“In Your Light We See Light”

by Heath Rogers

    The sun is the ultimate and only source of light in our solar system. I know that fire gives off light. I know about bioluminescent creatures. Today we have electric lights across the globe. However, none of this would be possible without the light constantly given off by the sun. Because of the light given off by the sun, we can see our surroundings and navigate our way through this world.

     Man needs to understand that God is the only true source of spiritual enlightenment in this physical universe. Without God’s presence, we would be grasping in hopeless darkness. David wrote, “In Your light we see light” (Ps. 36:9). This is the confession of one who realized his utter dependence on God. Blessed is the one who can say, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23), then turn completely to God for guidance.

      We see things clearly and correctly when we see them as God sees them.

      Instead of viewing the Bible through the various prisms offered by the world (philosophy, science, history, politics, traditions, personal feelings, etc.), the child of God will view these different things through the lens of the Bible. For example, instead of reinterpreting the Biblical account of creation to accommodate millions of years of evolution, we will view the world around of us having been created around 10,000 years ago. Instead of suggesting Moses borrowed from the religious traditions of his neighbors in writing the creation account, we will realize these traditions were founded on historical events passed down by their ancestors. Instead of allowing everyone to formulate their own version of truth, we will realize and insist there is a universal standard of right and wrong. Things get much clearer when we see with God’s light.

     God’s word is a light to guide us through a world of darkness. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). With the Bible in hand, we can choose the right path, avoid the pitfalls of life, and find our way to our heavenly home. When one turns away from God’s word, he finds darkness.

      God gave physical light to this world in the beginning (Gen. 1:3). He gave spiritual light through the revelation of His will. This revelation saw its fullness in Christ. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Jesus knew His mission, and could say with confidence, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Are You Like the Bears in Yellowstone Park?

The bears in Yellowstone Park get so used to being fed by tourists that when winter snows come many bears starve to death. They have forgotten how to feed themselves. Many Christians are suffering from the same problem. They get so used to being fed in the church building that they never learn how to feed themselves. Christians need both - faithfulness in Bible classes offered by the congregation and time spent in study at home. Have you fed yourself on the Bible lately?

Today, November 1985

“Remember the Sabbath”

by Jeff Curtis

The observance of the Sabbath day was part of the Old Testament law that was abolished (Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 2:14). Christians are not obligated to keep any part of the Old Testament Law, including the Sabbath regulations. The fourth commandment was the only one of the Ten Commandments which was not incorporated into the law of Christ (Exodus 20:8). Some people speak of Sunday as “the Christian Sabbath,” but there is no such thing. The Sabbath day was the seventh day of the week, that is, Saturday (Exodus 20:8-11). The day of worship for Christians is Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1Corinthians 16:2), which came to be called the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10). The fact that early Christians had a special day and time as well as specific activities for worship is attested to by historical writings.

The first day of the week became the day of worship for Christians because this was the day that Jesus arose from the grave (Matthew 28:1-6; Luke 24:1-6; John 20:1-9). As far as we know, every recorded post-resurrection appearance of Jesus that is associated with a specific day occurred on the first day of the week. Sunday is the day when Christians gather together to pray, sing praises to God, listen to a message from God’s Word, give of their money, and observe the Lord’s Supper.

The New Testament teaches Christians to assemble on the Lord’s Day, both by apostolic example and by direct commandment. If we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week, as was customary in the early church (Acts 20:7; 1Corinthians 11:20-34; 16:2), then it is mandatory that we be present. The writer of Hebrews wrote to encourage Jewish Christians not to “give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25, NIV). Since early Christians met on the first day of the week – a fact verified by the New Testament and other historical accounts – the assembly mentioned in Hebrews obviously was this one. The inspired writer didn’t want his readers to forsake the practice of meeting with the church on the Lord’s Day.

When He Writes “Forgiven”

author unknown

In a small town in the South during the Great Depression, there was a Christian physician widely known for his medical skill and for his kindness.

After his death, when his books were examined by his wife and other heirs, there were many accounts which had written across them in red ink the words, “Forgiven – too poor to pay.” The wife and heirs were not as kindly disposed as the old doctor, and they determined to collect these accounts since they added up to quite a large sum of money.

They sued for the money. The judge asked the wife, “Is this your husband’s handwriting in red?” She answered that it was. The judge shook his head and said, “In this case, there is not a tribunal in the land that can collect this money, for he has plainly written, ‘Forgiven’ on these accounts.”

We can be sure that when the Great Physician has written “Forgiven” on our spiritual debts, we have been forever released from them.