The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Dead

  • A Life Example

    “Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?”

    Jonah 3:9

    Do you remember what we can learn from the book of Jonah? After Jonah went to the people of Nineveh, the people understood that God expected repentance. In addition, they also had a hope that God would turn from his fierce anger and spare their lives. Remember the kings command: “8. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 .Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” (Jonah 3:8-9). In the book of Jonah, we learned that the people in Nineveh turned from sin to God. We then read what God did. He turned from His fierce anger against sin when he saw true repentance throughout the city of Nineveh.

    How in the world did the king of Nineveh know that God would turn from his fierce anger and forgive them? Consider the recent events of Jonah’s life.

    God told Jonah to go preach to the enemy of God’s people, Nineveh. They were not God’s people, they were dead people (spiritually). Remember what Ephesians teaches us. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Quickened means “to make alive; give life.” All apart from the saving knowledge of Christ are “dead in trespasses and sins.” The Assyrian people of Ninevah were a wicked and evil people: “dead in trespasses and sins.” God told Jonah to go preach to them. Apparently Jonah did not agree with what God wanted him to do, for he went the opposite direction. When the storm came, Jonah recognized it was the hand of God for Jonah’s disobedience (see Jonah 1:12). When the men threw Jonah overboard, the great fish that God had prepared, swallowed Jonah. That great fish was appointed by God, for God wanted Jonah to learn a lesson that he needed to know. Jonah was not in charge – God was. We can read that while Jonah was in the belly of that great fish, he prayed. Jonah was there until his thinking aligned with God’s way. Even though Jonah may have hated the people of Nineveh, Jonah recognized that obedience to God was most important. Jonah promised to do that which he vowed to the Lord. “And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). God then told Jonah, the second time, to go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah went and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4b). If you think about it, Jonah went, but this was the message that Jonah wanted to give. However, God had provided the people of Nineveh a better message than the words that Jonah spoke. The people of Nineveh witnessed Jonah’s life experience of being in the belly of the great fish. Jonah had disobeyed God, running from Him, and then experienced what could only be seen as death for three days at the bottom of the sea. Now, Jonah was alive where God wanted him, walking among them and warning them that Nineveh would be overthrown. This life witness must have spoken louder than Jonah’s words, for his words were few. However, God’s call came through Jonah’s words. One must hear God’s Word in order to be made alive. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Jonah had to go give the people a message from God. We can recognize that in spite of the few words, the new life after rebellion, death and then repentance, spoke loudly to the people. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). God spared Nineveh.

    Jonah had ended up in the belly of that great fish because he rejected God’s Word. Jonah had to change his thinking to align with God and His Word, turning his heart back to Him. This is called repentance. It was only then that he could do what God wanted him to do.

    There are many Christians who do exactly what Jonah did when God told him to deliver a message to Nineveh. They make excuses, and oftentimes go the opposite direction God sends them. If you are a Christian and have someone that God has instructed you to tell about Jesus, go tell them. God requires His Word to be proclaimed in order for the lost to hear and believe in Him. Christians need to get their thinking aligned with what God teaches us to do according to His Word. Do not wait for God to make a life example out of your failure to obey God and His Word. The call of repentance, turning one’s heart and life to Jesus, is the only hope. Remember also that Jonah’s life spoke louder than his word.

    Remembering what Jesus did for us, it should be easy to follow Him. It should be natural for Christians to do what He says and live for Him. Christians are not to live for ourselves, but consider it a joy that God is able to use us for His glory. Remember: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). God never changes. Today, God still saves people who will call upon Him. But He sends Christians to deliver the message of Salvation.

    Have you chosen to obey God’s Word, following Him instead of choosing to rebel against Him?

  • The Goal for this Life

    “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

    James 2:14

    As a Christian, the goal for this life is to be as Christ-like as one could possibly be. However, not many Christians understand what this means exactly, or even how to accomplish so great a task. Yet the answers are found in the Bible that most people own. James wanted to make a point. All Christians are saved by faith, but our actions (or works) reveal that faith to others. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14). We have already learned that salvation is by faith. We also understand that no one can do anything to earn salvation – for it came by the sacrifice of Jesus. “8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Then what is James trying to teach Christians? “17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:17-18). Even something one would think to be minor is important to consider.

    James was teaching Christians that faith and works go hand in hand. Because faith is an issue of the heart (for one believes in the heart, then confesses with the mouth, see Romans 10:9-10), physical works are a necessity to show the world what has taken place in the heart. “19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20). James wrote, “that faith without works is dead.” This is an indication of one who has only confessed with the mouth that they believed, but never truly believed in the heart – much like the devils. There is no evidence of this faith in that life. Understand that unless it is a “saving faith”, it is counterfeit. This kind of faith lulls people into a false security of eternal life.

    How does one reveal faith in their life? “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). That faith is lived out in a Christian’s life. Remember that when one trusts in Jesus, there is a change in that life. To trust Christ means that you yield your life to Him, and you then follow Him and His Word (the teachings of the Bible). A Christian becomes Christ-like. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). When a Christian lives for Jesus by the principles of that faith, we will please Him. More than that, we will increase in our knowledge of God.

    James did not just teach that with faith comes works, he cited examples from the Old Testament that all would remember. See the example of Abraham. “21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:21-24). Recognize that James 2:23 was quoted from Genesis 15:6: “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This was recorded twenty years before God called Abraham to offer Isaac. Yet by Abraham’s act of offering his son, Isaac, it revealed the faith he had had in his heart for all of those years. Abraham’s faith was “justified by works,” revealing his heart to all of the world.

    Read another example: Rahab. “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Remember that Rahab was the woman who lived within the walls of Jericho when the children of Israel sent the two spies into the city. Because she believed in God, she hid the two men, and then helped them escape, saving their lives. Because of her act of faith, she and her family were spared when the entire city of Jericho was destroyed. Her faith in God was revealed by her actions of saving the men of God. All could see her faith lived out in her life.

    Read James’ summary: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). A Christian must live a Christ-like life to reveal that one’s faith in Christ.

    Can anyone see Christ in you?

  • Do You Love the Wages of Unrighteousness?

    “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
    Matthew 6:21

    Have you ever encountered one called a Christian, who chooses the ways and riches of this present world instead of walking a Christ-like life? This brings to mind a very real man named Balaam from the book of Numbers in the Old Testament.

    Balak, king of Moab, (along with all of the Moabites) were afraid of the Israelites, God’s people. Balak sent for Balaam. He wanted Balaam to curse God’s people. Balak had heard that whomever Balaam cursed was cursed, and whomever he blessed was blessed. Balak sent money with men to give Balaam as payment to come to him and curse the Israelites. God spoke to Balaam and told him not to go with the men and not to curse God’s people, for they were a blessed people. Balaam told the princes of Balak to go home. God would not allow him to go with them.

    Balak sent more men to tell him not to let anything keep him from coming to him – even giving promises of great honor. “And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more” (Numbers 22:18). Yet Balaam told the men to stay the night, and wait to see what God would tell him that night. “And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do” (Numbers 22:20).

    God had already told Balaam not to go. God’s people were only to be blessed, for they were a blessed people. Yet when Balaam was offered honor, a house full of silver and gold, he told the men to wait. Why is that? Do you think he was hoping God would let him go so he could have all of that honor and gold? That night, God told him to go. Do you think that maybe this could have been a test to see what was in Balaam’s heart? Balaam went. “And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him …” (Numbers 22:22a). Balaam heard what God said, but he was not listening to what God had told him. God was angry with him for going.

    Balaam rode his donkey, heading to see Balak, king of Moab. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, but Balaam did not. The donkey understood that he was not to continue forward. Balaam was angry at his donkey, and began to hit the donkey when it sat down (Numbers 22:23). The donkey was trying to save his master’s life. God opened the mouth of that donkey, and he spoke to Balaam. And Balaam answered the donkey. He told the donkey that if he had a sword in his hand, he would kill him. “Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face” (Numbers 22:31). The angel told Balaam that if it hadn’t been for the donkey, he would have been killed. Why? “…behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me” (Numbers 22: 32b). Balaam was not supposed to go to speak with King Balak. The angel of the Lord told Balaam to go on to see King Balak, but only speak the words God gave him to speak. Balaam went, told King Balak God’s Words, and blessed God’s people.

    If the events ended here, it might have seemed good. Nevertheless, at some point, Balaam gave King Balak counsel of the way to cause the Israelites to trespass against the Lord (Numbers 31:16). Balaam had not obeyed God. He was to have only spoken the words God gave him to King Balak. He chose to do disobey God, apparently greedy for reward and wages.

    Read the insight about the life of Balaam in the New Testament: “15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17. … to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness … 19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:15-19). He loved the wages of unrighteousness, and people like him allure through the lusts of the flesh, wantonness, promising liberty, but they are servants of corruption. They end up in bondage. 

    Another insight we read in the New Testament about Balaam: “10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots” (Jude 1:10-12). It declares that Balaam was in error and went after reward. His end was described as “twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”

    Would you want to be remembered as one who loved the wages of unrighteousness, ending up twice dead?

    How to be Saved