Never Give Up

Wade Webster

When Nazi Germany was knocking on the door of Great Britain in the Second World War, Winston Churchill gave several powerful speeches to rally the British people. In one of these speeches, he declared, 

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, We shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight on the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

In another speech he said that if the British Empire continued for another thousand years, men might very well look back on them and say, "This was their finest hour."

It would have been easy for Britain to have surrendered. Hitler seemed unstoppable. They were enduring daily bombings. Their city was being leveled building by building. However, they refused to quit. 

In 2005, Seal Team 10, consisting of nineteen Navy Seals, showed similar resolve.  The mission, known as Operation Redwing, went horribly wrong. Marcus Luttrell was the lone survivor of that mission. 

No one could have blamed Luttrell for giving up. His buddies were dead, his back was broken, and he had been shot. He was deep within enemy territory. However, Luttrell refused to quit.  Lying on the ground, he grabbed a rock, reached out as far as he could, and drew a line in the sand. He then proceeded to drag himself until his feet crossed that line. Again and again, he repeated this grueling process. It is estimated that Luttrell crawled for about seven miles before he was finally rescued. 

No doubt, as Bible students, we are reminded of another soldier - the Apostle Paul. He was also in a great fight against a very powerful enemy. His words motivated many to stay in the fight. He endured so much. He faced daily problems. To the saints at Corinth, he detailed some of these things he suffered: stripes, prisons, stoning, perils, fastings, shipwreck, cold, and nakedness (2 Cor 11:22-29). There was no quit in Paul. He too had a mark to which he was pressing. To the saints at Philippi, he wrote, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). It would have been easy for Paul to have given up, but he didn’t.

We often sing a song in connection with baptism entitled, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus." The first line ends with the words, "No turning back. No turning back." The last line ends with the words, "No turning back, I'll follow him." We are reminding those who are being baptized to never give up. We are encouraging them to fight on no matter what. We are encouraging them to draw a line in the sand and to drag themselves across that line if necessary. A million years from now, we may look back from heaven at the times in our lives when we didn't give up and say that this was our finest hour.

Go Tell Jeroboam

Wade Webster

When Jeroboam’s son was sick, he sent to inquire of Ahijah the prophet what would become of the lad (1 Kings 14:1-3).  Like so many people today, the wicked king had no use for God or His servants until he needed something.  Fearing that a faithful seer might not want to help an unfaithful sovereign, Jeroboam sent his wife in a disguise to the prophet (1 Kings 14:2).  Although the prophet was old and couldn’t see, the disguise didn’t work.  After all, nothing was hidden from the eyes of the God that Ahijah served (Heb 4:13).  When the prophet heard Jeroboam’s wife’s footsteps, he said, “Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam” (1 Kings 14:6).  Can you imagine how surprised she must have been at this salutation?  The same prophet who had years earlier predicted Jeroboam’s rise to power (1 Kings 14:2), now predicted his fall. Jeroboam had done evil in the sight of God and he was now going to suffer at the hands of God.  He had provoked God to anger and was now going to feel the heat of God’s wrath.  He had cast God behind his back and was now going to be cut off (1 Kings 14:9-10; cf. Neh. 9:26; Psa. 50:17; Ezek. 23:35; Rom. 1:28; 3:18).  Although Jeroboam did many things contrary to the will of God, the most grievous transgressions involved the changes that he made to the worship of God (1 Kings 14:9; 1 Kings 12:25-33). 

Jeroboam Changed The Aim Of Worship

Jeroboam changed the aim of worship from God to golden calves (1 Kings 12:26-28).  In his pride, he even went so far as to suggest that the golden calves had brought the people out of Egyptian bondage.  As you may recall, Aaron had earlier provoked God to anger in the same way (Ex. 32:1-6, 25-29). Today, many are making the same mistake.  They are changing the aim of worship from God to something else (John 4:23-24).  More and more today, worship is directed at pleasing men rather than at pleasing God (John 12:43).

Jeroboam Changed The Address Of Worship

Jeroboam changed the address of worship from Jerusalem to Dan & Bethel (1 Kings 12:26-29). As you recall, Jeroboam was afraid for the people to go to Jerusalem to worship, lest their hearts turn again to Rehoboam.  In like manner today, many are changing the address of worship.  They are trying to glorify God outside of the one place that He has designated (Eph. 3:21).  As you know, the address is no longer the city of Jerusalem (John 4:19-21), but rather, the church founded in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-3; 1 Tim. 3:15). 

Jeroboam Changed The Attendants Of Worship

Jeroboam changed the attendants of worship from the sons of Levi to the lowest of the people (1 Kings 12:31). “Whosoever would,” he consecrated to be a priest (1 Kings 13:33-34). Today, many are still changing the attendants of worship.  For example, they are using women in positions that God had designated for men (1 Tim. 2:8, 11-15).

Jeroboam Changed The Anniversary Of Worship

Jeroboam changed the anniversary of worship from the seventh month and the fifteenth day to the eighth month and the fifteenth day (1 Kings 12:32-33; cf. Lev. 23:33-44). As you know, there are many today who are doing the same.  Some have changed the anniversary of worship from the first day of the week to the last day of the week, while others have changed the commemoration of the Lord’s death from a weekly observance to a monthly, quarterly, or yearly observance (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).

The message that Jeroboam’s wife was to deliver to her husband needs to be delivered to many today.  Those who provoke God to anger and cast Him behind their backs will one day be cast into a far worse place (Mt. 25:30; Mk. 9:45, 47).

The Gardener

Wade Webster

James Allen declared, “Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit – and man is his own gardener.”[i] 

Since the creation, one of the fundamental laws of nature has been that everything produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11).   It was to this law that Jesus, the Creator, referred in the Sermon on the Mount.  He declared, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Mt. 7:17-19).  Later, He would again refer to this law and declare:  “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Mt. 12:35).

The Apostle Paul would also appeal to the seed principle in the letter that he penned to the saints at Galatia.  He wrote, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7-8).

Realizing that thoughts, like trees, produce after their kind, we must carefully guard our thoughts.  We must “keep” our hearts “with all diligence” (Prov. 4:23), realizing that as we think in our hearts, we will be (Prov. 23:7; cf. Mt. 12:34; 15:19).   

Paul’s words to the saints at Philippi seem especially appropriate in this study.  He wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). 

As the gardener of our own hearts, each of us must give great care to what is sown in them.  If somehow bad seed is sown, we must weed it out as quickly as possible. 

The Final Sermon of the Preacher

Wade Webster

Alexander the Great conquered the world and then sat down and wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. 

Sir Edmond Hillary conquered Everest, the highest point on earth. When asked what he felt as he looked down from Everest, Hillary answered that there was a rush of joy for a moment. However, that joy was quickly replaced by a feeling of emptiness.  Where could he go from there? What mountains remained to climb?

On earth, you can only conquer so much. You can only climb so high. Then what? Almost instantly, what you have done begins to fade. It begins to lose its joy. The things of this world, however grand they may be, cannot satisfy. 

Solomon penned a whole book on this topic. We know it as Ecclesiastes. Solomon reached the top. He was the son of David, Israel's greatest king. He had wisdom, unlike any before him; and, unlike all after him, except for One. He had riches. Silver was in Jerusalem like stones. He had fame. People traveled from all over the world to see and to hear him. He had a thousand beautiful women at his immediate disposal. He could go almost three years without having the same woman on his arm more than once. He had men servants and maid servants. He had musicians. He had houses and vineyards. Yet, he says that all this was vanity (Eccl. 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15). He felt empty. Ecclesiastes was written to help men to avoid the mistakes he made. It is the final sermon of a preacher. He gives the conclusion of the whole matter in chapter twelve. He begins by telling young people to remember God (Eccl. 12:1). He continues by telling them to fear God and to keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). As we sometimes sing, "There's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

I encourage you to pursue your dreams. If you are going into business. I hope that you own a Fortune 500 company. If acting or music is what you love, I hope that you star on Broadway or perform at Carnegie Hall. If you are into athletics, I hope that you win a Super Bowl and get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If you are into politics, I hope that you one day sit in the Oval Office. If you are a writer, I hope that you win the Pulitzer Prize. However, I want you to know that the day that you achieve those honors, they will begin to fade. 

The only things that can ultimately satisfy are tied to God. They are things that are tied to the world to come. They can give you a richer and fuller life now. They can give you the richest and fullest life of all in heaven (Mk. 10:30). In God's presence there is fulness of joy and pleasures evermore (Psalms 16:11). There are many things that I can exaggerate. I can exaggerate a movie, a book, or a restaurant. You can see them, read them, and taste them and be disappointed at my appraisal. However, I cannot exaggerate heaven. It is beautiful beyond description. It is too wonderful for words. There will be no disappointments there. No one is going to look around and think, "I imagined it would be better than this." There will be "no wishing for elsewhere to be." I simply cannot exaggerate heaven. I can't make it better than what it will be. Words fail me. It will be more beautiful. It will be more comforting. It will be more joyous than I can describe. When you see it, you will say like the Queen of Sheba, "The half was not told me" (1 Kings 10:7).

Conquer all that you can in life. Climb the highest mountain. Enjoy life's fleeting victories and joys. However, if you want to taste a victory that never fades and enjoy a view that never diminishes, Remember God! Fear God! Obey God! 

God’s Blueprint

Wade Webster

Those who build houses have a blueprint that they follow.  In like manner, God has given us a blueprint that He wants us to follow in building His house.  In His word, God has revealed three simple truths relative to this blueprint.

It Is An Expensive Blueprint

Blueprints are generally very expensive.  If you have ever had one drawn up, then you know this to be the case.  In like manner, the blueprint that God has given us came at great expense.  It was paid for with the blood of Christ.  In instituting His memorial supper, Jesus took the cup and declared, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28; cf. Heb. 9:18-20; 10:28-29; 13:20).  The price paid for this pattern reveals the importance that God placed on it and that we should also.  

It Is An Extensive Blueprint

Blueprints are often are very extensive.  They detail the inside and the outside of a house.  They detail the location and size of rooms, windows, doors, and closets.  They spell out virtually everything.  In like manner, the blueprint that God has given us is very extensive.  Peter wrote, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).  In like manner, Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17; cf. Phil. 3:16, 18; Col. 3:16-25).  God has clearly spelled out what He wants us to do.

It Is An Exclusive Blueprint

Blueprints by nature are exclusive.  As already noted, they specify sizes and locations.  By specifying certain things, they rule out other things.  In like manner, the blueprint that God has given us is exclusive.  For example, when God told Noah to build the ark of gopher wood, He ruled out all other kinds of wood (Gen. 6:14).   In like manner, when He told us to sing and make melody in our hearts to Him, He has ruled out all other instruments (Eph. 5:19; cf. Num. 7:4-9; 2 Sam. 6:1-13; Lev. 10:1-2). 

Realizing these simple truths should cause us to prize, protect, and practice the pattern that God has provided.  We must never neglect or reject it.