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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 9 * Number 41* October 14, 2007
Heaven
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. (I (Corinthians 15:50) Heaven as described in the Bible is a place where the soul is at home with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In John 14:2, heaven is described as a dwelling place. “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”
In II Corinthians 5:1 heaven is described as a house, “an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
In Hebrews 12:22-23a heaven is described as a city, “heavenly Jerusalem”, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven
The city is described as having great and high walls (Revelation 21:12), made of pure gold like unto clear glass, (21:18) the walls are garnished with all manner or precious stones (21:19), the 12 gates are made of 12 giant pearl (21:21), the street are pure gold as it were transparent glass, (21:21), there is no sun, there is no moon, but the city is lit by the glory of God Himself and His Son, the Lamb, (21:23), the tree of life is there (22:2), and the Throne of God and the Throne of the Lamb are found within, (22:3) And, we shall see the face of God. (22:4)
Revelation 21:3 proclaims, God will dwell with His people. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
Truly, heaven is not a place we want to miss. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
Stacy Crim
Avoiding and Overcoming
Bad Habits and Addictions
By Allan E. McNabbIt’s Your Choice
God has given us a free will. We choose whether to subject ourselves to bad habits and addictions (Rom. 6:16-18).
Therefore, we have the power to control ourselves and avoid sinful behaviors, and thus break bad habits and addictions.
Difference Between Habit And Addiction
Simply stated, an “addiction is a loss of control and freedom, while a habit is something that is donned or assumed, perhaps often, but that can nevertheless be removed if desired” (Britannica.com).Anything that has control over us is an addiction. For example: If you must have coffee to function, it is an addiction; but if you freely choose to drink coffee every day, it is a habit. All Addiction is Sinful
Sinful behaviors are sinful, whether or not they’re an addiction. For example: Illegal drug use and pornography are sinful, whether they’re addictions or not.Lawful behaviors, on the other hand, can become sinful in certain circumstances. One of those circumstances is addiction. If a lawful behavior becomes an addiction, then it is a sin.
Paul says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12).
Stay Away From Sinful Behaviors
If we have a godly attitude, we will stay away from sin. Thus, we’ll never involve ourselves in sinful behaviors that are highly addictive.
Paul sets forth this idea in these Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
If we abstain from everything remotely connected with sin, abhorring even the thought of it, we’ll never become addicted to sinful behaviors.
For example: If you never take a drink of alcohol, you’ll never become an alcoholic. If you never look at pornography, you’ll never become addicted to pornography.
Exercise Self-Control
To avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions, we must exercise self-control.Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). To do this, we must control our mind, by which we control our bodies. He says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matt. 15:19).
Paul expresses these thoughts with an athletic metaphor, saying, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Cor. 9:24-25).
Like an athlete, we must exercise self-control in all things. If we do, we’ll control our minds, which controls our bodies, and overcome bad habits and addictions.
Walk By The Spirit
If we walk by the Spirit, we’ll avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Since we walk by the Spirit, we exercise control over sin, bad habits, and addictions.
We walk by the Spirit because we belong to Christ, having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24). We don’t engage in bad habits and addictions because Christ doesn’t engage in sin.
We’ve been crucified with Christ, who lives in us; and the life which we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself up for us (Gal. 2:20).
The Power of God in Our Lives
Walking by the Spirit, God’s empowers us to avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions.
We’re empowered by God’s word and prayer.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . . .”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “. . . the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Summary
As Christians, we have the ability to control our bodies with our minds. Avoiding and overcoming bad habits and addictions isn’t a question of ability, it’s a question of desire.&
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