The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor	February 9, 2003
In This Issue: Who's Flying the Plane? By Alan Smith They Died for Their Faith By Phillip Mullins   BACK TO INDEX	Who's Flying the Plane?   A photographer, from a well know national magazine, was assigned to cover the fires at Yellowstone National Park. The magazine wanted to show some of the heroic work of the fire fighters as they battled the blaze.   When the photographer arrived, he realized that the smoke was so thick that it would seriously impede or make it impossible for him to photograph anything from ground level. He requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. His request was approved and arrangements were made. He was told to report to a nearby airport where a plane would be waiting for him.   He arrived at the airport and saw a plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot swung the little plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air.   The photographer said, "Fly over the park and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures."   "Why?" asked the pilot.    "Because I am a photographer," he responded, "and photographers take photographs."   The pilot was silent for a moment. Finally he stammered, "You mean you're not the flight instructor?"   When it comes to our spiritual lives, we better be certain that someone competent is in control. If we assume (as did the two men above) that someone else has the ability to guide us safely, we may well be headed for disaster (unless that someone else is Christ).   "And He spoke a parable to them: 'Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:39-40)   Take a moment to check the cockpit. Who's in control of your life?  -- Alan Smith via The Beacon Electronic Edition They Died For Their Faith      "And devout men carried to his burial, and made great lamentation over him." (Acts 8:2).   Jesus predicted it.  Acts records it. Revelation refers to it. Some of the first Christians died because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The early believers found themselves in an environment hostile toward their message and life-style. Both Jews and Romans eventually became vehemently opposed to the Way, even to the point of killing some of those in it.   As a preacher of the gospel, I am always looking for parallels between the experiences of the first century Christians and those of us serving Christ in the twentieth century. Yet, when it comes to this, there are no parallels to speak of. It is true that there are places on the globe where being a Christian is dangerous, but not here in the United States. It is also true that even in this country we face scorn and ridicule for our faith at times, but nothing as intense or as violent as what would happen to most Christians in this country if they had to endure the level of persecution that many faced in the first two centuries of the church? I wonder what would happen to me?   How did they do it? How could Stephen, after the Sanhedrin had reacted with such hate for his message, testify of his vision of Jesus Christ at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54-56)? What did they have that made it possible for them to stare death coldly in the face and not deny their Lord? Here are three characteristics I see in the disciples' lives that help make it possible: They really believed in the facts of the gospel. When confronted by the Sanhedrin, Peter answered, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). There was no way that they were going to deny the miracles of Jesus, His resurrection from the dead or any of the other foundational facts of the gospel. These early Christians knew them to be the truth and they were willing to die for it. Their loyalty to and love for the Christ. Jesus had said, ".. If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25). The test of some of these early believers' devotion to Christ was giving up their life. Remaining true to their Lord was more important to them than living. They had an eternal perspective. Paul wrote, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," (2 Corinthians 4:17). They knew that they had a rest and reward awaiting them in heaven, so it didn't matter if they had to give up life here for it.   Why is it that Satan is not afflicting us in the same way? I suppose it has to do with a tactical change based on what is most effective. Instead of intimidating our faith out of us by making the world our enemy, Satan is now trying to steal away our faith by convincing us that this world is our friend. Materialism, fleshly lusts, social acceptance, etc. are the weapons that are used against our faith now.   What do we need to have to gain the victory over our foe? We might not be facing the same types of tests as the early saints, but, in order for us to make it, we must have the very same mind set that they had. We must place total con-fidence in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We must have a love for Him burning in our hearts. And, we must yearn to be with Him in heaven for eternity.   If we have these always fresh on our minds and deep in our hearts, we will be more like the first Christians and we will also be able to handle anything that the enemy throws at us. --Phillip Mullins via The Manslick Road Speaker