____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 18, 1993 ____________________________________________________ A Living, Transforming Hope by Paul Earnhart It is reported that several years ago researchers did a study to determine the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water from which they could not escape unaided. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour the exhausted rats all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. These animals swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given rest, but because they had hope! They had come to believe that if they held out just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. Without defending what seems to have been a rather cruel experiment, we simply observe that if this is the effect of hope on unthinking rodents, what must its power be in the lives of human beings? There is nothing so critical to the success of gospel teaching as that it gives genuine hope to sincere hearers. Any supposed teaching of Christ which drives honest searching hearts to despair is a subversion of God's gracious purpose. ``Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us'' (Hebrews 6:17-18). We do not speak here of the proud, the insincere, the worldly hearers. The gospel is designed to cause them to stumble in their lusts. But genuine and humble souls should be made to rejoice at the implications of the story of the cross. However much tempered with sobriety, the response of such people to the preaching of Jesus should always, at last, be joy. This is not to deny that the gospel begins with a profoundly painful indictment of sin, but it is easy to say that such should not be the final impact of the message. If the preaching of Christ begins by driving us to our knees in repentance, it must end by lifting us to our feet in confident faith and hope. Paul says that we are saved ``in hope'' (Romans 8:24) and truer words were never spoken. It is the confidence we feel in God's gracious promises and the assurance He gives us of our power to obtain them by faith that keeps us going and growing, serving God through good times and bad. And there is every reason that those who have trusted in Christ should have a bright and confident hope. The most wonderful thing has already happened. God, in the cross, has demonstrated His love for us so powerfully that we can never again have cause to doubt the depth of His commitment (Romans 5:8; 8:31). As Paul wonderingly asks, if that is what God is willing to do for His enemies, what would He be willing to do for His friends (5:10-11)? It is beyond imagining! ___________________________________________ Plodding Through the Storm by Tom Edwards A couple of weeks ago I was heading for Magnolia, Kentucky, to preach a gospel meeting. While driving on the Bluegrass Parkway about thirty minutes west of Lexington, I ran into a torrential downpour that at times had completely obstructed my forward vision. Immediately, I slowed the car, not only because of the rain, but also because of the powerful winds that made me wonder if there were a tornado near by. Cars were pulling off both sides of the road and parking, while I kept slowly following the vehicle ahead of me. Sometimes I had to look out my side window in search of the center line to make sure I was still properly on the road. As we neared an overpass, the car in front of me finally pulled off to where a few other cars had been parked to out wait the storm. Cautiously, I proceeded down the road, while humorously thinking something like, ``Well, I'm all alone now, since my 'old friend' pulled off." Soon, however, I amusingly discovered, within just a couple more minutes of driving, that the visibility had greatly improved; and in a few more minutes I was out of the storm completely. I kept wondering about many of those cars that stayed behind, especially the one I had been following that pulled off where there were about six other parked cars. I guess they felt as if the end of this torrential downpour would never come, when all the while, they had pulled off just a short pace from where the visibility and road were better and safer. As I thought about these things, it made me think about life itself. Though it was probably not the wisest thing for me to do, in not pulling off with the others, how often do we stop or give up in other areas of life, thinking the result can never be attained, when all the while we were just moments away from an accomplishment. It's funny how we often view time. Though the struggles and challenges along the way can sometimes seem to prolong it, when the accomplishment is attained, the length of our effort seems to suddenly shrink. I have a feeling that if I could live to be a hundred years old and knew that I wouldn't die until I reached that age, that my life would still seem abrupt and quickly taken as I look back upon it in the last few days of my life. In view of this, isn't it good to know that heaven has no end? Whatever effort, therefore, is required of you in order to make it to God's eternal glory will certainly be worth it in the Judgment Day, and though that day might seem a long way off--and as if it never will come--let us keep pressing on. For that day might be sooner than any of us realize--it might be just down the road a little while more. ___________________________________________ "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (Jms. 4:14). ___________________________________________ You CAN Do It! by Greg Gwin Have you heard about Rusty Redfern? He's an award winning artist in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Marketed through his own company (Redfern Originals), he illustrates and sells note cards, T-shirts, sweatshirts, even limited edition prints and original drawings. Now, that may not seem so terribly impressive to you. After all, there are lots of artists in this world who produce and sell artwork. But there's one other bit of information about Rusty--HE WAS BORN WITHOUT ARMS! This remarkable man uses his feet to do what most folks do with their hands. He eats with spoon and fork, answers the phone, drives his car (without special adaptations), plays football, water skis, golfs, and even plays basketball. There's a lesson to be learned from such a fellow. It is simply this--YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO! Too often we give up before ever making a serious effort. We do it at work, in school, with our families, and we do it in service to God. Too often we've heard Christians say, ``I just can't do it.'' Yes, you can! You simply have to keep trying. Is your life hard? Are you battling against some particular spiritual weakness? Do you struggle constantly to maintain faithfulness? Please take consolation in the fact that God loves you. He wants you to succeed, and He has made it possible through His Son (1 Cor. 10:13). So, keep trying. Never give up. ``Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord'' (1 Cor. 15:58). ___________________________________________ "obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9). ___________________________________________ Lying by Greg Gwin We've all heard the jokes about politicians--''How can you tell if a politician is lying? If his lips are moving!'' It is truly a shame that their past conduct has branded them with such a terrible reputation. Surely their potential for doing good has become severely limited because of their proclivity for telling lies. Christian, do you see a lesson there? Can you understand the critical need for honesty in all that we do? The Scriptures have a good deal to say about this... ``Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another'' (Ephesians 4:25). ``Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight'' (Proverbs 12:22). ``Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds'' (Colossians 3:9). From these verses we conclude that honesty is necessary in order to: Maintain our relationship with others (``members one of another'') Please the Lord (``lying lips are an abomination'') To demonstrate that we have truly been converted (``put off the old man with his deeds'') Christians, remember that ``all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death'' (Revelation 21:8). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, 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 ________________________________________