Thought for the Month - September 2002

Itching Ears - By Barry Adair

I was somewhat amazed to read in the English Press recently that Mr Rowan Williams, soon to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, has become a Druid. The following is an extract from the Times Newspaper:

"As the sun rose through Avalonian mists on the coastline of his native Wales, Dr Williams was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards, an historic order of Druids, with pagan roots. The hour-long ceremony was held in a circle of standing stones, erected a year and a day ago and hewn from Pembrokeshire stone like those at Stonehenge. To receive the honour, Dr Williams passed between two portal stones set in alignment with the passage of the sun on the summer and winter solstices".

For those not familiar with the term Druid, a Druid is a member of an order of pagan priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers.

I know I said I was amazed but I know I shouldn't really be. In 2 Timothy:1-5 we read the following:

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry"

This month I wanted to leave a few brief thoughts with you by taking out 4 words within the above passage of scripture.

Doctrine

Preacher/Teacher, are you preaching/teaching the Word? Is it the Word of God and ONLY the Word of God? Many today do not want to hear 'sound doctrine' but the world needs to hear it! Remember, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17) and that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16).

Fables

My dictonary describes a 'fable' as "a supernatural story containing elements of myth and legend". And that is what some so-called Christians would have us believe in, rather than the infallible Word of God! Revelation 22:18-19 reminds us that anyone who takes away from the Word of God or adds to it will be judged by its Author!

Evangelist

An 'evangelist' is simply a carrier of the 'good news'. And what good news we have! All Bible believing Christians need to tell others about the 'good news' of having their sins forgiven, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. That Jesus died for the likes of you and me is truly amazing, don't you think? Believer, if you agree that this is an amazing truth, then let's share it with a needy world.

Judge

Gen 18:25 "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right"

Jesus is coming again. This time He will come in judgement. Those who have not accepted His free gift of salvation will be condemned to that place of 'outer darkness'.

Time is running out for this present world. Only God Himself knows when Jesus will return.
Let's make sure we're ready to meet our Creator!

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done" (Rev 22:12 NASB)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!