“Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.” Psalm 137:1-6

The most powerful and fierce nation on earth, Babylon, had not only conquered the kingdom of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem, but had removed the Jews from their homeland and their beloved city, and brought them to live in the wicked, pagan land of Babylon. And, according to the Scriptures, on the saddest and darkest day of their lives, the enemy taunted them by insisting on them singing songs of praise to Jerusalem.

The captive Jews’ first thought was, “When we were brought into this dark place, the last thing we wanted to do was sing. We put away all of our musical instruments, for we were in no mood to celebrate or rejoice. We have lost everything, and are now living among foreigners and heathens who worship many gods, but not Jehovah God.” When dark days settle around us, do we not feel the same way?

But then they had a second thought: “Jerusalem is our greatest joy; even here, at this dark hour, Let us sing! Let us lose our ability to play and sing if we don’t.”  In times of darkness and trial, our flesh will often give us a thought that dishonors God; but the Holy Spirit will give us a contrary thought that DOES honor God. Let us seek to be led by the Holy Spirit.

When tribulation strikes the saints, it can surely bring a darkness to their spiritual vision. A perfect example of this is John the Baptist. Concerning him, Jesus said this, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist…” Matthew 11:11 The Lord caused John to be born, filling him with the Holy Spirit, while still in his mother’s womb. God had ordained him to be the forerunner of Jesus, officially introducing Him to the nation of Israel.

And this he did. Jesus was hidden from Israel until He was about 30 years of age. John the Baptist, who was six months older than Jesus had also been hid from Israel for the same period of time. At the Lord’s appointed time, John came forth, calling Israel to repent of their sins and turn to God, saying, “…The kingdom of Heaven is near.” When they confessed their sins, he baptized them. Many Jews obeyed John’s preaching, but most of the Jewish leaders did not.

But there came the day when Jesus came forth in obedience to His Father’s will, to be baptized by John. John didn’t know Jesus by sight, but the Holy Spirit revealed to John that here was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. As John saw Jesus coming towards him, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 It was a bold declaration of the Messiah.

But then later, John found himself in prison, looking at getting his head cut off. There in prison, John called his disciples to go and find out if Jesus was the Messiah they were looking for. What happened to John’s vision of Jesus? The darkness of prison had temporarily clouded the great man of God’s vision; trials and temptations do that to all of us. We oft find ourselves locked up into troubling situations where we cannot see any way out. What can we do? What must we do?

We can do like Job did after he lost all ten children, all his assets, and his livelihood: he fell to the ground and worshipped the Lord, praising Him, because the Lord was his greatest joy. At our darkest hour, may we remember that our greatest joy is the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will praise Him, regardless.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

The Old Testament saints didn’t receive the promises of God, but by faith they saw them afar off. They embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. By saying such things, they declared plainly they were seeking a homeland. And truly, if they were to have had a mind to return to the country they had left, they could have had the opportunity to do so. But they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

God had given to Abraham and his descendants some great and everlasting promises. The main subject of those promises was believed by them to be a Messiah, a mighty deliverer, who would come and rule the world. But also, there was the promise of an eternal home, a city built by God for them. Those that believed in God lived in this world as strangers, looking for the Messiah to come, and their everlasting home.

In Christ, the church of God has inherited those same promises, with more light than the Old Testament saints had. Shortly before departing this world, Jesus gave His church this promise:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:1-3

There are two things of utmost importance to believers in these words of Jesus: First, the location of our Home. For the saints, home is the Father’s house; Revelation makes it clear that when time is gone, and eternity has begun, we shall live with God the Father and the Lamb forever in His eternal dwelling place. Here we have no home; we are, “sojourners and pilgrims.” 1 Peter 2:11

Second, we are told how we will safely arrive at our home.

“…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 4:16-17

Jesus promised to return for His church and take them home; and come He will! But until that day, there is a time gap for every believer in Jesus Christ, just as there is in the natural life. When a baby is born, it has so many days allotted to it, and then it will die. And so, when a person is born from above, they have a certain amount of days to live on earth before going to be with Jesus.

I’m going to call those days, “The Way Home.” Jesus told His apostles they knew where He was going and that they knew the way. Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Before entering this world as a man, Jesus Christ was from eternity past the second person of God, the Word of God. He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth…all things were created through Him and for Him…in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 1:15-2:10

There’s only one way home: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

“The Way Home” is just that simple.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

“Life is easy, when you’re upon the mountain, and you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known. But things change when you’re down in the valley—don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.”

“You talk of faith when you’re upon the mountain, but talk comes so easy when life’s at its best. Now it’s down in the valleys, of trials and temptations, that’s where your faith, is really put to the test.”

“For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times; the God of the day is still God in the night.”  —Tracy Dartt  1975

I read the story that inspired Tracy to write this song. It is a very encouraging testimony to the faithfulness of God towards His children, when they find themselves “down in the valley.”

I very well remember the first time I heard this song. One of the ladies at the church where I was pastor, sang it at the beginning of our morning service. It spoke to my heart, and has been a blessing to me ever since. Sometime after that, a story in the Bible came to my mind, which I feel certain inspired Tracy with the words to his song.

In the days of the kings of Israel, a hostile king, Ben-hadad of Aram, gathered all his army and thirty-two kings and set out to conquer the kingdom of Israel. He sent this word to Ahab, the king of Israel: “Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.” The two kings exchanged words with king Ben-hadad greatly taunting king Ahab. But the God of Israel heard every word that came out of the mouth of the wicked king.

The Lord sent a prophet to Ahab with these words: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hands today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 1 Kings 20:1-13

That very day, king Ahab with a very small army defeated them and turned them back. Later, the Lord sent word to the king of Israel, telling him that Ben-hadad was going to attack him again the following year. The plan to attack Israel came about this way: the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the valley, and surely we will be stronger than they.” 1 Kings 20:23

The time came when king Ben-hadad attacked Israel with all the forces he could muster, including the Arameans. That was a bad choice, for the Lord had heard the Arameans say: “The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys.” Needless to say, the defeat of the king of Aram the second time was much greater that it was the first time.

Child of God, your Father is with you when you’re upon the mountain, He’s with you when things seem to be really going well, when you are filled with His love, peace and joy. He’s with you when you are filled with thanksgiving, praise and a resolve to serve Him all the days of your life: those are great days, full of light and joy. But the enemy can bring us down into the valley through trying circumstances.

Child of God, your Father sees the trials, temptations, and tribulations that you face on a daily basis. As you seek to trust Him with all your heart, and follow Jesus, He knows your weaknesses and frustrations; He sees all of the distractions you encounter, the strong tug of your flesh to just give up, and the constant fiery darts the enemy shoots at you, trying to wound you with doubts and confusion. In the valley, we have this sure word of encouragement from our God:

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Child of God, don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; and let them RULE (my emphasis) over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and OVER ALL THE EARTH (my emphasis), and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:1, 26

God made man to rule the earth and everything on it, even as God rules the universe. But God gave Adam one commandment: He wanted Adam to know that although he was the ruler of earth, he was still under God and accountable to Him. In other words, as long as Adam submitted to God’s rule over Him, he would be working in fellowship with the Lord; but if he disobeyed, the fellowship would be broken and Adam would be disqualified to rule.

I don’t know exactly when iniquity entered into Lucifer’s heart, but it did. What I do know is what his iniquity was. Isaiah tells us exactly what was in Satan’s heart.

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn!…you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14

In case you weren’t counting, there are five “I wills” in there. Lucifer, the Devil, Satan determined that he would become like God and become the ruler of heaven and earth. This is about as simple a definition as you will get of the religion that the Oprahs of this world promote: that man can become a god. But God had plans that Lucifer knew nothing about; plans that would destroy Satan and those who follow him; plans that would bring to perfection what God purposed when He created the heavens, the earth and man.

When man was made, he was made in the image and likeness of God, and he was made to rule. From Adam’s lineage, God would bring forth another Man, One who would Rule perfectly as God intended; He would be both God and Man. And this second Man would be appointed to rule over everything in heaven and on earth. The first man Adam was disobedient and Satan became the “prince of this world.”

But when Christ came into this world, He humbled Himself and became obedient to His Father; even to giving Himself to death on the cross for the sin of the world. Because Jesus was obedient, God raised Him up from the dead and made Him Lord over everything in heaven and on earth. Lord means the Father placed Him, “…Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:21

God made man to rule and rule he will. When a person believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they are baptized into Him. They become one in Him and with Him. The most intimate union that ever will be: Christ in you and you in Christ; and all one in God. This oneness brings us to the truth of man (male/female) made to rule.

The Old Testament prophets foretell of a day when Jesus Christ will return to rule the world. He will come with all His saints to destroy the kingdoms of this world and to establish His kingdom over which He and His saints will rule. The kingdoms of the world will be destroyed.

“Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27

Jesus wants you to begin your rule today: rule your thoughts, your words and your actions: bring them under the authority of God’s Word.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net