January, like some of the other months, was named after a Roman god; in this case, Janus, the god of two faces. This represents the fact that the first month of the year is looking back on the year just passed, while at the same time, looking ahead to the year just ahead. While we do not approve of Roman paganism, we nevertheless see the propriety of the name behind January. It is well, as the old year closes and the new year begins, to reflect retrospectively and prospectively - backward and forward.
One thing which we must ever realize is that it is not within our power to change what has transpired last year. Whatever our victories or defeats, we cannot live them again. As I once heard a lawyer exclaim, "You can't unring a bell." Once the bell has rung it cannot be "unrung." The past cannot be changed. A second reflection, is that, while we cannot bring back the past, we shall meet the deeds of our past in the day of Judgment. See 2 Corinthians.5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." The only way to avoid facing the guilt of our sins in the future, is to repent and find the forgiveness which is in the blood of Jesus. Looking back should make us realize the importance of correcting, to the best of our ability, whatever wrongs we have done. Certainly we should be determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past year.
Looking at the year behind us, let us ask these pertinent questions: Has my moral and spiritual life been all that God wants it to be? Have I keep all my "resolutions" of this time last year? Has my reading and study of the word been regular and consistent so as to have been profitable. Have I made the changes I learned from God's word that I needed to make? Has my prayer life been regular for my own needs and those of others. Has my membership with this congregation (my agreement to work together with other brethren) been an asset or a liability to the group, with respect to my attendance, giving and participation in the worship?
Looking to the future, we cannot know what this year will bring. But we can "contract" in advance to be the right kind of people, if the Lord permits us to live. If we truly understand the sufficiency of Christ and learn to depend more upon Him, keeping ourselves under His authority in all matters, the year 1996 will be a good one - better than the old.
January is the month with two faces: One looking back down the road already traveled; the other looking ahead into the sun with optimism, confidence, and anticipation of the good things awaiting all who love the Lord. -- The Milpitas Messenger, January, 1996 Adapted from an article by Gordon Wilson in the Gospel Guardian, January 1, 1959
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Some time ago I watched an interesting television program in which a well-known "conservative" political figure was being questioned by a panel of students concerning his views.
One of the first questions asked was, "What is a conservative?" The gentlemen's answer was something to this effect: "Actually, instead of being called a 'conservative,' I would prefer the word 'conservationist.' We all recognize a conservationist as one who is dedicated to the preservation of the natural beauty, environment and resources of this great country. A 'conservative' is merely a conservationist in the political realm. He is dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution of the United States and the rights and privileges guaranteed therein. He is firmly opposed to any theory or trend which would, in its ultimate effect, weaken or deprive us of this, our greatest national resource."
As I listened to these eloquent words, it struck me that such remarks have a direct application in the religious as well as the political realm. In the religious world and even in the church, we hear frequent use of the terms "liberal" and "conservative." But what is a religious "conservative?" Adapting the words of the television speaker, a conservative is merely a conservationist in the spiritual realm. Instead of the Constitution, he is dedicated to the preservation of the gospel of Christ and the doctrines and practices which arise therefrom. A "conservative" is firmly opposed to any theory or trend which would, in its ultimate effect, weaken or deprive us of this, our greatest and only guide and spiritual resource.
Another student asked the political conservative, "Is it true that conservatives are opposed to progress?" The speaker pointed out that such was a popular misrepresentation of the conservative position. He affirmed that the conservative view alone afforded the stimulus for real progress --progress within the framework of the Constitution.
Many times we have heard the charge from religious "liberals" that "conservatives" cannot make progress. But such charge is also a popular misrepresentation. A point of verifiable fact is that in a world of declining religious interests, the most rapidly-growing religious groups are those who hold to "conservative" ideals. We affirm without hesitation that by a "conservative" approach alone can any real progress be made which will please our Lord - progress within the framework of the Scriptures!
Under the laws of this great country, we are free to choose whether we wish to be a liberal or a conservative, politically speaking. Political ideology is not legislated. But under the laws of God, Christians are required to have respect for, strictly abide in, and defend the gospel. (See Galatians 1:6-10; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Jude 3, etc.) Perhaps another way of putting this is that God requires Christians to be "conservative" toward His divine revelation.
The Christian, then, should be one who upholds, defends, and preserves, as a "spiritual conservationist," the worship, work, organization and doctrine outlined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of God, which we know as the gospel. He pleads for all to return to the "old paths." He calls for "building according to the pattern" in all things. He opposes every human theory and trend which would compete with the Divine plan. He strives for that progress which, although not always "highly esteemed in the eyes of men," is nevertheless the only real progress which matters. For it is progress which honors and glorifies God and His word.
May God help us all to be "conservationists" in the government of our glorious King! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, January, 1996
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That the Bible Sabbath was the seventh day of the week is denied only by those unfamiliar with the Bible. But that the Sabbath is to be observed today is denied for the following reasons.
A most important point to observe is that the Sabbath was given exclusively to the nation of Israel and to no one else. Read Deuteronomy 5:2-3 where Moses, speaking of the covenant containing the Sabbath law, said: "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day." Sabbatarians contend that this covenant containing the Sabbath law (the ten commandments) was operative from the Garden of Eden to Mt. Sinai. But Moses refutes this theory by pointing out that the covenant was not made with the fathers of Israel.
God commanded Moses to "speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations" (Exodus 21:13). See also Ezekiel 20:12. Notice that the Sabbath was a sign between God and the Israelites. Where was the Sabbath ever made a sign between God and Christians? Echo answers WHERE? The Sabbath was a law to the Jews only. Consequently, we never find an example or command in the New Testament of Christians keeping the Sabbath.
In Galatians 3:23-25 we find: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster." The Law (which included the Sabbath command) was the schoolmaster and Paul declares we are not under it. "Under the law," means under the authority of the law as is seen from Galatians 4:4. We are not under the law which enjoined Sabbath observance. Can language be any plainer? We fail to see how. -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, January, 1996
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Many people can play "Chop Sticks" on the piano. It is a simple tune played by beginning students and many others whose knowledge of piano is limited to that one piece. Some "Chop Sticks" performers have been playing that single tune for twenty-five years and have never learned another one! If you should ask them why they can't play anything else, they would probably explain that they were never interested enough in piano to tackle anything more difficult. Maybe it was important to them as youngsters just to be able to say they could "play the piano."
This reminds me of some of our own brethren and our knowledge of the Bible. Just about every member of the church knows the plan of salvation. We can usually rattle it off without any effort at all. But when it comes down to answering more difficult questions, do we have any other "numbers" in our repertoire? Too frequently our knowledge of the Bible is limited to the most fundamental doctrines. This is often true whether one is a beginner in the faith or a long-time Christian. You might say they are "Chop Sticks" Christians! But why is this so?
The answer must lie in the fact that many are just not interested enough to get beyond the fundamentals. My wife has been a piano teacher for the better part of 35 years, and I know what she and other teachers tell their students. They tell them that if they wish to play that instrument well, one must (1) have the desire to do so; (2) have a willingness to sacrifice of time and energy; (3) submit to instruction and diligent study for a period of years; and, especially, (4) they must practice, practice, practice, if they are to achieve any proficiency. These same rules apply equally well to the Christian who would be proficient in living a godly life. Learning the fundamentals is good and necessary. Some need to be grounded in even basic truths (Hebrews 5:12). But, one cannot expect to play the piano like Rubenstein or live and preach the gospel like Paul if he never applies himself beyond those fundamentals.
Not everyone who applies himself will become a great virtuoso or a godly Bible scholar. But we can so apply ourselves in the study of the word of God that we can progress beyond the "Chop Sticks" stage. This is what the Bible writers had in mind when they commanded that we "go on unto perfection," and "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18). -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, January, 1996
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