Only Ones

During the last years of the elderly man's life the preacher would on occasion stop in for a visit. On one occasion the preacher brought pictures of horses and some old time farm equipment. They had a pleasant visit, and as was the preacher's usual habit he presented the Gospel to the older gentleman before leaving. The preacher had on every occasion of visiting presented the same Gospel, but on this visit something jogged the other man's mind.

With a shocked look at the preacher he said, "You think you're the only ones."

There have been a number of  'jokes' such as: Mr. Jones died and went to heaven. As Saint Peter was showing him around, he pointed to several groups of souls. "Over there is the Methodists, and over there are the Lutherans, and the Baptists are over there."
They passed another group, and Mr. Jones inquired, "Who's that over there?"
"Shhh," Saint Peter said, "That's the Church of Christ, and they think they're the only ones."

I used 'Church of Christ', in this instance, but in the past people have used Methodists, Baptists, and Lutherans as well as other religious titles to fill in the 'they think they're the only ones' blank. You see, in times past most religious entities believed that not everyone was going to heaven.Why was that so, and what has changed? Let us address the first why. Why did the different religions believe there was only one way?

"Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:"
(Matthew 7:21-24 ASV)

They believed that because that's what the scriptures teach, and most of them believed their path was the right path. So, what happened? What changed?

Unbelievers searching for the Truth (and the path to heaven) were told by the various denominations various answers. For instance, some answers were: 'just believe', 'just recite the sinners prayer', or 'just follow our pattern/our creed'...there were as many answers as there were denominations. Many unbelievers became scoffers and remained unbelievers. And of course the obvious question became, 'how come there are so many answers, and where do the answers all come from' ?

Because of the conundrum the different answers made, and because most religions would point back to their own creeds, which created its own conundrum, they dropped the idea that their way was the only way. They were forced into the belief that 'we're all going to heaven, just taking different paths'.

But Jesus through the Bible still says:

"that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me." (John 17:21)

"Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment."  
(1 Corinthians 1:10)

So, the question comes, does it make a difference what we believe, and what we teach?

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 
(1 Corinthians 10:12)

The first admonition comes from the Old Testament book of Proverbs. The second is from the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. These are warnings telling us 'watch what you're doing, because you can fall'. 

"These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)

How can we know what is right or wrong? By reading and following the teachings and commandments of the Son. If it doesn't say it in the Bible, it doesn't save. For instance, do the scriptures teach 'saying the sinners prayer'? No, so it doesn't save. We must believe, but the scriptures don't teach 'believe only'. Otherwise the demons would be saved:

 "Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder." (James 2:19)

Even the Apostle Paul buffeted his body daily so as not to be rejected:
"but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected." (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Why do so many, instead of looking to see if what they believe matches with what the scriptures teach, ignore the idea that they may be believing something that is false? The devil is the master of lies and deceit. It matters not how a person is deceived. If you believe and follow a lie you are still lost. I can believe falsely that I am safe, or that I am 'the only one'. Without proof and Truth my belief is still wrong. 

Do I believe that 'we're the only ones'? No. I believe those who follow the teachings of Christ and Him only are the only ones. Those following the straight and narrow way, as it speaks in Matthew, are the only ones. It isn't determined by me or you, but by the Word of God.

"Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness." (2 Peter 3:17 ASV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Too Soon Gone

Merle Haggard passed away in April, and many mourn the passing of this famous country singer. Over the last number of years I've witnessed the passing of many famous people, quite a few that I grew up listening to, or watching on television. Through out my days, and under various reasons and circumstances, I am reminded of the scripture in Psalms: 

"I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread." (Psalms 37:25 ASV)

My thoughts tend to center on the phrase 'I have been young, and now am old'. Life has made that impression on me at sundry stages in my journey which had nothing to do with literal age. My husband and I married when we were eighteen. Marriage tends to mature a person, or as they say, we grew up together. There was ten years between our oldest child and the sixth child. Child number seven was born ten years later, approximately two weeks after our oldest grandchild joined the family. 

The first forty years of our life seemed to fly by. About the age forty-two, however, I felt as if I slammed into a brick wall. Life didn't slow down, but before that time I hit life at full throttle. Now my body began to hit slow motion mode in little things.  

"The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:14-15 ASV)

The term, 'he went the way of all the earth', is used to gently remind people that 'as it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen to me...'. Too many people live their lives as if they are guaranteed life forever on this earth. They live as if life on this tiny spec in the universe is forever, and never make preparation for the vast ocean of eternity. 

"For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!"(Ecclesiastes 2:16 ASV)

 The book of Ecclesiastes deals with Solomon trying to make sense of life 'under the sun'; trying to make sense of life by taking God out of the equation. Earthly wisdom would cause a thinking person to ask the age old question, 'what's it all about?' What is the purpose of life? and as Solomon found, apart from a life with God there is no sense. We all die and are forgotten—even the famous of our times. 

"Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:20 ASV)

"There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God." (Ecclesiastes 2:24 ASV)

I sit on my deck and watch my children and grandchildren. I am reminded that even though the last twenty-one years have forced me to slow down, as Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing better than to gather with family and friends. To watch  life begin, the middle of life, and in the words of the Psalmist: "I have been young, and now am old", as a Christian, there is nothing better. 

But as a Christian, I have prepared for the next stage as well. Life on this spec isn't the end. I am incredulous that so many of my fellow journeymen are so clueless. I will leave you with this encouragement—prepare for your eternity:

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. ...and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." 

(Revelation 20:11-15 ASV)