What must I do to be saved?

First, the Bible: “Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:9-11).

God recognizes the importance of having a meal together. Here, we see Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel having a meal in the presence of God. There is something about the power of eating together…

Family meals are some of the best, heart-warming memories I have growing up. My dad was too busy serving small congregations and working to support the family (Mom was a stay-at-home-mom most of my childhood) to do much with us kids. But we almost always shared our meals together. It is a time to laugh, to share events from the day, to learn how to carry on a conversation, to cry together as you share concerns… It is a wonderful time to get to know one another.

Rachel and I tried to do the same thing with Jewell and Ana. Especially while we were on the mission field, we ate all three meals together. When we moved back to the US, we ate breakfast and dinner together nearly every night. Depending on Rachel’s work schedule, we might even get the girls awake an extra 30 minutes early, just so the four of us could eat together. I strongly attribute the closeness we have now as adults to that very event and that mentality that was fostered by eating together.

Eating in front of the TV is a conversation-killer. Your focus is on the TV, not each other. You don’t talk about the day; you don’t talk about the frustrations you have experienced. You don’t share biblical teaching. Generally speaking, it’s just not as productive a way to spend time with the family.

You teach children to eat what Mom sets in front of them without being picky. Many wives today would love to have a husband who is not picky! It’s an opportunity to train the children to thank Mom for the food she has prepared, to thank Mom for the time she spent preparing it, to thank all those people who farm and bring the food to your table! I offer a caution though: Don’t force your children to clean their plates. Help them learn how to apportion their food so they can eat what they put out. But forcing a child to clean the plate creates a long-term detrimental mentality that they would be better off not having.

Children should come to the table whether they are hungry or not. As I have suggested, the dinner table is more than food. It is conversation. It is learning. It is sharing. It is praying. It is laughing. It is crying. It is telling stories. It is affirming each other. Don’t ask your children “yes / no” questions if you are wanting to learn about their day! Ask them questions that cause them to reflect and explain. Share how you have applied God’s word to your life.

Yes, God designed meals to be a special time. One day, all God’s children in Jesus Christ will assemble around a table and enjoy a “meal” (Rev. 19:9). Let’s prepare our children for that eventuality.

Paul Holland

Mario Salcedo is living what many consider to be a dream life.  For the past 25 years he has lived on cruise ships; he’s not one of the crew, but a passenger.  Recently he was recognized by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for his 1,000th voyage with them.  He spends about 5 hours per day working (an article in the New York Post described him as a businessman), and the rest of the day he relaxes.

Salcedo’s lifestyle comes with a downside, however: “I’ve lost my land legs. I’m swaying so much I can’t walk in a straight line. … I’m so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land,’ he added.”  This is normally not an issue since he is rarely on land.  The last time he left a ship for an extended period was during the COVID crisis.

Mal de débarquement syndrome is the condition that Salcedo has to deal with, the feeling of the land swaying and heaving when stepping onto land from a ship.  Usually the syndrome is short lived, but for some it can last for long periods of time.  The human body adapts to changing environments.  We suspect astronauts likely have similar experiences after living in zero-gravity conditions.

Christians face a similar challenge when we relocate our lives.  Paul noted this “disembarking” from the earth in Colossians 3:1,2: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  In Christ our focus is shifted from earthly priorities to heavenly ones.  And that can be disorienting for a time.

In Philippians 3 the apostle spoke of things that once meant everything to him: “… of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee …” (Philippians 3:5).  But when Paul stepped out of the worldly domain into the heavenly one, a change in values took place: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14).

Losing our “worldly legs” is a process, and as noted in Colossians 3:2 it requires setting our “mind on things above, not on things on the earth”.  If we’re not careful to do that (through regular Bible study, prayer, worship, and service), we make ourselves vulnerable to the allurements of this life.  It can happen to us just as it happened to a former coworker with Paul: “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).

One must have strength to be a disciple of Jesus: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).  Worldly legs won’t support us on such a journey.  Walking in the heavenly domain requires legs strengthened by the Lord Himself.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall

We have two in our congregation who are named “Grace.” One is a college student and the other is in elementary school. “Grace” is a beautiful name and a beautiful concept. You might say in the Bible, it pictures the unconditional love of God.

It is true that God’s love is not based on what we do, but rather it is based on who we are. We are His by His divine act of creation. When John states that “God so loved the world that He gave His only unique Son” (John 3:16), he is sharing with us the love God has for everyone who is born into this world.

And God extends His grace in salvation to everyone who is born as well. To say that God’s love is unconditional is not the same thing as to say God’s salvation is unconditional. We still have to choose Him. We still have to choose His way. When you meditate on the “plan of salvation,” you see that it is our choice that is operative at every step of the way.

We choose to listen to God’s word with humility. We choose to trust God’s word implicitly. We choose to repent completely. We choose to confess our faith loudly. We choose to submit to immersion in water for the forgiveness of our sins reverently. To say we are saved by grace does not negate the fact that we have to choose to respond to God’s call to salvation.

We can choose to respond either with defiant disobedience or we can choose to respond with thankful obedience.

In Romans 6:15-16, the Holy Spirit says, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

Paul Holland

When Jewell was in middle school and high school, it was not uncommon for her to read a book and that book get made into a movie. And then the whole family went to see the movie. The movie Life of Pi was one of those books / movie. The lone survivor of a shipwreck must find a way to survive in the middle of the Pacific Ocean all alone. Following the catastrophe at sea, in which his parents and most of their zoo animals were tragically killed, Pi, the lone survivor, finds himself on a small lifeboat, adrift at sea with a few zoo animals to keep him company. As Pi moves further from the shipwreck, he drifts into danger; whales and sharks smell blood in the water, and a hungry hyena and tiger wait to pounce.

In this month’s passage, the recipients of the letter of Hebrews are warned not to “drift away,” for, like Pi, if they do, we will drift into danger.

WE MUST PAY MUCH CLOSER ATTENTION – 2:1-4:
Hebrews was addressed primarily to Christians with a Jewish background. These early believers were being tempted to go back to Judaism and the old law. So the inspired author urges Christians to focus on the truth of Jesus Christ. The verb “to drift away” is not used anywhere else in the NT.

The author concludes by reminding Christians why we believe the gospel in the first place. The message was first preached by Christ (v. 3); then it was affirmed by his apostles (v. 3); it was accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders (v. 4); and it was finally brought to its complete end with the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and gifts were given to the church (v. 4).

JESUS WAS SUBMISSIVE – 2:5-13:
The author quotes Psalm 8. That psalm focuses on man as the crown and jewel of God’s creation. Jesus as the new man, the ideal man. In this passage, the author sees Jesus as one who attained glory through suffering. The writer will talk a lot about suffering through his letter.

Jesus achieved glory and honor through suffering and death (v. 9). As followers of Christ, we must be ready to do the same. Suffering is a normal part of life, especially of the Christian life. Christ warned his followers that they would suffer for his name’s sake. We must accept this truth, count the cost, and bear our cross and endure our suffering patiently, like Jesus, knowing that glory awaits those who remain faithful.

SO HE COMES TO THE AID OF THOSE WHO ARE TEMPATED – 2:14-18:
The preexistent Son of God took on flesh and blood and became human in the person of Jesus Christ to redeem humanity from the curse of sin. Where Adam was disobedient concerning God’s command relative the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Christ was obedient even to death.

Just as Jesus submitted to God, let us submit ourselves to Him daily. He is always by our side in times of temptation.

Paul Holland

The British churchman Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) was a scholar and prolific author. He was recognized for his witty quotes, one of which is literally engraved in stone, that reads, “ALL THINGS BEFORE THEY WERE EASY WERE DIFFICULT.”

Life always starts out difficult. Before walking was easy, it was difficult. Learning to ride a bike was difficult before it was easy. The first college term paper, the first day on the job, the first at-bat, the first day at boot camp; everything that scared us, stressed us, and challenged us became easier as we gained skill, knowledge, and experience.

Overcoming certain temptations is difficult at first, but as our faith in Christ grows stronger, we are more easily able to “resist the devil” and see him flee from us (Jas. 4:7). Men, leading that first public prayer, or ladies teaching that first bible class, it was always difficult before it became easy. But never let us fear to do what we think is difficult. “For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline” (2 Tm. 1:7). Day-to-day life is difficult. A growing faith in God makes every day easier.

-Dennis Doughty

Dan Martin’s job as a summer intern was simple: Go through the boxes of old movie reels that had been donated to Lauro’s Historic Films Archive, and catalog the various titles.  We can imagine that is a tedious and somewhat boring job, but one day he struck gold!  He found what is thought to be the only surviving copy of Francis Ford’s 1915 silent film, “The Heart Of Lincoln”.

The movie industry began with silent films, as the technology did not yet exist to combine sound with video.  The articles describing Martin’s discovery state that about 70% of all silent films are now lost.  This one, however, has now been cleaned and digitized, and will thus be preserved for the ages.

Ford’s film, of course, does not have actual footage of President Abraham Lincoln.  The 16th President’s death happened 50 years before the film.  It’s interesting to note, too, that Ford’s younger brother, John Ford, produced his own film about Lincoln, “Young Mr. Lincoln,” which starred Henry Fonda in 1939.  “The Heart of Lincoln”, needless to say, is an important find.

The plan is to release this newly found film to the public at some point without sound but with a soundtrack, as the silent films always had.  As a longtime fan of Abraham Lincoln, I’m interested.

At various times through the years news reports have informed us that “lost books of the Bible” have been discovered.  Some of these books give startlingly different details about Jesus or other Bible figures.  One claims that Jesus had a wife and children, and died in obscurity after surviving a botched crucifixion attempt.  Could any of these reports be true?  Are other Bible books missing?

A critical claim about the Bible is made in 2 Timothy 3:16,17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  The fact that Scripture is “breathed out by God” is a strong statement that God wanted us to have this Book.  It’s what we normally call “inspiration of the Bible”.  And what God gave to us He can certainly preserve for future generations.

2 Peter 1:3 adds more important information on this topic: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.”  Peter argued that we have “all things” we need to attain life and godliness.  If there were books of the Bible that somehow went missing for centuries, what do we make of such a claim?

“The word of God is living and active,” Hebrews 4:12 tells us.  The all-powerful God is capable of preserving His Book of truth for as long as the world stands.  In this Book we have much more than the heart of a President; we have the heart and mind of Christ our Savior.  We won’t have to depend on a summer intern to unearth for us messages that the Lord wants all humanity to have.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

The English word “providence” comes from the Latin providentia coming from “pro,” meaning “before” and “video” which means “to see.” So the verb means to “see before.” It refers to foresight or foresightful care. The root word of the English “providence” is the verb “to provide.” I looked up the word “provide” in the NASV…

When Abraham and Isaac were on the way to Moriah so that Abraham could offer Isaac as a burnt offering, Isaac commented that they had the wood and the fire (and a knife!), but where was the animal to be sacrificed? Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:8). The Hebrew verb here translated “provide” is the verb “to see,” which echoes the definition of providence we have seen above. God could see the sacrifice, even if Abraham and Isaac could not. He would provide.

In verse 13, God did provide – without performing any miracle – by causing in some way a ram to get caught in the thicket by his horns. The English verb “to provide” or its related noun “providence” is used in the Bible 58 times. A few Hebrew words are used to translate “provide.” One other I wish to point out is illustrated in Genesis 45:11. Joseph is speaking to his brothers and family in the middle of the famine: “There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.” This verb “provide” (in Hebrew) means “to comprehend, hold, or to sustain.” How appropriate.

In the NT, we see “providence” in Acts 24:2, the lawyer Tertullus speaking to Ananias, the high priest: “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation.” You see this word “providence” denotes the idea of “foresight.” Its related verb is used in 1 Timothy 5:8.

We also see the word “providence” used in Hebrews 11:40, which is appropriate: “God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” The verb translated “provide” here is not used elsewhere in the NT.

Providence is not miracles. Miracles are special acts of God which are indications that a certain man or woman was a spokesperson for God. Nicodemus acknowledged that if Jesus had not been sent from God, He could not perform miracles (John 3:2). That statement should echo in our minds as a response to contemporary “miracle-performers.”

I prayed for a Christian wife at the age of 12, in Hayesville, NC. Throughout high school, I planned to attend Faulkner University and I trusted that God would answer my prayer. He did not answer it at Faulkner. I heard Earl Edwards speak at the Faulkner lectureship and decided that I wanted to earn my Master’s degree under brother Edwards, so I enrolled at FHU. After one year, I still had not met anyone. After another year, I had not met anyone. But at the beginning of the third year, I met Rachel: a young lady from Georgia who had not planned on going anywhere else but Freed-Hardeman. While I cannot say that this was God’s doing in the sense that I cannot point to any specific action on God’s part, it sure seems like He was guiding the process along the way.

Trust God to always do the right thing. It may not involve answering your specific prayer as you want. But you must always trust Him to do the right thing.

Paul Holland

Judges intro

Judges used as a title 2:16-19. Lord raised them up to deliver sinful people out of compassion of God. Usually the stories tell of the Judge’s deliverance not their actual judging. This passage gives us 3 insights into the judge; Theological source of authority and power (Lord), recorded history was primarily salvation didn’t focus on judiciary, their focus was primarily external enemies and not internal tribal strife although there is acknowledgment of its existence throughout the book.

Judges ruled over Israel from Joshua to Samuel, entering into the land until the first king. It is a time of unclear earthly authority over the nation. The people selected as judge all appear to have some “negative” trait that would make them unideal candidates for leadership. Othneil is not an Israelite native, Deborah is a woman, left-handed Ehud is considered “handicapped”, Barak is unmanly, Gideon lacks faith, Jepthah is illegitimate, Samson chases “worldly women”. Their selection was divinely authorized highlighting how God uses who He wants and is selecting them based on a criteria all His own. None of the Judges appear to be special people apart from God’s utilization of them.

Judges describes a people in transitory leadership between strong centralized Prophet/military figure in Moses & Joshua to nationally recognized and divinely selected king in Saul then David. The period detail a nation in crisis steadily going away from God in a situation where collectively people understood who their God was in times of need, but did not follow Him faithfully and abandoned Him when they experienced relatively stable periods in life. The central problem during the period of the Judge’s is that Israel didn’t recognize God as their King and His Law as their rule for life so the book ends with a refrain acknowledging that sentiment. The Israelites failed not because their neighbors were stronger but because they were spiritually weak. The Judges established little or no spiritual/religious change within the people they delivered by the strength of God. The salvation afforded had relatively minuscule impacts on religious restoration. The book never recounts a collective meeting at the Tabernacle for worship or cultic celebration yet God still claims them as His people. This shows the grace afforded through relationship with God. The non-removal of all the people settled in the land that they were instructed to conquer had a devastating effect on the fidelity of the people to God.The book starts with the concept that people did what was evil in God’s eyes and ends with that they did what was good in their eyes. It’s concluding account of Samson has some irony with him loosing his eyesight symbolizing God’s people’s loss of seeing things God’s way. Judges and kings both end with the leaders getting eyes plucked out by enemy and in chains. This similarity of how both periods end shows that despite earthly authority if God’s authority is not honored then our outcome is the same.

The period of the Judges reflects our modern context because in the Church there is no centralized earthly leadership and everyone is doing what’s right in their own eyes which is having a negative religious and social impact. The Judges highlight the importance of godly leadership and is a reminder that God has not given up on His people even when they have forsaken Him. The hard times should cause us to realign with God’s Word and the people who He raises up to direct people back to Him.

10 week series on judges

1. We are in situation we are in due to compromising with Gods commands, but God is faithful and will show mercy through providing a leader to rescue from hard times

Judges 1:28; 2:1-5, 16-23; Deu 20:10-18

1. God has made it clear how we are to destroy these things that will draw us away from Him.
2. Rather than destroy we find a way to profit off what’s unprofitable for us.
3. What we allow to remain in our midst after God instructs us to remove it will eventually destroy us.
4. God leaves obstacles out of our disobedience and as a way for us to prove faith.
5. God will provide the leadership out of bad situations but it is up to the people to follow.

2. Othniel: We are included in God’s people because of faith despite our bloodline.

Judge 3 :8-11; 1:12-15; Joshua 14:6-14; Gen 36:9-11

1. Proper faith allows you to realign who you identify with as family (Esau to Jacob).
2. We can be a faithful inspiration (Caleb) and follow faithful examples.
3. Faith builds faith (Othniel’s previous faith propels to greater act of faith).

3. Ehud: Sometimes 1 person can inspire the rest.

Judges 3:12-30

1. At times you will have to be the one to inspire change.
2. Many know what the problem is but few are willing to address it.
3. Our differences sometimes are what gives us the advantage (left handed man in a right handed world).

4. Deborah / Barack: We need men and women to do God’s work.

Judges 4

1. God utilizes men and women for His work.
2. Allow God to use you and be willing to assist those who’s faith is weak.
3. Understand that you limit your blessings when you seek aid when it’s not needed.
4. We all can play a part From Deborah to Barak to Jael.
5. Singing a song of praise to God and the people that allow God to use them (appreciation for salvation and faithful people who aids in its reception).

5. Gideon: God will do the fighting if we apply the faith

Judges 6:11-15 , 36-40; 7

1. We don’t always start with the faith we grow into.
2. Some times we need reassurance from God, at those times ask for it, it is better to ask for help developing faith than remain induct and do nothing for God.
3. God doesn’t need our help, just wants our participation.

6. Jephthah: Our past is a problem for people not God

Judges 11:1-11, 13-24, 30-31 & 34-40

1. People will judge you based on undesirable worldly standards (usually beyond your control).
2. There is value in knowing history of God’s people.
3. We all come from worldly context, some forced upon us others we revel in and find success. There could be some skills learned from life’s situations that could be beneficial for leading God’s people out of oppressive conditions.
4. We don’t have to barter with God, just need to function in faith.

7. Minor Judges: We all are important even if our story isn’t known

Judges 3:31, 10:1-5, 12:8-15

1. Although story unknown to people, God knows of deeds.
2. All we really need is our name recorded in God’s book.
3. We are not faithful for man’s recognition.
4. None of the Judges knew that their deeds would be recorded in Bible, but if they did what difference would that make; live your life as if your faith was to be recorded for future generations.
   

8. Samson: There is a difference in the source of strength and our action can cause us to lose out on our true strength which is God

Prov 22:6, Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-5, 15:14-19, 16:4-5 & 16-21

1. There is a way to raise up our kids that aligns with God’s Will that will guide them through life.
2. Only God might know initially how He plans to use you, your path might not make sense to anybody from the start.
3. Our weakness can nullify our strength if we allow it to (recognizing triggers Samson’s first wife foreshadowed Delilah).
4. God will strengthen us for victory.
5. Are we aware when we are functioning on our strength, The Lord’s Strength or when the Lord has departed from us?.

9 Micah: Our religion can easily conform to the world if we’re not careful

Judges 17, 18:18-20 & 30-31, Exodus 20:4

1. When we set the rules for worship we can do what we want (make idols, consecrate people).
2. Is God pleased with us because we do a semblance of what He wants?
3. What is our cost to compromise like the Levite did?
4. The size of audience does not validate priest.
5. It doesn’t matter who you have as priest if they are not upholding Law.

10 In those days…. God is our King, Civil war if we don’t respect God we will eventually destroy ourselves

Judges 17:6,7, 18:8, 19:1, 21:25, 19:9-16

1. Our earthly authority is supposed to submit to God’s authority, but often does not due to people seeking a physical representative to rule over them.
2. When people do not respect God they they can’t respect people.
3. When there is no proper regard for God we are not safe amongst our own people.
4. God’s people can and will do what condemns the world (concubine rape & Sodom).
5. Our fighting solves nothing if we are fighting for the wrong reason.

   Femi Osibin

Sometimes when I have chosen a specific text on which to preach, I do not always grasp the significance of it at first reading. Not only do I not preach always from “easy” texts, I intentionally try to preach from all the texts, particularly from the NT. I have a Bible on my desk where I bracket on Monday morning the text which I exposed on Sunday. I’ve done it since 2008; one Bible was for my preaching time in Paris, KY and one I have used since I moved here to Swartz Creek.

Sometimes in our studies, we need to do an in-depth study of specific words. The words which the inspired writers used where words which the Holy Spirit chose. Listen to Paul’s message in this regard from 1 Corinthians 2:9-13:

“just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

It seems to me that the process of inspiration taught in the Bible means that the Spirit penetrated the mind of the writer and used his own background, experiences, and vocabulary in order to reveal the precise message the Holy Spirit wanted to convey. While Jesus spoke Aramaic in His earthly ministry, when Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John recorded that message in the Greek language, the word/s they used were from their own background, but chosen by the Holy Spirit.

To give one example of the importance of a word, we direct you to Luke 20:41-44. In this text, Jesus expands on the text from Psalm 110:1 relative to Who the “Lord” is in the text. The Hebrew text uses two words for “Lord:” the first word is “Jehovah” (Yaweh) while the second word is “Adonai.” The “Adonai” was understood to be the Son of David, the Messiah. In the Greek of the NT, both words are the same (Kurios). The question was, how could David refer to his son as “Adonai?” The only way that could be true was for the “Son of David” to be divine, to be the “Son of God.”

Sometimes our own Bible study needs to go more in-depth in how words and phrases are used in the Word of God. Enjoy going deep! Relative to word studies, I would recommend either Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words or Mounce’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Mounce’s is more recent, but there are times when Vine’s is more biblically accurate.

Paul Holland

When Rachel and I lived in Kentucky, there was an elderly widow in the congregation named Virginia. She has passed away now. But she lived alone and she was very independent. One day she was out mowing her yard on a riding lawn mower and the mower got stuck. So, she proceeded to push the lawn mower out of the ditch! At 88 years old! And she cracked some vertebrae in her spine. That, of course, caused pain. It wasn’t but a few months after that when she was doing something and broke a bone in her shoulder, her clavicle or something (I don’t remember).

Rachel and I were visiting with her and she was complaining about her pain and I just happened to ask her if she was taking her pain medicine. She said, “no.” I said, “why not!?” She said, “I don’t want to get addicted.” I said, “Virginia! You are 88 years old, who cares if you get addicted!”

Well, I was just being funny, but Virginia was concerned about getting addicted and the biggest danger with this type of chemical addiction, is that when something we take affects our minds, then it puts us in a dangerous position when Jesus comes back.

HE IS COMING UNEXPECTEDLY:

Jesus is coming back unexpectedly. He will catch every living person by surprise. That’s why it is imperative that we keep control of our minds as much as possible, even when we are under supervision of a doctor with medications.

MARIJUANA:

What I understand is that the primary mind-altering drug in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol or “THC” for short. Just like when we discussed the difference between wine / alcohol in biblical times versus the alcohol content today… the amount of THC in marijuana in the 1980s was 4%. Ten years ago, the National Institute on Drug Abuse said that confiscated marijuana now has THC levels that average about 15%. The potent mind-altering drug in marijuana has quadrupled in thirty years. In some of that tested, THC has been as high as 30%.

JESUS WARNS US TO KEEP CONTROL OF OUR MINDS – Luke 21:34-36:

In this context, Jesus is discussing the destruction of the world (ver. 35). So Jesus says, “be on your guard.” Jesus warns that our hearts (our “minds”) should not be weighted down with “dissipation” – that’s a loss of energy, a loss of concentration, a loss of focus. In other words, if you are under the influence of marijuana or some other drug, opioids or whatever, and you have lost concentration on glorifying Christ in your thoughts and heart and your actions, then you have sinned against Jesus and you are not ready for heaven!

The bottom line is that addiction has serious negative repercussions. They affect your physical health, your mental health, your financial health, your self-image and your self-esteem, but mostly, it affects your relationship with God. It is for that reason that addictions have to be avoided. But if we find ourselves trapped, we need to back out of it, stop it, and start avoiding those people, places, or atmospheres that contribute to the addiction.

Don’t get addicted to this world; become addicted to Christ and let His life fill your life with joy and happiness.

Paul Holland