The Rebellion Of Man
In our attempts to explain why most of the world's 6 billion people will be lost, more often than not we focus on ignorance as the chief cause. With that conclusion it would be difficult to argue. No doubt many will be lost because they "know not God? (2 Thess. 1:7-9) and are "ignorant of God's righteousness" (Rom. 10:3). But in this article I want to go deeper than that. Why are people ignorant of God's righteousness? Why do people not know God? While some might be prone to answer that most people don't know God because they have never heard of Him, I wonder if that is really all there is to it. I submit to you that the Bible teaches that most people will be lost because they will have had little or no desire to learn, accept and be obedient to truth. How many times have we thought about the following points? God's ultimate desire for the world is that every person in it be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Read closely what Paul said to the philosophers of Athens in Acts 17:26-28,
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring."
Notice that Paul said God created every nation of men "so that they should seek the Lord." In addition, God "is not far from each one of us." Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Jesus also said in John 7:17, "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." God loves the world so much that He will providentially work in such a way as to give everyone who has the desire to do His will the opportunity to learn, accept and obey the truth, no matter where that person lives or who he is. So, if it is the case: (1) that God created us so that we would seek Him, (2) that God is not far from anyone (including a gathering of idol-worshipping, heathen philosophers in first century Athens), (3) that God wants everyone to be saved, (4) that God has made salvation possible through Jesus Christ, and (5) that we can and will find the truth if we truly want and seek for it, then why will most people be lost in eternity? Allow Jesus to answer that question.
And this the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:19-20).
Ultimately, the reason why most people will be lost is because they want to be. No one will be able to stand before God in judgment and blame Him for his lost condition. How could he in the face of all that God will have done, and would have done, for the salvation of his lost soul? If more people were seeking the truth, then more people would be obeying it- for God will see that those who want and seek the truth will find it. The sad reality is that most in our world are like those of Jesus' day who "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). May God help us to find those few who are truly seeking to do His will.
-Eddie Parrish
Prayer List
Mark Brewer; Darwin Carroll; Toni DeCristofaro; Ruth Davis; RuLonna Edwards; Marion Lee; Kayli Martell; Justine McCollum;
Wilma Mitchell; Elizabeth Ann Newbold; Ruth Norman; Bessie Peevy; Jackie Rex; Jim Reyna; Montrella Ruffner; David Ryan;
Janelle Shirley; Delora Wood.
Shut-ins Mildred Bell; Ruby Brown; Mary Dunn; Sharon Fisher; Fay Gann; Cecil and Mildred Hext; Lela Jo McElroy; Virgie Price; Alma Stallard; Charles and Pearl Tucker; Nell O Beth Willoughby
FYI
The ladies' night for December will be cancelled due the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We will resume on January 9th
where we will be revealing our secret prayer sisters.
Events
Allen Weakland will be conducting a meeting here on Sunday, December 3rd, through Tuesday, December 5th. Begin inviting your friends.
We will be hosting a pot-luck luncheon on Sunday, December 3rd after morning services to welcome the Weakland family.
Shona Wood will be taking pictures for the pictorial wall of those of you who did not have the chance to take them yet at the potluck
luncheon on December 3rd.
Watch In Search of the Lord's Way with Mack Lyon every Sunday morning at 7:30 am on CBS, channel 7.
The New Mexico Christian's Home will be having their Needs Drive. Their truck will be here Wednesday, December 13. All items are
appreciated. Some suggestions items are muffin mixes, brown sugar, and chocolate chips. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Anniversary invitation
Together they have found a friendship, raised a family, and built a beautiful marriage. You are most warmly invited by the children of
Freylon & Norrice Ann Coffey to participate in the joyous celebration of their parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. A come and go
reception will be held on Saturday December 9, 2006 from 2-5 p.m. Katy Church of Christ (Katy, Texas) 5458 East Fifth Street.
Your love is a treasured gift, we request no other.
Office News
Our food coordinators for the month of December Carolyn Siler and Adah Ray.
The Truth For Today Commentary on "Psalms 51-89" are available in the office ($28.50). The following books are also available
in the office: Some Questions About Worship ($12); Truth for Today Commentary on "Ezekiel," and "Psalms 1-50" ($28.50); Fishing
For Men : The Art of Personal Evangelism ($9); The Word Became Flesh: A Study of Christ and His Work ($11); and Some Questions
About Bible Authority ($10).
| December 3, 2006 | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Announcements | Lon Howard | Lon Howard |
| Song Leader | Ronnie Lane | John Carroll |
| Sermon | Allen Weakland | Allen Weakland |
| Opening Prayer | Lon Howard | Lon Howard |
| Scripture | Bill Brown | Jack Wright |
| Second Prayer | Bill Butler | Johnny Warren |
| Closing Prayer | Tom Sorenson | Elder McCarty |
| Lord's Supper | ||
| West | Steve Horton Jeff Wesson Jesus Herrera Bill Bayless |
Ezekiel Martinez Alex Martinez |
| East | Bill Tolbert Juan Morolez Halley Brookshire Tony Marrs |
Cameron May |
Other Responsibilities: Elder: Lon Howard ~ Deacon: Mike Smith
Pulpit - John Wood ~ Table - Jeff Wesson ~ Song Leaders - Ronnie Lane
Sunday AM ~ "The Holiness of God" ~ Proverbs 9:10
Sunday PM ~ "The Goodness of God" ~ Romans 11:22
Our Records
Bible Class...110
Morning Worship...177
Evening Worship...123
Wednesday...283
Contribution...$4659.15