From the Pen of Paul. . .

Psalm 90 (1)

The 90th Psalm is a favorite of mine. It contains several statements that have been quoted over and over down through the years. It is often read at funerals. Let's look at some of these statements.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (v. 2). The majestic mountains appear to us to have been eternal, but the psalmist points out that they, along with the earth and the entire world, were created by God. This certainly agrees with the account given of the beginning by the writer of Genesis. Since God created them, there was a time when they were not; but from the eternity that is past, before time began, to the eternity that is after, when time shall have an end, God exists! Adam Clarke, commenting on this statement said, "This is the highest description of the eternity of God to which human language can reach." Other psalms also attest to this marvelous fact. "Thou art from everlasting" (Psalm 93:2). "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 103:17). Other inspired writers also speak of the fact of God's eternity. "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was" (Prov. 8:23). "Thou O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting" (Isa. 63:16); "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Mic. 5:2); "Art not thou from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One?" (Hab. 1:12).

Paul, in Ephesians 4:6 tells us there is "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." And on Mars Hill, he declared that it was "God that made the world and all things therein" and "In Him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:24, 28). It was this same God whom is declared by "holy men of God" who "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:21-22). Don't be misled by those today who want to be descendants of apes; our God is everlasting, and He made all things!

"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night" (v. 4). Since God is eternal, time means nothing to Him. As the psalmist compares the way we may view things relative to time, he points out that "a thousand years are but as yesterday." Peter was later to write, "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (II Pet. 3:8). Time, as far as God is concerned, is not measured; time does not affect, nor change God; time does not make His promises of no effect. He is the "same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8). "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6). And Peter, due to this fact, explained that "God is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness" (II Pet. 3:9). Because of this marvelous fact, we can depend upon the promises of God which give us "hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (Heb. 5:19).

"Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth" (vv. 5-6). The psalmist compares life to a stream; sometimes it becomes a flood and carries men away rapidly. Several other statements in these verses point to the swiftness of life and the few days of its existence, especially when compared with the everlasting existence of our God. Life is compared to sleep; it is compared to grass that grows and flourishes for a short time and then it is cut down and dies. We see this demonstrated during the summer as we mow the grass. Isaiah would also speak of this and Peter would quote it in his epistle. "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isa. 40: 6-8). "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away" (I Pet. 1:24). Adam Clarke wrote: "On the whole, life is represented as a stream; youth as morning; decline of life, or old age, as evening; death, as sleep; and the resurrection as the return of the flowers in spring. All these images appear in these curious and striking verses 3, 4, 5, and 6."
—Paul M. Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Is There Really A Devil?

"Is there really a devil? If so, where did he come from? Is he at work today?"

There can be no doubt but that the devil is real! The Bible speaks often about the devil. He is called by many different names in the Holy Scriptures. He is called Satan, the devil, the wicked one, the Prince of this World, Lucifer, etc. If the Bible can be proven to be the word of God, and it can be, then we may rest assured that Satan is real.

There can be no doubt but that God created angels before the foundation of the world. In some way God needed them and their service (Heb. 1:14; II Pet. 2:4). It is inferred that Satan existed before Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:1-19). It could be safely said that one may conclude that the devil is a fallen angel. He rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven (Isa. 14:12).

But is Satan at work today? How can one see all the evil about him and ask such a question? The devil is at work twenty-four hours each day and seven days per week. There is never a time when he is at ease. Is it any wonder why his work continues to grow? If the Lord's people would work like the advocates of the devil, the gospel of Christ would circle the earth many times within a short period of time. God does a great work with many people for the little time they give Him.

What is Satan trying to do today? He is doing all he can to undo the work of God (Mark 4:15). He would like to see all men renounce their Maker (Job 2:4-5). Satan goes about instigating evil (John 13:2, 27). The devil would like for all men to fall down and worship him (Luke 4:6-8; II Thess. 2:3-4). The wicked one goes about deceiving every soul possible (Rev. 12:9). He is the author of all lies (John 8:44). Thus, all liars are his children. He often appears as one of God's servants (II Cor. 11:14). The devil insinuates doubt (Gen. 3:1), misuses the Scriptures (Matt. 4:6), afflicts believers, and does all he can to outsmart God's children (II Cor. 2:11).

Satan hates the church (Matt. 16:18), hates the truth (Luke 8:12), hates preachers of the gospel (II Tim. 3:12), hates every true and righteous work.

How does the devil work today? He does his work through outright evil people—men who cannot blush nor have shame (Jer. 6:15; 8:12). He works through preachers and teachers that will not preach the complete, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:6-9). Satan sometimes gets into church members and uses them to his advantage (II Cor. 11:14). He is no fool (II Cor. 2:11). Many souls will be lost forever because of those who are supposed to be servants of God will have permitted Satan to use them. Sometimes preachers and church leaders will take a stand against the Lord's work without cause. They sometimes have excuses for their position but not one single reason. They are being used by Satan.

God wants and even demands that His people prove, try, and test all things, and hold fast that which is good (I Thess. 5:21). Christians must be ready always to give a truthful answer for what they believe, practice, and stand for (I Pet. 3:15).

Satan is real so watch out for him. He wears different suits and faces. Don't let him catch you and use you.
—Malcolm L. Hill