The Elon Challenger
ELON CHURCH OF CHRIST
New Hope, Alabama
Seeking to challenge your interest in things
spiritual & eternal (Eph. 6:10-18).
Volume 14 Number 8
April, 2017
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Table of Contents
Acceptance by Our Rock & Our Redeemer ———————————– Mike Johnson
A Voice from the Past ————————————————————- James A. Allen
Feelings—————————————————————————————Unknown
Troubled Over Growing Old ————————————————- Connie W. Adams
“I Don’t Care What God Says” ————————————————-Steven F. Deaton
“Blessed Are the Meek” ——————————————————————Greg Gwin
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Acceptance by Our Rock And Redeemer
(Psalm 19:14)
Mike Johnson
Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
This verse is found at the end of a very beautiful Psalm. In verses 1-6, the writer spoke about the heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament showing His handy work. Through natural revelation, one can realize there is a God. In verses 7-11, he spoke about special revelation. This pertains to God’s written message which tells us about the God. Then in verses 12-14, in response to the first two concepts, he looked inwardly, turning to God in prayer and asking for forgiveness.
From verse 14, we learn it is important to be “acceptable” to God. Further, we learn that one way we make ourselves acceptable is by using our tongue in such a way as to be pleasing to Him. We can commit sins with our tongue by lying, using profanity, engaging in gossip, etc. James 3:5 reveals, “… the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” Proverbs 21:23 warns, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” Paul admonished in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Further, our thoughts, (meditations) must also be acceptable. In verse 14, words and thoughts are spoken of but not deeds. Why is this? It could be said deeds have already been dealt with earlier. However, verse 14 stands independent in this respect. Our thoughts (“meditation of my heart”) are inclusive of deeds. It is important to realize the thoughts of the heart are the source from which actions spring. In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus said, “…What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Note also Phil. 4:8.) If a person keeps his heart pure, he will not have so many problems with his deeds. It has been said, “We are not always what we think we are, but we are always what we think.”
In the last part of verse 14, the writer referred to God as his strength. The Hebrew word used here can be defined by Vine as, “rock; rocky wall; cliff; rocky hill; mountain; rocky surface; boulder” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.) Many translations render the word simply as “rock.” Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Commenting on this passage Barnes points out the following.
The idea in this expression, and in the subsequent parts of the description, is that he owed his safety entirely to God. He had been unto him as a rock, a tower, a buckler, etc. – that is, he had derived from God the protection which a rock, a tower, a citadel, a buckler furnished to those who depended on them, or which they were designed to secure. The word “rock” here has reference to the fact that in times of danger a lofty rock would be sought as a place of safety, or that men would fly to it to escape from their enemies. Such rocks abound in Palestine; and by the fact that they are elevated and difficult of access, or by the fact that those who fled to them could find shelter behind their projecting crags, or by the fact that they could find security in their deep and dark caverns, they became places of refuge in times of danger; and protection was often found there when it could not be found in the plains below.”(Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database Copyright by Biblesoft, Inc.)
Sometimes, one person may refer to another as his/her rock. On a higher plain, God is our rock: He is our source of strength and our refuge.
David also referred to God as his redeemer. In the Old Testament, God is often referred to in this way. The word redeemer simply means “buy back.” God redeemed his people from sin, death, and danger. David probably recalled many occasions where God had delivered him, but he may not have understood the details regarding the true price of redemption. The cost would be Jesus, having been sent by God, dying for the sins of mankind on the cross. Ephesians 1:7 points out, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
It is important to be acceptable to God. We must make sure our words, thoughts, and deeds are in keeping with the Will of our Creator who is our strength and our redeemer.
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A Voice from the Past
James A. Allen
“To actually and truly stand upon the Bible, then, is to believe and do the things that the Bible teaches and to leave undone everything that it does not teach. No man can allow his preference or his opinion to prevent him from doing anything that the Scriptures require nor can he permit them to incite him to do anything as service to God that they do not authorize and command. In no other way can anyone rightfully say that the Bible is his guide and that he stands candidly and fully on Bible ground.”
The Apostolic Times (Jan. 1954)
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Feelings
A Dutchman lost his boy in Cincinnati. He tells his story in the following language:
“I hunted all day for my boy, and about night I found him sitting in the mud by the canal. He was muddy all over. When I found my boy, he cried and I cried. I hugged my boy and he hugged me; I kissed my boy and he kissed me; I took my boy over to the canal and washed his face and he was not my boy.
The moral? You can’t depend upon your feelings.
“The Bible Guide”
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Troubled Over Growing Old
Connie W. Adams
The Bible addresses the needs of people in every state of life. In Titus 2:1-6, Paul gave instructions for “aged men,” “aged women,” “young women,” and “young men.” Each age has its own special challenges and growing older has its share. One wag said, “It is not so bad to get old, its just inconvenient sometimes.” But, if the normal course of life continues, we shall grow old.
As people turn from the middle years of life to face the sunset, they become aware that their time is shorter and respond in different ways. Some make vain attempts to recapture youth and give credence to the old saying that “there is no fool like an old fool.” Some become gloomy and pessimistic interspersed with bitterness. Some become selfish and overly demanding of attention and make life hard for their families. Some become sharply critical of nearly everybody and everything. But some stay young at heart, interested in life to the very end, and as active as they are able to be. These truly adorn the golden years with grace.
Old Age To Be Honored: — “Thou shalt honor the old man” Lev. 19:32. David “died in a good old age, full of days, riches and honor” 1 Chron. 29:28. “The glory of young men is their strength, the beauty of old men is the grey head” Prov. 20: 29. Paul taught Timothy to treat older men as fathers and older women as mothers (1 Tim. 5:1,2). This places great responsibility on the older to live up to this honor. Neither was this intended to breed pride in the mere fact of age. In comparison to God our days are “as an hand-breadth, mine age is as nothing before Thee” (Psa. 39:5). The aged are not excused for sinful behavior. The aged and the young would suffer alike in the captivity (2 Chron. 36:16,17). The older must not “despise” the young (1 Tim. 4:12). Eliphaz foolishly belittled Job for his youth (Job 15:7-10). But there is a deference and respect which the younger should accord the older.
Trials And Temptations Of The Sunset Years: — Infirmity Of The Body: — As we grow older, our bodies undergo significant changes. Eccl. 12:3-5 symbolically pictures these changes. When youth has passed and “the years draw nigh” then hands tremble, legs weaken (there is fear of falling and breaking a hip), teeth weaken and become few, sight dims, hearing is impaired, sleep is restless, the voice becomes weak, fear of heights limits us, hair turns grey or white, what used to be light is now a burden, sexuality fades, as “man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.” That is the reality of aging. But as the “outward man” is perishing, the “inward man” is to be “renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16-18). When Jacob was old and his eyesight dim, he was still grateful for his blessings and wanted to bless the sons of Joseph (Gen. 48:8-11).
The Danger Of Forsaking The Lord: — How sad it is to see men who have served God faithfully in the strength of youth and middle life, turn away from Him in the older years. “And it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kgs. 11:4). Timothy was warned against “old wives fables” (1 Tim. 4:7). When the family is grown, there is more time on your hands and the responsibilities of life have lessened, there is a temptation to spend too much time in idle talk, gossip, and running down the younger generation. Don’t!
Loneliness: — The feeling of being neglected (whether real or imagined) can sour the spirit. This becomes the bane of many older people and of those who care for them. While you have time on your hands, younger ones are as busy with life as you used to be. Do you remember when you were younger? How much time did you spend with lonely older people? Are you accessible? Or does your manner intimidate others and cause them to back off?
Insensitivity: — The fact that we are older does not exempt us from civility. What the Bible says about “gentleness” applies to the older too (Eph. 4:31,32). Some older people have developed the habit of bluntness to the point of injury. Age is no excuse for deliberately hurting others.
The Aged Can Bear Fruit For The Lord: — Moses was eighty when called to Egypt to bring God’s people out of bondage (Ex. 7:7). His brother, Aaron, who went with him, was eighty three. It is interesting that among the excuses offered by Moses, he did not say, “I am too old.” Caleb was eighty-five when he asked for and received his inheritance at Hebron (Josh. 14:10-14). Anna was eighty-four when she prophesied about Jesus (Lk. 2:36-38). Paul described himself to Philemon as “Paul the aged” (Phile. 9). “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Psa. 92:13,14).
The counsel of the aged ought to be sought and respected. Rehoboam asked for and heard the counsel of the older men, but rejected it in favor of the rash advise given by his peers. His peers were wrong, the older men were right and the king so angered the people that he lost ten out of twelve tribes, a division beyond repair. Paul said the aged women should set the example of holiness and should “teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, tht the Word of God be not blasphemed” (Tim. 2:3-5). There are two things to be observed here: (1) Older women have the duty to teach the younger women, and (2) the younger women need to listen and learn. Yet, age does not guarantee that counsel is always right. Remember the old prophet who lied to the young “man of God” and cost him his life (1 Kgs. 14:11-18). The counsel of the aged must conform to divine truth or it is useless.
Many congregations have suffered for lack of older members to lead the way. Many churches have been without adequate leadership because older members retire and move to warmer climates to fish, play golf, or putter in gardens, or to attempt to “go back home” after being away for thirty or forty years. This creates a gap in leadership in churches which need a good mix of ages, including older and experienced elders, deacons, and teachers. May I ask a question? What is the retirement age in the kingdom of God?
The Ideal: — “Honor widows that are widows indeed.” She is one who “trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Tim. 5:3,5). Those “taken into the number” (enrolled as recipients of care from the church, 1 Tim. 5:16), must be “threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work” (1Tim. 5:9,10). The presence of such older woman in any church is a real asset to the cause. “Aged men” are to be “sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience” (Ti. 2:2). Younger ears are listening and younger eyes are watching. The kind of men Paul described here are a treasure in any congregation.
As we near the end of the journey, while our bodies have slowed and weakened, may our spirits quicken as we glance backward to count our blessings and savor our memories, and then look ahead to the precious promises of the gospel and to an inheritance which is “incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3,4). “For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night…The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow: for we are soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, tht we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psa. 90:4,10,12).
When we have “gone the last mile of the way,” when the last deed has been done, when the last word has been said, “Oh bear me away on your snowy wings to my immortal home.”
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“I Don’t Care What God Says”
Steven F. Deaton
In the course of a discussion the other day, I asked a man to read a certain chapter from the Bible and get back to me about our topic. He said he would read it, but it would not matter what it says, because he would continue in his practice anyway. He said God would have to come down and speak to him from a burning bush before he would change his mind. Many people have this attitude, that is dead wrong.
The attitude of “I don’t care what it says,” reveals a lack of respect for God’s word. The Bible is inspired, therefore it is authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). God revealed it to men through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). No spiritual truth was left out (John 16:13; Jude 3). Hence, men can read all they need to know about pleasing God and going to heaven (2 Peter 1:3).
Further, God’s word was confirmed by miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4). There is no need for further revelation, nor a miracle to confirm it.
The bottom line is, men are simply not satisfied with what God has authorized. They want something more or different. They want what “feels” good to them, not what honors God. Though they may draw near to God with their mouth, in works they deny Him (Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:16).
What about you? Does it matter to you what God says? Is there a belief or practice you are unwilling to give up or change though God’s word does not authorize it?
Instead of saying, “I don’t care what it says, I’m going to do it anyway,” our attitude needs to be, “I don’t care what anyone says, I’m going to do what God says” (cf. Galatians 1:10).
The Spirit’s Sword
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“Blessed Are the Meek”
Greg Gwin
People generally have the idea that a “meek” individual is one that is extremely quiet, withdrawn, timid, and one who finds it very difficult to be confrontational or straightforward. It is thought that it would be hard for a “meek” person to hold or defend a strong opinion or conviction. Even modern dictionaries define this characteristic as “unduly patient or submissive; spiritless.” Such definitions miss the mark.
Jesus was described as “meek” (Matthew 21:5), yet He never hesitated to express the truth. His strong rebukes of the hypocritical Pharisees (Matthew 23) certainly show Him as bold, courageous, and confrontational. Moses was said to have been “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). But we well remember how he boldly demanded the freedom of the Israelites from Pharaoh and ultimately led the people out of bondage. Do you begin to see that Biblical usage of the work “meek” is far different than the modern concept?
W.E. Vine says: “The meaning of ‘prautes’ is not ready expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used, suggest weakness and pusillanimity to a greater or less extent, whereas ‘prautes’ nothing of the kind . The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was ‘meek’ because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 738)
“Meekness” is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We need it! Let’s be sure that we are “showing all meekness to all men” (Titus 3:2).
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Points to Ponder
- Criticizing another’s garden does not keep the weeds out of your own.
- For truth to profit us, we must believe and obey it.
- Praise of self is good only if and when it comes from another’s mouth.
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The Elon Challenger is published monthly by the church of Christ meeting at 4021 Hobbs Island Road in Owens Cross Roads. The mailing address is PO Box 149, New Hope, AL, 35760 where any comments, questions, or requests for further information can be sent. The Challenger is also distributed monthly to the Elon congregation as an eight page, paper publication. The editor is Mike Johnson.
The website address is www.elonchurchofchrist.com.
Evangelist & Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org