Unfair Comparison


The early Church was tested, as are we.  Yes, we are all tested.  But let us be reasonable and fair.  The early Church was not tested by technology.   They did not live in a world where what happened thousands of miles away was instantly known to all.  Their focus was on what happened within the limits of their own senses.

What is similar between us is the spiritual aspects of trials and testings.  Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  But the situations of man have changed radically.

Is it harder to endure as a Christian today?  No.  What plagues all men, regardless of time, finds roots in righteousness, obedience, truthful worship, integrity to the Word of God, and witnessing about the Living God in Christ Jesus.  Isn’t that enough similarity to bond us to our brothers who lived in every age?

If one wants to compare, let us remember that there are those who have worked in the “heat” of the day.  And there is still a “heat” to come.

Man loves to compare himself to others.  By some means it is necessary.  But to boast or complain is not appropriate.  God has given us birth in the age we find ourselves.  He has given each one a live in the situation of “today”.  Let’s endure what we have.

No one knows


I used to fish along the Kootnai river in Montana.  I would scale down cliffs just to get where no one else goes.  I loved the isolation when I fished like that.  The boats would appear and disappear because I had taken their spot.

One fine beautiful day I found myself on my back with my head against a rock. I had slipped on wet grass and fallen. As I lay there staring up at the beautiful sky something occurred to me. No one would have known had I been killed by the fall.  The rocks would not care if I had died on them, and the river would not notice my death. I was not in the habit of telling people where I was going, so it may have taken days for someone to find my corpse. That is if the river did not rise and carry my body away.

I have heard many men boast that they will have a party in hell because that’s where all their friends are.  But the gospel holds bad news for you who say such things. The gospel simply says, “You will look for them but they will not be found”.

You think you will appear in Hell where you are welcome.  The fact is sir you will die and no one will notice.  None of those living with the Lord will morn you. You will be utterly taken away even your name will be remembered no longer.