The Advantage To Growing Up In A Christian Home
Part 2

In our last issue we discussed the advantage of growing up in a Christian home and how we might question those who became Christians later in life getting the same reward in heaven as we do. In this issue we want to look at detail the advantage of long lives of service to God.
Those who have lived faithful lives throughout most of their adult years have some definite advantages over those who didn’t.
The one who has lived a life of sin has many regrets in their lives. The Apostle Paul asked the Romans, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21) Sin takes a toll on a person’s life in many ways. Sin has ruined people’s physical health that can never be regained. Sin has destroyed people’s mind and emotions that can never be restored. Sin has taken away the livelihood of many. But, perhaps the way sins affect us most drastically is in our relationships. Not only does sin destroy our relationship with God, (Isaiah 59:2) but it also destroys our relationships with those we love on this earth.
One of the saddest things I have faced in this life is to hear people grieve over the loss of their children to Satan. Their children grew up in their home before they became Christians and were not brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) When parents become Christians later in life, after their children have left home, they deeply regret the fact that their children are not Christians and the parents often find it very difficult to reach them for Christ.
Another thing I hear often is grief over a marriage relationship which has ended in divorce. Many people divorce because they were not Christians and did not build their relationship on biblical principles. Most of the time it is too late for them to mend those broken relationships after they have become a Christian.
Alcohol, adultery, fornication, anger, jealousy, greed and any other sin can bring many regrets and sorrows into the lives of those who are not living by God’s principles. Even though the sins can be forgiven, the scars and results of the sins can affect us and those we love all of our lives and even into eternity.
So, if you have been a Christian from an early age, be thankful that you have escaped the snares of the devil that produce so much pain and sorrow in the lives of others. Also, be thankful that those who have lived a life without God, can be forgiven and become His children and have that home in heaven also.
If you are not a Christian, don’t wait any longer. The longer you wait, the more sorrow, pain and heartache you may have because of you delay in obedience to God. - LP

ASCETICISM - AVOIDING ALL PLEASURES OF LIFE

Many Christians seem to have the idea that since we are to be in the world,  but not of the world that we must be totally miserable during our time on  earth. While it is true that we should not be too wrapped up in the things  of this world, we must also remember that God created this world for  mankind. When He had finished He declared it to be ‘very good’ and beyond  this He prepared a garden that was probably even a little nicer than the  rest for Adam and Eve to live in. There were those in the middle ages who  went so far as to beat themselves in order to avoid the dangerous sin of  enjoying life. We may not go that far today, but there are some who like to  beat down others at the first sign of enjoyment.

We must realize that even though it is possible to get too involved in this  life, most of the time the man made things are what we get to involved in,  not the creation itself. Paul warns us in Romans the first chapter that  there are those who worship the creature rather than the creator. He also in  that same section lets us know that we can know at least that there is a God  and a powerful one by examining the universe around us. (Rom 1:19-20)  ”Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath  showed it unto them. {20} For the invisible things of Him from the creation  of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,  even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Rom  1:25) “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the  creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

Jesus pulled illustrations out of nature in order to teach spiritual truths  and so did many of the prophets. When God gave His children a land He didn’t  just give them any land, but He gave them a land flowing with milk and  honey. Solomon said: “ He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also  He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work  that God maketh from the beginning to the end. {12} I know that there is no  good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. {13} And  also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his  labour, it is the gift of God.” (Eccl 3:11-13). Paul also confirms this to  Timothy: (1 Tim 6:17) “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be  not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who  giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”. God created a marvelous world for us  to enjoy and we should enjoy it while we are here.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven and it will be more  beautiful and more spectacular than anything here. There won’t be any grumpy  people up there, so why not practice being joyful and enjoying what God has  created now in order to prepare yourself for Heaven.