When Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites after their sin with the golden calf, he begged God to show him His glory.  God promised that he would pass before Moses, shielding him with His hand until He had passed by.  Then God would remove His hand and Moses could see God’s back (Ex. 33:17-23).  God kept this promise when He called Moses back up to the mountain top to give him the second set of stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments.  As God passed by Moses on that occasion He declared who He was in words that are comforting and encouraging, but which also sound a warning to mankind.

In Ex. 34:6, 7 the scripture says, “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.'”  Many people think of God in the Old Testament only in terms of His great wrath that He from time to time poured out on the nations.  This does Him a great injustice, especially in light of His own testimony about Himself in the verses above.

When Moses asked God to reveal Himself, God began with the fact of His compassion and mercy.  The God of the Old Testament is the God who “forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.”  He is the God who shows His lovingkindness (or steadfast love) to thousands.  How interesting it is that the so-called God of wrath revealed Himself first as the God who forgives.  While He is the God who will not allow the guilty to go unpunished, He is first of all a forgiving God.

There is an important reason why our God is the God who forgives.  It is because He wants all of us to live with Him in heaven for eternity.  In 1 Tim. 2:4 Paul tells us that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  At the heart of salvation and the knowledge of the truth is the fact that God provided the means for all mankind to be forgiven of their sins through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  In Eph. 1:7 Paul said, “In Him (that is, Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”  This forgiveness is what Paul calls the “eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” in Eph. 3:11.

We receive this blessing when we are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, as Peter commanded the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and as the Lord Himself required in Mk. 16:16, when He said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  This forgiveness continues after baptism if we walk in the light and confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:7-10).  The God who forgives will always forgive, so long as we seek His forgiveness according to His revealed word.

This is why we are commanded to be forgiving to one another.  The Lord made this point very strongly.  In Lk. 17:3, 4 He said, “Be on your guard!  If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”  He also warned that if we do not forgive others, our sins will not be forgiven (Mt. 6:14, 15).  Therefore, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States issued their ruling in the Roe v. Wade case challenging anti-abortion laws in the state of Texas.  In a 7-2 decision the Court ruled that abortion on demand was a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.  Since that time, more than 56 million unborn babies have been killed in the United States.  There is perhaps no other single issue that has so deeply divided our nation, or evoked such strong passions among advocates on both sides of the argument.

The irony in this debate is that many of those who advocate abortion on demand without restrictions are also the most outspoken advocates of the protection of so-called endangered animals.  Many of them are also among the most vigorous opponents of capital punishment.  Thus, they propose and endorse hundreds of regulations and laws to protect unborn animals, but unborn humans may be literally torn limb from limb in the womb on the whim of the mother.  They demonstrate and protest against the execution of convicted criminals, but support and fund the wholesale slaughter of innocent babies.

We could not have arrived at this sad circumstance if we had remained obedient to the directions of God’s word.  Even a cursory reading of the scriptures reveals that human life is sacred to God and should therefore be treated as such.  In Gen. 1:26, 27 the scripture tells us that God created mankind in His image.  This means that human beings are different from the animals.  God endued humans with a spirit that will live forever.  This means that we are more important in God’s sight than the animals.

When Noah emerged from the Ark after the flood, God emphasized the sanctity of human life by decreeing the principle of capital punishment.  In Gen. 9:6 God said, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.”  God underscored this principle in the Ten Commandments by declaring, “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13).  In addition to this, God made provision in the Law of Moses for harm done to an unborn child.  In Ex. 21:22-25 God commanded that a man who caused harm or death to an unborn child should be punished, “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

To these commandments the wise man Solomon added this declaration:  “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers” (Prov. 6:16-19).  Murderers obviously fall under “hands that shed innocent blood,” and how much more so those who murder unborn babies?  Theirs is the most innocent blood of all.

Sometimes abortion advocates try to justify this action by suggesting that an unborn child is not actually human until it draws its first breath outside the womb.  This is one reason why they refer to the unborn child as a “fetus.”  In Jer. 1:5, however, God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.”  God knew Jeremiah the person, even before he was born.  Jeremiah’s life was sacred, even in the womb, and so is every unborn child’s life today.  May God help us to recognize that human life is sacred, and treat it as such at every stage of life, from the womb to the tomb.

(The photo above is of an unborn child’s feet at ten weeks after conception.  Note that they are definitely human feet, complete with toes.  These “precious feet” are the symbol of the national Right to Life movement.)

One of the catch phrases that we often hear today is that doctrine divides, but love unites.  This idea is most often used as the justification for minimizing the differences that exist between various religious bodies.  The premise is that we should not be concerned about our doctrinal differences, but should instead emphasize our shared beliefs.  In this way it is asserted that we can enjoy fellowship and harmony with one another, and thus fulfill the Lord’s desire that all believers should be “one”.  The result of this kind of attitude is that “doctrine” becomes something bad.

While this attitude fits well in the politically correct world in which we now live, it is so obviously contrary to what the scriptures teach that one wonders how it survives.  The letters of Paul to Timothy and to Titus are generally referred to as the Pastoral Epistles.  This means that they are intended to guide the church in its beliefs and practices.  Yet, the one thing they emphasize more than anything else is the need to preach doctrine.  In particular, Paul spoke to Timothy and Titus about what he called “sound” doctrine.

This term appears some ten times in these three small letters.  In Tit. 1:9 Paul told Titus that overseers must be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and to refute those who contradict.  In 1 Tim. 4:6 Paul reminded Timothy that he was constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine that he had been following.  In 2 Tim. 4:3, 4 Paul warned Timothy that the time would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, but would turn away from the truth.  According to the apostle Paul, doctrine is neither bad nor unimportant.  It is absolutely necessary in order to be right with God.

The Greek word that is translated “sound” in these passages may also be translated “healthy”.  When we consider Paul’s comments on this subject from this perspective, we begin to see why it is so important.  We are spiritually fed and nourished by the words of scripture.  These teachings or doctrines are designed to make us spiritually healthy.  When we preach the whole purpose of God as Paul did in Ephesus (Acts 20:27), we are providing well-balanced spiritual food.  This “healthy” food is intended to make us spiritually strong enough to live righteously in the world.

We may compare the preaching of sound doctrine to a mother who prepares healthy food for her family.  That food will include some things that don’t taste as good as donuts or cotton candy, but which are more beneficial for our bodies than sweets.  It isn’t that she doesn’t want her family to ever enjoy the sweets, but rather that she knows they cannot survive on these things.  A mother who only served junk food to her family would be considered negligent, but how many preachers are doing this very thing each Sunday?  They are feeding their churches spiritual cotton candy instead of the healthy doctrine of scripture.

Does doctrine divide?  Yes, it does, but this is exactly what it is supposed to do.  It divides those who love the Lord and keep His commandments (Jn. 14:15) from those who do not love Him.  It divides the sheep from the goats, as the Lord Himself will do at judgment (Mt. 25:31-46).  At the same time, however, sound doctrine makes us spiritually healthy and prepares us to live with God in heaven for eternity.

Paul made it clear that a faithful preacher must teach sound doctrine.  If we truly love the Lord, and if we love one another, we will not substitute spiritual cotton candy for the healthy spiritual food of scripture.

We often speak of “getting off on the right foot.”  This is a way of expressing the desire to begin some new endeavor in the best possible manner.  Whether it is the first day of a new school year, the first day on a new job, the decision to marry the love of one’s life, or some other serious commitment, we recognize that it is important to begin well.  This is why we make preparations for these commitments.  We want to make the best start possible so we will have the best opportunity for success in them.

While it is not impossible to reach a successful conclusion after a poor beginning, it is typically very difficult to overcome a stumbling start.  We see this all the time in sporting events.  A horse that stumbles coming out of the starting gate is not likely to win the race, no matter how fast or strong he may be.  A football team that falls behind by a large margin in the first quarter is not likely to win the game, no matter how well they may play the final three quarters.  Sometimes a bad start can be overcome, but not very often.

The principle of getting off to a good start applies in all areas of life, but is especially important in terms of our spiritual walk.  The scriptures encourage us to begin our walk with the Lord early in life, because of the danger of straying so far away that we are unable to come to obedience later in life.  This was the counsel of the wise man in Eccl. 12:1, where he said, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them.'”  It is not impossible to overcome a lifetime spent away from the Lord, but it is not often that such a person turns to God.

Becoming a disciple of Christ early in life is one way in which we “get off on the right foot” in spiritual matters.  Whenever one obeys the gospel, however, it is just the first step in a journey that will last to the end of that person’s life.  When we understand discipleship in this manner, we see that every day we must “get off on the right foot.”  This is because each day takes us either closer to the goal of heaven, or farther away from it.  For this reason, we must “get off on the right foot” every day, and the beginning of a new year is a good time to begin this habit.

To “get off on the right foot” each day this year, there are at least three tangible actions that we may take in order to do so.  First, we must commit ourselves to the daily study of God’s word.  In Psa. 119:105 the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  If we want to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, we must continue in God’s word.  In Jn. 8:31, 32 Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

Second, we must commit ourselves to regular times of prayer with our Father in heaven.  In Phil. 4:6 Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  If we seek God in prayer every day, we will do much better each day.

Third, we must commit ourselves to faithfully assemble with the saints to worship God each Lord’s Day.  Regular participation in worship helps us to keep our focus on the path ahead and the goal of eternal life.  It draws us closer to God, and consequently helps us to keep from straying from the Lord.  David said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'” (Psa. 122:1).  This should be our attitude as well.

As we begin this new year, let’s all get off on the right foot by putting spiritual things first in our daily lives.  If we do so, this will be our best year ever, and we’ll be well on the way to a great conclusion in heaven!

When we reach the end of the year our thoughts move in two directions at once.  We look ahead with great anticipation to what the coming year may have in store for us.  We typically do so with optimism and hope that the new year will be better than the last one.  At the same time, we look back over what transpired in the year just concluding.  We may do so with nostalgia because of the good times we experienced or the good things that occurred.  Or, we might do so with sorrow or remorse because of some painful experience we had or some regrettable action we took during the course of the year.

This dichotomy of emotions is present even in our end-of-year celebrations.  Many New Year’s Eve gatherings end with the song, “Auld Lang Syne,” which calls to mind days long since passed.  Presumably the memory of those days is good, but even so this song tends to evoke feelings of sadness.  This may be because we instinctively understand that the past is gone and can never be duplicated.  Perhaps we’re made a little sad by this song because the fragile nature of life is so apparent to us.  We know that at any moment we may have made our last memory with a loved one.

Without becoming morbid about it, the ending of one year and the promise of a new one should make us stop and reflect for a moment.  What if this year, just concluding, is the last one we will experience in life?  If we knew that this would be the last time we would see our friends and families, might we do anything differently?  Might we take just a little more time with an aged parent or relation?  Might we show more patience with a child or teen ager?  Would we say, “I love you,” one more time to a wife or husband, son or daughter, or brother or sister in Christ?  Would we say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,” to someone we’ve hurt, and really mean it?  Perhaps we would.

Those who are Christians have hope beyond this life that puts the frailty of life into perspective.  We know that it is appointed for us to die and after this comes judgment (Heb. 9:27).  We know that once we pass over from life to death there no longer remains any opportunity to change our eternal destiny.  As the rich man discovered in Lk. 16:19-31, we know that once we die our soul’s destiny is settled forever, whether for good or for bad.  This is why it is so important to obey the gospel by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

The urgency of the gospel is that when the Lord returns, He will do so to deal out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel (2 Th. 1:6-8).  If we had an early warning system that could alert us just before the Lord returned, we might wait until just before He came to obey the gospel, but the Lord said no one knows when He is coming again (Mt. 24:36).  In the same way that we do not know if today is the last day of our life, we do not know if today is the last day the earth will stand.

The truth is that we may never meet again on this side of death.  This being the case, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without making the plea to be saved.  The love of God, and the fear of eternal condemnation, compels me to urge each one to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), to turn away from sin (Lk. 13:3), to confess your faith in Christ (Mt. 10:32), to be immersed in water in order to be saved (Mk. 16:16), and to live faithfully until death (Rev. 2:10).

If we never meet again, I want you to know that I loved you enough to tell you the truth about your soul’s salvation.

If we never meet again this side of heaven, I hope to meet you there!

There are many songs which mark this season of the year.  Some of them are from a completely secular point of view, and they describe the many aspects of the holiday season.  Most of us enjoy these songs, such as “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” or “Silver Bells.”

Other songs of the season come from a purely religious perspective, as they convey the story of the birth of our Lord.  Many of us enjoy these songs as well.  Some of them stir strong feelings in our hearts, such as “Silent Night,” or “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”  At the same time, however, some of us are often uncomfortable with these songs.  Our discomfort is not because they promote some falsehood about our Lord, although some, like “Little Drummer Boy,” are completely fanciful in content.  Our discomfort with these religious Christmas songs is due to the fact that they only tell the beginning of the story, and leave out the power of who Jesus is.

One of my favorite songs of the season is “Joy to the World.”  The words are by Isaac Watts and the music is by Handel, which is a rich pedigree in religious music.  (I have to confess, however, that my appreciation of this song is due in large part to a rendition of it done by Mannheim Steamroller some years ago.)  Like many religious songs of the season, this song evokes in most minds only the baby in the manger.  We know this because virtually no one sings “Joy to the World” at any other time than December.  One wonders if this is the only time of year that the world feels any joy about the Lord Jesus Christ.

In point of fact, only the first stanza of “Joy to the World” specifically relates to the birth of Jesus.  Each of the succeeding three stanzas extols the reign of the Lord, and with a decidedly millennial perspective at that.  If we are concerned at all about the truthfulness of our songs, perhaps this is one whose words are better left unsung at any time of the year.

The larger question, however, remains.  What is it about Jesus that should bring joy to the world?  Many will argue, in the spirit of the season, that it is His birth that brings joy to the world.  There is no doubt that joy was expressed at the Lord’s birth.  In Lk. 2:10 the angel told the shepherds that he had “good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”  But this is just the beginning of the story.  If Jesus is left in the manger, there is no joy at all, because another angel prophesied that “He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21).  The baby in the manger could not, and did not, accomplish this.

As God intended it from before the beginning of time, the joy which Jesus brings to the world is that He would be the perfect sacrifice for all the sins of the world, and that through Him mankind could be reconciled to God.  In Eph. 1:7 Paul said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

When the gospel was preached for the very first time, as recorded by Luke in Acts 2, the apostles did not preach the birth of Jesus.  They did not preach the baby in the manger.  Instead, they preached the crucified, resurrected Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:36).  At no time thereafter did any apostle, or preacher, or elder of the church preach joy to the world in the form of baby Jesus.  Their preaching was always “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).  Ultimately, joy to the world can only be found in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ who now reigns over His kingdom.  On the basis of this truth we may sing joy to the world each and every day.

In 1966 Elvis Presley recorded a song entitled, “If Every Day Was Like Christmas.”  The grammatical errors in the title notwithstanding, it was a modest success, reaching #2 on the Billboard list for Christmas songs that year.  This beautiful and moving song conveys the wish that the spirit of Christmas could be present all the year round.  It plays on the imagery of the season and the goodwill and love that is generally present during this time of year.  The conclusion of the song says, “If every day could be just like Christmas, what a wonderful world this would be!”  Most people, whether they are Elvis fans or not, would agree that the spirit of this time of year is a wonderful thing to behold.

Interestingly, for many of us the most endearing aspect of this season is not the receiving of gifts.  We actually appreciate the kindness, and generosity, and genuine love that pervade this season.  Even in the crush of Christmas shopping and preparing for family gatherings, people tend to try a little more to be patient and courteous to one another.  We are happy to wish perfect strangers a “Merry Christmas” as we pass them on the street or in the mall.  Ill-tempered and ill-mannered and evil people are still around, and still make their impact on society, but most of us try to be a little bit nicer at this time of year.

Another aspect of this season that is pleasant for many of us is that more people pay attention to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ than at any other time of the year.  They do so in overt ways, such as nativity scenes, bumper stickers proclaiming that He’s the reason for the season, and in special religious assemblies.  They also do so in more subtle ways by showing a more Christ-like spirit in their dealings with one another.  For believers it is always pleasing to see the Lord being honored, even if only briefly and, perhaps only superficially.

However, if we were to frame this wish in a truly biblical and solely spiritual context, what would it mean if every day were like Christmas?  First and perhaps foremost of all, if every day were like Christmas the whole world would focus its attention on our Savior and Lord, and would offer Him the homage that He deserves.  Every day we would proclaim that Jesus is the reason for what we are doing.  Every knee would truly bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11).

If every day were like Christmas, everyone would treat each other with kindness, courtesy, and generosity.  We would be gracious and forgiving to one another, and would not do anything to anyone that we would not want done to ourselves.  We would truly live the golden rule every day (Mt. 7:12).

If every day were like Christmas, we would not forsake the assembly on the Lord’s Day (Heb. 10:23-25).  We would never miss an opportunity to acknowledge the great gift that God gave in sending His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.  We would make a special effort every Lord’s Day to be in the worship assembly.

If every day were like Christmas, we would never cease to offer songs of praise to God the Father for the wonderful blessings we have in Christ (Heb. 13:15).  We would never cease to offer prayers to God (1 Th. 5:17).  And, we would be generous in giving of our means for the work of the church (2 Cor. 8:3-5).

In short, if every day were like Christmas, all of us would be fully engaged in putting God first in our lives, and in living in obedience to His will.  No one would hesitate to publicly express his or her devotion to God.  All people would shamelessly proclaim and live their love for the Lord.  If I could have one wish this Christmas season, this would be my wish, and my prayer.

One of the most beautiful Christian hymns of all time is “How Great Thou Art.”  The words reflect the awe that comes from observing the majesty of God’s creation, and from recognizing the gracious gift of His Son as the sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  The author of this great hymn felt the same reverence for God that David expressed in Psa. 8:3, 4 when he said, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”

The last stanza of this great song says, “When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!  Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!”  The chorus adds the exclamation point to this song of praise.  “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; how great Thou art, how great Thou art!”  These moving words are enhanced by the soaring musical score which has been applied to them.  One cannot sing this wonderful hymn without his heart being stirred.

Obviously in the time of David looking up at the starry sky at night just naturally led one to exclaim the greatness of God.  There was no question in David’s mind where all the majesty of the universe originated.  He knew it came from the hand of God.  In 1886, when Carl Boberg penned the words to “How Great Thou Art,” most people still had the same reaction as David when they observed the physical realm in which they lived.  They knew and acknowledged that it came from God, and they were moved to extol His name for having created it.

In the years since “How Great Thou Art” was written a fundamental shift in attitude has taken place.  The world has become less favorably inclined toward God.  Modern science has played a large role in this transformation, although the secular philosophy of humanism has played an equally important role in turning society away from God.  The result is that many people today no longer think of God as the originator of life.  They are inclined either to not think about our origins, or to accept the idea that we evolved from lower forms of life.  Society, like a ship without a rudder, has drifted aimlessly toward the chaos and degradation that is now prevalent.

The fact that many now ignore the greatness of God and the majesty of His creation does not change who He is, or what He has done for us.  Even if the whole world chooses to deny Him, He is still the one and only, true and living God, who made heaven and earth and all that is in them.  Even if the whole world denies Him, He is still the one who will pass judgment at the end of time on all who have ever lived on the earth.

When we see the beauty of the earth and when we ponder the complexities of nature and the abundance of life-sustaining elements that are present only on this place in the entire universe, we must exclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”  When we consider the gift of His Son, by whose blood we are saved from our sins, we must exclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”  No other response is sufficient.

God does not need our affirmation of His greatness in order to be great, but how can we refuse to give it?  We are compelled by all that He is and by all that He has done to affirm the truth that there is no other God but Him.  We are compelled by all that He is and by all that He has done to always proclaim, “How Great Thou Art!”

Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 dawned bright, clear, and beautiful over the island of Oahu in the U.S. territory of Hawaii.  The ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet lay at anchor in Pearl Harbor.  Although there had been rumors of impending war with the empire of Japan, the United States was still at peace and many of our soldiers, sailors and marines were ashore on liberty that Sunday morning.  A little before 8:00 a.m. local time, the peace and quiet of that Sunday morning was shattered as Japanese planes began to attack Pearl harbor and its surrounding bases.  When the attack ended some 90 minutes later, over 2,400 Americans were dead and nearly 1,200 were wounded, and the U.S. Seventh Fleet and Army Air Corps bases were in shambles.

The next day President Franklin Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress to ask for a declaration of war against Japan.  He called December 7, 1941 a date that would live in infamy.  “Remember Pearl Harbor” became the rallying cry for the rest of the war, and for years thereafter school children were instructed about this terrible event so they would never forget it.  The battleship U.S.S. Arizona, which was sunk with the loss of nearly 1,200 lives, was left in its resting place as a perpetual memorial to those who died that day.  Each year on the anniversary of the sneak attack ceremonies are held to commemorate those who lost their lives.

The value of remembering important historical events is so that we may learn from them and, in the case of Pearl Harbor, never again be caught unprepared by an enemy.  The necessity for remembering such events is seen in the fact that our collective memory is so short.  The generation that experienced Pearl Harbor has no trouble remembering it, but now, some 73 years after the events of that day, most Americans have little awareness of it.  As tragic as this is, there is a more important event that we must always remember.

That event took place nearly 2,000 years ago at a place just outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem.  On that terrible day the one and only Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, was crucified by Roman soldiers at the instigation of the leaders of the Jews.  This was according to God’s eternal purpose, of course, but it is no less a tragedy because God intended it to happen.  It is a tragedy because the sinless Son of God died to pay a debt He did not owe.  He willingly died in order to pay for our sins, so that we might have the opportunity to receive eternal life.  Without His sacrifice, we would have no hope of reaching heaven.

Before He made this sacrifice, the Lord instructed His apostles to do something so that every generation of Christians would always remember what He had done for them.  That memorial is the Lord’s Supper, which the early Christians observed every first day of the week (Acts 20:7).  When Paul wrote to correct the abuses of this memorial that were then prevalent in the church in Corinth, he reminded them that the Lord commanded that this meal be eaten “in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24, 25).  When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26), and we keep in memory the terrible price that was paid to free us from our sins.

We often lament the fact that many today do not remember the sacrifices of those who died on December 7, 1941.  How much more so should we lament those who do not keep in remembrance the sacrifice of Christ on the cross that sets us free from the consequences of our sins?  May we always keep His sacrifice in remembrance by observing the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day.  Let us never forget.

The nation has been on edge for weeks as a grand jury in Ferguson, MO weighed the evidence in the case of a police shooting that took place in that community some months ago.  The media coverage of the shooting and of the rioting that ensued has focused so much on the racial aspects of this story that the facts in the case have been difficult to discern.  Agitators have done their best to frame this tragic event in terms of racial bigotry, and opportunists have taken advantage of the tension to loot and burn businesses.  A small, but vocal segment made it clear that anything less than an indictment for murder against the police officer would be a miscarriage of justice.  When the grand jury’s decision not to indict the officer was announced, rioting once again broke out in protest.  This incident, like so many others that have taken place in our country, demonstrates how far we have sunk as a people from the principles of scripture.

Justice is often portrayed as a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other.  The blindfold symbolizes fairness in weighing the evidence so that both sides in the case receive an equitable hearing.  It also indicates that the decision is to be made without regard for the status of either of the sides in the case.  This is a principle based upon the commands of scripture.

In Lev. 19:15 the scripture says, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (NIV).  This is an important principle established by God in the Law of Moses.  This provision was included in the Law because God foresaw that people tend to let their biases affect their decision making.  The Lord God knew that some people would bend in favor of the wealthy or powerful.  He also knew that some would bend in favor of the poor and weak in matters of law. Neither of these is acceptable to God.  He demands that all decisions be made on the basis of truth.  Only in this way will justice be served.

Our Lord Jesus Christ reinforced this principle during His earthly ministry.  In Jn. 7:24, as He was facing an increasingly hostile crowd at the Feast of Booths, the Lord had to defend Himself because He had healed a man on the Sabbath.  The Lord pointed out the hypocrisy of the Jews who were criticizing Him, because they themselves violated the Sabbath by circumcising on the Sabbath.  Then He said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (NASB).

With statements from God the Father, and from Jesus His Son, there can be no doubt that justice is to be rendered without regard to the status of the opposing sides.  Justice, by divine decree, is achieved when a judgment is based upon righteousness that fairly assesses either guilt or innocence.  While we understand and admit that people sometimes make mistakes, this is not an excuse to pervert justice in favor of one side or another for any reason.

God commands that we must not pervert justice in any way.  Therefore our desire should always be for truth to prevail in every circumstance.  The only way that we can consistently accomplish this is to always follow the principles of God’s word in everything we do.  If more people were willing to obey God’s directions in such matters, there would be far less injustice in our world, and we would all be better off.  May it always be our practice to judge with righteous judgment.