Departures From God’s Way

Man often departs from God’s way. This fact has shaped the history of the world. This fact prompted God to make a plan ‘before the foundation of the world’ whereby man could be made holy again after he departed from God’s way (Ephesians 1:3-4). Consider these departures:.

1. Adam and Eve (in reverse order) departed from God’s way by eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3).

2. Cain departed from God’s way in making a sacrifice that was not of faith, and was not accepted before God. He then departed further from God’s way and in jealousy killed his brother (Genesis 4).

3. The whole world departed from God’s way so that ‘every imagination’ of man ‘was only evil continually’ (Genesis 6:5). This prompted God to cleanse the world with the great flood, saving only Noah and his family – 8 souls (1 Peter 3:20-21).

4. The nation of Israel departed from God’s way through their murmuring in the wilderness, their cycle of idolatry and rebellion against God after they received the promised land, and in rejecting the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

5. Paul warned that the church age would be characterized at times by departures from God. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 – 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

6. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that false teachers, in the form of grievous wolves and from within, would cause departures from God’s way (Acts 20:28-31).

7. Out of the 7 churches written to in Revelation chapters 2-3, only 1 received no rebuke. The rest had all departed from God’s way in some manner. And the final letter to the Laodiceans showed that even lukewarmness represents an unacceptable departure from what God wants.

The congregation here at Benton Harbor is a great congregation. It has stood as a bastion of truth while many surrounding congregations have departed from God’s way. BUT LET US NOT GROW PROUD. LET US NOT LOSE OUR FEAR. LET US TAKE HEED LEST WE FALL (1 Corinthians 10:12).

This weekend, as we are contemplating departures from God’s way. Let us look at these things with an eye of caution. Let us recognize in the departures that others have made a true and real danger that we ourselves can ‘come short’ of following God’s way.

Let us consider ourselves, as a congregation and as individuals, to see if we have departed from God’s way. Let us be open and honest to see if our zeal is less than it ought to be. Let us consider whether or not our doctrine is what it ought to be. Let us openly examine whether or not we are walking in the light or stumbling in darkness. Are we on the difficult, narrow way, or are we on the easy, broad way. Rusty
 

Family Bulletin Board

Remember in prayer and with cards, phone calls, or visits those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop,  Reva Brewer,  Ella Brumitt, Jamie Farmer, Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett, and Louise Hunt.

WE REJOICED with the angels in heaven as Travis Reed was baptized last Sunday, the 11th . Welcome, Travis, to the family of God.

GRADUATION - Brent Brewer will graduate on May 25th. His graduation party will be on the 24th, at the Dowagiac Lion’s Club on Bluebird Lane, from 11am to 3pm. A map is on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Ladies, we will welcome little Emma Crossman on June 8th, here at the building, at 4:30pm.

REVA BREWER is still at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She is now in room # 839 bed 1. She continues to need our prayers.