| December 6, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 32
|
The Bible says that when the day of judgment comes, many who have not done the will of God will appeal for mercy on the basis that they have done some things "in Jesus' name," Matt. 7:21.. They will cry out, "Lord, Lord" even though they have not done what He has commanded, Luke 6:46. To these, Jesus will reply, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
Men need to understand that there is nothing magical about the name "Jesus." Just because a preacher says he is preaching in the name of Jesus does not automatically mean that he has the Lord's approval. Because a religious worker seeks to invoke the name of Jesus in healing diseases or dealing with supposed demon possession, does not necessarily mean that he will be successful, or meet with God's approval. See Acts 19:13-16. A person may even do "good works," attaching Jesus' name to them, and yet not be saved.
Who then, in the day of judgment, will be saved? Those who do the will of the heavenly Father, Matt. 7:21. Those who work within God's law, rather than those who work outside that law, or lawlessly.
This is just one of many verses that shows the necessity of being obedient to God's will as revealed through Christ and His apostles. Note Heb. 5:9, "having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." Consider Rev. 22:14, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." And again, James 1:25, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." And finally, from the negative standpoint, Paul tells us in 2 Thess. 1:8 that Jesus is coming "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
Unfortunately, many say "Lord, Lord" without obeying Him as Lord. We must not only say Jesus is Lord, we must hear, believe, and obey His gospel. It is as He said to His apostles in Mark 16:15-16, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned."
--CRJ
If you are not closer to heaven today than you were yesterday, check your road map...you may have taken a wrong turn.
Several years ago, a Christian who was the president of a large state university stated his belief that students do not lose their faith because of evolution in the science department or humanism in the philosophy, psychology, or sociology departments. Rather, he felt that they become so absorbed with secular studies and secular activities that they do not take time for spiritual things. They neglect attendance at services, neglect Bible study and make their friends among worldly people. They die spiritually, not from poison but from spiritual malnutrition. Today, this is happening to children long before they get to college. And some of the finest, best intentioned and most sacrificial and loving parents are contributing to it.
Please pardon a personal reference. My parents were very concerned about keeping control of their children. My father complained 50 years ago that the schools were trying to take over the rearing of children and he was determined not to let that happen to his family. Anything the school planned that conflicted with church activities was considered an encroachment by the school. We did not participate in organized sports, either in school or in summer programs. We did not play in the band or join the scouts. As a rule, when school was out we came home.
You may think my parents extreme. Perhaps they were. But one thing was certain: We had time for whatever Christians were doing anywhere in the areas where we lived. We not only attended every regular service and every service of gospel meetings in our home congregation, but we attended most services of any meeting anywhere in driving distance even when meetings lasted the greater part of two weeks. Preachers who came preaching in the area learned to expect the Hall family near the front of the building night after night. I never remember going out of town for a ball game, but I remember many trips out of town to gospel meetings and lectureships. Those gospel preachers became our heroes and the members of those congregations became the friends whose respect and confidence we most desired.
This is not to say that all parents should adopt the policies of my parents. I did not adhere to all of them in raising my children. But surely some limits need to be imposed on the run-away secularism now so common. Children are the busiest people in town. Schools have lengthened the school day and long bus rides often require children to leave home very early in the morning and return late in the afternoon. Then they have homework to get. Much extra time in school is spent in humanistic activities. Children are constantly exposed to vulgarity and profanity not only from fellow-students, but even from teachers. They desperately need counteracting spiritual influences.
Many conscientious parents, however, want still more secular opportunities for their children than the standard curriculum provides. They encourage participation in extra-curricular sports organized by the school and in others that are privately organized, occupying afternoons and Saturdays and even portions of Sundays as well as the summer months. Students not inclined to sports are encouraged to join the band with long hours of after-school practice, summer band camps, compulsory Friday night football in the fall and concerts in the spring. In addition, there are often private music lessons. Scouts also provide wholesome experiences, and parents want their children to be involved. In fact, they feel that their children are deprived if they miss any of these opportunities, and so to provide them parents pack their own schedules full, taxiing the children here and there and sacrificially spending their energy and money.
What is wrong with these things? Generally nothing. The problem is that they are dominating children's lives. No wonder it has become impossible to plan a gospel meeting at a time when it does not conflict with some kind of secular activity! No wonder it is exceptional when students attend every night of such a meeting! No wonder very few parents and even fewer young people are to be seen at special services beyond their own congregation!
A negative attitude seems to be developing toward anything the church plans beyond the usual Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night assemblies or toward any extension of evening activities beyond one hour. The church is considered insensitive when anything is planned that encroaches on children's busy secular activities.
When do we expect our children to change from this heavily weighted emphasis on this world to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?'' If they become accustomed to a secular schedule in elementary school, high school will only increase the pressure. College allows still less time for the Lord unless there is a purposeful determination to keep the lid on secular demands. If such priorities have not been learned under the guidance of parents, it is unlikely they will be developed when students are on their own in college. By the time those school years of immersion in secularism are over, there is usually very little spiritual life left in them.
And it all begins when they are young!
--Sewell Hall