Like a Fish Out of Water

By Glen Elliott       Every creature has an element in which it thrives. What is an ideal environment for one may not be for another (cf. Prov. 30:19). When we are uncomfortable in a particular environment, we feel like a fish out of water.     God is our ideal environment. He is the Giver of "every good and perfect gift" (Jas. 1:17). He created the world and set us in the beautiful, life-sustaining Garden of Eden to walk in sweet fellowship with Him. Sin interrupted our fellowship with God and brought death into the world (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:24; Rm. 5:12). What Satan touted as most desirable proved, instead, to be most uncomfortable. Instead of walking with God in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid themselves from Him. The presence of sin caused them to feel like a fish out of water in the presence of God.     But God set into motion His redemptive plan through which our Savior and Redeemer would recreate an environment in which reconciliation with God could become a present reality (Gen. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:19). In Christ "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses..." (Eph. 1:7). Jesus makes us comfortable in the presence of the Father because He has taken care of the problem of sin. We no longer feel like a fish out of water, but part of His family.     As we walk in the light of His word, we are recipients of "all spiritual blessings" and in Him, the perfect environment for living a full and abundant life (1 Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:3; Jn. 10:10). In His presence, we no longer feel like a fish out of water; but as one who has found his or her ideal environment. As Paul so beautifully expressed it: "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Ph. 1:21).     Apart from Jesus, we are "without God" in this world (Eph. 2:12). In Christ, we have strong hope for life everlasting (Hb. 6:19; Tit. 1:2). In Him, there is life (1 Jn. 5:11-12). This is where we belong. This is why our loving Creator sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins (Jn. 3:16). By His grace, we belong in His presence and look forward to our journey to our eternal home where we will abide in the light of His glory forever (Jn. 14:1-3; Rev. 22:5).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

“You Can’t Take It With You!”

By Glen Elliott       Nearing his death, Alexander the Great gave orders that he be buried with his hands empty, uncovered, and protruding outside the casket. Supposedly, he wanted others to know that he was leaving this world with nothing. The man who had conquered the world was leaving empty-handed. That’s a sobering thought for all who are caught up in accumulating material possessions! From what we read about Alexander’s latter years, it seems that his life had lost its purpose. With no more worlds to conquer, he left this life with empty hands and an empty heart. He had nothing left but an empty grave.     Alexander was right in his assertion that “You can’t take it with you!” The apostle Paul writes: “we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:7). Perhaps, you’ve heard of ancient Egyptians who were buried with their treasures in vast pyramids. The treasures of ancient pharaohs have long since been plundered. Their souls did not abide where their wealth had been buried. They couldn’t take their treasures with them because it simply cannot be done.     Christians do not take their treasures with them when they die; but send it on ahead while they are living. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).     If Alexander had hoped in Christ, his hands may have yet been extended. Not as empty-handed, but as receiving that which has been promised -- an eternal treasure in heaven.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Stand, Sing, and Soar

By Glen Elliott   “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1-3).     Anyone who has slipped and fallen knows the value of standing on solid ground. One of the great promises of trusting God is that He will “set [our] feet upon a rock making [our] footsteps firm” (Psa. 40:2). With feet firmly planted, those who trust in the Lord have something to sing about -- a new song -- a song of praise to God -- a song capturing the attention of others who will, in turn, place their trust in the Lord as well (vs. 3).     A bird seems happiest when singing from its perch. I have never witnessed such a bird fall from its perch. I have, however, seen them, in midflight, crash into a window. The point is this: we are happiest when we make the Lord our trust (vs. 4) -- when we stand on the solid rock and sing His praises. But, when we leave our perch of safety, an inevitable crash will soon befall us.     Jeremiah rightly argued that it is not within us “to direct [our] own steps” (Jer. 10:23). We stand, but not without direction. We “walk by faith not by sight…” (2 Cor. 5:7). Taking up the armor of God, we must do “everything to stand firm” (Eph. 6:13). But, in standing firm, we move forward following Christ by standing strong on His teachings. There is a sequence to spiritual flight: stand, sing, and soar. None of this is possible without making the Lord our trust. “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isa. 40:31).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Selfishness

By Glen Elliott       Selfishness is a leading cause of unhappiness. More and more, we are being led to believe that happiness is best secured by looking out for our own personal interests. Too many have traveled that lonely and desperate path never again to find the joy of giving and helping others simply because it is the thing which love demands.     Jesus came offering freedom. Such freedom is not found in the selfish pursuit of pleasure but in humble submission to the will of the Father. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). God’s truth reveals selfishness as a life of futility and hopelessness.     Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25). True life is found only as we lose ourselves in service to Christ. Serving God and others gives us a sense of purpose. Serving our own selfish desires results in disappointment because we can never get enough of the things we want to satisfy the cravings of the flesh. In Matthew sixteen, Jesus went on to ask, “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul” (vs. 25).     If your life is geared only toward the “here and now”, what will be your hope on the day of eternity? Power, prestige, and possessions can never take the place of commitment to God and loving service to those around us. The apostle Paul reminds us to “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself…” (Ph. 2:3). Try it. You’ll be immediately impressed with the results.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/*

The Spirit of Non-Retaliation

By Glen Elliott       In one of several statements designed to draw a contrast between His own teachings and what the people had heard from the Law of Moses, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘And eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you” (Mt. 5:38-42). The overtone of this section of the Sermon on the Mount has been rightly called “the spirit of non-retaliation.”     “An eye or an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is a phrase often quoted even by those who know very little of the Bible. The statement is found three times in the Old Testament. Once as a penalty for causing a miscarriage (Ex. 21:24). Another time in reference to injuring a neighbor (Lev. 24:20). And, finally, as a consequence for bearing false testimony in a court of law (Dt. 19:21). In all three cases, the penalty was to be carried out after judicial proceedings.     Several important details are overlooked when a Christian decides to live by this philosophy. First, the “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” philosophy is part of the Law of Moses, a law that is no longer in force; but has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). Getting even with our enemies under the guise of following God’s word is a misconceived idea. We cannot pick and choose from the Old Testament those things we would like to have included in the New Testament (Jas. 2:10; Gal. 5:4).     A second problem associated with living by an “eye for an eye” code of conduct is that it overlooks the purpose behind the law in the first place. The law was in place for the purpose of providing an equitable system of judicial justice. It was designed to prevent escalation of violence, hatred, and vigilante justice.     On a personal level, Jesus went on to cite several examples of how this principle of non-retaliation works -- examples that relate to such things as turning the other cheek and being asked to go the second mile. While following Jesus is a deeper, richer life; it is often a more challenging life as well.

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

Library Inspiration

By Bob Prichard

Two huge stone lions sit outside the New York public library.   Mayor Fiorello La Guardia named them “Patience” and “Fortitude,” during the midst of the Great Depression, to let New Yorkers know that they could survive the economic disaster.      Patience is key in running the Christian race.  Hebrews 12:1-2 urges, “Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”     Fortitude is “strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.” This is what Paul spoke of when he said “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Can We Trust the Bible as the Word of God?

By Bob Prichard     In an age when we have little to trust or rely upon, we may wonder if even the Bible can be trusted. There are many reasons, however, that we can trust the Bible as the word of God. First of all, we can trust the Bible because we trust God and it is God’s book, revealed to mankind, and in perfect harmony with His nature and character. “God is not a man, that he should lie” (Numbers 23:19). Just as Jesus Christ, He is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). What God has produced is true, perfect, and without change, in keeping with His character.     A second reason to trust the Bible is that we know it is inspired by God. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Speaking of the inspired Bible writers, Peter said, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The message of the biblical writers was not their own message, but the message of the will of God. Since the Bible is God’s inspired book, it is without error and absolutely trustworthy.     A third great reason we should trust the Bible is the vast number of New Testament manuscripts that have been discovered. More than 24,000 manuscripts or parts of manuscripts have been discovered, dating all the way back to the first century. The Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in 1947, included manuscripts of Old Testament books  dating from at least one hundred to one hundred and fifty years before Christ. As scholars began to study the scrolls, they sought to see how much the text of the Bible had changed over the centuries. What they found was that the ancient manuscripts were virtually identical to manuscripts of a thousand years later. Through the careful work of the copyists and the providence of God, the inspired text has been preserved over the centuries.     A fourth great reason to trust the Bible is the truly amazing fulfillment of prophecy within biblical history. This demonstrates clearly that God controlled the writing of the book.  The prophecies fulfilled in the life of Christ alone are enough to show the Bible to be the word of God. The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), would be sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), would be crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12), would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and these are just a few examples of the many other events in the life of Christ which were prophesied. This would not have been possible if the Bible had not been inspired by God.     Since the Bible is trustworthy in these areas, we can know that is is trustworthy in other areas as well. The Bible is the one book that men can trust today. Any apparent contradictions come from our misunderstanding, not from actual problems within the Bible itself, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.