by Barry Newton

Each day as the sun would rise, its light would be cast upon Jerusalem where an elderly godly widow would spend time in prayer. As she would walk into the temple court of the women, without a doubt there were many who walked right past her whom society considered important such as political figures, religious leaders and certain business personalities. Did they ever notice her? Did they ever give a second thought to the widow who prayed? God did.

One day as the eyes of this widow fell upon a young mother carrying a baby boy, God revealed to Anna that the child before her would be the one who would bring redemption to Jerusalem. A widow praised God. God noticed. A widow had prayed.

To teach his disciples why they should be persistent in prayer, Jesus chose to tell a story about another widow. It is a story which underscores that God notices those who pray.

Jesus’ choice in selecting a widow was deliberate. Those with deep pockets possess power to create according to their desires. Political pundits can shape public policy. Military leaders change boundaries. But what could a widow do? What resources does she have in a world where economic and social tides are beyond her influence? Jesus’ story was about a defenseless and seemingly powerless widow who had suffered a wrong. The particular powerful judge before whom she had to take her case was not driven by fairness. His eyes were elsewhere. To him the widow was merely a nuisance to be ignored.

However, this widow was spunky and persistent. It seemed that every time the judge turned around her penetrating old brown eyes were requesting justice once again.

The judge was a bit slow, but even he learned that this old woman would wear him out if he did not take care of her case. In contrasting that unrighteous judge who finally responded with the greater responsiveness of our God driven by righteousness, Jesus said, “will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out day and night?”

So you don’t feel powerful? You ask, “who am I and what can I do?” You can pray, pray, pray, pray. God notices. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful.

Prayer takes faith. It takes confidence that God exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him. And so Jesus ended his story of the widow with the haunting question, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” God notices those who pray.

by Barry Newton

Hardly any physical movement occurred, yet the attacks and countermovements were worthy of a Jujitsu championship. Each combatant scrutinized the other’s every word looking for something to exploit toward their own verbal advantage.

At times people listen, not for the purpose of gaining understanding, but to discredit, to protect or defend themselves. At one time or another, we have all probably been guilty of something other than seeking a genuine understanding. How we listen is important.

After so poignantly teaching how people will respond differently to God’s word as that message is sown in their hearts, Jesus warned his disciples, “So take care how you listen.” Luke 8:18 God’s word is important. How we receive that message is critical to what it will produce in our lives. It is those who listen to God’s message with an honest and good heart, and who hold on to this message, who will with perseverance produce a harvest. Luke 8:15

If the message being presented is true to Scripture, let’s listen to Scripture, without lightly dismissing it or irresponsibly criticizing the messenger. Rather, as good soil, let’s deeply embrace God’s word so that it will produce fruit in our lives.

by Barry Newton

How much do you enjoy being with your children? For me, to play with my two boys, read them stories, give them a hug, tell them how much I love them or teach them how to live and make decisions are some of the most enjoyable and rewarding moments I can spend each week. I know how much I want us to have a strong relationship as they grow into young men. While they might live far from me one day, I don’t ever want our relationship to be distant or strained. Could our desire to be close to our children be a slight glimpse into how much God loves us and longs to be in fellowship with us?

God Wants to be Close to You

If the words of 1 John are allowed to sink deep into our hearts and permeate our understanding, can they not cause a tear to well up? Love is not the result of us drawing near to God, rather through his Son, God has taken the initiative and has ensured our path home.1 Can we really fathom how much God loves us and wants to be in fellowship with us?

Although we see God’s love most clearly through his giving of Jesus for us, this is nothing new. As you read the Old Testament, can you hear God’s longing to be close to his people?

“I will make my dwelling place among you, and my soul will not reject you. 'I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be my people.” Leviticus 26:11-12

“I will betroth you to me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, In love and in compassion, And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.” Hosea 2:19-20

God Makes Closeness Possible

In order for God to dwell in the midst of his people and walk among them, they must be a holy people.2 This creates a huge problem since people are not holy nor are they capable of making themselves holy. However, through his grace God has eliminated the distance. God has acted to take people for himself and to make them holy.

One of the clear messages in the Old Testament is that God was responsible for making his people holy.3 Similarly, by giving Jesus as a sacrifice for us, once again it is God who has made it possible for us to be holy.

“ ... we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

How Close to God Do You Feel?

If you are in Christ, God has brought you close to him. So how is your relationship with God these days? Is it anything like the words of this hymn?

"And He walks with me and He talks with me; and He tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there; None other has ever known"

Do you ever sing words like this wondering what it would be like to feel such a relationship with God? Don’t fret and worry, TAKE ACTION. Do what James 4:8 prescribes, ‘Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” You can be sure that God has done and continues to do his part. We need to be make sure that we are drawing close to God. Here are some practical actions we can take.

1. Belong to God

God has provided the path to belong to him and be in fellowship and at peace with him. This path is through Jesus Christ. If you have not yet relied upon Jesus but you do believe he is the Son of God, then trust in him today. Obey the gospel by being buried with Christ in baptism in order that you might trust in Jesus and his blood to redeem you.

2. Live a holy life

While God has made our relationship with him possible, he has also always called upon his people to preserve this wonderful relationship by living with holiness instead of being conformed to the sinful ways of the world.4 Just as Adam and Eve after having sinned did not feel close to God and even attempted to hide from God’s presence, so too continuing in sin can cause us to avoid drawing near to God. Repent of whatever sins might be dragging you down and go to God in prayer confessing them. Ask him to use you as his tool for greater service in his kingdom. God is faithful! God loves you!

3. Make time to communicate with God

Turn off the noise of entertainment and the never-ending distractions which consume time and tune into the Lord. Read his word everyday. Listen to his message. Spend time pouring out your heart, struggles, fears, appreciation, praise and love to him.

If you will draw near to God, scripture promises that God will draw near to you. After all, it was God who took the initiative (because of his love for you) to make this closeness possible.

1. 1 John 4:10; John 3:16
2. Deuteronomy 23:14; Leviticus 11:45; 15:31; 20:1-3; 1 Peter 1:15-16
3. Leviticus 20:8; 22:32
4. Leviticus 18:30-19:1; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Romans 12:2

by Barry Newton

In preparing for yet another multimedia seminar on evolution, I stumbled upon a book in the San Jose public library which amazed me. The following six quotes are from Franklin Harold’s, The Way of the Cell published by Oxford University Press in 2001, and they illustrate the actual bankruptcy behind what so many assume has been proven. While he is an ardent evolutionist, I appreciate Franklin’s candor and brute honesty about the paucity of scientific evidence to support their evolutionary tale about the origin of life and the assumed prebiotic soup from which it sprang.

“Life arose here on earth from inanimate matter, by some kind of evolutionary process, about four billion years ago. This is not a statement of demonstrable fact, but an assumption almost universally shared by specialists as well as scientists in general. It is not supported by any direct evidence.” p. 236.

“It is important to acknowledge the degree to which this field of inquiry is founded on surmise. The reasons for the general consensus are, first, the lack of a more palatable alternative; and second, that absent the presumption of a terrestrial and natural genesis there would be no basis for scientific inquiry into the origin of life.” p. 237.

“It bears repeating that we know very little for certain, and that it is seldom possible to formulate hypotheses that can be falsified by experiment; the opinions of scholars are, therefore, colored by personal beliefs about what should have happened, and even by what is meant by life.” p. 239.

“A historical theory must account for historical events, and in truth there is not (and perhaps cannot be) convincing evidence that there was ever a rich broth of organic substances, or that it played the role assigned to it by the theory.” p. 244.

“Creation myths lie at the heart of all human cultures, and science is no exception; until we know where we came from, we do not know who we are. The origin of life is also a stubborn problem, with no solution in sight … Biology textbooks often include a chapter on how life may have arisen from non-life, and while responsible authors do not fail to underscore the difficulties and uncertainties, readers still come away with the impression that the answer is almost within their grasp.” pp. 235-236.

“What is life? How we answer that question must eventually impinge on the practice of medicine and law, influence what we teach our children, nudge the direction of economics and public policy, and color our attitude to man, God, and all ultimate concerns.” p. 253.

While I object to his implication that the biblical story of creation is just another myth, I am grateful that he acknowledges the evolutionist's story of origins is myth. In view of the cascading significance of what we believe about our origin, it is tragic that so many people have falsely concluded that the weight of scientific evidence backs the evolutionist's tale about how life began. Accordingly, they are led to the erroneous conclusion that the story of a prebiotic soup is actual history. Unfortunately, this unwarranted belief has shaped values which in turn have influenced behavior. Tragic indeed.

by Barry Newton

If you have ever suffered prejudice, you can really appreciate just how wonderful the truth is that God is fair. That's right. When we come before God, nobody gets special treatment ahead of (or behind) you because of their connections, social status or race. That's right, being daddy's little girl won't help or hinder. Being a member of an ethnic minority will not make it any better or any worse. The manner in which God will judge the world is the same for us all.

The Principles of God's Judgment

Without favoritism, God gives to each one according to what that individual has done. Romans 2:6,11 If someone strives to do good, God will give that person eternal life. But if someone is self-seeking and rejects the truth thereby following evil, he or she will suffer God's wrath. Romans 2:7-11

But is this truly fair? An astute person might observe, "since not everyone has had an equal access to a clear understanding of what God wants from us, do not some people have an advantage over others? For example, it would seem that by giving His Law to the Jews, this provided the Jews with an advantage over other nations."

Paul responded that even those nations which did not receive God's Law show by their consciences that they are aware of God's laws. Since God will only judge each person by what he or she is aware of, God is fair! Romans 2:12-15

Those who did not have the Mosaical Law will be judged upon the basis of their conscience's understanding of God's ways. If they are aware that they have sinned, then they will be condemned based upon their own understanding. Those who had access to the Mosaical Law and who sinned will be judged by that Law. So, in the end God is fair. All are judged by what they know.

Good News Turned Bad?

But just how much hope for me (or for anyone else) does such a fair system of judging inspire? Can either you or I claim to be without sin? Can anybody, based upon their knowledge of right and wrong, say, "I am perfect and have lived up to the standard of God's glory?" As Paul wrote, "For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law." Romans 2:12

Since everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glory and since neither Jew nor Gentile has an advantage in judgment before God, God's righteous judgment is not particularly wonderful news to our ears. If we could be saved based upon our own goodness, this would mean that we would be saved by works.

God is Fair When He Saves Through Grace All Who Believe

The story of the gospel is utterly amazing and reveals the justness of God. On the one hand, the gospel tells us that Jesus' sacrifice provided atonement for sin. Because God has made it possible for sinners to be cleansed in Christ, God is not corrupt when He declares a sinner to be righteous in Christ. The gospel reveals that God is just and fair. Romans 3:22-26

On the other hand, the gospel teaches us that Jesus' sacrifice is for all people since all have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. Once again God is shown to be fair and just. By making this priceless gift of salvation available to all who trust in Jesus' blood, God has not shown any unjust favoritism. Romans 3:22-26

It does not matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus' sacrifice can handle our sin if we will trust in him. Nobody deserves to be saved, but God justifies everyone who comes to His Son.

Is this not great news? I am justified not upon the basis of who I am, but who Jesus is! If we have responded with the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), we have reason to exult in God because we are no longer going to be judged by God's Law but have been saved on the basis of the grace that comes from Jesus' sacrifice. Romans 5:1-2, 6-11; 7:6

Wow! Now this is something to get excited about and praise God for.