WARNING FROM CHRIST

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly” (Luke 21:34 NKJV).

Here, the Lord Jesus Christ gave a threefold warning regarding the end time. This warning is applicable all people in every age. It exhorts us to take precaution, be pure, and be prepared.

Precaution - “Take heed to yourselves.” We have a tendency to be careless, especially in the area of character. We need to take precaution with regard to our character just as the government takes precaution regarding the president when he travels. If we were as careful about protecting our character as the government is in protecting the president’s life, we would not be falling to temptation so often.

Purity - “Lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life.” Three problems are especially cited as areas where we need to maintain purity. First, “carousing” - The word means to be light-hearted, silly, and frivolous. It is the kind of light-heartedness, silliness, and frivolity that comes from partying and drinking. It is to give oneself wholly to physical pleasure and to the appetites of the flesh. But we must be careful the appetites of the flesh do not control us. Second, “drunkenness” - This is a big problem in our society. It defiles and destroys. And the Lord Jesus Christ prohibits it. We cannot booze and be holy at the same time. Third, “cares of this life” - While some folks may not have a problem with “carousing” and “drunkenness,” the legitimate cares of this life may so control our lives that we have little time for God. The Lord Jesus warns about this problem. We need to pay attention and get our priorities right.

Preparation - “And that Day come on you unexpectedly.” “That day” refers to the day the Lord returns. In principle it refers to when we will meet the Lord. We need to be ready for that day. As the prophet Amos reminds us, “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12). No preparation is more important. If we are not prepared to meet God, we will have a terrible eternity. Thus, we need to take heed, live holy, be ready to meet God.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The imminent return of our Lord is the great Bible argument for a pure, unselfish, devoted, unworldly, active life of service!”

Reuben Archer (R.A.) Torrey (1856 – 1928)

American Evangelist, Congregational Pastor, Educator, and Author

Word Study

Fainthearted

In 1 Thess. 5:14 we read, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all" (NKJV).

“Fainthearted” is the Greek word oligópsuchos (ὀλιγόψυχος = ol-ig-op'-soo-khos). It is made up of two words: “oligos” which means small, and “psuchē” which means soul or life principle. Thus, the word literally means small souled, little-spirited, fretful, worried. It speaks of those who feel inadequate, fearful, and on the edge of giving up. This is a description of a person who feels that their resources are too small for a given situation and so they are despondent or discouraged over the task or trial that is facing them!

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 KJV).

Did You Know…

According to the Book of Galatians, those who preach a false gospel will be eternally condemned (Gal. 1:8-9).

Bible Quiz

Who watched as Moses floated in the basket down the Nile?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: Why would the Lord Jesus not answer the Pharisees who questioned His authority? They did not tell Him where they thought John’s baptism was from (Luke 20:1-8).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“A SCEPTER”

"I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult” (Num. 24:17 NJKV).

1. Meaning – A SCEPTER refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as the royal Person who would rule with power and authority.

2. Insights – In ancient times a scepter was often a full-length staff. It symbolized a ruler’s absolute power and authority over a tribe or nation. Further, in Gen. 49:10 when Jacob said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah,” he was giving a divine prophecy that one particular Descendant would come from the line of Judah. The Lord Jesus is from the tribe of Judah and will take charge over all the nations. He will rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Did You Know – Christian History

John Hunt was born on June 13, 1812 in Hykeham Moor, near Lincoln, England. He was an English missionary known for converting Fijian cannibals to Methodism.

When Hunt was a lad, he believed that God hears prayers and so he would pray for protection against the things that made him fearful - dogs, gypsies, and thunder. As he grew older, he drifted from faith. He eventually fell in with rough companions. He promised the Lord he would change, but did not keep his word. Then he got sick and was near death. Right then and there, he fell to his knees and vowed to serve God. Upon his recovery, he started attending a Methodist chapel and converted to Methodism shortly after. While continuing to work at the farm in the day, Hunt studied at night, so as not to neglect his duties. He also preached to the rural congregation at church, with whom he found much favor. Friends encouraged him to preach, but he wasn’t sure. He prayed earnestly to know what God wanted him to do. His earnestness was apparent to all.

Revival broke out when he attended a London institution where he studied Greek and Latin and read Christian tracts. He began to think of mission work. South Africa was his goal. When an appeal was made for workers in Fiji, Hunt was asked pointblank to go. He returned home very much concerned - not for himself, but for the girl he hoped to marry. Hanna Summers, in poor health, would have accompanied him to South Africa, where there was a measure of civilization. But Fiji? The Fijians were cannibals and completely savage. But Hanna agreed to go with him. The couple were married in March 1838 and sailed from England in April, 1838. They refused a lucrative offer to remain in Australia and sailed on to Fiji, arriving on December 22, 1838.

Although Hunt would quickly master the language, conversions were slow in coming. One cruel king threatened them with death if they closed their windows to keep out the smell of bodies roasting a short distance from their home. Eventually, on one of the smaller islands, revival broke out. Many Fijian lives were transformed and faces shone with new hope. Hunt translated the New Testament into the native tongue for these converts. He was one of those men who could not rest long while there is work to do. Little wonder that he got sick. The Islanders prayed for his recovery, offering God to take ten of them rather than him. But Hunt was dying. He mourned over his inconsistencies, failures and backslidings. He prayed fervently for the salvation of the Fiji islands. Suddenly he grew utterly calm. “You see a bright prospect before you,” said someone. “I see nothing but Jesus,” exclaimed Hunt. He then spoke his final words: “I want strength to praise Him abundantly! Hallelujah.” Hunt died on 4 October 1848, at the age of 36. Within fifty years of his landing, there was not a single person in the islands who openly professed the old heathen religion.

A Little Humor

The sign outside the church reads: “Honk If You Love Jesus. Text While Driving If You Want to Meet Him.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“If you don’t like the way you were born, try being born again!”