In This Issue

• JESUS' COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD
• PIED PIPERS
• GOD FORGAVE HER -- BUT OH THE AWFUL MEMORY
• THE MONKEY TRAP
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

JESUS' COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD

When Jesus ascended to heaven in the spring of 30 A.D., Luke tells us that two messengers in white apparel asked His apostles, "Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). In the minds of many of Jesus' Jewish followers there was no clear distinction between the destruction of Jerusalem foretold in Matthew 24 and similar passages -- and the second coming and the end of the world foretold in Acts 1:11 and related verses. In their minds, the destruction of Jerusalem would be the end of the world.

Perhaps that is why Jesus specifically warned them not to be deceived when the Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem and the predicted destruction began to take place. There would be false christs and false prophets. Some would claim that Christ was in the nearby desert, or that He was somewhere in a secret chamber. Some would claim that they themselves were the Christ. They would even work deceitful, pseudo-miracles.

His true followers must be forewarned. When the second coming occurs -- when the end of the world comes -- no one will need to tell us. When Christ literally appears, no one will need to inform us of that fact. When Jesus really does come for the consummation of this gospel age, His appearance will be known by all. "As the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:27). "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so. Amen." (Rev. 1:7). In the mean time, if someone tells you Christ has already come, be assured that person is a false witness.

The time of the second coming of Christ is a secret. No one knows or can know when it will occur. But when it does happen, it will no longer be a secret from anyone. All the earth will know assuredly that Jesus has done what He promised to do. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (1 Thess. 4:16). "But concerning the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:1-2).

Christ's literal seconding coming will have no forewarning signs. He will come as a thief. A thief does not tell ahead of time when he will break in to rob. But Jesus' spiritual coming in judgment on Jerusalem and on that generation of unbelievers, who had rejected and crucified Him, would be preceded by numerous signs, enabling those who did believe to escape the impending doom. Those warning signs were spelled out in Matt. 24:1-28 and parallel passages. 

--CRJ

PIED PIPERS

Do you remember the old classic poetic ditty by Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin? It was set in a town in Germany in 1376. The town was plagued with rats. A stranger came to town and offered to rid them of rats for 1,000 guilders. The Mayor and leaders agreed on the price, but after the Piper piped the rats to the river where they drowned, the authorities reneged and offered to pay only 50 guilders. Then the Piper piped such melodious sounds that he lured all the children out of town into a secret place in the mountains. The town was quiet with no children, except one lame child.

Browning used this ditty to teach the need of keeping a promise or vow. This was and is a very valuable lesson. It is taught in the Bible in such passages as Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21; Eccl. 5:4. Those who are "untrustworthy/covenant breakers" (Rom.1:30) are strongly condemned. God keeps His promises and He expects us to keep our promises (2 Peter 3:9). This story may seem old fashioned and without connection to modern life. Think again! We have more than one Pied Piper in the land and many young people have been lured away by his sounds.

The entertainment business has been filled with Pied Pipers. Entertainers have made drug use popular. Some have become rich by their music urging violence - even against women and police. They have lured our young people away from dressing modestly. Even one who professes to be a virgin at age 18 -- Britney Spears, likes to display her flesh in an indecent way. Most of the young females show no modesty. Entertainers by lyrics and their lives have extolled free sex. It is common for them to live together, even have children, with no marriage or shame. There can be no question. There have been and are many Pied Pipers in the entertainment business.

Television has been another Pied Piper. When it became popular fifty years ago, it was clean. The actors and actresses watched their language. Their ideals were high. The family could watch without shame or feeling they had been in a sewer. Fathers were honored. It was not degrading to be a stay at home mother whose career was that of being a homemaker. Couples were not always jumping in bed. God or religion was mentioned in a favorable way. Programming had to meet high FCC standards. But all this has changed. According to reviews, TV now is largely a moral garbage dump, yet it is the default baby sitter. Society has allowed this Pied Piper to lead young and old astray.

Another group of Pied Pipers are many counselors. Forty or fifty years ago, Ann Landers and Dear Abby wrote solid advice. They were against divorce and living together. Now they accept such as well as promote homosexuality. Their advice is read and followed by millions. There are atheistic Pied Pipers who are paid handsomely to pipe what sounds good to troubled people. They are called Psychologists and Psychiatrists. One young married sister was having trouble coping with life. She wisely realized she needed help. She selected the wrong expert. He advised her she needed to unwind - start drinking, go to the nightclub, etc. She followed her Pied Piper and it led to all kinds of trouble.

There is One we can safely follow. Jesus, as God manifested in the flesh has the power and wisdom to direct us in life. He has passed through it and was triumphant. We need to listen to His voice and stop our ears to the siren sounds of this world's Pied Pipers. He said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27,28)

--Robert W. Goodman

GOD FORGAVE HER -- BUT OH THE AWFUL MEMORY

I concluded the sermon that Sunday morning and extended the invitation when she stepped out from the second pew with tears washing her face and near uncontrollable sobs. She and I sat for a spell, calming her down, so I could find out what her problem was. The congregation sat and waited patiently for what must have seemed to be an eternity. Finally she whispered, "Brother Odom, I have committed two grave sins. I have committed ADULTERY and had an ABORTION." She continued, as I sat beside her stunned over this particular girl’s confession, "I am so ashamed and want God’s forgiveness as well as the brethren." She then informed me, as I talked with her, that no others knew about the two sins except the ones involved. Needless to say we did not humiliate her any further by making her private sin public. Her parents to this day do not know about this, unless she has told them, and neither do any of the brethren, unless she has told them. While I have used it in illustrations, her name has never surfaced from me, and well it shouldn’t. This sweet young lady is now married to a fine Christian man and to their union God has blessed them with children. God forgave this sweet girl, and the blood of Christ cleansed her from sin, but the memory will go with her to the grave.

David was described as "a man after God’s own heart," but where did a man have more to answer to God for than did he? Adultery, murder, lying: all dastardly deeds. Yet he confessed his sins to God. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:1-3).

Reader friend, David was forgiven by the blood of Christ for his wicked deeds. I believe heaven will be his home. My little girl mentioned above has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. But both David and my sweet little girl (she would be in her 40’s now) will go to their grave having their awful sins before them. That indicates their true godly sorrow.

The consequences of sin, beloved, are frightful. Though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. But even then we shall not escape the awful memories of our sins. 

--Leon Odom via Proclaimer, Tyler, Texas

THE MONKEY TRAP

Wild monkeys are often trapped by placing a banana inside a box with a small hole. The mark, thinking he's getting something for nothing, grins slyly around to make sure no other monkeys are watching and then reaches through the hole and grabs the banana. He's already picking out the tree he will dine in when a problem pops up. The banana won't come out through the hole, and letting go is not an option.

You must remember that a banana to a monkey is an important matter. Second to romance, it's the biggest thing in his career.

Like millions of human car "owners", the monkey begins to believe the item is his, just because he has a grip on it.

If you walked up to that trapped monkey and offered him an equivalent banana to let go, he would turn you down. Furthermore, he would disparage your banana He has pride of ownership.

When they carry him away his hand will still be clenched stubbornly inside the hole. They'll have to take box and all, or they'll get no monkey.

On any business day you can see ships loaded to the brims with monkeys with their hands in boxes, crowding shipping lanes all over the seven seas. They've sold themselves into slavery for their materialism. Nothing down, pay forever.

Monkeys are the second greediest animals on earth.

--Jack Blanchard, Classic Country

MORE INFORMATION...