by Barry Newton

A few minutes earlier, the crowd inside the house had marveled and wondered at a man called Jesus.\1 A blind and mute man had been brought before Jesus. Now they too had witnessed what so many others had claimed. Jesus had power to instantly heal. What could this possibly mean? Searching for comprehension, someone had mused aloud, "This man can not be the Son of David, can he?" Soon others had picked up the chorus as the question ricocheted throughout the crowd.

The Pharisees had cut short such Messianic speculation by ascribing Jesus' power to the prince of demons. Jesus retorted that Satan's rule could not stand if it worked against itself. But the scribes and Pharisees were not finished yet. They challenged Jesus to produce a sign.

What would Jesus do? Already he had healed the mute and blind. What sign could he possibly give them now? Would they believe in him if he did produce a sign?

Throughout his ministry, Jesus provided many reasons why people should accept his message and claims. And to the religious leaders who called upon him for a sign, he said they would only be given the sign of Jonah.\2 And what a powerful sign it was! Jesus predicted the length of time he would be in the grave before his resurrection! Three days and nights and then, good-bye grave.

In what Jesus called "the sign of Jonah," we discover the supreme sign of the Father's vindication of his Son. With his resurrection, Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power.\3

Can I trust what Jesus taught? Look at the empty tomb. Is Jesus really the Son of God? Remember the resurrection. Can I really believe that heaven is prepared for those who love God? For those who are open to trusting in Jesus provided they are given a good reason, Jesus pointed to his resurrection from the dead.

1/ Matthew 12:23,46 2/ Matthew 12:39-40 3/ Romans 1:4

by Richard Mansel

Are you scared of the dark? In the light we can move about our neighborhoods without fear. Yet as night falls around us the same surroundings develop an ominous appearance.

Our natural fear of darkness is a necessity, because so much evil lurks in the darkness. Those whose feet run to evil are invigorated when night falls. They hit the streets to perform all forms of mischief. As a result, we lock our doors and turn on all the lights to settle our fears.

In John 8:12, Christ says that he is the "light of the world" (NKJV). Light is associated with goodness and righteousness, while darkness is where evil resides. On the paths of life, we are either on the lighted path or wandering in the dark woods. As Solomon says in Proverbs 4:19, the sinner does not know "over what he stumbles" because the holes and traps are smothered in the darkness of sin.

This darkness leads people to seek answers in the wrong places and things. The child who, in his dark bedroom, mistakes a coat on a door for a monster is no different than a sinner looking for answers in the bottom of a whiskey bottle. Both have been misled by the darkness. In the light, both would have seen that these objects had no power over them, unless they had empowered them.

Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness." Darkness leads us to mistake the dangerous for the useful.

Light is the most powerful force in the world. Have you ever considered the power of light? A candle can be placed in a room that is so intensely dark that it appears to latch onto you. Yet the darkness, no matter how powerful, cannot extinguish the candle. We can find extraordinary comfort in that fact. Satan cannot, no matter how hard he tries, make us be lost. The choice resides with us. We have the choice of selecting the path to salvation or the path to destruction (1 Peter 5:9; Acts 2:37,38).

So often we hear people say that they cannot find happiness or the answers to the big questions of life. They are far away from God, and darkness is not only about sin, but confusion. When their world is illuminated by God's light, everything becomes clearer, and better decisions can be made. John assures us that God is good and that no darkness resides in him (1 John 1:5). Additionally, he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Sinners are lost in darkness and cannot find the lighted path that leads to heaven. Christians must take their light into the world to reach out to the lost so that they can find the right path.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:15,16 that Christians are to be "lights to the world." Can we be a light like Jesus? Not exactly. Jesus is the true light of the world. Instead, we become lights when we stay close to Christ, letting his light reflect off of us. When we move away from Christ, our light is no longer seen and our influence brings only darkness.

If you want to find the light of the world, turn to Scripture and a Christian who is truly reflecting the light of the Savior. Christ will then be easy to find (Matthew 11:28-30).

by J. Randal Matheny

My wife and I just returned from directing an entire week of Christian camp, with 35 young people between the ages of 14-17. It was a marvelous week, with one young lady accepting Christ through baptism. I taught the Total Transformation course, which was well received by the campers.

This week reminded me of several truths.

1. Energy decreases over time.

I'm tired from camp, from keeping up with energetic youth, from questions and interaction and rain every single day! And I'm only 47! Think of how tired I'll be at 87 ...

If "the glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old," as Proverbs 20:29 tells us, I'm definitely tending toward the latter category (NIV).

But aren't we all? That's where our hope builds, as we slide toward the end of life.

2. The energy of youth needs guidance and direction.

We had not a single major problem at camp. No one got expelled, and all the campers had great attitudes, even though the rain kept us inside most of the time. That didn't happen by accident. I had a terrific team of monitors and counsellors whose upbeat attitude and optimistic spirit infused the campers with joy and kept them from mutiny.

"Likewise, you that are younger be subject to the elders" (1 Peter 5:5a, RSV).

3. Young people want and need meat and positive food.

On an evaluation form after the classes, I got comments like these -- remember, from 14-17 olds:

"I adored the course. It's very important to have classes geared not only to things that can remove us from the faith but also how to fortify our faith."

"Deep studies that call the Christian to his duties, but also call him to the love of Christ."

So Paul says in Ephesians 6:4, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Negative has its place, but positive teaching shows the way to go. And simple is good, but these young people have heard and seen everything in this world, and need to be challenged to think hard and long about life.

When a sudden cancellation opened up a teaching slot for the next camp session during Carnaval (a week away), I got invited to teach those 14 and up into their 20s. But I need a break (besides catching up on my work).

I'll let someone else get reminded of how to keep up with the energy of the young.

Excuse me, I hear a nap calling.

by Phil Sanders

The lady wept, "I don't like pain. I don't like seeing others hurt. I just wish it could all go away." No one could listen to such heartache and not feel deep compassion for this hurting woman. While no suffering is pleasant, suffering does have some value in our lives. God did not permit our suffering to be cruel or hateful toward us. The suffering of this world has some benefit. While it is not pleasant at the time, its lasting effects can bring valuable results.

1. It can help a person to know himself and what his character is. James saw the value of trials in helping to bring about patience and maturity in the Christian (James 1:2-4).

2. It can help one develop perseverance, the ability to stay with faith in spite of the trials. Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance brings about proven character; proven character brings about hope; and hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5).

3. It can help us be equipped to help others who suffer the same problems (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). No one knows better how to walk a mile than the person who has walked. One who has suffered and found comfort in God is uniquely able to help others who may suffer the same hurt.

4. Suffering teaches us compassion for others and the value of kindness in word and thought. Simple gestures of love and care can mean so much. We can't avoid hurt or take away the hurts of others, but we can express love and show kindness, just as others have done for us.

5. Suffering can help us understand what really matters. The psalmist was becoming bitter at all the injustice in this world until he went into the sanctuary and remembered God (Psalm 73).

6. Knowing what is valuable also helps us to be thankful for what we have (Job 1:20-22). It is easy to take for granted all the good things God has given us and to forget how gracious He has been.

7. Suffering reminds us to remember God. We can easily forget who God is and what He has done. Suffering gets us back on track (Psalm 119:67,71). Yes, Romans 8:28 is still true.

by Michael E. Brooks

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19).

One of the great disappointments I have experienced over the years is the frequent desecration of wonderful places I have been able to visit. Nepal, for instance, is a beautiful country with its magnificent Himalayan mountains. Yet it is scarred and defaced with erosion and blighted with litter. The effect of both tremendous over-population and unconcern with the environment are devastating. The contrast between the wondrous vistas that one looks up to and the ugly pollution that one looks down at is dramatic.

Why do we so defile our world? Is it ignorance, or greed, or simply the inevitable consequence of too many people? All of these play some part, no doubt, but they are not the complete answer. Paul, in Romans, explains,

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who has subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (Romans 8:20-22).

This is a complex and difficult passage and interpretation is not certain. Yet it seems to indicate clearly at least two things. One, that the created universe is in a bondage which is linked to mankind's "fall," that is our sinfulness. Second, that mankind's salvation will also liberate and free our world.

In the story of mankind's fall, one immediate consequence was the "cursing" of the earth (Genesis 3:17). Simply put, because of sin, the earth is not as productive or as benevolent as it was its nature to be. Weeds and thorns grow freely. Beneficial crops must be coaxed from the earth. Just as sin has corrupted humanity, so it has corrupted our environment. The universe suffers from our evil deeds.

But there is also hope. As we may be made free from sin in Christ Jesus, so the creation "will be delivered from the bondage of corruption." This, apparently, is not speaking of an eternal deliverance, for the New Testament elsewhere teaches plainly that this earth and sky will be destroyed in the Last Day (cf 2 Peter 3:10-13). Some believe that Paul is, rather, describing the responsibility that Christians will take towards their God-given home, the earth. As sinners corrupt, so the saints deliver. As the greedy and thoughtless pollute and defile, so the righteous nurture and protect. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden "to tend and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). As we are restored to fellowship with God, do we not also have the same duty? This is His creation. Let us seek to deliver it from the corruption of sin.