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Great Light |
Dear Brethren,
You have heard that mankind is becoming smarter and
smarter. People love to believe it, because it makes them feel
good. Evolution teaches that mankind has gradually risen above the lower
life forms, and that the human brain has evolved to its present
brilliance.
For the last two to three hundred years man has been making vast strides
forward. The period opened with the genius, Sir Isaac Newton, who
introduced mankind to a scientific world of advances in physics, math,
astronomy and philosophy. It was as though the doors of heaven had sprung
open and begun to reveal the solution to every question and problem that held
man captive in the dark ages. It is true, knowledge is increasing
exponentially. Space travel is commonplace, and many believe that we
are on the verge of finding a cure for every disease. Enlightenment has
burst forth and revealed the answers to an unbounded future. Man
is brilliant!
That is a wonderful picture. The difficulty is that it just does
not match the results of the "Enlightenment" we see all around us: Bitter
divorces spawning millions and millions of orphans and juvenile
delinquents. Hundreds of contagious and degenerative diseases leaving its
victims blind and maimed for life. Jails that are over-crowded with felons
who are a constant danger to society. Abortions that amount to the
genocide of nations. Psycho wards bursting at the seams with the
criminally insane, and school children denied their future by being administered
prescription drugs to sedate their young minds. Wars for
territory, wars for oil, wars of religions, wars of ideologies,... the list goes
on and on, but let's cut to the chase. Man has not begun to solve the
worst problems. This world is on the brink of suicide - self
destruction. Something is terribly wrong with this "Enlightenment"
picture!
Brethren, the truth of the matter - as evidenced by mankind's present
plight - is that mankind is yet, very much in the dark
ages. Many in the Church of God have been deceived into believing
that they are the chosen enlightened ones - while in fact, they,
too, remain in darkness. How can this darkness end?
Destruction was forecast two thousand years ago - it is a done
deal. "Except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:22) There is the good news -
this darkness masquerading as enlightenment will be shortened. The
Great Light has shone to a few, and is about to be seen by
all.
"The people which sat in darkness saw
Great Light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of
death Light is sprung up." (Matthew
4:16) John wrote that it is only Jesus who is the True
Enlightenment, and only He can disperse the bindings of the dark ages:
"This then is the message which we have heard of
Him, and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in Him is no
darkness at all." (1John 1:5)
Jesus Christ is that Great Light. He
brought the Good News of His Father's coming kingdom - the Kingdom of
God. It matters not at all how men define it, because Jesus has
defined it many ways. Over and over, He said, "The Kingdom of God is
like unto..." What matters is if we take advantage of our
calling. Too many are neglecting their invitation to the Kingdom of God by
petty disputes. Is it sufficient to be a
part of a team that preaches the gospel and feeds the flock? Must we be in
the group that best warns the world?
Brethren, our calling is so much more than that. Jesus said that every
principle in the entire Bible describes how to live in the Kingdom of
God. He said, "Man shall live by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) Therefore,
to be in the Kingdom of God we must be living according to the rules of the
Kingdom - here and now. It is about developing righteous Godly character -
here and now. Should we be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), or must
we find the right man, and pledge our loyalty to him?
Jesus said to get-off the mundane and inconsequential issues that do not
amount to a hill of beans in His sight. "The kingdom of God is not
meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Spirit." (Romans 14:17) The Scriptures give us God's
guidelines and rules for every area of our lives, including personal
appearance, dating and marriage. "Let your adorning be (not
the outward appearance and clothes), but let it be the hidden man of the heart,
in that which is not corruptible, even a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price." (1Peter 3:3-4) We are told that
when we are free to marry, marry whom you want - but they, too, must be
converted Christians. "... you are free to marry whom you will;
only in the Lord." (1Corinthians 7:39)
Jesus Christ is the Great
Light. What does He require of us? What criteria will
He follow when judging those who will be in His Kingdom, and those who will
not? The answer is to practice pure religion; the answer is
not being in a man-made organization. It is not adherence to what men
have taught. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world."
(James 1:27) That is what indicates to Jesus Christ that we
are living our Christian lives the way he wants us to. "And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me." (Matthew 25:40)
When we truly serve Jesus Christ, we do not exhibit any competition or
division. "One accord, and singleness of heart," (Acts 2:46) indicates that those in the early Church were serving each
other, and that they were willing to overlook differences of opinion in order to
enjoy profitable fellowship. Sorrowfully, throughout the Churches of God
today, we see anything but "one accord and singleness of heart"? Will
we have to answer to God for not breaking down the barriers that separate
us? What we are seeing, is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Matthew 24:12. "The love of many shall wax cold."
"Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at
naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of
Christ... So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God." (Romans 14:10-12)
Too many of our brethren have unwittingly accepted a "corporate church
religion" instead of a personal faith. We are not allowed to neglect
the, "least of these my brethren." Some of
our brethren now believe their Christian responsibility amounts to little
more than identifying and defending the correct organization.
Remember that all who have and are led by God’s Holy Spirit are the
Children of God – not just those within our immediate fellowship.
As we endeavor to keep ourselves doctrinally sound, let's be sure we are
actually living our religion and faith. Are we patient with
those who do not understand, or have fallen into doctrinal
error? Do we become involved and restore a brother who has
shown unchristian behavior? We are our brother's keeper - be
they ministers or the least of the brethren. "Open rebuke is
better than secret love." (Proverbs 27:5) "What doth
the Lord thy God require of thee, but to revere the Lord thy God, to walk in all
his ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and
with all thy soul." (Deuteronomy 10:12)
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| Sermon: |
"Great Light"
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This is #2 in the series: A Blending of the Gospel Accounts
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