Lay Lake Church of Christ

David A. Bass

Is there really a place called Hell where the wicked will suffer forever? What will it be like? The only accurate source of information about Hell is the Bible. What does the Bible say about this place called HELL?

In Matthew 25:41 Jesus describes Hell as a place prepared for “the devil and his angels” but, where the “cursed” will also suffer in “everlasting fire.” Hell is ETERNAL in nature. The word ‘eternal’ is synonymous with ‘everlasting’ and means “without end; never to cease.” Hell will endure just as long as Heaven because the same word used to modify Hell’s punishment is also used to qualify the bliss and joy of heaven! The horrors of hell and the happiness of heaven will endure time without end!

Hell is described as a place of FIRE! In Matthew 13:42, Hell is described as “a furnace of fire” while in Mark 9:44,45 we read that “the fire is not quenched.” John describes hell as a place of “fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:10) and as a “lake of fire” (20:15). These are but two of many passages that describe hell as a terrible place of fire.

The Bible also describes Hell as a place of TOTAL DARKNESS! It is difficult for us to imagine hell as a place of fire and darkness, but Jude 13 describes hell as “the blackness of darkness” while it is referred to “outer darkness” in Matthew 25:30. Why will hell be a place of darkness? The apostle John wrote, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all”” (John 1:5; James 1:17). God is light and He will not be in hell! Paul told the Thessalonians that the damned will be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Since “God is light” and is the “Father of lights” there can be no light in hell.

Hell is also a place of great PAIN! In Matthew 25:30 Jesus said concerning the punishment of the one talent man, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”” Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 teach that the wicked will have no rest day or night!

These are only a few of the many horrible characteristics of hell! But surely none would even like to visit there, much less live there forever. Thankfully, we don’t have to even though ALL of us are guilty of sin (Romans 3:23) and we deserve to die spiritually (Romans 6:23). God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ his Son! “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). If we will obey Jesus: believe that Jesus is the Son of God – Mark 16:16; Repent of our sins – Acts 17:30,31; Confess his name – Romans 10:10; and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins – Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4) and then live faithfully the Christian life (Revelation 2:10) we will avoid the horrors of hell and enjoy the wonders and beauties of heaven!

[Editor’s Note: The excellent article last week by Bob Prichard contained an error.  He said, “Not all Muslims are terrorists, but virtually all terrorists are Muslims.”  According to the FBI’s website, Muslims were responsible for only 6% of terrorist attacks in the US from 1980 to 2005; which means that 94% of terrorists are not Muslim. The largest category by far (42%) is Latino terrorists, and they probably identify as Christian if anything. The second largest category (24%) is extreme left wing groups. There have actually been more terrorist attacks in the US by radical Jews (7%) than Muslims.]

Bob Prichard

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has released a study, “The Future Growth of the Global Muslim Population,” which projects that the worldwide Muslim population will increase from 23.4% to 26.4% by 2030, and that the Muslim population in the United States will more than double by 2030. Muslims in the United States are projected to go from .8% to 1.7%, with a population growth from 2.6 million to 6.2 million. This growth will be from immigration, higher than average birth rates among Muslims, and conversions (USA Today, January 27, 2011, p. 1A).

The statistics are sad for several reasons. They are sad because Islam is a false religion, that teaches that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God. It teaches salvation through obedience to the Qur’an, instead of the Bible. And although most Muslims are not radicalized, no one can dispute that Muslim extremists are the source of untold violence in our world. Not all Muslims are terrorists, but virtually all terrorists are Muslims.

The saddest thing about the statistics is that no one is suggesting that the growth of the Lord’s church will even begin to approximate Muslim growth. Growth of the church in its early days was spectacular! “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soul” (Acts 2:41). “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:14). “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

We are behind today, and losing ground, it seems. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I look forward to the study that predicts the church will double in twenty years. What is keeping that from happening? “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:41). Can we do the same?

[Editor’s Note: The excellent article last week by Bob Prichard contained an error.  He said, “Not all Muslims are terrorists, but virtually all terrorists are Muslims.”  According to the FBI’s website, Muslims were responsible for only 6% of terrorist attacks in the US from 1980 to 2005; which means that 94% of terrorists are not Muslim. The largest category by far (42%) is Latino terrorists, and they probably identify as Christian if anything. The second largest category (24%) is extreme left wing groups. There have actually been more terrorist attacks in the US by radical Jews (7%) than Muslims.]

David A. Bass

The Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So very much depends upon our being in Christ Jesus. For example: In Christ we find true happiness in this life; Hope in death; as well as an eternal home in heaven.

Every responsible, accountable person is in one of two places. We are either in the kingdom of Satan or the kingdom of Christ! There is no middle ground. In Matt. 12:30 Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me; & he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

The man who is “in Christ” has access to all spiritual blessings. We read in Eph. 1:3, “Blessed [be] the God & Father of our, Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Dear friends, all spiritual blessings are in Christ Jesus. Tragically, the man out of Christ has no access to them. Please don’t misunderstand, obviously all men are recipients of God’s physical blessings (rain, sunshine, etc.). Jesus said in Matt. 5:45b “…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil & on the good, & sendeth rain on the just & on the unjust.” But only those IN Christ enjoy the special blessings spoken of in Ephesians 1:3. Let’s consider a few of the blessings in Christ.

Salvation is only found “in Christ.” We read in 2 Tim. 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Forgiveness of sins is also found only “in Christ.” Col. 1:14 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Another spiritual blessing “in Christ” is Redemption. Paul wrote in Rom. 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” The word “redeemed” means to buy back. Christ has purchased us! With his blood he paid the price for our sins.

Sanctification is found only “in Christ.” Listen carefully to 1 Cor. 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs & ours.”

Christians are New Creatures “in Christ.” 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” As a new creature we enjoy a new relationship with God.

Continual cleansing of the blood of Christ is found only “in Christ.” 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, & the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” These blessings are vastly superior to the temporal blessings we enjoy & can only be had in Christ Jesus. We must not be more interested in the material than in the spiritual. We must get our priorities right if we are to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father. These spiritual blessings are among the most important things that we possess!

Author Unknown

God’s accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs. For example:

— the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days

— those of the canary in 14 days

— those of the barnyard hen in 21 days

— the eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days

— those of the mallard in 35 days

— the eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days

(Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)

God’s wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs… For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!

God’s wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains.

— Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind

— Each orange has an even number of segments

— Each ear of corn has an even number of rows

— Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains

— Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.

— The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather

All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundred fold—all even numbers. God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!

Daniel declared “There is a God in heaven!” (Daniel 2:28).

Do you know the only true and living God? Are you obeying Him? If not, why not?

David A. Bass

Attendance at EVERY Bible Study & Worship Service at Lay Lake Humanly Possible.    Heb. 10:25 says,  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: & so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” You are needed at Lay Lake!  Our meetings ought to the the highlight of our week.  Let’s have the attitude of  David who wrote, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalms 122:1).

Be EARLY At Every Assembly. Tardiness is nothing but a bad habit!  It is not tolerated by our schools or our employers.  Being early helps us mentally prepare for Bible class or worship.  It also shows others that spiritual matters are important in our life.  I was taught growing up that it is better to be one hour early than one minute late.

Teach Others The Gospel Of Christ. The mission of every Christian is the mission of Christ.  Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In Matt. 28:18-20 we read “And Jesus came & spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven & in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, & teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: &, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We need to be talking with others daily about their soul and salvation.  The power is not in us but in the gospel.  We read in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Real church growth only occurs when every member is teaching others.

100% Daily Bible Readers! Christians are commanded to study the word of God and to grow.   2 Pet. 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, & in the knowledge of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. . . .” Bible study must be a priority in our life if we are to please God. Sadly, our adult class has the lowest percentage of daily Bible readers each week.  Let’s change that this year!!!

Encourage One Another (Especially the Weak). We do this in the assembly and without.  Galatians 6:1 teaches, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” As already noted Hebrews 10:24,25 teaches that we are to “admonish” (encourage) one another.  We all need to be encouraged from time to time.

Take Time to Visit With Your Brothers and Sisters Before and After Every Service. The New Testament refers to Sunday as “the Lord’s Day.” It appears that some believe that it is the Lord’s hour.   Be careful not to plan so much on Sunday that you “rush out” as soon as the last “amen” is said and miss the joy of good fellowship.

Volume 6  Number 52

David A. Bass

Truly God has blessed America!!!  Even the poorest American is rich by the standards of the world.  Almost everyone in central Alabama  has a roof over their heads and plenty of food in their stomachs.  We need to take time to thank God for all that He has done and is continuing to do for us.

We should be thankful that we live in America! God has blessed this country beyond measure. Even those who have suffered the loss of property (fire, tornados, etc.) still enjoy the necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter (usually heated and air conditioned). However, we also enjoy many luxuries such as one or more automobiles, computers, work saving appliances, televisions, internet, cell phones, stereos, travel, etc.  Count the cars in McDonalds or Jacks parking lots.  Many people who live in other countries only dream of such! We should be thankful for the peace that exists in America and that no major wars have been fought on American soil in over two hundred years. We should be thankful for the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press and the right to free speech. Only in America do we enjoy such abundant blessings.  James 1:17 says,   “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

We should also be thankful for our families and friends who can and do provide us with the support that we need. God has blessed us by providing the family structure that we read about in the Bible.  Parents, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews make life enjoyable. We should be thankful that our children are not taken away from their homes at an early age and sent away to learn to fight or to work as slave laborers.  We should thank God everyday for our families, friends and neighbors!

We should be thankful for life and especially for good health.  We all have our aches and pains from time to time, but these ought to make us appreciate being healthy and feeling good. We ought to live each day to its fullest and make the most out of life. We should enjoy life and live each day realizing that it may be our last (James 3:13-15).  We need to remember that life can end very abruptly.  A split second can see our physical lives ended.  Realizing that life is short, we need to be making preparation for eternity.

We ought to especially be thankful for the Love of God!  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  Salvation from sin and the hope of heaven which is found “in Christ” (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:9) were provided because of God’s love for man. Because of God’s great love He has given us the Bible which contains His will for us. We should also be thankful that God provides eternal life after death (Matthew 25:46) for those who are prepared.

Even though we sometimes suffer the loss of our possessions (due to flood, storms or fire), we need to take time to count our blessings! We should do this everyday! The psalmist declared, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalms 100:3,4).

Let’s be thankful each and every day and may God continue to bless us as we enter 2012!

Volume 6 Number 51

Steve Higginbotham

I’ve been reading in the news lately of several churches who are deciding to cancel their Bible classes and worship services on Christmas Day because it falls on Sunday. Several rather influential churches have announced that they are closing their doors on Christmas day, which of course, falls on Sunday this year. Apart from the obvious inconsistency in this practice and their oft repeated statement, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” there is another factor I would like for you to consider.

According to these churches, the reason for closing their doors on Christmas is because they value families, and want families to be able to spend time together. Having to schedule opening presents, a meal with all the trimmings, and all that goes along with Christmas, around Bible study and worship service is considered to inconvenient, so those who have preached we need to put “Christ back into Christmas,” will be locking the doors to their houses of worship, keeping those who have accepted their message locked outside in the cold.

But now consider. Where will this end? How long will it take for someone to see the logical end of such a position, and call for its practice. Imagine this Spring the following AP News Headline…Churches Cancel Worship Services Since Easter Falls On Sunday. “In order to promote family time, churches across America will be closing their doors on Easter Sunday so that families won’t be inconvenienced with having to schedule their Easter egg hunts and Easter egg paintings around Bible study and worship…”

Who are we fooling? This isn’t about valuing family. It’s about individualism. It’s about consumerism. It’s about having what we want, when we want it, the way we want it.  And apparently, even God can’t be allowed to get in the way.

Friends, while I value my family and respect others who value theirs, I am reminded that family should not be elevated about my relationship to the Lord.  It was Jesus who said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” Luke 14:26. [“hate” means to ‘love less’ - d.b.].

Are these churches really prepared to stand by their logic which elevates family over the Lord when special occasions fall on Sunday? If so, I wonder what will occur on Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Labor Day Weekend, 4th of July, President’s Day, Groundhog Day, etc… I guess time will tell.

Richard & Tina Kleiss

Every feature and function of a bird’s body testifies to design. From the moment they lay their eggs to their yearly migrations across the globe, birds provide eloquent testimony to their Creator. While most birds have been given instincts to build strong nests to protect their eggs, the guillemot does not build any nest. Instead, guillemots simply lay their eggs on bare windswept rocks. Their eggs are shaped in such a way, however, that when the wind blows, they spin in place, instead of rolling off the rocks. Who programmed the guillemots to form their eggs in exactly the right shape in order to survive in their harsh environment, whereas other sea birds produce ordinary shaped eggs and build nests to protect these eggs? How do hundreds of species of birds migrate thousands of miles every year at the right time and to the right place? Every fall the American golden plover youngsters make an astounding 3,000 mile flight across the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to the island of Hawaii, with no parent to guide them. They fly through the darkness, clouds and storms, and land at the correct destination. Their bodies are so efficient that they only burn two ounces of body weight on this incredible 3,000 mile flight. Who designed their bodies with this extraordinary efficiency, taught these birds to navigate, and gave them the desire to make this journey?

Volume 6 Number 48

Bob Prichard

Although the metric system has never been fully implemented in the United States, it is still important, because our measurements, such as the pound, are derived from the metric system. The pound is derived from a one kilo metal cylinder (90% platinum and 10% iridium) in Sevres, France. That standard kilo is equivalent to exactly 2.2046 pounds. Seven exact copies of the standard kilo, called prototypes, are triple locked in a safe in Sevres. There is a problem, though, because the prototypes have begun to diverge in weight. While the differences are extremely small (50 micrograms or less), scientists are concerned, and don’t know why the changes have happened (Elizabeth Weise, “Scientists ask: Is the kilo losing weight?” USA Today, April 19, 2011, p. 3B).

The international standards date to the French revolution of 1789, when measurements varied from one country to another. French scientists developed standard weights, lengths, etc. The problem that should concern us is that small shifts in the standard can add up to larger and larger changes.

The Bible, of course, is our standard—and it is an unchanging standard.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Proverbs 22:8 and 23:10 warn, “Remove not the ancient landmark.” Removing the landmarks meant removing that from which everything was measured.

We agree that the Bible is our standard, but how often do we ask ourselves if we are really adhering to God’s standard? Do we know it well enough to measure our lives by the standard? Are we ever guilty of letting the standard change? Do we have one standard for others concerning love, honesty, etc. for others, and another for ourselves?

Volume 6 Number 49

David A. Bass

You and I, as Christians, owe something to the local church (Lay Lake Church of Christ).  This is true by virtue of our membership therein.

Because we are American citizens we owe something to our country.  Because we are members of our families we owe something to our families.  Such is also true with the Lay Lake Church of Christ.

Are we actively contributing to the Lord’s body at Lay Lake or do we just show up from time to time for Bible study and worship?  Do we appease our conscious by dropping a few dollars a week in the collection and attending occasionally!

As a member of the church at Lay Lake can we be depended on seven days a week?  It seems that some look for any and every opportunity to “be away” from their spiritual family.  These people cannot be depended on to participate in the worship assembly (lead singing; lead prayer; make announcements or pass the elements of the Lord’s Supper).  They cannot be depended on to teach a Bible class; attend Men’s meetings, monthly devotionals; work days, etc.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God [church - d.b.] and his righteousness. . .” (Matthew 6:33).  What does first really mean?

Our greatest need is a sense of congregational responsibility!  Yes, we can attend Bible study or worship while away from Lay Lake, but we cannot fulfill the command of Hebrews 10:24,25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” When we are away from Lay Lake we cannot “provoke unto love and to good works” or “exhort one another.” YOU are greatly missed when you are away!

Brethren, we must love the church at Lay Lake!  We must be concerned about the church at Lay Lake!  We must be interested in the church at Lay Lake!  We must be loyal to the church at Lay Lake!  We must be actively involved in the church at Lay Lake.

We teach our children that if they are on a “team” that the team comes first!  We make sure that they are at practice and early for every game.  We make sure that they practice and prepare.  We make sure that they get plenty of rest before games.  We often volunteer (sell tickets, work in concession stand, etc.).  We arrange our schedule “around” their sport.  Should we do any less as Christians for the church at Lay Lake?

Is the Lord and His body at Lay Lake first in our life?  Where is our loyalty?  As we look ahead to 2012 let’s resolve to make Lay Lake stronger by all doing our part!