Tag Archives: Bob Prichard

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, JESUS CHRIST, JOHN, MARK, MATTHEW

WHY DID JESUS REFUSE, AND THEN ACCEPT THE “VINEGAR” OFFERED AT THE CROSS? — BOB PRICHARD

As they took Jesus to Golgotha crucify Him, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink” (Matthew 27:34). Mark described the drink given to Christ as “wine mingled with myrrh” (Mark 15:23). What Matthew and Mark were describing was a cheap Roman vinegar wine which had a drug mixed in to dull the senses. It was the Roman custom that they would offer a man undergoing crucifixion this drugged wine so that he might more easily endure his cross. Jesus refused this wine, however, apparently so that he would be able to undergo His suffering with a clear mind.

As Jesus neared death, he said “I thirst” (John 19:28). One of the natural physical effects of crucifixion was great thirst due to the loss of body fluids. David predicted the death of Christ saying, “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalms 69:21). John recognized this fulfillment of prophecy: “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst” (John 19:28). In the fulfillment of this prophecy, Jesus demonstrated His humanity. One of the heresies at the end of the first century was the idea that Jesus was not really human.  In his description of Jesus, however, John demonstrated that Jesus was both truly man and truly deity.

John described the last moments of the life of Christ, saying, “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:29-30). Jesus was at the point of death and wished to say His final words. His parched throat and lips needed moisture, so He accepted the vinegar.

It is significant as to how the vinegar was offered to Jesus. “They filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” Any Jew who saw the hyssop would immediately think of the night of the first Passover when each family was to slay a perfect lamb and put its blood on the door post, so that the death angel would pass over.  Moses had commanded the Israelites, “Ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning” (Exodus 12:22). It was the blood of the Passover lamb that saved the Israelites from death. On the cross, the perfect lamb of God gave His life’s blood so that men could be saved.

His last words from the cross were, “It is finished.” Jesus came to serve and to carry out the will of the Father. In His life, His ministry, and His death, He perfectly fulfilled the will of His heavenly Father, and made the perfect sacrifice for mankind.

BIBLE, JESUS CHRIST

LOST YEARS — BOB PRICHARD

A study of the life of Christ reveals a stark fact. Although there is abundant information about His birth and the events associated with His earliest childhood, we know nothing about His  life between those days and the beginning of His public ministry at age thirty, with the exception of the incident in the temple when He was twelve years old. What was he doing in the intervening years?

In Jesus: A Biography from a Believer, Paul Johnson suggests that Jesus probably worked at a number of different professions, including that of a shepherd and that of a farmer, since He used so many illustrations from the world of the shepherd and the farmer. Surely Joseph  taught Jesus the trade of carpentry. Teaching in the synagogue, He astonished the people , who said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” (Mark 6:3). From this statement, we surmise that Joseph was no longer living, so Jesus likely waited to begin His public ministry until he had fulfilled his responsibility as the oldest son to care for His mother and younger brothers and sisters, not yet adults.

Although we have no inspired description of those “lost years,” we can see that they were not lost years but years of preparation. The incident in that temple demonstrates that from His youth Jesus was preparing for His life’s work. Mary said, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48–49). He knew what was needed was to serve His heavenly Father. He knew He was pursuing knowledge, preparing for His public ministry. When fulness of the time came (Galatians 4:4), He was totally prepared for His ministry. He gave us an example to follow in His suffering (1 Peter 2:21), but also in preparation for service. Are you in a period of “lost years”? Make it a time of preparation for service.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING, MATTHEW

IS IT SINFUL TO “JUDGE” SOMEONE ELSE? — BOB PRICHARD

Most people would assume that is is sinful to judge another person. After all, Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Because of this statement, many have assumed that it is sinful to correct anyone, because this would mean that one is “judging.” But is it even possible to go through life without ever judging, or discerning between what is right, and what is wrong?

Paul wrote, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). How can one determine that his brother is “overtaken in a fault,” without “judging” him? To say, “You cannot condemn my actions, because that would be judging me,” is to say that nothing can ever be determined to be wrong. This idea promotes a moral indifference that nothing is really sinful, and as long as you condemn no one else’s sin, no one can condemn your sin.

Jesus qualified  his teaching about judging: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). Jesus commanded, in very “judgmental” terms, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). When you remove the beam from your own eye, then you will be in a proper position to help your brother remove the speck from his eye.

Paul said for the spiritual to “bear one another’s burdens,” and to restore the man “overtaken in a fault.” He said that this was done “in the spirit of meekness.” Meekness, a part of the fruit of the Spirit, is the key to proper judging  of the works of another. Meekness is closely related to humility and childlikeness. Jesus said that His followers must humble themselves as little children, if they are to enter into the kingdom.  “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). If we approach the faults of others from the standpoint of meekness and humility, we can properly “judge” them. That is, when we act out of humility and weakness, we will have no thought for our own pride, but will with childlike sincerity correct one another.

In talking about how each member of the body of Christ, the church, is to work together, Paul said that we are to be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Is it more loving to leave a person in his sin by saying nothing, or is it more loving to “judge” him, and try to help him leave his sin? If we are truly “speaking the truth in love,” correcting one another in a spirit of meekness, we will please God.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

JUST ONE INGREDIENT — BOB PRICHARD

My daughter Jennifer has become somewhat of a gourmet cook, trying many new dishes through her cooking club. She still likes to make some old family favorites as well, such as “pineapple au gratin.” The whole family was anticipating a wonderful dish. It smelled so good as it cooked, and it looked just as good, but it tasted terrible. Consideration of the situation revealed that it had been made correctly, with one exception—salt had been accidentally substituted for sugar in the dish. It was just one ingredient, but it made all the difference!

A young man who had most things right in his life came to see Jesus, He questioned, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him, “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.” He replied, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:17-23).

The recipe for eternal life was almost complete, but he lacked one thing, and it was a big one—because he had great possessions. Jesus loved him, and appreciated his dedication, but his good deeds were not “good enough” to secure eternal life.

The general teaching of our religious world, which stresses faith, and sometimes repentance, usually lacks one thing—obedience to the gospel by being baptized for the remission of sins. Most would say that surely living a good life, keeping the ten commandments, even saying the “sinner’s prayer,” is “good enough.” But nothing substitutes for obedience to the will of God. Salt may look like sugar, but it is not sugar, and it cannot be substituted without spoiling the dish, We must follow God’s recipe for salvation: faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism into Christ. Just one substitution will bring ruin.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

NO ALTERNATIVE THOUGHT — BOB PRICHARD

The May 14, 2007 issue of National Review had several memorial tributes to the late Patricia Taylor Buckley, the wife of National Review founder and retired Editor at Large William F. Buckley, Jr. In his tribute to his wife, Buckley included a portion of a letter from a friend that praised her elegant greatness. “I am a confirmed nonbeliever, but for once I would like to be mistaken, and hope that, for you, this is not goodbye, but hasta luego (“See you later”—BP).” Buckley concludes, “No alternative thought would make continuing in life, for me, tolerable.” Is not he correct? What is the alternative to knowing that there is something beyond this life, that we will see one another again?

Pity the poor nonbeliever who does not believe in the life to come. Has he considered the fact that if we believers are wrong, and there is  nothing beyond this life, then we will still have had full lives of hope and, the blessing of associating with fellow believers? And if he is wrong, then he will not only have lived a life of hopelessness, having missed the greatest blessings in this life, but he will have also forfeited the blessings God has prepared for His children. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

The resurrection of Christ was not only the heart of apostolic preaching, but it was and is the motivation for us to trust and look to the future. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

IS ANGER ALWAYS WRONG? CAN IT BE CONTROLLED? — BOB PRICHARD

Anger is a destructive emotion that has led to every kind of sin, including murder, as when Cain killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:4-8). The elder brother of the “prodigal son” refused to go to the party for his brother because “he was angry, and would not go in” (Luke 15:28). Paul wrote “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). It is possible to be angry without sinning, but very difficult.

As Jesus saw the moneychangers cheating His people in the temple, He made a scourge of small cords, and drove them out of the temple, saying, “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” (John 2:16). Undoubtedly Jesus was angry. He acted out of  “righteous indignation.” He was angry, but He did not sin because He was zealous for the glory of God. The child of God ought to be angry when the glory of God is challenged, and it is a great tragedy for Christians to be so tolerant that nothing makes them angry.  

James gives a simple prescription for dealing with anger: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

To be “swift to hear” means to be a ready listener. All too often we become easily angered because we do no have enough information. When a person really listens to another person, sometimes even “reading between the lines,” he may find that what would have otherwise provoked a reaction of anger may instead provoke a reaction of concern or pity. A reaction of anger is often simply a reaction out of emotion. If one listens to discern all the facts, he can deal with the problem rationally.

To be “slow to speak” means to control the tongue, which is a very difficult task. James himself said, “every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:7-8). Solomon said, “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Proverbs 29:20). Hasty words spoken in anger will almost always be regretted.

To be “slow to wrath” is also difficult. The old adage of counting to ten works on this principle. If one realizes that he is becoming angry, he can slow the process. Prayer is helpful in this area, as well as the realization that each person controls his own reaction to a problem. A person can choose to be angry in dealing with a problem, or he can choose to cope with the problem without anger.

The “new man” in Christ lays aside worldly anger. “Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: … but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:8-11).

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING, GENESIS

NO RAINBOWS AT NOON — BOB PRICHARD

Rainbows are caused by the refraction (bending) of light through raindrops. The water droplets divide light into the seven basic colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, but actually many other minor colors as well. Primary rainbows appear between 40 and 42 degrees above the horizon, with the center of the ark directly opposite the sun. Because of this, you cannot see a rainbow at noon, when the sun is directly overhead (David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim, The Intellectual Devotional, 2006, p. 235).

I cannot verify that I have never observed a rainbow at noon, but I have observed that the rainbows in my life don’t come in the noonday hours of good times. God gave the rainbow as a token of His covenant after the flood, promising that he would not again destroy the earth by a flood. “And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth” (Genesis 9:12–13).

The Lord says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). The yoke he offers is to be yoked with Him. His yoke is easy because He pulls the extra weight in our lives. In the midst of the storm, this is often hard to see. But when the storm passes, new rainbows of joy and comfort come into our lives.

I can trust the future because I have experienced His loving care through the storms of life. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” because I know the Good Shepherd is with me, and that with His rod and staff He will comfort me (Psalm 23:4). The rainbows come—but only after the storm. “Jesus loves me this I know.”

BIBLE QUESTIONS, NEW TESTAMENT, SALVATION

DID THE LORD SAVE PAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS? — BOB PRICHARD

No. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) is the most thoroughly documented conversion in all the Bible, but it is still widely misunderstood. As Saul was making his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus appeared to him, but Saul was not saved simply because the Lord appeared to him. Luke records, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). The Lord did not save Saul until he completed what he “must do.”

The first mention in scripture of Saul of Tarsus is in Acts 7, where those stoning Stephen, the first Christian martyr, lay their clothes at his feet. Luke reported, “Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). Saul was in the middle of all this persecution: “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Because of his zeal for persecuting the church, Saul went to the high priest and asked for letters to the Damascus synagogues, so that he could arrest the Christians in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

As Saul journeyed to Damascus, a bright light blinded him, and he heard Jesus say to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4). After Jesus identified Himself to Saul, He sent Saul into Damascus with the words, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Saul then spent the next three days in prayer and fasting. This showed that he was serious about following Christ, but his three days of prayer and fasting did not save him or show that he was saved. His penitent behavior was preparing him for the necessary obedience.

The Lord then directed Ananias, a Christian of Damascus, to go to Saul to tell him what he “must do.” Although it must have been a daunting assignment, Ananias, “a devout man according to the law” came to Saul, a fellow Jew, and said, “Brother Saul, receive thy sight” (Acts 22:12-13). Saul was no longer blind, and Ananias warned him of what was ahead of him if he chose to follow Christ. “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15). Having warned him what lay ahead of him in Christ’s service, Ananias then told Saul what he “must do.” “Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Why was Saul not saved before?  Because he was still in his sins.  That is why he needed to call on the name of the Lord by by washing away his sins. As he obeyed the Lord’s command through the messenger Ananias, he received the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation he had spent three days praying for in his blindness.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

NOCICEPTION — BOB PRICHARD

Although we may come to hate it, it is something that we really can’t live without. Sometimes children are born without it, but they seldom live beyond the age of twenty-five. What is nociception? It is the perception of pain. Pain tells us that we need to take our hand off the hot stove, that we have experienced a significant injury, or that we have experienced painful loss.

Most of us have more pain than we would like, but pain has been effective in helping us avoid more serious injury. Those children born without nociception may bite off a finger, break a bone, or scald a hand without ever knowing until they see the injury.

Our perception of pain is a complex process, involving different parts of the brain, to tell us about the location, intensity and type of pain we are experiencing. Our brain sends out messages of distress, and we respond to the problem.

Paul warned Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). What happens to people with “their conscience seared with a hot iron”? Because the feeling is gone, they can tell lies in hypocrisy, and their conscience never bothers them.

Does your conscience still feel pain when you do wrong, or has it become seared? I find it interesting that even those who brought the woman taken in adultery before the Lord still had a conscience. “He lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. … And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last” (John 8:7-9). Nociception is valuable—whether it be physical pain or the pain of a conscience convicted of sin.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

HEARING AIDS — BOB PRICHARD

Before I got hearing aids, I did what most people who have a hearing loss do. I tried to make the most of what I thought I heard. It can be funny, because we sometimes think others are saying things that don’t make any sense, and then because we haven’t heard, our response may be nonsense. Sometimes I said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” or “Sorry, I didn’t understand what you said.” But most of us get tired of saying that all the time, so we just try to make sense of what we hear, even if the other person said “bread,” and we think she said “red,” or “dread” or “Fred.”

This has a spiritual application. We wonder why people in our religious world seem not able to understand what we know are simple and easy to understand scriptures. How can they read Acts 2:38 and believe that baptism is unnecessary? How can they read the Lord’s prayer for unity in John 17 and believe God approves of denominationalism? The problem is that because of their upbringing and training (or lack thereof), they just don’t hear what the scripture says. They are trying to make sense of it as it fits with their beliefs and preconceptions. It is unfortunately  too rare that people will look at the scriptures with a truly open and receptive mind.

This is one reason that I like the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch so much. “Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:30–31). Not “hearing” what Isaiah 53 said, he asked, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” As Philip “preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:34-35). As we preach Jesus, we need to see ourselves as hearing aids to people who really want to understand, but just “can’t hear.” Whether they are “in denial” about their hearing loss, or whether they know of their loss, we must help them hear. The power is in the Word.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, CHURCH

“THE WHEELBARROW IN THE GARAGE” — BOB PRICHARD

Traveling evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) once said, “Going to church don’t make anybody a Christian, any more than taking a wheelbarrow into a garage makes it an automobile.” There is plenty of truth here. The land is filled with church-going people who are less than they should be. They claim to be Christians, but their lives don’t show it. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne said that “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” The hypocritical life eventually catches up with even the most skillful of hypocrites.

Just “going to church” will not make anyone a Christian, but neither does staying away from church make anyone any better. There are hypocrites at church each Sunday morning, but there are even bigger hypocrites staying home, pretending that what they are doing is more important than meeting with the saints for worship. Even if some of the saints seem more like “ain’ts,” why would anyone who claims to have any interest in the things of God not be in worship?

Hebrews 10:23-25 reminds us of our responsibilities in worship. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” When we assemble together, we must consider one another by provoking to love and good works, as well as exhorting one another. Power words like “provoking” and “exhorting” indicates that this is serious business.

There’s more to the story, though. The verses immediately following in Hebrews 10 warn, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (10:26-29). It is a serious thing to forsake the assembly of the saints!

CHRISTIAN LIVING, JESUS CHRIST

COGITO, ERGO SUM — BOB PRICHARD

“Cogito, ergo sum”—“I think, therefore I am” is perhaps the most famous philosophical statement ever made. Scientist and philosopher René Descates wrote these words in his Discourse on Method (1637). He reasoned logically that since he was able to think, he knew he existed. He continued to reason from this point that God exists.

Louis XIV had a different philosophy: “l’etat, c’est moi”—“I am the state.” It is not surprising that he would come to this conclusion in view of the fact that he reigned as king over France for seventy-two years. His absolute monarchy set a pattern followed in several other European countries. No doubt his style of tyrannical behavior contributed to the bloody French revolution of 1789.

Anna B. Warner penned a philosophy for all of us, however, with her words, “Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.” In her 1860 hymn we find words of comfort and strength! This hymn is a favorite with children, but all of us can benefit from the words written for her Bible class of West Point cadets.

Even if you missed every other doctrinal point in the New Testament, surely you could not miss this one. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6–8).

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30–31).

“Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let his little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.”

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

WRINKLE’S HEADSTONE — BOB PRICHARD

She never really cared that much for the piece of carved stone that her deceased husband had found in an old quarry, but Ruth Beeston thought it would serve well to mark the burial place of her dead cat, Wrinkle. She decided to put it up for auction, however, when a local art historian discovered that it was a thousand year old carving of the apostle Peter. Wrinkle’s former headstone brought $383,000 when it was offered at auction (World, December 25, 2004).

This sort of thing seems to happen often (at least to other people). Someone finds some old thing that everyone thinks is worthless, and then it is discovered to be a priceless antique. Just because something is old, it is not necessarily valuable. Some things are true antiques, and some are just “junque.” Some old things are incredibly valuable. 

Consider how the Bible, a truly ancient book is treated. It is old─the newest parts being over 1900 years old, and some parts even much older. Many think that because of its age, it can’t really be worth much. And yet, to those with the proper discernment, it is the most valuable book ever written.

Paul told Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God [is literally ‘God breathed’], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Not only does it give us all that we need, but it is profitable and relevant. It is just as relevant today as when it was written hundreds of years ago.

Ruth Beeston required an art historian to tell her that she unknowingly had something of real value. Surely we understand today how valuable the Bible is, that it is profitable to us for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Unfortunately, many just use that family Bible as a place to store dried flowers, recipes, and the family tree. Wrinkle’s headstone was so much more than Ruth thought. What about the Bible? Have you realized the hidden treasures within?

BIBLE, COLOSSIANS

PLATO’S CAVE ALLEGORY — BOB PRICHARD

Greek philosopher and teacher Plato used his real life teacher Socrates to share his philosophical views. In The Republic, he records a scene of Socrates describing a cave where a group of men are tied down so that all they can see are the shadows reflected on the wall as objects are held up before a fire behind them. They see the shadow of a book, and think they see the real thing. When a man escapes from the cave, he is at first blinded by the bright sunlight, but soon realizes he is seeing the real thing for the first time. When he tries to tell the others, they reject him and hold to their own shadow reality.

Paul encouraged the Colossians against the Judaizing teachers, telling them that as Christ gave his life for us, he was “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). Since they were no longer under the Law of Moses, Paul said, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

The Jews thought that their holy days, new moons and Sabbath days were the real thing—but they were in fact only shadows of the greater reality of the New Covenant and the heavenly kingdom. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). How privileged we are to live under the new covenant of Christ, and to look forward to being in the heavenly kingdom! We have not the shadow, but the real thing.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, CHURCH

AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH — BOB PRICHARD

Neil Postman described serious problems in modern culture in his insightful 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death. His thesis was that public discourse has been reshaped to such an extent by television and entertainment that thoughtful discourse has been replace by “show business: hype, affecting advertising, politics and religion. Postman’s conclusion was that none of these changes have made for improvement. And he wrote, of course, before the internet social media revolution.

The problem with the modern entertainment orientation in religion is that the very object of worship is forgotten. God, who created and commanded worship is the “audience” for worship. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship God in spirit and in truth means that worship is from the heart, not just outward acts, and that it is done in exact obedience to God’s commands. Worship must be directed to Him, not to whims and desires of the worshipers.

God’s regulations for worship as set out in the New Testament are neither boring nor out of date. They are God-centered, while modern entertainment innovations in worship are men-centered. The most often used words related to worship in the New Testament denote the concepts of bowing down or kissing toward deity, offering devotion and love. This is what our worship must include.

There is nothing wrong with the worshiper enjoying worship. God intended the blessings of worship for all His children. But when worship is merely the window dressing for an entertainment performance, it cannot be pleasing to God. The apostle warned, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 John 9). Paul condemned things that “have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship” (Colossians 2:23). “Will-worship” is worship fashioned after man’s desires, which God must reject. Worshiping God in spirit and in truth is more important than catering to man’s desire for entertainment.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

SECOND ONLY TO THE BIBLE — BOB PRICHARD

It was required reading in Jr. High School. I can still remember trying to slog through it, and not appreciating it at the time. It is the story of a fifty-year-old man setting off on a quest to do great deeds and right all wrongs. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes was quite innovative when first published (part one in 1605, and part two in 1615). The exploits of this man of La Mancha have inspired many, whether he is a tragic hero, a non-conformist, or simply a buffoon. According to The Intellectual Devotional (2006), “of all the books published throughout history, Don Quixote is second only to the Bible in terms of total number of copies printed.”

With time, I have come to have more appreciation for Don Quixote—appreciation that I lacked when I was in Jr. High. With maturity, I have learned to appreciate many things that I saw little reason for at 13.

Consider the accolade for Don Quixote, “second only to the Bible in terms of number of copies printed.” Have you noticed how often comparisons are made to the Bible? With all of the great and not so great books published every year, the Bible is the perennial best-seller. Perhaps it does not generate the same media frenzy as a new Harry Potter book, but the Bible continues to outsell every other book.

We know why this is so. It is because there is no other book like the Bible. Although other books make similar claims, it is the only book that is truly inspired—“God breathed.” No other book can offer what it offers.

We should join with the psalmist in praising the Bible, which is second to no other book. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (Psalm 119:89–92).

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED — BOB PRICHARD

Robert Frost’s 1916 poem, “The Road Not Taken,” is one of the most often quoted poems of all time. The poet speaks of two roads, each “just as fair,” but the traveler chose one, concluding “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Frost indicated that most have misunderstood the poem. The choice was actually random—the traveler didn’t know which was best. The difference wasn’t from a wise choice, but a random choice.

In life, we often have to choose between two roads that seem equally good or bad. We don’t know which road is better, because we cannot see the end of the road with either choice. We just have to choose. But what we must always remember is that when we choose the beginning of the road, we also choose the end of the road. That is why it is so important that we  not only choose the right road in life, but that we periodically evaluate the road we are now on, to see if we should change roads.

Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. He entered the city as a blind man, and exited as a follower of the Christ he persecuted. The Lord told Ananias, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). As Ananias taught him, Saul counted the cost (Luke 14:28) of starting on the road of service to Jesus Christ, and immediately obeyed when Ananias commanded him to be baptized (Acts 22:16).

Jesus warned that there are two ways—the broad way of the world and the narrow way of following Him. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The narrow way is definitely “the road less traveled.” But it makes all the difference—not only in this life, but in the world to come. Are you on the right road today? Is it time for a change?

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

MUST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED THAT OF THE PHARISEES? — BOB PRICHARD

The words of Christ in Matthew 5-7, the “Sermon on the Mount,” are often considered a summary of all Christian living. If all the best of modern psychology were gathered, it would not compare in beauty and simplicity with the Sermon on the Mount. Early in that sermon, Jesus made a strong statement: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). To understand the impact of His statement, we must understand who the scribes and Pharisees were.

Scribes were men who devoted their lives to studying and copying the law. The Pharisees, a Jewish religious sect, devoted their lives to keeping the law in every detail. Although there were probably never more than 6,000 Pharisees, they play a large part in the New Testament story. The name “Pharisee” has almost become synonymous with “hypocrite,” but we should first think of them as men who were zealous to keep the law. Each had to swear an oath to keep every last detail of the law. No one has ever been more “religious” than the Pharisees, but at the same time no one ever has been further from the kingdom of God. They knew the law and kept the letter of the law, but ignored entirely the spirit of the law. They were righteous men, but their righteousness was entirely self-righteousness.

Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. … Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19). In obeying God, however, men could not follow the example of the Pharisees. They were so busy being “religious” that they had no time for really obeying God. Jesus condemned them, saying, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matthew 23:23). So concerned for the smaller matters of the law, even tithing small spices, they disregarded what was really important. The Lord expected them to do both the minor matters of the law, and the weightier matters.

It is always easier to be “religious” than to be righteous. The response of the Pharisees to the will of God was a response of duty only. Our response to God must be one of love. Jesus said that love for Him meant even loving our enemies, as we seek to be perfect, even as our Heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48). The story of the “Good Samaritan” illustrates that we must love others, as Christ has loved us. A righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is derived from a life of service and obedience to God. Our reliance must be on Him, and His righteousness, and not our own self-righteousness.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING

MUST WE GIVE THANKS IF WE ARE IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES? — BOB PRICHARD

When the world seems to be closing in on us, or when we feel like we have our backs up against the wall, giving thanks may be the last thing we would ever think of. We may reason, if I am in difficult circumstances, then have no responsibility or need to be thankful. After all, we are to be thankful for blessings, not difficult circumstances. This kind of reasoning is not correct, however, because all of God’s children have the responsibility and the need to be thankful.

To be thankful in the midst of difficult times is very hard, yet Paul said, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). How is this possible? Sometimes when we think the situation cannot get any worse, it does! But we must remember, when we belong to and serve God, no situation is hopeless. God’s children can count on His providential care, and His never ending love. The problem is that in the midst of our difficulties, we sometimes have a sort of “spiritual amnesia.” We forget all that God had done for us, and the difficulties He has helped us through.

The psalmist reminded Israel of “his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Psalm 78:4-7). 

The difficulties most of us have faced pale into insignificance compared to the pain and suffering Job faced. His response to the loss of all of his possessions, and all ten of his children, was to worship God. “Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:20-21). Job was able to do this because he was a man totally devoted to God. God described him as being “a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:8). When the difficult times came, Job was ready to trust in the Lord. He did not understand why he was suffering as he was, but He knew that God is worthy to be praised, even in the midst of the most trying times.

The “attitude of gratitude,” the spirit of gratefulness, must mark those who would follow the Lord. As Paul and Silas sat in the depths of the jail at Philippi, their feet in the stocks, having been beaten for their testimony to Christ, they “prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). They would not allow the circumstances to keep them from offering praise to God. In the midst of so many things we cannot understand or do not like, we must thank Him for those things we can understand, and the blessings He so richly gives us. Looking back, we should thank Him. Looking ahead, we should trust Him. Looking around, we should serve Him. He is worthy of all the praise and thanksgiving we can give Him.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, Blog, GOD

HOW CAN GOD HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED? — BOB PRICHARD

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, Moses was afraid.  “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13-14). God called Himself “I AM,” indicating His eternal existence. This name implies that God always has been, and always will be. Moses recognized the eternal nature of God in Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”  

Perhaps the greatest difficulty hindering finite man from understanding the eternality of God is that man is a time-bound creature. We are born, we live, and we die. We live exclusively in the duration of time. But God is outside time, and not bound by time at all. Job’s “friend” Elihu said, “Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out” (Job 36:26). The scriptures declare God’s eternality. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).  Peter understood that God is not bound by time.  “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Peter was not giving a mathematical formula that one day equals a thousand years, but he was indicating that God stands above time, and sees it all as present.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). The fact that there is a creation demands that there be a Creator!  The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He is the Creator. Was He created? If God was created, then there would have to be a greater God Who created God. What greater God would then create that God? Obviously there must be a great “uncaused Cause.” In other words, God is eternal and has always existed, because there is no greater God that could have created Him. The universe is not eternal. Even non-theological theories such as the “big bang” suggest that the universe had a beginning. The scientific evidence suggests that the universe is wearing out, as the third law of thermodynamics demands. Since the universe clearly had a beginning, it had to have someone or something greater than it to begin it. The Bible tells us that the self-existent God created the universe, and revealed Himself to man in Jesus Christ. Christ identified Himself as eternal when he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:20).