____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ March 3, 1991 ____________________________________________________ Faith To Endure by Tom Edwards As we study through the Bible, we can be greatly inspired by the people of God who were so committed to the Lord that they were willing to endure great sacrifices and consider it but a small loss in view of that which they had to gain by their faith in the Almighty. It was this fervent and undying trust they had in God that kept them in a better frame of mind and enabled them to persevere. Their hope was built on the indestructible Rock of Ages which could not be tumbled, cracked, or crushed by the ravaging storms of misfortunes and tribulations. Faith, for them, filled the void of hopelessness and despair with a vision of a brighter tomorrow and the comforting realization of a present God who cares for them in all their distresses, and One who is near. With these eyes of faith, many a follower of the Lord has been able to press on through the scathing sandstorms of opposition by focusing on that ultimate, eternal goal that causes our temporary existence to appear as nothing more than a brief, passing shadow in contrast. ``Set your affection on things above,'' writes Paul to the Colossians (3:2); and the Hebrew writer exhorts the Christians to ``run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith'' (Heb. 12:1,2). These passages necessitate the need for spiritual eyes that will help us in looking beyond the temporary to the eternal, and from the physical to the spiritual. By so doing, we are walking by faith, and not by (physical) sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Let us consider the following examples of some of the loyal believers, from days gone by, who had fixed their gaze on the eternal God: Hebrews 10:32-34 records: ``But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.'' Virtually, no one likes to be persecuted, and if we found someone who did, we might think that person to be a little odd or perhaps masochistic. The fact that these believers could accept their misfortunes ``joyfully,'' however, does not mean that they were glad to have lost these things per se, but rather it indicates that their minds had been attuned to the Spirit of God, and He gave them a joy that was not on the basis of materialism or anything tangible -- but a blessedness that transcends from the springs of God's spiritual fountain itself. They, therefore, had a joy that could not be robbed from them. Their hearts were filled with the hope of a better and an everlasting life with God; and, though they lost their possessions and were in dire need of these things, their greatest need -- which pertains to their relationship with God -- was well secured, and for this reason they could rest assuredly on the promises of the Lord and find an abounding consolation in their Savior. In the following chapter of Hebrews, we read of Moses who ``when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, then to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward'' (Heb. 11:24-26). No, not many would chose to suffer, if they had the choice; but Moses was willing to, and even considered it to be of greater value ``than the treasures of Egypt,'' for he, too, ardently looked forward toward his heavenly prize with God, and this gave him the motivation he needed. What is material wealth anyway? We need to remind ourselves that wealth and material possessions are all IRRELEVANT when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Whether you're a rich man or a poor man, there is only one door of salvation to be entered by all. As you probably remember, Jesus warned, ``For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?'' (Mark 8:36). Money could take you out of the town, out of the country, and even around the world; but it can not take you out of your sins and into God's heavenly realm. Moses was, therefore, wise in sacrificing the wealth at his fingertips for the God that his heart longed. We could also turn back to the Old Testament and read of Daniel who would rather be thrown into the lion's den than to give up his time of prayer. And his three friends: Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, who yielded to being tossed into the fiery furnace than to deny God by worshiping any other. These faithful Hebrews, during the Babylonian captivity, remained loyal and uncompromising to their God, even though they were in a strange country and far from their homeland. Obviously, their faith, commitment, and devotion they had not left behind, but brought with them into this heathen land which abounded in the belief and worship of false deities. So many of the early Christians would also have an inspiring story to share. Acts 8:4 declares that even though members in the primitive church were driven from their own homes, due to the persecution, they were willing to continue their quest in teaching the gospel wherever they went -- that same message that had brought so much affliction to them. Consequently, their lives testify towards their faith and proclaim that they could look beyond the temporary difficulties which they encountered and press on in their service to God, knowing that they, too, had a better and a permanent home awaiting them in heaven's glory. Paul enumerated many of the troubles he experienced due to his preaching of the word (2 Cor. 11:23-28), but how did he view it all? ``we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...For momentary, light affliction is 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; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal'' (2 Cor. 4:8,9,17,18). A common denominator in the lives of each of these faithful followers of God, who were so willing to sacrifice and suffer on the Lord's behalf, is that they each had something better to look forward to -- eternal life. This gave meaning and purpose to all their trials and made their sufferings for the cause of the Lord worthwhile. Not only, however, did they have something better to look forward to, but they also had a relationship with God to maintain at their present time, which made their lives complete, as they experienced the blessedness of being part of the family of God. As in all our lives, we need the Lord not just for in the great by and by, but also to help us in our every day activities, no matter how insignificant they might seem. Furthermore, to have God later, we need to have him now. The faith, hope, and commitment these early Christians possessed is what we today may also have. We need to begin by honestly investigating God's word and making it a part of our lives, so that we, too, may have this same great faith to endure. May we help you in this by mailing to you one of our FREE Bible courses? If so, then simply mail your name and address to the address shown in this bulletin and make your request. Thank you. ___________________________________________ "The Rock" by Tom Edwards The people in Caesarea Philippi had various ideas as to who Jesus really was. Some thought that He was John the baptist while others viewed Him as being Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. When the Lord questioned Simon Peter, however, concerning His idenity, he correctly answered: ``Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God'' (Matt. 16:16). Jesus then responded by saying: ``And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.'' What was this ``rock'' which the Lord promised to build His church upon? Though many have believed it to be Peter himself, the context implicity shows that it was Peter's testimony toward Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God. The rock, therefore, is Jesus; and it is He who serves as the foundation of the church. Peter's name in the Greek is ``Petros,'' which means ``a stone.'' It is because of this definition that many people have assumed that the church was to be built upon Peter who would become its foundation. However, it was not on this ``stone,'' but on the ``rock'' which Jesus had planned to build His church. The term ``rock'' is derived from the Greek word ``petra,'' which Bullinger defines as ``a rock, a projecting rock, a cliff; geologically, a rock...as distinguished from petros, a stone, a rolling stone, a loose stone, that might be thrown by hand, etc.'' Furthermore, Paul declares who the true foundation is in 1 Corinthians 3:11. Here he exclaims, ``For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.'' The church belongs to Jesus. He is its founder (Mat. 16:16), its ``chief cornerstone'' (1 Pet. 2:6) as well as its foundation, and the only one who could ever bring it into existence by His death on the cross of Calvary (Acts 20:28). We must, therefore, in order to be saved in the Judgment Day, be a part of His church and function in it according to His word (Eph. 5:23; Eph. 1:22,23), for these verses show that Jesus is the ``Savior of the body,'' and that ``the body'' is ``the church.'' This ``body,'' therefore, is made up of those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Have you been made a part of the Lord's church so that you may rest securely upon its foundation of Jesus Himself? He is ``the rock'' which we must build upon. ___________________________________________ Mary Had A Little Boy Mary had a little boy. His soul was white as snow. He never went to Bible class, Cause Mary wouldn't go. He never heard the tales of Christ That thrill the childish mind; While other children went to class This child was left behind. And, as he grew from babe to youth, She saw to her dismay; A soul that once was snowy white Became a dingy gray. Realizing he was lost, She tried to win him back; But now the soul that once was white, Had turned an ugly black. She even started back to church And Bible study too. She begged the preacher, "Isn't there A thing that you can do?" And so, another soul is lost That once was white as snow. Bible study would have helped -- But Mary wouldn't go. -- Blake Martin ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________