Email Us

Find a Congregation Near You!

 The Cornerstone 

This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11

Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia

Volume 6 *   Number 18*   April 30,  2006

The Answer to the Question of Life

All people must learn the meaning of life. Solomon pondered it and came to this conclusion "Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The reason is because all of our works in this life will be brought into the day of Judgment. Good or Bad! (Ecclesiastes 12:14) Each and every individual throughout all time will give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12) Understanding this, Solomon concluded that fearing God and keeping His commandments was the answer to the meaning of life.

Paul answered the question to life when he told the Athenians that God created all nations and that all nations should seek Him. (Acts 17:27) God is not far from any of us so we can find Him, fear Him and learn to do His will. Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 Man is to seek God!

The answer to life is not found in wealth, power, or pleasure for these things will pass away with the passing of the heavens and earth. This is why Peter said "Seeing that these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." (II Peter 3:9) Well what manner of person would the God of the heavens and earth want us to be? The answer is a godly and holy person who is keeping His commandments.

What is so tragic is that so many will never even consider what life is all about anyway. Like generations which have gone on before, they will just eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow they will die. Sadly, on the day of judgment, they will find themselves bowing their knee and confessing God. (Romans 14:11). And on that day they will learn what life have been all about, but it will simply be late. In fear, they will have fallen "into the hands of the Living God." (Hebrews 10:31)

Yet on that very same day, there will be the few who are not saddened because they have feared God and have kept His commandments. They will have found God, revered Him and kept His commandments. They are going to hear of their well done labors. They will enter into the joy of their Lord. (Matthew 25:23) They will be saved!

Will you be saved?

Stacy Crim

&

 

A Prayer for Boldness

Donnie Gaines

The apostles, Peter and John, having been arrested, threatened, and warned not to speak any more of Jesus, went back to Thessalonica and prayed: "Grant unto thy servants to speak thy Word with all boldness" (Acts 4:30). Their prayer was heard for the Bible goes on to say that when they had finished their praying, they spake the Word of God with all boldness (v31).

Apparently this was the greatest challenge to these disciples who, at first, had shown themselves timid, and even cowardly. The gospel accounts speak of the apostles on the night of Jesus’ arrest (Matt 26:56). Peter had followed Him, but afar off (v 58). They knew where their greatest weakness lay and for this they were praying.

What is most interesting about the context is that they had already shown considerable courage in preaching in the temple in chapters two and three, and when confronted by the threatening of the high priest and his cohorts at the Sanhedrin. Scripture records their brash reply to the questioning of the rulers and elders.

Along with the reaction of these men: "now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled" (Acts 4:13). One does not normally expect laboring men, such as these to come before an auspicious tribunal like the Sanhedrin, relaxed and confident in the way in which these men did. Luke explains that they were filled with the Holy Spirit (v8), but then goes on to record their prayer for courage. A comparable text appears in II Timothy 1:6-7 where Timothy is told to "kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness, but of power and love and discipline." Paul is evidently encouraging Timothy to overcome his natural timidity and speak up and speak out.

There are a couple of very important lessons we ought to learn from this observation. First we should come to appreciate the dedication and courage of those first Christians in standing for the Truth. "They were truly men of like passions with us". They had to search their souls as we do before they spoke, knowing that their words might cost them a great deal. God did not turn them into robots and direct their actions in such a way as to accomplish His work. They had to gird up the loins of their mind, and summon the fortitude to speak. Someone has said that courage is "fear that said its prayers". In this case, that definition is completely appropriate.

A second lesson that can be gleaned here is the fact that they prayed for that which they needed. History is an excellent teacher; so is experience. The night of the betrayal had been branded into the memories of these men with absolute permanency. When that night was over, they had been forced to look him in the face to give account for their lives and words along with all men at the Judgment (II Cor 5:16). They were intent that they would not make the same mistake again!

Like them, we need to be praying for our weaknesses. We know those areas when we have sinned in the past, and if we are intent upon not repeating those errors, then we will pray for the strength to overcome them in the future. Moreover, we will take action when it is necessary to avoid situations and circumstances that lead to such sin.

If it is the courage to speak that we need, then we must know that God is not going to stand in our place for us and speak the words as He did for the apostles. In our case He supplies it to us in His Word. Again, like the apostles, it is up to us to take the first step in developing the courage to speak the Truth, but God will be there to help. God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear (Ps 46:1-2)

The Parchment 13 March 2005

  Back to Current Year Bulletins