What the Bible Teaches About Life After Death

What the Bible Teaches About Life After Death

Prepared on June 21, 1941 By W.H. Wood

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

My message this afternoon will be on “What the Bible says about life after death.” Every normal person wants to know what the Bible teaches about life after death.  My text found in Philippians 1:21 contains four strange words, words hard to believe, seemly contradictory words, and yet true.  Comforting words for every child of God, “to die is gain”.  These words correct our false conception of death.  We have thought of death as being a loss, but it is not for the saved. 

To die is to gain what?

In death, we gain a fuller life existence. Many think death is the cessation of life, but it is not.  Death is not a terminus; it is a train, a thru train to glory or despair.  Death is not an end; it is merely an episode in the ever flowing river of life.  In Luke 16, we read about Lazarus and the rich man.  Lazarus died and lifted his eyes in Abraham’s bosom meaning Heaven.  The rich man died and found himself in conscious torment.  That souls have memory, reasoning power and other faculties of life is proven by the fact that God represented by Abraham appealed to the memory, reasoning power of the rich man.  These truths are taught in many passages among them Revelation 6:9-10 - When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Illustration:  Dr. Moody attending the funeral of his little granddaughter.  He said she is not dead, but lives on in another realm. 

I used to dread death because I thought it meant I would go into a casket and be buried under the cold soil for many centuries, but one day I learned the truths from the Bible and now a fear death no more. 

To die is to gain a new temple for our souls.  These bodies are vehicles of expression for our souls.  They are but tabernacles in which the inner man lives.  Death is the giving away of these earthly houses.  We love these bodies, and it is but natural that we should dread to leave them.  But…thank God, when these bodies do die, our souls are not left homeless to wander in space.  For 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 teaches clearly that God provides another house for our souls when our bodies die. 

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.  For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.  For we walk by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:1-11

These passages teach that when our bodies leave this tabernacle of clay, they will go to be in a sure enough house not made with hands.  I don’t know what this body will be like, but I know that it is much better than this present body as a house is better than a tabernacle.  I know it will be some vehicle fit for my soul’s new surrounding and activities. 

To die is to gain a new home in Heaven, where we are to stay when we leave these bodies and get our new temples for the soul.  The Bible answers clearly:  Absent from the body, at home with the Lord.  You remember the souls of the slain saints of Revelation 6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 says our “house not made with hands is eternal in the heavens.”  Philippians 1:23 says for the saints to depart or die is to be with Christ.  Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, I go to prepare a place.”

Illustration:  Dr. E.J. Daniel’s father was sick and near death for 3 weeks, but got better.  They sought to make his last days happy by deciding to remodel the old home, but God wanted to give him a better home. 

To die is to gain everlasting fellowship with loved ones gone on before.  The thing that makes life happy is its fellowship with loved ones and friends.  Death is no respecter of these sacred fellowships for it separates mothers and babies.  Jesus tell us in Matthew 8:11 that we will fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Heaven.  Thus they are to retain their identity in Heaven or else we could not sit with them and know them. 

Christ's Ministry in the Home

Christ’s Ministry in the Home

Prepared on April 13, 1945 By W.H. Wood

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.  Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Mark 1:27-31

Wherever Jesus went and amongst whomsoever; He took with Him a heart sensitive to the appeal of human need, suffering and sin. He took with Him a hand open to give, stretched out to help and deliver.

The disciples soon reap the reward of their obedience and self-sacrifice.  How readily had they responded to the master’s call, “follow me”!  How readily had they left their boats and fishing nets, their daily occupations and their gains!  Christ often calls upon us for some self-denial and sacrifice; but He never does other than reward a hundredfold, even in this time, those who obey.

Peter learns a lesson of his master’s power and willingness to save.  We know enough of Simon to understand that his nature was very receptive of impression, very responsive to sympathy.  What a lesson for him was this – which the Savior vouchsafed to reach him so early in his discipleship of the compassion and grace of his Lord.  We know that of all the twelve, Peter was, in the course of the Lord’s ministry, the first to confess his Divine dignity and Messiahship.

Christ proves His sympathy with home suffering, and blesses home life.  Let us, like Simon, welcome Christ into our houses and homes.  His ministry was indeed chiefly fulfilled in public; yet in the homes of Simon, of Levi, and of Lazarus, He proved His interest in the domestic life of His friends.  He entered into family feeling, and consecrated family life.  It was sometimes said to Him, “He whom thou lovest is sick.”  It was an appeal to which He was never indifferent. Christ is ever mindful of our family cares, anxieties, sorrows, and joys.  Let Him “abide with us” and He will lighten our dwellings when they are clouded with trouble and grief.  When, like Simon’s household, we “tell Him” of the needs and sorrows of those we love, His help is always near. 

Christ exercises His Divine power to banish disease.  Let us, like this household, tell the Savior of those members of the family who have special need of Him.  He does not stand at a distance and utter words that expels the evil spirits.  Quite the reverse, He takes the sufferer by the hand and raises her up.  I hope we understand that it is not the religion of Christ; it is Christ Himself who saves.  And He ever saves by stretching forth the hand of help, and raising, and elevating, the suppliant and penitent from the prostration and helplessness of sin.  As the fever left this suffering woman, so all spiritual malady is banished at the bidding of a mighty, gracious Savior. 

Affectionate gratitude prompts to personal service and ministration.  If our Lord made this house His home in Capernaum, Peter’s mother-in-law must have had many opportunities of showing her thankfulness and love.  Like many other devoted women, she took pleasure in showing how highly she honored and how gratefully she loved her Lord.  It is a law of moral life that those who are aided, healed, and pardoned, shall love Him to whom they owe so much; and shall show their love by grateful ministrations.  Let us, who are healed and pardoned by Christ’s grace, take every opportunity of showing our gratitude, by engaging in His service; and by ministering to His people.  Let us minster to Him and place all confidence in His power and willingness to save and bless His people.  

The Purpose of the Lamp

The Purpose of the Lamp

Prepared on February 28, 1945 by W.H. Wood

Ye are the light of the world... Matthew 5:14

When Jesus was on earth in the flesh, He said, “I am the light of the world.”  When He had chosen some disciples and taught them, He said to them, “Ye are the light of the world.”  He further said to them, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Physical light is necessary in the world.  All life must have light to live and grow.  As the sun is the source of physical life, so Christ is the source of spiritual life, and just as essential as physical life.  As physical light shines from a lamp so spiritual light from Christ must shine through believers.  Note the following facts about the lamp that will glow with light:

            The lamp must be lighted. 

That which makes light from a lamp comes from without.  The lamp has nothing in itself to shine.  It must have essential contact with the source of light – giving substance.  So the person who would be a light in the world must get spiritual light from Christ.  He is the light of the world.  He will freely give light to true believers. 

            The lamp must be fed.

Oil lamps, acetylene lamps, electric lamps, must all be fed from without if they are to shine continuously.  The lamp that continues to give light must have direct connection with the light-giving substance at all times.  When the source is cutoff, the light goes out.  The soul that would shine constantly for Christ must keep in vital touch with Him.  Christ is the source of spiritual light.  Keep contact with Him. 

            The lamp must be clean.

If a lamp is to give its best light, all dust, dirt, soot, etc. must be removed.  The clear light comes from a clean lamp.  The life that would let the light of Christ shine through it, must be clean.  “The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7  If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  He will cleanse the soul of pride, jealously, meanness, malice, selfishness, profanity, and all other forms of sin.  

            The lamp must be placed.

If the lamp with its clear light is to shine to the best advantage, it must be correctly placed.  The light must not be hid under a bushel, but placed where it can shine best where it is needed.  There is need for the bright and shining physical and spiritual light in the home, the school, the church, the store, the street, the shop, the office, and all other places where men go to serve.  Sin loves darkness, but will flee from the light. 

            The lamp must be firmly stationed. 

A lighthouse constantly moving up and down the coast would never direct a ship into port.  It must be stationed.  A flickering, moving light in the operating room would disturb the surgeon and be fatal to the patient.  So the life that will be a light for Christ must be firmly fixed on the great fundamental principles of Christianity in such a way that it cannot be moved.  The life that will be a bright and shining light for Christ must believe the whole truth about Christ and be willing to stand even unto death that truth may live.  

Prepare to Meet God

Prepare to Meet God

Prepared on May 25, 1934 at 10:30 p.m. by W.H. Wood

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.  Amos 4:12

Amos was pleading with the children of Israel to prepare to meet God.  He had warned them of the many things God had done to arouse the spirit within them; but yet, they were not willing to return to the Lord.  “Preparedness brings confidence and peace and poise and joy.”

“You can’t get insurance on your house when it is in flames; neither can you get into the heavenly feast when the door is shut”.  Jesus taught in the parable of the ten virgins one of the world’s greatest lessons on preparedness. 

      Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold , the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13

There are 4 things found in this parable that we want to discuss at this time:

Character contrasted.  “And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.” In order that the contrast between the two groups of girls may be more fully realized.  Let us first note certain respects in which they were similar.  They all desired to honor the bridegroom and to attend the wedding feast.  They all had lamps.  They all slumbered and slept while the arrival of the bridegroom was delayed.  Not until his approach was announced did the difference between them appear.  Then it was disclosed that the five of them were foolish and five were wise; that five of them had no oil for their lamps and five of them did; that five of them were prepared and five unprepared for the bridegroom’s coming.  Externally, they were alike.  The difference was internal. 

Character revealed in crisis.  Let us remember that the main point Jesus was making was that Christians should be prepared at all times, since the particular time of crisis which is either their death, or His second coming, would thrust upon them was uncertain.  Sooner or later the crisis hour will come to all – that hour which will reveal character and fix destiny.  How we shall meet that hour and stand the test of its disclosures will depend upon previous preparations.  It will be too late then to remedy the neglect of past opportunities.  It should not be difficult to persuade us of this truth as it relates to the spiritual realm because we know that it is true in other realms. 

Who are they who meet the crisis of life successfully?  Well, do we know that it is those who have stored up a reserve supply of physical or mental or moral or spiritual strength upon which they may draw?  When the testing crisis comes, a study of our record in meeting the crisis hours of life will furnish a good index to our characters.

Character is nontransferable.  “Give us of your oil….not so”.  The failing lamp at midnight brought home to the foolish virgins their lack of the one essential to qualify them for the occasion at hand.  To their sorrow, they found that they could not borrow from the wise virgins.   It will be that same say in the kingdom of heaven.  The essential for welcoming the coming of heaven’s bridegroom and the entrance to the joys of His feast will be the brightly burning lamp of an abiding Christian experience.  Faith must be shining still.  Character must have undergone the transforming touch of the Holy Spirit in the new birth and the sustaining and sanctifying influence of His continued presence.  Character is an individual thing.  It is personal.  It cannot be transferred.  The lack of the foolish virgins cannot be supplied by the wise.  Each one shall have to meet the test for himself.  It will then be too late to draw upon the goodness of others.  Neither mother, nor father, nor brother, nor sister, nor pastor, nor loved one, nor saint, nor apostle, nor angel can help us then.  Their examples can and should influence now to see to it that the right sort of spiritual preparation is made that faith in Christ shall become the chief cornerstone in the foundation of our character.  Character is a man’s untransferable possession.  There are some things which can be neither loaned nor borrowed.  Character is one of them.  This is just another way of saying that we must meet the high moral and spiritual tests of life and of death alone. 

Lost opportunities cannot be recalled.  “And the door was shut”.  Agonizingly, the foolish virgins sought to gain entrance to the feast.  Their cries pierced the night.  But they were not admitted.  “Sad, sad, that bitter wail – almost – but lost!”  This truth applies to the opportunities of the here and now.  Once lost, they do not return.  Other opportunities may come, but they are not the same.  The gospel of Christ may be presented to a sinner and he be urged to repent of sin, and accept and confess Christ as his Savior and Lord.  He may reject the offer of salvation.  Perchance ten years may go by and that same sinner may have the same gospel proclaimed to him by the same preacher.  The terms of salvation are announced as just the same and such they are.  But even though, that sinner accepts Christ as his Savior on the latter occasion, he has lost ten years of Christian life and joy and service.  That first opportunity passed never to return in all its fullness.  But death shuts the door finally on all opportunity of becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus.

At the midnight hour, the foolish virgins tried to remedy their lack of preparedness, but it was too late.  He who deliberately or even carelessly postpones his preparation to meet Christ, foolishly hoping that somehow in the crisis hour he can make things right, will in all likelihood find the door shut and himself standing without in the blackness of the night, while the voice of the long neglected savior will say: “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.”  But less any should have that terrible experience, that same blessed Savior said then, and He says now, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”.  Oh, that today all would hear His voice and harden not their hearts, as He says, “Watch and pray”, He also says, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”; again He says, “Ye must be born again”; Once again He says, “except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  He says again, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He says again, “I am the way, the truth and the life:  No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”  And He says, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye thing not the Son of Man cometh.”  Matthew 24:44

For those who are prepared, death is not an enemy, but a friend who swings wide the door to a higher life.  

The Greatness of Our God

The Greatness of Our God

Prepared on May 23, 1946 by W.H. Wood

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1

God is first in this text.  He is first in all things.  He was first in creation, and should be given first place and the greatest honor in every life.  The psalmist in this text points us to the one source of every need of the soul.

God is our shelter.  “God is our refuge”

            When trouble overcomes us, and trials baffle us, and sorrows weigh us down, and burdens are too heavy to bear, and dangers are all about us, and doubt is in the soul, and difficulties seem to be too great to be overcome, the Lord is our refuge.  He extends His loving arms and in a gentle voice with pleading petition, He invites us to come to Him for shelter.  Take refuge in God from the fierce storms of life.  He will calm the soul and enrich the life. 

God is our strength.  “God is our strength”

            Man is weak and wayward.  He falters and fails and falls.  Man will doubt and push on into danger.  Man is often helpless and heartless.  There is no need for man to be like this.  The Lord has promised to be the strength of the life of His people.  God is our strength.  He has all the power we will need in our lives.  He promises to use this power for our good and His glory.  We need only to let the Lord be the strength of our life.  He longs for this privilege. 

God is our support.  “God is a very present help in trouble”

            So often, the soul of man comes to the place in life when the closest human being cannot help.  It seems that strength must come from a source higher than man and from a power greater than man.  When help of this kind is needed, the gracious God of the universe is willing and ready to help.  He is very anxious to help in every trial, every temptation, and every trouble.

May we lean on the Lord and let Him help us, and call upon Him and He will abundantly bless us.

Mothers

Mothers

By W.H. Wood prepared on May 8, 1936 for Mother’s day at Salem.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10-31

Our nation will never be greater than our mothers.

What Christian mothers are doing:

“Working willingly with their hands.

 “She riseth while it is night”, to give aid to her household.

She works in farms.

She forces herself many times to produce strength in behalf of her love ones.

"She layeth her hands to the spindle.”

She always offers assistance to the poor and needy.

“She is not afraid of the snow”, she continues to labor for her household.

What Christian mothers say:

  She opens her mouth and gives wisdom.  

  In her tongue is the law of kindness.

  Her words are consoling, inspiring, informing, encouraging, and loving. 

  She is capable of giving advice.  She does not advise wrong. She giveth wisdom.

What Christian mothers see:

She sees the good things in her children.

Her candle goeth not out at night.

Her heart is broken if she is forced to see sin in our lives.

The rewards of Christian motherhood:

 Her children will rise up and call her blessed.

 Her husband will also praise her.

 Her community and nation will honor her.

 The excellence of motherhood is the greatest honor. 

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am, or expect to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

John Quincy Adams said, “All that I am my mother made me.”

Napoleon said, “Let France have good mothers and she will have good sons.”

M         Melodies that mother often sings.  I love her sweet voiced music, for a sense of peace it brings.

O         Ovation that we give to mother today.  Many sons and daughters respond to the tribute we pay to mother on this Mother’s day.

T          Token that today with pride we wear to show our deepest gratitude for mother’s love and care.

H         Hands that guide us when we stray, that toil for us unceasingly and sooth our trouble away.

E          Eyes whose tender lights express the constant and unchanging love that the heart cannot express.

R         Refuge whose strength we early learn.  A shelter when we are troubled to which we often turn.  

Proverbs 31:26

Proverbs 31:26

Prepared on May 10, 1935 by W.H. Wood

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26

In 1908, Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia observed the first Mother’s day in memory of her mother.  We desire to pay honor to her who, after Jesus Christ is God’s best gift to man, Mother.

Jesus in admonishing the people said, “Consider the lily”, God will take care of you.  So let the white carnation be an emblem of Mother’s day as it brings to us the message of motherhood.

Its whiteness tells of her purity.  To bear children is not all of motherhood, indeed it is a small part of it. 

Its form tells of the beauty of motherhood.  This does not mean that every mother is beautiful of face, but all motherhood is beautiful. 

Its fragrance tells of the love of motherhood.  The family tree of the carnation is famous.  It is the “cloves” tree of the tropics.  It produces aromatic spices, it bears fruit to eat, and its oil is a medicine.

The broad field of growth of the carnation suggests the charity of motherhood. 

Its lasting qualities tell of the faithfulness of motherhood. 

It is mothers’ love that faileth not.  

Sin's Miseries and The Way of Escape

Sin’s Miseries and the Way of Escape

By W.H. Wood

O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.  Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.  They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.  For in thee, O LORD, do I hope : thou wilt hear , O Lord my God.  For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.  For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.  But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.  Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Psalm 38:1-22

This Psalm of “Remembrance” which reminds us of a boiling pot in which there are many unsavory ingredients, is in marked contrast to the preceding Psalm.  We may partly misunderstand David, if we forget that he acted not only as King of Israel, but also as Israel’s national poet.  This is the language of one who remembers the horrors of the pit out of which he has been dug.

The Miseries of Sin:

            Sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death.  See how it operates in the awaken sinner. 

Conviction:   “Thine arrows stick fast in me”.  It is not at the sinner God shoots at so much as at his sins.  His arrows are sharp and pierce to the core of the evil.  The word of God is a discerner of the heart. 

Disorder:   “There is no soundness in my flesh”.  His whole moral nature was discovered to be diseased, and out of order.  This is a most humbling revelation.  The heart has been found out to be a deceitful traitor, and all its actions discovered to be polluting and disorderly.

Unrest:   “Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin”.  The strongest features in his character were shaken and troubled at the thought of sin.  The whole fabric of his moral nature was disturbed.  Real conviction of sin is as an earthquake in the soul – universal disturbance. 

Oppression:  “Mine iniquities are as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me”.  Too heavy for me?  Yes, but not too heavy for Him.  Who bore our sins in His own body on the tree.  What can a man do with a burden that is too heavy for him, and who cannot cast it off?  O wretched man!  Who shall deliver?

Corruption:  “My wounds stink and corrupt because of my foolishness”.  This is no exaggerated figure of speech; it is the sober statement of one who has seen and felt sin in its true character and effects.  There is no balm in Gilead, no physician on earth that can heal those deep-seated festering wounds.

Helpless:  “I am feeble and sore broken.”  His whole nature was completely benumbed and powerless to throw off the foul malady.  “without strength” is the condition of all under the torpid blight of sin. 

Darkness:  “As for the light of mine eyes, it has gone from me”.  All the light of hope he had before has died out.  Darkness covers the face of his deep.   

The Way of Escape:

Confession:  “I will declare my iniquity.”  He that covereth his sin shall not prosper, but if we confess our sins.  He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.   

Contrition:  “I am sorry for my sins.”  This is the Godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation.  The confession that does not spring from contrition of heart is mockery.  It is he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin that finds mercy. 

Faith:  “In thee, O Lord do I hope.  Thou wilth hear, O Lord my God.”  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9-10

Come: Tarry: Go

Come:  Tarry:  Go

Prepared on June 3, 1932 by W.H. Wood

“Come unto me all ye that labor.”  Matthew 11:28

“Tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:49

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.”  Mark 16:15

These familiar passages of scripture contain what I believe to be the three great verbs of the gospel.  The study of the parts of speech is of itself fascinating.  Verbs are the very life blood of language, since they describe action, being, or state of being. 

These are the three great verbs of Christian life.  First of these is “COME”.  Six hundred and forty two times the word, “Come”, occurs in the Holy Scriptures.  But the use of the word which interests us especially is Christ’s “come” and the most precious of all the verses in which Jesus’ “come” is found is that recorded by Matthew:  “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  “COME” – that was Jesus’ word to His disciples, calling them away from their former activities to Him and a new life.  “Come” –this was His word to John and James, to Peter and Andrew, calling them away from the boats and nets to become fishers of men.  “Come” – this was His word to Matthew Levi sitting at the seat of customs.  “Come” – this was His word to Zaacheus, the publican, to the rich young ruler, to every one of the twelve disciples, to the seventy and on the great day of Pentecost and ever since His word to all humanity is “Come unto me”.  Some respond to the gospel invitation early in life, others heed the call after maturity, while some are snatched just in time to save the soul after the life has been wasted in sin.  The word “Come” is recorded in the Acts and is indicated in the gospels and alluded to in the epistles. 

The second great word is “TARRY”.  Having called His disciples to Him, Jesus’ next word was to abide with Him, to tarry, to remain, for a season at His side.  First, they were called to Him; secondly, they were bidden to tarry with Him.  And the three years they tarried in the company of Jesus, He prepared them for their work.  They were in training so to speak.  They were going to school to the master Himself.  The tarrying process is that of learning.  The disciples tarried with Christ that they might learn of Him.  One must of necessity be a learner before he can become a teacher.  Before one can give out anything he has to be filled. Communion precedes communication.  When the twelve were called to Jesus that they might learn of Him, they were not remarkable promising teachers; they were empty, but Christ filled them; they were ignorant, but He taught them; they were weak, He made them strong; they were wavering, He made them stable.  After Saul’s conversion on the Damascus way, a period elapsed when he disappeared from public life.  He seems to have spent 3 years in Arabia meditating, reflecting, tarrying with his Lord. 

“GO” To come to Jesus is not enough.  To tarry is not all.  Having called His disciples to Him, they accompanied with Him for a season; then Jesus sent them out.  The twelve were disciples or learners before they were apostles or missionaries.  They were called to Him that they might be trained of Him in order to be sent out by Him.  He sent out the twelve to teach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  They were sent out two and two, teaching what they had learned of Him, blessing and doing good to all who would receive Him.  Jesus sent out the seventy; He sent them out, two and two before His face, into every city and place whether He Himself was about to come.  The calling of His disciples and their tarrying with Him was but preparatory for actual service in His name.  The parting command of Jesus to His disciples and to all who become His disciples is “Go, make disciples of all nations, preach the gospel to every creature.”  Christians are called together in the church service in order that they may make disciples of the community, the state, the nations, the world.  A church service that results in pleasing the attendants, making them feel comfortable and satisfied, is a tragic failure.  If one can sit week after week and listen to high ideals that he has not yet attained to, and which he never attempts to reach, then his sin of inactivity is greater than if he did not hear or listen at all to such admonitions.  

The Wisdom Built House

The Wisdom Built House

By W.H. Wood

Finished the preparation of this message on April 3, 1946.  To be delivered to the Senior Class of the Oak Vale High School on April 14, 1946 at 11 a.m. in the Baptist Church at Oak Vale.

“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” Proverbs 9:1

Solomon speaks much, and often about wisdom; by which he means an understanding heart.  Many people have knowledge, but not understanding.  Knowledge without understanding is dangerous.  It is a prisoner’s dungeon.  It has been said:  “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”  So is much knowledge if it is without understanding.  Wisdom here is represented as a builder.  “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.”

Wisdom hath builded her house.  Let us draw a vision of that house.  Its name is character.  It is on the banks of a beautiful river called life, and is surrounded by palm groves and fruitful orchards.  Its foundations are rugged, its walls massive, and its dome and pinnacles are towering and graceful.  I have envisioned its 4 successive stories:

           

In the first story there are the kitchen, dining room, pantry, bedrooms, and parlor.  These are for the care of the body. 

In the second story are the thought rooms:  the library and the conservatories of art and music, for the care of the mind. 

The third story has the laboratory, where all kinds of testing, and weighing, and measuring are done, for the care of the soul. 

The fourth story contains the observatory where, through the telescope of faith are beheld the things eternal, which once seen are ever longed for. 

In this vision, I have seen this wonderful building in course of construction.  I have seen the builders come forth to their work.  First come industry, leading the way.  A great heart superintended the construction.  Self-control gathered the material.  Conscience was an industrious workman, often tearing down what he had done and doing it over again.  Imagination was busy chiseling statuary, and painting landscapes of exquisite beauty. Purity cleaned the windows, and polished the walls.  I heard the shout of toilers as love and joy brought refreshments.  And I looked upon that house and said, “It is good.”

And in the vision I have seen on the opposite bank of that river, called life that which once promised to be a house beautiful.  Doubts and fear started it, but had not the courage to continue.  Indolence offered a helping hand, turned away under the first smiting rays of the sun.  Lust consumed more material than industry could gather.  Greed added a few boards.  Lawlessness chained his dogs at the gates, and despair finished to ruin.  My young friends, I have painted for you your own destiny according as you elect to have it so.  You may make your life a house beautiful, or you may make it a mass of ruins. 

The house wisdom builds is a complete structure.  “She hath hewn out her seven pillars.”  Seven in the scripture is the word of completeness.  Many houses fall because they are insufficiently pillared.  Who would say the life of Tom Paine or Bob Ingersoll was a success?  And who would say the same of any of those who are preaching and teaching skepticism or infidelity or atheism today?  Of such it maybe said:  Theirs is success at destruction, but not construction.  They have cast off the only foundation stone, without which the structure cannot stand.  That is not only true of the man who throws faith away, but of him also who throws moral character away.  I heard of a football game a few years ago where a score of students were drunk.  What good will an education do that sort of youth?  An educated hog is a hog still, and fit only for the slaughter pen.

Now I want you to notice with me the firm pillars upon which wisdom builds her house: 

            The first pillar is purpose.  A high and noble purpose is to a successful life what the drive wheel is to the locomotive engine.  It is what the rudder is to the ocean liner.  It is what aim is to the marksman.  A high and noble purpose, where there is willingness to toil and sacrifice for its achievements cannot be defeated.  Shakespeare held horses at a theater for the tips that he might receive, but purposed to become a great playwright, and lived to see a volume of his verse kissed by England’s Queen.  John Bunyan was a tinker, but his life purpose reached further than that, and he wrote the book that ranks next to the Bible.  Martin Luther was the son of a wool comber, but he consecrated himself to the cause of soul freedom, and led the Great Reformation.  Jim Garfield, working on a canal boat, envisioned the White House at Washington, and one day became President of the United States.  Abraham Lincoln, the young rail splitter, studied by a pine knot fire at night, and said, “I’ll get ready, maybe my chance will come”.  It came. Call the roll of all of earth’s great, and I will write after their names the word “purpose”.  But it must be remembered that before one purposes to do, he must propose to be; for it is what a person is that counts in the end. 

            The second pillar is courage.  The onward march to success and power must ring with the great note of courage.  It took courage to course the uncharted seas and discover new continents, and to set new standards of progress.  With “Cato” courage says, “Carthage must be destroyed”.  With “Caesar” courage says, “I came, I saw, I conquered.”  With “Napoleon” courage says, “there shall be no Alps”.  With “Luther” courage says, “the conscience of men shall be free.”  Courage that counts does not depend on time, nor does it depend upon place or circumstances.  It was courage that made Stonewall Jackson invincible in the leadership of his army.  Life has many stern battles to fight.  Even the Lord can do nothing with a coward.  For He says, “Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” Zechariah 8:13

            The third pillar is genuineness.  The world can soon see through a camouflage.  My young friends, after all the high schools, colleges, and universities can do for you, if you have not character.  Your life will be a failure.  The ring of the coin will tell what kind of metal it is.  If you are counterfeit, the world will find it out after it has bumped into you a time or two.  Paul’s injunction to Timothy was:  “keep thyself pure.”  Purity is the dynamic force of success.  It is the success of the sunbeam shimmering on the rod.  It is the success of the dewdrop kissing the rose.  It is the success of the water lily struggling up from the ooze of the river and flashing its robe of virgin whiteness in the light of day.  Such a life wears the crown of greatness, for it is made of the stuff that endures.  Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, and Daniel became one of the outstanding figures of his time, ranking next to the ruler of the nation.  No one who stands convicted of impurity in the secret councils of his own soul can claim success until he has rid himself of the serpent coiled there.  With purity of thought, and motive, and purpose, and desire – whether his name is heralded afar, or whether he walks the more obscure paths, over his name at the end of life, cannot be written the word “Failure”. 

            Wisdom’s fourth pillar is unselfishness.  No worthwhile life can stand upon a foundation of selfishness.  It is God’s order that only that which gives lives.  Palestine has its Sea of Galilee, and its Dead Sea:  its sea of life and its sea of death.  The difference in the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee is that one receives and selfishly keeps, while the other receives and generously gives.  The man who can say of the battles of struggling humanity, “of which I am a part” is more than a goodly hero; he is a patriot of the highest order, and a blessing to the world.  Who would care anything about Grace Darling if she had rescued no drowning man?  Who cares anything about Florence Nightingale if she had nursed no sick and wounded soldiers?  Who would care anything about David Livingstone if he had enlightened no dark continent?  Who would care anything about Lord Shaftesbury if he had fed no hungry mouths, and clothed none who were naked?  Who would care anything about General Booth if he had not sent the drumbeat and the Gospel banner of the Salvation Army into the slums of cities around the world?  Who would care anything about Paul the apostle if he had carried no Gospel to the Gentiles?  Who would care anything about Jesus Christ if he had died on no cross for a world’s sins? 

            The fifth pillar in our temple of life is work.  We Americans are worshipers of genius, forgetting that genius is only another name for work.   Mr. Edison, perhaps the greatest genius ever produced by America, when asked to define genius, he said, “It is ninety-nine percent sweat.”  He illustrated his own definition in working eighteen months to make his graphophone say “receive” when it insisted on saying “retrieve”.  Carlyle said, “There 2 things necessary to a life of success:  One is to find one’s work, and the other is to do it.”  When Dean Stanley asked Carlyle:  “What shall I do?” Carlyle replied, “Do your best.”  Pitiful is the man, rising in the morning for the day’s toil, with no love in his heart for his work.  He who hails the daybreak with delight for the new opportunities it affords finds every hour of the day full of pleasure.  He who succeeds in life must count the hours.  A squanderer indeed is he who wastes his time.  Idleness is the devil’s workshop.  Idleness is the destroyer of character. 

            The sixth pillar in this house is right thinking.  There is no crown of enduring success that is not purchased by high and noble thinking.  “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.  The life will gravitate towards its ideals.  We become like the things we keep company with in our thoughts.  It is said that when Michelangelo had completed his statue of David – a statue that looks more to have been chiseled by the hand of the skies than by the hand of man – the hard lines in his own face had softened.  Hawthorne has given us the outstanding classic illustrating this great truth in his story of “The Great Stone Face.”  Nature, in a majestic mood, had carved this face out in the rock, high upon the side of a mountain, and this lad who grew up under its inspiration, looking upon it daily, and idealizing in it all those fine graces that make for character in middle life became like unto it in his own features; and putting into action all those high ideals and sublime graces, he became the poet, the prophet, the teacher, the adviser, the comforter, and the leader of all the folks of the valley.  High ideals make lofty characters.  We do not rise above our thinking. 

            The last and crowning one of these seven pillars is faith.  In the window of an art store in Paris there was exhibited the statue of a Knight of the olden time.  He stood clothed from head to foot in chain armor.  A broad sword hung by his right side, and his shield at the left.  On his face was a look of high resolve.  In his outstretched hands was a scroll on which was written the one word “Credo” “I believe”.  The man who believes is the man who accomplishes.  No man is fit for lasting good until he can look up to God and out upon the world and say “I believe”.  It is quite the thing these days to scoff at the old faith, and try to set up in its stead the platitudes of puny man.  Those who deny God denies all authority, both God’s and man’s and paves the way for anarchy.  The red dragon book of revelation lashes the earth with its slimy tail today and calls for the destruction of all authority in earth and sky.  Realism, wherever it shows its hand, seeks the overthrow of governments and the destruction of religion.  A faithful alibi with these destroyers is the teachers, whether in high school, college or university, who belittles religion and kills the minds of youth with doubt concerning God and the Bible.  It has never been possible for man to get along in the world very well without glimpses of the world to come.  “Credo” “I believe”.  My young friends, as imperfect as the church may be, it is the whitest thing in all the world.  Faith in God is the tuning fork that brings singing into our hearts, the music of heavenly assurance that Jesus Christ, through His atoning death, is ours, and we, through His redeeming grace, are His; and that we are saved through His precious blood, and evermore kept by His power. 

(Illustration of a young man who used faulty material in building.)  Young friends, you are building a house that you must live in.  You must live in it for time, and for eternity.  Then, as the great apostle Paul admonishes:  “Let every man take heed how he buildeth.” 1 Corinthians 3:10.  When the testing time comes, will the house called life and character be of wood, hay, stubble, or will it be of Gold, silver, precious stones, that shall stand when every man’s work shall be made manifest, and shall be revealed by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12.  Our chief business is to build a house that shall receive the approval of the great inspector and that shall be only, if Jesus Christ is the Architect and Godly wisdom is the builder.  

Suffering for Victory

Suffering for Victory

By W.H. Wood

Prepared on June 26, 1945 for Edgar Renfroe’s Memorial

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

The day of trouble comes to every life.  What we do with trouble is a test of character.  The Lord invites every person to bring every burden to him. “Cast thy burdens upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”  Psalm 55:22.  The Lord said “Call upon me in the day of trouble”; “Pay thy vows unto the Most High.” The Lord invites every soul to call upon Him in the time of trouble.  The Lord is at hand.  He is able to aid every soul.  He is willing to manifest all power needed for the best interest of the life.  The greatest benediction to the soul of man is the presence and power of the Lord God.  He will deliver the soul from trouble or use the burden as a blessing to that soul just as soon as all is cast upon Him. 

The Christian’s duty to his country and his duty to God go hand in hand. The critics of Jesus thought they would trap Him when they put their question to Him (Mark 12:14-17). He let them know immediately that citizenship is related to two worlds; and that the more loyal a man is to God, the better citizen he is.  Christian patriotism has ever led the way to the highest civil hopes of humanity.  Of this, our own country is a shining example.  From the beginning it was founded on the Christian faith, inspired by Christian hope, guided by Christian truth, and nurtured in prayer.  It should be a cause of profound gratitude to God that our lot has been cast in this Godly land.

There are some things we need to remind ourselves in which the hope of America does not lie:

It does not lie in her greatness of the past.  Past greatness does not guarantee future hopes.  America has been called, “The paradise of liberty,” but like Eden, she may become a paradise of fools.  While we look back upon those things that inspire for the present, we must look forward to those things that safeguard the future.  Conceit darkens wisdom. Romans 12:16 

We do well to remember the proverb:  “Pride goeth before destruction, and on haughty spirit before a fall” Proverbs 16:18. God’s warning to Edom applies to nations today: “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou sit thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.” Obadiah 1:3-4  The American eagle today needs to make wise use of its flashing eye and strong pinion.  It needs to hark to the sweep of the mighty winds that lash the wide seas, and rock the deep forest. 

It does not lie in her political leaders.  It may be said of any land:  “Woe unto thee, when thy statesmen are mere politicians.”  Although there is cause for gratitude for patriots who serve state and nation, as there is cause for regret that there are not more of them.  It would be well for praying people to put in their prayers:  “God give us men!  Men whom the lust of office does not kill; men whom the spoils of office cannot buy!”  It is the tall men, Son-crowned, who live above the fog of petty politics who are needed for troubled times, such as we face today.  The liberties purchased by our forefathers and of our sons of today are threatened by political blunders, timeservers and seekers of selfish advantage.  If America’s hope be hid, it is hid to them to whom Christian patriotism is a relic of past ages and to whom the stars and stripes have lost their significance. 

It does not lie in her wealth and culture.  We may witness Egypt; look at Babylon and Greece and Rome. Witness faded glories of the past.  History tells a tragic story of nations once wealthy sunken into decay, and their greatness only a memory.  America’s wealth is not in material things: her banks and skyscrapers, and real estate, and commerce, and oil and cattle.  Material wealth is easily swept away.  Her imperishable wealth is in her glorious traditions and incomparable history; in her Bunker Hills and Gettysburgs, and Santiagoes in her Christian ideals, and Godly institutions.  It is in her freedom of conscience and her untrammeled liberty and her untarnished name, and her unsullied patriotism, and her youth of today.  By these things nations live, without them they perish.  Though great be her material wealth, revolution could swiftly sweep it away.  Though great be her culture, if she be without God, like the culture of pagan nations of the past, with their advancement in mathematics, in astronomy, in chemistry, and engineering which the excavator’s spade is revealing. She would have to lie down in the graveyard of perished nations and pass on to the future a history that ended in folly, and a name that would be only a disappointing memory.  Only as the spiritual transcends the material do nations build permanently.  The structure is no more secure than its foundation, and progress goes no further than the vision that leads.

Where is America’s hope?  What are the elements of her enduring strength?  America’s hope is not behind her, but before her.  But that hope depends upon what stars she shall follow. 

           

The hope of America lies in her moral purity.  That the spine of society has a serious case of curvature is not easily denied.  When will we find a cure?  That is to ask:  When will the evil effects of a world at war wear off?  When will modernism cease denying inspiration of the Bible?  When will “worldly wise men” quit discrediting the glorious gospel of the blessed God, substituting “philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world” Colossians 2:8?  When will young women cease trying to outdo the standards of the half world?  When will commercialized vice cease to be popular, and immorality to be a fine art?  America has been victimized by a false teaching that morality is merely a matter of standards; that what was immoral a generation ago may be moral now; that what is below the standard today may top the standard tomorrow; that vice in one age is virtue in another; that there is no everlasting seal of virtue that may not be tampered with by opinion.  My friends, you may heat your oven with snowballs as soon as you will purify society with that sort of false philosophy.  Today, there is a belittling of Christ’s standards as unworthy of virile men, and strong nations; but rather do as you live, and live as you please.  It has produced a false philosophy namely in business - let it be understood it is the other fellow’s fault if he is not able to take care of himself; and in war, if other people have what you want and you are able to over power them, go and take it, and the result of the world is chaos.  There is but one rule of peace and prosperity, whether it be for individuals or nations and Christ laid down that rule:  “Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Matthew 7:12

           

The hope of American lies in her sane political operations.  Political sanity calls for American idealism with its free school, separation of Church and state, adjusted differences between capital and labor: every man’s home is his castle and every man his own priest before God – face to call upon Him and to worship as conscience alone dictates.  Will America sail straight ahead, guided by the chart and compass of her liberty guaranteeing constitution; or will she be lured upon the rocks of political tyranny by siren voices of timeservers and exploiters? That communism and its sister breed of total utilitarianism that have made Europe a vast boiling cauldron are making their bid for America.  All sane people are aware and the activity of their agents and the yielding to their seductiveness of the part of some, no informed person will deny.  But our confidence in our nation is, that they will not succeed.  It was George Washington who said:  “Let only Americans be on guard.”  It was good policy in war; it is good policy in peace.  Let only true Americans guard the camps of our freedom.  Let freedom that set the stars of glory in our flag keep them there. 

           

The hope of America is in her religious integrity.  Darwinism has produced for us evolution’s cave man.  Nazism has produced the super-bigot who holds himself to be in possession of the only philosophy by which a race can grow great and perpetrate itself in greatness.  Marxism has produced the human beast that goes forth to wreck Christian civilization and bring back the dark ages to the world.  Formalism has produced religious anemia.  Modernism has robbed religion of the supernatural, set up rationalism in the place of inspiration, and has taken from God the glory and has given it to man.  For the living God, there has been set up the Gods of Gold, graft, pleasure and lust.  People become like the gods they worship; and to worship these cold, dead gods is to become cold and dead.  Religious integrity calls for the arousing of America from her religious indifference.  The churches are not being opposed in America; they are being ignored.  Worldliness saps the strength of spiritual Christianity from within and indifference ignores it from without.

My friends, shall our nation that was rocked in the cradle of prayer, and nurtured in the truth be among them?  God forbid!  I trust that this memorial service shall call us back to the altars of our fathers; back to their Christian faith that laid deep and strong the nation’s foundations and to their courage that defended it.  There to light anew those holy fires of allegiance to Jesus Christ, the only Lord and Savior, and devotion to human freedom till from the least even until the greatest of earth shall know the Lord as a personal Savior. 

As you can imagine, I was extremely curious about Edgar Renfroe.  After searching most of the day, I discovered his full name was Robert Edgar Renfroe.  He was from Rankin County, Mississippi.  

Update:

Robert Edgar Renfroe enlisted on October 27, 1942 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He was single and without dependents.  Private First Class Renfroe was a part of the 27th Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division.  He died on May 21, 1945 and is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France.  PFC Renfroe was awarded the Purple Heart.  So far, that is all the information I have about him.  A beautiful picture of his grave and other Americans buried at Lorraine American Cemetery are at the following link: 

 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=56659948

  

Formula for Success

Formula for Success 

by Estelle Nazary

If God has called you to do it, if you will commit yourself to that task, if you will work hard for God's glory, if you will believe, if you will walk humbly before God and man, if you will spend one hour a day in prayer, God will remove every obstacle to total victory. 

Asking God Why

Asking God Why

By Estelle Nazary

And Job again took up his discourse and said,  "Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me;  When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness ;  As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;  When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;  When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil ! Job 29:1-6

"He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes. "I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.  "You have become cruel to me; With the might of Your hand You persecute me.  "You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride; And You dissolve me in a storm.  "For I know that You will bring me to death And to the house of meeting for all living.  "Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, Or in his disaster therefore cry out for help?  "Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard?  Was not my soul grieved for the needy?  "When I expected good, then evil came; When I waited for light, then darkness came. Job 30:19-26

The best way to help a person who is grief-stricken is to be sympathetic.  Sometimes the best response is to remain quiet and listen to the person who is hurting.  The comforter never should engage in condemnation in seeking to help another person.  As we try to help people, we must realize that each person is an individual.  Often we must let persons know that we do not have all the answers to their problems.  The wise comforter will not major on the negatives.  One way of helping people is to put oneself in their shoes.  Another important way of helping someone is to pray for that individual. 

Please respond to the following statements with sometimes, often, or never:

1.      I find myself telling God that some things are not fair in this life.
2.      I feel that my prayers go unanswered.
3.      I blame God for many things that go wrong in this world.
4.      I ask WHY? When tragedy strikes me or a Christian friend.
5.      I find myself longing for the good old days when God seemed closer to me.
6.     When bad things happen to me, I feel that God has become my adversary, that He is being cruel to      me.
7.      I believe that God should reward openly those who try to help other people.
8.     I find myself feeling uneasy if I dare to question God at any time.

Truths for us:

• We need to learn that the heart’s deepest cry for explanation or to ask WHY? Is a normal and acceptable response to human suffering.
• We need to develop the awareness that to recall a former time of prosperity in a present difficulty is natural.       Such recall should lead one to thanksgiving for the past and a resolve to strengthen present devotion to God.
• We need to admit that one’s questions about many experiences may never be answered. 
• Our daily walk with God must be by faith.
• We need to learn to rejoice in tribulation, knowing that through it God will perfect His work in us.
• We need to learn to realize that though we may have trials, God is not an adversary, but an advocate. 
• We need to learn that even when our prayers are seemingly unanswered, God is not deaf or unresponsive.       In His time, He will answer and meet our needs in His unique way.
•  We need to develop a sensitivity to others who in their pain may be asking WHY? Such a thing occurred.  We should seek to reach out in a ministry of consolation to all people who hurt.
• We can react to adversity with bitterness or we can draw closer to God.  We make the choice.

Heroes of Faith

Heroes of Faith

By W.H. Wood

“One of my favorite sermons”

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen .  For by it the elders obtained a good report .  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh .  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found , because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony , that he pleased God.  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear , prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out , not knowing whither he went .  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age , because she judged him faithful who had promised.  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead , so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. Hebrews 11:1-12

This brief message is written with the hope that it may be beneficial to someone seeking more light on God’s word.  We sat in the study many hours musing, meditating, and praying that God would reveal to us why these particular individuals were chosen as the “heroes of faith” instead of some of the other great Bible characters.  Surely these were great characters, but there were others who were outstanding in the esteem of the Almighty. 

            We believe after much prayer and careful consideration, we have found a satisfactory interpretation at least for our own mind.  These were men of adventure who were obedient to the inner urge or expressed will of God.  They were men of reverence and faith, willing for their lives to conform to the will of God.  Hence, there sprang from their lives some of the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity.  

Abel:  Coveys to the human mind the doctrine of Christian Giving.

Whether God spoke to Abel in so many words and commanded the offering or whether it was a natural instinct, we aren’t sure, however, we know from the very morning of time the doctrine of Christian giving have been practiced by people who love the Lord.  We read in Genesis 4:4, “and Abel, he also brought of the firstling of his flock and the fat thereof.  And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”  So, we see that the doctrine of Christian giving is about as old as the human race.  Therefore, we aren’t surprised that God chose Abel as one of the great “heroes of faith”, because he shared the very first of his wealth with God.  Dear readers, are you sharing your wealth with God, or are you robbing Him of the “tithe and offering”, if so, you better be careful less some misfortune snatch from you even more than the “tithe and offering.”

Enoch:  Conveys the doctrine of the conquering power of God.

In Enoch’s life, we see God exercising His conquering power over death, hell and the grave.  In Hebrews 11:5, “By faith, Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, the he pleased God. “  Enoch walked with God not once a week or once a month, but continually for three hundred years.  What a great life!  My friends, if we are to conjure with God, we must walk with Him.  We see this great truth brought out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.”  My friends out yonder some time in the future the righteous dead shall be raised while the righteous living shall be caught up in the clouds of glory to be with the Lord forever.  Then can we say with Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?”

Noah:  Conveys the doctrine of the preparation for eternal life.

Noah being warned by God of the flood to come was instructed to prepare the ark for the saving of his posterity on earth.  For more than a hundred years, Noah labored in building the ark that was to serve as his shield and protector during the awful days of the flood.  During this long period of the construction of the ark, Noah used all his spare time preaching repentance and the preparation for eternal life, but to no avail the people refused to listen, they turned a deaf ear to God’s man just as so many are doing today.  Sin was abroad in the land, the devil had the upper hand, people were marrying and giving in marriage, going all the gates, if you please.   When one day, the clouds lowered the sun, the thunder began to roar, the lightening flashed, the rain descended, the floods came.  For forty days and nights, the rains continued, the streams became swollen, in course of time the lowlands were covered, the people began to take refuge on the mountain sides, the water continued to rise, the people went higher and still higher while the waters continued to follow.  Then it was that the people realized their doom.  No doubt they wailed, the wept, they moaned, they prayed, as they saw the angry water creep upon them.  My friends, those people would have given fifteen million worlds like this one just to have old Noah reach out his strong arm and pulled them into the ark of safety, but it was too late, they had failed to prepare and had to face the consequences.  Fair warning, dear reader, are you prepared for eternity?