by Mike Benson

Back in the mid 1980's, an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in the mountains of Spain. Investigators reviewing the incident made a startling discovery. Recordings from the black box revealed that several minutes prior to impact, a computer-synthesized voice from the plane's automatic warning system told the flight crew on repeated occasion to "Pull up!" The pilot, evidently thinking that the system was not functioning properly, switched the system off. Minutes later they plowed into the ground killing both passengers as well as crew.

As I think about it, that tragic story reminds me of some of the people I know. They hear the warning messages of their conscience telling them to make correction in their lives; instead they merely tune out or turn off what they hear (cf. Exodus 8:15).

Dear reader, it is possible for a person to silence his conscience to such an extent that he no longer hears or recognizes the spiritual peril he faces (cf. 1 Timothy 4:2). But because he does not hear the warning, it doesn't mean that the danger no longer exists.

Think about it.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Samuel 9--11

Uriah the Honorable

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and she became pregnant, David summoned Uriah from a war and told him to go home, expecting him to sleep with his wife, so that it might appear that the child was his. Yet, Uriah did not go home, but stayed with the servants of the king. David questioned Uriah about why he did not go home. Hear the noble words of an honorable man as he speaks to the king,

11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing" (2 Sam. 11:11).

How can he have pleasure while his fellow-soldiers are engaged in warfare? This is an honorable man. He did not think of himself, but he put himself in the sandals of others. May the great God of heaven give us more honorable men and women like Uriah, who did not seek self-pleasure first, but the good of the cause that is greater than they are.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 15:11--32

It Is Against Heaven First

After the son in the story of the Prodigal Son realized his sin, he determined to return home to his father, and the son even worked out his confession ahead of time. Here is part of what he determined to say,

18 "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you'" (Luk. 15:18).

This young man knew that his sin was first against heaven, because all sin is against heaven. When we sin against others, we cannot leave out of our confession our sin against heaven, and when we confess to heaven, we cannot leave out confessing to those against whom we have sinned.

Have you recognized your sin against God? Have you acknowledged your sin against those whom you have sinned? Have you taken care of everything properly?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100