In the Ian Fleming novels and later in the movies, the character of James Bond had the designation “007.” This was a license to kill in the branch of the secret service Bond was serving, which was a department of the British Government.

In this day and age we can observe what I have coined “spiritual 007.” It is not a license to kill physically, but rather to commit licentiousness under the guise of grace. After all, so goes the rationale, “God is merciful, and He loves us unconditionally.” “Spiritual 007” is a “license” to commit spiritual suicide and to murder others in a spiritual way through our bad example which they might adopt and follow.

Those who argue that they are free to sin–that they have spiritual license to sin–never seem to ask where our love for God is and how do we prove that love for God. “Spiritual 007” is a departure from what the spirit of the law embraces in regard to keeping the law of God and demonstrating that love for God through obedience. The Bible rejects the thinking: “I can sin all I want because I have God’s Spirit and am now under grace.” The concept and biblical truth of repentance and putting sin out of our life seems to escape this kind of mentality–as if the Holy Spirit somehow falls out of the sky on an individual without that person meeting first the biblical criteria of repentance, baptism and laying on of hands, as outlined in Acts 2:38 and Acts 8:18. The laying on of hands cannot be done by just anyone, but it has to be done by a true minister of God, and without true repentance, baptism is nothing more than a bath. It will produce no spiritual fruit, as outlined in Galatians 5, and which we are commanded by many parables of Christ to bring forth. We are also to grow in grace and knowledge all of our lives, not just during the time frame shortly before or after our repentance and baptism.

“Spiritual 007” is a sad commentary on the conditions of this world and the individuals who parade grace around as some kind of license to sin–by turning from the holy commands of God to follow the traditions and worship practices of men which we are commanded to reject. Paul admonished us: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1, Authorized Version). Christ obeyed His Father, and He told us not to disobey God’s commandments by keeping man’s traditions instead.

We must reject the spiritual  misconception that when we are under grace we have license to do whatever we want. Rather, we should seek God’s ways, especially as we are coming up to the Passover season, which is a time to examine ourselves and recommit and rededicate ourselves in a our sincere desire to obey God and put sin out of our lives.

“Spiritual 007” is a “license” we must avoid at all costs. The only license we should have is the one to obey God, which leads to eternal life–rather than a “license” to sin, which only leads to suffering and eternal death, if not repented of. We are to look to and follow the example of our elder brother, high priest and soon-coming ruler of this earth, Jesus Christ, by not adding or taking away from what we are told in His Word, the Bible.

On May 6, 1954, something happened that had not happened before in recorded history: Roger Bannister ran a mile in under four minutes. Regarding this accomplishment Bannister said there was, “…a belief that it couldn’t be done, but I think it was more of a psychological barrier than a physical barrier.”

While it took all of recorded history for the first sub-four minute mile to be run, just 46 days later another runner, John Landy, beat Bannister’s time. Within three years 16 people had run sub-four minute miles. The psychological barrier was broken. The limits of possibility had been forever expanded.

To many people, keeping God’s commandments seems impossible. The characteristics Jesus described in the sermon on the mount—being poor in spirit, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers (Matthew 5:3-9)—are viewed as nice ideas that don’t work in the real world. Many times people don’t believe it is possible to implement those characteristics because they’ve never seen anyone live that way. To paraphrase Roger Bannister, many people have a belief it cannot be done.

We’ve been sent into the world to prove them wrong.

In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says we are “the light of the world.” To remind us that we have a responsibility beyond ourselves, Jesus continued, “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

When Roger Bannister ran a mile in less than four minutes he changed the world’s perception of what was possible. When we let our light shine—when we do good to those who hate us (Matthew 5:44), rejoice when suffering for Jesus’ sake (1 Peter 4:12-13), and really love God with all our strength (Mark 12:30)—we create new possibilities for those around us. Benjamin Franklin once said, “the best sermon is a good example.” By setting a godly example—at work, at home, in the world and even in the church—we set a pace for others to follow. Like those who followed Roger Bannister, we expand the limits of what they think is possible.

When all human possibilities fail—when we face what may seem to be the “last straw”—what do we do?

Abraham
and Sarah reached that point in their desire for a child. Sarah was
past the age for childbearing. However, the Bible records that God
intervened to give them Isaac.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego
would not serve the gods of Nebuchadnezzar, nor worship his golden
image. Because of this, they were led to what was surely to be their
execution. Again, the Bible reveals God’s miraculous intervention.

Lazarus
died. His sisters and friends gave up all hope. In fact, Mary’s only
response was to say that her brother wouldn’t have died if Jesus had
been there earlier. But even death was overcome on that day!

Our
trials are no less insurmountable—at least in respect to our own
abilities or our own resources. There are times when we simply can’t do
it on our own. Like those men and women of the Bible who both faced and
then overcame the impossible, we will face ultimate trials.

When
we do, will we give up? Or, will we personalize the examples found in
God’s Word, and become strong through the certain hope of the immutable
promises of God—with whom ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (compare Matthew
19:26)?

Recently, CNN broadcast a television program in the USA, exploring
the essence of true Christianity. “Experts,” TV evangelists and pastors
were interviewed, giving their version and understanding of what is a
Christian–and what is the true gospel message. Even though I did not
watch the entirety of the broadcast, what I did see was more than
enough! Depending on the speaker, concepts were introduced that we need
or must not preach a “prosperity gospel,” as God does or does not bless
His people physically. Some ministers open their church doors to just
about anyone, holding the most outlandish or God-rejecting
beliefs–without teaching the need for change. One preacher stated that
God’s people could be “raptured” at any time to go to heaven, while
others just gave a “positive” gospel message–a “social” gospel, so
that people can feel “good” and have a jolly good time in church.

When
listening to this hotchpotch of spiritual confusion, I was reminded of
God’s powerful words in Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony!
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them.”

The New Testament clearly tells us who is a
Christian, and who is not. Romans 8:9 says: “… now if anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” A true Christian,
then,  is one in whom Christ’s Spirit dwells. He lives and thinks
as Christ does. He believes in the gospel that Christ taught–the
gospel of the Kingdom of God. He grows in the knowledge of Christ (2
Peter 3:18). He is able to discern between the spirit of truth and the
spirit of error (1 John 4:6).

With the Spirit of Christ within
him, a true Christian is subject to God’s Law (Romans 8:7). God’s Law
is in his heart (Isaiah 51:7). According to the unequivocal testimony
of Scripture, the one who claims that He knows Christ–that he is a
true Christian–“and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Christ came to keep His Father’s
commandments–the Ten Commandments, statutes and judgments–and He
expects of His disciples to do likewise (John 15:10; 14:15). Rather
than doing away with God’s Law, He came to reveal its spiritual intents
and purposes. He came to “exalt” it and “make it honorable” (Isaiah
42:21; compare Matthew 5:17-19). Obedience, therefore, is essential, as
Acts 5:32 shows.

What we are experiencing today was prophesied
long ago to happen. Christ warned His true disciples in Matthew 24:4-5:
“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name,
saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Religious preachers
DO confess that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of mankind, but they
deceive many through their wrong teaching. They claim that Christians
don’t have to keep God’s Law anymore–or that they are “free” to
worship God and Christ in any way THEY want. However, a true Christian
AGREES with Christ who said: “…’And in vain they worship Me, Teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment
of God, you hold the tradition of men…” (Mark 7:7-8).

Some have
pointed out that we are observing a “religious revival,” especially in
the United States. If so, this renewed interest in “Christianity” does
not appear to include a willingness to seek God’s truth and to keep His
Law. People who are becoming “religious” seem to flock to “teachers” of
their choice–who are teaching anything BUT the truth, it seems
(compare Jeremiah 5:31; 6:19; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). God’s people must not
be swept away by this dangerous mud slide and treacherous river of
Babylonian confusion. Rather, they must KNOW and hold fast to the true
God, and they must keep His Word of truth–nothing less will do!

As we approach the end of the (Gregorian) year of 2006, many will
celebrate this event with “ringing out the old and ringing in the new”
– a time of anticipation and, for many, resolution.  In London,
there will be the usual huge media attention as Big Ben strikes 12
midnight on December 31st with dancing in the streets, people
congregating in Piccadilly Circus and all this being shown on
television, with similar behavior being copied around the UK.

Today,
New Year’s Eve has become a time for people to wallow in excesses of
alcohol and other unacceptable conduct! The modern attitude seems to be
to have a wild time on New Year’s Eve and turn over a new leaf on New
Year’s Day!   New Year’s resolutions are usually empty and
meaningless, with few people making a lasting change.   The
anticipation is of better things to come the following year and, for
many, a commitment to resolutions that may last a few hours, a few days
or even, in some cases, a few weeks, but rarely have permanence in
their lives.

The celebration of man’s New Year is never once
commanded in the Bible. It is not something that God’s people are
attracted to or involved with. However, we also have anticipation and
commitment, but different, wholly different, from the world around us.

We
anticipate better things in the Kingdom of God at Christ’s return,
which is an event that surely can’t come too quickly to the committed
Church of God member. Our commitment that we made at baptism to live a
changed life in Christ is a lifetime commitment.   It is not
temporary anticipation of and involvement in worldly festivals derived
from paganism,  but we are looking forward to eternal life with
the great Creator God of the universe.   Now that is
anticipation that just cannot be beaten and worth all the commitment
that it will take!

Sometimes, when we come before God in the right manner–petitioning
Him fervently, obediently, faithfully, humbly and persistently–the
answer that we will receive will be, “No.”

God has said “No” to
many before us and will continue to do so for those that may come after
us. But “No” shouldn’t be viewed in a negative way.

Often we are
unaware of how our request can and will impact our future and the plan
of God, and we won’t understand why we got the response that we did.
Perhaps, there will be a time in the future when we learn why things
didn’t work out the way we thought they should have. But for the time
being, we need to realize that God is completely and totally in charge
of our life, and we can take solace and comfort in the fact that the
right things are going to happen at the right time.

We need to
view a seemingly negative answer in a positive way. God knows what is
best for us. What He does, He does in love and for our own good. We
need to have faith in this! When God says, “No,” it is for our growth
and character. Innately, our hearts are deceitful and there is a way
that seems right to us, but isn’t (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 14:12). We
need to trust God implicitly.

Instead of becoming upset, we need
to look at going in a different direction; knock on other doors; move
on with our life; and don’t become stuck in a quagmire of uncertainty.
We ought to pray: “Teach me your ways, show me your path,” and then
take any course corrections in stride.

God DOES hear the
righteous (Psalm 34:15, 17). We need to keep in mind that in the end,
God wants us to become immortal members in His Kingdom. He will do what
it takes to make sure that we are successful. It is not necessary to
live a life of luxury, but it is of paramount importance to build
character purified by fire.

We should take every opportunity to
glimpse into the mind of God and see what He wants for us. When we
pray, we need to ask for the strength and wherewithal to accept, learn
and move on when God says, “No.”

Let’s make no mistake–death IS our greatest enemy. When we
experience the death of a loved one, we are sobered and reminded of the
certainty of death. We know that we will die. Ecclesiastes 7:1-2
challenges us to take to heart and to meditate about the fact that
death is real.

We mourn in the face of death. It is alright to
mourn. Jesus cried over the death of Lazarus. The ancients of the
Bible, including Abraham and Moses, mourned over the death of their
loved ones. We are in mourning right now over the death of our beloved
Senior Pastor, Edwin Pope.

But even though we mourn, we do not despair. Even though we reflect, we do not lose hope.

Because there IS hope beyond the grave.

Jesus
the Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Even though we will die, we will
live again. Jesus tells us: “I am the resurrection and the [eternal] life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John
11:25).

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. We can find
comfort in these assuring words: “He Himself likewise shared in the
same [becoming a flesh-and-blood human being], that through death He
might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and
release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Death is man’s enemy. But Jesus
Christ conquered death. He was raised from the dead. He became
victorious over death (1 Corinthians 15:54; Isaiah 25:8). And He is
giving us that victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). When we believe and obey
Him, we will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:15).

These
are tremendous promises–awesome words which prove God’s comforting
love for us. And while we wait for the resurrection of the just at the
time of Christ’s return, we consider these statements of truth:

“The
righteous perishes… merciful men are taken away… the righteous is
taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest…”
(Isaiah 57:1-2). We also reflect on this reality: “Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on… that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

Especially
in the face of death, we meditate about our own lives–being reminded
that we should “number our days” (Psalm 90:12); knowing that we too
will die and have to give an account. But we are also assured that even
“if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all
things” (1 John 3:20). We may slip and fall, but as long as we remain
“in Christ,” and as long as His love remains in us, we will succeed and
conquer death. Paul exclaims with joy: “Who shall bring a charge
against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at
the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans
8:33-34).

We will not die forever. Victory will triumph over our
death. Paul was convinced that in all things, even in death, “we are
more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). We will
be awakened from the temporary sleep of death by the voice of Jesus
Christ–we will be raised to everlasting life. When we have become
immortal, eternal, incorruptible Spirit beings in our Father’s Kingdom,
then, truly, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Paul
was persuaded that nothing, including death, “shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
8:38-39).

Because it is the certainty of Life–not death–which is our ultimate destiny.

On the morning of January 16,1986, we received a phone call from our
eldest daughter who was attending Ambassador College in Pasadena,
California, informing us that Mr. Herbert Armstrong had died. For my
wife and me, this news was not unexpected, since Mr. Armstrong had been
ill for quite a while. The entire Church had been praying and fasting
for him, but we had come to the conclusion a week or so earlier that in
spite of our wishes and desires for him to be healed, it may not be
God’s will to do so.

We were saddened, but knew we had to carry
on in our responsibilities to do the work and grow in grace and
knowledge. Others were totally devastated by his death. It did not fit
in with their preconceived speculative scenarios which they were
preaching as doctrine. Some were so fixed in their minds that Mr.
Armstrong was going to be one of the two final witnesses and that he
would finish the work and lead us to the place of safety, that they
fell by the wayside. Others rearranged their new speculations to cope
with the reality of the present situation. However, God had other plans
altogether, and many found it hard to accept that.

After spending
some three and a half years with, being taught by and witnessing the
miracles of Christ, and having heard His admonitions in regard to His
death, the apostle Peter said: “I am going fishing” (John 21:3). Some
of the other apostles said, “We are going with you also” (same verse).
It appears that their mindset was something like, the party is over, it
was fun while it lasted but now I am going back to what I formerly did,
earning a living by fishing.

Our beloved Senior Pastor died
Thursday morning, at 5:15 am. He had been in a coma for a month, and
although we would have liked to see him healed, that was not God’s will
at this time. When Christ was in the garden, just prior to His arrest,
He prayed fervently to the Father, knowing He would suffer greatly, be
beaten, scourged and spit upon. He did not want to go through His
trial, humanly speaking, yet He submitted to the Father’s will and
said, “… not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). God knew
our wishes, desires and hopes in regard to Mr. Pope. And we know that
God was most certainly capable of completely healing Mr. Pope, and we
prayed fervently that He would do so, subject to His will. However, it
was God’s will that Mr. Pope would be taken from the evil to come and
that he be given rest till the time of his resurrection to immortal
life. Therefore, it is not the time for us to go fishing, but rather to
finish the job we have been given to do. We pause but do not stop. We
reflect but keep going. As the saying goes–and I don’t mean this in a
callous or unloving way–“The show must go
on.”

We
have a job to do and a commission to fulfill, and we need God’s power
and mercy to do it. We cannot do it on our own, but it must be done. We
must move forward in spite of trials, tests and obstacles which the
adversary puts in our path. We cannot get into the mindset of going
fishing, but rather, we must be moving forward and submitting to God’s
will. As was stated in Norbert Link’s sermon last Saturday, “Let’s be
about our Father’s business.” We are not to allow ourselves to be
discouraged by circumstances in our lives or in the Church. Instead, we
must look to God the Father and Jesus Christ to see us through
faithfully to the end, and we must be persevering in the relentless
pursuit of perfection.

One day in my late teens my mother complained that I didn’t smile
enough. She said I looked too serious. During the last 60 years since
that motherly complaint I’ve managed to improve in that department if
only by resorting to a bit of humor now and then, smiling at my own
jokes.

David tells us that he was restless in his complaint to
God because of the enemy (compare Psalm 55:2-3), and who wouldn’t
complain if we were in his position with the terror of death constantly
facing us?

Society today is chock full of complaints. One waits
for a bus for 40 minutes, and then 3 come along at the same time;
police seem inept to stop cyclists from riding on the pavements and
threatening to knock down some fragile 80-year old lady; crime
statistics are atrociously off the scale; courtesy is “out the window”;
politics becomes a by-word for sleaze and corruption; we suffer a
barrage of profanity at the street level and on our TV and movie
screens; we are confronted with “political correctness” in its mad
interpretation of what might offend someone else or some other group.
Thus we are witness, and sometimes righteously so, to a kaleidoscope of
human complaints which make life just that bit more difficult to cope
with.

The Israelites who left Egypt were good at grumbling. And
they paid the penalty for their unholy, incessant complaints–an
obvious lesson for us in the cause for restraint during our Christian
endeavor to meet God’s criteria for righteous behavior.

We might
have heard of those in the Church who grumble and even scoff about the
sermons; about Church publications; about the minister; and about
Church doctrine and whatever else comes to mind, all of which reflects
a kind of ungodly religion. Their mind is not set on resolving
complaints amicably but rather on their opinionated idea that they
serve the cause by showing how clever their arguments are. Solomon said
“…if you scoff, you will bear it alone” (Proverb 9:12).

We may
think of the teenaged Eskimo who complained to his parents he didn’t
get enough blubber to chew on last week; or the South American Indian
perched on the frigid heights of the Andes complaining about
his lost blanket; or the Saudi Arab grumbling about how hot it is when
it’s 110° in the shade…. And all this complaining to what
end? As someone said, “There is nothing but ill fortune in a
habit of grumbling, which requires no talent, no self-denial, no
brains, no character.”

If my mother were alive today, I
think I could conjure up a smile that would melt away any complaint she
might yet have. Oh yes, I complain! I complain that this world is going
“potty,” and I grieve for those who are suffering, and I wait eagerly
for that great day of Christ’s return and ultimately the cessation of
grumbling, of scoffing, of scorn, of complaining.

Drifting means to be carried along by a force, such as water or air.
That is a different action than deliberately choosing a direction and
maintaining it–regardless of extraneous influences.

Paul spoke
about drifting in the context of God’s Church. After introducing why
there are appointed offices within the Church, he adds this underlying
objective: “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in
the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14).

Time
and again, Christians are warned to not allow themselves to just drift
along in their lives. Ask: “Do I drift from one Sabbath to the next;
from one Holy Day to the next–without a true sense of personal focus?”
We have to do more than just “show up!”

Jesus Christ warned His
Church of a very dangerous condition of drifting–that is of ceasing to
watch, of not staying ready and engaged in the calling of God. In His
parable of the ten virgins, Jesus said, “‘they ALL slumbered and
slept’” (Matthew 25:5).

None of us wants to apply this to
ourselves–or, at least, we don’t want to be guilty of this right now!
How can we know that we are awake and ready and not asleep?

Stop
drifting! Look closely; examine yourself by the light of God’s Word!
Here is something else Paul presented–both a goal and a way to reach
that goal so that we are not merely adrift as Christians:

“…speaking the truth in love, [that we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).