DISCUSSING DEATH“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.– Psalm 90:10″So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”–Psalm 90:12
Most people don’t want to think about death– as though that might hold it back for a while. But I believe it’s better to think about it than to pretend it will never happen. I’m not suggesting that you call your friends and invite them over for chips and dip to chat about death. I doubt that you would have many takers. But neither should  we live as though we will never die. Death is a fact that the Bible keeps before us–‘And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27).
As Christians we can actually think of death in a favorable light, rather than something dreadful. For us “to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). We can think of death as a friend rather than an enemy, the beginning rather than the end, gain rather than loss. The best day of a Christian’s life is his last day on earth. Death is the funeral of all our suffering and sorrow. Death can’t hurt us, separate us from Christ, destroy our hope, or affect our eternal destiny. Christ has conquered death, hell, and the grave, and in Him we are more than conquerors!
On the other hand, unbelievers need to think about death, because death doesn’t end it all. Every person will spend eternity in heaven or hell. And whether you want to think about it or not, you are dying and “after this the judgment:”. Pretending it won’t happen doesn’t prevent it. Thankfully Christ provides eternal life for all who will believe. By a simple act of faith you can receive the forgiveness of sin, acceptance with God, and the assurance of heaven. Think about it!—HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”–2 Cor.12:10
A. W. Tozer wrote, “Before God can use a person greatly, He must allow that person to be hurt deeply”. While that might be debatable, you can’t deny the fact that some of the best people have been hurt the worst. Some of the most successful servants have been hurt deeply. And it’s not because God is mean, mad, or mistaken. It is out of His wisdom, with His love, and according to His perfect plan that He directs the affairs of our life. There is no need to worry that things are out of control or beyond our ability to endure. God’s Word gives us assurance that all is well–for our good and God’s glory!
Armed with assurance like that it is no wonder that Paul could rejoice in trials, speak of peace that passeth all understanding, and remain faithful to the finish. He knew God would keep that which he had committed unto Him against that day. Having suffered greatly Paul was steadfast and unmovable because he knew “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28).
Dear friend what is said of Paul can be said of you. He was a mere man as you are, but he was fully devoted to a mighty God who can use our worst possible problems for the best possible purpose. Your pain is part of His plan and He who brought you to it will get you through it. He is able and willing to enable you.–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”–Rom. 7:13

Read the newspaper on any given day and you will see something that breaks your heart. Bad and sad news attracts lots of attention. As unpleasant as it is we can’t seem to ignore it–we are drawn to it as a moth to the light. We all read things that make us shudder, to think about being in another person’s shoes. But there is something worse.

What is the most heinous, terrible, horrible, vile, vulgar, filthy, sickening, harmful thing you can think of? Let your imagination run wild. Think about the Nazi concentration camps– smell the flesh burning in the furnace, the POW horror stories, murder, torture, rape, your most vile thoughts–whatever comes to your mind, real or imagined. Whatever you put on your list, if the answer isn’t sin it is wrong. Absolutely nothing is worse than sin. A. W. Pink said: “If we took a survey of everything on the earth — we could   not find anything so vile as sin. The basest and most contemptible thing in   this world, has some degree of worth in it, as being the workmanship of God.   But sin and its foul streams have not the least part of worth in them. Sin is  wholly evil without the least mixture of good — it is vileness in the   abstract….All comparisons fail to set forth the horrible malignity in  that abominable thing which God hates. We can say nothing more evil of   sin, than to term it what it is!“

Sin’s heinousness is seen in its author– the Devil. Sin’s enormity is is revealed in the ruin it has brought to man–the source of all our suffering and maker of all our misery. Sin’s malignity is seen in that it is an offense to God’s holiness and hated by Him. And yet we coddle it as a baby, embrace it as a friend, love it as a spouse, entertain it as a welcomed guest, pursue it as a treasure, and excuse it as child’s play. What is wrong with us? We are deceived by it, dominated by it, driven by it, depraved because of it, defiled by it, depressed over it, divided due to it, destitute because of it, dead in it, and destroyed by it– yet we delight in it! What could be more foolish?

We love what is loathsome to God
We delight in what is detestable to God
We admire what is an abomination to God
We honor what is hated by God
We pursue what is prohibited by God
We revel in what is repulsive to God
We desire what is denounced by God
We do what is dishonoring to God

And then we have the audacity to wonder why things are as they are, complain about our hardships, excuse ourselves from guilt, blame others, even God, brag about ourselves, reject God’s demands, and ignore God’s warnings.—HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”–Heb. 12:2-3
I sat down to write this shortly after speaking with someone who is going through a terribly tough time. It made me wish that I could work miracles, have the power to make life better for them. It hurts to see them hurt. But then I had to remind myself that regardless of how much I care, God cares about them much more. And, although I want to change things and make life easier for them, God knows it is better for it to be otherwise.
If I had the power to do as I desire, even with my good intentions, I would do more harm than good. I would hurt more than help. What I perceive to be acts of love would be counter productive. I not only lack the power to change the course of their life, I also lack the wisdom to do the right thing. And that is true of all of us. Looking at the suffering God allows us to go through is confusing to us. Our natural mind reasons that love would prevent this. We feel that way because we can’t see the end result. And this misunderstanding causes some people to resent what God allows. They can’t understand how He could have their best interest at heart. Getting beyond this can be hard.
The remedy for this is to focus on the suffering of Christ. That will cause the bitter disappointment to disappear. Knowing God didn’t just permit it, but actually planned it causes us to view our suffering differently. I don’t know what great difficulty you are facing , but I do know that if you are a child of God in the will of God you have good reason to be encouraged. God has promised grace to get you through it and some good to come from it. Your experience isn’t painless, but in some way it is profitable. Remembering this will help you deal with your difficulties. The same God who used the cross to meet your greatest need will use your suffering to meet some need  related to God’s eternal purpose. I’m not asking you to believe me. I urging you to trust Him who never fails!
I can’t answer all your questions or change your circumstances. Even if I tried to explain why God allows evil to exist and why the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper it wouldn’t remove your pain or resolve all your problems. God has given man the ability to sin and destroy himself if he so chooses– so the results are predictable. We see the result of this all around us. There are many things we can’t control or change, we have to live with them as they are. But you can rest assured that God hasn’t made a mistake nor forgotten you. He is an ever present help in time of need.–HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”– Phil. 4:13
We read a lot of things from people who don’t know what they’re talking about, but that’s not the case here. Paul knew from experience what it takes to serve God and what Christ was able to do. He understood the demands of discipleship. He was subjected to suffering unknown to most Christians today. And he was fully aware of the source of his strength, which was Christ.
The self- confident positive thinker of our day might say “I can do all things”, but he can’t. It is only “through Christ” that anyone can be enabled to do anything. Having a “can do” attitude isn’t enough. We need Christ! Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). With Him we “can do all things“. Christ enables us to do whatever He expects us to do. The context gives us a great example. We are commanded to be content and Paul said he had learned to be content (Phil. 4:11). Most of us feel if we could do that we could do anything.
The great thing about this verse is that what was true of Paul is true of all Christians. A child of God in the will of God can do whatever the will of God requires. At this very moment some of you might be facing what seems to be an impossible situation. You are overwhelmed with the feeling that “I can’t do this”. The truth is you can’t, but Christ can! He can enable you to do the impossible. This tremendous truth should give you great comfort, confidence, and courage. Regardless of our circumstances Christ is able to provide what is needed. In light of this it is no wonder Paul could be content. Embrace this truth and so can you.–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346