____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 16, 1990 ____________________________________________________ What Might Have Been by Barney Keith How painful is the thought expressed by one of the great poets, John Greenleaf Whittier: ``For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: `It might have been!''' Many a person has thrown away his life in drug addiction, (including alcohol). Numerous are those who have thrown away their marriages by becoming involved with others. Parents have often lost their children by neglecting them, or even granting them excessive freedom. Many are those who have thrown away a good name by some ungodly behavior. Do you not suppose that a vast majority of these later in life have shed tears of bitter remorse as they have thought of ``what might have been''? It is too late, however, for all has been lost. This bitter lament is found also in the Bible. It was expressed by the ``weeping prophet,'' Jeremiah (8:20) as he sadly exclaimed, ``THE HARVEST IS PART, THE SUMMER IS ENDED, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED.'' God had given His people ample time to repent and turn from their idolatrous, immoral ways. They had not shown any inclination to respond appropriately to His offers of mercy. When God was no longer willing to tolerate their wickedness, the Babylonian captivity became His means of teaching them a 70-year lesson. No doubt there were times in Babylon when they mourned and wept over ``what might have been'' if they had only listened to the voices of the prophets who had warned them. Such lessons ought not to fall on deaf ears today. That individual who has stopped serving the Lord faithfully will one day realize what he has given up. It may be too late then to do anything about it. My dear wayward brother or sister, before the ``harvest is past'' and the ``summer is ended,'' you ought to take advantage of a merciful God's offer of pardon by repentance, confession and prayer. Better that, by far, than to stand condemned in the judgment and have to think of ``what might have been.'' That individual, too, who has never obeyed the gospel should ponder seriously what hell is like (according to God's word) and submit himself to the rule of Christ in faith, repentance, confession and baptism before it is too late to do so. Far better this than to be separated eternally from God and think of ``what might have been.'' ___________________________________________ Not Given To "Much" Wine Question: In 1 Tim. 3:8 Paul said that deacons are not to be given to ``much'' wine. Does this imply that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderation is approved? Answer: Looking at the passage we raise the question: Is the apostle saying that the deacon is not to be drunk? We believe that he is. That being so, we raise yet another question: Can you not urge a man to avoid drunkenness without approving moderate drinking? SURE YOU CAN! Telling a man -- ``Don't get bombed out on whiskey!'' -- does not intend approval that drinking whiskey in moderation is acceptable. Or...''Don't be a drug addict!'' (which is the same as saying -- ``Don't be given to much drugs'') is certainly not approval for the occasional use of cocaine. ``Don't be a slave to sin'' certainly does not approve of sin in ``moderation.'' --------------------- "Do not be given to wine" > "Do not use drugs" (1 Tim. 3:3) IS THE SAME AS "Do not be given to much wine" > "Do not be a drug addict" (1 Tim. 3:8) --------------------- And while we are on the subject...take a peak at Ecclesiastes 7:17 which says, ``Do not be excessively wicked.'' Am I to believe that such lends approval to wickedness in ``moderation?'' Deacons (and I believe all Christians) are not to be given to ``much'' wine i.e., they are not to be drunkards. But such does not imply acceptability of moderate drinking anymore than Ecclesiastes 7:17 implies acceptability of moderate sinning! ----- via Searching the Scriptures ___________________________________________ HOW CAN I KNOW WHO IS RIGHT? by Greg Gwin An extremely confusing situation exists in our religious world today. There are literally hundreds of different groups, all teaching diverse and conflicting doctrines. It doesn't take much to realize that something is seriously wrong. It is a simple fact that not all of these folks can be right about what they teach. It then becomes a very important question for us to ask: ``How can I know who is right?'' In seeking the answer to this question, we must have the proper regard for the following concepts: 1. We are searching for God's answer, not man's. Many will be sadly disappointed in judgment when they find their worship has been ``in vain'', because they have followed ``the commandments of men'' rather than the will of God (Matthew 15:9). 2. God's truth is revealed solely and exclusively in the inspired word of the Bible. Despite the claims of many people today, no one has received spiritual truth in any other way. ''...thy word is truth'' (John 17:17). 3. Not only is truth found in God's word, but we also have the confidence that every bit of truth we need is contained therein. The Scriptures teach us all we need to be ``complete, furnished completely unto every good work'' (2 Timothy 3:16,17). 4. The Bible teaches that there are many false teachers in the world, and that we should ``believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God'' (1 John 4:1). 5. Finally, we must be determined to accept God's word, and nothing else. ``If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed'' (Galatians 1:9). Understanding then how important it is to ``know who is right'' in matters of religion, we become aware of the need to carefully consider what we believe and practice. While situation seems confusing at first, if we will apply these principles, we can find the answer to the vital question: ``Who is right?'' Don't forget, Jesus said that truth is discernible: ``And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'' (John 8:32). To this end may God bless us all. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________