The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
January 15, 2006
In
This Issue:
Too
Late
by
Steve Klein
What
the World by Its Wisdom Cannot Know
by
Billy Norris
Too Late
Are you ever late? Late completing assignments at school or work? Late getting to work, appointments, school or church? Are you ever too late? I've known people who got the time for church services wrong and drove up in the parking lot just as church members were coming out the door. I've also known people to show up for a dinner appointment just as everyone else was finishing dessert! Now that is too late!
What makes us late? Procrastination. Laziness. Failing to recognize and value opportunities. Poor scheduling. Not allowing for emergencies or unexpected circumstances. These are a few of the reasons that people are late for things every day. These same factors will cause some people to be too late when it comes to obeying the gospel.
In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins who were to participate in a wedding feast. They all waited for the appearance of the bridegroom, but the five "foolish virgins" had taken no oil for their lamps. Why not? Procrastination! Laziness! Poor planning! They failed to prepare properly. Then, when the bridegroom was delayed (an unexpected circumstance), the foolish virgins had to go out to buy oil. He came while they were out (another unexpected occurrence), and when they returned, they were too late. They were not allowed entrance to the wedding. Imagine their frustration, sorrow and humiliation.
Another Bible example of folks who were too late is found in Luke 19:41-44. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, "He saw the city and wept over it." He foresaw the day when all that were within would be destroyed and the city would be leveled to the ground, without one stone left on top of another. Why would this happen to Jerusalem and its people? Jesus tells them that it is "because you did not know the time of your visitation." They missed their chance.
On the judgment day, it will be too late to obey the gospel. Those who squandered opportunities to heed and obey in this life will feel a lot like the five virgins who were shut out of the wedding feast - very foolish indeed. They will realize that, like the people of Jerusalem, they missed their chance. And like the children of Israel of old who disobeyed God, they will cry out in despair "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" (Jeremiah 8:20)
Don't allow that sickening feeling of despair and loss to be yours for all eternity. Life is too short, eternity is too long, and the risk is too great to wait too late to make your life right with God.
--Steve Klein
There is much the world can know by its wisdom, as demonstrated by its tremendous advances in the technological age in which we live. Yet, there is so much of vital importance the world will never know by its wisdom.
The world by its wisdom cannot know God.
There is strong evidence of God in nature. "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Nature testifies to the existence of God, but it does not declare the full revelation of God to man. Among the ancients, many of the world's greatest thinkers were without a true knowledge of God. This does not mean that the world was totally indifferent to the idea of God, for men of all ages have been interested in religion and worship of some object. Some of the ancient philosophers taught that there is no God. Most taught a plurality of gods, ranging from the sun and heavenly bodies to things of the earth - manmade images, or glorified beings as that of human beings.
In all of their profound thinking, they still did not know the true God. Socrates taught that God "was one, immutable, and the Creator of all things," and yet he admitted that, while he knew what God was not, he knew not what he was. He taught that the people should worship the gods of their own community. Yet some of the community gods were characterized by the corrupt passions of human beings. In the temple in Corinth, a thousand priestesses were on hand to satisfy sexual, lustful desires in the act of worship.
Paul states emphatically that the world in its wisdom did not know God. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent'" (I Corinthians 1:18,19).
God requires today that all believe that Jesus is His Son and man's only Savior (Matthew 17:5). Many in their own wisdom refuse to believe in Christ the Son of God. In their refusal, they condemn themselves to die in their sins. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
God requires today that men repent and turn away from their sinful ways to walk in the footsteps of Christ, to change their lives from evil to good. "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). To many whose decisions are made by the wisdom of the world, such a requirement is contrary to their way of life and consequently completely unacceptable.
God further requires today that the penitent believer be baptized for the remission of sins. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The reasoning of the world sees no connection between baptism in water and the remission of sins. Such a requirement appears foolish. Even many religious people who claim to be guided by the word of God rebel at the idea of baptism for the remission of sins. To them, salvation is by faith alone, salvation at the point of faith. If this position is true, not only is baptism not essential, but also repentance, and everything else that God requires for the sinner's justification.
In its own wisdom, the world will never know God's plan of salvation for the alien sinner.
The world by its wisdom cannot know and appreciate the high moral principles of God.
An excerpt from the sermon on the mount gives an example of these principles: "You have heard that is was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart&ldots;.Furthermore, it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality cause her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:27-32). The world in its wisdom does not know this standard of moral conduct.
The world by its wisdom cannot know the true worship of God.
The world's idea of public worship has been extravagantly showy, entertaining, and, in some cases, sensual. Christ taught the requirements of true worship. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). When one worships God "in spirit," he or she worships in reverential awe, in humble recognition of God as worthy of all praise and adoration. When one worships in truth, it will be according to the guidance God has given in His word. IT will certainly not be in worship of man as if he were God (Acts 10:25,26).
If one depends upon all the wisdom the world has to offer, he may be judged wise, but he will still not know how to please God and reach heaven. He will not know "&ldots;the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 3:15).
-- Billy Norris
Via Gospel Guide, Volume 33, No. 3