September 2003
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE 10 COMMANDMENTS
WHERE, WHEN AND HOW THEY ARRIVED ON PLANET EARTH
Moses was called by God to go to the top of Mount Sinai. When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18) While Moses was receiving the tablets (the 10 commandments written in Exodus 20:1-17), the people were at the foot of the mountain reveling and amassing their gold, which Aaron "threw into the fire, and there came out this calf," he later told Moses. The calf was an idol to replace the true and living God.
Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. The tablets were the work of God, the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. (Exodus 32:15,16)
When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. After God dealt with the people and their idolatry (3000 people died because of it), God again spoke to Moses and called him back to the top of Mount Sinai. The Lord said to Moses, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets which broke." (Exodus 34:1)
WHY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?
- That Israel might be a witness to the one true God as they lived among the pagans and their idols.
- That Israel would not worship idols.
- That God's name would be honored and glorified.
- That God's people would live righteous lives in a world of wickedness and sin.
- That God's high standard of living would reveal man's sinful condition to him and his need for a Savior. (The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24)
- Down through the centuries sinful man has tried to do away with God's laws, and failed!
THEN JESUS CAME ON THE SCENE
- "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or title shall in no wise pass from the law." (Matthew 5:17, 19)
- "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35)
- Man's latest antic to rid our country of the 10 commandments is moving the 5280-pound granite marker bearing the 10 commandments from its place in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building (where it could have been too easily seen and read) to a private place in the building. Those advocating this move are blind to the fact, or ignorant of it, that the finger of God can rewrite the law, and what's more, He can severely deal with the destroyers of it.
THE CHURCH IS UNDER FIRE TOO:
"It must be separated from the State."
Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) Jesus stated, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Nor any laws the U.S. enacted against it.) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
THE FINGER OF GOD AND THE SON OF GOD HAVE ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH.
THE FINGER OF GOD AND THE SON OF GOD ARE SOVEREIGN!
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)
BEWARE: IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, AND AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT! (Hebrews 9:27)
THE DIRECTOR'S CORNER
The Latin name for the plant is Gramineae Cenchrus. Around here they're called sandburs-little seedpods bristling with tiny barbs, growing in abundance from our sandy soil. When they mature they cling to anything and everything that brushes past them-shoes, socks, skin, fur (we had to cut the hair off our long-haired cat after last fall), and they can end up in painful places like bathmats. I pulled one off my sock the other day and studied it closely. I just had to admire the prickly little thing. They so effectively carry out their one designed purpose: to quickly attach to anything that touches them.
If my main purpose in life is to know and enjoy my Creator, I must have been designed with the capacity to fulfill that. It's been said that every human is born with a God-shaped vacuum in them that can only be satisfied by giving God our first place love and obedience. However, unlike the little sandbur and the rest of creation, we have a choice in the matter of fulfilling our main purpose. The enjoyment begins with choosing Him over myself.
VBS AT BWC AUGUST 15-16, 2003
Special thanks goes to all from Salisbury Church, Charleston, IL, who came (about 70 adults and children) to BWC and held Bible School for us. Thank you all for everything: Bible teachers, song leaders, cooks (snacks and lunch!), game directors, craft teachers, crew leaders, youth leaders, helpers, clean-up crew. Thank you for donating your time, money, prayers, and efforts for the children here at BWC. May God richly bless you all! "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3)
PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU CAN FOR OUR ANNUAL PRAISE BANQUET SEPTEMBER 20 AT 3:00 P.M.
Please call or e-mail reservations in by September 15.
815-944-5711 or biblewitnesscamp@juno.com
No charge for the dinner; a freewill offering will be received.
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Dave and Becky McMillan; Lizetta, Mary, Mark & Karen Williams; Judy Chesebro; Joji Barredo: Philippines; Trudie Hayon: Trinidad