From the Pen of Paul. . .

Psalm 90 (2)

Last week we began to look at the marvelous 90th Psalm. Let's continue to do that as we look at further statements made by the psalmist.

"For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance" (vv. 7-8). Sin brought death into the world; pain, disease and illness stand as proofs of our departure from the perfection of our creation in the beginning. God's anger and wrath are moved against all sinners. And, as has been clearly seen from the time of man's sin in the Garden to this present hour, man cannot hide his sins from God. Darkness is as the light to Jehovah; our secret sins are revealed (Psalm 139).

"For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our days as a tale that is told" (v. 9). I am told that the literal translation of this passage in the Vulgate is: "Our years pass away like those of the spider." If this rendering is correct it is easy to see that the psalmist is showing the extremely fragile nature of our earthly existence. A spider works long and hard to build his web only to have it torn down in an instant. Life is just that frail!

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (v. 10). How many times have you heard this classic statement of Scripture read at funerals? In the early years of man's existence, his years were much more than this. The book of Genesis records a number of men who lived to be over 900 years. Methuselah is the oldest man on record having lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27). But even in our day, this is more of an average than a set number of years. This is seen to be true, because many today live into their 90s and some even live to exceed 100 years. Only recently, I read where the oldest living person had died in Great Britain. Some reports listed him as 111, while others listed him as 113. In either case he exceeded the "fourscore" of this verse by almost two score! But, however many years we are permitted to live, they are short in comparison with eternity, and they are "soon cut off" and "we fly away." The song, "I'll Fly Away" comes from this statement and is loved by many. The psalmist is simply telling us that our life, at best, will be short; and when our mortal bodies are "cut off' our immortal soul will wing its way into eternity. The wise man wrote, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecc. 12:7). We even read a vivid description of this event in the death of Rachel in Genesis 35:18: "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died)". Rachel's body was "cut off" but her soul departed and flew away. What a marvelous thought; one day, you and I will also "fly away."

The last statement from this psalm we want to look at is of great importance. The psalmist writes, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom" (v. 12). When we consider the frailty and brevity of our lives, there is nothing more important than making preparation to meet God. The only way we can do that is to "number our days" and use our time wisely. Other writers have also given important instruction along this line. Solomon wrote, "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). In the psalm preceding the one under consideration, the psalmist wrote, "Remember how short my time is" (Psalm 89:47). James was later to write, "Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this, or that" (James 4:13-15). And Jesus exhorted in His sermon on the mount, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matt. 6:34). And because of the frailty and shortness of life, we are urged, "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness" and "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (Heb. 3:7-8; II Cor. 6:2).

Go back and read this marvelous psalm, meditate on it, and garner much from it!
—Paul M. Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

The Difference in Denominations and Christianity

"What is the difference in denominationalism and Christianity?"

There is much difference in denominationalism and Christianity. Denominations teach that there are many gospels and that one is just as good as another. The Bible teaches there is one and only one gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:6-9). Denominations teach that are many different faiths and that one is just as good as another. The Bible teaches there is but one and only one faith (Eph. 4:4-6).

Denominations teach that religious division is wonderful and that God is well pleased with religious division. But the Bible teaches that religious division is sinful (I Cor. 1:10-13). Jesus Christ prayed for unity in the very shadow of the cross (John 17:20-21). All the apostles were united in the faith and belonged to the same church. The inspired preachers of the Bible taught the same gospel (Gal. 2:5, 7).

Denominationalism teaches that there are many kinds of Christians. The Bible teaches there are Christians and only Christians (Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16). Denominations teach many plans to save but the Bible teaches only one plan to save (John 14:6; Acts 16:17; Matt. 7:14). Denominationalism teaches one may add to the Bible or take from the Bible and still be pleasing in the sight of God. The Bible teaches that God will not save those who add to His Word (Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Denominations teach that men may do what pleases them in religion. The Bible teaches that we may do only those things which are authorized in the Holy Scriptures (Col. 3:17).

Denominations teach that we should let our conscience be our guide in religion. The Bible teaches that we are to follow the Bible and it alone. The Bible is to be the guide for the conscience (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:3). Denominations teach that men are saved by faith only. The Bible teaches we are not saved by faith only (James 2:24-26). Denominations teach the eternal security of the believer or that one cannot fall from grace. The Bible teaches that we can fall from grace and be lost (I Cor. 10:12). The Bible teaches that our names can be blotted out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5; Ex. 32:33).

Denominations teach that water has nothing to do with God's plan to save. The Bible teaches that Jesus said we must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). The Bible says that baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The Bible teaches that in baptism our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16). Denominations teach that we do not have to take the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week. The Bible teaches that we are to take the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

Denominations teach that mechanical instruments of music may be used in worship to God. The Bible teaches that we are to sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord (Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:19). Denominations teach that all men are predestined to be saved or lost before they are born and that they have nothing personal to do with their salvation. The Bible teaches that all men may be saved (Matt. 11:28-29). The Bible teaches that "whosoever will" can come to God (Rev. 22:17). The Bible teaches that man can be saved by submitting to Christ (Acts 2:40). The Bible teaches that some men will not come to Christ and be saved (John 5:40).

There is much difference in what the Bible teaches and what denominationalism teaches. Who will you listen to? Who will you obey? Who is your Saviour? Will you follow Jesus and His teaching?
—Malcolm L. Hill