What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 4 / No. 24”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. IV - No. 24 / April 24, 2022
JUDGING TIME AND JUDGEMENT TIME
We humans judge everything we do by the amount of time it will take to accomplish our goals. We often find ourselves saying things like, “There just isn’t enough time in the day” to accomplish all that we want. The Bible tells us much about time, especially in relation to the relatively short amount of time we will live on this earth. James tells us, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). With similar knowledge, the apostle Peter encourages us to “pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17), for our obedience to God during our time on earth will determine where we will be spend our time in eternity.
At the time of this writing, I have been blessed to live upon this earth for 28 years last month. In my relatively brief time on earth, I have seen much bad that this world has to offer. But I have also been blessed to witness much good as I have lived 26.5 years around faithful Christians in the Lord’s Church, thanks to the diligence of my grandfather who began taking me to worship services when I was 18 months old. Thanks to his example and the examples of other faithful Christians, I obeyed the gospel and became a partaker of God’s grace some 10 years ago. In the time since, I have come to understand that the shortness of human life is not really so short. Perhaps we consider that life here in this world is short compared to eternity – which it certainly is – but have you considered the significant amount of time God allowed you to languish in sin without calling you for your final judgment? Time has been on your side, but this will not always be the case.
God is patient with us and often allows some of us to live to a full and fruitful life in His service. Yet, others do not stay here very long due to circumstances beyond their control. I seriously encourage us all to consider our present lives and the time we have spent away from God, and then consider the remaining time we have before our deaths, which shall seal our judgment. When we die, our time to act will be no more, we will not be able to alter the outcome of God’s judgment, and God will judge where we will spend our time in eternity. Our time will be spent in one of two places:
• Heaven – A place known as “eternal life” (Matthew 25:46); where God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4); where “neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21); that “has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb . . . and there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:21-25).
• Hell – A place known as “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46;41); where Satan presides amidst an “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43); which is “away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9); that contains the “smoke of their torment [which] goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name” (Revelation 14:11)
How are you spending your time? How you walk during your time on earth will determine where God places you in eternity. Let us spend our time wisely to ensure that our time in eternity will be in Heaven!
“Swiftly we’re turning life’s daily pages, Swiftly the hours are changing to years; How are we using God’s golden moments, Shall we reap glory, Shall we reap tears?” (“Into Our Hands,” Ruth Carruth [1939]) —Dylan Stewart
GOD AND HIS CHARACTER
The Bible does not attempt to prove the existence of God. Yet from its many passages, it is quite obvious that GOD IS! The Bible does show three distinguishing characteristics of God that would do us well to consider.
GOD IS GOOD. He has proven His goodness by giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins (John 3:16). His goodness is also seen in that He makes no distinction with material things. He causes it to rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). His goodness is further proven by the plan He has given whereby we can have the forgiveness of sins. Mark 16:16 says, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved….””
As we understand that God is good we must also acknowledge the Bible teaches GOD IS SEVERE. Romans 11:22 says, “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” Stronger words came from Christ Himself in Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” As we have ample evidence of God’s goodness, we likewise have ample evidence of God’s severity: He expelled Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden in Genesis 3, the flood He brought upon the whole world in Genesis 6, His destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, and many others recorded in the Bible.
GOD IS EXACT. We are to do exactly as He commands. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17). We have been more than warned concerning this matter. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God….” (2 John 9). Even Christ warns us in Matthew 15:13: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” Despite these warning, the social and religious world abound with examples which show many think God is not exact. Adultery, fornication, and homosexuality abound in our society despite God’s condemnation of such in passages like Romans 1:26-28 and Galatians 5:19-21. Churches will substitute sprinkling instead of being immersed for baptism despite Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12. Other want to add mechanical instruments of music in worship along with singing despite any authority for doing so (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Some preach a “mourner’s bench” for salvation to pray sins away when the Bible says sins are to be “washed away” when we are baptized (Acts 22:16). —E.R. Hall, Jr.
IMPROVING YOUR LIFE!
1. Turn off the TV and read your Bible. The Psalmist said of the blessed man, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalms 1:2).
2. Put away the phone and pray. I never cease to be amazed at how much time some people spend on their cell phones. Is all that talking necessary or profitable? "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:1 7). "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16).
3. Get up out of bed an hour earlier and come to Bible study on Sunday. "As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed" (Prov. 26:14).
4. Cut down your credit card purchases and give. Give to the poor. Increase your contribution on the Lord’s day. "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed" (Proverbs 19:17). "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
5. Change the conversation from sports, weather, and politics to spiritual things. Do that at home. "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Do that at work, too. "He who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). —Frank Himmel
SENTENCE SERMON
Self control is one of the foundation stones of true character.
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
