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Treasure Digest
Does It Matter What You Believe?Ten years ago, most of us had to struggle with issues of doctrine. The Church of God was being tested more than at any other time in our recollection. There were issues of belief, of loyalty, of trust. Now, 10 years later, is doctrine all that important to you? Jesus taught a very significant lesson to His disciples in Matthew 16:5-12 about the importance of the true doctrines or teachings of the Bible. He had told the disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees," but they did not understand at first. Finally they understood He was warning them of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Today, all around us are those claiming to be Christians, espousing other doctrines or teachings. Like the self-righteous doctrines of the Pharisees, these can look and feel good, but they are not the doctrines of Jesus Christ we fought so hard to hold on to just a few years ago. Gary Petty gave a sermon last December that was circulated to all congregations as a video. Under the heading "Myth Number Four, Doctrine Doesn't Count," he discussed why people today don't like to have specific doctrinal beliefs. He went on to say (with a note of sarcasm), "Well that would mean some things are wrong and that makes me judgmental and I can't be judgmental... The whole idea of humanity is to be made... into the children of God. Once you remove that concept—that doctrine—we make God like us. We make God in our image." In the days following the first New Testament Pentecost we read of the new Church, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Act 2:42, emphasis added). If we are to remain faithful to God, we must also continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine. —Knute Josifek [ back to top ] The Tribulation Has Begun and a Bomb Has Hit Our House!When I was about 5, my parents started listening to Mr. Armstrong's broadcast on the radio and receiving literature from the Church of God. A lot was said about the Great Tribulation—the worst time ever in the history of man—the time that, if not shortened, would end in all flesh being killed (Matthew 24:21-22). It was the ‘60s, and there were race riots, people being killed, businesses burned and robbed. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. One day—all of a sudden—there was a loud noise and lots of smoke! The house shook, and the windows in the kitchen broke. I desperately wondered, Is it world war? Has a bomb been dropped on us? I was afraid because I knew we weren't obeying God. We kept most of the commandments, paid tithes, but didn't yet keep the Sabbath. That day the Tribulation was very real to me, and was something I greatly feared. Of course, that explosion wasn't the start of world war. My parents were washing dishes and cooking a turkey in the pressure cooker. My mom looked at the gauge and said, "The pressure isn't coming up." My parents were standing next to the pressure cooker when it exploded! First it went down and then up. The stove was completely destroyed. The top of the pot went through the roof, and landed on the ground with the safety plug still intact. If the cooker had gone to the side, instead of up, we might have all been killed. The kitchen walls had strings of turkey all over them. We were spared that day, and I began to take seriously the command to "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape" the Tribulation and to stand before Christ (Luke 21:36). I repented and was baptized when I was about 18. I've come to realize that we are being prepared to teach and help others in God's Kingdom by living a Christian life and preaching the gospel now. I still don't look forward to the Tribulation, but with God's help, I don't worry about it as much. God promises that all things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28)—even exploding turkeys. —June Barrett [ back to top ] Pillars of Wisdom: Wisdom vs. FoolishnessIn biblical wisdom literature, the opposite of a wise person is a fool. Solomon, in Proverbs 8 and 9, personifies wisdom and foolishness as two women. Wisdom is a woman who leads those who listen to her to God and life. Her ways have more value than any amount of physical wealth. On the other hand, the woman named Folly leads her followers to death. The book of Proverbs is filled with explanations of the differences in character, behavior and results of a life based on wisdom and one based on folly. Points to Build On Character traits of the foolish: Proverbs 12:15: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes..." Proverbs 14:16: "... a fool rages and is self-confident." NIV: "... a fool is hotheaded and reckless." Proverbs 19:3: "The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the L ord ." NIV: "A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the L ord ." Proverbs 27:22: "Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him." Proverbs 28:26: "He who trusts his own heart is a fool..." Behavioral traits of the foolish: Proverbs 10:23: "To do evil is like sport to a fool..." Proverbs 14:15: "The simple believes every word..." Proverbs 15:14: "... the mouth of the fool feeds on foolishness." Proverbs 17:24 (NIV): "... a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth." Proverbs 26:11: "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Proverbs 29:11 (NIV): "A fool gives full vent to his anger..." Results of being foolish: Proverbs 10:13: "... a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding." Proverbs 14:9: "Fools mock at sin..." Proverbs 17:25: "A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him." Proverbs 18:6-7: "A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul." Application Solomon concludes that a foolish person is self-centered, arrogant and controlled by his or her own emotions. The fool is unable to accept correction from others and refuses to accept responsibility for the consequences of decisions, but instead blames God. The result is a lifestyle based on self-ordained concepts of right and wrong instead of obedience to God, immediate physical pleasure instead of personal character, repetition of mistakes, restless wandering void of peace, and relationships filled with strife. Wisdom is something to be pursued, with value more than gold or precious stones. One of the cornerstones of wisdom is taking responsibility for personal decisions. Copy proverbs and wise sayings into a small book and review them daily. When you read a proverb, take a few minutes to consider how its simple wisdom can be applied to everyday life. —Gary Petty [ back to top ] The Power of MultiplicationRecently, in an outbreak of ants in the city I live in, I was able to zero in on the lesson of synergism (the power of teamwork). The house I live in and the surrounding yard became infested with tiny black ants, and I had to engage in a do-it-yourself project to sort out the problem. After much effort and time, just when I thought the problem was resolved, the ants moved to another level—off the ground and onto the walls. They were outwitting me and making it really difficult to get rid of them because they were moving in colonies. Such tiny creatures, but together they had much strength and perseverance. A few months ago, our pastor was also subjected to an ant problem. His telephone line was down for days as an army of ants had invaded the main communication box. This problem had to be sorted out by telecommunications services. In a sermon Richard Pinelli described this teamwork (synergy) as the power of multiplication. The efforts of one are limited. But when combined with another, instead of just adding, their efforts together can multiply. In Revelation 3 the Philadelphia church is described as one with little strength, yet accomplishing much. This kind of teamwork begins with everyone being of the same mind, working toward a common goal and not underestimating the power of synergism. That is probably why there were 12 disciples instead of just one. That's also why our new president called a worldwide fast to focus our minds on being of the same mind and same spirit. Together we can go on to accomplish much! —Patti-Ann Naidoo [ back to top ] Preparing for Our ExaminationAt my first Sabbath service in God's Church, I was told by a member leading the congregation that day that we are here to learn God's way so we can teach it in the world tomorrow (God's Kingdom). A teacher in this passing world needs to go through thorough training, like listening to lectures and taking examinations, to be a qualified teacher. To qualify for anything you have to thoroughly learn to do all that the field entails. We, the chosen of God, are set apart (1 Peter 2:9-10) to be teachers in God's Kingdom to come. What are we doing with the lectures (sermons and sermonettes) and our tests (trials)? Do we learn from the trials and tests of everyday life, instead of complaining about them? Judgment has begun in God's Church (1 Peter 4:17), and some will fall away (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:3-4) by whom the way of truth will be blasphemed (Mark 3:28-29; Hebrew 10:26-30). God has been telling us not to be ignorant of Satan's devices, telling us that the trials (tests) we face, in our personal lives, as families and even as a Church, prepare us for our final examination (Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:12), after which our Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to make us qualified teachers in His Kingdom! Awake, brethren (1 Thessalonians 5:6-10)! Be ready, for we are Christ's (2 Timothy 3:12) and must face our final examination soon! Blessed are those who overcome (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) for their reward is with Him (Revelation 22:12-13). Be prepared! —Samson Osajie [ back to top ] A Most Precious GiftHave you ever received a gift that was one of a kind? A gift that you could never replace if it was lost or stolen? A gift that you couldn't buy with all the money in the world? How would you take care of that gift? My story is about a man who received a pocket watch from his father. This man adored his father's watch. He always had it with him, and he was continuously polishing and caring for it. It was an exquisite watch with a gold case. It had been handcrafted for his father, and it was truly one of a kind. This man, let's call him Jim, took very good care of that watch. He had it cleaned and maintained once a year by a local jeweler who had an impeccable reputation for watch repair. He also kept the outside of the watch in immaculate condition. To see the watch you would think it was brand new. It kept extremely accurate time. Jim never seemed to grow tired of caring for that watch. Have you ever received a truly precious gift like Jim's? Well, in fact, we all have. It is the gift of grace from our Heavenly Father. We couldn't buy it with all the money in the world. There is no way we can earn this gift. But, just like Jim with his father's watch, we must cherish this gift. We must keep it with us at all times and polish it continuously, so to speak. Jim's father had left Jim some instructions on how to care for the watch. Jim was diligent to follow those instructions, and the results were that he had an old watch that looked as good and ran as well as it did when it was new. Our Heavenly Father has given us a most precious gift, and along with it some instructions so that the gift can be enjoyed for eternity. Are we diligently following those instructions? If Jim hadn't followed his father's instructions concerning that pocket watch, it would have soon started to look old, and over time it would have stopped keeping good time. It probably would have stopped running altogether at some point. The same is true about our gift from God. If we ignore our Father's instructions, the gift will start to lose its luster, not because the gift is flawed, but because we have neglected to keep it in tip-top condition. Many today say that once we receive this gift from God, we don't need to do anything but accept it. I hope you see the fallacy in that thinking. If all we need to do is accept the gift, then why has our Father given us instructions for its upkeep? We are to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). How do we do that if we don't follow His instructions? Unfortunately, Jim lost that watch he loved so much because of an unfortunate accident. Jim refused to talk about it, but his wife said it was lost one evening when they were out. It seems the chain broke and somehow the watch must have fallen out of Jim's pocket, never to be seen again. Unlike Jim's watch, our most precious gift cannot be lost by accident. The only way we can lose it is through neglect. We must read our Father's instructions and follow them to properly care for His gift. Let's diligently follow those instructions to make certain our Father's gift will last a lifetime and beyond. —Gary Hasselbusch [ back to top ] Sabbath BeaconBefore electronic navigation was invented, airplane pilots had used airport beacon lights to find airports when flying at night. In fact, some small pleasure aircraft may still use the beacons. Likewise, ship captains for centuries used lighthouse beacons along the shore to help them navigate the dark nights. Similarly, millennia ago God established a beacon that would help the people of this world find their way in a spiritually dark world. On Mount Sinai, God established a special covenant concerning the Sabbath. He told Moses, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the L ord who sanctifies you'... It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever" (Exodus 31:13, 17). According to Strong's Concordance, the word translated "sign" can mean, among other things, a signal such as a beacon. A beacon is a guiding or warning signal. Often it is an alternating light, such as the airport beacon that alternates between green and white every few seconds. For those who are truly seeking God's way of life in this spiritually dark world, the Sabbath is like a beacon that alternates every seventh day of the week showing the way to Jesus Christ, the true light of the world, and to the true Church of God. —Bill Faith [ back to top ] An Answer in the Midst of TrialMost of us believe that to lose a child is one of the greatest trials we can ever face. Years ago, I faced that trial when the baby I was carrying for seven months died in the womb. The following Monday, I was in the hospital having had induced labor that lasted about 10 hours. The nurse gave my baby to me to hold and examine. For a few moments, I felt an odd sense of peace for the little one and a half pound daughter I held. I had planned on naming her Rachel. Later, the hospital staff came in and told me that Rachel could be sent to be buried in a funeral of our choice, or I could allow the hospital to cremate her free of cost. I knew money was tight and wondered what I should do. I would have liked to have a quiet little funeral. I knew my (now former) husband preferred no cost, but he said I could choose. Alone in the hospital bed, I fervently prayed to God for help. When I was done praying, the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego just "popped" into my head. I thought about Daniel 3:8-30 and especially verses 17 and 18 where these three men knew God would deliver them at the time and, if not, they had confidence in His plan anyway. If Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego had died in that fire, would God have still raised up their bodies even if they had been burned in the hottest of fires until there was no sign of them left? Will God raise up all the people who have ever died in fires or been cremated? Of course He would and of course He will! I had my answer. It will be OK. —Carolyn Prater [ back to top ] There Are No Atheists in FoxholesConsider this verse: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!" (Psalm 4:1). David is calling God to hear him and listen to him—to take David's desires, needs and safety under consideration. He is in deep trouble and needs help now! I never was in war, so I can't share from personal experience. But I know Robert's story. He was one of three young men in a foxhole in Korea. Not far from them was an enemy foxhole, with another three young men in it. A grenade was thrown from that foxhole, and landed near Robert's foxhole. Suddenly his two fellow soldiers were dead, Robert's lungs were pierced with shrapnel and the enemy was coming to finish the job. Despite his injuries, he had to continue fighting for his life. Eventually he won the battle, and began a three-day trek, literally crawling back to his unit. If Robert had not made it back and received medical care, I could not tell the story. Robert was my father. Many of us have heard this phrase: "There are no atheists in foxholes." God knows what goes on in foxholes, the urgent prayers of both sides. At this time, though, He is not intervening much in the affairs of this world. The Pharisees were partially correct in what they said: "God does not hear sinners" (John 9:31). It's a completely different story, however, when the sinner is repentant. David knew this. He often found himself in similar distresses, his life in imminent danger. He urgently prayed to God, just like the men in the foxholes. David knew he needed forgiveness and mercy. He also knew that God would hear, rescue and restore him. David was well aware that he had much to go through, but he was privileged to know how the situations would end. Therefore, he trusted God to work it out. We can trust, as David did, and these words will echo true in our lives: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O L ord , make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). We may not be in a literal war, but we all have our foxholes and enemies that we need deliverance from. In those times, we can remember and take comfort in these words: "The L ord will hear when I call to Him" (Psalm 4:3). —Jim Gillespie [ back to top ] Turning the Hearts...Myths About TeensTeenage is an exciting yet challenging time. Young people are growing up physically, but emotionally and mentally they can't quite keep up with the physical growth. Teens receive their share of legitimate criticism; however they also receive unfair criticism. This is especially true when they are all painted by the same brush. Teenage is a time of rapid changes in mood and physique. Hormonal changes may complicate relations with family. Here are four major myths about teenagers: Myth #1—Teens are not quite normal. Actually they are normal for teens. We often forget that we had to go through the teen stage of development into mature human beings. So do they. Myth #2—Teenage is just a phase. Rather, teenage is an important transition from a boy to a young man and from a girl to a young lady. How we understand and handle that transition is crucial to our teenagers' well-being. Myth #3—All teens are alike. Teens go through this transition in different ways. Only a very small percentage has a rough transition. Don't paint all teenagers with the same brush. Myth #4—There will be a uniform growth pattern. Actually, there is quite a difference in how teens will grow through this transition period of their lives. How the young person handles this time of his or her life depends a lot on how much understanding he or she is given. Also contributing to the stability or lack thereof is the quality of the family life he or she experiences. So we may help our teens by understanding them and giving them space to grow through this challenging transition in their lives. Paul wrote, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11). Let's not be in so much of a hurry for them to grow up that we make the teen transition more complicated and difficult than it needs to be. Let's show our teenagers the unconditional love that God expects us to give (Luke 15:20). Let's remember what it was like to be a teenager ourselves (1 Corinthians 9:22). May God help our teens and us as we mature both physically and spiritually and achieve loving family relationships. —Gary E. 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