Of Making Many Books There is No End

Reading has, throughout my life, provided many enjoyable and profitable moments. I have especially loved history and biography. For example, I am currently reading “Benjamin Franklin” by Walter Isaacson. I chose this book because I have taken an interest in the Founding Fathers of our nation.

So far, I’ve read about George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. All of the books have been enlightening in that I better understand these men and their successes and failures.

Yes, reading provides knowledge and entertainment, but in the greater scheme of things how does knowledge of the Founding Fathers profit me as a reader? As I consider all the time and effort I have put into reading, what is the profit?

To be honest, my reading has been entertaining and enlightening on a human level, but when God evaluates my reading will it matter that I know a lot about the Founding Fathers or any other subject?

The Bible has some interesting things to say about books and the pursuit of knowledge. Let’s examine a few passages that help us to put the reading of books in the right perspective.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “. . . Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.”

Adam Clarke in his commentary makes the following note on the reading of books,
“Two thousand years have elapsed since this was written; and since that time some millions of treatises have been added, on all kinds of subjects, to those which have gone before. The press is still groaning under and teeming with books, books innumerable; and no one subject is yet exhausted, notwithstanding all that has been written on it. And we who live in these latter times are no nearer an end, in the investigation of NATURE and its properties; of GOD, his attributes, his providence, his justice, and his mercy; of MAN, his animal life, his mode of nutrition and existence, and his soul and its powers; of JESUS, and the redemption by him; of ETERNITY, and what it implies as exhibiting to us the pains of the cursed, and the glories of the blessed. Of several of these we know no more than they who have lived five thousand years before us; nor do we know anything certainly by the endless books that have been published, except what bears the seal of the God of heaven, as published in that word which was declared by His Spirit.
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.).”

In other words, loads of books have been produced on every imaginable subject, but what long term contribution has the publication and reading of books produced? Sadly, not much. As Solomon says at the end of verse 12, “much study is a weariness to the flesh.”

Ecclesiastes 1:18 provides additional insight to Ecclesiastes 12:12: “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Solomon makes clear from this verse that we can acquire a great deal of knowledge about this physical world. In fact, Paul addresses people who put great effort into reading and learning, but there is something woefully lacking in the end. 2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” or as Solomon said it “much study is a weariness to the flesh.”

Is reading and study wrong? As long as we are reading what is edifying, we are pursuing a positive path.

Available to us is God’s inspired word from which we can receive everything we need to be complete and fully equipped as members of Gods church (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible offers us something we can never gain from reading many of the books available to us.

Note what Solomon said as he comes to the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, “And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright — words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12).

In summary, reading can be instructive and most pleasurable, but we have to realize that most of what we read does not contribute to the path to eternal life. But as we dig into God’s word we can be instructed, “goaded”, or built up by “well-driven nails.” The Bible being the most profitable reading we will ever undertake.

Have an enjoyable Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Rising Up Early and Speaking a Message of Warning

In my Bible reading, I have been going through the Major Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets, Daniel through Malachi. As I have been going through the prophets, a thought came to mind concerning the prophets of the 21st century. More specifically, my question is, “Where are the prophets of our time?”

As one goes back through the prophets, we find examples of messages being given to God’s people from Genesis down to the time of the book of Revelation. This would encompass a time span of about 1500 years.

For example, we find Noah at a minimum witnessing to his generation even if it was by his example of building a huge ship in a location without access to a large body of water. Did Noah go out and preach or did he simply warn his generation by building a ship? When asked about what he was up to, did he tell them of the flood that was to come unless people turned from their wicked ways? In all probability, yes, but no one heeded.

To me one of the most vivid reminders of the work of prophets is found in the prophet Jeremiah. There is a phrase that is repeated throughout the book regarding God and His prophets. Let’s consider a few examples of this phrasing:

• Jeremiah 7:13 “And now, because you have done all these works,” says the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer.”
• Jeremiah 7:25 “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.”
• Jeremiah 11:7 “‘For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early and exhorting, saying, “Obey My voice.”
• Jeremiah 35:15 “I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.”

The common theme in these verses is that God sent His servants, the prophets, with His message, “rising up early and speaking” a message of warning, but God’s people would not listen. Besides the scriptures cited, God also makes this point in Jeremiah 25:3; 25:4; 26:5; 29:19; 32:33; 35:14; 44:4.

In reality, God had sent his message from the time Israel came out of Egypt until Jeremiah’s time. God’s warning to turn from their wicked ways had been delivered over a 700 year span and God’s people had not heeded.

As prophesied the consequences of sin eventuality came to pass as both Israel and Judah were conquered and taken into captivity.

Beyond Jeremiah’s time God’s warning to mankind continued to be delivered over and over again down to the final message given to God’s people by the Apostle John. Man’s response has continued to be the same: to ignore the prophetic word delivered.

As we consider this consistent pattern of the prophets rising up early to deliver God’s message, we might ask, “Where are the prophets of our time? Where are the prophets of the 21st century?”

We may not have many men in the flesh who are powerfully preaching God’s message to the people of our time. But the prophets are still speaking if people are willing to heed.

One might ask, “Where are the prophets?” In reality, the prophets are speaking in the pages of the most widely published book in the world: The Bible. It is available to all in almost every language and dialect on earth. It is also available whether it is early or late. And it is most applicable to our time.

The prophets still speak in the pages of the Bible. The question remains, “Will mankind heed the prophetic word God sends to mankind?” That is the question that remains to be answered.

I hope this Sabbath Thought offers some food for consideration during God’s time of rest.

Gary Smith

Biblical Principles in the Political World

We, as church members, have been able to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles once again in 2018. It is a time characterized by humility, service, patience, cooperation, giving, thoughtfulness, and sacrifice. Above all the truth of God’s soon coming Kingdom has been expounded. We have been reminded by the speakers of the righteous reign of Jesus Christ on earth and all of the wonderful things that will flow from God’s rule.

In returning home, if we tuned in to the news, in whatever format, we find strife, conflict, and a complete lack of civility in all too many situations. It is hurtful to see people raging at one another over things that could be settled peacefully if God and His word prevailed.

Let’s imagine God and His word being the foundational principle on which we decided who would be a justice of the Supreme Court.

The strife that unfolded in the selection process of a judge to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anthony Kennedy was based upon a false premise. The false premise is that the right to have an abortion is a court ruling that must be defended no matter how down and dirty the opponents of the nominee have to go to defeat him.

If all parties accepted God and His word as the final arbiter, then the abortion issue would not be an issue at all. They would be led to see that life begins at conception. The miraculous cell splitting process that begins to unfold in the womb is the beginning of a human life. From God’s standpoint all human beings are precious because they all have the potential to be part of the family of God (Hebrew 2:10). From God’s point of view the Sixth Commandment, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) would be the guiding principle.

A couple of other biblical principles which would have been helpful in sorting out the nomination process:

• The 9th Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Sadly, we don’t see the application of biblical principles in the political world. As a result, we will continue to see strife and conflict on regular display.

The good news is that we are nearing the end of the time when raw, carnal nature will be on display on the nightly news. We have been reminded by going up to the Feast that Christ will return to this earth and judge in righteousness and equity for all.

Rejoice this Sabbath in the rest that is sure to come through the return of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:11).

Gary Smith

Remember That Time That Guy in the Bible Interpreted That Dream? Both of Them?

For your consideration this Sabbath, I’d like to hearken back to the time of the prophet Daniel. We were asked to write down, as part of the Scripture Writing, Daniel 2:21, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” In writing down the verse for the day, I looked at the verses before and after.

Daniel 2:21 is recorded in the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king had the dream and he sought for it to be interpreted. The Chaldeans, astrologers, and magicians were asked to supply the details of the dream and the interpretation. The king was not going to tell them the dream out of fear they would make up an answer of some kind. The penalty for not revealing the details of the dream and the interpretation was death.

The response of those tasked with interpreting dreams was to express the impossibility of such a task, “The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." (Daniel 2:10-11).

There was panic among the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. They were all in fear of the death penalty being imposed for their failure to fulfill the king’s request. They knew that they had no way to discern the dream nor interpret it.

The king’s guard, Arioch was sent out to execute the wise men of Babylon. In the process of carrying out the king’s command, he came to Daniel. He was told of the king’s demand and he went before Nebuchadnezzar to request time to interpret the dream.

Where did Daniel go for a solution? He went to God, who, “… reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” Daniel knew that he had no special skill to answer King Nebuchadnezzar, but God knew the dream and its interpretation. In other words, Daniel knew God could shine His light on what was in the darkness for physical human beings.

My thought, as I looked at this scenario playing out, was to consider the possibility that Daniel was aware of a similar situation almost 1000 years in the past? Daniel was well aware of the scriptures, since they had been in the possession of the children of Israel since the time of Moses. Was Daniel encouraged in his dire situation by the example of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams recorded in the book of Genesis?

The Bible doesn’t tell us that Daniel drew encouragement from God revealing the Pharaoh’s dream and meaning to Joseph. But we can surmise, if Daniel remembered the biblical record, then Joseph’s experience could translate to his own time and situation.

The related experiences of Daniel and Joseph provide us just one example of why familiarity with the Bible record is so important to our everyday lives.

Have a pleasant Sabbath day,

Gary Smith

Controversy Aside We Have A Lot To Be Thankful For

Thanksgiving. What comes to mind?

For most of my life, Thanksgiving was a day to give thanks to God for the bounty that we have been given in this land and to enjoy a bounteous feast. It has been a time of family, friends, football, and fond memories.

I grew up with the image of the pilgrims and the Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe enjoying a fall harvest celebration together. The images associated with Thanksgiving relate to my early years of education and pictures associated with that event such as The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie Brownscombe.

My image of Thanksgiving was always positive, innocent, and uplifting. If you had asked me, “Is Thanksgiving controversial?” I would have been surprised that the question would have been asked.

However, I have learned that our national day of Thanksgiving is indeed controversial. I learned of many facts and number of controversies associated with the day by reading, Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience by Melanie Kirkpatrick.

The controversies concerning Thanksgiving range from minor details to significant issues, at least in some people’s minds. Some examples of the controversies:

• The offering of Thanksgiving was probably not in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621.
• The giving of thanks was a part of Native American harvest celebrations long before the Pilgrims.
• Additionally, cases can be made for pre-Plymouth thanksgivings, by Spanish, Huguenot, and other English immigrants from Europe.
• It is doubtful Thanksgiving took place on the fourth Thursday in November.
• It is possible turkey, which is Thanksgiving mainstay, was not a part of the Pilgrim thanksgiving.
• There are some Native Americans who reject the holiday viewing it as the beginning of the end for the indigenous peoples of North America.
• The Zinn Foundation provides schools with an essay on the history of Thanksgiving which informs students:
• The holiday is used by government leaders as a political tool.
• Governor William Bradford’s On Plymouth Plantation is a “fable” and an “early example of ‘Euro think.”
• As for Thanksgiving Day itself, students are informed the day celebrates “aggression and enslavement.”

I don’t site these controversies to put a damper on Thanksgiving, but to make a point about the way things work in our world. Man seems to be able to make a mess of even a day of thanksgiving.

However, we, as Christians, we seek to look beyond this world to our Creator. Looking to the Creator of heaven and earth is what a day of thanksgiving is all about.

If you observe Thanksgiving on this coming Thursday, tune out the controversies, the football, and other worldly distractions. Seek to focus on your thankfulness to God who has given you life, family, blessings, and, if you are feasting that day, all the food on the table.

The Bible is replete with the word “thanks” which is worthy of our exploration before Thanksgiving. Psalm 136 is especially meaningful in that it reminds us to give thanks to God.

Why?

Because God’s great mercy upon us and all mankind, endures forever.

Have a truly thankful Thanksgiving Day.

Gary Smith

Be Anxious For Nothing

We live in age where anxiety and stress are all too common. Webster’s dictionary defines anxiety as:

• A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.

Worry is a prime example of apprehensive behavior as we imagine the future in its worst-case terms.

Obviously, anxiety must have been a feature of Paul’s time since he addresses it in his letter to the Church of God in Philippi. In his letter he says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Be anxious for nothing!” In other words, don’t worry or fret at all. How is that even possible when we have to deal with the uncertainties and stresses of life?

How do we avoid anxiety? By avoiding thinking about them? By absorbing ourselves in other pursuits? Avoiding facing the challenges in our lives or worrying about them are unhealthy paths that don’t bring resolution to life’s troubles.

Additionally, we can address the distresses of life by working this out our own way. We only have to look at Abraham’s choice to work out having a child his own way. We are still dealing with that choice and its outcome in the 21st century.

Paul gives us a prescription for dealing with the anxieties of life in verse 6. He tells us, “. . . in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. . .”  In other words, we don’t avoid, gloss over or minimize our concerns and challenges. We think about them, then take them to God in prayer.

Who knows better than God our predicaments, lacks, and the challenges we are facing? God knows our condition and our needs.

No limits are placed on what we can bring before our God. Note we are told, “in everything” go to God in prayer. Whatever challenges we may be facing, we can take them to God.

Four words are used in verse 6 in regard to going to God:

• Prayer (proseuche) describes a believer's approach to God.
• Petition (deesei) emphasizes requesting an answer to a specific need.
• Thanksgiving (eucharistias) is an attitude of heart which should always accompany one's prayers.
• Requests (aitemata) speak of definite and specific things asked for.

As we take our matters to God in “prayer and supplication”, we trust that He hears us. We trust that He will act in the way and at the time that is best for us. By putting our trust in God, we can let go of the matters that are making us anxious.

What is the outcome of placing worries and concerns into God’s hands through the spiritual solution of prayer? The natural outcome of seeking God’s involvement is, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

As we look at the examples in the Bible, we see the followers of God, repeatedly going to God with those issues that confronted them. The Psalms are replete with examples of taking matters to God’s sanctuary. Asaph states, “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph” (Psalm 77:11-15).

The Apostle Paul said something similar to the Hebrew Christians, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).

Life can make us anxious, but the solution is to go to God in prayer. We can go into the very sanctuary of God in heaven with everything that confronts and know God will be there for us. Knowing that, we can be at peace in a way the world has difficulty understanding.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

The "Success Sequence" - It's Biblical!

Sociologists apply themselves to looking at social trends in
order to understand more fully the human condition.

One societal trend that has been noted recently is “The
Success Sequence.” I came across this subject in reading a
National Review article of July 5 entitled, “What If Major
Causes of Poverty Are Behavioral?”

He points out that the major cause of poverty plaguing one
generation after another is “family disintegration.” He says,
“Some cause of this remain unclear, but something now seems
indisputable: Among today’s young adults, the “success
sequence” is insurance against poverty.” He then cites the
study that supports this conclusion.

The success sequence is defined in the study is: get at least a
high-school diploma, then get a job, then get married, and only
then have children. “Wang and Wilcox, who did the study,
“focusing on Millennials 28 to 34, the oldest members of the
nation’s largest generation, have found that only 3 percent
who follow this sequence are poor.” In other words, if a
young person wants to avoid poverty and be successful follow
this sequence.

Sadly, this sequence for success is being followed less and less
in 21st century America. To make sure this sequence
continues, Mr. Will advocates promoting this sequence in
various ways to ensure that we do not substitute supposed new
realities in old principles that worked well.

The question is where did these old principles that worked
well in America for most of its existence come from? Mr. Will
does not explain.

Another author, Melissa Mackenzie, addressed the success
sequence on July 6, 2017 in a piece, in the American
Spectator, entitled, “Church, Family Millennials, and the
Success Sequence.”

She agrees with George Will’s data, but she concludes the
values of “success sequence” have a very definite Christian
origin.

She writes, “Parents who believe that education, selfsufficiency,
and marriage before children are going to raise
their kids with those beliefs and more importantly, choose
environments that support those beliefs and strengthen those
beliefs. Their beliefs drive their reasoning which drives their
decisions.”

Ms. Mackenzie asks, “What institution reinforces lifeaffirming
beliefs and gives social and economic support to
people beyond their families? The State? No. The Church.”
We would agree because we know that the success sequence is
biblical and would be part of what the church would promote
for its young people.”

She further states, “The “old principles” that Will alludes to
are taught in church. Don’t fornicate or adulterate. Take care
of your children (I Timothy 5:8). Get married (I Corinthians
7:9). Work hard (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Don’t get divorced
(Matthew 5:31). Care for widows and orphans (James 1:27).
Take care of the hungry and needy (Matthew 25:35-45). How
quaint, right?”

The sociological study that points to the “success sequence” is
a recipe for a better life for all who follow the sequence.

As of July 2017, we find a diminishing number of young
people following this prescription primarily because of the
breakdown of the family and the trend away from church
attendance and adherence to biblical values.

As the Sabbath draws near, we can know that there is time
coming when the “success sequence” will be a worldwide
standard.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Pass It On

We are a week from Pentecost so it would seem appropriate to address this week’s Sabbath Thought to a topic that relates to that Holy Day.

In the example of Paul and Timothy we have a wonderful example of how the legacy of the truth is passed along to others.

On Paul’s first journey to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God one of the locations that he visited was the area of Galatia. Three of the cities in this region were Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. There Paul came upon a young man named Timothy.

Luke wrote of this encounter in Acts 16:1-3, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.” Timothy stood out in a positive way that Paul could clearly see.

How was it that Timothy became a disciple and showed his maturity by being recognized by the brethren? Paul mentions the origin of Timothy’s faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, “. . . when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Timothy became a disciple as a result of the teaching and example of his grandmother and his mother. They paved the way for Paul to find a young man who was already progressing in God’s way of life and was capable of serving with Paul in his ministry.

Paul continued to help Timothy develop as a disciple and servant in the church by taking him under his wing. 2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

In essence, we are being told that Paul took what he had learned from Jesus Christ, from the word of God, and from his own experiences and passed them on to Timothy.

Hopefully, we as members of the church can make the same type of contribution Paul, Lois and Eunice made to Timothy. We have learned God’s ways from family, friends, and most importantly the Bible. Will we make the effort to pass what we have learned along to the next generation? It is a crucial role God has called upon us to play.

Have a most pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

That Which Is Right In Our Own Eyes

As part of reading through the Bible, the portion that I read on Thursday morning was Judges 17-21. It is a sad section of scripture which I would like to consider for this week’s Sabbath Thought.

Chapter 17 begins with the theft and return of a significant amount of money. When the money is returned, a portion of the money “was dedicated to the Lord” and was used to pay a craftsman to make a carved image and a molded image. The thief, Micah, then sets up a shrine containing the carved and molded images, household gods, an ephod, possibly a garment placed on one of the images, and the setting apart of one of Micah’s sons as family priest. What is described in the first five verses of the chapter is wrong on many levels.

The next statement says everything that needs to be said about what has happened so far. Judges 17:6 tells us, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Why would what happens in the first five verses of the chapter be summarized in this fashion?

During the time of the judges in Israel, there was no physical king in Israel. But Israel did have a king ruling over them whether they knew it or not. The king that was to rule in the nation was God. The judges that God raised up were not kings. Instead they were viceroys ruling over Israel as God determined. As judges, they were always to look to God, the King, for how to proceed.

As one considers the terrible events of Judges 17 through 21, we find idolatry established in a household, a man setting up his own priesthood, the tribe of Dan establishing their own idolatrous religion, sexual perversion, murder, and vicious warfare causing the death of thousands and the near extinction of the tribe of Benjamin.

What we are being told is that there are serious consequences that unfold as people live as if there is no “king”. The King who rules heaven and earth is always on His throne and to live as if He does not exist is a path that only ends on disaster.

When an individual or a nation lives as if there is no king, to whom they are accountable, the only path left for them to follow is that of doing “what was right in their own eyes.” Judges 17-21 was written to illustrate for us the outcome of living in that way. Clearly, living by what is right in our own eyes only leads to disaster.

As we assess our world today, we are following the very same path. Spiritually speaking, is the God of Bible the King to whom everyone looks for how to live? Can we expect anything but the same result as that which happened in the time of the Judges?

God does not want His people to live as if He did not exist. He does exist and wants us always to walk humbly before Him (Isaiah 66:1-2).

To help us to stay on the right path, God established the Sabbath day. Note what God tells His people in Exodus 31, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. . . .Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'" (Exodus 31:13, 16-17).

The Sabbath is essential to our living in acknowledgement of God as our King and our avoiding “doing that which is right in our own eyes.”

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

When Does a Baby's Life Begin? God Knows.

As the Sabbath approaches, I thought it worthwhile to
consider two marches held in Washington the first full week
of the new U.S. president’s term.

In looking at the two marches, one can see an immediate
contrast between those involved in the Women’s March on
Washington and the March for Life. In examining the two
groups there could be no more vivid example of the cultural
divide that plagues our country in 2017.

The women’s march on January 21 was characterized by
vulgarity, coarse language, and the primary goal of the
gathering was to ensure that abortion on demand continues to
be available. It is sad to see ladies taking pride in being called
“nasty” women and heartily endorsing the killing of potential
children of God before they have a chance at life.

In contrast, we have another group of people who gathered to
promote the right of the unborn to life. The demeanor of the
participants in the January 28th march was much more
positive. Interestingly, many people gathered for the pro-life
event were motivated by God’s word on the subject. The view
of many among them is that God is the giver of life and He
alone has the right to give or take life.

Sadly, the marches are over but the cultural war will continue.
But if the Bible were the guide there would be no abortions
and Roe vs. Wade would be superseded by God’s truth on the
matter.

One great question that arises out of this controversy is,
“When does life begin?” Consider the example of Jesus Christ
in this regard.

Consider that the one we know as Jesus Christ dwelled in
heaven throughout eternity as John 1 makes clear.

But it was God’s plan to send a Savior in the likeness of men
in order to save man from the penalty of sin. God’s plan to
send a Savior was instituted immediately after the sin of Adam
and Eve (Genesis 3:15).

At the right time in His great plan of salvation, God sent His
son, in the likeness of flesh, to redeem mankind of the death
penalty because of sin. “But when the fullness of the time had
come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under
the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

The Apostle Paul tells us that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was
an eternal being inhabiting eternity with God the Father. But
the one who became the Son of God was willing to let go of
being God in order to enter human realm (Philippians 2:6-7).

So, we find that Jesus Christ had eternal life. Yet He was
willing to place His very existence in the hands of the Father
to bring about a transference from being at the Father’s right
hand to life in the womb of Mary.

How did Jesus’ life begin in Mary’s womb? Luke 1:34-35
explains how this came about, “Then Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel
answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;
therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called
the Son of God.”

The scriptures equate the Holy Spirit with the power of God,
and the power of God with the Holy Spirit. It is through God’s
power that the life of Jesus Christ began in the womb of Mary.
Mary supplied the ovum and God supplied the rest. What God
began in the womb of Mary was not some glob of tissue, but
the life of the one who would become the Savior of the world.

If we look to the example of Jesus Christ’s, we see His life
began in the womb. The womb is where all human life begins
as well, at conception.

Sadly, at this time, there is a controversy, a cultural divide
over when life begins. Someday, there will be no marches in
Washington, D.C. But mankind will come to know that life
begins at conception and every baby is a potential member of
the family of God.

Gary Smith

What Was Jesus Doing During Those 18 Missing Years?

In my personal Bible studies, I have been going through the Gospels. I’m using a harmony of the Gospels approach to go through the four books. Needless to say, going through just the first portions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John has been delightfully enlightening.

Sometimes we can learn a lot from one verse in the scriptures. One most enlightening verse is John 2:12. The verse says, “After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.”

What can we learn from this verse?

First of all, there is no mention of his step-father Joseph. The last mention of Joseph was at the Passover (Luke 2) when Jesus was twelve. When John 2:12 unfolds, eighteen years have passed and Jesus now has a mother, brothers, sisters (Matthew 13:56), and disciples. There is no mention of His father. In all likelihood, Joseph had died in the intervening years.

With the death of Joseph, a full weight of responsibility fell on Jesus. He was now the head of the family as a result of being the oldest son. He now had the responsibility of overseeing and providing for the household. Jesus was thrust into a new situation where He learned things He would not otherwise have learned.

We might think of Jesus’ situation in light of His service to humanity as our High Priest. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

We know that we have an elder brother and High Priest who is able to help us in every circumstance because He’s been there. He knows what it’s like. He’s gone through it Himself. How did Jesus learn a lot of the basic things we go through in life every day?

With Joseph dying while Jesus is a young man, this is how, though not married, Jesus learned family responsibilities. He became the family breadwinner. He learned what it’s like to be responsible for keeping a family clothed and fed—for seeing that the younger brothers and sisters made it off to school on time—to see that they were all dressed and ready for Sabbath services—to see that there was food in the pantry—to set and stick to a family budget—to see that the bills were paid on time—to be sure that all of the many details of overseeing a family and household were carried out correctly and responsibly.

Jesus Christ needed to learn all the kinds of experiences and problems we go through in this life so we could have a High Priest who, as it says here, is able to sympathize with all that we go through in this life. Without a wife and children of His own, He became not just an older brother, but a kind of surrogate father to His younger half-brothers and half-sisters. And so, although He was never physically married, in this way He was able to experience all these kinds of things that we go through in this life.

In the same way, He also would’ve learned much about another major aspect of life other than family—that being the work world. He would’ve learned what our work and employment experiences are like by assuming management of the family business and being responsible for providing for a large family, dealing with customers, training other employees, making and living up to contracts, dealing with quality control, working with debtors and collecting on bills, focusing on management and planning and all the other many details that go with owning and operating a business.

He had to learn to deal with all these things and to experience firsthand these things that the rest of us have to learn and go through on our jobs. There’s a great deal to learn here about basic human relationships and interaction that He wouldn’t have learned any other way. This is how I think He spent those 18 missing years from age 12 to age 30—I think He most likely spent much of that time essentially raising up a family, bringing up His younger brothers and sisters and learning important lessons in life that He wouldn’t have learned otherwise. He had to go through this to be our high priest and intercessor. He wouldn’t have learned them any other way.

It is encouraging that we have in Jesus Christ a High Priest who understands the human condition we all deal with through His own personal experience.

Have a great Sabbath day,

Make Prayer Great Again

Today is a day of hope for many as our new President, Donald
Trump, takes office.

Donald Trump was never supposed to become the president of
the United States. He was considered a clown, a blowhard and
an entertainer with no political expertise. He was opposed by
Republicans, Democrats, and the media. In fact, he was given
no chance of winning the presidency.

But against all odds, he went on to be victorious on November
8, 2016. When many of us went to bed on that evening, we
doubted he would be the next president. I know I was sleeping
soundly when my wife came in and told me that Mr. Trump
had won Wisconsin. As I was falling back to sleep, I thought
he might really win. On Wednesday morning, I learned that
his victory in Pennsylvania had put him over the top in the
electoral tally.

We might ask, “Why did Donald Trump win the presidency?”
It seems that Mr. Trump latched onto themes that resonated
with the American people. He promised to make America
great again. Why would people latch onto this promise?
Because many people feel that America has lost its greatness
and unless we turn from the path we are on national greatness
will be lost forever.

It is my hope that the new President, the Congress and the
Cabinet can make some progress toward restoring many of the
values that have made our country truly great for the last two
hundred years. Our greatness over that time has come about
because of God’s grace and mercy extended to our land.

Greatness can only be regained as we turn to the God of the
Bible. The prophet Joel spoke of the need for a return to God
and God’s mercy, “But even now," says the Lord, "repent
sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and
mourning. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing
your clothes is not enough." Come back to the Lord your God.
He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his
promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.” (Joel
2:12-13).

One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was not
renowned for being overly religious when he took office.
However, the magnitude of being president as the nation was
divided in Civil War drove President Lincoln to turn to God in
a way he had not done in his earlier life. I believe that if our
president and other leaders turn to God then we can turn things
around. But will our leaders and our nation humble
themselves before God and seek his wisdom in the years
ahead?

President Trump faces a divided nation similar in many ways
to the time before the Civil War. There was no reconciliation
between the aggrieved parties in 1860 and it seems to be a
most formidable challenge to heal the breaches that exist in
2017. Healing the breaches in the present day are especially
formidable because there no longer seems to be a fixed
standard of right and wrong. Most sadly, if decisions are made
that are in harmony with God and His word the outcome will
likely be outrage among many in our land.

In Paul’s time, the Roman Emperors reigned supreme and
during the last part of his ministry, Nero ruled. Nero was an
abominable ruler and yet Paul requested prayers for him in 1
Timothy 2:1-4: “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”

Paul gives us good instruction in regard to how we should
pray for the new president. Mr. Trump faces a formidable
challenge ahead of him. Not only should we pray for all men,
but we should pray that God would make it possible for us to
“lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence.”

We can be thankful this Sabbath day that we worship a God
who will be with us regardless of how things work out in the
political world.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

7 Principles of Bible Study

A most pleasant Sabbath to all. As we have been considering
the basics of our walk as Christians, prayer and Bible study, it
was recommended we provide additional input on various
Biblical verses which will serve to edify the congregation.
The short presentations will supply a verse or short passage
along with an exposition of that verse or passage. I hope you
find these Biblical presentations helpful.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Jude calls for returning to "the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). We have a chance to do that
now, and once we have submitted to the Bible's authority, we
can teach it to others (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 5:12-14).
But in our zeal to contend for the truth, we cannot forget a few
basic principles of Bible study.

1) Here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:9-13): God did not
organize the Bible so that all information on a given subject
falls in one chapter or book. The whole Bible must concur
before we can truly call a theological concept "truth."

2) A positive approach (Acts 17:11-12): God left us a
wonderful example of a people who sought to prove the truths
of God rather than disprove them. He can work with those
who have submissive minds, receptive to His revelation.

3) A desire to please God (II Timothy 2:15): Our study should
be intended to merit God's approval of our lives. He is not
impressed with scholarship or intelligence, but He does
respect godly living and spiritual growth (Psalm 111:10; II
Peter 3:18; I John 3:22).

4) No private interpretation (II Peter 1:20-21): The Word of
God and the understanding of it are revealed by the Holy
Spirit (I Corinthians 2:6-16). Any personal understanding or
interpretation must agree in all points with the Bible, or spring
without violence from its principles (cf. II Peter 3:16) -
otherwise an idea is nothing more than an opinion and maybe
a dangerous one.

5) Humility (I Corinthians 8:1-3): It is a good idea to
remember that many others, probably wiser, have faced the
same questions before us. The history of the true church of
God through the centuries should be considered and the
decisions of its leaders taken seriously.

6) Seek counsel (Proverbs 24:6): Not only should one bring
vexing questions to the ministry, but one should also seek wise
advice from brethren, both inside and outside one's normal
circle of friends. After mentioning it to others, give them time
to study the subject thoroughly themselves and reply before
drawing any conclusions.

7) Prayer and meditation (Psalm 119:33-40, 97-99): Seeking
God's will and considering the ramifications of our ideas are
absolutely vital to proper Bible study. Others, weaker in the
faith, may not be able to survive our "spirituality" (I
Corinthians 8:9, 11-13).

If we apply these principles to our Bible study, we will be
heeding the advice of our Elder Brother, "Take heed that no
one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4).

Gary Smith

Feeling What Not Having Hope Feels Like

A prominent politician made an interesting comment a couple
of weeks ago. The politician said, “We are feeling what not
having hope feels like.”

Why is this person lacking in hope? Her hopelessness comes
as a result of her political party losing in the November
election. With the election of someone that they heartily
disagree with, they feel that the policies conducive to hope
will be cast aside.

On the other side of the political spectrum, there is great hope
that “America will be made great again”. The sad reality is
that hope springs forth every time there is an election. The
winning voters always seem to hope that good things lie
ahead. As the hopes of the winning side in the election are not
met, there will be great disappointment over the failure to
deliver on the promises made to the voters.

The reality is that no matter the politician, his followers are
bound to be disappointed. The hopelessness of trusting
politicians and their offer for humanity is brought out in
Psalms 118:9, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in princes.”

Whereas man is limited and uncertain, God is not. God is the
same “Yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). We can
always be assured that God is there and He will always act in
our best interest even if His response is not what we want.

Let’s consider a couple of scriptures that lay out for us the
panorama of hope which is what prophecy is all about.
Through these scriptures, we can see why for God’s people
there is always hope.

The panorama begins in Genesis with the sins of Adam and
Eve. As God spelled out in Genesis 2, in the day in which
Adam or Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
they would die. Death is an inevitable outcome of sin.

With death hanging over the lives of the first couple, it might
be said, “They were feeling what not having hope feels like.”

However, one of God’s first actions after sin entered the world
is found in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you
and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." God was
telling the first man and woman that a seed would come who
would work out the problem of sin.

The scripture in Genesis seems pretty obscure until God fills
in more details about the coming, Seed, Jesus Christ, who
would open the way to salvation for all mankind.

What is to be ultimately be worked out by the Seed, Jesus
Christ, is detailed in Acts 3:19-21, “Repent therefore and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that
He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all
things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since the world began.”

God, through Peter, tells us that as promised from the time of
the first sin there is coming a time when all things will be
restored to the way God always intended them to be. We are
reassured that there is always hope for this sin sick world
through Jesus Christ the Messiah.

The Bible reassures us of the fulfillment of this promise from
Genesis all the way to the end of Bible in Revelation.

Human beings lose hope because things don’t work out the
way they want them to.

But God is our hope no matter what is going on in our lives or
in the world around us. As the Psalmist says, “For You are my
hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth (Psalms
71:5).

Have a most enjoyable Sabbath because we always have hope.

Gary Smith

Ignorance Of The Law Is No Excuse

Most of us have heard the phrase “ignorance of the law is no
excuse” at one time or another. I never really thought about
the phrase much until I began reading, “By The People” by
Charles Murray. In light of what Mr. Murray has to say on
this subject, I would like to share some considerations in this
Sabbath Thought.

Mr. Murray writes, “For centuries, common law recognized
two requirements for a criminal act: a guilty act and a guilty
mind…. You not only had to do something wrong, you had to
be aware you were doing something wrong. But the law also
held that ignorance of the law is no defense. How could these
two principles be reconciled? Because there weren’t many
laws. Most of the laws that did exist prohibited acts that were
obviously wrong in themselves, such as murder, rape, and
theft. Other laws prohibited things the state decided to prohibit
that were not wrong in themselves (for example, sumptuary
laws), but these were of a manageable number and were part
of daily life” (pp. 32-33).

Mr. Murray is saying in essence there was a time in America
where the laws were so few in number that “ignorance of the
law was (truly) no excuse.”

Today, we often are unaware we have broken a law. He points
out, “Through the first half of the nineteenth century, virtually
all criminal law was defined and prosecuted by the states with
fewer than a score of crimes defined by the federal
government (for example, treason or bribery of federal
officials). By World War 1, the number of federal laws had
reached the 500s. As of the most recent count, in 2007, the
federal code numbered about 4,450 crimes. We have seen an
increase of about 50 percent just since 1980” (p. 33).

Consider that “the tax code, as of 2013 consisted of four
million words—about five times the length of the King James
Bible. It is riddled with ambiguities and special provisions.
The IRS can almost always find something wrong if agents
look hard enough, no matter what tax preparation software
you used and no matter how faithfully you tried to do the right
thing” (p. 38).

The problem is that we are overwhelmed with thousands of
laws and if someone wanted to push the matter, we are in
violation on a number of fronts and don’t even know of our
non-compliance.

We have reached the point in time where ignorance of the law
is all too common. There are just too many laws to keep up
with.

The good news is that there are laws on the books that were
established by a mind far beyond that of human beings. God in
His wisdom established a law code of Ten Commandments.
His laws were applicable in the Garden of Eden and will be
applicable to the end of time.

The Bible, as a whole, is an expansion on the meaning and
application of the Ten Commandments.

God put His law in one book making it a ready resource for all
mankind.

How good it will be when man realizes the futility of trying to
put more and more laws into effect and accepts the simple
approach to law given by God. We get an inkling of what is to
come in Isaiah 2:3, "Many people shall come and say, "Come,
and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of
the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall
walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

As the Bible becomes the standard for the entire earth, then it
can truly be said, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

Gary Smith

Fake Culture Wars and True Prosperity

I did not watch any of the Republican National Convention, but I did make note of news reports and commentary. I thought a few comments from a speech as recorded in a July 22, 2016 staff article at CNSNews.com were significant enough to note them in this week’s Sabbath Thought.

In that article, it was noted by Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal that “fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline.”

“When I was a kid the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union and we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom,” said Thiel. “This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares? Of course, every American has a unique identity. I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American.

“I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform,” he said, “but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.”

The supposed “fake culture war” involves the decades long battle over abortion, the elimination of the Bible and prayer from our schools, the battle over public school curricula that is growing ever more perverse, and the ongoing abandonment of values that have been fundamental to America’s Judeo-Christian ethic.

In essence, Peter Thiel assesses that the battle over traditional values is a waste of time and all that matters is the economy. Our economic decline, in his opinion, has nothing to do with morality.

The theme “It’s the economy stupid!” was fundamental to the Bill Clinton presidential era. For the people of that time, the morality standards of the leader of the country were irrelevant as long as he got the job done. People saw that the nation prospered during the time of his presidency and concluded that good governance did not hinge on morality.

We are quite a few years down the road from the Clinton era and the Republicans have come to the same conclusion, “It’s the economy stupid!” The problem with this conclusion is that it is completely wrong.

Morality and prosperity go hand in hand.

We only have to look at Leviticus 26 to understand how a nation prospers. We are told in Leviticus 26:3-13, 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then:

• We will have rain at the right time
• Bountiful harvests and plenty to eat
• Peace in the land and none will make you afraid
• You will overcome your enemies
• Abundant livestock
• And many children

Additionally, Leviticus 26 tells us what happens to a nation that becomes immoral. We are told in Leviticus 26:14-16, “'But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you.” Moses then recorded a long list of terrible outcomes that follow the abandonment of morality. None of the outcomes support the notion that it is meaningless to fight a cultural war for right values.

The sad reality is that both the Republican and Democratic conventions display the complete abandonment of the Christian ethic. Our leaders are blind to what truly matters. In their mind all that matters is economics—jobs and prosperity. Without morality long-term prosperity is a pipedream.

Thankfully, God has opened our minds to see that if we want to truly prosper, we must apply the principles found in the Bible. Will we be rich as a result? Probably not. But we can be sure that we will be blessed in this life, in what truly matters, and in the end we will be part of God’s family forever.

Have a happy Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Flags At Half-Mast Have Become Commonplace

In traveling around the Houston area the last few weeks, I have noticed both the American and Texas flags have been flying at half-staff. It seems that they have been at half-staff more often than normal.

Flags are flown at half-staff in honor of the death of significant individuals such as a president, those who have fallen in the line of duty or those who have died as a result of some tragedy. I learned today that there is even a “widget” that will give “half-staff” notifications any time there is a determination that flying the American and state flags at half-staff is appropriate.

Recently flags have been flown at half-staff on the following dates:

US - 7/18/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

US - 7/15/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Nice, France

US - 7/8/2016US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Dallas, Texas

US - 6/12/2016 US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring Victims of Attack in Orlando

It seems that victims of attacks requiring the lowering of the national flag are becoming more commonplace. The four listed about have all taken place within a six-week period.

In light of the regularity of lowering the flag to half-mast it causes me to consider the ultimate outcome of the four tragedies mentioned.

As we consider the shooter who entered a nightclub well-armed, and the ensuing slaughter, “We might ask what positive result has come about through the death of 49 and the wounding of 53 others?” To date, I can think of no positive outcome to what took place in Orlando.

On July 7, 5 police officers were murdered in retaliation for recent police shootings deaths of black men. Five officer and the shooter are dead in Dallas. My question is this, “Did the murder of the Dallas officers bring an end to the inequities that sometimes occur at the hands of police officers? Did the murdering of others in retaliation solve anything?”

Did driving a bus through a crowd of people at a Bastille Day observance in Nice, France better the situation of anyone in France?

Did the murder of three more officers and the shooter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana resolve anything other than add to the death toll and spur more violence?

Sadly, all it seems we can do in the wake of such tragedies is lower our flags in honor of the slain and hold funeral vigils in their honor as well.

We can be sure there will be more lives taken because real, permanent solutions are not even considered! The only resource that offers mankind a way out of the savagery and brutality of these murders is to apply the principles found in the Bible.

Imagine if Paul’s instruction to the Romans were applied all over the world, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).

If the principles emphasized by the Apostle were practiced, there would be no unnecessary deaths at the hands of the police nor attacks upon the police. There would no killings on behalf of an ideology or religion. Instead, everyone would seek to apply the principles of outgoing concern for one another. Wounds and slights would begin to heal and we could at last move toward peace with one another.

If the five verses quoted were applied on a daily basis throughout the world, flags flying at half-mast would be a rarity.

Gary Smith

Summer Camp: Guided By God’s Word

Camp Pinecrest is over for 2016, but the experience provides a lesson for this week’s Sabbath Thought.

This year, camp began on Thursday, June 23, with the arrival of 49 staff members and about 60 campers. It is a remarkable thing that over 100 people can get together and create something that is pleasing to God. It is not only an outcome that is pleasing to God, but is most encouraging as well.

When we go to camp, we are, first of all isolated. There is little traffic to contend with and no TV’s to be seen or heard. The teens turn in their electronics on Friday and, as a result, there is no distraction from what we are trying to achieve for the next week.

Outside of our little community at the camp, the world goes on as always. People continue to choose from the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil whether they know it or not. Sadly, man seems to be choosing from the tree of death more than the tree of life. What we are doing in Fredericktown, Missouri is of little import to the world at large. But from God’s perspective our week long gathering is of great significance.

Why is camp significant from God’s point of view? And why is it encouraging to the participants young and old?

Camp is significant to God because you have 49 adults from all over the Midwest. Volunteers from diverse backgrounds, points of view, temperaments, and various levels of spiritual maturity come to serve as staff. The overriding feature of those who give of their time at camp is their willingness to yield to God and one another so that the teens can be well served. More importantly, if the teens take the time to consider what is taking place they can see the atmosphere at camp is produced because of the application of God’s way of life.

Paul summarized what takes place at camp each year, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).

Should we be surprised by this positive outcome? Absolutely not! God’s way, when applied, always works. It always has and it always will.

For Liz and I in our position of administrating the camp, it is easy to focus on the minutiae—the injuries and the human failings that inevitably happen when you run a summer camp. But to only see the negative is the miss the bigger picture which is most encouraging.

We are encouraged by camp because above all we can see the staff making sacrifices, willingly helping one another, and being willing to help even when it is not their job. To put the outcome in terms of this year’s camp theme, they are willing to be “Guided by God’s Word.” This willingness to submit to God and apply the truths of the Bible is an annual reminder that God’s way always works.

With that encouragement in mind, we look forward to Camp Pinecrest 2017.

Gary Smith

Why Are Some Able To See The Word of God While Others Can’t See It?

Last week in the Sabbath Thought I talked about “the experts.” I spoke of the scholars and the brightest minds of this world that cannot see the truth of God’s word. Sadly, they use their creativity and exceptional abilities to pick God’s word apart. They use their creative abilities to speculate on how the writers of the Gospels put their books together. Their speculations fit with how their carnal minds feel the scriptures originated. As one analyzes the conclusions the learned put forward in regard to God’s word, those called out can clearly see that they are blinded.

Why is that the case? Why are some able to see the word of God while others can’t see it?

Thankfully the Bible helps us to understand the subject of blindness to God’s word. The subject of blindness to God’s truth is spoken of in a variety of ways and places in scripture.

The Apostle John addresses this issue in John 12. Beginning in verse 37, he points out that Christ walked among the people of Judea and the surrounding territories and performed “many signs before them” and “yet they did not believe Him.” John also points out the reason the people did not believe the signs done before them supported that Jesus Christ was the Christ. In fact, he points out in verse 38 that this outcome was prophesied by Isaiah.

He then quotes the prophet, “"Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" (John 12:38- 40).

What John is pointing out is that one may be able to actually see, hear, and touch Jesus Christ in the flesh, but one can still not truly see or discern the bigger picture. The same is true for God’s word. One may be able to read it and to understand the words, but it seems there is a barrier imposed that does not allow true comprehension.

Paul also makes the point about blindness in Romans 11:7-8. While pointing to the blindness, the Apostle also points out that there are those to whom God has given understanding. “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written, "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."” Paul not only points out the blindness of Israel, but he points out that “the elect have obtained it”. He is saying that God, through His grace, mercy, and power, has opened the understanding of the elect only, in this age. “The rest,” everyone else besides the elect, “were blinded.”

1 Corinthians 2 reveals how it is that the elect can get beyond the blindness. It has nothing to do with intelligence, intellect, or IQ. It has to do with the spirit of God.

The Apostle writes, “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Paul is speaking of God’s wisdom which only the “spiritually” mature can understand. It is not the wisdom of this age. It is not wisdom that the rich, the powerful, the well-educated, or the intellectually gifted can understand. If they had been able to understand it, they would not have crucified Jesus Christ. They were blinded to God’s “hidden wisdom”.

How is it that the elect can see? The ability to see “the glorious light of the Gospel” (2 Corinthians 4:4) is a gift given to us by God through His Holy Spirit. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Through God’s Spirit, we can see and hear, and truly understand, Jesus Christ and His word. God has removed the veil of blindness (2 Corinthians 3:14-15).

As the elect of God, God has opened the Bible. The truths of God make sense to those called out. “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13).

Through God’s calling and election, we can see the word of God, but what of the rest of the world? “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). To put it bluntly, the rest of the world, at this time is blinded.

Thankfully, there is coming a time when the veil of spiritual blindness will be taken away from the world. Only then will those now blind come to acknowledge their blindness and seek God’s help to clearly see.

As you enjoy the Sabbath day, take time to consider that God has opened your mind to see the spiritual things that most of the world cannot see.

Have a most pleasant Sabbath.

Gary Smith

If God’s Word Is Not True, We Have No Hope

This year I decided to go back through a class on Ancient Israel. The class was a wonderful reminder of why I enjoyed the class in my college days.

The final portion of the class went through the arrest and trial of Jesus Christ which is an excellent study prior to the Passover. As this portion of the class began, several books on the subject of the arrest and trial were recommended by the professor. In light of the recommendations made, I ordered three books on the subject. I am currently in the process of reading one of the recommended books.

You would hope that the scholars would be able to give us deep insight into a subject that every Christian would like to know more about. However, the scholars writing the three books come at the subject from the same vantage point. Not one of the learned scholars believes that the Bible is the truth and every word of it is “God breathed” or as we might also say “inspired”.

The three writers view the Gospels as books based on a variety traditions and basically the “fantasies” of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the scholars view, the four Gospels are not an accurate recounting of the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Here are a few quotes that emphasize the author’s vantage point.

“Thus the Gospels contain no less than seven different descriptions of a scene of a judicial or quasi-judicial character, together with five descriptions of a scene of the maltreatment and mockery of Jesus….Each evangelist retained what he himself had found, and enlarged it by his specific contribution. In this way a discrepancy came about between the various evangelical accounts….The sequence of events now recorded in the four Gospels could not possibly have taken place within the space of six or seven hours, actual time-lag between Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion” (Paul Winter, “On The Trial of Jesus”, pp. 7-8).

“It is now no longer seriously disputed that there was not available to the authors of the Gospels any testimony of eyewitnesses who were present at any of the stages of the arrest, trial, or crucifixion of Jesus and gave a direct account of it” (Haim Cohn, The Trial and Death of Jesus, p. xiii).

“In short, the Gospel traditions are “messages of faith and not historiography”; any historical material in their hands the authors used “to add detail and graphic quality,” but on the whole, they freely exercised their fantasy “in presenting, and in meaning to present, not history but theology” (Cohn, p. xv).

These quotes do not promote faith in God and in His word. If God’s word is unreliable, how can we have confidence in God or His plan of salvation? If God’s word is not true, we have no hope beyond the physical world, so we better be about the business of enjoying the physical life to the hilt.

However, we are reassured by God’s word.

First of all we learn in John 10:35 that, “…the Scripture cannot be broken)….” The point Christ is making concerning the scriptures, as accurately translated, is they are not in error. If we find error or contradiction in the word of God, then how can we believe in the scriptures at all? Thankfully, the scriptures are reliable and without error. If we find a seeming contradiction, we can be assured that if we dig into the scriptures we can find a reliable explanation.

The writers of the gospels sought to truthfully recount for God’s people the truths they witnessed. Their writings were not flights of fantasy made up in order to sell the public on Jesus Christ. Note what the Apostle John relates about his personal experience, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe” (John 19:35).

John made a similar point in 1 John 1:1-4, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

The writers of the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament sought to record the truth to serve as a reliable record for the generations to come. The New Testament harmonizes perfectly with Old Testament to give us a complete record in order to follow a path pleasing to God.

In summary, the Gospel accounts are true and accurate and serve to give us insight into our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sadly, so-called experts cannot see the picture clearly and they present a picture that only causes doubt and uncertainty.

Thankfully, God gives us the opportunity every Sabbath to come together as a congregation to delve into God’s word for “doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith