“Happy New Year!”

 “Happy New Year!”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

[Below is an acrostic lesson where we take the letters in “Happy New Year” to remind us of spiritual truths we need to learn and apply in 2025! God bless you in the new year!             - Jarrod]

 

H (Home) - May our homes be filled with love (Col. 3:19; Titus 4), and may we guide our children in the path of righteousness in 2025.

A (Always) - God, through Peter, said, “Be ready always to give an answer…” (II Pet. 3:15). Let us be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” as well (I Cor. 15:58). We have much to do for the Lord this year; let’s get busy!

P (Perseverance) - Perseverance is a necessity if we are to finish our race. Paul’s life is a prime example of what it means to persevere (Phil. 4:11-13). May we have our eyes on the goal this year (Col. 3:1-3)!

P (Persecution) - Face persecution the way godly men and women did in Bible days (Heb. 11:32-40). The apostle said that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus “shall be persecuted” (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus said those who would suffer would be called “blessed” (Matt. 5:10-12).

Y (Youth) – Young people, give to God the strength of your youth. One’s youth is the time to remember God, rejoice in the Lord, and serve Him (Ecc. 11:9-12:1). Remember to “let no one despise thy youth; but be thou an example to the believers …” (I Tim. 4:12).

N (Nothing) - Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39). Throughout this year, when we fall, let us return to the Lord in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; I Jn. 1:9). He will forgive our sins because He loves us and wants us to be with Him in Heaven. This unwavering love of God is our constant source of comfort and security.

E (Example) - Be a righteous example before others. Christians have this responsibility, whether young or old (I Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:2-8). Remember, our “works” will follow us (Rev. 14:13).

W (Wisdom) - Wisdom is an attribute we need to acquire at all costs (Prov. 23:23)! It can only be obtained by spending time in God’s word and then actively applying it! (Remember, wisdom is the application of knowledge!) Make 2025 the year that we heed the words of Solomon and “get wisdom” (Prov. 4:5, 7-13)!

Y (Yearn) - As we remember the past year, are we still yearning to go to Heaven? Let this drive and determination dwell within our hearts. This life is not the “be-all and end-all”! We are strangers and pilgrims in this world (I Pet. 2:9). Therefore, let us yearn and actively seek that eternal home - Heaven (Heb. 11:13-16)!

E (Exalt) - Exalt God and be faithful to Him this year! God wants those ready and willing to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). He wants folks whose faithfulness is seen in their words and deeds when we are before men or alone (Col. 3:17). Let us reverently exalt our King, worship Him faithfully, and bring others to Him in 2025!

A (Active) - A new year brings with it certain responsibilities. Among those that demand our highest priority is to be active in the Lord’s service. There is no room in God’s army for lazy folks! He needs active soldiers (II Tim. 2:3-4), “workmen” (II Tim. 2:15) who are ready to live for Him every day of this new year! Remember, serving God is a joyous privilege that brings fulfillment and purpose to our lives.

R (Rejoice) - The Christian can rejoice because his name is written in Heaven! In whatever state we may be, we ought to say as Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). No, circumstances in the coming year will not always be pleasant, but we can still have joy! This is a result of our relationship with Christ — we belong to Him! Let this joy of belonging to Christ uplift us and fill us with hope during 2025.

Christmas – Separating Truth From Fiction

 Christmas – Separating Truth From Fiction

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

Every December, folks the world over engage in perpetuating a myth. This myth is the so-called “Christmas Story.” This myth says that Jesus Christ was born on December 25^th to a virgin named Mary and her husband, Joseph. They tried to get a room in Bethlehem, but there was no room for them in the inn. Thus, she had her baby in a stable and laid him in a manger. Soon after, three wise men and some shepherds, who had been following a special star, appeared to worship the Christ-child. Jesus came to bring peace to the nations. Therefore, all of humanity needs to stop on December 25^th to worship God and remember the birth of the Christ-child. Honoring Him can include singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, offering a prayer, or any religiously-minded thing one would like to do in His honor.

            The above paragraph, while containing some basic facts, also includes elements that are not biblically accurate. For instance, the fact that Jesus was born into this world is true (Matt. 1; Lk. 2). His mother was a virgin named Mary (Isa. 7:14; Lk. 1:26-35), and she was married to a man named Joseph (Matt. 1:18; Lk. 1:27). Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days when Rome ruled the world (Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1-7), and He would eventually die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29). Other elements in the paragraph are not right and It is crucial for us to separate truth from the myths that have been perpetuated over the years.

            The myth begins with the details beyond this fundamental truth of Christ’s birth. Sadly, many have fallen for this fantasy. What do I mean by “myth” and “fantasy”? Let us look closely at what men call the “Christmas story” and see what myths are told today. It is our responsibility as believers to discern truth from myth and to ensure that our understanding of the Christmas story is rooted in biblical accuracy.

Myth #1: Calling The Event Of Christ’s Birth The “Christmas Story.”

            TRUTH: “Christmas” is an Old English word that means “The Mass of Christ.” It had its beginnings not with the Bible but with the Catholic church. Looking back into history, we find that “there is no month of the year not assigned by some writer as that of Christ’s birth.”^[1] Historical studies also show that the birth of Christ was not celebrated until the 3^rd or 4^th century.^[2] In other words, this celebration did not originate in the New Testament! Celebrating Christ’s birthday was not taught nor practiced by the apostles. It began centuries after the apostles died.

            The Catholic church decided to celebrate a birthday for Christ on December 25^th. This decision was made by Liberius, a bishop in the Catholic church (considered by Catholics to be one of the early Catholic popes), who ordered December 25^th to be adopted as the date for the celebration of the birth of Christ in the year 354 A.D. The choice of this date was influenced by the fact that December 25^th was already a festive day for the sun god Mithra and appealed to the Christians as an appropriate date to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the ‘Light of the World.’^{[3], [4]}

Myth #2: Jesus Was Born On December 25^th.

            TRUTH: The exact day of Christ’s birth was never revealed by God. As we saw above, the Roman Catholics declared December 25^th as Christ’s birthday. However, when studying Scripture, the only clue we are given concerning a time of year for the Lord’s birth is the record Luke gives us when he speaks of the time of taxing or census that the Romans did, as well as the fact that the shepherds were in the fields in this time of year (Lk. 2:1-8). Based on these facts, some have conjectured that Christ’s birth was in the spring rather than December. Nevertheless, anyone who wishes to state with any certainty what day Christ was born is perpetuating a myth. God never revealed this aspect of Christ’s life on earth (Deut. 29:29; I Pet. 4:11).

Myth #3: The Shepherds Followed A Star To Find Jesus.

            Some teach us that all parties interested in finding Christ followed a star to find Jesus the night He was born.

            TRUTH: The shepherds were not even looking for the Messiah when they were told Christ was born “in the city of David.” They were busy watching their flock. The angels said that to find the Messiah, they needed to find a baby lying in a manger and “wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk. 2:11-12). After this visit from the angels, the shepherds went to find the Christ and found Him as the angel had said (Lk. 2:15-17). The shepherds, though, never followed a star to find the Lord.

Myth #4: The Wise Men Saw Jesus On The Night He Was Born.

            Generally, on any “Christmas Card,” T.V. ad, billboard, etc., one sees in December, the “Nativity scene” is the same. They will depict the shepherds and wise men together visiting the Lord Jesus on the night of His birth.

            TRUTH: The shepherds were there the night of Christ’s birth (Lk. 2:8-17). The wise men, however, were not present that night. The Bible reveals that the wise men were not present until some time after His birth.

            Just like the exact date of Christ’s birth, the actual day the wise men visited Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is unknown. What we know is that these wise men followed a star to find the Messiah (Matt. 2:2). However, they went to Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1). When they went to Jerusalem and inquired about the “King of the Jews,” they met Herod who had interest about His birth – until he perceived the “threat” from a King (Matt. 2:2-4)! The wise men and scribes told Herod about the prophecy of a coming Messiah, and then the wise men told Herod when they had first seen the star in the sky (Matt. 2:7).

            Further evidence of these wise men not arriving on the exact day of Christ’s birth is seen when we find the wise men going to Bethlehem and following the star to the “house” where Christ and His parents were (Matt. 2:11). Note these folks were not with the animals anymore. Jesus was not lying in a manger or feed trough. They were in a house in Bethlehem. Chronologically, Joseph and Mary had already taken Jesus to Jerusalem by this time and had already seen Simeon and Anna (Lk. 2:22-38). Thus, he is older than forty days (Lev. 12:2-6). Men like brother J.W. McGarvey have suggested that six months had elapsed since the star had appeared.^[5] Another reason for this explanation is due to the nature of Herod’s edict when he commanded baby boys “two years old and under” be killed (Matt. 2:16). If the wise men were present the night of Christ’s birth, all that was necessary was for Herod to kill all the newborns. For Herod to pass such an edict means the wise men must have arrived later than His birth to worship Christ (Matt. 2:2).

Myth #5: There Were Three Wise Men.

            TRUTH: This is perhaps the most well-known and universally accepted myth surrounding the birth of Christ. Folks read about the three gifts the wise men brought (gold, frankincense, myrrh) and assume that only three men were present (Matt. 2:11). Some have gone so far as to name the wise men who visited Christ! Again, their names are unknown in the Bible. It is a pretty broad assumption to conclude that Jesus receiving three kinds of gifts means only three wise men were present! The only thing we know is that there was a plurality of wise men who came to worship Jesus at Bethlehem (Matt. 2:2, 11).

Myth #6: Jesus Came To Bring World Peace.

            When the shepherds saw the angels, they heard these words of exaltation and praise: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk. 2:14). Was this a declaration that Christ came to bring peace between nations? If it is, then Christ has failed miserably at this work! Furthermore, Christ said, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). So, which is it? Did He come to bring peace, as the angels said, or to bring a sword, as He said?

            TRUTH: These statements are not contradictory. The peace under discussion was not peace between men but between God and man. Ephesians 2:15 declares Christ made peace when He broke down the “middle wall of partition.” The peace of Luke 2 was not promised to be seen in physical nations, but it is enjoyed on a spiritual level. Yes, peaceful coexistence is possible between men and nations (Col. 3:11; Rom. 12:18). However, this happens when we are at peace with God first! This is what Christ came to establish, not necessarily peace between nations of men.

Myth #7: Christ Wants Us To Celebrate His Birthday.

            To suggest that Christ does not want His birthday celebrated is almost “anathema” in some circles. Yet, there is nowhere in Scripture where Christ or the apostles stated or implied that Christ’s birthday is to be celebrated.

            TRUTH: All the things necessary for pleasing God today have been revealed in Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; 1 Pet. 4:11; etc.). A simple perusal of Scripture will show that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is what the New Testament continually emphasizes. Seeing that Christians are people who act according to what God has revealed (I Pet. 4:11), then we need to reject any teaching or practice that has not been revealed in Scripture (Deut. 29:29). The day of Christ’s birth, a need for celebrating such, etc., are things which God has not revealed. Therefore, let us stop perpetuating these myths!

Myth #8: Mary Is A Perpetual Virgin.

            While we note the Catholic origins and various myths behind a religious observance of the “Christmas Story,” we must also mention the false doctrine related to Christ’s birth, where some say that Mary was a perpetual virgin. Yes, many deny Mary had any other children after Jesus.

            TRUTH: Mary did not remain a virgin. She had several more children after her first-born Son, Jesus (Lk. 2:7), was born.

            Matthew 13:55-56 records an occasion when the people listening to Him were “astonished” (Matt. 13:54). At this, they asked, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” Note that in this short section, the people named four brothers Christ had and spoke of Him having a plurality of sisters! Matthew 12:46 also speaks of Christ’s mother and brothers.

            No, Mary was not a “perpetual virgin.” She had several other children, in addition to her eldest, Jesus.

 

Conclusion

            Indeed, we could name other myths associated with the birth of Christ. Yet, I hope these will help open our eyes to the truth. I write these things not to diminish the glory, beauty, and truth concerning Christ’s birth. Instead, I have written to help us put things in perspective. Let us be satisfied with what God has said and not delve into areas where God has been silent (Deut. 29:29; Col. 3:17; I Pet. 4:11)!

            The birth of Christ takes its place as the most extraordinary event in mankind’s history. Think about it: The birth of Christ has touched the lives of men in so many ways that we even keep time on our calendar based on His birth! Yet, we need to understand that the birth of Christ means nothing if He did not die on the cross! If our Lord had died a “natural death,” if He had died of “old age and complications,” then His birth would have meant nothing. It is because of our Lord’s sacrificial death on the cross that His birth has meaning. As Jesus stood falsely accused before Pilate, facing an unjust and cruel death at the hands of sinners, He said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice” (Jn. 18:36). The angels and men of earth celebrated His birth because of what He was going to do, i.e. die as a sacrifice for men, and bring salvation to all (Lk. 2:28-35, 36-38). Even if men did not completely understand this at the time (Matt. 16:21-22), this was the purpose of celebrating His birth by the angels. The “peace,” the “goodwill,” etc. (Lk. 2:14) is realized by those who are Christians! Since this is true, we find repeated emphasis in the New Testament not upon Christ’s birth but on His death for all mankind. Remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what is revealed and emphasized in the Scriptures (Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:24-25; Rom. 6:3-6, 16-18; etc.), but observing His birth religiously (on December 25^th, or any day of the year) is not!

 

“Ruth Didn’t Know!”

 “Ruth Didn’t Know!”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

I am sure most Bible students are familiar with Ruth, the Moabitess who was widowed but followed her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem to live. Once there, she met and married Naomi’s kinsman, Boaz. To their union came Obed, and in time, she became the great-grandmother of King David. Having read the book, it is easy for us to focus on Ruth being David’s great-grandmother and all that this would imply in God’s plan for man’s salvation and gloss over some essential truths in her life.

            What makes this good lady stand out in my mind is her conscientious, considerate, and sacrificing attitude. Unlike us who have the benefit of reading the book and knowing it turns out well, Ruth, like all of us, faced a life full of uncertainties daily (Matt. 6:34). She didn’t know what the outcome of her life would be, yet she displayed an attitude that continues to benefit future generations. She “being dead yet speaketh” (Heb. 11:4)!

            The first time we read anything of substance about Ruth was after she became a widow. When Naomi wanted to go back to Bethlehem, Ruth begged to accompany her mother-in-law (v. 7-18) when all that was promised to her was a life of poverty, living among strangers, speaking a foreign language, worshiping a foreign God, and no promise of ever returning to Moab. (So far as the book of Ruth is concerned, she never returned to see her family.) Such faithfulness to a mother-in-law tells me just what kind of woman Naomi was and how she conducted herself among her daughters-in-law during her years in Moab (Ruth 1:1-5)!

            Such people as Ruth serve as good examples for the rest of us (Rom. 15:4). Just as she faced significant hardships in her life, so also it happens today. Isn’t this the real challenge of being faithful to God? It is easy to be faithful to God when things are going well and we are not facing the pitfalls, challenges, temptations, and hard choices. It is much harder when we are in the midst of enduring temptations, hardships, and challenges! It is at this time that we need to remember Ruth’s example of faithfulness. We would do well to remember the words of Ruth’s great-grandson: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4)!

            Like Ruth, we too face an uncertain future (Prov. 27:1). However, choosing to be faithful to God through it all brings true blessedness (Rev. 2:10; I Cor. 15:58; I Cor. 16:13-14; Matt. 24:13). Ruth’s unwavering faith in the midst of uncertainty is a powerful example for us all.

Faith And Works In Hebrews 11

 Faith And Works In Hebrews 11

Jarrod M. Jacobs

Faith                                                                                                  Works

Abel (v. 4)	Offered a more excellent sacrifice
Enoch (v. 5)	Pleased God
Noah (v. 7)	Moved with fear … Prepared An Ark
Abraham (v. 8-9)	Obeyed … Sojourned
Sarah (v. 11)	Conceived … delivered a child
Abraham (v. 17)	Offered up Isaac
Isaac (v. 20)	Blessed Jacob and Esau
Jacob (v. 21)	Blessed his sons … worshiped
Joseph (v. 22)	Gave commandment concerning his bones
Moses’ parents (v. 23)	Hid Moses as an infant … were not afraid of the king’s commandment
Moses (v. 24-28)	Refused Egypt … Choosing to suffer … Forsook Egypt … kept the Passover
Israelite nation (v. 29-30)	Crossed the Red Sea … Compassed the walls of Jericho
Rahab (v. 31)	Received the spies
Numerous faith heroes (v. 32-38)	Subdued kingdoms … obtained promises … escaped the edge of the sword … many died for their faith!

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only” (James 2:24).

“Two Have Gone ‘The Way Of All The Earth.’”

 “Two Have Gone ‘The Way Of All The Earth.’”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

Two servants of God whom I have known for many years left this earth recently. One served God primarily in her community, while the other served God locally, nationally, and worldwide. These people did what they could in the areas where they lived (Mk. 14:8-9), and both had an impact on me and many others.

 

Elnora Embry (1933-2024)

            I met sister Elnora while holding gospel meetings with the Caneyville (KY) church of Christ. I got to know her better when I began “full-time” work there in 2012. I learned she became a Christian in the late 1990s and had been widowed since 1999. She was a kind woman to me, had keen “business sense,” and could be very serious when the occasion called for it. She also enjoyed a good joke, loved to have fun, and made fun of herself. She was among the many “mothers in Israel” who gained my respect and love through the years. She was good to talk to, and I will surely miss our conversations. Though she had worked in many places in Kentucky, she was of a humble attitude and quiet demeanor. She did not brag about what she had done. Primarily, she wanted to listen to the Bible and ask questions. She once told me that since she had not become a Christian until late in life, she had much to study and learn in order to “catch up” with others! Her Bible was open daily, and she wanted to learn as much as possible in preparation for eternity. I can remember her asking me from time to time if I thought she would be in Heaven. She was concerned about her soul’s condition because of all the years she spent away from the Lord. We would then have a talk about God’s love (Rom. 5:8) and grace (Titus 2:11-12), and how He is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9) regardless of the date when we obeyed (Matt. 20:1-16). I am so thankful in her last days, she no longer talked like this but said she was ready to die! What a good example and kind lady God blessed me (and my family) to know.

            Though she had no children, the other statements found in Proverbs 31 fit her character well. She was loved by a multitude of Christians, by her many nieces and nephews (she was the youngest of 10!), and most notably, by the Savior of the world (Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 3:17-19, 5:2)!

            The world will little note nor long remember this dear sister (even the newspaper carrying her obituary was not delivered until after she was buried). Still, her words of wisdom, infectious laugh, advice, godly example, etc., will ring in my ears for as long as God allows me to walk this earth.

 

Larry Hafley (1943-2024)

            I met brother Hafley in the early 90s when I took it upon myself to search for his phone number (Before the internet! Was that possible?). After some sleuthing, I found it and timidly called the number, asking for “Brother Hafley” and, with his strong, clear voice, said, “This is Larry Hafley.” From that time until now, he has been a friend of mine, as well as his good wife and sons. I have had the pleasure of hearing him preach the truth time and again (II Tim. 4:2). He was a man whose mind was constantly focused on God’s word. As the “blessed man” (Ps. 1), he meditated on God’s word “day and night.” As time passed, I found him to be a good person to talk to and pose questions. He never looked down on me in my youth (I Tim. 4:12) but treated me respectfully and answered my questions even though I knew he had already answered those questions for himself years earlier.

            He gave me great advice in many areas, from sermons to advice in preparation for the debates I have done, etc.. Still, the advice I remember most is when he reminded me of the most important thing: to make sure and raise your family in the Lord (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6). Larry had two boys like me and (along with his precious wife) had raised them to love the Lord and obey Him (Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:3-5). They are Christians and faithful to God to this day! Larry was always good to ask me about my boys and wife every time we talked. He told me early on to covet my time with my children at home (and I did). He said, “As a preacher, you’ll be worried about the souls of those in the congregation and the community. You will also be called to hold meetings, and you will be concerned about the brethren and others in those places. Don’t be gone too much with your boys at home. Enjoy times with your children in the ball games and other things that interest them. Be there for them. Too many preachers had families but went out trying to save everyone else and lost their children to the world. If you go down that road, the souls you save will be like ashes in your mouth when you think of the ones closest to you that are lost.”

            Though Larry was 10 years younger than Elnora (almost to the day), and though they had never met, these two had much to teach me about being a Christian and life in general. I pray I will heed the instructions given. A few more of my lessons have been …

You’re Never Too Old To Become A Christian (Heb. 3:7-8).

            Our sister Elnora became a Christian in her 60s! In a time when most are looking to retire and “slow down,” she was born again (Jn. 3:5) and trying to learn more about the Lord (I Pet. 2:2). She grew closer to her God in her final years on earth. Such an example shows me how I ought to be as I get older (Titus 2:3a).

Boldness (Acts 13:46; I Thess. 2:2)

            Both of these precious ones taught me boldness. Our sister Elnora was bold enough to leave behind her old ways of sin and denominationalism to become a Christian (Mk. 16:16). This included standing opposed to her husband. Still, she did it (Matt. 10:36). Again, what a great example! When many get “old and set in their ways,” Elnora stepped up to follow the Lord regardless of what others might say about her.

            Brother Larry taught me boldness as well. Listening to him preach or reading his writings encouraged not only me but all who listened to be bold and to stand and declare God’s word regardless of the consequences (Prov. 28:1; II Cor. 7:4). He spoke in a language that was plain and easy to understand so that we knew what God expects from us (I Cor. 2:4-5). He was ready to defend the truth wherever the Lord allowed him to go.

Spend Time Daily In God’s Word (Eph. 3:4; Ps. 1:1-2).

            Those who knew brother Larry knew he was a “walking Bible.” His knowledge of God’s word was immense! This kind of example motivated me to learn more about God’s word as well. Our sister Elnora had a similar knowledge of God’s word as well. She had learned God’s word as a child, and these passages stayed with her. Of course, she spent time in God’s word daily as a Christian and she learned even more of God’s truth.

            The point is that this kind of knowledge was not “poured” into the brains of either one. This knowledge came from dedicating time to learning God’s word. This can be done by anyone who is motivated to know more about the Lord (II Tim. 2:15).

We All Need A Savior (Lk. 19:10).

            In saying the above about my dear friends, I do not wish to leave anyone with the impression that these people were sinless or did not have faults. Both had sins a-plenty (as we all do) some were public and some private. What made these two stand out was that they both trusted in the same Savior and obeyed His word to be saved (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 22:16). The Lord readily forgave them when they sinned as Christians (Acts 8:20-22; I Jn. 1:9), and He is willing to do the same for me (I Jn. 2:1).

            We need a Savior, and these two dear Christians spoke of their Savior often. Are we willing to follow the Lord’s plan of salvation as they did (Jn. 8:32; Lk. 13:3, 5; Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:38)?

            I thank my God I knew sister Elnora and brother Larry. Their lives have ended here, but they are very much alive, awaiting the Judgment Day (Jas. 2:26; Matt. 22:32, 25:31-46). Their memories and examples will also live on in those who knew them (Rev. 14:13; Ps. 116:15).

"A Date Which Will Live In Infamy"

 “A Date Which Will Live In Infamy”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

On December 7, 1941, the U.S. was bombed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In response to this act of war, something President Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy,” our nation assembled and united against a common enemy: an “axis of evil” in the Orient and in Europe. If the Lord wills, Saturday of this week will mark the 83^rd anniversary of that horrible day. We ought to remember and respect the sacrifices of so many who lived during those turbulent times and made it possible that we, now 83 years removed from those events, still live in freedom.

            Yes, it was an “infamous date” when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but is there not an “infamous date” that each person lives when we choose to serve Satan instead of God? You see, there is a day in everyone’s life (if we live long enough to make independent decisions) when we choose to follow Satan (Rom. 3:23). James wrote, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jas. 1:14-15). This has happened to each of us at some point in our lives.

            Whether or not we remember the date we first committed sin, we know God remembers it. That time is a “date which will live in infamy” in our lives. This is because, on that date, we yielded to temptation and succumbed to the onslaught of Satan. We joined ranks with the “kingdom of darkness” and died to God that day (Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19; I Pet. 2:9b; Col. 1:13).

            This date will “live in infamy” because those of us who have learned better realize that it is for this cause, our sin, that Christ came into the world (I Tim. 1:15). He who committed no sin (I Pet. 2:22) came to this world and offered Himself as the supreme sacrifice so that men might be saved (Matt. 20:25; Jn. 1:29; Lk. 19:10; II Cor. 5:14-15).

            What have we done in response? We turned from God, yielded to temptation, and sinned. From the first time we sinned, we were separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2). As we continued living in sin, we moved farther and farther away from God. Yes, the date we first sinned is a “date which will live in infamy” because, from that time forward, we were lost, undone, and lost the hope of Heaven (Eph. 2:12). We were taken captive by Satan and had no promise of eternal life with Christ. How tragic!

            Unlike WWII, which lasted only a relatively short amount of time (The U.S. was involved from 1941 to 1945), our war with Satan continues so long as this world stands! Satan has been fighting with God for the souls of men since Genesis 3 and will continue until the end of time. Therefore, we have to be ever-vigilant (I Pet. 5:8) and ready to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Tim. 6:12).

            How can one fight against Satan? We begin by returning to Christ and receiving remission of our sins through faith in Him, repentance of sin, confession of our faith, and baptism (Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Rom. 10:10; Mk. 16:16). In becoming a Christian, we are no longer separated, but “reconciled” to God (II Cor. 5:17-18; Eph. 2:13), and in this relationship, we may “fight the good fight of faith,” wearing the “whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:13-18).

            Yes, there is a “date which will live in infamy” in all of our lives, but in Christ, the sin can be forgiven, and this date can become a distant memory when we are baptized and wear Christ’s name (Acts 22:16, 11:26). Have you done this?