My dear readers,

(Extracts from RPG, Jan – Mar 1998, Edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. ONE GOD, ONE LAW
Luke 16:13-18, Psalm 119:97-104

ONE LOYALTY. Men want God but will not let the world go. They try to do the impossible, to be friends with the world and God at the same time, not knowing that "friendship of the world is enmity with God" (Jas 4:4). Our Lord tells the truth: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other ... Ye cannot serve God and mammon." The same choice confronts us today. It is still either God or mammon. One is everything: the other is nothing. Truly there is no comparison. Nevertheless, the choice is for you and me to make.

ONE JUDGE. Men judge by appearances but God by the heart. Today men put on an appearance of respectability and get by very well. This is play-acting. The Pharisees were specialists in this. They kept the law meticulously to be seen of men while their hearts were filled with all wickedness and lawlessness. Play-actors of today, beware! It is not the present that matters. One day masks will fall and all veneer of respectability will be stripped away before the all-seeing eyes of the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. Play-acting will then be exposed as hateful hypocrisy, something that God abhors.

ONE LAW. Every man desires to enter God's Kingdom, but not every man will get in. Many are justified before men, but not before God. These have no place in the Kingdom, because God sees the heart: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. These are barred for spurring God's law. Jesus said, "For verily ... Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matt 5:18). Our Lord has fulfilled the law for us. Come, put your trust in Him, my friend, and He will give you His garment of righteousness without which none can enter God's Kingdom.

PRAYER: Teach me thy way O Lord.

2. KINGDOM QUALIFICATIONS
Luke 18:9-17, Ezra 9:1-17

What qualifications are needed for admission into the kingdom of God? Today's reading gives important instruction.

(a) Self-righteous Pharisee. This man was a "church leader", a religious teacher, outwardly a respectable gentleman. But his real life was a different story. He was very conscious of his own "goodness". People looked up to him with admiration. He came to the temple to extol his virtues and high moral character. He stood and "prayed with himself", not to God. His words were for men to hear and to satisfy his own ego. He despised others especially the publicans and sinners. He thought well of himself. Does this qualify a person for God's kingdom? What do you think?

(b) Self-abasing Publican. He was classed with sinners and outcasts of society. "Decent people" like the Pharisees and scribes had little to do with publicans and sinners. This publican was conscious of his spiritual poverty. He came to the temple to make right with God. He saw his wretched condition and God's holiness. He humbled himself. Standing afar off with head bowed in penitent soul-searching, he simply said, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Our Lord commented: "This man went down to his house justified." God was pleased with him.

(c) Infants and children. The disciples regarded them as an annoyance and not worthy of our Lord's attention. Jesus rebuked them and welcomed the little ones with these words: "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Ponder our Lord's words. We must receive the kingdom of God as a little child, in innocent simplicity and total dependence upon the Father. Let us come to God with child-like humility and submission, believing all that He says in His word.

PRAYER: Lord, create in me a child-like spirit. Amen.

3. THE ETERNAL REALITIES
Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 9

Lazarus was poor in the good things of the world but rich in the grace of God. The rich man had the world's goods in abundance but knew nothing of God's grace. He lived for the present, caring only for himself, while Lazarus begged at his gate in misery and want. How unequal they were!

But death is the great equalizer. In a moment of time both men passed through its portal into timeless eternity. For Lazarus his sorrow and fasting came to an end; for the rich man, it was goodbye to days of feasting and the "good life". In a moment, he woke up in hell to the torment of everlasting fire, but Lazarus was carried by angels into heaven to the comfort of Abraham's bosom.

Our Lord's telling of this story is not for entertainment, but for serious instruction and warning. The eternal realities are the things that really matter and the living must lay it to his heart. Heaven and hell are eternal realities, not inventions of the Church. God's heaven is for all who will believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its door is now open: now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. God is not willing that any should go to hell.

Men of the world hate the doctrine of hell. On earth many persuade themselves that hell does not exist. But in hell there is no unbelief, and no exit. What's more important, in hell there is no repentance or salvation, only eternal regret and remorse. There are no atheists and agnostics in hell. Men will be fervently praying, only too late. The day of salvation is forever past. The rich man thought of his brothers, too late. He was even evangelistic for he did not want his brothers to join him in hell!

Have you also an unsaved brother or sister, or some special friend? The time to think of them and care for them is NOW. In eternity it will be too late. The Gospel door is wide open. God's grace bids men to repent. Believe and be saved; refused and be in sin and condemnation. These are the eternal realities.

QUESTION: Have you brought someone to the Lord in salvation?

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Founding Pastor