Chariots of Fire and Developing Trust in God

Do you like stories about spies and espionage? How about with kings, marauding bands, horses and chariots, and a miracle working prophet? We find a true story including all these things and more in the Old Testament of the Bible, in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Before you turn there, consider this first…why look into the Old Testament at all? Mankind is under a new covenant with God, and its details are contained in the New Testament. That said, Romans 15:4 in the New Testament says, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” So, it makes sense to go to the Old Testament scriptures to learn, get encouragement and develop hope through trusting in God’s promises. This history was written for a purpose.

850 years before Jesus was born, there was a prophet of God named Elisha. Elisha was sent to prophesy to the kings and people in the 10 tribes of northern Israel during the period of ancient Israel’s history called the Divided Kingdom (the kingdom of Judah with its two remaining tribes was just to the south).

In 2 Kings 6:8-11 we read that Ben-Hadad II, king of Aram, was making war on Israel. Ben-hadad was frustrated because every time his army showed up in an area, the Israelite people had known in advance and left before his army got there. He suspected he had a traitor in his court, but was told that it was actually the prophet Elisha, who “tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” (verse 12). When Ben-Hadad heard this, he sent a strong military force to capture Elisha. They arrived at night and surrounded the town of Dothan where Elisha and his servant lived. In the morning, the servant went out and saw the Aramean soldiers all around them and was understandably afraid. Elisha told the young man in verse 16, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha then prayed that the servant could see God’s divine host and verse 17 records, “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” We can only imagine the servant’s amazement when he saw God’s superior forces surrounding Ben-Hadad’s troops. Elisha prayed again and the Aramean unit was blinded. He then led the foreigners to the capital of Israel (Samaria), where they were fed, treated well, and finally allowed to return to Ben-Hadad, who wisely declined any further military adventures into Israel (verses 18-23).

Besides this being a really interesting story, what can we learn from it? The truth is, there are two planes of existence in place right now, the physical and the spiritual. They are not completely separate, and in fact occupy the same time and space, we just can’t see the spiritual one. For example, in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we read about our outer and inner man, one being our physical body and the other referring to our immortal souls. We can see the one, but not the other, yet they are both very real.

The New Testament speaks further of the spiritual plane. Satan is spoken of as a “lion” looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). He sets spiritual snares to trap Christians, and has success in taking captives (2 Timothy 2:25-26). We cannot see him, but he is very real and dangerous. God knows all about this spiritual warfare we are in and gives us His armor to wear (Ephesians 6:10-13) and amazingly powerful weapons to use (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). The point is that there is much going on that we cannot see with our human eyes. Thankfully “those who are for us are more than those who are against us.”

Elisha’s servant understandably had great fear when he saw all those soldiers. It’s natural for humans to be afraid when we see things like this. The servant lacked confidence, and Elisha knew he needed help in trusting God. In today’s world Christians are the minority, we are outnumbered and surrounded by sin, and it might make us fearful and lack confidence. However, a lesson we can learn from Elisha is to remember that God is always doing things for us we can’t see. His servant lacked trust until he was given knowledge, we too can develop greater trust with increasing our knowledge through reading God’s word. Another lesson is that the forces of God are more powerful than anything the world could bring against the Christian. We have mentioned verses speaking of the unseen forces at work against Christians today, but they are no match against God’s power and His tools He gives us for victory.

They key is in developing trust in God. Once we fully trust God, we develop greater confidence in what will happen to us (Hebrews 4:16). The Bible shows that when God makes a promise, He always follows through. In Titus 1:1-2, the apostle Paul teaches us that God never lies and has promised eternal life to His servants. Paul reveals that God made this promise “from eternity”, meaning from ever or since always. This helps us see that while there is a war being waged which we cannot always see, God has guaranteed His children victory in advance. No wonder Paul could say to the churches in Rome, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

For further study or questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Jeff S. Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

www.blancohillschurch.com

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

830-554-0701

Maturing in Christianity

In a world where self‑preservation drives much of our behavior, it’s no surprise that people often approach faith the same way. In general, people want safety, security, and hope for a better future in this life. With faith we want the same things: ultimately, we want to go to Heaven. These are all good goals.

According to Scripture, Heaven is not a metaphor or a comforting idea — it’s a real place where God and Jesus dwell. Acts 7:55–56 records Stephen (the first Christian martyr), moments before his death, seeing “the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” What Stephen saw was not symbolic, it was reality.

Jesus Himself used the promise of Heaven to encourage His disciples. In John 14:1–2, He spoke of His Father’s house and the many dwelling places prepared for the faithful. The hope of Heaven is a powerful motivator, especially for new believers. But as Christians grow, our motivations need to grow also, and our faith needs to turn outward. The Christian focus becomes less about “What do I get?” and more about “How can I help?”

Stephen’s final moments illustrate this shift. In Acts 7:59-60 he cried out to Jesus to take him, but with his last breath he prayed for the forgiveness of those killing him. He saw Heaven right there and of course wanted to go, but his faith didn’t stop there, it expanded outward to help others.

Heaven Is a Reward

Jesus promised that those persecuted for His sake should “rejoice, for your reward is great in Heaven” (Luke 6:22–23). James spoke of a “crown of life” for those who remain steadfast (James 1:12). Paul, nearing the end of his life, wrote confidently about the “crown of righteousness” the Lord would “award” him (2nd Timothy 4:7–8).

Crowns symbolize victory and something of great value. Whether literal or figurative, the message is unmistakable: Heaven is amazing, and God uses it to motivate us. Heaven is the intended end of our journey, but God blesses our spiritual lives with more.

The Danger of Self‑Centered Christianity

Sin has always turned people inward. The first temptation of mankind in the Garden of Eden was rooted in self‑interest: What do I want? What will this do for me? That same inward thinking can distort our spiritual lives today. If we’re not careful we ask, “How do I feel?”, “What’s in it for me?”, or “Why is this happening to me?”

But Scripture teaches that the solution to sin is not more self‑focus. It is first turning toward God, and then outward to others. Christianity is not just a great self‑improvement project, it’s a transformation.

God Has Shown Us the Way — Personally

We don’t have to wonder about the nature of God; the Bible is very clear on the subject. In 1st John 4:8, John the apostle wrote, “God is love”. Further, God doesn’t merely define love — He demonstrated what it was in practice. “God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9). This is “agape” love, or doing what is best for the one who is loved, even if it hurts the one who loves. God certainly showed us what love is, personally, by sending His own son to save us.

Jesus Has Shown Us the Way — Personally

Jesus summarized the entire law with two commands: love God with everything you have, and then love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37, 39). He embodied both perfectly. The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8 that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Even as He hung dying on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). In the middle of sacrificing Himself to save others, He took the time to plead on behalf of those responsible for His death.

Mature Christianity Looks Like Christ

Paul’s words in Philippians 2:3–8 call Christians to imitate the mindset of Jesus — an attitude defined by humility to God, thinking less of self and more of service to others. Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). One of His final acts before the cross was washing the feet of His disciples (John 13), a task normally for the lowest servant.

Christians are called to grow in maturity into people who (like Jesus) care less about self-preservation and more about serving others.

Application: When Faith Turns Outward

What does outward‑focused faith look like in everyday life? It is a transformation. Outward faith is a growth situation, where we need to change our thoughts and attitudes.

We need to:

1. Shift from “What do I get?” to “How can I share what I have?”

2. Shift from a private faith to a shared one.

God has always expected His people to pass on what they’ve received:

·        Like His ancient people were directed, we too must teach our children to know God! (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)

·        Early Christians were rebuked since they should have been teachers at that point, but weren’t. (Hebrews 5:12)

3. Shift from comfort to compassion.

The trust in God’s promises that Christians are saved is real and comforting. Compassion goes further and asks, “Who else needs God’s blessing?” We must share salvation with others; we must love like Jesus.

Conclusion

Self‑centered faith is small, anxious, and exhausting. It keeps us focused on our fears, failures, and only our personal future. An outward‑focused faith is Christlike, God‑centered, and full of love.

And here’s a secret: it is also joyful. When Christians turn their faith outward, they find energy and joy in accomplishing God’s will. We can find peace even when things get worse in life.

Heaven is real and definitely a reward. The journey to get there is shaped by love — the kind of love that looks outward, like Christ’s.

Questions or comments? Want to study more? Please contact me directly if so:

Jeff S. Mullen

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Becoming A Peacemaker

Every Christian should greatly desire to be chosen and named “children of God,” or “sons of God.” In fact, John 1:12-13 shows that for those who receive Christ, being a child of God is a gift from Him. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the churches in Galatia teaches his listeners that Christians are not naturally born into a close personal relationship with God, but instead they are adopted as children (or sons) of God (Galatians 4:4-7). This is fantastic news, because it means faithful Christians are heirs to God’s promises of help in this life and ultimately a home in Heaven (Hebrews 4:16; John 14:2-3).

In His famous Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus Christ gives us additional insight into becoming a son of God. Matthew 4:23-25 records that Jesus had been preaching the gospel of the kingdom and performing a great number of amazing miracles, healing every kind of sickness and disease and casting out demons as well. Understandably, great crowds were coming to Him from all over Palestine and, per Matthew 5:1, He sat down on a mountain and His disciples came to Him. Jesus then began teaching them, initially giving nine “Blessed are” statements which many know as The Beatitudes. It is important to understand the actual meaning of the word “blessed” in this context. When Jesus says, “Blessed are”, He means someone who God looks with favor upon, and this is not a lightly used phrase; it is a big deal when God casts His favor upon someone.

Now observe Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Previously, we have seen the benefits of being sons of God, so this verse is significant because it helps us see how we must act to be children of God. We need to be “peacemakers,” meaning a person who creates harmonious relationships between 2 or more parties. I used to think that if I didn’t participate in conflict or make a situation worse, I was being peaceful and therefore a peacemaker. But that isn’t true, I was not making peace, I was observing and doing nothing. Being a peacemaker is not a passive activity, it requires action to “make” peace happen.

So, who do we need to be peacemakers with? First and most important, we need to make peace with God. How can we be peacemakers unless we are personally at peace? In Acts chapter 2, the apostle Peter gave a masterful sermon to those who had crucified Jesus, convicting them of their sin. In verse 37 we can see their desperate need to be at peace with God when they asked, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” Peter answered perfectly in verse 38, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” These people understood by the teaching of Peter that they needed to make peace with God to receive salvation. The first act of a peacemaker must be to get right with God, and to humbly submit to the apostles’ teaching on how to do that.

To be peacemakers, Mark 9:50 reveals that disciples of Jesus Christ must be at peace with one another. If we are honest, we know brethren are frequently not at peace with one another; we need to consider that this goes directly against a command from Christ Himself. Further, Romans 12:18 teaches Christians that as far as it depends on us, we are to be at peace with all men. I have seen the “as far as it depends on us” part taken way too far and used as a crutch to either do nothing or even behave in an un-Christlike way. When we stand before God on judgment day, will we be able to truthfully say we did everything possible to be at peace with our fellow man?

How can we be peacemakers then? The Bible shows us many fine examples, none better than our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9:6 mentions that Jesus would be called “Prince of peace,” and He certainly made peace by reconciling people and God when He shed His blood on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20). We obviously cannot be a perfect sacrifice for sin like Jesus was, but we can follow His example and be a peacemaker by making sacrifices.

We need to sacrifice our worldly lives to make peace with God and live our lives for Him (Romans 6:4). We need to consider what we can sacrifice to make peace with other Christians. Are we being selfish and obstinate, or are we looking around and seeing what our brethren need and providing it? When we see a conflict brewing, we can either do nothing and watch it unfold, or we can do our best to make peace happen. The same is true with our fellow man. There is clearly a lot of negativity happening in the world, but do we as Christians just sit by passively, shaking our heads, lamenting what is happening? There is a better way, we need to think carefully about what is going on around us and determine to make things better. Consider what we can do or say to de-escalate a situation, to provide a solution, or to redirect people in a peaceful way away from conflict and toward peace.

Being a child of God is a gift, and through Jesus, a right. Being a child of God is conditional and comes with requirements regarding how we are to live this life (Matthew 7:21-23). To be a child of God, we need to be peacemakers, and Jesus showed us the way.

If you would like to study or talk about this, or any other Bible subject, please feel free to call or text me anytime.

Jeff S. Mullen

Minister, Blanco Hills Church

Blancohillschurch.com

Blancohillschurch@gmail.com

830-554-0701

Yielding Our Plans to God’s Purpose

When we read the Bible, it’s easy to feel a sense of distance from the amazing people of faith within its pages. Moses parted the Red Sea. Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Peter walked on water, and all three worked miracles. How could we possibly relate?

But here’s the truth: they were people with plans. Plans that didn’t always align with God’s. What made them remarkable wasn’t their power, it was their willingness to yield. They had hearts that were malleable, open to correction, and ready to pivot when God interrupted their expectations. That’s something we can do too.

Psalm 46:8–11 reminds us to “be still and know” that God is sovereign. It’s a call to surrender, not just in moments of crisis but in everyday life. Let’s explore how yielding our plans to God’s purpose can transform.

God’s Purpose Often Interrupts Our Plans

Take Joseph in the Old Testament for example. He started out as the favored son of Jacob, dreaming of greatness. But instead of rising quickly, he was nearly killed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. His dreams didn’t die though, they were refined. By the end of his life, Joseph had risen from the literal bottom and became perhaps the 2nd most powerful person on the planet, answering only to Pharaoh. In Genesis 50:20 he tells his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Joseph could not have foreseen how God’s plan would work out from the beginning, but even through devastating times he put God’s will above his own.

Moses had a plan too. Raised in Pharaoh’s palace for 40 years, he assumed his royal status would be the key to rescuing his people. Acts 7:25 says he “supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand.” But after killing an Egyptian, he fled into the wilderness and lived as a shepherd for 40 years. It wasn’t until the burning bush in Exodus 3:10–12 that Moses learned God’s plan for him to rescue Israel involved servitude, suffering, and spiritual leadership—not physical might or political power.

Peter left his fishing nets to follow Jesus, full of passion and impulsive zeal. He thought he knew the right plan for success as a Christian and tried to defend Jesus with a sword (John 18:10–11), but then ended up denying Him three times (John 18:25–27). Jesus didn’t discard Peter though, He restored him (John 21:17–19) and commissioned him to feed His sheep. Peter’s failure became the foundation for his calling, to fulfill God’s plan in God’s way, not his own way.

And then there’s Paul. A fierce defender of tradition, he persecuted Christians with zeal and thought He was serving God’s plan. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus blinded him to open his eyes to see that his plan was not in alignment with God’s (Acts 9:1-19). Later in Philippians 3:8–9, Paul declared that everything he once valued as a Pharisee was now happily lost compared to knowing Christ. Paul’s faith and passion was initially misplaced, but after finding out what God’s plan was, he got busy doing it.

These weren’t rebels, they were people of faith. But their plans were too small, too safe, or too self-directed. God didn’t crush their ambition—He repurposed it for something eternal.

What Do We Do When Our Plans Don’t Work?

So, what happens when our plans fall apart? When the job doesn’t come through, the relationship ends, the dream stalls?

1. Recognize the Disruption could be Divine. God’s interruptions are often invitations. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” What feels like a detour may be the beginning of destiny.

2. Release Control Without Losing Faith. Surrender isn’t passive, it’s active trust. James 4:13–15 warns us not to boast about tomorrow, because we just don’t know what it holds. Yielding means trusting God more than I trust my own plan.

3. Be Faithful in the Middle. Joseph was faithful in prison. Peter and Paul were completely wrong at one point, but didn’t quit, in faith they complied with God’s will. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” The middle matters. It’s where character is forged.

4. Let God Use Your Story for Others. None of these biblical figures were blessed just for themselves. Their stories became lifelines for others. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 says God comforts us so we can comfort others. Your detour might be someone else’s roadmap to climb out of sin’s grasp.

What If the Detour Is the Destiny?

Maybe you’ve been clinging to a plan that’s no longer working. Maybe you’re in the middle of a disruption that feels unfair or confusing. Maybe you’re afraid to let go because you don’t know what’s next.

Here’s the invitation: let God write the story. He’s not necessarily asking you to abandon your passion—He’s asking you to trust Him with the direction. The detour might be the very thing that leads you to your purpose.

Faith Challenges

Let me leave you with three simple but powerful challenges:

1. Surrender the Script. Are you so busy planning and writing your own life’s story that you haven’t considered God’s will? Pray over your plans and submit to God rewriting your life plan according to His purpose.

2. Stay Faithful. Don’t wait for clarity to be obedient. Serve, love, and grow right now.

3. Trust God’s Plan and Timeline. His ways are higher. His timing is perfect.

Yielding isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s the posture of every faithful person God has used, and it’s the path to a life that matters. So be still. Let go. And let God lead.

Jeff S. Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

blancohillschurch.com

The Magnificence of Our God: More Than Words, A Call to Transformation

We live in a world overflowing with superlatives. We call meals “amazing,” sunsets “breathtaking,” and athletes “legendary.” But when it comes to describing God, even our most powerful words fall short. “Great,” “awesome,” “mighty”—they’re true, but barely scratch the surface. The magnificence of our God is not just something to just admire, it’s something that transforms us.

In Psalm 145:3 King David sets the tone: “Great is Jehovah, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” This isn’t just poetic language—it’s a declaration of reality. David asserts the truth, God’s greatness knows no bounds, it cannot be measured.

God’s magnificence compels us to live differently, to think differently, and to respond with joyful surrender. How can we understand His magnificence?

His Magnificence in Creation

In Isaiah 40:25–26 God invites us to lift our eyes: “To whom then will you compare Me… Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these?” The stars, galaxies, and cosmic order are not random, rather they are the handiwork of a magnificent Creator. In Isaiah’s time, he could only see stars with the naked eye, and now with the advent of powerful telescopes we can see so much deeper into space. Even though we keep discovering more and more of the universe, and with each new technology we see farther and farther…God already knows each and every part of it. And it’s not just the heavens. The human body, with its intricate systems and stunning design, reflects divine craftsmanship as well. Our bodies are marvels and the more advances we make, the more we see how amazing our design really is. Yet God knows each one of us so well that He even has our hairs numbered (Luke 12:7).

We need to reflect on God’s amazing creation to recalibrate our view of Him.

His Magnificence in Power and Authority

In Jeremiah 32, the prophet is told to buy land in Judah even as the nation is under siege. It seems irrational, but Jeremiah obeys, trusting God’s promise of restoration. He prays, “Ah, Lord Jehovah! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).

God’s magnificence is not just cosmic—it’s personal. He directs events in human lives, orchestrates redemption, and invites us to trust Him even when circumstances seem bleak.

His power is greater than our limitations.

His Magnificence in His Holiness

Isaiah 6:3 records the cry of heavenly beings: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” The seraphim were not stuttering, it needed to be said three times, His holiness so great that it fills the earth. God’s holiness is not just moral purity, it’s being set apart, utterly unique, and divinely distinct. God’s holiness defines Him, and He calls His people to reflect it: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

This isn’t a burden, it’s a privilege. To be holy is to be aligned with the character of God.

His Magnificence in Love and Mercy

Psalm 103:11–12 proclaims, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” These words describe the enormity of His love and mercy toward those who fear (respect/obey) Him; He makes our sins disappear. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love is not earned, it’s given to His faithful children. He knows every flaw, every failure, and still chooses us. Unlike earthly rulers, He doesn’t forget us or love from a distance. He entered our world, bore our sin, and offers forgiveness.  

His Magnificence in Transformation

God’s magnificence isn’t distant—it’s meant to reshape us. “But we all… are being transformed into the same image [Christ’s]” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The apostle Paul is teaching in this passage that, as Christians, we get transformed into a likeness of Jesus. This isn’t a one-time event, it’s a lifelong process.

God is so magnificent that He takes His children, warts and all, and transforms us into images of His son. God’s glory changes how we think, speak, and live.

Living in Response to His Magnificence

Realizing God’s magnificence must mean something. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly says, “Then they will know that I am Jehovah.” But Hosea 4:6 laments, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The issue wasn’t information—the people knew who God was, and claimed to be His people, but they didn’t really know God. They lacked transformation. Though they thought they knew God, they did not live like it mattered.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 commands parents to teach their children diligently, to talk about God’s ways in every moment. But knowledge without action is empty. In the Old Testament, God kept showing His magnificence to His people over and over again, but what was missing was faithful response.

As Christians, we need to make our knowledge meaningful. Let’s cultivate an “I can’t wait!” attitude:

• I can’t wait to humble myself

• I can’t wait to stop doing things God doesn’t desire

• I can’t wait to start doing things He wants

• I can’t wait to love God fully, to love people fully

• I can’t wait to serve, to do things for Him and others that I might not otherwise do

Let knowledge of God’s magnificence move you to action, compassion, and surrender.

Faith Challenge

Don’t just admire God...respond to Him. Constantly ask, “What’s next, Lord?” Live with an attitude of “I can’t wait!” Let His glory shape your decisions, your relationships, and your legacy.

The magnificence of our God is not just a theological truth, it’s a daily invitation.

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Are Our Milestones Finish Lines, Or Launchpads?

We live in a world that celebrates milestones. People commonly get excited and make a point of commemorating graduation ceremonies, promotions, retirements, weddings, anniversaries, etc. — each marking a moment of achievement, a goal reached, a chapter closed. From childhood we’re conditioned to chase goals. When we have a child, it doesn’t end at the birth, it only starts there. Children learn to crawl, then walk, then run. A student works hard to finish high school, then often moves on to a job, further education, or job training. A young professional earns a promotion, then sets their sights on the next rung of the ladder. Upon retirement, many find themselves building or moving into their dream homes, finally having time to start traveling, beginning new ventures, etc. In our secular lives, when reaching a goal we rarely say, “I’m done,” and then stop moving. We move onward and continue towards the next thing. But how does this contrast with our spirituality?

When it comes to our spiritual lives, we sometimes treat milestones differently. We may reach a goal—perhaps baptism, church membership, participating in a challenging outreach opportunity, or even attending worship service—and then take it easy. We assume the hard part is over. We’ve arrived. However, the truth is that in Christ’s kingdom, milestones are not endpoints…they are invitations to deeper purpose.

Ø  Only God Decides When Our Work Is Done

Psalm 139:16 reminds us, “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.” Our timeline is not ours to set. God alone knows when our earthly pilgrimage is complete. Until then, we are called to live with purpose. Observe wise King Solomon’s remarks in Ecclesiastes 12:13–14, “The end of the matter, all that has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Our duty to God, our purpose, doesn’t expire with age, achievement, or retirement. Philippians 1:6 encourages us, “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” If God is still working in our lives, why would we stop?

Ø  Reaching a Goal Is Not the Same as Fulfilling Our Purpose

Milestones are meaningful. They mark progress but are not the end of the journey. An athlete doesn’t retire after one race. A musician doesn’t stop playing after one concert. Likewise, the Christian doesn’t stop moving forward  after one spiritual breakthrough.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many thoughts are in a man’s heart, but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will stand.” We can’t forget that though we may have great ideas about what we should be doing, God’s purpose for us is preeminent. We must not confuse accomplishments with completion.  

Ø  Crossing a Finish Line Isn’t Permission to Coast Spiritually

Too often, new believers feel like they are done because they found God, yet He requires so much more from us than simple belief to be found faithful. If we open the scriptures and truly hear what our Lord asks of us, we will see the need to always progress to the next step. Acts 2 in the New Testament shows how the church (believing Christians) began, but if you keep reading you’ll see that the church grew and had so much more to do than merely ‘begin.’ We cannot, even as seasoned Christians, settle into a sort of spiritual autopilot.

Jesus didn’t stop fulfilling God’s will at the cross. Hebrews 12:1-3 reveals that when Jesus had endured the cross and died for all, God resurrected Him and He now sits at His right hand. This passage teaches that Jesus sat down at God’s honored right hand as a reward for His obedience and calls us to also live a life of fulfilling God’s purpose like He did. Yet, this isn’t sitting and doing nothing. God’s plan for Jesus did not end with His crucifixion, it was the transition point for Him to begin serving as our King and High Priest (Hebrews 8:1–2), mediating for us. Christ continued serving God’s purpose even after the great milestone of the cross, and we need to keep serving God’s purpose the entire journey of life.

Ø  The Christian Always Continues to Grow and Bear Fruit

Growth is not reserved for the young. Psalm 92:12–14 proclaims that the righteous will, “grow like a cedar in Lebanon” and “still yield fruit in old age, they shall be rich and fresh to declare that, ‘Yahweh is upright, He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.’” The Lebanese Cedar is known for its longevity, with documented specimens well over a thousand years old. These trees continue to grow and produce cones throughout their lives. They don’t stop bearing fruit because they’re old, and the same goes for aging Christians. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 helps us understand how this is possible, “..though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” Your spiritual vitality is not tied to a physical condition; God renews us for His eternal purpose.

Ø  Conclusion: Milestones Are Invitations to More

All facets of our lives…career, family, ministry, personal growth…must be subject to God’s will and His timeline. We aren’t called to drift along a lazy river after achieving a goal. We are called to press forward, to grow, to continue bearing fruit.

Whether a new believer or a seasoned saint, the question should be: “What’s next, Lord?” This question shows humility, love for Him, and readiness to act. It reminds us that our journey is not over until God says so.

So, let’s give thanks and celebrate our milestones, but not mistake them for finish lines. Let’s treat them as the next launchpad to deeper purpose, greater service, and closer fellowship with God.

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

8305540701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Do We Have A Complaining Spirit?

        Things in life can often cause us to complain. Complaining can quickly become a habit and can even start to define us. Grumbling can be contagious; it can cause others to pile on and offer their own complaints in a sort of “complaint competition.” This seemingly benign habit can actually be a powerful indicator of our relationship with God. Are we fully His? Our words and thoughts have spiritual consequences, but the good news is that God has provided help for us in the Bible so that we can confidently expect to please Him.

        The Apostle Paul wrote to churches in the 1st century, not long after Christianity had started. Much of the New Testament in your Bible consists of Paul’s letters to these early Christians. In multiple letters, Paul warns and gives direction to Christ’s followers regarding grumbling and complaining. As Christians today, interested in living with Christ and God for eternity, it makes sense for us to read and heed the words Paul wrote, especially since as an Apostle he was given authority from Jesus Christ to spread the gospel message (Matthew 28:18-20). On the subject of complaining, let’s take a look at what Paul told the church which met in the city of Philippi.

        Philippians 2:12-16 teaches us that we need to work out salvation with fear and trembling. This means that being a Christian is not a trivial thing which requires no effort, but rather we have to “work” at it...and do so carefully, with respect and reverence towards God. Verse 14 really hits home with our subject today as it says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Paul isn’t trying to place arbitrary rules on us for no good reason, he tells us this so that we can be “children of God” and so we can “shine as lights in the world.” The Christian is to be noticeably different than the world, and to help bring others to Christ. One of the ways to properly shine our light is to not have a complaining attitude or spirit.

        Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 10:10 Paul tells the church which met in the city of Corinth that they should not “grumble” as God’s people did in ancient times. He is referring to the Hebrew nation we can read about in the Old Testament section of the Bible, who sadly fell into the trap of repeatedly grumbling against God and were punished severely for it. It is clear from the Bible that being in the habit of complaining is sinful activity and must be stopped. But how do we do that?

        By way of answering this question, let’s look at a couple more passages. Christians are repeatedly told they are to be happy, to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4), and “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). We know that these people were being persecuted by those who didn’t believe in Christ as the Messiah and also by the government directly. Many Christians were martyred (killed) in brutal ways just because they believed in Christ. How could God tell people who were suffering so much mental and physical trauma for their faith, to rejoice? The answer is that earthly concerns are not all that important to the Christian because they are just visitors on this earth and looking forward to a home elsewhere with God for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17).

        God wants His people to be HIS people, and to completely rely upon Him. This is why He was upset at His people in the Old Testament times. The people’s habit of complaining showed a lack of trust in God’s providential care. They were not satisfied with what He had done for them nor with His mission for them. We can totally see why Paul wants us to cut the complaints and be known for rejoicing in the Lord, it means we belong to Christ and God, not this world and its cares.

        Thankfully, God doesn’t just tell us to do something and not give help in how to accomplish it. Take another look at the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church which met in the city of Thessalonica. We already mentioned 1 Thessalonians 5:16 where it says to, “Rejoice always.” But keep reading..the text then says to “pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” He has provided a tool for us to overcome  the habit of complaining and helps us to rejoice even when things are not great in life. We must keep focused on spiritual things! We must rely totally upon God. When you give thanks to God, it humbles you and shows reliance upon Him. When you “pray without ceasing”, it means that you are habitually seeking God’s help and not focusing on self or the trials of this world, big or small. Speaking of spiritual things, if we are walking “by the Spirit” and focused on showing the fruits of the Spirit in our lives (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control; see Galatians 5:22-25) our focus will keep us from grumbling. The more spiritual we are, the more focused we will be on God’s will and His word, and the less we will complain about what God has provided for us and His mission that gives purpose for our lives.

        So, the question before us is this…do we have a spirit of complaining or are we centered on glorifying God? What about when times are tough? What is God’s plan for me today and what should I be doing in the kingdom? I’d love to study these or any other Bible topic with you, please contact me with any questions you might have.

Blessings to you,

Jeff S. Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

830-554-0701

The Blessing Of Trust

Two weeks ago, my article focused on the Bible as a truly amazing and unparalleled ancient work, and the statistical certainty of it being from the hand of God. Last week’s article amplified those concepts with emphasis on how archaeology as well as secular history serve to confirm the Biblical record, and give us even more faith that it is of divine origin. In this article I want to build on these facts to show how God can help us in our lives today, right now.

We are all confronted with difficulties at times, for some they are financial, or relationships with people, illness, temptation and sin, injustice, and the list goes on. Have you come up against what seemed like insurmountable odds in your walk on this earth? The question isn’t whether God’s people will come up against tough times, the Bible never says Christians won’t have such, but it does tell us how to deal with them when they do inevitably come. Let’s see what the Bible has to offer on this subject.

The Bible records how God chose the ancient nation of Israel to be His people, promising to be their God and give them a homeland in a place called Canaan. Canaan was known as the “promised land” and is repeatedly described as “flowing with milk and honey.” The Old Testament book of Numbers, chapter 13, records how Israel was approaching this promised land for the first time, after they had been rescued from slavery in Egypt by God (see Exodus chapters 3-14 for more). I said, “for the first time” because they were actually not allowed into Canaan that time due to their sin. After being punished by God and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years they were finally allowed another chance to enter Canaan, and with God’s help they were finally successful. It is important to know why God’s people were not initially allowed to enter Canaan so that as God’s people today we learn from their mistakes.

So, why did they fail? Numbers 13:2 records that God told Israel to send out 12 spies to get a report on Canaan prior to entry, including Joshua and Caleb who were both faithful men. God already knows everything, so why send out spies? This was a test of their faith in God. The initial spy report in verses 27-29 was just factual intelligence: the land was abundant and prosperous, there were large fortified cities, the people were numerous and strong, and they had giants on their side. The problem wasn’t this intelligence, remember that God had sent them out to get it, the problem was the lack of faith and trust revealed when 10 of the 12 spies concluded, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us” (v.31). In chapter 14 we find that the people were so afraid they were even willing to return to slavery in Egypt. This shows their complete lack of trust in God, even after all the miracles He had done up to this point.

Why didn’t the people trust God? It wasn’t as if He had not proven Himself to them previously. The scriptures reveal that God had shown His great power to them numerous times in a relatively short period. God had rescued Israel from Egypt by sending the 10 plagues where He overtly controlled the elements, the weather, animals, and people. God then parted the Red Sea so Israel could escape and then drowned the pursuing Egyptian army. He gave them guidance by a pillar of cloud in the day and one of fire at night, fed them with quail and manna, gave them water from a rock, and rescued them from another military attack. At Mount Sinai the people saw massive ominous clouds, lightning, fire, thunder, and earth quakes from God. All these events happened in the space of about 2 years. God had certainly proved that He could be trusted…that He should be trusted, many times over. So why did the people not trust God when He told them to take Canaan that first time? When they were confronted with hard challenges, the giants right in front of their eyes, they could not properly “see” what it meant to have God on their side.

Why could God’s people not “see” that even giants and fortified cities were not a big problem the first time they came to Canaan? Better, how can we avoid failing like them when life challenges hit us? This is why we have the Bible, to learn so we can be acceptable to God. The book of Proverbs, which contains the wisdom of King Solomon, has the solution.

Read Proverbs 3:5-8. Verse 5 says to “trust in Yahweh with all your heart” and verse 6 says “in all your ways acknowledge Him.” That’s twice we see the word “all” and this gives us the answer. We need to be “all-in” and completely trust God while we also “acknowledge” Him by living His way, according to His word not ours.  Verse 5 says to, “not lean on your own understanding,” and verse 7 says to, “not be wise in your own eyes.” This reveals that no matter what we see in front of us, huge “giants” or “fortified cities”, we can’t rely upon our own thinking and logic, but rather we need to completely and fully trust in God. Here is the secret to real happiness in life. The blessing of trusting God is that we don’t need to worry about anything this life throws at us, if we first devote ourselves to Him.

If you would like to know more about what God has told us to do as Christians to succeed and get to His promised land, we would love to study His word with you and let Him reveal that Blessing of Trust we can all have.

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch.com

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Archeology And The Bible

It is essential that we base our religious practices and beliefs on facts, this helps with developing a meaningful faith and sharing it with others. Historical and archeological evidence confirm what we can read in the Bible, and in this article we will examine just a few of the many available to us. God is telling us in so many different ways how to build trust and faith in Him, if we are willing to listen. Jesus Himself said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)

In 2 Kings 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37, the Bible records King Hezekiah’s urgent prayer to God about Assyrian King Sennacherib’s invasion of Palestine in 701 BC. In 2 Kings 19:35 we can see where God answered that prayer by dispatching an angel who destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw and go home.  Taylor’s Prism is a hexagonal artifact discovered in 1830 in Iraq and is currently at the British Museum. It dates back to 691 BC and gives intricate accepted historical details of Assyrian King Sennacherib’s various military campaigns, including one against ancient Judah and King Hezekiah. The significance of the prism is that it records Sennacherib’s invasion of Palestine and oddly just says he surrounded Jerusalem and confined King Hezekiah there “like a bird in a cage”, omitting any mention of capture or defeat of Jerusalem, just stating that he returned home. We can see why Sennacherib left out the details of what might have looked like a huge and embarrassing defeat from the history recorded on the prism. So why is this important to us? It is important because God provided an archeological find with an odd inscription corroborating what we can read about in the Bible.   

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we can read where Daniel the prophet interpreted a dream of the Babylonian king and prophesied about 3 future empires to come after his (see Daniel 2:31-39).  Daniel goes on to specify in chapter 8:20-21 that the first empire would be Persia and would be followed by Greece.  The major significance of what we see in Daniel is not that he just records history, but that he predicts these things well in advance of Babylon’s fall and while it is still strong; about 12 years prior for Persia and over 220 years prior for Greece. Daniel also records the details of the names of 4 Persian monarchs: Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and Darius II (Daniel 11:2). Archeologists have examined the ancient inscriptions at Persepolis (in modern day Iran) as well as the historical data recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder (discovered in 1879 during excavations of Babylon), and have confirmed the history we first read about in the Bible.

The text of the Bible is remarkably accurate and well preserved. Most Bible versions people have today use the Masoretic Text (a.k.a. the Leningrad Codex) as the Hebrew source-manuscript for the Old Testament. The Masoretic Text dates to 1008 AD and while that may seem old, when you consider when Moses wrote the first 5 books (about 1446 BC) we can see that we are talking about a manuscript that was copied down about 2500 years after Moses penned the originals. This could be a source of doubt, but archeological discoveries have repeatedly proved the opposite, that the text we have is superior and accurate. For example, in the mid 1940’s and 1950’s several caves were discovered around the Dead Sea in Israel containing ancient manuscripts. The Dead Sea Scrolls, as they came to be called, are an archeological treasure-trove as they include many copies of various Bible books with some of these dating back to the 2nd century BC. The Dead Sea Scrolls predate the oldest manuscripts we previously had by up to 12 centuries and are near word for word copies. God’s hand at work!

In 1979 the Ketef Hinnom amulets were discovered. These small scrolls of pure silver contain Bible verses (Numbers 6:24-26 and Deuteronomy 7:9) and were meant to be worn around a person’s neck.  The amulets contain the oldest known written passages of the Bible and date to about 600 BC, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls by about 500 years. Comparison of the passages on the amulets to the Masoretic Text has revealed that they are near copies of each other, so our text again proved to be accurate.

Finally, in 1935 a fragment of the New Testament Gospel of John (with 18:31-33 on the front and 18:37-38 on the back) was discovered, dating to as early as 125 AD by some scholars. Designated the Rylands Fragment (P52), it predates our oldest complete copies of New Testament scripture by 175 years and was written very close to when many think the Apostle John lived (possibly into the 2nd century). Scholars again found what we have been highlighting, each new archeological discovery just serves to prove to us the consistent accuracy of the text we already had.

The Bible of course by itself is enough. However, it is amazing that the deeper we dig into the Bible the more evidences are shown to us to help add to our faith. I am convinced these archeological finds are a blessing from God and serve to give us the facts we need to increase our faith even more. We need to be thankful to Him.

The Bible calls on us to make substantive changes in our lives, to turn away from sin and toward Him, to stop serving self and serve Him, to completely rely upon Him.  God willing, the next article will focus on our Trust Issues and how the Blessing of Trust can bring us closer to Him.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to study any Bible topic, please contact me!

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Faith In The Bible

There are many ancient literary works such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Herodotus’ Histories, and Virgil’s Aeneid to name a few. These are foundational works of western composition which are accepted and used extensively by experts to understand history, cultures, philosophy and the human condition.  One of the greatest ancient literary gifts we have is the Bible. In this article we will look at some reasons why textual critics agree that the Bible is exceptional, has stood the test of time, and is a true masterpiece.

The Bible is absolutely unique in its design, authorship, and message. The 66 books of the Bible were written over a period of 1,500 years by over 40 different people. The authors included soldiers, shepherds, farmers, kings, fishermen, doctors, tax collectors, prisoners, prophets, and priests, most of whom did not know one another. The Bible was written from various locations in Africa, Asia, and Europe in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek). All the above could be reasons for a work of literature to be a disaster....disjointed, full of errors and inconsistencies, lacking a cohesive theme. However, what we find in the Bible is just the opposite: historical accuracy, agreement between authors, and a singular message. Scientific facts presented in the Bible, such as the earth being round, the existence of ocean and wind currents, gravity, and many more have consistently proven to be factual. Every single archeological discovery has only confirmed what the Bible records.

There are over 25,000 ancient manuscripts of the Bible. While it is significant that we have all these copies before the age of the printing press, the point really isn’t the sheer number of these manuscripts, but rather the fact that they are substantially all the same. This is important when you are trying to have a fact-based faith.

We were blessed with the King James (KJV) translation of the Bible in 1611. The translators used an Old Testament manuscript that was only 600 years old at the time (10th century Masoretic text). These men were working with a copy that was written 2,500 years after Moses originally penned the first 5 books.  Amazingly, when the Dead Sea Scrolls came to light in the 1940’s, the Old Testament texts which were discovered matched the Masoretic Text perfectly. To put it simply, people discovered manuscripts that were 1200 years OLDER than their Bibles, and no changes were needed…they read the same. This is God’s hand at work, preserving the text of the Bible. 

In addition, whole ancient copies of the Bible which perfectly match what the translators used, have since come to light. The Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Alexandrinus are complete Bibles which contain both Old and New Testaments and they predate the KJV translation by nearly 1300 years. For these to match so accurately can only be from God.

What is written in the text is really the most important thing, and what we find there can increase our faith even more about it. From beginning to the end, the central theme of the Bible is how to save mankind from sin, and that this is accomplished through Jesus Christ. There are thousands of prophecies in the Bible, and over 300 of them are about the Messiah. So, what does this have to do with the accuracy of the Bible? Simply that Jesus Christ fulfills ALL the prophecies about the Messiah. For example, He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, and He was crucified (this prophecy predated the practice of crucifixion by 500 years!), and the list goes on and on. Why is this important? Scientist Peter Stoner, a college professor and acknowledged expert  on probability, published a book to explain it called Science Speaks.  It is online, easy to understand, peer reviewed, and free.

Caution: I am a numbers nerd, but stick with me for the next section. If it get’s to be too much, just skip to the “The point is”!

In his book, Professor Stoner calculated the probability of one person fulfilling even 8 of the prophesies of the Messiah to be 10 to the 17th power (this means 1 chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000). He then calculated the chance of 16 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled as 1 in 10 to the 45th power. Finally, he calculated the chance of 48 of those prophesies being fulfilled as 1 in 10 to the 157th power. Does your brain hurt yet? These numbers are so large that we cannot grasp them properly.  To put these numbers in perspective, at last check the Texas Lottery and the chances for winning the $139 million jackpot was 1 in 290,000,000 … and people buy tickets. That’s only 7 zeros, and we are talking about 157 zeros. The point is this: the probability that a person would successfully fulfill all of these prophesies is mind-boggling, but Jesus Christ did it. This proves beyond any doubt that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied from God, and also shows the certainty that the Bible which contains all these prophecies is from God as well.

While those figures are astounding, it's not just the prophecies in the Bible. It’s the genealogies, verified historical facts, confirmed science, the lack of contradictions within the text, and the teachings which improve lives immediately and save souls eternally. The more you look for proof, the more you will find it. God has provided His will to us in the form of the Bible, and is telling us in every possible way that it contains the path to holiness and is literally truth. As Jesus Himself said, “Sanctify them by the truth, Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

If you have a question regarding anything in this article, have any Biblical questions, or would just like to study, please contact me. I have some open time slots on my Zoom calendar.

God bless,

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

Their Teeth Were Set on Edge

I am guessing that more than once as a kid you ate a sour apple, sour plums or grapes or sucked on a lemon and ended up with your teeth being “on edge.” I’ll bet that you never blamed your “sharp” teeth on your father. Yet that’s what the ancient Jews did as recorded in Ezekiel 18. The Jews in Babylonian exile blamed their captivity on their ancestors, citing the proverb “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” as evidence that they themselves were not to blame. Recognizing Paul’s statement in Romans 15:4, “for as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before,” in my third article based on the book of Ezekiel, I’d like to delve into the matter of personal responsibility.

If this proverb was used to show that children often face consequences for their father’s actions, then that would be correct. For example, the children of a father addicted to gambling, drugs or alcohol often unjustly suffer. But the Jewish people were going much further than blaming their misfortune on the sins of their fathers.  Ezekiel makes this clear by describing the following situations:

In Ezek. 18:5-9, Ezekiel describes a righteous man who conscientiously obeys the Lord.  “He is righteous and will surely live, declares Lord Jehovah” (Ezek. 18:9).

In 18:10-13, Ezekiel describes the wicked son of the righteous man. Despite the fact that his father was a righteous man, the wicked son “will surely be put to death; his blood will be on himself.” (Ezek. 18:13).

In 18:14-18, we read that the wicked son is the father of a righteous son, who, seeing his father’s acts of wickedness, turns to God. “But the son has done justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them. He shall surely live” (Ezek. 18:19).

In 18:21-23, Ezekiel describes  a wicked man who repents and turns to God. “All his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has done, he will live(Ezek 18:22).

And finally, in verse 24 we read of a righteous man turning to sin: “All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his unfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die” (Ezek 18:24).

What is the common denominator of these five situations?  Each person is responsible for their own actions. “The soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

People have shifted blame since the beginning of time. Adam blamed God and Eve (Gen 3:12) for eating the forbidden fruit. Israel blamed Moses for their struggles in the Wilderness (Numbers 20:5). King Saul blamed the people for his failure to obey God, (1 Sam 15). It’s no different today. When two young men violently murder their parents, the defense is, “look at what the boys went through in their youth.” When a mother drowns her children, her defense is that she was molested as a child. It seems that almost any deviant behavior experienced during youth is sufficient to excuse one from moral responsibility for the most horrible crimes committed as an adult. However, Ezekiel 18 teaches that every person is personally responsible for their own behavior.

Furthermore, people can change. “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (Ezek. 18:21). God wants all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9); He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezek. 18:23).

A fundamental teaching of Calvinism is refuted by Ezekiel 18:20. Inherited or total depravity is the false idea that all humans are born inheriting the sin of Adam. They are depraved and unable to do good without God’s intervention. But, Ezekiel 18:20 clearly refutes the idea that guilt is transferred from one person to another. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”

Some believe that come Judgment Day, God will weigh our good deeds against our bad. But Ezekiel wrote,“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has done, he will live” (Ezek 18:21,22). All the horrible deeds Paul committed against the church were forgiven (1 Timothy 1:15,16).

The same holds true for the faithful man  who turns to sin. “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his unfaithfulness which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.” (Ezek. 18:24). All the good that Peter had done did not outweigh the bad when he committed the sin of hypocrisy. Paul said “he stood condemned” (Galatians 2:11).

James wrote about personal responsibility in James 1:14, where we find that “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” The Bible is clear about our responsibility, and I hope we will all be ready when “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The Blanco Hills Church of Christ welcomes you to worship with us on Sunday morning at 11 and Wednesday evening at 6:30.

Buz Turk

830-554-0701

www.blancohillschurch.com

God’s Own People Worse than Sodom?

As I mentioned last week, I’ve been a Christian for over 50 years but don’t recall spending much time at all studying the book of Ezekiel. I looked upon it as one of those books in the Bible full of strange visions and difficult prophesies that had little impact on my life. While studying the book of Revelation, some of our congregation recognized John referenced many prophecies of Ezekiel’s. So, we decided to take a deep dive into the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel writes while in Babylonian captivity in approximately 590 BC. God directed Ezekiel to prophesy to the other captives, informing them of his displeasure with their behavior as well as that of those still in Judah. As we study Ezekiel, it becomes apparent very quickly that God’s people are for the most part very unfaithful. But it was a surprise to find that God looked upon His people as far more evil than Sodom. Who would have thought a people could be more evil than a city God wiped off the earth because fewer than 10 citizens were found faithful (Genesis 18)?

In Ezekiel 16 we find an allegory or symbolic story portraying ancient Judah in three stages of life: infancy, young womanhood, and adulthood.  Right off the bat God implies that because Judah is so evil, her parents must have been an  Amorite and a Hittite – two Canaanite tribes guilty of incest, homosexuality, bestiality and human sacrifice. In the allegory, due to his compassion, God takes the abandoned, unwanted infant, cleans her, and blesses her with growth. This period of adolescence likely represents the period when Israel was in Egyptian captivity (Exodus 1). In 16:7 the girl comes into womanhood and in 16:8 God marries her and makes a covenant with her. This event is symbolic of the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 19).  Ezekiel 16:9-14 describe how God adorns his wife with great treasures. Verse 14 reads, “Then your name went forth among the nations on account of your beauty.”  This likely symbolizes when Israel was under the leadership of Solomon. 1 Kings 10:23 reads, “thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”

Though ancient Israel reached its zenith under Solomon, under his reign its demise also began. Solomon had over 1000 wives and concubines whose pagan ways turned his attention away from God. Ezekiel 16:25 reads, “you built yourself a shrine and made yourself a high place in every square.” Additionally, despite God’s repeated warnings, Solomon formed alliances with foreign nations through his marriages. In 1 Kings 3:1 we read, “Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt…” Ezekiel 16:15 may be speaking of this event where he writes, “You also played the harlot with the Egyptians…”

These foreign alliances were so disgusting in God’s eyes that He describes ancient Judah as a harlot so evil that she paid men to come to her! In 16:33 we read, “Men give gifts to all harlots, but you (Judah) give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from all around for your harlotries. 34 Thus you are the opposite of those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give away your earnings and no earnings are given to you; thus you are the opposite.”

How rejected God must have felt when he said in 16:32, “You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!” At this point in the chapter, one would not think Judah could be more sinful. But in 16:47 we find that Judah is worse than her “sister” Sodom, “‘As I live,’ declares Lord Yahweh, ‘Sodom your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.’” God declares that Judah is worse than Sodom, a city so evil that God could not find 10 righteous people (Genesis 18)!  In fact, Judah’s behavior was so abominable that God said she had made Sodom “appear righteous” (16:51).

It's hard to believe a people that God had chosen to be His own and had nurtured, protected, made prosperous and dealt with personally, could become so evil. But they did and received His judgement. In 16:58 we read, “‘You have borne the penalty of your lewdness and abominations,’ declares Yahweh. 59 For thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘I will also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.’” In less than 5 years from when Ezekiel wrote this, Jerusalem and Judah would be wiped out by Babylonian armies and the survivors taken into captivity (2 Kings 25).

But amazingly, despite their abominable behavior, God would provide a means so His people would be ashamed and given the chance to be forgiven and restored. Ezekiel 16:60-63 looks to the future when God would make an everlasting covenant with them. Contemporary prophet Jeremiah speaks of this covenant in Jeremiah 31:31, which the Hebrew writer says was fulfilled through the new covenant God made with his new people, Christians (Hebrews 8:8).

I believe every Biblical study should not end without making an application to Christians today. I often call these “so whats?”  The “so whats?” from Ezekiel 16 are:

1)    Even though we are God’s children in a covenant relationship with Him, we are human and can sin. (Rom 3:23).

2)    Like ancient Judah, we should be ashamed when we recognize our sin.

3)    God shows his incredible love and mercy toward us that even when we sin, He has made provision for forgiveness.

The Christians of the Blanco Hills Church of Christ invite you to worship and “search the Scriptures” with us every Sunday at 11 am and Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.

Buz Turk

Blanco Hills Church of Christ

Ezekiel’s Heavenly Vehicle

I have been a Christian for over 50 years but don’t recall spending much time at all studying the book of Ezekiel. Like Revelation, it was one of those books in the Bible full of strange visions and difficult prophesies that had little impact on my life. While studying the book of Revelation, some of us at the Blanco Hills Church of Christ recognized that John referenced many of Ezekiel’s prophecies. So, we decided to take a deep dive into the book of Ezekiel. In this and the next two articles I’ll discuss some of the circumstances  and events documented by Ezekiel that appear to have an impact on a Christian’s journey.

In the opening chapter we learn that the young priest Ezekiel has been chosen by Jehovah to prophesy to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon. Based on Biblical and other historical records this is probably around 593 BC. Ezekiel is one of tens of thousands of Jews that have been taken captive over the prior 15 years or so by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and brought to what is known today as Iraq. As we read the book we discover that Jehovah is very displeased with both the Jews left in Judah as well as those in exile. In fact, much of the book of Ezekiel is prophecies about Judah’s pending doom. During this same time, Jeremiah is in Jerusalem and Daniel in Babylon, both receiving revelation from Jehovah. But the book of Ezekiel is not simply a book of prophecies or judgments. Jehovah will make it clear to Ezekiel (and you and me) why His people strayed and what they can do to turn back from their evil ways and get back into a right relationship with Him.

Beginning in Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel describes what amounts to a “vehicle” carrying a beautiful “expanse” (or platform) surrounded by a  rainbow. Supporting each corner of the expanse is a 4-headed winged and multi-eyed wheeled creature. Later identified in Chapter 10 as a cherub, each creature has the head (or face) of a man, bull, lion, and eagle. Atop the expanse is a throne, and on it is one “like a man,” aglow with fire and hot metal. In verse 28 we learn that the throne is the “glory of Jehovah.” When Ezekiel sees this “vehicle,” he is so terrified that he falls to the ground.

In the first chapter of Revelation, a vivid, glowing “man” with a sword protruding from his mouth appears to John. Terrified, John falls to the ground. The “man” then identifies Himself to be the resurrected Christ, and commands John to document everything he is about to hear and see and carry it to the seven churches of Asia. After Christ dictates to John individual letters to each of the seven churches (Chapters 2 and 3), John is shown the first of many visions that begin in Chapter 4 and comprise the rest of the book. For the sake of time, I won’t include everything John describes, but I find it quite interesting that in Chapter 4 John sees a “man” on a throne resting on a beautiful expanse encircled by a rainbow and surrounded by four winged creatures overlain with eyes with the appearance of a man, bull, lion and – you guessed it – an eagle. In subsequent chapters, as the creatures and other heavenly beings worship the “one” on the throne day and night, it is clear that Jehovah is the “man” on the throne.

In the book of Ezekiel, Jehovah never addresses Ezekiel by name, but rather uses the phrase “son of man.” I am convinced that Jehovah uses this name and terrifies Ezekiel with the “glory of Jehovah” to deeply instill in Ezekiel the awesomeness of God and where Ezekiel’s place is in relation to Him. Though Jehovah may have the appearance of man – whatever that means - Jehovah is truly superior in every way to Ezekiel.  As I mentioned earlier, there are numerous ties between the books of Ezekiel and Revelation. It is no coincidence that the Apostle John reacts in the same way as Ezekiel does when he initially finds himself in the presence of deity (Revelation 1:17). He too, has been shown this scene in Heaven, I believe, to make him grasp not only the grandeur but also the majesty of whom he sees.

As an item of interest, you may remember the sensational runaway best-selling book of the late 1960’s, Chariots of the Gods?, in which the author hypothesized many archaeological finds as well as some items in the Bible actually came from, were caused by or were inspired by astronauts visiting from outside our planetary system. The “vehicle” Ezekiel describes in Chapter 1 is purported by the author to be one of these spaceships. I invite you to investigate for yourself the reception Chariots of the Gods? received by the scientific community.

I believe every Biblical study should not end without making an application to Christians today. I often call these “so whats?”  The “so whats?” from these texts in Ezekiel and Revelation are that:

1)   God is holy and worthy of worship. Those surrounding the throne in Revelation 4 say “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power” (Rev 4:11).

2)   God is to be feared; revered. In Proverbs 1:7, Solomon wrote “the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge.” Multiple times in the Old Testament we read, like in Psalms 111:10 that “the fear of Jehovah  is the beginning of wisdom.” The divine instruction to both Ezekiel and John began with visions that caused them to fear God.

As we strive to enrich our lives, may we realize it only comes through reverential worship of Jehovah.

Do We Know God.... Or Really Just Know About God?

There is a song in our songbook at the church building entitled “Do You Know My Jesus?” As I was reading through the words of the song, I thought about another related question, “Do we know God?” I think these are incredibly important questions. God is the creator of the universe and will have ultimate say over where we spend eternity, so it makes perfect sense to feel a motivation to know Him. But do we? My guess is that if asked, our friends and neighbors would say “yes” to that question. We SHOULD be able to say yes to that question; however, I wonder if many times people know about God instead of actually knowing Him. There is a huge difference. One time I met the former governor of Texas, exchanged pleasantries and shook his hand… but I can’t say I know him. Likewise, plenty of people know about God, but how many really know Him? 

The ancient Hebrew nation thought they knew God. They were God’s chosen people, they were promised and given the land of Canaan where they lived (Joshua 11:23). God gave the Hebrew people His Holy word (the oracles of God, Romans 3:1-2), as well as prophets, priests, judges, and kings to lead them. They were given many prophecies about the Messiah coming to save them. God personally interfaced with Israel like no other nation. Despite these advantages, they ended up not knowing Him. During His ministry Jesus told the Pharisees that, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” (John 8:19) Those people thought they knew God, but it turns out they didn’t, they just knew some things about Him. It can be the same for us today if we are not careful. According to the Apostle Peter, Christians make up the nation of chosen people today (1 Peter 2:9-10), and as such it is imperative that we know God and Jesus Christ, not just know some information about them. 

One time I picked up Moby Dick, and although I love adventure and whales, I quickly saw that Melville’s book was very wordy and not an easy read.  At this point the temptation was to look around for CliffsNotes, SparkNotes, ChatGPT, or some other way to get a quick synopsis. I wonder if sometimes people treat Christianity like this and miss key information in the effort to take a shortcut. Do you rely on what your ‘religious friend’ has to say? How about your minister, preacher, elder or pastor? Do you listen to a 20 minute sermon, read a blog, or listen to a podcast and think you come away knowing God? Knowing Jesus? The problem with relying upon these trusted experts is that they are humans. Jeremiah 10:23 records, “that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah’s point is that without divine direction, people choose the wrong path. God is perfect, people aren’t, so if we end up following what people say, it may end up going against God.

Consider the following. God has created everything. God has given us our very lives, makes sure that those who put Him first have food/clothing/shelter (Matthew 6:25-34), and even more…God has provided eternally for us as well. God had a plan from the beginning to save man (2 Timothy 1:9; Acts 2:22-23), to answer what to do because of our sin. God also directed prophets, Apostles, and inspired writers to record His will. If we truly want to know God… not just a little about Him, we should open that word which He gave and preserved for us and see what He has to say. When we are seekers and look in all the wrong places, we can get in our own way and not find the truth. If you want to really know God, go to the source, His own words, to seek answers about Him.

Let’s put this in practice. Do you love God? To properly love God we must know Him and then understand what He says about love. Many like the idea of loving God or want to love God in their own way, but we can’t understand what God-approved love actually means until we have read what God says on the subject. God defines love in a way which is often far different than mankind’s idea of it. God shows us how to love by His own actions: He sent us His Son, so that those who believed on Him wouldn’t perish (John 3:16). This is what true love is. Further, Jesus taught that loving Him means that a person will keep His commandments (John 14:15; 16:8-11). This is what it means to love. There is so much more to learn about love from God, but you get the point. Recently a visitor to our community outreach was questioning why we do or don’t do certain things in our worship services. We tried to share with her that it was out of love for God, out of deference and respect to God, that we simply followed closely what He had directed us to do without adding or taking away. If we know God, the God who teaches us about Himself in the Bible, we will understand that He doesn’t change His character (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8). We will know that He disapproves when humans go beyond what is written (scripture) and add or subtract (Deuteronomy 4:2; 1 Corinthians 4:6). We can’t say we love God, and then turn around and do our own thing. If we know the God of the Bible, then we understand that we must love God by doing His thing.

Let us dedicate ourselves to really knowing God as He revealed Himself instead of trying to make Him fit into our notion of who He should be.

Modern Day Idolatry

In times past I’ve heard multiple sermons on the dangers of idolatry.  The preachers would explain how TV or any number of things were idols in our lives. I have to admit, I honestly thought they had gone too far. The idea of worshipping and idol was so foreign to me, that when they tried to tie it to watching too much TV, their message was lost on me. Fast forward a few decades, and now I find myself being a preacher of the gospel in a small Hill Country town in Texas, trying my best to serve God and this community. Recently we were manning “The Bible Tent” at a Blanco Market Day, and a nice couple stopped in, decked out in campaign attire for their candidate of choice. The husband pulled me aside and made some very strong remarks regarding politics and even brought up some scripture along the way. I questioned how this delivery would affect others for Christ, and how many people he thought would be convinced by his methods.  We then talked about goals and what God would want, and I could see that it was a big challenge for him to set aside his strong convictions for a moment and think about doing what was best for people, and to do it in service to God. This event got me to thinking about the subject of idolatry again……maybe those preachers from my childhood were on to something.

It turns out that the Old and New Testaments both are very clear about the sinful nature of idolatry and what God thought of it. There are a great number of verses on idolatry, but for brevity we’ll just examine a few. Exodus 20 records God giving the 10 Commandments to the ancient Israelites, and it is no mistake that He starts from the beginning with prohibitions of putting other gods before Him, for making idols, for worshipping or serving them. God was absolutely serious about idolatry and even commanded capital punishment for it (Deuteronomy 13:1-18). Today we live under the New Covenant, found in in the New Testament, but we find that God’s attitude hasn’t changed on the subject; He is deadly serious (Revelation 21:8). When we look up the definition of idolatry in various dictionaries, we read that it includes worshipping a physical object, god, or goddess, but also in a broader sense idolatry is putting anything ahead of service to God. We can find this plainly in scripture by observing Colossians 3:5, where it says that greed (covetousness or greedy desire) “amounts to idolatry” (NASB). I wonder what else in our lives amounts to idolatry?

What things come between humans and service to God? I think if we are honest, the list of idols could be a lot longer than we expect.  Many of you who have sat through sermons on a Sunday have probably heard about the dangers of materialism, or consumerism, and putting wealth ahead of God. This can even be translated into putting work ahead of worship, ahead of service to God and our fellow man. Is wealth, money, work, or the pursuit of material things an idol in your life? When is the last time you went without your phone for even a few hours? Some of us can’t be away from our phones for even a few minutes. Has devotion to any of these things taken the place of or removed our focus from God?  It’s worth at least asking the question.

What about family? Do we emphasize family to the exclusion of God, who gave us our families in the first place? Jesus laid it down clearly in Matthew 10:37, if we love family more than Him, we are not worthy of Him.

How about entertainment? Think of all the time, money, and effort we expend to entertain ourselves….from the multiple streaming services on our TVs and devices, to all the events we want to attend, places we want to see, experiences we want to have, sports, hobbies, etc. Entertainment isn’t wrong of itself, but devoting too much of ourselves to it definitely is.  

Are we consumed with self? How about self-serving interests? Sports and sports activities? Maintaining a perfect schedule? Working out? A career? How about politics and winning arguments? Let us be very clear, many of these things are not inherently sinful….what makes them sinful is putting them ahead of God and interfering in our dedication to Him.

Ok, so how do I know if something is an ‘idol’ in my life? Conduct a personal evaluation and ask yourself some questions:   How much time do I spend with it (be honest!)? How does the time I spend with this activity stack up against what I do for God? Can I say my life is a service to God with this in my life? Can I do without this thing (like a phone)? If so, for how long? Is it preventing me from doing what God has commanded? Does it cause me to be closer to God or further away? Does it cause me to love more, or less? You might even consider asking someone you trust to give you their honest opinion as well. Sometimes the view we have of ourselves doesn’t gel with reality.

The Bible cautions about being overconfident and thinking everything is ok when it really isn’t (1 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 7:21-23). The Apostle Paul warned about people exchanging the creature for the Creator, for exchanging the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1: 25). Let’s heed the warnings of the Bible and take a hard look at all parts of our lives, making sure we’ve purged all those ‘idols’ so that we can work in God’s kingdom effectively.

Your questions or comments are welcome!

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church of Christ 

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch.com

blachohillschurch@gmail.com

The Christian and Contention

I’ve been reading some US political history lately (not really my thing to be honest), trying to expand my mind and see what I might be missing. I followed some advice from a trusted family member and it turned out to be interesting after all.  I had been thinking we were in a unique situation in our country lately, with all of the different and very strong opinions out there, everyone insisting they are right and have data on their side, that it’s not really opinion but “fact” that supports their point. Well, it’s probably no shocker to many of you that this situation isn’t new at all, and my reading of history showed as much. People have had deep convictions, strong assertions, and serious disagreements before, and of course will again. That reminds me of a wise man who once said there was really “nothing new under the sun” when you get right down to it (King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 1:9).  The question in my mind as a minister of the gospel is how the Christian is to handle these things.

I’ve been working with myself and my congregation for a while on how to approach religious differences with humility, love, and respect, but also emphasizing the need to treat God as holy and defer to His authority. I’ve given some sermons on the topic and wrote a blog a year or so ago, where I focused on what the Bible says about how to handle religious differences (for more info see https://www.blancohillschurch.com/new-blog-1/2023/3/13/truth-with-love). But what about non-religious differences as mentioned above? Ever heard (or said), “I had to tell them,” “I couldn’t let that pass”, “ignorance can’t be ignored”, “I had to set things straight”, or things like this?  The behavior that follows these statements is likely suspect; is it something Christ would point to and say, “I’m proud of you for doing that”? I wonder if sometimes we sort of turn on our Christianity when it comes to religion, and forget that we are to be this way all the time, even when dealing with non-religious matters. Let’s see what God has to say on the subject.

I’ve always read Colossians 4:6 (“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt,…”) as pertaining to spiritual matters because of the context, but now that I look at it again, it does say “always”, so doesn’t that mean I need to control my speech all the time? Jesus Christ helps us with this as well in Matthew 12:34-37. Jesus teaches that what comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is on the inside, in our hearts. Ouch. Maybe we need to take another look at our hearts. Do we really NEED to say the things we say or post? Or do we just want to? In our daily walk, do we have some innate need to be right, to win, to change others to conform to what we believe is the right way to think? Recall also the warning in Matthew 12:36-37 that even idle words will have to be accounted for. The Greek word ‘argos’ translated as ‘idle’ in this passage is defined as that which is inactive, unfruitful, and metaphorically used in the sense of ineffective or worthless (Vine, 1940). This means we need to be careful about the usefulness of what we are saying, that it is from the heart, and we will give an account to God for it.

The Apostle Paul through inspiration by God said that those who had been baptized into Christ were buried with Him and baptized into His death, and then like Him raised to walk a new life (Romans 6:4). This wasn’t a condition just reserved for religious conversations or events, like a garment to be worn on special occasions, but rather refers to an entirely new and total existence…after all, the Christian is a completely new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), so we need to act like it…all the time.

Think about our end goal. Yes, it is to get to Heaven, but also to influence others to get to the same place and experience the wonderful gifts God has for His people (Hebrews 5:12).  In our political conversations, in any conversation for that matter, or even in the little things we do on a daily basis…how are we doing in achieving those goals? Bringing more people to God or pushing them away?

In Galatians 5:16-24 the Apostle Paul shows the stark contrast between living a life according to the Spirit and living one according to the flesh (a worldly non-spiritual way). Don’t skim over these lists of actions which accompany each way of life too quickly because they are there for a reason. Right alongside some of the more heinous seeming ones like murder and hatred, are others that apply to our subject matter today. Are we being contentious? Are we causing dissention? These things are deeds of the flesh and have no place our lives as Christians. Think about our interactions with people and consider whether we are showing the produce (fruit) of having the Spirit in our lives. After our conversation do they think, “wow, now that person is showing love” (v.22)?  How about joy? Peace? Patience? Do they think about us and what we represent and immediately think of goodness? Faithfulness? How about self-control and gentleness (v.23)?  It is critical that we show these traits in our daily lives…in all facets of our lives, not just about religious subjects. After all, those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (v.24).  That language makes this a pretty serious matter.

Finally, consider 2 Timothy 2:24, “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,”

Let us humbly approach our God and sacrifice all parts of our lives to and for Him, all glory, praise, and honor belong to His holy name.

Questions or comments? All are welcome! 

Jeff Mullen

Blanco Hills Church of Christ

830-554-0701

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

blancohillschurch.com

Are You Spiritual, Religious, or Righteous?

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, 22% of Americans say they are spiritual but not religious. 88% of them believe there is a spiritual realm beyond this world. 58% of Americans say they are religious. A religious person is someone who belongs to a religious group and (perhaps) practices what it teaches. More than 80% of Americans say that they have a soul or spirit and that there’s something spiritual beyond this natural world. Being spiritual and being religious have value, but one can be both spiritual and religious, yet not be righteous. Being righteous means being right with God; it means one has been saved by grace through faith. It means that what we believe matters. It means we’ve left sin behind and that we’re practicing our faith, denying ourselves, and taking up our crosses to follow Jesus.

In Acts 17 we find Paul in Athens conversing with what seems to be spiritual people. A spiritual person knows there’s something beyond this world, but he or she may not be settled on what they believe. They may acknowledge God, but they’re often open to whatever comes along. For them, spirituality means they can choose what they like and determine for themselves what the truth is. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warned the church about listening to whatever came along: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” There are many ideas in this world, but not every spiritual one is true. As in every age, people deceive and are being deceived.

Some say they are more than spiritual; they are religious. Sadly, just being religious doesn’t make a person righteous. In Romans 10:1-3, Paul noted some religious people had rejected Christ and had established their own way. He said “they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” Paul had to rebuke some Christians for twisting the gospel, writing in Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” We are not permitted to change the gospel of Christ or the rules found in the teachings of Jesus. Yes, Jesus had rules! It’s amazing to me to hear people say Jesus had no rules. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Jesus too had to deal with religious people who would not follow His commandments, identifying them as living lawless lives. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’” These folks were spiritual and religious, but they weren’t following the teaching of the Lord. Jesus expects His followers to keep His commandments - not make up their own. Many today call themselves religious but follow the commandments of men, following human traditions or the ruling of church councils, while setting aside the clear teaching of Scripture. Jesus said to the Jews who followed oral traditions in Matthew 15:7, “in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” We need to ask ourselves, “Am I worshipping where there is an expectation or requirement to observe human traditions not found in the New Testament?”

Fortunately for me and you, because of God’s grace, being righteous does notmean we have to be perfect. None of us are sinless. John wrote in 1 John 1:7 that “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” But being righteous does require commitment.

Are you committed to the Lord? The Lord said in Matthew 10:37-39 that, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” We must not let anything or anyone come before our commitment to the Lord.

There is going to be a reckoning at Judgment Day. In addition to those that are totally unspiritual or irreligious, many who call themselves Christians will sadly hear the words “depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”  We must not be found to be merely spiritual or religious. To enter heaven we must be righteous, having been committed to Christ. To be committed to the Lord one must believe Jesus is the Son of God. One must repent of sin and follow the Lord. With love, faith, and repentance, one must be baptized into Christ so that one’s sins may be forgiven (Acts 2:38).

Please feel free to contact me at 830-554-0701 or www.blancohillschurch.com  with any questions about this article or any other spiritual matter. The members of the Blanco Hills Church of Christ strive to follow the Lord’s teaching and are committed to helping each other be righteous so we can confidently stand on the Lord’s right hand on Judgment Day.

Buz Turk

Are You Listening?

In Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus teaches a parable in which His kingdom is a field in which wheat had been sown but, under the cover of darkness, an enemy planted weeds (tares) among the wheat. When the seeds germinated, both wheat and weeds appeared. The servants are told not to dig up the weeds, in case they uprooted the good wheat. They are told to wait until harvest, when both the wheat and weeds will be gathered, at which time the weeds will be burned. Jesus then walks away, not explaining the parable.

I dare say you have never heard a sermon in which the speaker told a story and walked away without an explanation. Why would Jesus teach this way, leaving listeners to wonder about the meaning? Jesus later explains that He is fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 78, but the main reason is that too many listeners would not try hard enough to understand. Jesus said this attitude was prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 6).  Isaiah prophesied that some people think they see but really do not; they think they hear but really do not, and they think they understand – but in fact do not. Have you ever opened the ice box (that dates me) and in a minute or two couldn’t find what you were looking for, only to have your spouse walk over, and within five seconds push a bottle aside and point it out? I was lazy. I wasn’t looking hard enough. Many people want their religion to be “spoon fed;”  they don’t want to have to “dig in” to understand the Bible. Jesus leaves the crowds back in Matthew 13:36 without giving any explanation for this parable. But Jesus’ disciples were diggers. In verse 36 we find them follow Jesus into a house, wanting to understand the parable.

The symbolism is as follows: the field is the world, the sower is Christ and the seed is the Gospel, which produces the faithful children, i.e., Christians. The weeds are those who listened to the enemy, the evil one - Satan. Finally, the harvest is Judgment Day.

In the parable we find those who belong to Jesus and those who belong to the devil growing together. The workers are told not to remove the weeds as they might inadvertently pull out the wheat. Why would there be concern about accidentally pulling out wheat? Doesn’t God recognize His children? According to 2 Timothy 2:19, the answer is yes:  “The Lord knows those who are His.” One would think God would not want His children living in a world where they might be corrupted by evil companions (1 Corinthians 15:33). The answer is found in the one-verse Parable of the Leaven in Matthew 13:33, “the kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened.” God wants His children (wheat, or leaven in this case) to influence or act upon the sinful world (weeds).  If the weeds are immediately pulled, they won’t have another opportunity to respond to the Gospel. We see here the blessing of God’s patience, which Peter echoed in 2 Peter 3:9, Christ “is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

I have often selfishly prayed that Judgment Day would come so I wouldn’t have to put up with pain any longer or see my country continue to circle the drain. However, the truth is that as a Christian my task is not to withdraw from the world and isolate myself, but to remain in the world and influence the lost to obey the Gospel. To do my part in transforming weeds to wheat.  Like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth,” my task is to share the Gospel and leave the rest to God to cause the growth on His own timetable.

After explaining the Parable of the Weeds to His disciples, Jesus said “He who has ears, let him Hear.” (13:43). What did Jesus mean by that? The people heard Him speak, didn’t they? Like I do too often at home, I hear my wife but I really don’t. I don’t concentrate. I don’t listen.  Unfortunately, many people have ears but they don’t really listen to Jesus and try hard to understand the parts of God’s word that aren’t crystal clear. Perhaps they don’t ask if they see a religious practice happening that’s not in their Bible, or question why their church is not doing what they find being done by the New Testament church.

As in the parable where the wheat and weeds will be harvested, a Judgment Day is coming for each of us. Paul told the Romans (14:10-12) that “we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, TO ME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”  You and I will either be found weeping and grinding our teeth or rejoicing with the redeemed and our Lord.

It is not our intent at the Blanco Hills Church of Christ to avoid unclear or difficult passages of God’s word. In fact, we just completed a 15-month study of the Book of Revelation. We are listening to God’s word – and I suspect you wouldn’t be reading this article if you weren’t listening as well. If you have any religious question at all, please do not hesitate to call the number below, check out our website, visit our worship and Bible classes, or stop by the “Bible Tent” on Blanco Market Days. None of us are perfect,  but we’ll be happy to search the Bible with you for a Biblical answer. We meet for Bible study every Sunday at 10am and Wednesdays at 5pm. Every Sunday we meet to eat the Lord’s Supper at 11am, please join us!

Buz Turk

830-554-0701

www.blancohillschurch.com

Misconceptions About The "Rapture"

A teaching prevalent among many today is the idea that one day Jesus will return, silently whisking His faithful away to Heaven so that they can avoid a horrible tribulation. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers that say “In case of rapture, this car will be unmanned.” But is this taught in the Bible?

Keeping things in context is essential to understanding what God intended. Two texts are commonly misapplied in premillennial doctrine of The Rapture. The first is found in both Luke 17 and Matthew 24. In Luke 17:34-36 we find Jesus saying, “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”  Matthew records most of the same conversation in 24:40 where Jesus says “Then there will be two in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding grain at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” Though nothing in either of these two texts supports it, the popular doctrine of the rapture assumes these “takenings” will be silent.

The second misapplied text for The Rapture is in 1 Thessalonians 4. It appears the Thessalonian  brethren mistakenly thought that their brethren who had already died would miss the chance to go to heaven when Christ returned.  In verses 15-17 we read, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” Paul comforts them by assuring them that the dead would join Christ along with the living when He returned.  In Latin, “caught up” in verse 17 is “raptura.” So, the idea of a “rapture” of saints upon a return of Jesus is certainly scriptural, but is the premillennial rapture consistent with the New Testament rapture?

Note what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.” This doesn’t sound silent at all. Believers of this doctrine may counter with, “but only the saved hear the shout and trumpet blast.” The problem is that we have to add to what is written by these inspired men to prove these events are silent. In Revelation 22:18 John tells us what will happen to those who add to what God has revealed: they will be punished. John was writing about the prophecies in the book of Revelation, but it makes sense that this principle holds true for all of God’s word.

Jesus makes clear that the rapture will not be silent. In John 5:28-29 Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” Jesus said “all who are in the tombs will hear His voice.” Jesus’ own words refute the idea of a rapture heard only by some.  

Another facet of this misconception is that the unsaved won’t be resurrected with the saved. This theory says the unsaved will be resurrected after a 7-year tribulation, which is then followed by a 1000-year reign of Christ and his saints. But as we read earlier, Jesus said, “an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth.”  Again, Jesus’ own words singlehandedly refute the popular doctrine of the rapture.

Finally, we know the “takenings” of Luke 17 and Matthew 24 have already happened. After Jesus talked about people leaving beds, grinding grain, and working in the field, His Apostles, puzzled about these strange events, in Luke 17:37 asked “Where, Lord?”  Jesus responds with “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” In  Matthew 24 we find this same conversation. In verse 2, as they are looking at the magnificent Temple built by Herod, Jesus tells them it will be completely destroyed. In the next verse they ask when this will happen.  He then proceeds to describe the many signs that they should look for to warn them to flee the destruction of Jerusalem while there is still time. In verse 28 he says, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Essentially verbatim what Luke recorded in Chapter 17, after the so-called rapture occurs. But then in Matthew 24:34, in the same context of the statement about the vultures gathering, Jesus clears up the question about when these events will occur: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” “All these things” includes the ones leaving the beds, grinding grain, and working in the field. Since it had to happen within that generation, the events described by Luke and Matthew that many today call The Rapture, actually occurred over 1900 years ago - when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in 70 AD.

When Christ returns, all dead or alive,  saved or unsaved, will be resurrected in the same hour for Judgment. The question is, are you ready now for Him to come back?

We sincerely welcome you to study and worship with us as we prepare for His ultimate return.

Buz Turk

Blanco Hills Church of Christ

830-554-0701

www.blancohillschurch.com

God's Plan From The Beginning

There is a belief in the Christian world today that Jesus Christ originally came to establish a kingdom on this earth, but that because mankind wasn’t ready for it, He was rejected and crucified. Many believe Jesus will come again at some future point to establish this kingdom, and this time He will be successful and rule here on earth. The problem with these concepts is that they contradict with multiple scriptures in the Bible which plainly show us that what happened in the first century was actually God’s intent from the very beginning, and that things played out exactly according to His plan when Jesus was crucified.

The Bible provides every proof we need to understand God’s design was from the beginning, and there are many. For instance, we know from the Bible record that Joseph and Mary were the parents of Jesus. The Apostle Matthew starts his gospel with a genealogy of Jesus coming from the line of Abraham, going through the tribe of Judah to King David and down to Joseph (Matthew 1:1-16). He specifically points out Jesus being the son of David and this would help Jewish people understand that their prophecies concerning a future and eternal king from David’s lineage (2 Samuel 7:16) were fulfilled by Jesus. The Apostle Peter makes this connection plain in Acts 2:29-36. Matthew further explains that Mary was actually a virgin at the time of Jesus’ birth because she was with child from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). This is why it is so important that in Luke 3 we have the record of Jesus’ genealogy through Mary’s side of the family as well. Mary’s lineage goes through King David, but Luke significantly then traces it all the way back to Adam. Recall that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God promised Eve’s seed would bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).  We can see fulfillment of this prophecy with Jesus Christ’s great victory over Satan on the cross (Hebrews 2:14), thousands of years later. God had carefully planned it all from the very start.

The erroneous belief in an earthly reigning messiah which is prevalent in our society today is not new.

The ancient Israelites of Jesus’ day were waiting for the Messiah (Savior), but they expected and wanted a physical earthly messiah to literally sit on a throne like King David did, as evidenced by them trying to make Jesus their earthly king (John 6:15). They did not expect a messiah who would save others by sacrificing Himself and then rule a spiritual kingdom from Heaven. When on trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus personally settled the matter by stating His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).

In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter states that Jesus was killed according to God’s definite plan and with His foreknowledge (v.23). God didn’t make anyone sin, but He knew it would happen and provided mankind an escape from our own wrong choices. The Apostle Paul records that God sent His Son in the “fullness of time,” or just at the proper time in human history (Galatians 4:4), not at an inappropriate time when man wasn’t ready. Would a perfect God choose the wrong time? We know He chose the perfect time for Jesus to come. The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:18-19 that Christians are redeemed by Jesus’ blood. If Jesus had not come and died on the cross, we would not be redeemed; this was all according to plan. 

So what is the point? The point is that all these verses, and many more, lead us to the unavoidable fact that God has had a plan to save man since before the world was created. This plan included sending Jesus to earth on purpose to die for the sins of mankind (Ephesians 1:4-6, 1 Peter 1:18-21). A sacrifice has always been required for our sins, and Jesus dying, innocent of any crime and living a perfect life, makes this sacrifice a complete and perfect offering to God for us. This means when Jesus came to this earth and voluntarily submitted to an illegal execution, it was all according to God’s plan. The cross looked like a defeat to those not understanding that we aren’t waiting for an earthly reigning messiah, (note the mocking of Jesus in Matthew 27:39-43), rather we know it was and is the power of God to save (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus’ death on the cross was a certain and complete victory.  We are not waiting for a future victory from Jesus because He has already accomplished God’s will on this earth (John 17:1-5) and is currently reigning over His kingdom, His church (Matthew 16:18-19). We aren’t waiting for a future kingdom to enter, we are in it now. Note what the Apostle Paul says God has already done for Christians, “Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love…” (Colossians 1:13). This kingdom to which Christians already belong will be delivered to God (1 Corinthians 15:20-26) by Christ at the end of time. 

Jesus didn’t fail in an attempt to set up an earthly kingdom, rather He succeeded with His sacrifice and God has exalted Him to reign as the head of His kingdom, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, Matthew 16:18-19). After this life, we won’t have more chances to be obedient (Hebrews 9:27), so let’s get busy living the life of faithful servants in that kingdom right now.

Jeff S. Mullen

Minister, Blanco Hills Church of Christ

blancohillschurch.com

blancohillschurch@gmail.com

830-554-0701