________________<BrethrenVoice>________________ [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: brethrenvoice-owner@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> Archives/Read online: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] _____________________________________________ <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <25 September 2002> Contents: --------- (1) <Devotional> "The fourth element " - Ravi Zacharias (2) <Devotional> "Joseph, beloved of the father" (Pt-4) - C.E.Wigg (3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-36)- A.W.Pink (1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> THE FOURTH ELEMENT Ravi Zacharias We have come to the final factor necessary for bringing meaning to life: security. This seems to be most sought in the waning years. Beginning with wonder in childhood, through the pursuit of truth in adolescence and the fulfilment of love in the adult years, as we age we feel acutely that longing for security. Wonder may fade with the breakdown of the body. Truth brings the reality of an end to earthly existence. Love will soon be a thing of the past if death is the end of all consciousness. Where, then, does one find the security that can regain the wonder, know the truth, and enjoy the love? The longing for life beyond the grave does not of itself establish that there is life beyond the grave, but this hunger does speak of our need to know the truth about death. I had the privilege of speaking in Vietnam during the military conflict. It was an experience that changed my life; the conversations with military personnel are etched in my memory. One of those memories is a poem given to me, written by an American soldier. He told of a life-defining night when he was caught in the crossfire of battle while a war within his own mind raged. He heard within his mind the voices of friends from his youth who had convinced him of a universe devoid of God. But now as he gazed at the starlit sky, he wondered whether his friends had ever taken the time to marvel at its sight. In the eerie silence of the night, he surrendered his doubt to God, and penned these words: "Funny I had to come to this hellish place before I had time to see your face...Strange, now since I met you, I'm not afraid to die." One may dismiss this "foxhole conversion," for in the face of death one desperately hopes there is something beyond the grave. But the spectre of death is real and we cannot dismiss its inescapable question: Is there a God beyond the grave and the security of heaven for those who know Him? Consider again Soren Kierkegaard's conclusion in his search for meaning: Only by learning to define life backwards was he able to live it forwards. The final state of life directed the present path chosen. Four essential components to meaning: wonder, truth, love, and security. All four are found in the person of Jesus Christ, who alone brings meaning at every age of life, even bringing security beyond the grave. --- Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. _______________________________________________________________________ (2) <DOCTRINAL> JOSEPH, BELOVED OF THE FATHER (PART-4) Charles E. Wigg .... However in spite of the brutal, shameful, humiliating treatment that he received at the hands of his brothers, there is no suggestion that he complained, or cursed his brothers. It is said of the Lord Jesus, that "when He was reviled, He reviled not again: when He suffered, He threatened not;" Instead His holy lips poured out words of grace and comfort. Blessed be His holy name! Joseph's anguish of soul was such that his brothers were never able to forget what they saw and heard. Twenty years later we hear them say, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw his anguish of soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear". Gen. 42;21 Our Lord Jesus also experienced terrible anguish of soul, both before, and in the garden of Gethsemane. None of us will ever know the anguish through which He passed. Joseph had no option as to what happened to him, when sold on Egypt's slave market. However our blessed Lord Jesus took upon Himself the "form of a servant", (Greek Doulos, a bond slave). He gladly gave up every right, and became the willing slave of His Heavenly Father. In addition to this, men made Him their servant, Zech. 13;5, where a 'keeper of cattle', really means a slave. How men used Him, availing themselves of His power to heal and to feed the multitudes. Crowding into His life, until He did not even have time to take His food. (Mark 6;31). Yet He did not complain, divine compassion filled His heart. He faithfully served men, He did not hold back because of their demanding attitude. Joseph honoured God in his service, in spite of all the injustice. Though he had no Bible, yet he did have a conscience, and he would suffer rather than sin. As the result, he was maligned by a wicked woman, and thrown into prison. From the time that he was sold to Potiphar, until he was made Prim Minister of Egypt, was possibly thirteen years. During this time, "The word of the LORD tried him", (Psalm 105;17-22). However he refused to give up what God had shown him. Our blessed Lord Jesus, though He was truly God, yet He was also truly man. He met with so many experiences that brought disappointment and sorrow into His life, yet He refused to give up. Peter would have kept Him back from the cross, and twelve legions of angels were at His disposal, but His great concern was that "The Scriptures be fulfilled", (Matt. 26;53-54). Joseph was thrown into prison, but even there he honoured God, and became involved in the sorrows of others. Through the Psalmist, the Lord Jesus told of His deep loneliness, when He lay prostrate among the dead,(Psa.88;4-6 Darby). Yet even in death He glorified God. What a wonderful Saviour He is, well may we worship Him! [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _______________________________________________________________________ ((3) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-36) THE TIME OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN Arthur W. Pink .... 3. Post-millennialism Refuted. The post-millennial position rests largely upon a mis-translation. In Matt. 13:39 we read "The harvest is the end of the world," and again in Matt. 24:3--"And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Now the Greek word which is used in the above passages is entirely different from the one found in John 3:16--"God so loved the Kosmos." In the verses quoted above the word is not "Kosmos" but aion and ought to have been rendered "age"--"the harvest is the end of the age." In the marginal rendering of the R. V. Matt. 13:39 reads "The harvest is the consummation of the age." Both of the Greek words which are translated "world" in the King James Version occur in Heb. 9:26--"For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the Kosmos: but now once in the end of the aion hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Here it is evident that "aion" cannot mean "world." The Lord Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for sin more than eighteen hundred years ago, and the end of the "world" has not come yet. It was at the consummation or end of the Mosaic age that our Lord appeared and died upon the cross in order to effect our salvation. So, in the above instances read, "The harvest is the end of the age," the present age and not the end of time, for just as the Mosaic age was followed by the Christian age, so the present Dispensation shall be followed by the Millennium. That the "harvest" referred to by our Lord in the Parable of the Tares takes place at the end of this age rather than at the end of the "world," is further seen by a comparison of Joel 3:13-17 and Rev. 14:14-20 which refer to the same "harvest" and where this harvest is definitely placed at the commencement and not at the consummation of Messiah's reign. That our Lord will return before the Millennium rather than at its close is clear from many considerations. [To be concluded] _____________________<BrethrenVoice>_____________________ Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ <eFellowship> Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/ "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5 "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jn 8:32 _______________________________________________________