (John 3:16, The “non-offensive” version).
-Ed

What would you consider to be the most important thing in your life, the center of your being, and the core of your existence? Is it God? God wants to be the center of your life. Does this make God conceited or self-centered? Some may look at it that way, but God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what is best for us. He knows that having Him at the center of our lives is what is absolutely best for us. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). Jesus taught that God wants to care for us, protect us, and help us; but to do that we must fully submit to His will and “seek” Him first in our lives. Solomon’s great experiment in the book of Ecclesiastes proved the same conclusion. He ended that great book by saying, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13. God created man for the purpose of making Him the center of their lives, and when man fails to do so, we cheat ourselves of the great blessings He provides for those He loves so much.
The Israelites in the wilderness are a great example to look back to regarding this issue. God brought them through the Red Sea and then told them, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you” (Ex. 15:26). When they arrived at Sinai, God told them, “if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people” (Ex. 19:5). After some major setbacks, the Israelites began to get it. You can imagine families working happily and diligently together as they prepare the Tabernacle and the furnishings for it. Everyone was centered on serving God. Then when the Tabernacle was finished, and in Numbers chapter 2 the instructions for the Israelite camp were given, we see where the Tabernacle was to be located. God was at the center of their very lives. If we could stand on a mountain overlooking the Israelite camp, what would we see? We would see all of the Israelite tribes encamped around the Tabernacle of God which would be located in the very center of the camp. It was symbolic. Just like God was dwelling in the center of His people in the Tabernacle, God was to dwell at the very center of every individual Israelite’s being.
We must remember that the way the Israelites were to live, obey, and dedicate themselves to God in the wilderness was a type or foreshadowing of how we should all live out our Christian lives. Paul spoke of their experiences and said, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11). God loves us! He wants us to love Him, trust Him, and completely dedicate our lives to Him. But, living life for God only when it is convenient for us will not do. God will not settle for that, nor should a holy and loving God have to. The cross of Christ is the way God manifested His awesome love and dedication for us (1 John 4:9,10). Obeying God and making Him the central focus of our lives, our families, and our congregation is how we manifest our love and appreciation for Him. Let’s all ask ourselves: is God at the very center of my life and my being? -Ed

It may be hard to hear at times, but the saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger” is true and applies to Christians more than most. We know this because the Bible states it over and over again. We see recorded in the Scriptures again and again where men and women of faith persevered in times of trial, temptation, and tribulation. The writer of Hebrews used chapter eleven of that book to prove that very point. He discussed how their faith saw them through many hardships and then made application for all who would follow in their footsteps. In the beginning of chapter twelve he stated, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). He tells us to follow their example, rid our lives of sin, and then live our Christian lives “with endurance”. Those great men and women who suffered so much serve as an example to show us how faith and perseverance can see us through the tough times and even help us grow. Let’s examine how the Bible teaches we can become spiritually tougher as a result of what this life throws at us.
1. The trials and tribulations of this life develop perseverance, character, and hope. The apostle Paul wrote that we have been “justified by faith” and because of that “we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Because of our faith and the grace of God we can have hope. That hope grows stronger as we faithfully endure life’s hardships. He went on to say, “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3). Perseverance and character are not inherited; they are attributes that are gained through life experience. Speak to some Christians who have been through some hard times and you can see the fruits of their hardships. This character and patience can be used to help others who go through similar ordeals. When we suffer in life, and gallantly press our way through it, we grow into someone better prepared to help ourselves, help others, and serve God more faithfully.
2. The trials of life help us to better realize the need for God in our lives. Have you ever met someone that needed to be taken down a peg or two? The kind of person who believes they can rely solely on themselves to make it through life. I think we all have, because I believe all of us have possibly felt that way in our own lives at some time or another. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3). Why do you think He said that? We need to realize our situation before we will be willing to allow God to begin to fix it. This was the reason God sentenced mankind to die and placed the curse on the ground when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. We must all come to the realization, and sometimes be reminded, that we would be hopelessly lost without God. David learned this lesson the hard way several times in his life. After acknowledging his sin, and the problems it had brought to his life, he stated, “do not forsake me, O lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (Psalm 38:21,22). David was wrought with many hardships that were not his fault, and many that were, but they served the purpose of driving him back to God for help and guidance. We should use the hard times to draw near to God and cast our cares on Him.
3. The trials of life can help us better understand and appreciate what Christ did for us on the cross. Serious contemplation of what Jesus went through on the cross for us can motivate us to endure hardship better. Peter wrote, “yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:16). Paul was proud to say he bore the “marks of the Lord Jesus” on his body (Gal. 6:17). Because of what Christ did, we should be able to find joy and hope in the trials we endure for His sake (Matt. 5:11,12; 1 Pet. 1:6,7; Jam. 1:2). The hard times will help us better appreciate the importance of the cross. -Ed

Most of us have heard sermons or devotionals based on this question, but I think it is a question we would all benefit from asking ourselves on a daily basis when we consider the seriousness of what the question is implying. The question is serious because it would mean that all of our fates would have been sealed. There would be no second chances. There would be no time to right all the wrongs. There would be no more discussions of how we plan on eventually getting things right in our lives. I believe all of us could benefit a great deal by asking ourselves this question everyday, and then using our answers to motivate us to live better for Christ today than we did yesterday. The question reminds us just how short our lives are and the fact that we must always be watchful and ready for the return of our Lord. James wrote, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). And, the New Testament often compared the return of Jesus to the coming of a “thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10). We must always be prepared for the coming of that great and glorious day, so let’s examine several facts that would be true if Jesus had actually returned yesterday.
1. If Jesus had returned yesterday, it would be too late to obey the gospel. There will be no more second chances after the return of Christ. This life is a test. Christ used the parable of the faithful and wicked servants (Matt. 24:45-51), and the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) to teach this fact. Once He returns (or we die) it will be too late to decide to obey Him. It is a sad fact that the day after the return of Christ will be a day where many will look back on their lives with regret because of their failure to make the right decision.
2. If Jesus had returned yesterday, it would be too late to repent of sins in our lives. Repentance is required to obey the plan of salvation, but it is also required of those who have put on Christ and then fallen back into sin. God has given His disciples a means of forgiveness when they commit sin. We can confess (1 John 1:9) and repent (Acts 8:22) of our sins and the Bible teaches us that God will forgive us, but if we are negligent in doing so, it may be too late. We must be diligent as we strive to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). If we become complacent in our spiritual life, we could be standing among those the day after Christ returned who are realizing it is too late.
3. If Jesus had returned yesterday, it would be too late to get to work for the Lord. Many Christians have the belief that they can wait until later in life to get busy for the Lord and His church. Christianity is a full time commitment from the day you come out of the waters of baptism until the day you die, or the Lord returns. We can’t “gamble” with the fact that we will be around later in life to start working for the Lord. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
4. If Jesus had returned yesterday, it would be too late to forgive that brother or sister who sought your forgiveness. Christians should never forsake an opportunity to reconcile a loving relationship. Whether it is seeking forgiveness, or forgiving someone who has sinned against us. Jesus stated, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matt. 6:14,15). Our relationships with one another have a direct effect on where we spend our eternity. I’m sure the differences we had with one another will seem very insignificant as we look back on them from the day after the return of Jesus. It’s a shame to think some people will lose their souls because they could not forgive or seek forgiveness.
There are many other points we could consider, but I hope these will help us see the need to be watchful and ready so the day after Jesus’ return will be a glorious and joyful one. -Ed