God's End of the Stick

God’s End of the Stick

A lady once asked me what she should tell a friend who had proposed the old
“died-on-way-to-baptistry” question. I answered, “Don’t tell her the subject is
lost.” She looked a bit surprised, but I was not finished. “And don’t tell her the
subject is saved.” Now she was even more puzzled so I added, “We have no right
to whittle on God’s end of the stick!”
Truth is, God promised remission of sins at the point of genuine submission to
Christ in baptism (Mk. 16: 16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:4-f). We have no part in
setting up the rules, nor in making final judgments. All we can do is teach what
God’s word says; and trust the Holy Spirit, through that instrument, to generate
in the hearer an obedient faith. It is rank presumption to suppose man can make
exceptions, or do a better job of judging than can God. We are completely “out of
our league” in such matters.
Exactly the same attitude must be taken toward questions about sinning and
dying before one can recognize, repent, and ask forgiveness for sins. Our end of
the stick calls for a present active walking in the light, involving a present active
confessing of our sins (1 Jn. 1:7-9). The grammatical construction, as well as the
general context, point to a habitual course of conduct; as in 1 Jn. 3:5-9.
Contingent upon this, God promises the blood of Christ “cleanseth (present
active) us from all sin.” This is what God’s word says, and I teach it. But God
must judge the validity of one’s baptism, and God must judge the validity of one’s
life. It seems significant that in the very middle of these inspired statements
John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.”
There are times when, on the basis of “fruits,” we must judge one’s baptism and
life - to determine those with whom we can have the kind of fellowship inherent
in congregational activities (Acts 19:1-5, 1 Cor. 5:1-f). There is no way, nor
reason, to avoid such judgments. But there is every reason to strive for righteous
judgments (Jn. 7:24); and, to realize our judgments are not infallible. We may
reject one whom God receives, or receive one whom God rejects. Final and
irrevocable judgment is God’s end of the stick, and we must not try to whittle on
that end. Remembering this should keep us humble while rendering such
judgments as are necessary.
- Robert F. Turner

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The Benefits of Sorrow

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of
feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it
to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter. - Eccl 7:2-3
Many people would react to that by asking, “By what logic can mourning and
sorrow be considered better than feasting and laughter?”
Actually, there are a number of places where scripture represents sorrow and
grief as being beneficial. This does not contradict the fact that God’s people are
to live lives full of joy and rejoicing, but consider some ways in which we may

profit from sorrow.
1. Death and other occasions of sorrow can force us to think seriously about life
and what things are of real value and importance. This is what Solomon meant
by saying: “The living will lay it to his heart.”
2. When we recognized that we have sinned against God it should bring us to
grief. This is the “godly sorrow” that leads to repentance. (2Cor 7:9-10)
Recall David’s lament in Psalm 51: “My sin is ever before me . . . make me to hear
joy and gladness . . . restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” When he realized
he had denied Christ, Peter wept bitterly (Lk 22:62).
3. Troublesome times bring sorrow but also a reminder of our dependence upon
God. We can then find comfort and security like a child does when he realizes
that he can depend upon parental protection when he needs it.
4. Suffering develops our character: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.” (Jas 1:2-4)
5. Sorrow provides us the opportunity to show sympathy and love to one
another. We are to weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15). Very strong bonds
are often formed between people who share grief.
6. And finally, as we live in the “vale of tears” we look longingly to the time when:
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.” (Rev 21:4)
- Leonard White

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Deserved praise is to children what sunshine is to flowers.

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Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something
to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.

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