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STRIKE THE TENT Mike Johnson The last words said by people before they die occur under a variety of circumstances. Sometimes people speak their last words without realizing that death is near. For example, a person’s final utterances may be a comment about what a beautiful day it is. Sometimes a person’s last words may […]
The Brevity of Life Mike Johnson The Bible uses many different terms to express the brevity of life. It describes life as a wind, a cloud, grass, a flower, and also as a vapor. (Job 7:6-10, 14:1-2; James 4:14; I Pet. 1:24). The Christian and the alien sinner constantly need to have the concept of […]
CONCERN FOR OTHERS Philippians 2:4 Mike Johnson An often overlooked yet significant passage, Philippians 2:4, says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” The NASB says, “your own personal interests.” This concept is contrary to the popular notion espoused by humanists and others […]
Are All Believers Christians? Mike Johnson What is necessary for people to be acceptable in the eyes of God? Many feel that to obtain salvation, all that is needed is the belief that Christ is the son of God. Does the Bible teach this? John 12:42-43 speaks of unsaved believers. It says, “Nevertheless even among […]
SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH Mike Johnson In James 1:19, James addresses his “beloved brethren” and gives a vital warning. The verse says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.“ Contextually, this appeal seems to refer mainly to our disposition […]
The Purpose of Baptism Mike Johnson Baptism has been a controversial subject in the religious world and also a neglected subject by many preachers and teachers. Baptism is not at all an obscure subject as the word “baptism,” or some form of it, occurs more than one hundred times in the New Testament. This subject […]
HE THAT IS BAPTIZED NOT? Mike Johnson Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” This verse plainly shows the purpose of “belief” and “baptism.” However, some point out that since the last part of verse 16 says, “…but he who does not believe will be condemned,” and does not say, […]
BAPTISM AND THE CONVERSION OF SAUL Mike Johnson In Acts 9, we read of the conversion of Saul. Here we learn that Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when the Lord appeared to him. At this point, he realized that Christ was God’s son (v. 6). Christ then told Saul to go […]
BELIEF AND BAPTISM Mike Johnson Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Jesus spoke these words just prior to his ascension. Here, salvation is promised but it is conditional. Actually, there are two conditions stated as being necessary for salvation. They are […]
The Silent Killer Mike Johnson Doctors sometimes refer to high blood pressure as “the silent killer” because people often do not know they have it until the damage happens. This article is not about our physical health but rather about another silent killer condemned in the Scriptures, “bitterness.” Like high blood pressure, it often goes […]
GOD’S INSPIRED MESSAGE Mike Johnson In I Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively […]
Carried by Angels Mike Johnson An interesting line occurs near the end of Hamlet, as Shakespeare has Horatio saying these words as Hamlet dies: “…Good night, sweet prince, / And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” (5.2.361-2). Shakespeare’s idea of angels being near when an individual dies does not conflict with what we […]
Bad Language Mike Johnson Once a farmer drove his team of mules into town. He was very late in returning, so his wife asked him what had taken so long. The farmer replied, “Well, on the way back, I had to pick up the preacher, and from then on, these mules didn’t understand one word […]
Bad Company Mike Johnson There is a story about two parrots who lived near each other. One often sang hymns while the other was addicted to swearing. The owner of the latter obtained permission for it to associate with the former in the hope that its bad habit would be corrected. Instead, the opposite happened […]
USE OF THE BIBLE Mike Johnson People use the Bible in many different ways. Sadly, some only use the Bible to record marriages, births, deaths, etc. Some people use it to swear on, sometimes calling for an entire stack. Others use it as an ornament for a living room table, thinking others will be impressed. […]