Every year something “new” comes out. The
past year had its share of new things and 2022 will also. We look at the rising
crime rates and the lowering of morals and we know there has to be a better
way. We look at the skyrocketing rate of divorce and the worldly concepts of
marriage and we say: “There has to be a better way.” We view many other “ills”
of the modern world and are forced to see that everything modern is not good.
We long for the time again when we didn’t have to lock our doors and a man’s
word was his bond.
Some “old-fashioned” things can still be
good. Jer. 6:16. states: “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and
walk in it” (NKJV). Luke records, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who
were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some
new thing.” (Ac. 17:21) Let us look at some old things that are really “new” in
a society that chases after new things.
AN OLD-FASHIONED FAITH. Some would claim
that faith is “better caught than taught.” Others would say that faith is
“better felt than told.” The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by
the word of God.” (Rom.10:17) The reality and
validity
of an old-fashioned faith is not found in a person’s think so, but in God’s say
so. This faith comes from the “engrafted” or “implanted” word. (James 1:21)
AN OLD-FASHIONED OBEDIENCE. An
old-fashioned faith will naturally lead to an old-fashioned obedience. Jesus
stated, “Not everyone that says to be ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Mt. 7:21) When a
person really believes what God says, he or she will submit to it. The faith
that saves is the faith that obeys.
AN OLD-FASHIONED RIGHTEOUSNESS. In an age
when people without moral anchors are crying, “What’s in it for me?” or “I’ve
got to look out for myself”; we need emphasis on the righteousness which God
reveals. Our purpose in life is clearly stated in Eccl. 12:13. There Solomon
wrote, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Why do
right? Because that is my purpose in life. Instead of expecting something back
for doing right, we ought to do right because it is right.
AN OLD-FASHIONED CHURCH. Man, today has an
obsession to be “up to date.” Two thousand years ago those that obeyed the word
were baptized and added to the church, according to Acts 2:38, 47. The church
met on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7). The worship of the
early church was simple. They didn’t have a jazz band or a dance team. They
sang (Eph. 5:19). We need old-fashioned preaching. (1 Pet. 4:11) In the early
church, men had a leadership role. (1 Tim. 2:12) The church of Christ has
nothing new to offer except what is old. That which is old is actually new in
our world.
AN OLD-FASHIONED STANDARD OF AUTHORITY.
God’s way is the right way. There has to be a standard that guides us in all
that we do. Man often wants to be that authority (Judges 21:25). People want it
their way. As stated in Rom. 1:28: “Even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge...” Some folks just don’t like being told what to do. Jesus has
all authority today in heaven and one earth. (Matt. 28:18)
AN OLD-FASHIONED SALVATION. It was not just
saying a prayer. It was not just faith (Jas. 2:26). It was obedience (Rom.
6:17). It involved the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5); belief (John 3:16);
confession (Rom. 10: 9,10); repentance (Acts 17:30); and baptism (Mark. 16:16).
Let us do things God’s way and we will always be right.
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