Gospel News — Jun-Aug 2012

36

The Tree

Bro Green Mumbelunga (Ndola, Zambia)

First, there are the little green leaves, then the big green leaves and then the juicy fat fruits. That's how the ecclesias should grow. Are we doing that, brothers and sisters? The coming of Christ is at hand. Let us not be found on the wrong side. Jesus commanded, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28: 19,20). By teaching and baptising those who want to observe and obey the word, then the ecclesia will grow like a tree.

A good sculptor must have a sharp chisel, a painter should have a palette and brush and proper mixture of paints. The big thing for us is to win people and to help them to have faith in Christ. To do this we must use skilfully and wisely the word of God as a tool and an instrument of instruction. "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves (James 1:22). The tree uses its roots to draw minerals and water from the soil, and grows and produces fruit. Like the tree, let us use the Bible to draw people from the evil world. From the signs of the times, we can see that the coming of Christ is near, so let us not leave other people in darkness but let us give them the light. The ever shining light is Christ. We must get rid of moral filth and evil. Starting with our families, and the others we meet.

Let them know the gospel so that they can be written in the book of life. If anyone's name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). As we try to follow the commandments of Christ, let us preach to everybody in this sleepy world (in fact it is indeed in slumber). What a rude awakening awaits them and how shocked they will be – like a tree struck by lightning: no more growth, no leaves and no juicy fruits. There will be much gnashing of teeth.

The Book of Books

Bro John Kasanda (Kasumpa, Zambia)

Today, more than ever, men and women are concerned about job satisfaction. Finding fulfilment has become important. Yet the one book that tells us why we were made goes largely unread. The Book of Books written to tell us what life is about is seldom consulted. Is it any wonder that the world is in a mess?

Almost the first noticeable thing about the Bible is its size. Some modern literary masterpieces are long; most books are not. The Bible is large or, if small, is printed in a close type hard to read. This is because the Bible is actually a library of books. The title actually means "The Books". Sixty-six books have been bound into one volume because they make up a set. They depend on one another. Together they form a complete story. Individual books cannot be completely understood on their own. The title contains the word `Holy'. This means separate, put aside for special use.

The Bible is different from other books. There are several ways in which we may consider it different. First of all, we shall be struck with the transparent honesty of the writers. Their openness in writing of failure and sin, even their own, is most unusual. It is clear that they are hiding nothing; their language is direct and forceful.

Secondly, the standards they uphold are to be admired. They present ideas far outside those to which men normally aspire. They consistently condemn what is offensive to God and applaud what is right.

Thirdly, the Bible displays an amazing foreknowledge of future events. It predicts