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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 8 * Number 13* March 30, 2008
The Joy of Forgiveness
Charles Talbott
We need to come to prayer and worship with a right attitude. Jesus taught in Luke 18:9-14 that we are to come humbly. In Matthew 5:21-26 He taught that we must come in right relationships with others, forgiving their wrongs. Jesus included forgiveness in His instructions to His disciples on prayer in Matthew 6:12—15 and Luke 11:4. He also taught about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35 and Mark 11:26. If we love Jesus we are to keep His commandments to love God and our neighbors (Mark 12:29—31).
Instead of imprisoning ourselves in grudges and anger over the past, forgiveness can give us the freedom to move forward. Jesus has called us to move forward, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). In Hebrews 12:1—2 we are told to lay aside sin “and run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Paul wrote to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life” (I Timothy 6:12). Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13—14).
There is joy available both for the forgiver and for the forgiven. We need to be moving forward to finish the race that is set before us. Let us trust in the Word of God, believe it, live it, and be obedient to it by keeping the commandments of Jesus. Paul also wrote the Philippians “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (2:5) and “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, Rejoice” (4:4). Forgive, forget, forge ahead, focus on Jesus, finish the race set before you, glorifying God in all that you do.
The Clockmaker & the Monarch
By Kyle Butt, MA
Suppose you are walking in the woods, look down, and see an intricately designed, fully-operational timepiece. The gears and mechanisms of the curious clock work together in perfect unison and absolute order. Further suppose that if the clock gets slightly out of sync, brief exposure to the Sun puts it back into harmony. Such a clock would be truly amazing, and would certainly lead an honest observer to conclude that the clock owed its complexity and design to an intelligent designer. The 18th-century apologist, William Paley, is famous for this “watchmaker” argument.
But now suppose that the clock is very small, smaller than the head of a pin. Furthermore, the clock is located inside the head of a monarch butterfly. Those familiar with monarch butterflies may know that these interesting little creatures make an amazing migratory trip of thousands of miles during their life. How do the monarchs know when to leave a certain place? And how do they know how to find their way to places they have never been?
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, led by Dr. Steven Reppert, are paying close attention to the monarchs’ biological clock (Carl, 2008). Reppert and his team believe that the monarchs’ “unique circadian clocks, which regulate daily activities like sleep and hunger,” contain special proteins that allow the monarchs to navigate by using the Sun as a compass (2008). Reppert commented on the monarchs’ amazing ability: “A butterfly’s brain is no bigger than the head of a pin, and yet it has this incredible capability” (as quoted in Carl, 2008).
How must atheistic evolutionists explain this tiny clock that uses the Sun as a navigational guide? They are forced to conclude that it is a product of blind chance, random processes over millions of years. But they could not say the same about a “regular” clock of the same size and functionality that they found lying on the forest floor. One wonders what the location of the clock, whether on the forest floor or in the head of the monarch, has to do with the obvious fact that the clock must have a clockmaker.
From Things Above February 3, 2008
&
Ittai
Bret Carter (edited)
During the reign of David, his popularity took a huge hit. Using tactics that would have made a modern mudslinger proud, David’s own son, Absalom, stole the kingdom right from under him. It was standard procedure to kill your predecessor along with anyone on his side. So David and all the people connected with him had to run for their lives.
Just as they were exiting the royal property, he came upon a group of about 600 people led by a man named Ittai (2 Sa 15). Ittai was a Philistine who had just arrived in this volatile empire. They had just unpacked and now they were packing again and making a quick exit. David tried to discourage him from coming with him. He offered him several ‘outs’. But, Ittai was not interested in excuses. He replied, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be”.
Just like Ittai, we have reasons not to follow the King. You will be insulted and persecuted (Mt 5:11). The world will hate you (Jn 17:14). You will not be popular. There are many reasons not to follow the King.
But, our King has left the city and we are called on to join Him (He 13:12-14). We know that no matter how hard the road gets, it leads to glory. We should be willing to leave anything behind. There is no room for excuses. We know what Ittai knew: If you are smart, you will follow the true King.
Simple Truths Volume 3 Number 8 &
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