MORALITY KNOWS NO MIDDLE GROUND!

William Andrew Dillard

Twenty-first century America is a land of self-exaltation. To many folks, laws, rules, guidelines reek with negative denotations. They cramp the individual style, and the most important thing to them is doing or being whatever one wants. So, one by one rules and guidelines are discarded and laws are changed to eliminate guilt. Wrongdoing is made justifiable and acceptable to the majority by making it legal. The Judeo-Christian ethic and morality that made this country a great nation is being summarily discarded in favor of personal desires long recognized as immoral.
Enter the debate on morality. What is moral? Is it not the high standard of living, and judgments graciously given to us by the Creator? But morality has become a negative to a godless generation. The same generation does not want to be classified as immoral either. So, is there a middle ground? That mindset employs a different term heard in public educational institutions and in other places as well. It is “amoral.” Codes of life; identification of what is good and evil; separation of sexes, etc., are all addressed in what is perceived to be the neutral ground of amorality. But does that vacuum exist? May civilization exist without clear guidelines of right and wrong?
By word definition, the prefix “a” is a negative as is the prefix “im.” Thus, the definition of “amoral” is “not moral.” The definition of “immoral” is “not moral.” They mean the same thing. “Amoral” is just another way of saying “immoral.” There is no moral vacuum! There is no middle ground!
Still, the world persists in the madness of depraved human nature. It is an indicator of the last days of the age. This is not happening in America alone, but is a worldwide ecumenical movement to exalt sinful humanity as indicated in the prophetic second Psalm. The few times it is mentioned in the Bible that God laughs, is in the same condemnatory context of Psalm 2:2-4. One day the “amorality” of the world will give way to screams for rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of Him Who is coming. So, cut it clean! It is either moral or it is immoral! There is no moral vacuum! Such is only the figment of imagination in the mind of depraved humanity.

GOD’S WILL

We should never fear the will of God

PRUNING

If we just prune the limbs

(of bad habits),

we just

STRENGTHEN

the ROOTS.

TAKE A STAND

When you take a stand

For Truth

you are going to have a head-on collision

With Error

WHAT DID ANANIAS DO THAT WAS SO RIGHT?

William Andrew Dillard

In Bible times, Ananias was a man of God who lived in or near Damascus. It was to this same man that the Lord appeared in a vision, and gave to him a very special task to perform.
Ananias was sent to minister to the most feared prosecutor of God’s people in his generation: Saul of Tarsus. Ananias knew well the reputation of this man, and the very reason he had come into the area of Damascus. So, what did Ananias do that was so right?
To make a longer story short, he obeyed the Lord! Even though he feared Saul of Tarsus, he feared God more. Ananias did not know about the Damascus Road experience of Saul, but he did know his Lord. It was enough for him that God said “Go to him.” Wonderful things happen when God’s people listen to the Lord and are obedient to Him.
Ananias would never have been known by today’s generation except he obeyed the Lord. He was the human instrument who baptized Saul and whom God used to restore his sight. Because he obeyed, he became a living part of the blessed Word of God for all time.
Ananias was not asked to do a great, near impossible feat. He was asked to simply do the bidding of his Lord; to do what he could do: but it was something most others could not do. This is a very important part of the story. Only John the Baptist originally had the authority from heaven to baptize. That authority was given to the Lord’s church upon Jesus’ ascension. Others might have dipped Saul in water, but it would not have been a heaven-recognized baptism, nor would Saul have received his sight. The Holy Spirit accompanies heaven’s authorized baptism, and spiritual eyes are opened to spiritual things that the carnal mind cannot receive. Great blessings flowed from the act of obedience and that is so right!
Today, many have the attitude: “Let someone else do it.” God does not want someone else to do it. He wants His people; His churches to do it. He has authorized no other. We have opportunity to witness and heaven’s authority to baptize, and to teach all things Jesus commanded. Because we can do this we should, no, we must do it. Moreover, when we obey the Lord, great blessings will come as a result. Folks will be saved. Some will be baptized. The church will grow, lives will be changed, and glory will rebound to the Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, and that is so right!

I WALKED A MILE

I walked a mile with pleasure,

She chatted all the way

But left me none the wiser for all she had to say.

I walked a mile with sorrow

and not a word said she,

But of the things I learned from sorrow when sorrow

walked with me.

William Barclay

WHAT DID LAZARUS’ SISTER DO THAT WAS SO RIGHT?

William Andrew Dillard

Mary, the sister of Lazarus also had a sister named Martha. Mary was a common name in Biblical times. Consequently, that name appears often. What most people remember about Mary the sister of Lazarus is that she chose to sit at Jesus feet and learn of heavenly things rather than concern herself with food preparation. That choice brought rebuke from Martha, but praise from Jesus.
A more notable deed that Mary did is also recorded in the gospels. Near to the time of Jesus’ betrayal and subsequent crucifixion, He visited the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary as He had done several times before. On this occasion, Mary brought out a box of very expensive ointment and anointed the body of Jesus. Again, there was criticism. Some of the apostles wondered why the waste when the ointment could have brought a handsome price in the market place and the money given to the poor. But again, Jesus upheld her actions, knowing her true motive. She had anointed Jesus body for burial, something no one else had done or even thought about.
Because Mary put Jesus above earthly things and chose to learn of Him, she was given spiritual insight, and she comprehended things others had not. Therefore she was enabled to provide special service and honor to Jesus and that was so right!
Mary’s opportunity was not singularly hers. Others were there. Others had followed Jesus. Others had heard Him speak of being crucified. But it was Mary who understood and did what she could.
It is much the same way today. Everyone has access to a Bible. Everyone can be saved. Everyone can gain much spiritual insight into the things of God if they dedicate themselves to gaining it.
Moreover, one can be sure that even the best of deeds done from a pure heart will suffer criticism. Sometimes that comes from those who consider themselves to be close followers of Jesus. However, it is what God approves that is important.
Mary and her deeds were incorporated into the Word of God, and every generation since has knowledge of her. She was a shinning example, and while she enjoys heavenly rest, those wonderful deeds still multiply and follow her to God’s glory and her eternal reward.
One day the same will be true of all of God’s people who put Jesus first in their life. This will make the Judgment Seat of Christ a most rich and rewarding event for all such disciples, and that is so right!

HEAVEN

to believe in heaven

Is not to run away from life

it is to run toward it.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not given for your enjoyment

but for your employment.

CHRISTIAN LIFE

The Christian life is like riding a bicycle,

you are either moving forward,

or you are falling off.