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Nothing To Pay

Though “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), yet no one has to pay the penalty of sin unless they want to. This is an important point! At enormous cost, God sent His Son to die as a Substitute for sinners. As a result, salvation from sin and its wages is offered as a free gift through the Lord Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Man is lost because he has a sinful, fallen nature as a result of Adam’s disobedience. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Man is condemned because he is a sinner by practice. In other words he sins, or does wrong things … things contrary to the holiness of God.

But the crowning guilt is his rejection of the provision which God has made for his salvation. The Lord Himself said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).The way of blessing is open for all, the debt of sin has been paid, and the sinner who comes to God in faith, through Christ, has NOTHING TO PAY!

Faithfulness

“Be thou faithful” (Revelation 2:10).

Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses.

In the days of the kings they praised Moses and persecuted the prophets.

In the days of Christ, they praised the prophets and persecuted the Saviour.

In the days of the popes, they praised the Saviour and persecuted His devoted followers.

Multitudes now applaud the courage and fortitude of the…

   Patriarchs,

   Prophets,

   Apostles,

   and martyrs…

but condemn as stubbornness and foolishness anything like faithfulness to the truth today. But what God desires is faithfulness to Him and His Word in spite of what others think or say about us, or what they may do to us.

Practical Applications
of God’s Word

Part 11 — Correction

“All Scripture … is profitable … for correction” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Another practical application of the Word of God in our lives, is for correction. Just as a child needs the training and correction of their parents, so we too, as God’s children, need the correction of our Heavenly Father, as to our thinking, our actions, our speech, sound doctrine, and every aspect of life. As you read the Scriptures, take heed to its warnings and let it speak to your conscience. Don’t despise or ignore what it says, or be like those of whom Solomon wrote, “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way” (Proverbs 15:10).

 This is a day when we don’t like to be corrected or admonished. The spirit of the age is, “No one has a right to tell me what to do.” Don’t let that spirit of things invade our thinking. Correction is for our good and blessing. Solomon further states, “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction” (Proverbs 3:11). Read your Bible every day, and let it correct and direct you according to God’s way of blessing and happiness.

The Final Word

“Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak
unto thee bad or good” (Genesis 24:50).

In the Old Testament, Solomon tells us there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). In the above verse the Lord had spoken to Laban and Bethuel, and they recognized that His word was final. Further dialogue or discourse of the matter would be inappropriate … the thing proceeded from the Lord, and that was that! No need for any discussion or reasoning of the matter.

It is very important that we too recognize this principle in our own lives, and that once God has spoken, we refrain from further argument and bow in submission, acknowledging His good, and perfect, and sovereign will. What changes could be brought about in our lives if His Word and His will were the final court of appeal, and if we would be “doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22)! Obedience and submission are really the source of true happiness in the Christian life.

Caught Up

“Caught up” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

How many times have you been asked, or even wondered yourself, “will you ever get caught up?” It just seems like there is always one more deadline, one more task, one more important something that needs to be taken care of.

But yes, there is a day when we will be “caught up.” Not just as far as deadlines, tasks, appointments, and commitments of this life are concerned, but “caught up” out of this world away from it all, to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him in the Father’s house forever. Then there will be no more pressing business, and no pressure to get caught up. The above verse goes on to tell us that we will be “caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

As far as the tasks and duties of this life are concerned,

“We won’t be caught up until we are caught up!”

Caught up, and in a moment, forever with the Lord;

Caught up, and then with Jesus, the laborer’s bright reward.

Caught up, no pressing business, no occupation there,

Save, singing Jesus’ praises, will be our only care.

Dear Young Christian:

“Go work today in My vineyard” (Matthew 21:28).

As you prepare for school or work, or for whatever sphere of duty may be ahead of you during the day, do you, above all the hustle and bustle, hear the Lord Jesus say, “Go work today in My vineyard?” It’s true we have our duties and obligations, and many necessary things to accomplish before night, but let’s remember amidst it all there is some work to do for Him in His service. He is the “Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2), and the work is His. Because it is His work and His vineyard, He calls, He sends, and He directs. In the end He gives each of His own the joy and privilege of being “labourers together” (1 Corinthians 3:9). It may be witnessing in some way; it may be helping and encouraging a fellow Christian; or simply living for His glory in the corner of the vineyard where He has been pleased to place us. There is a wonderful satisfaction at the end of the day, when we can look back knowing that we have worked in His vineyard. He appreciates it, and we receive the blessing.

  Your Christian Friend,

         Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Remembrance

“Jesus was risen early the first day of the week”
(Mark 16:9).
“And upon the first day of the week … the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
“This do in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

Since the end of World War I, in many countries November 11th is set aside as a special day of remembrance, to remind us of those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

However, the first day of the week should be a day of remembrance for every believer. It is the day when the Lord rose from the dead, and the day when the early Christians met to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread.

Once a year there are special ceremonies, speeches, and moments set aside for quiet reflection and remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of humanity. But as believers we need more than just a yearly reminder of what our Saviour did for us. “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Seeking

“Whom seek ye?” (John 18:4).
“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
“For thus saith the Lord … Seek ye Me,
and ye shall live” (Amos 5:4).

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, I have finally found myself”?

What a disappointment that must be!

However, when we find the Lord — that is a different matter. When a sinner finds Him, they find eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, the true source of joy and happiness, a reason for living, and a wonderful future. They find a “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), and the promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

To find oneself (if we ever really do), is a huge let down. But to find Christ is tremendous blessing. It is to find a Person beyond compare, and One who is “Altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16).

The Saviour is seeking lost souls. Are you seeking for Him? A seeking sinner and a seeking Saviour will soon meet.

He Is Coming

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus”
(Revelation 22:20).

As the storm clouds of judgment gather over this poor sinful world, and as the day of vengeance of our God approaches, what a comfort for the believer who knows the Lord as their Saviour to recall again and again this precious promise. The Lord is coming back again to receive us to Himself, and nothing can alter or hinder that promise. He has said, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). This is indeed a wonderful hope amid all the hopelessness of the world today. To know that before the storm of judgment bursts on this deserving world, we will be transported to the skies. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

We echo the longing of the Apostle John when he wrote, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Jacob’s Great Victory — Part 2

“Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed … And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh” (Genesis 32:28-31).

From this moment, Jacob was never the same. Everyone who met him from that day on saw that his walk was different. So we too must learn, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It must have seemed like a lost battle for Jacob. His thigh was out of joint, and he had to limp the rest of his life. But the Lord gave him the blessing he asked for. His name was changed to Israel, which means, “As a prince he prevailed with God.” As he passed over Penuel, the sun rose, and he knew that the Lord would never give up in seeking to bring him nearer to Himself. We too must learn that the life of a believer can only be lived in complete dependence on the Lord, and not in our strength. It was indeed a great victory for Jacob!