Our Sure and Steadfast Hope

By Glen Elliott      A ship securely anchored does not drift from its harbor. A life firmly fastened to the will of God is not easily shaken from its moorings. In spite of life’s uncertainties, there is a God upon whom we can depend. He inspires hope in the human heart, saying, “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you…” (Heb. 13:5). Such hope is the Christian’s spiritual anchor. The inspired author offers the following description: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:19-20).     This hope is sure because it is grounded in the word of God. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Mt. 24:35). Because the word of Christ will be our standard of judgment on the last day (Jn. 12:48), it is imperative that we closely and carefully study and practice its teachings.     This hope is sure because it is inseparably connected to the nature and presence of God. The nature of God provides strong encouragement in as much as it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). We can trust His promises completely. Our hope is anchored in heaven, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us and always lives to make intercession on our behalf (Heb. 6:20; 7:25).     As Christians, we do not need to despair in the storms of life. We have an anchor to keep the soul, one that is sure and steadfast. Our God, who cannot lie, has promised that, if we remain faithful, we will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). This is our calm assurance, our peace that passes understanding (Ph. 4:7).

- 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/

Make the Lord Your Trust

By Glen Elliott     In the midst of so much uncertainty and fear -- when winds of change blow strongly in our faces -- it is good for us to pause for a moment and reflect on the importance of trust. Our struggles do not have to do so much with a lack of trust as a failure to make God our trust. We all trust in something, but “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Ps. 118:8). We must make the Lord our primary trust (Ps. 40:4). It doesn’t take a 9/11 experience to remind us of just how quickly things can change around us. We cannot know the future, but we can know and trust the God who holds the future in His hands.     In the dark and tumultuous days leading up to Babylonian Captivity, Jeremiah begged the people of Judah to place their trust in the Lord rather than foreign alliances. His comparison between trust in God and trust in man is quite remarkable. The prophet writes, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit’” (Jer. 17:5–8).     Trust makes all the difference! The person who places his trust in man is like a scraggly bush in a barren desert. But the one who trusts in God is compared to a beautiful tree growing beside a lovely stream. Truly, the path to God’s blessing lies in our ability to make Him our trust.

- 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/

Feeling Good About Yourself

By Glen Elliott     There is nothing inherently sinful about having a good self-image. Self-centeredness is wrong; but there is a great difference between selfishness and good self-esteem. God wants us to feel good about ourselves. In fact, He sent His Son so that we might enjoy a “full and abundant life” (Jn. 10:10). God does not rejoice when our feet get kicked out from under us and we find ourselves flat on our faces, bruised and battered by life’s setbacks. To the contrary, God hurts when we hurt. Jesus is a high priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses” because He “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).     Because God wants us to be happy and feel good about ourselves, He has given us His word as a guide to joyous living. The “dos and don’ts” of the Bible are not given to inflict pain, but joy. Even the Law of Moses was given for the good of the people. Moses asked this very telling question: “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Dt. 10:12–13). Every parent knows what “for Your good” means. As children, we tried to bend the rules a little only to discover later that the rules had been given “for our good.” Likewise, we can be sure that every command of God is for our good and for our ultimate happiness. God’s word provides us with a sense of security and well-being because our Father cares enough to set boundaries. When we follow His teaching, we feel good. We were created in His image and He loves us so much that He gave His only Son so that we might live forever in His presence. This sense of His abiding love frees us from self-hate and stirs within us a love for God and others (1 Jn. 4:19).

- 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/

By the Grace of God

By Glen Elliott     Some reject the grace of God in preference to earning salvation. In the April 2026 issue of the Spiritual Sword, Steve Higginbotham cites a New York Times interview with the former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed, I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.” No doubt there are many who feel the same in regard to procuring their own salvation. But, if such were the case, grace would be unnecessary and the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross was a serious blunder in the redemptive plan of God.     We must not overlook the underlying belief expressed by the phrase, “if there is a God….” But, if there is a God, He surely would have revealed the nature of our salvation; whether is it something we earn or something given to us on the condition of biblical faith. The matter is settled in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Of one thing, we can be certain: we will not walk into heaven because we have earned it. All have sinned and stand in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). Denying our need for a Savior suggests sinless perfection -- something that flies in the face of both Scripture and practical experience (1 John 1:10). Ultimately, those who enter into heaven will be those who have been saved by grace through faith.     Grace is a strong motivation to demonstrate our faith through active obedience to God’s will. After acknowledging the fact that we are saved by grace through faith, Paul goes on to say, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We cannot be saved by works of merit nor can we be saved without an active, working faith (James 2:14-26). Just as faith has a role in grace, so also grace has a role in faith. Paul speaks of the empowering nature of God’s grace when he says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). God’s grace, then, is our motivation and strength to produce good works to the glory of God.

- 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/

A Big Blue Marble

By Glen Elliott     Lord willing, by the time you read this Artemis II will have made her way back to Earth. What a perspective to see the Earth from space! Yet, when compared to the vastness of the universe or even our own solar system, we have hardly made it past our own front porch. This big blue marble we call home is, by comparison, infinitesimally small. When seen from over 200,000 miles away, it appears as large as a basketball held at arm’s length.     As a shepherd and, then later, as a fugitive fleeing from King Saul, David must have spent many nights pondering the glories of the celestial luminaries which dot the evening sky. This is evident in the book of Psalms where he writes, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). The perceptive heart can hear creation’s message detailing the glory of God. All of this, He created out of nothing. “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). We are humbled by the awesome greatness of God as expressed through creation. David spoke to this in His praise to God, saying, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). We are but a speck on that big blue marble we call Earth. Yet, we are comforted in knowing that we are His special creation and that all this He has designed for us.     Our God is not far away, but near (Jeremiah 23:23). Paul told the Athenians that He is “not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27). God knows everything about us. He understands our “thoughts from afar” and is “intimately acquainted with all [our] ways” (Psalm 139:2-3). We are not an afterthought in the mind of God. His interest in us predates even creation itself. Our value, then, is not measured by a big blue marble; but by a big brown cross stained with the blood of Jesus. At times, we may feel small -- just a speck on a big blue marble -- but, “He surrounds [us] with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

- 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/

Does the Bible Offer Hope for Depression?

By Bob Prichard     Depression is perhaps the most common emotional problem that we face today. Experts suggest as many as one out of five Americans experience severe depression some time during their lives, and depression may be the most common health problem for women. Symptoms of depression include apathy, insomnia, difficulty in concentrating, and a general loss of interest in life. Severely depressed people may become suicidal, violent, or completely withdrawn. Depression has always been a problem for mankind. Bible characters such as King Saul, Elijah the prophet, Job, and others experienced depression.       Sources of depression may be physical, psychological, or spiritual. Fatigue, chemical imbalances, and other physical problems may cause depression. After his defeat of the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, Elijah was physically exhausted. When Jezebel threatened his life, he fled into the wilderness and was ready to die. The angel of the Lord comforted him and strengthened him with food, telling him, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee” (1 Kings 19:7). He still felt overwhelmed and alone, however. He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). He repeated,  “I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14). The Lord encouraged him by letting him know that there were still seven thousand faithful, and by sending Elisha to help him.     Loss is a common psychological cause of depression. Job lost his possessions, his family, his health, and even his reputation. He cried, “the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came” (Job 3:25-26). Later he learned that God continued to control the universe, saying “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Job 42:2). Unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and feelings of worthlessness or helplessness brought on by stress also cause depression. These feelings often come because a person has lost the proper perspective. Disappointments may be opportunities in disguise, however. They may be times to rearrange priorities, making our life priorities more in line with God’s will. It is helpful to remember when overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and worthlessness to remember that God is still in control. He demonstrated His love in the cross. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).     Sin must have its spiritual consequences, which very often includes depression. Obedience to the Lord is the key. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10). God does not intend for us to be depressed, and is eager to forgive and comfort. His love demonstrates this. A wise counselor points the depressed person to God.

- 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.

How are the Church and the Kingdom Related?

By Bob Prichard     The burning question in the hearts of the early Jews was the question of when the Messiah would establish His kingdom on earth and reign upon David’s throne. Most misunderstood the issue, and even the disciples were caught up in misconceptions of the nature of the Lord’s kingdom. Just before His ascension, they asked Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They just did not understand the true nature or identity of the kingdom of God.     The word “kingdom,” as used in the New Testament, means “royal power, kingship, the territory subject to a king, the reign of the Messiah,” with primary reference to the rule, reign, and authority of God. New Testament writers used it in several senses. Paul spoke of the eternity of the kingdom: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). Jesus used kingdom in another sense when He told the Pharisees, “behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), meaning that the kingdom, or rule of God was in their midst through His ministry as the Son of God. The primary use of the term “kingdom,” however, is in reference to the church.     After Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus blessed Peter, saying, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). Jesus here used the phrases “my church” and “kingdom of heaven” interchangeably. Writing later, Paul rejoiced with the Colossian Christians that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Just a few verses later he identified the kingdom as “the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18).     John the Baptizer, Jesus, and the apostles all preached that the kingdom was “at hand,” or near. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).      The New Testament church surely fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the kingdom. Daniel declared that “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). The “kings” referred to the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image, the kings who controlled first century Judaea when the church was established.      Jesus Himself predicted that the kingdom would be established within the lifetime of the apostles. “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). The kingdom surely came with power on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).     People become citizens of the kingdom of God, the church, by the new birth, being born of the water and the spirit. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 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.