Bible Questions and Answers is Pastor Huebscher's weekly column. It appears every Thursday in Stillwater's local newspaper
I Thessalonians 5:18 says "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." David, in the Old Testament, wrote: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:5). Certainly God does meet our needs and we ought to give thanks. Yes, but that's for our needs, right - how about those troubles and giving thanks for them? Little Mary due to her misbehavior was temporarily excluded from all family activities. She was not allowed to eat with the others, but was placed at a small table in one corner of the room. It seemed to her that she wasn’t included even when her father said "grace." So when the others had raised their heads. Mary folding her hands and bowing her head said very loudly so all could hear, "Thank you, Lord, ‘for preparing a table before me in the presence of mine enemies!’ Amen. Although Mary misinterpreted the words of the Psalmist, her prayer does remind us of the favors we enjoy as children of the Heavenly Father. He bestows upon us wonderful blessings even when we are surrounded by actual foes who seek to harm us and take away all that we have. Ellicott comments on Psalm 23:5, "We must imagine the banquet of God’s supply spread on some secure mountain height, in sight of the baffled foe who looks on in harmless spite." There are those who believe the blessings referred to by the Psalmist are spiritual rather than physical. I think both are involved. James tells us, "Every good gift. . .is from above." While Satan, the chief adversary and enemy of our souls, "like a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour," our Father in Heaven graciously supplies His own with spiritual "meat" and with that which is essential for our physical existence. At God’s "banquet table" we can say with little Mary, and with the utmost meaning and gratitude, "I thank you, Lord, for preparing a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Are you one of His children - as the Bible says "We are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"? Everyone is His by creation, but only those who come to Him by faith are His children who can "give thanks always for all things." Make this a truly thankful Thanksgiving by coming to the Savior. If you have a Bible question write to Pastor Lenard Huebscher, Grace Baptist Church 12721 75th Street North Stillwater MN 55082 or call (651)430-3132. Www.stillwaterbaptist.net.
The writer of this continues his question: "Will all people have to give an account?" Many folks do not want to think of a future judgment; in fact many critics have decried what they contend is the Bible inconsistency. The Old Testament is a harsh indictment of human sin and warning of coming divine judgment they say, whereas the New Testament stresses God’s grace, mercy and love. The fact is, however, that the Old Testament also contains numerous testimonies of the love and merciful loving kindness of God (e.g. Psalm 103). Similarly, the most striking and fearsome warnings and prophecies of judgment to come are found in the New Testament. An example is II Thessalonians 1:8-9 which says of God that He "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." It is a serious thing to reject Christ and His saving gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself uttered more warnings of future hell than any one else recorded in either Testament. He said, for example, that those "on the left hand" will be commanded to "depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). Jude spoke of ungodly men "to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 13). And, of course, the very last book of the New Testament, written by John, the disciple who stressed God’s love more than any other writer, focuses especially and in detail on the coming period of God’s judgment on a rebellious world. This is the period the Bible speaks of as seven years of great tribulation. The climax of these warning is Revelation 20:15: "Whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." God’s grace and full forgiveness are free to all who receive Christ, but certain judgment will come to all who refuse. God's arms of love are extended to each person today. What is your choice? To come to Him by faith and accept Him on the basis of the Bible--which declares Him--OR will you turn away. God tells us "Today is the day of salvation." "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment." If you have a Bible question write to Pastor Lenard Huebsbcher, Grace Baptist Church. 12721 75th Street North, Stillwater MN 55082 or call (651) 430-3132. www.stillwaterbaptist.net
