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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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October 7, 1990
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Contents:
1) The Healing Power of Forgiveness (Tom
Edwards)
2) "A Thief in the Night" (Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.)
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-1-
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
by Tom Edwards
The ability to forgive others can serve as a healthy catharsis for the
soul. Many an individual's physical well-being has been greatly
impaired due to the lack of this gracious virtue; for hate and an
unforgiving spirit can lead to numerous physical maladies.
There seems to be more of a concern manifested these days about health
in general, but often one overlooks the importance of possessing the
proper attitude towards life which also plays a major role in one's
physical condition. Poor mental health can lead to a wide variety of
physical ailments that have been psychosomatically induced. Perhaps
ulcers would be a classic example of this. The one who feels all "tied
up in knots" over some grudge because of an injustice heartlessly
inflicted is aware of the mind's influence over the body.
How much better it is for one to be set free from all entanglements of
a bitter or begrudging spirit. Jesus emphasized the need to forgive
others in Matthew 6:15 and shows it to be a prerequisite towards our
own salvation. Here He states: "But if you do not forgive men, then
your Father will not forgive your transgressions." We often speak about
the necessary steps that lead to redemption, but how often do we
include the need to forgive others as being one of the
requirements? It was certainly a condition stipulated by God
Himself.
How can we who are Christians not forgive others, especially in view of
all which God has forgiven us? This, indeed, should be the basis for
our own merciful dispostion towards those who have treated us
wrongfully. Paul conveyed this very thought in Ephesians 4:32 by
stating, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each
other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you."
The story has been told about a man whose health was good. He was
sturdy and strong; his heart functioned well, and his blood pressure
was at a good level. Then his father died, and he got into a long
legal dispute with his sister about their father's will. The case went
to court, and the sister won. From that time forward, the man became
obsessed with the lawsuit and his sister. His animosity towards her
continued to grow each day. Soon he began having trouble with his heart
and his blood pressure. Next his kidneys started bothering him; and,
within just a few short months, he died due to a multiplicity of
complications. The doctor, in commenting on his case, said, "It seems
obvious that he died from bodily injuries wrought by powerful emotion."
It appears that this man killed himself with ill-will.
God's word can teach us each to forgive. It will also show us many
reasons why we should. Let us turn to His word today and allow the
truth to set us free.
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-2-
"A Thief in the Night"
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which
the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will
melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it
will be burned up" (2 Pet. 3:10).
The Birmingham News (Sunday, August 12, 1990) carried an interesting
article entitled "Armageddon fever." It pointed out that during the
previous week volunteers handed out 15,000 reprints of America in
Prophecy by the late Ellen G. White. Apparently the current problems in
the Middle-east have stirred up various adventists and date-setters to
a fever pitch again in their predictions of the imminent return of
Christ.
It looks like that after being burned by past failures at predictions
these folks would wise up and finally accept what the Bible really
teaches about the return of our Lord. He is going to return (Acts
2:11). He will come as a thief in the night (2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Thes.
5:2). A thief does not publish a time table when he is going to appear
on the scene. Peter spoke of some who doubted that He would come, since
he had not come (2 Pet. 3). Peter assures them that Jesus would come,
but he did not say when it would be, only that he would come as a thief
in the night. Time is of no consequence to the Lord, since "one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."
Jesus could return at any time. Christians have recognized this ever
since the days of the early church. Many, over the years, have taken
upon themselves to predict when he would return. Some have given exact
dates, while others have been content to only say that it is
imminent. These have not only embarrassed themselves by their
failed predictions, they have caused Christianity to be scorned by
skeptics. No one knows when the Lord will return. Jesus said, "But of
that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My
Father only" (Matt. 24:36).
As the News article pointed out, past attempts at date-setting have all
been proven wrong. William Miller, founder of the U.S. Adventist
movement, predicted it would be between March 1843 and March 1844 and
then updated it to Oct. 22, 1844. Charles Taze Russell, founder of the
Jehovah's Witness movement, predicted 1914. Jehovah's witness leaders
made another stab at it by predicting it in 1975. Edgar Whisenant, a
retired rocket scientist, tried Sept. 1, 1988 and updated it to Sept.
1, 1989. It is amazing that these folks still have followers in view of
what the Bible says in Deut. 18:21,22: "And if you say in your heart,
`How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' when a
prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or
come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the
prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."
Some have learned the hazards of setting an exact date, so they just
simply say that it is imminent. One local Adventist preacher was quoted
in the article as saying that he teaches that the turn of the century
is the likely time for the Second Coming. He said, "We can't nail down
the year 2000 and say that's it. We've got to give or take a few years
either way."
I suspect that Oxford resident John Ronner, who was quoted in the News
article, hit the nail on the head when he said, "Millennialism sells,
and that's an indisputable fact. There is money in Armageddon." The sad
thing about it all, is that there are many sincere followers who are
helping these prognosticators sell their wares thinking they are doing
the Lord's work.
We need to be prepared whenever the Lord comes. We can do this by
believing the gospel of Christ, repenting of our sins, being baptized
for the remission of sin and being faithful to the Lord (Mark 16:15,16;
Acts 2:38; Rev. 2:10).
Don't be taken in by these speculating book and pamphlet
salesmen. They do not know anymore than you do about when the
Lord is going to return.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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