Truth Magazine

By Jeffery Kingry

Where is heaven? What is it like? How big is it? It would be difficult to answer these questions to the satisfaction of all. Heaven is where God is (Jn. 12:26). It is at least a “hundred times” greater than this world (Matt. 19:29). It will be as “big” as the reality of God in eternity, certainly as “big” as this universe (1 Cor. 15:40-50). The answer to this last question is almost impossible to put into human terms for heaven will be a reality not bound by the parameters of space (2 Chron. 2:6; Eph. 1:23), time (2 Pet. 3:8; Rev. 10:6), or matter (2 Pet. 3:10-13; 1 Cor. 15:50).

God is the master teacher; He takes us from where we are to the unknown. Jesus used what was tangible to people to teach concepts they would not understand otherwise. Jesus challenged Nicodemus to use his senses to compare the material, the obvious, in making a spiritual application. When Nicodemus insisted in “playing dumb,” Jesus responded by saying, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily I say unto thee, we speak what we do know, and testify what we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things” (Jn. 3:10-12)?

How can we perceive heavenly things? The Lord said we can look at the earthly and see a pale shadow of the “real” world to come. “For those things of God which the eye is unable to see ever since the world was created are to be seen clearly and studied by the eye of reason in His works, even His everlasting power and divinity” (Rom. 1:20. The New Testament From 26 Translations).

Heaven is a reality that can be seen and appreciated in our experience in this world. The glory of God and the glory of the place that he has prepared for his bride is vaster by far than this universe, more diverse in its beauty, more intense in its color and purity than any glory this world contains. We know it will be a quality of life as different from the one we enjoy now as the flower is from the seed it came from (1 Cor. 15:35-38; 42-44). A life without pain, sorrow, corruption, death, or sin to dilute it.

Going Home

Abraham and his wife left Ur-they left Haran-they died after a long life of wandering, never putting down roots. They “died in faith never having received what was promised, but they glimpsed the fulfillment in the distance; they hailed it in delight. They freely admitted that they lived on this earth as strangers who had no permanent home upon the soil. For they that say such things declare plainly that they are looking forward to their real home in heaven” (Heb. 11:13, 14).

Several years ago we left Colorado. Our house perched upon a mountainside like a tree house among the firs. A singing river filled with trout rushed by our front door. The majestic mountains stood at attention in their splendor just for our view. Colorado was the smell of burning wood in the fireplace, and the pungency of the mossy earth after a rain. It was the first rays of sunlight through the window in the Spring, the delight of emerald and ruby hummingbirds hanging in the air timidly asking for a sip from our dinner glasses as we sat on the porch at dinner. It was a “special place” that the tourists did not know about. As in the arms of a strong father, one could sit on the sun warmed rock and see for fifty miles. The undulating green quilt of the valleys lay below as a child sleeping beneath a blanket. The proud peaks of the Rockies in their cold mantle of ice dominated the horizon. At dusk the sky would fade from blue into subtle shades of scarlet and bronze, finally bursting into a kaleidoscope of color rejoicing in the glory and beauty of the Creator.

The day we left our valley for Illinois in a U-Haul truck I recall glancing in the rear-view mirror for a last look with tears and a prayer, “Lord, ‘Heavenly Jerusalem’ doesn’t mean much to me. All I ask is a heavenly Colorado please.”

It may be a Florida everglade, an Arizona desert, a Colonial garden in New England, the freshly turned earth of Illinois or Indiana, the endless stretches of sea from a California shore, or the grandeur of some far away exotic country-but heaven will have it for you only a hundred fold better. “And everyone that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit eternal life.”

God knows how to give good gifts. He gave us this world to love to point us to the world to come. No man can take the glory to come from us. None can pollute it or spoil it. And greatest of all, we will be able to share it with those we love more than life itself.

“And indeed, if in their hearts they were homesick for that land from which they had gone out they would have found an opportunity to return to it. But the truth is that they were yearning for and eager for a better, a heavenly, land! And so God is not ashamed to be called their God, indeed he has prepared a city to receive them” (Heb. 11:15, 16. Ibid).

Brethren, Heaven is worth working for, sacrificing for, yes, even dying for. “Thanks be to God! .Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:57, 58).

Truth Magazine XIX: 41, p. 653
August 28, 1975

By Claude Worley

Perhaps the big failure of those throughout past history who professed to serve God was found to be in their lack of convictions. So time and time and time again the Israelites lapsed into idolatry. This same problem confronts those professing to follow Christ today. The lack of convictions foster covetousness, and covetousness is idolatry.

There are several facets that might be considered in this weakness, but the ones we are now taking into account have to do with those, primarily, who preach and claim to be great defenders of the faith, and the elders who have the oversight of the congregation. These too often fail to understand their obligation through ignorance of the Bible or cowardly shrink from their duty when a problem becomes serious and a defense is needed. Just let the situation affect their family, their close friends, or their pocketbook, or things they covet, and they shrink back, forget about the cause of Christ, and rise to champion their own cause. Unlike Paul’s admonition in 2 Tim. 4:7, they would rather switch than put up a fight for God’s word, This is one of the big reasons so many have gone liberal, and are in apostasy. Time and time again one will find preachers, elders, and even members of the church that will recommend some preacher for a work, when they know that he is not worthy of recommendation or even fit to preach. Preaching the word of God is a sacred trust. Too often the one being considered for the new position will -pull a “snow job” on his friends and get letters to prove his worthiness and good standing. These are often accepted without further investigation by the church seeking the preacher. Thus the work much of the time is laid “wide open” to false teaching and brain-washing techniques. Then after a few months the church is confronted with problems and, perhaps, a split that is never healed. With heartaches and confusion that confronts the members, the big question they ask is, “Where did we go wrong?”

The big “cliches” used as excuses to justify their actions in recommending a preacher are, that he is a “nice guy,” or a “good fellow,” or that he is misunderstood and will not preach his “pet hobby” from the pulpit, or that they wanted to help him out. Sometimes it is that one church wants to get rid of him, so they push him off on someone else, and sponsor him to ruin some other congregation with his idiosyncrasies, apostate ideas, or sinful living. They never stop to think about what they are doing to others that might be led to stumble, or that Christ wants his church kept pure and without blemish, or that the church is a divine institution.

Is the statement that Paul made in Phil. 1:16, where he said, “I am set for the defense of the gospel,” a phrase to be ignored? Or is the command to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” found in Eph. 6:11, to be taken lightly? The New Testament gives many statements urging the Christians to contend for the faith, or to “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on life eternal,” as in 1 Tim. 6:12. Are such statements as these to be passed over and pushed aside as not really obligatory or of any consequence? Are so many blinded and cannot understand what it means to “fight for the faith?” We are commanded to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). So, if God is not first in our consideration and defense, we are not fit to be considered soldiers, and not fit to be citizens of the kingdom of God. Do we have courage only for the defense of fleshly reasonings and selfish aims? It is sickening to see how many, supposedly followers of Christ and defenders of the faith, play “dead,” and show that they do not have any more intestinal fortitude to defend the faith than a proverbial “chicken,” when the time comes to be counted. This is one of the big facto`s that is causing so much weakness, controversy, and unfaithfulness in the church today and is leading to liberalism and apostasy.

So our attitude toward the word of God will determine how we will fare when we face the judgment. Will the Lord say to you or to .me, “ye workers of iniquity, depart from me I never knew you?” Being defenders of the faith is not a cowardly, part-time, halfhearted, lackadaisical, careless, hypocritical attitude toward God and his word, but a complete dedication to Christ and his cause.

Truth Magazine XIX: 41, p. 652
August 28, 1975

By Ronny Milliner

A number of passages in the New Testament picture the Christian as an athlete. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:24-27 that we are running a race for an incorruptible crown and in so doing we must keep our bodies in subjection. He spoke concerning the end of his life as finishing the course (2 Tim. 4:7). The Hebrew writer (10:32) instructed the early Christians, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight (Greek-athlesin, comparable to our English word, “athletics”) of afflictions.” Then in 12:1 he said, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

On nearly every team, there are usually two or three players that are referred to as “bench-warmers.” These players usually offer very little in the way of participation in the game being played. We also have these type of players on the “church team.” Many of the members of the church sit and watch while a few are engaged in the heat of the game. There are many ways this fact could be illustrated. Usually just a few engage in personal evangelism (2 Tim. 2:2). Not very many are teachers as they should be (Heb. 5:11-6:3). Few participate in making efforts to restore the erring brother (Gal. 6:1). Other points could be given but the major point I would like to discuss in this article is the Christian’s duty to be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:17).

Paul taught us, in Phil. 1:27, that we are to be “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” He instructed Timothy to “war a good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18), to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12), and to “hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13). We are to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). Also, Jude instructs us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). Other passages could be cited in teaching this point, but these should be sufficient.

But even after reading the teaching of the host of these passages, we find some sitting on the bench. While a few brethren engage in defending the truth against heretics, many sit idly by. I have heard some say, “We don’t have that problem here, why should we have any instruction on it.” “To be forewarned is to by forearmed.”

Yet another bad characteristic of some of these “bench-warmers” is that of being “side-line coaches.” If they do not care for the way certain players are participating in the game, even though it be according to the rules, they begin to cry aloud concerning foul play. The Christian’s struggle is a “fight” (2 Tim. 4:7). Paul wanted brethren to pray for him that he might have boldness in the fight (Eph. 6:18-20). Reproving and rebuking is not a pleasant task, but it must be done.

Let each of us realize that not lust a few preachers, elders, or Christians are to “fight the good right,” but all saints are to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3). U.S. Steel has an advertisement stating, “We’re involved.” As an athlete striving for the incorruptible crown are you “involved.” or are you a Christian bench-warmer?

Truth Magazine XIX: 41, pp. 651-652
August 28, 1975

By Irvin Himmel

It is an indisputable fact that an alarming number of marriages are failing. Every divorce is a testimony to lack of success. Many marriages fail that remain legally intact. Separations may occur because of disagreements even when there is no divorce. The fact that a husband and wife continue living under the same roof is no proof of real togetherness. A couple may remain in the same house only to fight, quarrel, and make life miserable far themselves and others around them.

Some marital problems would puzzle one with the greatest of wisdom, but the major causes of failures are not so complex.

1. A marriage may fail because it is viewed as a purely human arrangement. We must remember that it was God who ordained the husband-wife relationship and gave laws to regulate it. Matrimony originated in the divine decree of Gen. 1:27, 28: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it . . .” Read also Gen. 2:18-24. It is God who joins partners in marriage (Matt. 19:3-6). Gospel preachers stress these facts in marriage ceremonies.

If we may judge their convictions by their attitudes and actions, many people must feel that God has no control or voice in marriage. Some men and women mate without marriage, living much like animals. They are led by physical drives, switching partners at will, having no higher purpose than gratifying carnal passions. Others are careful to comply with the laws of the state, but they recognize no higher laws. All who leave God out of the picture by ignoring His laws for marriage could not be expected to attain real success in that relationship. To view the husband-wife connection as purely human in every sense is to act as if marriage is only a human arrangement, therefore to conclude that we may do whatever we please and it is not any of God’s business!

2. A marriage may fail because it is not considered as a lifetime contract. Naturally, people who leave God out would be expected to regard marriage lightly. But some who claim to believe the Bible do not take marriage seriously. No doubt ignorance plays a role in this. Jesus said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” Many have not read. They claim to believe the Bible but are unfamiliar with what it teaches about the permanence of marriage.

People must be taught that God does not approve everything that the state approves. God designed marriage as a lifetime agreement. To overcome the looseness of attitude that manifests itself strong teaching is needed on such passages as Rom. 7:1-3 and Matt. 19:9.

3. Some marriages fail because the partners have no common spiritual bond. Marriages with the heathen were highly detrimental to the Israelites long ago. When Ezra learned of such marriages among the Jews, he plucked off the hair of his head and his beard, and sat down in utter astonishment. Ezra entreated the people to put away their “strange wives” and “such as are born of them.” The birth of children by heathen women did not make the marriages any less abominable (Ezra 9; 10). In Nehemiah’s time the same situation prevailed. The Jews had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. The children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod. It was a terrible evil. Nehemiah reasoned, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? . . . even him did outlandish women cause to sin” (Neh. 13:23-27).

Today, the laws that governed ancient Israel are not in force, but serious problems can arise when one partner is trying to be loyal to Christ and the other is not. It is difficult enough to overcome obstacles when both husband and wife are endeavoring to follow the Scriptures; a Christian who marries out of the faith creates a built in potential for failure.

4. A marriage may fail because true love is lacking. If a couple genuinely and deeply love each other, problems can be solved, mistakes will be forgiven freely, and selfishness will be put aside. The husband who sincerely loves his wife will be tender and kind. He will love her as his own body, or as he loves himself, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Eph. 5:28, 29). The wife who loves her husband will submit to him and reverence him (Eph. 5:22, 33).

All marriages are not based on love. Some are based on the desire for financial security, or maybe a longing for social prestige. Some couples marry merely because of physical attraction. And sometimes people marry out of spite, but in the end they spite themselves!

5. Many marriages fail due to lack of preparation. In relatively few things do any of us succeed without adequate preparation. The following are some .areas in which preparation is needed for marriage: (1) physical-the body should be kept strong and healthy; (2) emotional-one may be physically mature but too emotionally immature for marriage; (3) moral-“keep thyself pure” (1 Tim. 5:22) is good advice for anyone at any point in life, especially for one who expects to enter marriage; (4) intellectual-one should know his or her responsibilities and how to fulfill them; (5) financial-do not expect to begin with a dream house fully furnished, but realize that there must be some means of a livelihood; (6) spiritual-this is the most important area of preparation for disciples of Christ who contemplate marriage.

A lot of couples, particularly younger ones, jump into marriage with little or no preparation. To make a marriage succeed, planning and determination toward that end are necessary from the beginning.

To realize before wedlock why many marriages fail should help to avoid pitfalls. I urge teenagers to study this article carefully. All who plan to marry should ask themselves what kind of a marriage they really want. If one desires a messed-up affair, that can be arranged with ease. If he wants a happy, meaningful, and glorious marriage, it will take the right attitude, sincere and continued effort, respect for God’s laws, and deep love with understanding.

Truth Magazine XIX: 41, pp. 650-651
August 28, 1975