____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 6, 2000 ____________________________________________________ Where Do Your Bolts Break? (Conclusion) by Norman Pence Corrosion Corrosion usually begins very slowly and subtly and goes to the very center of our being. The vicious environment of the world and the hostile forces of Satan launch their attack quite unexpectedly. They usually begin on the inside (inside the joint) to eat away at the way we think and act. They go to the very heart of our soul and begin to slowly alter our attitudes toward life, our family, the church, our spouse and eventually God Himself. Our heart becomes consumed by anger, bitterness, strife, and dissatfaction. Suddenly everything is wrong with our life. Unhappiness, unthankfulness, and discontent are the order of the day. Finally we are eaten up with self pity, isolate ourselves and begin the final phase of complete failure -- departure from God. Such is a very horrible picture but it happens all too frequently. We often fail because we allow ``the cares and riches and pleasures of this life'' (Lk. 8:14) to gnaw away our spiritual life and place our emphasis on things that ``rust doeth corrupt'' (Matt. 6:19-20). It's interesting that the word ``rust'' means ``the act of eating'' and in a wider sense, ``corrosion.'' Corrosion, according to Webster, comes from the Latin word ``corrodere'' meaning ``to gnaw to pieces.'' It means ''1. to eat into or wear away gradually, as by rusting or by the action of chemicals. 2. to work upon insidiously and cause to deteriorate [a heart corroded by bitterness].'' This can occur in metals when they are placed in an environment or exposed to chemicals and other agents that gradually eat away at the material and eventually cause failure. As Christians we must be careful about the environment in which we live as well as the conditions and circumstances we subject ourselves to. It's easy to be influenced by evil forces. The effect that they have on our lives can be more dangerous than seems evident. Paul speaks in 2 Tim. 2:14-17 of some whose ``wrangling about words'' would ``lead to the ruin of the hearers'' and whose ``worldly and empty chatter'' would ``lead to further ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene.'' We can readily see the effect of their influence when we look at the word ``gangrene.'' It comes from ``gangraina'' (gang'-grahee-nah) and means to ``gnaw.'' It is described as a disease by which any part of the body suffering from it becomes so corrupted that, unless a remedy be soon applied, the evil continually spreads, attacks other parts, and at last eats away the bones. So it is with useless, godless teaching and sinful conduct. They are sure to spread and increase. They should be attacked and destroyed as soon as they are discovered. We must not allow them to corrode our minds and destroy the life we have in Christ Jesus. Sometimes we place ourselves in the wrong environment by associating with those of the world. We may say, ``Well it don't bother me, just because they curse and drink and lead immoral lives doesn't mean I have to!'' Paul warns us, ``Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall'' (1 Cor. 10:12). James says, ''...do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God'' (Jas. 4:4). And Paul warns us to ``not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals'' (1 Cor. 15:33). The word translated ``company'' is ``homilia'' (hom-il-ee'-ah) in the Greek and means ``association, intercourse, company.'' Taking this verse in context, Paul is telling the Corinthians to cease association with those who denied the resurrection. It would tend to corrupt the simplicity of their faith, pervert their view of the truth, and thus corrupt their lives. It is always true that such an association has a damaging effect on our heart and mind. At first, it seems harmless. ``I don't have to believe it just because I associate with them,'' we are heard to say. But the silent influence of their words, conversation, and example begin to have their effect. We become less watchful and cautious, we look with less alarm at the error they are teaching and the life-style they are living, we become more familiar with it, and eventually we ask, ``Why can't I engage in all this fleshly pleasure the same as they?'' We lose our spirituality, love of prayer, the desire for a holy life and devotion to God. And the Devil looks around and says -- gotcha! Christ sought a people that would seek His friendship and the friendship of each other, and withdraw themselves from the world. ``'Come out from their midst and be separate,' says the Lord. 'And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' says the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:14). Sin is destructive, Satan is cunning and deceitful. He desires, as he did Peter, to ``sift us like wheat'' (Lk. 22:32). He will use every means at his disposal. He will use sin to gradually gnaw away our attitudes, our faith in God, and ultimately cause us to fail Him who made it possible for us to be ``more than conquerors'' (Rom 8:37). We don't have to be taken advantage of by Satan nor be ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor 2:11). We must ``rust proof'' and guard our hearts and minds against the deteriorating influence of the world and prevent sins corrosive effect by keeping ourselves separate from worldly influences and immersing ourselves in Christ Jesus. Embrittlement Embrittlement occurs when certain conditions and attitudes exist that makes us easily offended or overthrown. Failure occurs when the bolt becomes brittle, due to the stress of the load, the chemicals within the bolt and the processes it has been subjected to. The bolt (Christian) becomes fragile (sensitive) and is easily cracked, broken, snapped, shattered. Webster defines ``brittle'' as: ``easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged: FRAIL...easily hurt or offended: SENSITIVE.'' My wife tells of a time when their neighbor was coming down the lane to get her father to give him a haircut, as he had done for many years. As the neighbor approached the house, suddenly the lights went out (they had gone to bed). They wondered why their neighbor had become cold and even would not speak to them -- and never came back for another haircut. It was not until many years later they found out he had told others, ``they saw me comin' and turned the lights out!'' Many relationships have been destroyed because of sensitive, suspicious feelings. Our feelings become fragile, we are easily upset and offended. We become unable to take things in stride. We take things too personal and begin to think that everything is directed toward us. As those who have been ``chosen of God'' we are to be patient with one another, ``bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you'' (Col. 3:12-13). Paul admonishes us to be forbearing to one another in love (Eph 4:2). He spends most of the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians teaching brethren how to stay together and worship together. He instructs them to work out their differences with mutual respect, to be spiritually minded, to be fellow-workers, to be mature and put away childish things. Instead of being ``carnal men'' he wanted them to be ``spiritual men'' who were being transformed into the image of Christ Jesus. Hurt feelings, an offense, or wrong suffered can be very difficult to overcome. None of us like to admit we are immature enough so as to have our feelings hurt. We can avoid this failure by being content with the load and function the Lord has placed upon each of us and develop a loving, confident relationship and an attitude of openness and trust with one another. Prevention A proper load is critical to the prevention of failure. An ``underload'' can cause failure the same as an ``overload.'' Each ``joint'' in the kingdom has a function and responsibility to perform. Each of us has a load to bear -- just the right amount as the Lord has given. He did not intend for us to be free from work, trials, temptations, and responsibility (Gal. 6:5; Lk. 9:23). Thank God for an adequate amount of pressure, for stress, for our work load, because they not only keep us working properly here, they also are ''...producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen...'' (2 Cor. 4:17-18). In Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul describes the ``armor of God'' that the Christian must wear in the war with Satan. Central to that armor is the ``girdle of truth.'' To ``gird oneself'' was to prepare for action or service. The Lord ``girded Himself'' when He washed the disciples feet (John 13:4,5). It indicated the soldier was ready for action, loosened it implied ``off duty.'' The ``girdle of truth'' is essential to the prevention of failure. It strengthens, protects us, holds everything in place, keeps us from lax views of morals and duty. It makes the soul sincere, firm, constant, and always guarded against the schemes of Satan. Just as a good engineer would attempt to properly diagnose the cause of bolt failure, we each must examine ourselves. Paul said, ``Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless indeed you fail the test'' (2 Cor. 13:5)? Failure can be prevented. Rom. 10:17 says that ''...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.'' John said that ``these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.'' Without faith in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God we are doomed to failure (Heb. 11:6). We must believe that God is and that He rewards those who seek Him. That faith can only come through a knowledge of and obedience to His Word. It is He who gives us strength to keep going in face of discouragement, a bad relationship, temptation, or any other stress or load we are called upon to bear. God has many blessings in store for His disciples. He wants us to have them for our good and happiness. Failure robs us of all these and separates us from Him and ultimately keeps us from heaven. The Hebrew writer said, ``Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen'' (Heb. 13:21). ``'And I shall strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name they will walk,' declares the Lord" (Zech. 10:12). The following is a song I have on a tape at home. I don't know the name of it or who wrote it. Memorize it and repeat it to yourself when you become weak and discouraged. Sometimes I feel discouraged; I think my life is vain. I then begin to murmur And of my God complain. But when I think of Jesus And all He's done for me, Then I cry, ``O, Rock of Ages, hide thou me!'' O, Rock of Ages, hide thou me. No other refuge abides but thee. When life's dark veil I wander--far, far from thee-- Then I cry, ``O, Rock of Ages, hide thou me!" ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us continue to pray for Glenda Combs who has been in the hospital recently to undergo various testings. Bernard Young, a father of a former member in Ashland, Kentucky, will be soon undergoing surgery for his prostate and bladder August 16. Let us pray that all will go well. I also solicit prayer for Les and Nancy Atkinson, also former members in Ashland. Les was in a car wreck a couple weeks ago and is now undergoing therapy for his neck and back. His wife Nancy has not been well and will have to undgergo surgery. Due to computer problems (which are not totally resolved), this week's bulletin is late getting out. I apologize for the inconvenience. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________