Editorial

They say that closeness only counts in horseshoes. A miss is as good as a mile in most things of life. It is heartbreaking to almost win and yet lose, yet it happens everyday in sports as well as in every day life. The horse that loses by a nose ran just as far and almost as fast yet the winner goes to the winner’s circle. The golfer that loses by one stroke still loses and that stroke could have been a ball that failed to drop as it reached the edge of the cup. In the business world a million dollar bid can be won or lost by as little as a dollar.

In so many things in life there can be only one winner and of necessity everyone else is an also ran, but when it comes to things of God this isn’t so. Just because Abraham, Daniel and Moses will be in the Kingdom is no reason we can’t be there also. So far as God is concerned, there’s room enough for all who will obey His will, yet there are some who are going to be close, but not close enough.

We recall Jesus’ words to the young man when he said, “Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. Here was someone who had spoken discreetly. Let us hope that this particular scribe who was close made it the rest of the way to the Kingdom of God. We remember another who was close yet evidently not close enough. King Agrippa after listening to Paul preach declared, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” We wonder how many people have almost been persuaded to be baptized but never were. Paul brought several to the brink who evidently then turned back to the cares of this world. As Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, we are told that Felix trembled. He was close, but not close enough.

We who are in the Truth, who have renounced the world and given our life to Christ, how close are we to the Kingdom of God ? In the parables Jesus told, we remember that not all the seed was in good ground, some was stoney, among thorns and thistles or by the way side. Close but not close enough. The foolish virgins at one time had oil and they all had lamps, close, but not close enough.

Assuming we know the truths have been baptized and attend the meetings regularly, how close are we to the kingdom of God ? How tragic to be among those Jesus tells us about who will say “We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.” These would be Christadelphians who were faithful in their attendance at the morning meetings, who attended the Bible lectures, perhaps even gave the lectures, yet cast out for Jesus will say “I know you not whence ye are; depart from me.” Close, but not close enough.

Why? Why will some brethren and sisters who spent a lifetime in the Truth be turned away by Jesus when he comes? The reasons may be as varied as the people to whom they apply. This we do know, the verdict will be just. Perhaps not enough love will be the main reason most who are close but not close enough will be turned away. Paul talks about giving our bodies to be burned and bestowing all our goods to feed the poor all in vain due to a lack of love. Surely people so dedicated as to do these things will be close, yet not close enough. It is certain that not everyone in the Kingdom of God will have the same rank, some will be over 5 cities and some 10. Some will have just barely made it and some will just barely miss. Are we giving our life in the Truth everything we have, trying with all our might, or are we just going along trying to just barely be accepted by Jesus since we would all be content with anyplace, so long as we are accepted. Perhaps with this attitude we may find ourselves instead of just barely being accepted among those who were just barely rejected. Peter tells us to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Daniel Webster, when asked what was the greatest thought that had ever entered his mind, replied: “My accountability to Almighty God.”

This thought evidently hasn’t occurred to many people, at least it wouldn’t appear to be so from the way most people are living. Their lives reflect more of an eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die attitude, than any thought of being held accountable to God.

When we stop to reflect just how great God is, and then remember that Jesus told us that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without our Father’s knowing It, we can understand that everything we do is known to Him. In a general way, the whole world is accountable to God, for He knows when the sparrow falls, yet that is the end of the sparrow. So it is with most men. They live and die like a flower blossoming in the desert air. They are as though they had never been.

When we consider that by our knowledge of God, we place ourselves in an accountable position to Him and also become eligible to receive from Him that glorious prize of everlasting life that He has offered to those who do know Him and have kept His commandments, it truly becomes one of the greatest thoughts that has ever entered our minds.

In the hall which our ecclesia rents on Sunday, there is a plaque over the fireplace that says, “Knowledge is Power.” When we realize what power there is in the knowledge of God, it is truly staggering. It is knowledge that is able to make one wise unto salvation. This knowledge is so powerful it will bring dead bodies to life again in the resurrection at the last day. This knowledge is so powerful that it makes us accountable to Almighty God. James tells us that “him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.- Now the question is, when we know what we should do, when we realize that we are accountable to God, what do we do and how do we act? Paul warned the Romans that “Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Does our life reflect the fact that we understand the point Jesus made when He told us that every idle word that we shall speak, we shall give account thereof in the day of judgment? For by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Knowing this, Paul admonishes us saying, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

James warns us about the dangers of the tongue and all the trouble it can get us into. When we consider that God knows not only everything we say but even what we think, surely our accountability to Him is a thought we should never forget.

Let’s hope we are not like the foolish servant who knew he was accountable to his lord yet took his talent and hid it in the earth. He knew his lord would return. He knew he would be held accountable for the talent. In spite of this, he did nothing. We need to be on guard that we are not a foolish servant of the Lord hiding our talent in the earth. All we have to do is try. God gives the increase, but He won’t give it to us if we are sitting down.

Truly, knowledge is power. Paul’s desire was to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection. Knowledge, like faith, is useless if it’s all alone.

Actually Peter says it would be better not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment. Since we know, and we know we are accountable, let us, with God’s help, use our knowledge in works meet for repentance that at the coming of Jesus he will be pleased to say to us, “Well done.”

If all else fails, try reading the directions.” How many times have we heard this advice after endless attempts to put together a simple child’s toy that comes “knocked down.” We think, “there’s nothing to this” until we try to piece together the many strange looking pieces and find to our dismay that we have several left over.

Many of us do this with life. So anxious are we to do our “own thing,” that we run pell mell down the wrong road for miles before we stop and find that we are traveling in the wrong direction. Wise parents try to steer children right but the foolish child replies with the well known phrase, “Mother, I would rather do it myself.” A wise parent would rather have the child believe the advice that the stove is hot than have to bandage up the burnt fingers that tested it to see.

Our Heavenly Father would also prefer to have us read His directions and accept in faith His instructions than get burnt in the fires of life that surround every one of us. Why is it that so few read His directions? In the words of the old church hymn “Oh What pain we often suffer. oh what needless grief we bear. just because we do not cam everything to God in prayer.” By listening to God (reading our Bibles) and talking to God (prayer) we can avoid the fatal mistakes that are claiming the lives of those around us.

David asked “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ?” and then he quickly answered his own question, “by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” It is the only way to do it. David who was a man after God’s own heart, then proceeds to declare, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: 0 let me not wander from thy commandments.” God assures us that “Blessed are they that keep His testimonies: and that seek him with the whole heart.”

Paul tells us that those of the world “did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” This is as true today as it was when Paul penned these words. Those around us do not think of God, of the directions He has given us, or His wonderful promises. True they mention His name frequently, but it is only in cursing. No wonder God has given them over to a reprobate mind. They are filled with all unrighteousness and wickedness. No wonder they do not know God’s plan of salvation, they have never read His directions. They are blind leaders of the blind and we remember that Jesus said they would all end up in the ditch.

Solomon told us that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. No wonder the world is in such a mess today. It is evident that the world is not thinking right, they do not retain God in their thoughts, their minds are filled with all kinds of wickedness. This is evident from the type of entertainment that is being offered today. Movies and plays have hit an all time low. It is embarrassing to even walk past a magazine stand. When people feed their mind garbage, crime and violence are the natural result. Can a clean thing come out of something unclean ?

We cannot solve the problems of the world, Jesus told us it was going to get like this. We can do something about our own situation. If we will read the directions God has prepared for us and follow them to the best of our ability, then Jesus when he comes will be pleased to separate us from this evil world and give us eternal life in his kingdom. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The directions are worth following.

“Read this Book (The Bible) for what on reason you can accept and take the rest on faith, and you will live and die a better man.” Abraham Lincoln

We know that not only will we die a better person for having read the Bible but if we are wise enough to obey its commands after reading them we shall also rise to live forever. Jesus said “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

As we begin a new year we start again to read from Genesis, Psalms and Matthew. It is a great pity that so few read the Bible every day. How can we think godly if we don’t read God’s thoughts? In the natural we sometimes feel we get to know a certain author by being thoroughly familiar with his writings. Certainly those who have made a study of Shakespeare feel they are acquainted with him and his thought processes, so it is with any other writer who has left his works behind. It may be nice to know a human author this way but it in no way compares with getting to know God through His Word. In fact, it is completely impossible to obey the first command to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind if we do not constantly read His Book, pray and meditate upon His goodness and mercy to us. Remember John’s point about hat;ng or loving our brethren, the last part of his question is “How can he love God whom he hath not seen ?” How can we? It is impossible to love the unknown. We cannot love someone we have never seen, never heard from, never heard of. Only by becoming familiar with a person can we love them. In the natural this usually comes as a result of personal contact but it has occurred by correspondence. Many lovers first met by mail and the love grew even before they saw one another. Since we have never seen God it is only possible to love Him as a result of our familiarity with His Word. It goes without saying that if we are not faithful in our daily readings in His Book, we will not love Him. How can we expect Him to save us if we break His first and most important command? Paul asks the question “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” His answer is, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

It is this word of God that must fill our minds and hearts if we are to love Him, obey Him and receive from Him the crown of righteousness. To ignore the Bible readings is to ignore God. It won’t make much use what else we do if we don’t do them. That’s the trouble with the world today. Every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes. The world expresses it as “doing your own thing.” “Our own thing” will be of no value in the day of judgment.

By the time you read this, one twelfth of 1970 will already be gone. If you did not read your Bible every day in January, don’t let February and the rest of the year take the same course. Making and breaking New Year’s resolutions is the butt of many jokes but not reading God’s Word is no joke whether it was a New Year’s resolution or not. If we cannot find time to read God’s book every day, just how much do we really love Him? Our actions are speaking louder than words.

The Bible Companion is not the only way to read the Bible but it is a very good way. Whatever way you use to read the Bible, use it and do it every day. Do it as a family, if possible. May the words Paul addressed to Timothy apply to us as well. “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.