THE TURBULENCE AND TRANQUILITY OF “THOMAS”

William Andrew Dillard

Ranking high among the pleasures of reading God’s Word is vicariously identifying with its cast of characters. Perhaps it is the unshakable focus and patience of Noah that inspires us or the unwavering faith of Abraham. Isaac brings calmness to the soul, while adventuresome excitement flows from trickster Jacob. Joseph inspires us in all our troubles as does Job, but what could be more of an emotional roller coaster than the life of Moses. On and on the chronicles of life itself in so many contexts speak loudly to us of what is right or wrong, good and bad. Who could have had a greater storybook life than David or Solomon, or the austerity, faithfulness, and fortitude of the impressive prophets. But some largely prefer to identify with the apostles. John was so trusting and loving. Peter was so impulsive and often wrong. Paul was a trail-blazing evangelist and doctrinal instructor. But there is another that claims a lion’s share of connection in many disciples in every generation. It is Thomas who is more often than not referred to as “Doubting Thomas.”
Often pushed into the back recesses of heart and mind, the more open doubts of our “Thomas” are hidden away. Out of view by others, he will command the mental easy chair of meditation or the center stage of a mind unwilling to surrender to nightly rest, calling into question some things deeply embedded as unchangeable truth. Our personal “Thomas” seems to strongly raise questions, affirm denial, and cause one to flounder in the pool of amazement over what is long known to be truth in the absolute.
The biblical Thomas knew the Lord, he received heaven’s baptism at the hands of John the Baptist, and positively responded to the call of Jesus. He loved the Lord and soaked up so much of Jesus’ teachings. The crucifixion threw him for a loop as it did most of the apostles. But not being present at the early appearances of the resurrected Christ, his knowledge consisted of the reports of the others who had seen Him. But no one rises from the dead. Four thousand years of consistent history proved it. But his brethren were not given to false statements. He wanted so much for it to be so, but determined he would not believe it until he had personally seen Him himself. What a time that was when Jesus appeared to them all inside a locked room, and he was bidden both to see and to feel the body of Jesus. A new level of solidification enveloped him as the turbulence gave way to tranquility.
That process of turbulence to tranquility is the prospective joy for every disciple who will stop long enough to meet with Jesus in the room of His Holy Word. When your “Thomas” finds his way to center stage, allow Jesus to speak as He did so long ago: “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27.

JOYOUS LAUGHTER OF THE AGES

William Andrew Dillard

Often in the ancient languages, new words were coined from sounds. Such are recognized today as onomatopoeic, or mimicking words. This was the case in the naming of the first woman, our mother Eve, whose name in Hebrew was Havvah, coined from the sound of inhaling and exhaling. It is also true in the case of the patriarch, Isaac.
I recently surprised some friends who offered me a Snicker candy bar by stating, “This is a scriptural candy bar.” “What on earth do you mean?” was the reply. I answered, “When the Lord promised Abraham and Sarah a son in their very old age, she snickered.” The comment opened an interesting conversation.
Revisiting the Genesis story, Abraham was approaching 100 years of age; Sarah was approaching eighty-five years of age. Ishmael had already been born years earlier to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid. Offered to God as Abraham’s heir, he was rejected of the Lord. The heir would be the promised son born to both Abraham and Sarah. Now, at their advanced age, the very idea that the couple should have a conjugal relationship, even more, that conception and birth should occur to one whose cycles of life had long ceased was overwhelming. Sarah snickered! But, not out of unbelief that God could make it happen, but at the very prospect of she and her husband having such pleasure once again, and it resulting in a child.
Consequently, when the male child was born to them, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was eighty-five years old. They remembered their overwhelming reaction to the prospect, and named him with a new word that mimicked the sound of laughter: “Isac, sac, sac;” hence, Isaac (Laughter).
Today, when we consider the wonder of the myriad promises God has given to us: some fulfilled, others coming soon, we laugh at such blessings: from the provision of the Redeemer, to the wonder of the new birth, to the prospects of resurrection, to living in the millennium in an immortal body; to the sight of universal cataclysm, to witnessing a new universe created; to seeing and enjoying the New Jerusalem, but most of all getting to spend eternity with the altogether Wonderful, Only Begotten Son of God, we laugh! Not a laughter of doubt or skepticism, but a laughter of overwhelming wonder at the prospect of it all happening to us….and…we think of Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, their important son of laughter…and we laugh with sheer joy, again, a laughter that reverberates through the ages!

ISRAEL: WHOSE LAND IS IT?

ISRAEL: WHOSE LAND IS IT?

William Andrew Dillard
Parson to Person

Visits to middle eastern countries early in my ministry empowered teaching, preaching, and writing about those places. They live in reminiscence helping certain lessons to come alive. There is a story of one witnessing occasion in Israel which has underscored an important truth through the years. If readers thought by these lines I was going to share it, they are correct.
Things were so politically sticky that there had to be an Israeli guide on board the vehicle in charge of destinations and information. But, when in predominately Arab places, an Arab guide had to be in charge. Sometimes, both would be present when travel included both areas.
The Arab guide proudly spoke of the significance of monuments and places. He also emphasized that this land belonged to his Arab people since they were the descendants of Abraham.
When the Jewish guide was in charge, he spoke of the marvelous advancement his people had given the land since 1948. He went on to say that this land belonged to the Jewish people since it was their long ancestral home, and it was given to them by Abraham through Isaac. It was interesting.
In a brief period of silence, I spoke to them asking again about ownership of the land. Each reaffirmed such ownership as they had previously stated. They were both wrong. The truth of the matter is that the land was promised to the seed of Abraham through Isaac. And in the words of Paul, God said not seeds as of many, but as of one, and that seed is Christ Jesus. Therefore those who are in Christ are the inheritors of the land. Well, one can imagine: that bit of theology went over like a ton of bricks crossing the Atlantic. But it made for a most interesting and provocative conversation. perhaps no one had brought that to their attention, at least in that way. But it is nevertheless true.
The time is not far away when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. His church which has borne the heat of the age in good testimony will inherit with Him, moreover we shall be the inheritance to Him as well.
A number of scriptures in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah speak of the details of that marvelous Day of our Lord. In that day, the full promise of boundaries will be given to God’s people. Additionally, they shall rule and reign with Him in a curse-removed earth for a thousand years of peace that will bring unparalleled prosperity and goodness to the whole earth, and to the myriads of people multiplied on it. It will be an environment free of satanic influence and extended human life. All will enjoy astronomical agricultural abundance. In that day from pole to pole, and wherever east meets west, the land will be freed from the curse of sin, and blessed for everyone! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

DRINKING FROM MY BEER

HEBREW HONEYCOMB

William Andrew Dillard
DRINKING FROM MY BEER

Wait! Please read the story before calling for the tar and feathers! It is indeed interesting to note the aurora of meanings surrounding words whose basic definition is unknown to us. A typical example are the words “beer” and “Beersheba.” “Beersheba” has a sort of romantic ring to it, and one may imagine some great and noble thing is alluded to by the compound word.
However, the word “beer” is actually a Hebrew word, hijacked by breweries, and inserted into the English language bodily (transliteration)> The Hebrew Word actually translates as “well” as in a well of water. Places which sell brewed drinks may be referenced as “watering holes.” Of course, such perverted usage of terms is clearly understood in that context as having nothing to do with plain and simple water.
The word “Sheba” is the Hebrew word for the cardinal number “seven.” So, one may wonder just how the cardinal number seven came to be joined to the word for “well” to create “Beersheba” (well of seven). Here is an interesting story. There was controversy over the ownership of a well of water that Abraham laid claim to as having actually dug. In a covenant of peace with the inhabitants of that country Abraham gave their prince seven ewe lambs as the token of a covenant made between them that the well belonged to Abraham. Hence it is the well that was redeemed by a “gift of seven” lambs., Out of that context, Abraham called the place “Beersheba.”
Now read the story in Genesis 21, and you will never forget the history of Beersheba. That place still exists to this day, It is controlled by descendants of Ishmael, and is a town called Hebron. Here is Beersheba, and also the cave of Machpelah which was the burying place of Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.,
Far from being boring, aloof, and uninteresting, the Bible abounds with mountains of fascinating information to bless the lives of all who invest a little time and energy into it. The Old Testament truly is a treasure house of “Hebrew Honey.”

Run With Patience

 

Hebrews 12:1, 2

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus,” Hebrews 12:1, 2.

 

The context of Hebrews 12 is chapter 11. Here God listed many saints and how their faith produced works that give witness to us that God rewards faithfulness. There is also a lesson that our faithfulness inspires all those who are presently holding to our shirttails.

Abraham was faithful and patient, enduring hardships for Christ’s sake. Therefore, Isaac endured, looking for God’s city. Isaac was faithful; therefore, Jacob was faithful when he finally matured.

All these men were wealthy and could have built their own city. But, God had promised Abraham a city. Therefore, because Abraham believed God’s promise, Isaac and Jacob endured patiently, living in temporary tents.

Jacob both feet in the grave, never having seen the promise come to pass. But, he knew eventually it would become a reality because their father and their grandfather both lived their whole lives looking for that city.

Jesus has promised to come and take His children to the same city Abraham, Isaac and Jacob looked for.

 

 

JUST SAYING

Endure patiently for the sake of all those to whom your life is a witness.

Robert Brock

 

 

Abraham’s Faith

 

Genesis 15:6

 

“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness,” Genesis 15:6.

 

Abraham’s faith was not a passive, motionless faith, it was constantly in motion. Abraham believed in God and he believed God. When God told him to pack his bags and leave the country he knew for an unknown country, Abraham did it. He did not fight with God, He did not drag his feet or slack in any way. He packed up and headed out.

 

Why do we lack faith in the promises of God? The Bible has the answer. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:18, 20, 26). Had Abraham believed that God would make him a great nation and, yet, kept sitting in Haran, his inactivity would have exhibited his faith. Oh, how our churches and mission developments lack the faith of Abraham as evidenced by excessive amounts of money drawing interest in bank accounts, churchless communities and missionaries struggling to get needed funds. Large bank accounts do not demonstrate faith, rather the lack of it. Remember the Lord and the talents? (Matt. 25:14-30).

 

God tells us to go and to grow and yet, too often we sit idly by doing nothing but talking about what we should do, not acting in faith. Sadly, when Christ returns, He will find many church pews empty but their bank accounts full. God wants us to follow Him.To do this, we must put feet to the ground and depend on Him. He will bless our faith in Him and count it as righteous.

 

 

REFLECTION

 

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Heb. 11:8).

 

 

Beverly Barnett

 

Absent and Present

 

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

 

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:8.

 

 

 

Paul’s thesis in this passage is that we have two homes, one of the earth where we must live by faith. Since we cannot see our spiritual home with God, we long for that reunion when our yearning heart will be satisfied and at peace.

 

Often when children grow up and leave home, they find dreams do not come true so easily. After regrouping, they try their wings again until they, like Noah’s dove, can find a place of their own to lay their weary heads. Jesus told His would-be disciples, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). He knew this world was not His home. On the cross, He bowed His head and gave up the Spirit. In the Greek, the words “bowed his head” (John 19:30) are the same words as “lay his head.” On the cross, He finally found the place to lay His head. He had gone home.

 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived by faith as strangers and pilgrims in a strange land, believing God had prepared them a city, and they would one day dwell there and be satisfied and at peace. Going home gives the child of God inspiration to get out of bed each morning and fight the battles assigned to him that day.

 

Going through the throws of basic training and cutting the apron strings, I called home as often as I could. Finally, I got a furlough. I happily arrived home to find my three brothers had divided all my clothes and one was sleeping in my bed. It hit me hard. This is not your home anymore.

 

 

 

JUST SAYING

 

This world is not our home. We are pilgrims and strangers passing through, convincing as many as we can to go with us.

 

Robert Brock

 

113– April 23 – This Day in Baptist History Past

Evangelist of Power
Abraham Marshall was born on April 23, 1748. He was twenty-two when he was converted and twenty-seven when he was ordained. Soon after the death of his father, Daniel Marshall, Abraham assumed the pastorate of the Kiokee Church.   At the age of thirty-eight, he mounted his horse and became an amazing evangelist, preaching almost every day on the journey coming and going. Conversions were numerous and estimated in the hundreds.  Vast crowds came to hear him.  One hot Sunday in August in the state of Connecticut, he preached to 1,300 in the morning and then, after a brief rest, addressed 1,500 at 2 pm.  On another August Sunday he preached in Poquonock in Windsor, Connecticut, to 1,500, and in the same place on September 10, he addressed 3,500, which was the largest religious rally ever held in the vicinity.
These are just a few accounts that were recorded in his journal as he preached some 197 times in seven states.

Dr. Dale R. Hart: Adapted from:  This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, p. 165
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90 – March – 31 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

 

Abraham Marshall
Rode 2,200 miles to wed
1792 – Three days after Abraham Marshall arrived back from New England where he had gone seeking a wife, he spoke again of his intent on marriage.  The forty-four year old preacher and thirty-one year old maiden had a whirl-wind six day romance then the bold preacher proposed marriage and at 7 pm that evening, the couple were married before a group of friends.  Abraham had stopped at the John Waller home in Spottsylvania, Virginia on his way to the North where he met his daughter, the lovely Miss Ann Waller.  John Waller was the famed Separate Baptist preacher of that day.  Miss Ann proved to be of the same hardy stock, and the couple set off on their “horseback honeymoon,” which covered approximately five hundred and fifty miles.  Abraham told of his trip in his diary, how they swam rivers and creeks, chased loose horses, slept out under the stars, and shivered through cold and rainy days and dark nights, and ever meeting good friends…until three months absence to a day, found “us at home amid the tears, joys and congratulations of friends, on Big Kiokee.”   Ann proved to be a great blessing to her husbands  ministry.  The couple had four sons, and their oldest son Jabez, succeeded his father as pastor at Kiokee.  He wrote tenderly of his mother, “Through the whole of her life she was exemplarily pious…Often, when her husband was traveling and preaching the glad tidings of great joy to perishing sinners, would she collect her little family at home, her children and servants, and teach them and instruct them in the ways of truth…Often would sing with them, and collect them around her upon her knees, and supplicate the God in whom she had trusted, to bless her rising family.”  Ann died in 1815 at age 54, Abraham died in 1819 at age 72.  What an example for us.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon, from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson /, pp. 130.
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HEBREW – Judgment

 

mišpāt

 

The sixth term we see Scripture using of itself is judgment. The Hebrew mišpāt (H4941) is a masculine noun indicating a binding judicial decision that establishes a precedent. While the structure of American government is distinctively divided into branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—this was not the case in ancient times. When we see the word judgment we tend to think of something judicial only, but mišpāt is broader than that, indicating not only judging but also ruling.

 

Mišpāt is very common in the OT, appearing 417 times. Its first occurrence is in Gen_18:19, where God says of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Here is the first mention in Scripture of the importance of teaching our children. What should we be teaching them? Certainly not humanism and evolution, but rather the things of God, morality, and the precedents of Scripture.

 

My personal passion for Psalms 119 takes me to it often, and we find mišpāt there no less than twenty-three times. The first occurrence is in Psa_119:7 : “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments,” indicating that we praise God only when we follow the precedents set down in His Word. It is absolutely impossible to praise God fully unless His Word is our sole authority.

 

So not only does God’s Word give us precepts, as noted on February 18, but it also provides precedents. Just as an attorney will plead based on precedents to try to prove his case, the greatest schooling, the greatest lessons of life, the most important things we can learn (and then teach to our children and other believers) are the precedents set down in God’s Word. Tragically, many Bible interpreters ignore the precedents, the clear rulings of Scripture. One graphic example is the clear precedent in Scripture of the primacy of preaching. True biblical and expositional preaching (March 15) has all but vanished, being replaced by things that are “more appropriate to the modern mind,” it is argued, or “more appealing to the unchurched.”

 

Never has there been a greater need for “[declaring] all the judgments of [God’s] mouth” (Psa_119:13) than there is today, for it is only there we will find hope (Psa_119:43) and comfort (Psa_119:52) simply because those judgments are right (Psa_119:75).

 

Scriptures for Study: What else does Psalms 119 challenge us to do concerning God’s judgments (Psa_119:102; Psa_119:106; Psa_119:120, and Psa_119:164)?