What Would Lazarus Have Said? - Luke 16:30-31

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” - Luke 16:30

    What if Lazarus had returned from the dead? What would he have told the rich man’s brothers?
    Despite our best intentions sometimes we are forced to seriously consider the loss of a friend or member of our family who was, for lack of a more delicate term, “unsaved.” Platitudes are routinely expressed by one and all and far more often than not by well-meaning folks who simply wish to express their sympathy, having had no real knowledge of the deceased’s character or reputation. But here we find ourselves, having known the individual intimately or at least to the degree that we’re certain that the man or woman being eulogized is nothing like the man or woman being described. There is a Latin phrase - “de mortuis nil nisi bonum,”  of the dead say nothing but good. It is in fact so ingrained in our culture that even the most mean-spirited and hateful professional journalists seldom break the rule.
If we, as Christians are asked to say something at the wake or memorial we may be forced to say a few words to the grieving party. We would be perfectly right to express our sympathy for their loss; however, we must never, never repeat the nonsense that their loved one is in “a better place!” That could very well be a bold faced lie. “A better place?” Where? What is it about this “place” that makes it better? Is there more leg room? Do the seats recline? Is there free WIFI? Then, of course, there’s the sage who pronounces that the deceased is “no longer in pain.” My impulse when I hear such a ridiculous statement is to ask, “What makes you so sure that they are in no pain now?”   
    Certainly we cannot know the heart of man. Only God can know what is in a person’s heart. But when the gathering begins to share what a wonderful person so-and so was we may remember a different person; one not as ingratiating as the mythological being they are all describing. That doesn’t mean we are required to correct the record but we must be careful not to feed revisionist history. And any prayers we have must be for the surviving family and friends of the deceased. What kind of prayers should they be?
    Perhaps if Lazarus could return from heaven to speak to the rich man’s brothers we would know exactly what to pray for. Perhaps if Lazarus spoke, he would have declared  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” - John 14:6. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12. And I would add, “ . . . Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” - 2nd Corinthians 6:2. He would plead with them that if they chose Christ, now, that the offer of eternal life would be extended to them, today! He would cry out to them, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11.  He would tell them “that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It may certainly be too late for the deceased but it is not too late for the living! Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ forever. That is what I believe he would say.

Preliminary To Armageddon - 2nd Timothy 4:3-4

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. - 2nd Timothy 4:3-4

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” - Opening Lines of the Declaration of Independence

    No where in the Declaration of Independence does it even mention or allude to the unalienable RIGHT to abortion, homosexual acts, or euthanasia. The word “Life”  itself, precludes even the notion of murder, whether it be of the innocent unborn or the aged of our nation. And the vile crassness of any kind of sex outside the bonds of holy matrimony as Biblically defined, one man and one woman, represents a death of its own sordid variety. Certainly, according to the Declaration, God Almighty never endowed anyone with any such “rights!” The very idea that a holy God would present mankind with such a depraved set of individual “options” is obscene in itself. These sinful notions are indeed the stuff that un-Godly myths are made of.
    As Christians we are daily faced with repugnant ideas, “laws,” and positions that we simply cannot agree with or kowtow to. And while it is true that our enemy, Satan, the Accuser, is a spirit of darkness, he often uses his minions in the physical world to wreak havoc upon our sensibilities and our lives. Just as our Heavenly Father used human agents to do His bidding throughout Holy Scripture it is not beyond the scope of consideration to believe that He still does so. Ask any Bible-believing Christian; no, ask anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of Scripture to name a person in the Bible. Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Esther, Mary, Joseph will be among those noted and the list goes on of the “human agents” that God has used to achieve His holy will. Are we to assume that God no longer uses human agents in the 21st Century? Even in our recent past we know that prayer alone did not, could not, stop the Nazi Holocaust. Human agents had to be employed and empowered by God almighty to end the horrendous slaughter of the European Jewish communities. There are thousands of nameless martyrs who can no longer spread the Gospel . . . because they are dead! And while I am not suggesting that there is new revelation from God, could the authority to physically defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (within the Scriptural definition) already exist in the Bible along side of our spiritual weapons of warfare? After all, was it not Jesus Christ Himself, who on the eve of His crucifixion commanded His disciples, “ . . .“But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword let him, sell his garment and buy one.” - Luke 22:36. Liberal Christian theology would love to redact this verse from Luke because a Christ-centered command to self-defense flies in the face of their “easy going, all love and mercy Jesus.”
From the beginning God has demanded physical justice in response to physical evil. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” - Genesis 9:6. We are called to “provide” for our own, our households, and our faith or be considered “worse” than unbelievers. Doesn’t providing for our own include the act of physically defending them in the face of violence? “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” - 1 Timothy 5:8. Didn’t David declare, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle-” - Psalm 144:1. Even the wisdom of the Proverbs indicates that “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.” Proverbs 25:26.
The time is no longer coming . . . the time is here! We simply cannot continue to ignore or refuse to train ourselves to protect our faith, our families, our nation, and our lives any longer. The writing IS on the wall - “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8.
May we all wake up before the impending persecutions that will indeed become common place if we refuse to be engaged physically as well as spiritually and may the hand of God guide us in our defense of the faith.

The Elephant And The Ant- Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work - Titus 1:16

I used to play a game with my children when they were small. I’d draw a picture of an animal and then write the wrong name of it underneath. If I drew, say, an ant, I would write “elephant” underneath it. They would then laugh and correct me. We had fun with the ridiculous names I would write under different animals. I see much the same deliberate misnomers at work today when people deny the true nature of God. They describe God as the see Him . . . on their terms rather than the way he describes Himself in holy Scripture. But there’s nothing funny at play when people deny the true attributes of God. This should be as sobering as a splash of cold water in one’s face. - “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” - 2 Timothy 2:12.
When we describe God on our own terms we essentially deny both His holiness and His sovereignty. We deliberately exhibit our sinful pride as we attribute to God those traits and qualities they we find most appealing to our human desires. Rather than exhibiting the reverent fear of the Lord as Isaiah did we exhibit the arrogance of the Pharisees. As for such people, God often hardens the hearts rather then sending the Holy Spirit to indwell it. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting . . . .” - Romans 1:28. The reason for God’s holy wrath is also clear from scripture - “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” - Romans 1:18-19. God has manifested His attributes to us all. To deny them and ascribe to Him our own subjective traits is a direct assault on His character and will not go unpunished. .  “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:33.  Let us never attempt to redefine the standards of our holy and sovereign of God.

Endless Possibilities - Luke 18:26

“And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” - Luke 18:26

How often I have heard unbelievers respond negatively to the outward call of God. It seems they object to the possibility of their own salvation on two fronts: (1) They don’t know “how” to achieve it, and (2) they simply cannot fathom the power of grace. In a word, most feel it would require some works related scenario for them to “find God.” This is perhaps one of the most perplexing issues facing us as evangelists - we have a group of unbelievers who can’t understand what must be done to be saved and when we tell them that it is by the grace of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ they look at us as though we had two heads! So how do we solve the conundrum? We could use some template for salvation similar to “the Graham Formula”: ( Sermon+Counseling+Follow Up = Decision = Born Again Decision), but that would be disingenuous and a lie. I believe that Dr. Sinclair Ferguson said best -  “The remedy for a culture that will not listen to the preaching of the word is to preach the word.” And it is in that preaching of the word that our audience will find the true road to salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9.  God will open the hearts of those whom He has deemed to be saved, not because of anything they have done but because of His own pleasure. In their inability to understand the grace and love of God they need to be given God’s own words on the subject of “how” they can be saved - “But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’” - Luke 18:27
Think of someone who we wouldn’t necessarily consider “saved.” Is he or she any worse than we were before the grace of God overwhelmed us in our sin and regenerated our lives? When we think of salvation, wasn’t the thief on the cross next to Christ saved? “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” - Luke 23: 42-43. And what of the likes of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians. Through the grace of God he too was saved. As for myself I know if He saved me; he can save anyone. There is no one above the grace of God.

Putting God First - Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

Do we not all sometimes wonder and fret about fulfilling our needs? Will there be enough at the end of the month to carry us comfortably over into the next? In fact, how often are our anxieties more about our desires than our needs? However, if this is not the case and it is the pressures of meeting our financial responsibilities then perhaps we need revisit those “first works” we performed as fledgling believers.
Anxiety can eat at our faith like rust eats the hull of the strongest ship. It especially eats at our peace of mind. Whenever we worry we must remember the words of our Lord and Savior - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.
In our title verse, exactly what “things” was Christ referring to? Those things are needs common to all men: what to eat, drink and clothe ourselves with; still the common concerns of all mankind. But Christ informed His disciples to first seek the kingdom and righteousness of God . . .and all these “things” would be added.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The blessings of this life come . . . by Divine Promise.” God has never broken His promises to man. But it is incumbent upon us to put God first in our lives if we are to enjoy His promises to us. We all remember the fervency with which we first devoted ourselves to Him. Do our passions for Him still burn brightly in our hearts or have they faded along with our trust? “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” - Revelation 2:5. Let us all remember the burning desire for Christ that filled our hearts when we first believed. Let us stop our worrying since worrying has never solved a single problem.  “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” -  Luke 12:25-26.
As we put God first in our lives He shall add all these other things to our lives. His word is truth.
“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.” - Psalm 43:3. Put God first!

The Cost Of The World - Matthew 16:26

 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:26

    The world we live in is a secular prison. We are expected to behave in a “politically correct” manner or we face the wrath of the world. One need only pick up a newspaper or turn on the news to see what has been happening to Christians around the world, not just here in America. In fact, in many foreign places Christians risk life and limb if they refuse to conform to the world.
    The Greek word for soul is psuchē. The definition mentions three very closely related words: spirit, soul, and vitality. Christ was teaching His disciples that there was no “profit,” i.e. benefit or advantage, if they were to gain the popularity of the world then in turn lose their spirit, vitality, or soul. Here Christ is equating spirit, vitality, or soul with spiritual life, something a great deal more valuable than the kudos of the world. Jesus is asking us the point blank question: if we sit well in the world at the expense of our spiritual life what have we gained? If it has cost us our spiritual life then we remain spiritually dead! And the spiritually dead will not be granted eternal salvation. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” - John 3:3.
    We must always remember that conforming to the world isn’t in our best interest,
spiritually. But the decision to conform remains solidly within our hearts. And we know from the words of holy Scripture that our hearts can only exist in one of two realms. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21. Does our treasure consist of loving the world or does it consist of loving Christ? One way relies on human pride and  maintains mankind’s enmity with God; the other repents in humility and relies on God’s grace through the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Did Christ Die For Everyone? - John 17:9

 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” - John 17:9

My father was a generous man. They said of him that “he never met a stranger.” So it came as no surprise that when we had company over he would always insist to my siblings and myself, “Make sure everyone gets something to eat.” He wanted to make sure that “everyone” was fed, but did he actually and technically mean “everyone?” Everyone as in everyone on the planet? Well you can see that he meant everyone who was visiting our home. My point here is that semantics must be considered, especially when terms like “everyone” or “everybody” are used, especially in the Bible. Christ was very specific when He chose to be. No cryptic parables or unfathomable commands. Jesus could cut straight to the point, as the title verse shows. But there are still many evangelical Christians who believe that Christ died for all of humanity. When even He said He did not come to save everyone. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” - Matthew 7:21. There are countless times in the Bible when Christ refers to “His sheep” as opposed to all sheep. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” - John 10:14. It is vitally important for us to understand that if “all the people” were ultimately going to heaven (Universalism) Christ need not have suffered and died for us in the first place. There would be no such place as hell! But we know there is such a place of eternal suffering because Jesus told there is. “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” - Luke 12:5. In fact, of all the prophets and apostles who are mentioned in our Holy Bible, it is Jesus who has more to say about hell than any other! But those of us who are truly Christ’s sheep need not fear the warnings of Jesus.  “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13: 41-42. No, Christ didn’t die for everyone but He is the Good Shepherd and for His sheep (the elect) who believe in Him eternal salvation awaits us by the grace of God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.