Chasing After “New Things”

 

By Bill Brandstatter     Every year something “new” comes out. This past year had its share of new things. 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 the many other things of the modern world and are forced to see that everything modern is not good. We long for the time when we didn’t have to lock our doors and a man’s word was his bond. Some “old fashioned” things might still be good. Jer. 6:16.-“Ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk in it.” 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.” (Acts 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” in 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 me ‘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 where Solomon wrote, “Fear God and keep His commandment, 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 by God. (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-fashion 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 new in our world.     AN OLD-FASHIONED STANDARD OF AUTHORITY. God’s way is the right way. There must be a standard that guides us in all that we do. Man often wants to be the authority. (Judges 21:25) People want it their way. Rom. 1:28 says “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Some folks just do not like being told what to do. Jesus has all authority today in heaven and on earth. (Mt. 28:18)     AN OLD-FASHIONED SALVATION. It is not obtained by just saying a prayer. It is not received just by faith. (Jas. 2:26) It involves obedience. (Rom. 6:17) It involves 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. Let ‘s get back to some of the old ways. God will be pleased and we will be richly

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/