Transformer - 04/26/2015

Going to the House of God

One vision that Isaiah (Chapter 2) saw “concerning Judah and Jerusalem” related to a time when many people would be going to the house of God. It speaks of a time known as “the last days;” a time when “all the nations will stream to” the mountain on which the house of God would dwell. Their excitement, their willingness to learn of and apply God’s way to their life and to take this message of God to the world, has application to us today.

Isaiah prophesied that the people would say, “Come, let us go up…” (2:3). It signifies a time when people wanted to make a trip to the temple of God. They were inviting people to “come” with them to “the house of God.”

Isaiah (2:3) also prophesied there would be several things that would happen either while these people are at this temple or what will “go forth” from this house. One is that the people will be taught by God. Second, these people will be taught the ways of God for the purpose of living in these ways. Thirdly, the “law” or “the word of the Lord” will go forth from this place.

As we look at this passage for the principles we can apply to our life today, it seems the first thing we can learn is the attitude these people had about “going” to the house of the Lord. There seems to be some enthusiasm in their voice as they are saying, “Come.” They were anticipating learning some things they could apply to their life and they want others to learn as well.

As we think about our life, if we have this type of attitude, then there will be this eagerness to assemble with the group of people who make up the church. There will be this same type of enthusiasm for others to come. We will arrange our schedules so that there is the least amount of conflict when it is time to assemble. When we are making plans for a trip, we will make every effort to be with God’s people regardless of where we are going to be traveling. If this means that we have to delay our trip so that we can go to the house of God, then we will not feel that we have been inconvenienced.

A second principle we can learn from this ancient prophet and his words to Israel is that going to the house of the Lord means that we will be learning God’s ways. The teaching which is presented will be focused on what are God’s ways. What does God say about a given subject? What does He want us to learn?

In order for us to learn, there must obviously be teaching, but there also has to be the willingness to learn. We need to come to the assembly with the idea that we are going to learn something. Those who are presenting “the lesson” need to have the mindset that they want their listeners to learn something. What we should want to learn and what teachers should want to teach is God’s ways.

These ancient people who wanted to go to the house of God wanted to live the way God wanted them to live. They wanted to learn so they could walk in God’s paths. Our attitude should be the same today. We should want to go to church to learn so that we can make application to our life. We should have the attitude that we want to “walk in God’s paths.”

The third principle we can learn from this ancient prophet is that the “word of the Lord” would go forth from this house of God. It was not something that was to be taught only in the confines of the building, but rather it was something which was to be proclaimed and taught to the masses.

When we leave the church building we should be taking this same message to the people in our community. The best way for it to be communicated to our community is for each member to be telling those with whom they are associated. Also, as a group we should be collectively sending the message of the Lord to the community in whatever means is available.

Going to church should be an exciting time, filled with opportunities to learn God’s ways. When we leave we have the determination to apply what we have learned and to tell it to others. - cgm

Thinking on the Word…

Remain Unmarried or Remain Married - 1 Corinthians 7:8-11

These four verses deal with specific situations in Paul’s discussion concerning marriage as the answer to sexual immorality. The first is to those who are “unmarried” and the second is to “the married.”

The term “unmarried” spawns a lot of discussion concerning its definition. Some say it deals with the general term of those who have never married; such as, bachelors or bachelorettes. Others hold that it means a man whose wife has died (or widowers). The exact meaning is not necessary in order for Paul to give his advise to these type of people, namely for them to remain “unmarried” because of the “present distress” (v.26). However, if they are not able to maintain “self-control” over their sexual desires, then they are to “marry” rather than “burn.”

Some think the term “burn” has to do with the consequences of living a wicked life here on earth, and that may well be the meaning. However, it seems more likely the meaning has to do with the sexual passions within a person. Paul is saying that to be married and not to have to deal with controlling these sexual desires would be better than remaining “unmarried” and having a constant struggle.

In the second situation Paul deals with the married person and whether or not they are allowed to leave or to divorce the other party. As Paul begins, he says that his instructions came from the Lord and thus he summarizes what the Lord taught on the matter.

Paul applies what the Lord taught to the current situation with a parenthetical statement in the middle. If we eliminate for a moment the statement set off by parentheses we have, “the wife should not leave her husband … and that the husband should not send his wife away.” This is the command the Lord wants us to obey. The statement in the middle tells us what to do if this rule is not followed.

What we need to observe is that Paul is saying divorce is not something that should happen, but if it does, then there are only two possibilities; “remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband.” This may be hard to accept in our society, but it was equally hard to accept in Paul’s day. Nonetheless, it is what the Lord commanded. The Lord “hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16), even today. - cgm

Words of Wisdom

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” - Proverbs 13:22

The first observation that we must make about this proverb is that it says, “a good man” and not a “wealthy man.” Some may think the inheritance is money or possessions because of the common use of the word inheritance, or because it is related to the second part of the proverb. But this does not always have to be the case.

There could be several things a person’s grandchildren would inherit that would not be related to possessions or money. One would be a good name or reputation. Another would be a good work ethic. Still, another would be a godly standard of living.

If a man leaves to his grandchildren a godly standard of living, then more than likely the grandfather has instilled that standard into his children strongly enough that they are willing to pass it on to their children. A godly standard of living is something that must be taught from one generation to another.

If a man leaves to his grandchildren a good work ethic, then again he has taught his own children to have a good work ethic and they have passed it on to their children. In some cases, the grandchildren may have an opportunity to see their grandfather’s actions while he is still working at his profession.

If a man leaves to his grandchildren a good name or reputation, then once again he has impressed his own children that their name and reputation is something of value and thus they have passed it on to their own children. Everyone will have a reputation, but having a good reputation is something valuable to pass on to future generations.

Acquiring a vast amount of wealth in terms of money and/or possessions, is a great thing to leave to one’s grandchildren. But if this is all that is left to them, have we really left them with something of value? Yes! But not the most valuable. - cgm