How
often has a child of God despaired thinking that the kingdom of God was
going to end with his generation? Elijah had concluded that he “alone
was left” of the people of God and because of that God should take his
life and end this lost cause
(1 Kings 19:4, 10).
God quickly reminded him that he had 7,000 who were faithful to him and
then put Elijah
back to work.
(1 Kings 19:18).
Asaph,
after looking at the prosperity of the wicked and the hard plight of the
few that were righteous, was ready to conclude that serving God was not
worth it. He said, “Surely I have cleansed my heart
in vain, and
washed my hands in innocence”
(Psalm 73:13).
Fortunately, when he entered the sanctuary of God to worship, he saw the
world as God did. Because of this eternal view he was now very thankful
to be part of the faithful few. He writes, “When I thought
how to
understand this, It
was too painful for me—Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I
understood their end”
(Psalm 73:16-17).
God’s
Promises an Eternal Kingdom
When we
look to the scriptures, we find strong promises concerning God’s
kingdom. Concerning the church Jesus would build, He plainly stated that
“the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”
(Matt 16:18).
When Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah and His reign, he plainly
stated that this kingdom would never end. He writes, “And His name will
be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace
there will
be no end”
(Isa 9:6-7).
Gloom
and Doom—Cases in Point
Over
the years I have heard brethren lament the dwindling of a local church,
or the departure of a new generation into apostasy, or even the general
worldliness of the professed Christians they have observed. I have heard
some say that “churches of Christ are going to become extinct!” In
another case I heard a man who had left the Lord’s church quoting growth
statistics to convince others that a return to the Bible alone would not
work. He boldly proclaimed that “these churches are dying on the vine
because of their legalism.” Should we become discouraged by our own
impressions of the church around us? Should we surrender to the spin of
men with self-serving agendas?
“Whittling” on God’s End of the Stick
We need
to remember what burden God has placed upon us and what burden He has
not. The Lord wants me to walk by faith and to spread God’s word to all
who will hear (1 Cor
3:5-7). It is not my job to determine the numbers who are
faithful or to be responsible for the welfare of God’s people
everywhere. God is the one who knows who are His, and He can well take
care of them! Is it not written, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of
God stands, having this seal: ’The Lord knows those who are His’”
(2 Tim 2:19)?
The
Lord has given us His word and through it we can determine those who
have “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”
(1 John 4:1, 6).
It is with these people we should stand and it with these people that we
should build. Do we really understand what it means to be a child of
God?
Our
Confusion Over Names
We tend
to take shortcuts in determining who men really are and where they
actually stand. Rather than interact, discuss and apply the scriptures,
men would rather place labels on people and churches and end further
struggle. While I believe that “churches of Christ”
(Romans 16:16)
are a Biblical designation for local assemblies of God’s people, I must
never assume that wearing the right name makes one a child of God.
A true
stand for the Lord is something that each individual must do themselves.
No one can do it for them, including their parents. As you look at God’s
people in the Bible or in church history, you will find that departure
comes when a new generation arises that “did not know the Lord”
(Judges 1:10).
What happened in the time of the Judges has repeated itself in various
times in history and will also be found in our times.
What
should I do when “churches of Christ” begin to change the plan of
salvation, compromise the scriptures, and bow to the denominational
Baal’s of our day? What I need to do is serve God with confidence and
work with others who also are walking by faith.
Do Not
Transfer the Failures of Men to God
Why
should I quit serving God over the failures of men? If God has placed me
in a time of apostasy and worldliness, then I can be a Daniel rather
than a Demas (2 Tim
4:10)! God used Daniel to rebuild after a great apostasy where
God Himself described the remaining faithful as a “remnant”
(Isa 10:22-23).
When men fail to serve God, I need to have a faith that will stand with
God. I can have a great confidence in spite of the pull and ridicule of
men. The apostle Paul reminds us, “Let God be true but every man a liar.
As it is written: ‘That you may be justified in your words, and may
overcome when you are judged’” (Romans
3:4).
Know
Your Limitations
We must
constantly remind ourselves of our limited sight. My view of the world
and of the church can change drastically when I depend on my own
reality. Problems will inevitably arise with some that are close to me
in this life. Yet, it does not necessarily follow that brethren
everywhere are going bad. I need to understand that God looks at the
whole world! Conditions in the United States, or in any particular part
of the country, do not represent what is happening in other places.
What
Has God Given You to Do?
When we
learn to trust God day by day, we will find that the “yoke” He has lays
upon us bearable and doable
(Matt 11:28-30).
There are many things out of my control that I should leave to God,
trusting that He alone can handle them. Let each of us always look to
our God, for He has given us His promises and they will never fail.
Other Articles by Larry Rouse
The Lord's Supper or a Marathon?
The Christian's Apparel -- Inside and
Out
David's Mighty Men