A Daily Devotional

[Soldier4Christ]

The Brevity Of Human Life (#19940416)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).

In this unique psalm, Moses is stressing the brevity of even the longest human life with the everlasting nature of God. In the pre-flood world, men were able to live many hundreds of years, but no one ever lived as long as 1000 years. By Moses’ time, the typical life-span was 70 or 80 years (v.10), much the same as today. Moses lived to age 120, but he was twice as old as most of his contemporaries when he finally died (note Numbers 14:29,34; Deuteronomy 34:7).

Moses, therefore, was profoundly impressed with the ephemeral nature of a person’s time on earth. Even if someone had lived a thousand years, this was only a little while in God’s sight, and his life would soon “fly away” (v.10) and be forgotten.

There is nothing in this passage, incidentally, or in II Peter 3:8 (“one day is with the Lord as a thousand years”) to justify the misinterpretation that attributes billions of years to God’s creation week. In context (and one must always be sensitive to the context if he wants to understand any passage of Scripture) neither Moses nor Peter were referring to the creation week at all. Moses was stressing the brevity of human life, even that of the antediluvians, while Peter was rebuking the latter-day uniformitarians who would come denying the catastrophic effects of the great flood. It is too bad that so many Christians are willing to distort Scripture like this in order to accommodate the imaginary ages of evolution.

The message we should really get from this Mosaic observation is the application He Himself makes. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12)! HMM

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Concerning Sin (#19940417)
by John L. Groenlund, Th.D.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23,24).

Sin is a very unpopular subject, concerning which many misconceptions abound. Liberalism soft-pedals sin; perhaps a mistake, they say, or a primitive hangover. To another group, sin is an error of the mind to be overcome by good thoughts. The subject of sin is strictly forbidden.

On the other hand, the Bible clearly teaches that man was created in the image of God, became a sinner through Adam’s fall, and is, therefore, lost at birth. Only through regeneration, or rebirth, by accepting Christ as Savior, can sin be overcome and righteous living take place. The word “sin” must best be understood by printing it as “sIn,” an inherited nature producing “I” sins—sins of pride and lust. Thankfully, all sin can be forgiven, once confessed ( I John 1:9).

David, the great Israelite king and psalmist, describes his misery from unconfessed sin: “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me” (Psalm 32:3,4). “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (v.5). In David’s day, Christ had not yet died on the cross for sin, but David had experienced forgiveness just like a born again Christian whose sin is no longer charged to his account. After confessing his sin and receiving forgiveness, David worshiped God: “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” (v.2), concluding with the exhortation: “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (v.11). JLG

[Soldier4Christ]

The Eternal Earth (#19940418)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He hath established for ever” (Psalm 78:69).

There are a number of passages in the Bible which state unequivocally that the earth, in some form, is going to continue eternally. “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

However, this present earth and its atmospheric heavens must first be purged of all the age-long effects of sin and the curse, which now affect the very elements (or “dust of the earth”). Therefore, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

Evidently, this fiery cataclysm is not an annihilation of the earth and its atmosphere, but rather a great exchange of energies. The earth’s very elements will probably be converted into sound and heat energies by mass-energy nuclear conversion processes, in order to burn out the great fossil beds and all other relics of sin and the curse. Then, however, God will reverse the process, converting these and other energies back into matter, thus “renewing” the primeval earth, which originally had been “very good” (Genesis 1:31). “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:13).

It is this new earth (that is, the earth made new) which will then continue forever. “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, So shall your seed and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22). “Because the (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). HMM

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The Carnal Mind And Death (#19940419)
by John Morris, Ph.D.

“To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:6,7).

This passage defines for us both the carnal mind and the spiritual mind, not with formal definitions, but by giving equivalent terms.

First the carnal mind is identified as being “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7), a rampant disregard for God’s law. Furthermore, the carnal mind is equated with death, specifically eternal, spiritual death. A physically living person may have a carnal mind, bringing with it a spiritual deadness and eternal doom. This also serves us as a working definition of death—being hostile toward God, or minding the things of the flesh. “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (vv.8,9).

Next, we see that the spiritual mind is “life and peace” (v.6)—a supreme preference for God and subjection to His will. This state not only leads to eternal life but is life, along with peace, even now. There can be no peace for the carnally minded.

Some would wrongly teach that the physical death of the unbeliever leads to the total annihilation of his body, soul, and spirit. However, this passage teaches that the minding of “the things of the flesh” (v.5) does not only lead to ultimate physical death, but is death right now. Death is not the extinction of being, but the alienation of that being from Christ. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (v.13). “If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (v.10). JDM

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Victory Over Worry (#19940420)
by John L. Groenlund, Th.D.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).

God is anxious to impress upon Christians not to worry, but to trust in Him. High-tension living makes worrying a prevalent factor in our day. It has been calculated that seventy percent of our worries consist of things that will never happen or could not be changed by all the worry in the world. Twenty-two percent are petty worries or needless health worries, while eight percent can qualify as legitimate worries. Constant worry is disastrous. Doctors recognize that worry can cause high blood pressure, heart trouble, ulcers, general ill health, and premature aging.

The Savior left us a criterion to evaluate our worrying when He said, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with . . . (the) cares of this life” (Luke 21:34). If we are naturally people who worry, why not reverse our attitudes and trust God implicitly? Let us acknowledge our worry to God and trust Him to give us victory.

We can go to the throne of grace in heaven and leave life’s burdens there. Our text exhorts us “to be (anxious) for nothing.” God knows about all the pressures thrust upon the Christian by the world, the flesh, and the devil. In Matthew 6:25, the emphasis is “Take no thought. . . .” How many times Christians have found this verse a veritable rock of the soul. It is not foolish advice not to worry; it is the counsel of God! Instead of worry, we need to dwell on our blessings and in everything give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18). Let us commit our thoughts and ways toward victorious living and receive “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” JLG

[Soldier4Christ]

Shine On Us (#19940421)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee” (Numbers 6:25).

This request is part of the well-known Mosaic benediction for the children of Israel (Numbers 6:24–27). The first occurrence in verb form of the word “shine” is in this verse although in the noun form, translated as “light,” it appears in the third verse of the Bible when God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

True light comes only from God, since “God is light” (I John 1:5). As the world depends on the sunshine for its physical life, so we continually must receive the Son’s shining in our hearts to sustain our spiritual life.

It is noteworthy that the prayer of our text occurs seven other times in the Scriptures. These are as follows:

“Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me for thy mercies’ sake” (Psalm 31:16); “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us. Selah” (Psalm 67:1); “Turn us again, O LORD God of Hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (Psalm 80:19, also vv.3,7); “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes” (Psalm 119:135); “O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the LORD’S sake” (Daniel 9:17).

Since God in His omnipotence dwells “in the light which no man can approach unto” (I Timothy 6:16), He shines on us for salvation, spiritual illumination, and daily guidance only through His Son, the word made flesh, for “in Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). HMM

[Soldier4Christ]

The Increase Is Of God (#19940422)
by Kenneth B. Cumming, Ph.D.

“For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things” (Zechariah 8:12).

Zechariah prophetically looked ahead to the restoration of the people to Israel after the Babylonian captivity ceased. God had punished the people because (1) Zedekiah refused God’s word and broke his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (II Chronicles 36:12,13); (2) the priests and people practiced heathen customs (II Chronicles 36:14–16); and (3) the people hadn’t kept the sabbatical year (II Chronicles 36:21). In spite of all this, He would eventually allow a remnant to “possess all these things.”

Part of “these things” included the agricultural yield of the land. However, that yield is a gift of God. It comprises good seed, bearing vines, fertile soil, and appropriate rains; but given all these things, there is still God’s will regarding the increase. In Genesis 26:12 we see Isaac’s harvest being blessed by God. He recognized that God controlled these things.

A remarkable behavior of nature is the response of seeds and plants to the right stimuli of climate and season. The internal messages of growth and development are directed by the conditions of moisture, temperature, nutrients, and God’s willingness. Man can prosper in a land and truly possess it, only as the land releases its providence to the tiller.

Read the controlling sequence of Leviticus 26:3,4,9: “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. . . . For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful.” KBC

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Naming Names (#19940423)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (II Timothy 2:17,18).

Many Christians decry the citing of actual names of those Christian leaders who teach heretical doctrines, saying that such an act is “unloving.” Paul, however, considered it an important evidence of true love to warn against those who would “overthrow the faith of some” realizing that generalities would be useless.

Not only did Hymenaeus and Philetus make Paul’s list, but so did Demas (II Timothy 4:10), Alexander the coppersmith (II Timothy 4:14), the Cretians (Titus 1:12), another Alexander (I Timothy 1:20), and even Peter (Galatians 2:11–14) when he began to teach legalism. Likewise, the apostle John warned against Diotrephes (III John 9) and the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6).

On the other hand, Paul was much more generous with name recognition when he was giving out commendations (e.g., Romans 16:1–15; Colossians 4:7–17). We undoubtedly need to follow his example in appreciating by name those who are faithful in teaching and living the truth.

Likewise, we need to be ready and willing to name those individuals, churches, schools, and other organizations that are denying Biblical inerrant authority, compromising the doctrine of special creation, requiring humanistic works for salvation, or bringing in other heretical doctrines. We obviously need to be sure of our facts when we do this and also to bring such charges only if motivated by genuine concern for those apt to be led astray if we don’t speak out. But then we must, indeed, “mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). HMM

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The Sin Unto Death (#19940424)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (I John 5:16).

The “sin unto death” is, in context, a sin committed by a Christian “brother,” not an unbeliever, and so is not the so-called “unforgivable sin,” the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Christ said the latter sin cannot be forgiven, “neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:32). It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict unbelievers “of sin, because they believe not on me” (John 16:9). If a person irrevocably rejects Christ, even after he fully understands the evidences of His deity, His substitutionary death with its offer of salvation, and the awful consequences of eternity without Him, then he “hast done despite to the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29). In effect, he has put his faith in Satan rather than Christ, and there is nothing more that God’s Holy Spirit can—or will—do. This is the truly unforgivable sin.

The Christian can persist in some known sin, though not the sin of total unbelief or willful apostasy; a true Christian will not commit that kind of sin. If he deliberately continues to practice ungodliness in life or doctrine, however, refusing to repent, not even responding to God’s chastening discipline (note Hebrews 12:5–11), then the only recourse of the Lord may be to send physical death, although not eternal spiritual death, for such a person is delivered “to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (I Corinthians 5:5).

This is a fearful prospect even for the believer, and should be a sober warning against persistence in any known sin. “He shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:15). HMM

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Faith's Test (#19940425)
by Connie J. Horn

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

When Abraham took his son Isaac to Mt. Moriah to be sacrificed, his testimony in the midst of the trial was “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt-offering” (Genesis 22:, and after this faithful saying became sight, Abraham called the place “Jehovah-Jireh” or “Jehovah will see to it” (Genesis 22:14).

Trials are a constant reminder in our lives of sin’s temporary intrusion into God’s perfect universe, but at the same time, they are a consistent exercise that causes us to reaffirm, as Abraham did, and as Job did in our text verse, that God is in control, and though we suffer momentarily, “death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:54).

The trying of our faith “worketh patience” (James 1:3) and patience is cheerful waiting or hopeful endurance. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope. . . . But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:22–25).

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen (our trials and circumstances), but at the things which are not seen” (II Corinthians 4:17,18). “Though now for a season if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith . . . might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love” (I Peter 1:6–8). CJH

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A Matter Of Time (#19940426)
by Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:16).

Because of the evil day that is upon us, it is imperative that the Christian buys up (“redeems”) the time effectively for Christ. Whether we use our time selfishly or for the Lord and His work is up to us. Someone has said that the mosquito buys up time for self and gets swatted; the bee buys up time for others and gets praised. Our lives can be so filled with self that we have little time to give to the Lord. Charles Haddon Spurgeon liked to compare time to banking. He said, “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is cash, so spend it wisely!” The psalmist admonished us to “remember how short (our) time is” (Psalm 89:47), and “we spend our years as a tale that is told” (Psalm 90:9).

Unbelievers even think that they have all the time in the world to accept Christ. As Paul, on the occasion of his own trial, was speaking to Felix concerning “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” Felix trembled, and answered, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). As far as we know, he was never saved, because he kept putting off his decision. He did not use the time wisely to receive Christ.

As far as salvation and time is concerned, the Bible states it clearly, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Those who say they will accept Christ at twelve usually die at eleven. We have no guarantee of tomorrow, so we had best make our present count for eternity! As the old axiom goes, we have “only one life, t’will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” NPS

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Never Alone (#19940427)
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).

There may be more people alive today than ever before, but there are also more lonely people today than ever before—divorced spouses, homeless street people, many elderly parents and, perhaps saddest of all, orphaned or abandoned children. These and many others are still alone, even in a crowded world.

No one, though, was ever so alone as the Lord Jesus on the cross. “Behold, the hour cometh,” He had said, “yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32). Then, only a few hours later, as He hung on the cross, even His heavenly Father had to leave Him, and He cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He died alone, bearing the burden of all the sin of all the world on His soul.

But because He suffered alone, no one else need ever be alone again. “Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul, suffering alone in a Roman dungeon shortly before His execution, could still say: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (II Timothy 4:17). John the beloved, old and imprisoned alone on the tiny isle of Patmos, nevertheless “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10) and then saw the Lord in all His glory. So it has always been with those who know the Lord, for He is there, even when all others have forsaken them, and He understands. He has already been there ahead of us, “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15,16). HMM

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Discipleship—staying On (#19940428)
by Kenneth B. Cumming, Ph.D.

“And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover” (Matthew 26:19).

Discipleship involves self denial, cross-bearing, setting priorities, and fruitfulness. And it includes, as in the study verse, staying on task, “(doing) as Jesus had appointed them.” How easy it is to get off track doing good but irrelevant things. Jesus recognized that His time was at hand (v.18), and He had a schedule to keep—one set from eternity. Now He asked for assistance in keeping the schedule, and His disciples were to handle the physical preparations for the Passover celebration.

Passover was first held on the fourteenth day of the first month (approximately April) of the Jewish year. It commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, in particular the tenth plague on the Egyptians (Exodus 12:29,30) which brought death to the firstborn. This plague was avoided by the Israelites by the activity of sacrificing a lamb on the fourteenth day and spreading its blood on the two side posts and lintel of the door of each house. The Lord passed over the homes with the blood “covering,” and cursed the Egyptian homes with death to the firstborn.

In like manner, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb whose blood was shed to save all those who would confess Him as the Son of God and accept His being raised from the dead by God (Romans 10:9). In going to the cross, Jesus gave the best example of staying on task—“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38).

May we, with the apostle Paul, be able to say at life’s end, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (II Timothy 4:7,8). KBC

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Solomon's Perspective (#19940429)
by Patrick C. Marks, M.A.

“Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion” (Ecclesiastes 3:22).

So often we find ourselves working like slaves to the master of material possessions. What we think we need to live the better life many times can only be achieved by paying a heavy price in time and effort. And what good is a big house and a big car if we cannot spare the time to enjoy it or if we neglect more important matters? “This also is vanity and vexation of spirit” (2:26).

Solomon points out the seeming emptiness of life and the unexplainable paradoxes that characterize the lives of rich and poor, good and bad. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (9:11). Solomon makes us take a hard look at the realities of life. In his wisdom, he knew that in man’s limited understanding, life does seem meaningless. However, he gives us perspectives that are necessary to live every day as a gift from God. “Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” (7:16). In other words, the pursuit of riches and things is a life that exaggerates a superficial outward appearance.

The pursuits of our lives should be balanced, seeking what we need. Our only exaggeration should be the effort we give to that which God has given us to do, while at the same time enjoying the strength He gives us. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (9:10). And then, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). PCM

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Jonah And Jesus (#19940430)
by Paul G. Humber, M.S.

“And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

Jesus knew that he would overcome death (cf. Luke 18:31–33; 24:45–47), and Jonah served as an illustration. He said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39,40). Jonah was “vomited out . . . upon the dry land,” as our text says, and Jesus came forth from the mouth of a tomb.

Scoffers deny the reality of Jonah’s remarkable deliverance and Jesus’ triumphant resurrection. At the same time, they affirm that all the complexity of life and the order of the universe came into being without governance or design.

Jonah, a type of the Greatest Prophet, was sent on a mission. So was the Lord Jesus (cf. John 3:16). Each preached repentance, and each prayed in distress (Jonah 2 and Mark 14:32–39). Jonah was displeased with God’s compassion toward his enemies. The Lord Jesus, however, became the embodiment of God’s compassion toward us. The lesser prophet was concerned for a mere, physical vine (Jonah 4:8,9), but the Lord of glory was concerned for people who could not “discern between their right hand and their left hand” (Jonah 4:11). His aim was and is to engraft people into the true vine, Himself (John 15:1). Great was, and is, His love for people!

Nineveh repented at the preaching of the lesser prophet, and Jonah had no rest until he rested in the Lord’s will. The Lord Jesus, however, calls to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). PGH