“….why shouldest thou destroy thyself?”— Ecc. 7:16
We don’t see it much anymore, but years ago it was common to see “load limit” signs on bridges. Back in the Ozarks I drove over many rickety old wooden bridges that made me wonder if I would make it to the other side. The load limit sign was posted when the the bridge was new or restored and in good shape, but that had been years ago. Now the boards were old, cracked, or rotten, and in some cases boards were missing. It was bad enough to trust the sign, but to intentionally exceed the limit would have been a dumb idea—flirting with disaster. However, some folks do things that are even more foolish. For example–

God has set limits to what we can legally and safely do. We are not at liberty to do as we please. God has given commandments and principles to regulate our conduct. Unbeknown to most people, these are for our own good, to protect us. When God says,”Don’t”, He is actually saying “Don’t hurt yourself”. Sadly He is ignored by most. What they don’t realize is that sin has its own built in punishment. Without God doing anything, sin brings suffering, shame, sorrow, pain, and death. It is impossible for us to sin successfully. There is a payday someday!

Even sinless things can become sinful, thus dangerous, if taken to the extreme. That includes eating, sleeping, working, and numerous other things that call for moderation. We are free to do as we ought, but not free to do as we please. There are many things we are allowed or required to do, but only to a limit. All is well if we stay within the limit, but we put ourselves in danger if we go beyond. Still some people insist on ignoring the warning signs. It’s like they are on a mission to destroy themselves–just as ancient Israel did (Hos. 4:6; 13:9). I would to God we were wiser than they!

Strangely enough, people who do this often end up blaming others or even God for the suffering they brought upon themselves. They created the calamity and then complain about life being unfair–that’s unfair! God has given us everything we need— the Bible as our guide, Christ as our Deliverer, and the Holy Spirit as our Enabler, so we have only ourselves to blame for our failures. When we exceed the limits of what is lawful and ignore God’s warnings we become our own worst enemy, our own destroyer. We are safe only as we stay on the firm ground of God’s perfect will—-it is always right, best, and safest.

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil“–Eph. 5:16
Having just entered the new year I’m sure many pastors have recently preached from this verse– for good reason. The older I get the more meaningful this verse becomes to me. We all have less time left than at any other point in our life. How will we spend it? That is the question.

We all can think of pleasant ways to spend our days, and it would be different for each one. Given the opportunity, what would it be for you? How about sitting on the porch swing, in perfect weather, holding hands with your dearest loved one? Or maybe you are the adventurous type and seeing the wonders of the world is on your bucket list. Or how about sitting in your recliner watching your grandchildren play? And, I suppose, for some fishing might be the way they would want to spend the rest of their life. But what about you? You need to think about that, because the clock is ticking! What will consume your time, exhaust your energy, and capture your attention?

Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”(Ps. 90″12). While life demands various kinds of activity, there should be one single purpose for which we live. I believe Paul got it right when he said, “For to me to live is Christ..”(Phil.1:21). That describes the God-given purpose for every Christian. Although we must of necessity devote some time to work, play, rest, and eating, etc. the one thing, above everything, more than anything that we should focus on is serving God. We should spend our time doing the will of God, from the heart, for the glory of God, with eternity in view.

We talk and sing about “Wasted Years”, but we need to remember that there is more than one way to waste our lives. We usually think of those like the Prodigal son who waste their lives in sinful activities, but some of us are just as guilty by spending our lives on things that are of no eternal value. If we were honest we would have to admit that we spend far less time in Bible study, prayer, witnessing, worship, etc. than we should. We tend to give the least amount of attention to the things that matter most— don’t we?

I received an email this morning from a dear preacher friend that touched my heart and reminded me of the following poem, by an unknown writer, that has blessed me over these many years. I am not at liberty to share my friends story, but I do want to share this poem. Hopefully it will bless you as well:

“Lord, I’ve never moved a mountain and I guess I never will. All the faith that I could muster wouldn’t move a small ant hill. Yet I’ll tell you, Lord, I’m grateful for the joy of knowing Thee, and for all the mountain moving down through life You’ve done for me.

When I needed some help you lifted me from the depths of great despair. And when burdens, pain and sorrow have been more than I can bear, you have always been my courage to restore life’s troubled sea, and to move these little mountains that have looked so big to me.

Many times when I’ve had problems and when bills I’ve had to pay, and the worries and the heartaches just kept mounting every day, Lord, I don’t know how you did it. Can’t explain the wheres or whys. All I know, I’ve seen these mountains turn to blessings in disguise.

No, I’ve never moved a mountain, for my faith is far too small. Yet, I thank you, Lord of Heaven, you have always heard my call. And as long as there are mountains in my life, I’ll have no fear, for the mountain-moving Jesus is my strength and always near.”

Every Spirit-filled Christian knows he is not perfect, but he wants to be. He also yearns for other believers to be always at their best. He longs to see Christianity in its purest form and most effective state. That’s what A. W. Tozer was hoping for more than half a century ago when he wrote these words:

“I am afraid of a new wave of religion that has come. It started in the United States, and it is spreading. It is a sort of esoteric affair of the soul or the mind, and there are strange phenomena that attend it. I am afraid of anything that does not require purity of heart on the part of individuals and righteousness of conduct in life. I also long in the tender mercies of Christ that among us there may be the following: 1. A beautiful simplicity. I am wary of the artificialness and complexities of religion. I would like to see simplicity. Our Lord Jesus was one of the simplest men who ever lived. You could not involve Him in anything formal. He said what He had to say as beautifully and as naturally as a bird sings on the bough in the morning. That is what I would like to see restored to the churches. The opposite of that is artificiality and complexity. 2. A radiant Christian love. I want to see a restoration of a radiant Christian love so it will be impossible to find anyone who will speak unkindly or uncharitably about another or to another. This is carefully thought out and carefully prayed through. The devil would have a spasm. He would be so chagrined that he would sulk in his self-made hell for years. There should be a group of Christians with radiant love in this last worn-out dying period of the Christian dispensation, a people so loving that you could not get them to speak unkindly and you could not get them to speak uncharitably.”

While we cannot change or control the condition of Christianity as a whole, we can do something about ourselves. When others are at their worse it is all the more reason why we should be at our best. Your neighbor might not know anything about the over-all condition of Christianity, but they know something about the way you represent it and they make judgements about it based on what they see in you. I pray you will show them the best side. Who knows, that just might encourage them to join with you.–Bro. Stone

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments”. – John 14:15

Here is the Christian’s grand RULE of action, the commandments of his dear Saviour. Jesus commands us because He loves us; because He desires our present welfare; because He will prove the sincerity of our profession; and because He approves of the obedience of faith.

He commands us to imitate Himself; He is our great pattern and example; and we should endeavour to imitate Him in His Spirit, and design, and actions. He commands us to believe Him, profess Him, obey Him, and continue in His love. Here we have the Christian’s grand MOTIVE and spring of action–LOVE. Spiritual love is always loyal to the King of Zion; jealous for the glory of the Lord of Hosts; and determined in the cause of the Prince of peace. The obedience of love is easy–hearty–and thorough.

Love is the strongest incentive to obedience; it conquers fear–furnishes with zeal–equips with courage–devises the means–surmounts difficulties–and triumphs over opposition. Let us inquire from what does our obedience spring? By what is it regulated? Is our motive and rule, holy love?

Love is the fountain whence
All true obedience flows;
The Christian serves the God he loves,
And loves the God he knows :
May love o’er every power preside,
And every thought and action guide.– James Smith