It seems to me that no one enjoys being around a “know-it-all” (someone who thinks that their two cents worth is actually worth a lot more).  A “know-it-all” does not have the phrase “I don’t know” anywhere in his vocabulary.  Even if he really does not know about something, he will often offer his best educated guess as a bona fide fact.

The problem with being a know-it-all is the lack of humility that goes along with it.  1 Corinthians 10:12 reads, “let the one who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “pride goes before destruction.”

In Romans 12:16, Paul teaches wise man must not consider himself to be wise in his own sight. A wise man must realize that he does not know everything, nor can he do so before his life is over. The reality of the matter is that there simply are no real know-it-alls among us!

No matter how much knowledge we may possess, no matter what great feats we are able to achieve in this life, we must always remember that God alone is the Great I AM!  We must be willing to take a step back at times to say, “I don’t know, but I know that God does.”  When life gets tough, when things are at their worst, when tragedy strikes us suddenly, we must be able to find the strength to say “I don’t know why this has happened to me!  But I know that God does.”  In all of life’s situations, we cannot expect to know everything.  If our faith is in Him, we must realize that He is the one who knows – not us.

Let us be quicker to listen to the Words of God and slower to speak. Let us trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.

God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a beautiful garden in which every need was supplied.  They had one law: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17).  They were happy and enjoyed an intimate relationship with their Creator.  Their innocence is expressed in the words: “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Gen. 2:25).

Enter the serpent.  He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?  …You will not surely die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:1, 5).  Eve gave in to her desire and ate the forbidden fruit.  Her husband, who was with her, also took some and ate.

They did gain knowledge, as the serpent said, but it was not the kind of knowledge they were expecting.  Moses writes, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.  And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths” (Gen. 3:7).  It is hard to know exactly what this means, but at the very least we can tell that they had lost their innocence, and this was evident in their shame.  When they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, nakedness became something sinister, a means for evil.  It was a new tool in their possession for rebelling against God.  Their knowledge of this was so palpable that they instinctively covered themselves up.

In terms of their dress, when were Adam and Eve right?  When they were naked in the garden or when they were clothed after the Fall?  They were right in both cases.  Before they sinned, nakedness was not a means to do evil; it was a part of their innocence.  But after they sinned, things changed and clothing became a necessary part of the human struggle to avoid sin.

This was confirmed by the Lord when he made “garments of skins” for the couple and clothed them (Gen. 3:21).  Evidently the fig leaves were not enough.  Now that sin had entered the picture, mankind had to fend off sin with clothing.

The basic nature of mankind has not changed since that day when Eve chose to follow the serpent’s lead.  Yet this time of the year, people are uncovering their nakedness at the beach, in the swimming pools, at the mall, and even at church.  Because of our basic nature, they feel a little shame when they first let their skin show, but gradually they are able to train their consciences to stop biting them with guilt so that they can feel comfortably exposed.

Immodest clothing unnecessarily tempts us to commit sin.  Remember the garden, remember our shame, and cover up.

It is a general rule that bad things happen when a person forgets about their mother, as this young preacher’s failed attempt at a joke proves.  Forgetting about Mom (whether it be forgetting about something that she said or something that she needs) does not end well: for the young child it means time-out, for the high school student it means “grounded,” for the college student it means no care package, for the adult it means no more free babysitter.

Mother’s Day is a special time to remember and to honor our mothers for all that they do. A mother is not simply a biological parent; a mother is a person who cares the needs of a child, whatever the cost. A mother is a person who trains up a child in the way that they should go. A mother is faithful, caring, loving, and strong. It is true that some of life’s best days are spent in the arms of such a mother. Let us always remember the sacrifices that our mothers have made for us. Let us always remember to show honor, gratitude, and appreciation for the mothers in our lives.

One of the qualities that captivate us is her love and devotion as a mother.  Her love never failed.

The first picture we see of her is a chaste teenage girl, greatly troubled by a visit from Gabriel.  The final picture we see is of an aging mother whose face is beginning to show the wear of years of struggle.  She is with the disciples in Jerusalem, waiting on the promise of the Holy Spirit.  After thirty years she’s still there; Jesus is still the focus of her life.

One might say, “But Jesus was easy to love!”  Really?  Remember that when Jesus was a baby an old prophet named Simeon told her, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Lk. 2:34-35).

The old man’s prophecy came true.  Mary’s soul was pierced many times…

• When she had to flee from Herod to Egypt.
• When she frantically searched for Jesus for three days when he was twelve and finally found him in the temple and the only explanation she received was, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Lk. 2:49).
• When respected religious leaders called her son a lunatic and demon possessed (Mk. 3).
• When her other children rejected Jesus’ claims (Jn. 7:5).
• When she pondered passages like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, knowing they applied to her firstborn.
• When she watched her son writhe in pain on the cross.

Mothers, follow Mary.  Love those children.  Your love may lead you down a hard road sometimes, but love them anyway.

It may be long after you’re gone before your children realize how much you have done for them.  General George S. Patton was plagued by dyslexia as a young boy, but his mother’s encouragement brought him up to be powerful leader.  It was his mother, he often told colleagues, who ingrained in him the leadership qualities that made him famous.  His only regret was that he never expressed sufficient appreciation to her.  “Darling Mama,” he began in a letter he wrote after her death, “You are still very near. I never showed you in life the love I really felt nor my admiration for your courage.”

Being a mother is a thankless job, but it needs to be done.  God did not send his Son to the earth without putting him in the hands of a good mother who would love him to the end.  If that isn’t a testimony to the importance of a mother’s love, I don’t know what is.

In a Q & A session, Jay Lockhart (a man who has been preaching for over 50 years) was asked “What is the best book that you have read on preaching?”  Jay thought about the question for a moment and answered, “1 & 2 Timothy and Titus are the best material on preaching that there is… There’s a lot of other stuff out there [on preaching], but I don’t put that much stock in it.  Saturate yourself with 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus [to improve].”

Jay’s answer was a great one.  Rather than recommend some ministry book with five points that all start with the letter “R”, Jay chose to recommend nothing other than the Biblical books of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.

But we do love to read the “other stuff,” don’t we?  We get caught up in all types of Christian works: the old classic books written by great preachers from the past, the new books that present new ideas, the Biblical journals, the Biblical magazines, and the works of our favorite authors.  Christian books can be full of wonderful material and can help us grow in ways that we might not have grown without reading them, but let’s get this straight: We base our lives on God’s Word, not on the “other stuff.”  Is it not better to study the source rather than the secondary material?   Reading new Christian material is great, but we cannot forget about God’s Word.  If we want to know God better we need to saturate ourselves in His Word!  When we have read more pages of Muscle & a Shovel than we have read of our Bibles, we have a problem.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… (Colossians 3:16)

Isaiah the prophet came to the king as he lay on his deathbed and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover’” (2 Kings 20:1).  But Hezekiah was not ready to give up.  He turned his face to the wall and prayed like he had never prayed before.  And before Isaiah was able to leave the courtyard, the Lord spoke to him again: Hezekiah was to be granted another fifteen years of life.

Following his sickness, Hezekiah addressed the following, perplexing words to his God:

For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.  The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness (Isa. 38:18-19).

What did the king mean?  It looks as though he is saying the dead are unable to praise God and hope for His faithfulness.  What makes this more perplexing is that Hezekiah is not the only biblical writer who made this claim.  Similar statements are found in the Psalms (cf. 6:5; 30:9; 88:11; 115:17).

Hezekiah and the Psalmist could not have been talking about the limitations of the dead in heaven.  That would contradict, for example, the ceaseless exaltations we read about in Revelation 4.  The only possible explanation is that these inspired men referred to what the dead are unable to do on earth.  Lifeless bones neither glorify God nor hope in His faithfulness.  Their labor, as far as this world is concerned, is finished.  There was still more work Hezekiah wanted to do for God on earth.  He knew that once he died those opportunities would vanish, so he prayed for more time.

Hezekiah’s perspective is not a bad way to look at life.  Life is full of opportunities.  All of us have an inevitable appointment with death, but for now, there is still work to do on earth.  Maybe there are sins to confess and repent of (Ps. 32:6; Acts 3:19), commands to be obeyed (Acts 2:38), sinners to reach with the gospel (cf. Luke 16:27-28), and good deeds to do (Rev. 14:13).  Don’t waste the life God has given you.  Be thankful for every day you have.

“His wife was an alcoholic.  His daughter had psychological problems.  He was often poor in health.  Yet, week after week, he never complained.  He always smiled and asked me how I was doing.  He faithfully brought to church a young blind man who had no transportation.  He always sat with the blind man, helping him sing the hymns by saying the words into his ear. That man was a Christian leader if ever there was one.”

True Christian leaders are special people: they are here to serve, not to be served.  True Christian leaders lead people to Christ more so by their actions than by their words.  We are blessed at Ashville Road to have true and strong Christian leaders serving as our elders and deacons.  Let us all remember to keep these men in our prayers as they work in their roles of service.

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  It shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25–28)

Now more than 50 percent of Americans believe homosexuals have the right to marry.  Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage.  Also, several states recognize same-sex unions.  It’s disturbing to watch public sentiment turn on traditional marriage so swiftly.  Not only does it seek to legitimize sexual conduct that God has called an “abomination” (Lev. 18:22), but because the government’s interest in this matter mostly has to do with financial matters, it reduces marriage to a partnership of convenience rather than a way to reflect the glory of God.

But before we give into despair, let’s not forget that marriage in its traditional form is alive and well.  Several of our young couples at Ashville Road are getting married soon.  All of them are comprised of faithful Christian men and women who put the Lord first in their lives.  I have no doubt that their marriages will be a picture of the love of God for the world to see.

There is a reason why every civilization throughout history has practiced traditional marriage between a man and a woman.  God’s definition of marriage is ingrained in us.  We cannot get away from it.  From creation, it has been God’s plan for companionship, love, child-rearing, and partnership among his people.  A couple of Supreme Court decisions, regardless of where they will fall, will not change this.

What are we to make of the most recent attacks on biblical marriage?  Look at them as an opportunity for God’s Word to stand in sharp relief against the background of sin.  This is an opportunity for Christians to show the world the beauty of Christian marriage.  Marriage survived the polygamy of ancient times and the divorce of the twentieth century.  It will survive the threats of cohabitation and homosexuality in the twenty-first century.

Do not be surprised that the world thinks so differently from Christians.  Christians have always been called to a different lifestyle.  If the world thought and behaved like God, it wouldn’t need Christ.  So get used to being different.  This is our calling (2 Cor. 6:14-18).  This holiness is proof of our inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Eph. 5:5).

I was watching T.V. the other day and this show came on with these religious fanatics.  They were crazy – or at least you would think that they were if you did not understand their culture and their religion.  You see they were worshipers of idols and they took things to extremes: they painted their bodies, they wore ridiculous costumes, they chanted, they danced, they made sacrifices to their idols, and they built enormous temples to worship their idols in.  It seemed like their whole existence climaxed in that one celebration of worship.

Sounds a lot like madness right?  Try reading that same paragraph again, but this time picture that you’re a person from another country that has tuned into an Alabama or Auburn football game for the first time.

You see that anything that takes precedence in our lives over God can be considered idol worship.  We all have no problem getting worked up and excited over a sporting event.  We paint our bodies, we wear ridiculous costumes, we chant, we dance, we make sacrifices to attend sporting events, and we file into enormous stadiums to watch the games.  When was the last time you were genuinely excited about a football, baseball, or basketball game?  When was the last time you were genuinely excited about your faith?

Idol worship – it’s not just about golden calves anymore.

Believe it or not, there are important lessons to learn from our children.  We just need to be sure we’re learning the right ones.

It would be a mistake, for example, to pick up childishness from them, the kind of immaturity Paul condemns in 1 Corinthians 3:1 – 3:

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.  I fed you with mild, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.  And even now you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh.  For while there is jealously and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

A similar indictment is found in Hebrews 5:12 – 14, where the author rebukes his readers because although they should have become teachers by that time, they were in need of someone to teach them “basic principles” again.  “You need milk,” he says, “not solid food.”

Childishness is the result of taking the wrong lessons from our children.  Too many Christians are failing to grow into maturity and remain dependent, non-contributing, resource-consuming babies in Christ.

But we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.  There are, as I said, very important lessons we can learn from our children.

Jesus taught that we cannot enter His kingdom without the openness and humility of a child: “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Luke 18:17; cf. Matt. 18:3; 19:14).

Other passages encourage us to develop the innocence of our little ones.  For example, Peter tells us that a childlike attitude will keep bringing us to God’s Word for nourishment:

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. (1 Peter 2:1 – 2)

In short, we shouldn’t be childish, but we should become childlike.  As Paul said, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking.  Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20).