Blog Archives

The Brevity of Life

8/25/2012

On this day in 1945 my dad was born into this world. Had he lived, he would have celebrated his 67th birthday today. Almost twenty years ago, in December 1992, he passed away at the age of 47. If the Lord continues to be gracious and merciful in my life, I will turn 41 in a couple of weeks. As I thought of today being dad's birthday, I realized that I am not too much younger than he was when he passed away. His early death was influenced by a very traumatic injury, but I am reminded today that life if brief.

My wife's grandfather lived beyond 101 years old, but even that is brief when we consider eternity. Each of us are here for a very short time. There are only so many days that we have upon this earth.

James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

As we consider the words of Scripture, we are further reminded that our lives are very brief; they are like a vapor or a plume of smoke that appears for a very short time and then it vanishes away, never to be seen again. With such a short life, one eventually has to consider how this life we have been given was lived. Our world is filled with people of all ages: some have just started living, just a few days old, others have just started to raise a family, many like me have reached middle age, and others are experiencing their senior years.

Take just a moment to consider your life up until this point. Regardless of where we are in life, none of us know how much time is left. We have no guarantee of another day upon this earth. It is not my intent to depress any who read this post, but rather get us to think about the focus of our lives. It has well been said that yesterday is a spent check, tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is cash in hand, so spend it wisely. How will be spend the day that we have been given? Will we spend it in fullness of life, seeking to serve the Lord and make a profitable contribution to those around us, or will it be spent with little influence or meaning? I know that my life is just a vapor. It is very likely that I am beyond the halfway point already. I want to make my days count for the Lord. I want to live them in light of His holiness, seeking to please Him in all I do.

If there is something that you have been meaning to get around to, I would suggest you make time and do it! If there is someone that you have been meaning to tell how much you love and appreciate, I would suggest you do it today. If you have a friend or loved one who has yet to come to saving faith in Christ, today is the day to speak to them. They are not guaranteed tomorrow, and you aren't either. That brings to mind another phrase that I have heard many times. "One life will soon be past; only what is done for Christ will last." Life is brief, so let's make today count for the Lord. Let's determine to live each day for the Lord and seek to accomplish His will in each of the days we have left.

Preacher Chris

Are We Missing Out?

8/17/2012

If I may, I would like to take a moment to introduce that question. We have been studying in the book of Nehemiah for some time on Wednesday evenings during our Bible study. We have spent the last two weeks in chapter eight. That is a wonderful passage that deals with a spiritual renewal that took place in the lives of God's people in Jerusalem after their return from bondage. It deals greatly with their desire for the Word of God and hunger to apply its truth to their lives.

In our last study we came across a phrase that has been on my heart and mind for several days now and I thought I would share it. Notice:

Nehemaih 8:17
And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

The people were commanded to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, a remembrance of God's faithfulness to His people during the wilderness wanderings. They constructed temporary booths made of tree branches in which they dwelt during the celebration to commemorate the contrasts between the temporary dwelling in the wilderness and the permanence God had promised in Jerusalem.

What struck me in this passage was the fact that the people had not celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, at least not in that fashion, since the days of Joshua. This generation was offered the opportunity to worship the Lord in a way that many generations prior to them had missed. Not since the days of Joshua, the time when they first entered the Promised Land hundreds of years before, had the feast been celebrated. They were given a special opportunity and privilege. They experienced the Lord in a way that others never had. This was an occasion that brought very great gladness to the people.

I for one am convinced that the modern church does not enjoy all that she could. I firmly believe that our Lord has so much more that He would like to share with us, more blessings He would like to pour out, a closeness with Him that we are not experiencing. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we would do as the people of Jerusalem and seek the Lord and His Word in such a way that it could be said that God's people had not experienced His blessing in such a way for generations? There have been spiritual awakenings in the past. Former generations have gotten sincere and earnest with the Lord and experienced His abundance. He is the same God today that He was back then. If He was willing to pour out His blessing upon others, I am sure that He would be willing to do so again. God is not the problem in this equation; He is the solution. If we would seek Him, I have no doubt that we could experience Him in ways we never imagined. The church could once again have power. We would experience conviction in our services again. The believers would be challenged and edified and the lost would be saved. We can have that, but do we really want it? Are we willing to seek the Lord in order to receive it?

So, the question remains: Are We Missing Out? I would have to say that we are. I am in no way ungrateful for all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do, but we are not experiencing God the way we could. I am hungry to see that in our generation. We live in a dark and difficult time, but God is aware of His people and He will respond when they seek Him. Let's seek the Lord in a genuine, heartfelt desire to see His glory among us in ways we never have!

Preacher Chris

Where is America Headed?

8/10/2012

I will admit that I am very thankful and blessed to live within these United Sates of America. I have lived my entire life in a land where I enjoyed freedom. I realize that I was greatly blessed to hear the Gospel message at a young age, being born again in Christ Jesus at age eleven. Our land is becoming increasingly violent, but most of us have the privilege of attending worship services without any thought of physical harm coming to us. I have never feared attending the house of God.

There are those who would argue with me, but when one takes the time to study US history, it is unmistakably clear that America was founded on biblical values and Christian principles. The worship of our Lord was encouraged and practiced by countless prominent figures in the founding of our nation. It is evident that we have been blessed beyond measure.

However, I am beginning to see an America that I do not recognize. Rather than a nation that seeks to promote and encourage the worship of Christ, we are seeing many in places of authority and influence that seek to discourage and even hinder that worship. We have become a nation that worships an economy and the material treasure that it brings.

In my childhood, the majority of my classmates at least attended church on Sunday. That isn't to say all of them were saved, but they were taken to church. Those who identified with the Lord, and were unashamed to admit that, were a majority. My how things have changed in the past thirty years. Our churches are in decline and the world is growing increasingly wicked at an alarming rate. I am blessed to live in the southeast, the "Bible Belt," but even here things are changing rapidly, and not for the better.

I have had a passage of Scripture on my heart this week, and have even come across it several times while reading other materials. Please take a moment to read these verses.

Psalm 33:12-22
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. [13] The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. [14] From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. [15] He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. [16] There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. [17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

The Pslamist declares that the nation whose God is the LORD is blessed. I realize that this was written to the nation of Israel, the people whom God had chosen, but there are truths within these verses that apply to us as well. God sees our great land, from coast to coast. He has blessed us with abundance. He knows our hearts and their desires. He knows what drives us, what our passions are. He knows where we place our trust. I fear that most are like those revealed in Vv.16-17, those who put their trust in men, material possessions, and even the advanced American military. (Now don't get angry and think that I am ungrateful for the sacrifice of all who serve and have served in our Armed Forces. I am thankful and seek to pray for them every day, but I do realize that it is God who keeps us.)

We desperately need the heart of the Psalmist. [18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. He is our hope; He is our help; He is our shield. We need the mercy of God upon our land. We need His guidance in these difficult days. We need those in leadership who will seek the Lord and desire to govern according to His Word. If we don't soon turn to the LORD and seek His face, He may very well leave us to ourselves and allow us to suffer the consequences of our sin and rebellion. My hope is not in Wall Street, the halls of Congress, or within the White House; my hope is in the Lord of my salvation!

Preacher Chris

Jesus is the Way

8/2/2012

I was pondering the various attitudes that are prevalent in our modern society concerning the existence of humanity beyond death. There are many who firmly believe that this life is all there is; that once you depart from this life it is all over. They typically have the view that "you only go around once, so you might as well live it up. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we may die." I will agree that we do not know when our time will come. In fact, we may not even make until tomorrow. We have already experienced the last sunrise that we are guaranteed in this life. James 4:14 - Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Then there are those who embrace the notion of some sort of existence beyond the grave. They seem to have reconciled belief in a "higher being" and are seeking to find that end. Many of these view the path to life beyond the grave accessible through many different avenues. They would argue that folks may be on different paths, but believe that we will all end up at the grand and mystic Utopia in the sky, received on our merit and commitment rather than a particular course for eternal life. They say "it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe; just serve God in whatever form or essence you choose."

Then there are those who have embraced TRUTH. John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Here Jesus reveals the exclusive way of salvation and inheriting eternal life. I will unapologetically say that Jesus isn't a good way of obtaining salvation and eternal life. In fact, He is not the best way to receive salvation. If He were a good way, or even the best way, that would imply, although inferior, and alternative means of salvation. Jesus is the only way of salvation and assurance of eternal life. No one can approach God the Father, receive forgiveness of sin, or be granted access into heaven apart from the saving grace of Jesus. He is THE Way, the only way!

I pray you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I trust He isn't someone you have just heard about or read about in the Bible, but someone you have met personally. We are dealing with an epidemic in the modern church. We have become so consumed with producing numbers that we have cheapened the salvation experience. Many today are encouraged to repeat a prayer at the close of a service and come forward for baptism, and then they are assured that they have done all that is necessary to receive salvation. I am not taking away from the faith that we need to show in the Lord or coming unto the Lord in a repentant attitude through prayer. However, there has to be conviction of sin and the drawing of the Holy Spirit. Simply repeating words offered as a supposed prayer will not produce salvation. There has to be a sense of one's need for Christ and the acceptance of His finished work on Calvary's cross. If these were not present, then one may have repeated words, but I seriously doubt there was real conversion. If the Lord has brought you to a place of conviction, realizing your need for salvation, you will know. You will sense your separation from a holy God and desire to draw nigh to Him through repentance and a genuine desire for a relationship with Christ.

There are not many ways as many assume, but One way, by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not saved based on our merit or worthiness, but through the grace of God to those who are undeserving. Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Preacher Chris

I am Chris Benfield, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Boonville, NC. Here you will find some of my thoughts, particularly relating to the church and serving our Lord.

The Brevity of Life

Are We Missing Out?

Where is America Headed?

Jesus is the Way

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