September 23, 2001

In Matt. 24:2, Jesus had foretold the destruction of Jerusalem. When His disciples had asked for further information, Jesus told them a number of things to watch for so that they could know when the destruction was near. He told them that before the destruction, there would arise false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, various nationalities rising up against each other, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecutions, false prophets, indifference among some disciples, and most important -- that the gospel would be preached in all the world. Then the destruction would occur.

By a study of history, we know that the temple was destroyed in 70 a.d. by Roman armies under the leadership of Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian. But what about the preceding events that Jesus foretold? Did they occur as predicted?

Most certainly! Even if we did not have historical accounts to verify the correctness of Jesus' prophecy, those of us who believe the Bible would be willing to take His word for it. But, even for the unbeliever, the evidence is overwhelming. Jesus was right!

False prophets and men who pretended to be Christ would arise among the people. Jewish historian Josephus, a contemporary of the apostles of Jesus, and an eye-witness of the wars leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem, mentions some of these pretenders by name. One such false prophet is mentioned in Acts 21:38. Between the time Jesus made this speech in Matt. 24, and the actual destruction itself, there were wars and rumors of wars throughout much of the Roman Empire. Emperor Nero committed suicide and was replaced by Galba. Galba was overthrown by Otho, Otho by Vitellius, and Vitellius by Vespasian -- all in less than two years time. Civil war was rampant. The Jews rose up against the Romans and tried to gain their independence. Jewish and Roman writers tell us of at least one pestilence and five earthquakes during that time. The Bible records two famines that took place, Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2. Persecution of Christians by both the Jews and by Emperor Nero are too well known to need mention. False prophets entered in among the worshipers of Christ and had to be exposed and expelled, 2 Cor. 11:13; Gal. 1:6-9.

Finally, we come to the prophecy that the gospel would be preached in all the world before Jerusalem was to be destroyed. And indeed it was! At least six years before the fall of Jerusalem, Paul shows in Col. 1:5-6, 23, that the gospel had been preached "to every creature under heaven." Truly, Jesus was right in every detail.

I preached this last Lord's Day on the problem of lying. I believe it to be one of the most prevalent and damaging problems in the lives of not only the world, but Christians as well. It has become epidemic. It is in our private relationships, our families, our social lives, our business practices. It's everywhere--at school, at the golf course, at the PTA meeting, even in the church.

Coincidentally, The Houston Post, in its June 4 issue, carried a review of The Day America Told the Truth, a new book by J. Walter Thompson Advertising Exec., Peter Kim and his associate James Patterson. It is an astonishing look at the morals of our people. The picture is not pretty. For instance: -- 91% of Americans lie regularly -- 63% of American men and 52% of American women have lied to protect themselves. -- 40% of the people interviewed admitted to having lied on job applications. -- 62% think there's nothing morally wrong with the affairs they're having.

And get this: 13% of the people have had an affair with a fellow worker. And 26% have shoplifted. What a sad description of our times! How deplorable that people have such little regard for truth, such little respect for morality.

A lie is a false statement deliberately presented as being true; something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression. And we all have trouble with that at various times, some chronically. My Dad once spoke of a man who ``would lie for a check when he could get cash for telling the truth.''

Why do people lie? Sometimes it's done to deceive (Psalms 50:19); sometimes to shirk responsibilities (Luke 14:18, An excuse is not a reason, it's a lie); sometimes out of fear (Matt. 26:69-74, Peter's denial). And sometimes it's done to hurt someone (Gen. 39:14-17, Potiphar's wife); or to get gain (Acts 5:1-10, Ananias and Sapphira).

And yes, there is such a thing as a religious lie (1 Tim. 4:12; Rom. 1:25). 2 Cor. 11:13-15 is an apt description of those televangelists who have duped people in this age by making claims of inspiration or having powers like those of the apostles'. They have charmed old ladies out of fortunes, talked the ignorant and superstitious out of their life savings, while they live in houses with gold-plated faucets or carry on illicit relationships with prostitutes. This is religion?

Some lies are hard to detect. Self righteousness, for instance, looks good on the surface, but is no more than a subtle lie, an impression created to deceive (Matthew 27:27-28).

One of the worst forms of lying--and very subtle--is the innuendo. It is a rather indirect implication or impression which often takes the form of an insinuation. In fact, the word is from the Latin innuere, ``to nod to.'' Some of us nod just at the right time to leave a wrong or derogatory impression. And one of the worst forms of the same is to not stand up for a friend when you know what is being said is not so. Dereliction in such instances is no different than a blatant lie. I see entirely too much of this among brethren!

There are other forms of subtle lies: To appear to be more than you are. To discredit someone who has been praised. To transfer suspicion. To procreate gossip. To get ahead in line. And that most subtle of lies, self-deception, lying to yourself about yourself.

The end of all liars is predicted. Lying is repulsive to God (Prov. 16:16). He warns against it (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9; 1 Pet. 3:10). He will punish all liars (Prov. 19:5; Rev. 21:27). Make no mistake about it, God will deal with all liars, those who make lies and those who proliferate them.

No one is immune. The problem is huge, greater than most of us realize. Let every man examine himself and take care about lying. Let every person be impressed with the value of truth. And let us teach our children that all lies are sin.

I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70's, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him.

He was a well-respected, honest man with so many Christian characteristics, but he had never put on Christ, nor entered the doors of the church. "Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" I had asked him a few years ago. We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking.

He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood experience some fifty years ago. He was one of many children in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them.

The Sunday School class had been very exciting! He had never heard such songs and stories before! He had never heard anyone read from the Bible! After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God's house." He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then looking at his dirty bare feet, he answered softly, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

"And I never did," he said, abruptly ending our conversation. There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart.

I'm sure that Sunday School teacher meant well. But did she really understand the love of Christ? Had she studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James? What if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus."

I reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or pastor or a parent has to welcome little ones in His name. How far reaching her influence was! I prayed that I might be ever open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within.

Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday. As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him say, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
Dates	Congregation	Speaker
October 1-2 & 4-5, 2001	Susquehanna	Scott Smelser
November 12-16	Annandale, Virginia	different speakers

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