“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3

Let us consider this blessed man for a moment. His faith in God is on display; it is very apparent. He believes that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How do I know that? because this man is giving God his undivided attention.

If we narrow down his attention to the Law of Moses, we make a great mistake. This man would have been reading the Scriptures found in the first eight books of the Bible. He believed that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth; he believed his maker was God, and he wanted  to know Him, worship Him, and follow Him.

I don’t see a man here who is locked away in a monastery, or living in isolation on a hill or tucked away in a cave. I see a man who has a family and loves them; I see a man who provides for his family by working hard to support them, whatever that may look like. But I see a man who loves God the Father, and places Jesus Christ in his heart as Lord.

So how does this man come to delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate on it day and night? To begin with, he has been born again; he has been given a new heart that desires to follow hard after God. His new nature wants to seek after God and please Him; he wants to honor the Father and Jesus in all things, and has been given the Holy Spirit as his abiding Helper to do those very things.

The Holy Spirit will lead this man’s mind to see two things most needful to not only follow after the Lord but to grow in grace and knowledge of Him. That is, first, last and always, prayer and reading God’s word. This blessed man, working and taking care of his family, intentionally makes time for being alone with the Father in prayer—daily!

This blessed man has a hunger and thirst to know the Father and Jesus better, and more intimately. And he is quickly led to understand there is only one way: read, study and meditate, or ponder on the very word of God: the Bible—the Scriptures. Not a book about the Bible, not commentaries on the Scriptures, which some can be very helpful, but first and foremost the Bible itself; and not just randomly, but from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.

The Lord Jesus summed it up in much fewer words than what I have written:

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.“ Matthew 4:4

This blessed man takes time to read God’s word daily, with the intention of learning all of what God has written and revealed about Himself and His Son Jesus Christ. And then, while he is working, or enjoying being with his family, or laying in bed, he is pondering on the wonders of his Father’s love and grace to him and his family—and as he does this, he can’t help but share the Father and Jesus with his family, friends and co-workers.

This man is blessed because he delights himself in the law of Christ; Christ dwells in his heart by faith; he is rooted and grounded in love. This man is blessed because he is convinced of this truth:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

As he meditates on God’s word, he recognizes and refuses to walk in the counsel of the ungodly; although he loses them, he refuses to fellowship with his ungodly friends, and he walks away from those who ridicule his walk with Jesus.

This blessed man’s diligence in giving his full attention to the Lord likens him to a tree planted by a river. It’s a picture of a tree that stays healthy, green, even in times of great drought, and bears good fruit in season. And then, this blessed man is given a promise: whatever he does shall prosper.

There are many, and I’m going to call them false teachers, that lead their followers to thinking that earthly prosperity is surely a blessing from God. Earthly riches are a bait from the Devil himself to lure folks away from the true riches of what God freely offers. It makes no difference whether a man is poor, rich, or in between, the enemy likes to dangle them in front of folks, to blind them to the true wealth of God which is Christ Jesus.

Earthly prosperity is a façade, it is temporary and fleeting. Man’s life is like a vapor: he’s here today, and gone tomorrow. Men sweat and toil, scheme and work all their life to possess some of this world’s goods, only to realize that when the sun sets on their last day here on earth, they all, rich and poor alike, will occupy a very small piece of real estate in the cemetery.

“…Whatever he does shall prosper.” The Lord promises the blessed man a prosperity that is not only rich beyond compare, but is everlasting and is tucked away safely in heaven: it’s an, “…inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 peter 1:4

The blessed man who delights in the law of the Lord does also enjoy a heavenly prosperity while here on earth. As he fills his mind with the word of Christ, and sets his affections and hopes on Christ, he discovers a true and lasting prosperity that the world can’t give him, and that the world can’t take away.

All that this world has to offer can’t compare with the love, peace and joy that fills a man who is abiding in Christ. This is heaven’s blessed prosperity!

Brother Bill Oldham          bboldham@sbcglobal.net

“…This we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

We are living in a world filled and marked with violence and wickedness. In addition to that, we are witnessing the craziest and most foolish thinking and conduct possible; just when you think you’ve heard it all, something new pops up. So it’s not surprising to hear someone say, “I am so ready for Jesus to come and get us out of here!”

But suppose for a moment that everything here on earth was lovely and peaceful; that your family is doing well, you have a comfortable home, and are earning a decent wage; you’re able to enjoy your favorite pastimes and friends. Would you then be as eager for Jesus to come?

I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, and my dad was a blue collar factory worker. We lived close to my grandparents, who were born and grew up together in the Hill Country in Texas. They came to Oklahoma and grandpa went to work for the railroad. When I just turned eight, grandpa retired and they moved to the Hill Country to live on a 900 acre sheep ranch he had inherited from his mother several years earlier. They left in the early fall of that year.

The following spring, my grandmother asked my folks if I could spend the summer at their ranch, and they said yes. She came by bus and train to get me. The second day after school was out, we were on a night passenger train to Fort Worth, Texas. What an exciting time for an eight year old boy. From Fort Worth, we took a Trailways bus to Mason, Texas, a small town square type of town. Grandpa picked us up and drove 12 miles to his ranch.

That summer and several that followed, still remain vivid in my memory. They were the most happy and carefree days I’ve ever known.

That first summer, they had no electricity, no running water, and an outhouse. My grandmother cooked on a kerosene stove; she washed the clothes in a tub of hot water over a fire pit outside. They did have a twelve party line phone. Their lights at night were oil lamps. For entertainment, grandpa and I would sit in his ’37 Pontiac an night and listen to country music. I loved everything about it and every minute of it.

When grandpa and I weren’t building fence, I was roaming the hills, exploring the place, rattlesnakes and all. I will say I was very careful where I walked. Grandpa had given me my own .22 rifle to carry with me. Of an evening, I would hunt jack rabbits, and sometimes at night, we’d go coon hunting. Quite often, in early morning, our dog would wake me with a squirrel he had treed. My grandmother had a large garden, and it was necessary to keep the varmint population down some.

They had an old wooden icebox that required my grandmother to go to town three times a week to get ice. I quickly got acquainted with a lot of folks. Once a month, the farm folks would have a community get-together with potluck and homemade ice cream: I loved every minute of it. But the end of August came way too soon, and I had to go home.

For nine long school months, all I could think about was returning to the Hill Country in Texas. If things didn’t go so well at school, or at home, or with my friends, inside I was thinking, a few more months and I’ll be in Texas. I loved my home, and my folks, and my sister and brother; but the time at the ranch was a whole different world for me, and I couldn’t wait to go back.

“This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through; my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue…” says an old hymn. I believe that to be truly rapture ready, we should desire to be with the Father and Jesus more than anything this world has to offer. The Psalmist put it this way:

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

When Moses led Israel out of Egypt, it soon became apparent that, for many, their hearts were still in Egypt. They placed no value on the inestimable worth of God’s Promised Land. They placed no trust in the Lord, that He could prepare a table for them in the wilderness, while on their way to the beautiful land He had prepared for them.

There is a word from heaven that is ever true for God’s children as they make their pilgrimage thru this world.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.” Proverbs 3:5-6

In Pilgrim’s Progress, the journey to the Celestial City is filled with, perils, threats, distractions and attractions; and that perfectly illustrates what every child of God faces on a daily basis. And will until Jesus comes or calls us home. One thing is certain: the enemy of our soul works tirelessly to so capture our attention to the cares and pleasures of this life, that we come to the place where we leave our first love; the things of this world then occupy our minds and affections. And so the apostle Paul exhorts us to do this:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Being rapture ready is having your heart and mind set on Jesus Christ. It’s about knowing that when He appears, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we’ll be changed: we’ll be given a new, glorious, incorruptible, immortal body. It’s knowing that when Jesus appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Being rapture ready is to know that Jesus has indeed prepared an eternal home for us; a place where we will live with the Father and Jesus forever—a place of everlasting love, joy and peace.

Paul expressed his thinking this way:

“…I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

That is being rapture ready!

Brother Bill Oldham             bboldham@sbcglobal.net

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3-5

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

In these two Scriptures, there are no commands given to the sinner man; just a simple statement of truth from the Word of God, as to what is required for anyone to be saved and enter God’s kingdom: “You must be born again”, and that happens when you believe in Jesus Christ.

Since the days of Adam’s fall, the human race is born into this world spiritually dead; man is born with a sinful nature. God’s intent, in making man, was to make him in His image and likeness; that is, a oneness in relationship and fellowship with Him. This was God’s desire, plan and purpose for making man. But, in his sinful state, there can be no oneness with his holy and righteous Maker.

Man, in his natural state is spiritually dead. But God loved His creation, and so loved it that He was willing to pay the ultimate price to righteously and justly create a new man, a spiritual man, in His own image and likeness; to bring man into perfect oneness with Him, both in relationship and fellowship. And He fully and completely accomplished this through His Son, Jesus Christ: in His death, burial and resurrection.

Man cannot make himself to be born again, any more than he can make himself be born the first time. Man’s birth takes place when a husband and wife make a decision to have a child; the child has no say in it. And so it is with a sinner when they are born again:

“…As many as received Christ, to them God gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

Into this reality comes two great truths: the sovereignty of God and man’s free will. Concerning God’s sovereignty in the new birth we have this:

“All that the father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out…No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day…No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” John 6:37, 44, 65

Concerning man’s free will we have this:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

The Lord Jesus abounds in riches for all who call on Him, “…for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

The Calvinists and the Armenians have argued for centuries over the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer. Their first grave error is labeling themselves as followers of a man: Calvin and Arminius. Paul condemned this kind of divisive thinking in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Their second grave error was to try to apply human understanding to God’s divine design. That is, only God Himself can reconcile two spiritual truths: His sovereignty and man’s free will.

When men determine to use their wisdom to establish doctrine, they write things that go way beyond what the Scriptures say. In drawing men to follow them, they must write volumes of books to try to explain their teachings. In order to follow them, men must abandon the Scriptures and study their books, which has been the way of false teaching and apostasy since the days following the apostles. The wonder of the new birth gets buried underneath the thinking of proud men.

The new birth brings forth a new creature in Christ; old things are passed away, all things become new. A born again one realizes they have life, a life they never had before. Their thinking, attitudes and desires change, some immediately and others little by little. The new birth is not an experience but a reality. However, when I was born again, I experienced a love, peace and joy like I had never known.

I was born again on a Saturday night. On Sunday morning, I walked into a small Pentecostal church which numbered about 75-80 people. My wife was raised up in that church; I had been attending there for about 6 years, mainly just Sunday School. Three couples had made friends with us and I liked them, and the pastor, but I didn’t like anyone else: I thought they were weird and funny-looking.

As I stepped into the auditorium, I was taken by surprise: I just loved everybody—they all, without exception looked different. My next surprise came on Monday morning. I walked into my workplace of 11 years, a new person. I had left my fellow workers Friday unsaved, and had gotten into a cuss fight with one of the senior men, just before leaving. Now, I entered in, born again.

The first thing I wanted to do was tell my best friend I had accepted Jesus, knowing he would do it also. I found Denny and began to tell him what had happened. He was red-headed and white complexioned. Before I could finish, his face turned red, and he said: “All preachers are liars, and church folks are nothing but hypocrites!”, and he turned abruptly and walked away. (Denny was born again 20 years later)

Very disappointed with that, I went to the man I has fought with and apologized for what I had shouted at him on Friday. I then told him what had taken place in my life and he was very gracious and forgiving. Then about 10:30 came Al to my workstation. He worked in a different department, but every Monday morning, he would make his way to me, to either tell me a dirty joke, or see if I had one.

On that morning, Al came up all smiles and said, “Bill, wait’ll you hear the latest.” Without even thinking, I said, “I don’t want to hear it.” He said, “Well, you’ve told me some a lot worse than this.” I told him I was sure I had, but I had accepted Jesus and wasn’t going to do it anymore. He got mad, stormed off and never spoke to me again.

My next surprise came on Tuesday. I am ashamed to tell this one, and always have been. I had worked in that plant for 11 years; I was a machinist. But I was probably the sorriest worker they had. They should have fired me several times. If the supervisor wasn’t looking or wasn’t there, I wasn’t working. My work was second rate.

Sometime Tuesday, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, not audibly, but caught me by surprise, and told me I was stealing from the company by the way I was working. I immediately made the decision to turn it around, which I did. I became one of their best, and most efficient workers, and became a supervisor. There are more stories of the Lord working in my new life, throughout the years, but I will suffice it to say, He’s still working on me.

Being born again is real; and the effects are real. Jesus put it this way:

“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where its going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…the only thing that matters is a new creature.” Galatians 6:14-15

Jesus said it: “…You must be born again.” John 3:7

Brother Bill Oldham       bboldham@sbcglobal.net