Precious Is the Death of a Saint
(Psalm 116:15)
Mike Johnson
Psalm 116:15 informs us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” What does this mean? People think of death in many ways. A loved one’s death is one of the greatest agonies people typically face in their lives. We think of losing a loved one in terms of heartache, tears, sorrow, and pain. Yet this passage says the death of a saint is precious in the sight of the Lord! This verse is looking at death more from God’s perspective. God delights when people become Christians — there is rejoicing in heaven; He delights in our progress and finally looks at our death as coming home to Him. To us, death is a departure; to God, a saint’s death is an arrival.
Consider a statement Paul made in his letter to the Philippians 1:21-23. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” At this time, Paul was in a Roman prison expecting to be released. He stated that if he lived, he would be able to continue helping the Philippians. However, if he died, he would be able to depart and be with Christ, which, he says, would be far better than life upon the earth.
When faithful Christians die, they can look at God as welcoming them to their new home. It is important to serve God faithfully. One day we will pass from this life, and God can welcome us home. Precious is the death of a saint!
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Setting Your Spiritual Clock
Steve Klein
Several years ago it was reported that the telephone operator in a town in Cape Cod received a call every morning asking for the correct time. Finally, overcome with curiosity, she asked the inquirer, “Would you mind telling me why you call about this time every day and ask for the correct time?” “Sure, I’ll tell you,” the man said. “I want to get the exact time because I’m the man who blows the whistle at twelve o’clock.” “Well, that’s funny, that is,” said the operator, “because every day at the stroke of noon I set our clock by your whistle.”
How often do we set standards for ourselves based on what others are doing without considering what standard they are following? The examples of others are worthy of emulation ONLY IF those setting the examples are following the ONE TRUE standard or rule. This seems to be Paul’s point in Philippians 3:16b-17 when he states, “let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” To follow the example of others without being aware of what standard they themselves are following is the height of folly. The scriptures speak of those who, “measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Setting Your Watch
Every individual has a personal standard which he takes with him everywhere. He may either choose to follow it or ignore it. This inner standard is his conscience. Like a wrist watch which we may check through the day to keep us “on time,” the conscience can be used to keep us on the right track if it has been correctly set. But the conscience can be set by a false standard. Saul of Tarsus lived “in all good conscience” when he was a blasphemer and persecutor of Christians (Acts 23:1; 1 Timothy 1:13). The individual who sets his watch by asking a stranger on the street for “the correct time” is a lot like a man who sets his moral standards and religious beliefs by others.
This careless conscience setting is seen, for example, in a Christian whose conscience allows him or her to wear immodest attire because “it is not as immodest as what others wear” or “other Christians dress like this.” It is seen in the person who believes that they can be saved by “faith only,” not because they ever read it in the scriptures (see James 2:24), but because that’s what their parents or grandparents believed.
Setting the “Church Clock”
Groups of people sometimes also set their collective conscience by an uncertain standard. In the days of the judges, Israel pled for a king; they wanted to be “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). As a group of people, they had set their clock by the surrounding nations. In doing so, they rejected the Lord as their standard of authority (1 Samuel 8:7).
Even so, many churches today set their programs of work according to what surrounding churches (denominations) are doing. Children’s church, Easter observances, and “rallies” to entertain the young people are just a few of the practices adopted by some churches of Christ (so-called) which illustrate this point. Each of these things have been done among denominations for decades, and now some churches of Christ are setting their clocks accordingly. Not one of these practices can be found in scripture, either by command, statement, apostolic example or necessary conclusion. These practices are of human origin.
Jesus said, “in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
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Slow-Paced Favors
Mike Johnson
Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.”
The verses make it clear that certain people deserve our assistance. Therefore, we should give help “to whom it is due.”
Also, we see it is essential not only to do good but to do good toward others in a timely fashion. Procrastination in the performance of good toward others may result in a kind act not taking place, or it may result in recipients unnecessarily suffering because they do not get the help in a reasonable time. The Greeks had an adage: “A slow-paced favor is a flavorless favor.”
In Luke 10:29-36, we read the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was beaten, robbed, and left half-dead in the story. A priest and a Levite saw him in that condition and passed by without assisting him. Next, a Samaritan passed by, and he immediately helped the beaten man. He helped him with both his time and his money. Of what value would it have been to the man on the side of the road if the Samaritan had said, “Maybe I’ll help this poor man on my way back”? The man could have been dead by then, and indeed his suffering would have continued.
Galatians 6:10 tells us, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” “Doing good” is broad in scope; it is an individual responsibility for each Christian. We can “do good” to others in many ways. For example, we can send cards to sick or grieving people and even bring them food if necessary. We can visit older people who are lonely and visit sick people in the hospital who might need encouragement. We can also provide rides to services for those who need them; give money to needy people or a good cause; and encourage those who are spiritually weak. A list of “doing good” can go on and on. It seems, though, that one of the biggest obstacles we face in fulfilling this responsibility is procrastination. People often intend to help others, but they never seem to follow through. The intent is there, but the “favors” are too slow in coming. Procrastination has been called “the grave in which we bury opportunities.”
In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus revealed what things would be like on Judgment Day. The King would say to those on the right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” The righteous will then ask Jesus when they had done these things for him. Jesus explained (V. 40), “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.“
Those approved by Jesus did not merely think about doing these good deeds; they did not make soon forgotten plans. If they had, Jesus would have grouped them with the unrighteous in this chapter who will, at the Judgment Day, be cast into the lake of fire (V. 41).
Many are guilty of not helping others at all. But as the verse in Proverbs tells us, when there is a legitimate need, we must not only help the person, but we must do so in a timely way. Delay may unnecessarily extend suffering or keep a person from receiving help at all. Thinking about helping is not enough.
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Positively No Visiting
Bill Hall
Recently, while visiting patients in a hospital, we observed several signs saying, “No Visiting.” Then we came to a sign that said, “Positively No Visiting.” I suppose some day we will find one that will read, “Absolutely Positively No Visiting.” If only we could learn to respect authority so that “No Visiting” would just mean no visiting.
The attitude of many toward the Lord’s authority is the same as it is toward a “No Visiting” sign. They somehow feel that they are an exception to the rule or that somehow the Lord will overlook this one instance of flouting His authority. But the same God who would not overlook Nadab and Abihu’s strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-2), David’s new cart (2 Samuel 6:1-7), or Ananias and Sapphira’s cover-up tactics, will not overlook our disregard for His authority.
The words “positively” and “absolutely” are not found in the King James Version of the Bible. But they are inferred in every statement and command found in the scriptures. One cannot hope to go to heaven while disregarding Christ’s authority.
from Two Men