Beginning a new year we see the church is still here in this world a little longer, and we canot help but wonder what the new year will bring. The conditions in the whole world causes us to believe the Lord's return for His bride will be soon. Does that thrill your heart? It does for those who "love His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Our time on earth is drawing to a close, many believe. We all need to ask ourselves if we are in a good standing and state before God. I hope you will find thoughts here to help you answer that question. Standing refers to salvation -righteousness, and State speaks of obedience -spirituality.
Much of what you will find at this site is that which concerns basic Christian experience ---Redemption Way, Church Truth, and Spiritual Life. This first truth speaks about God's plan and purpose, sacrifice, salvation of our soul, hope, the Lord's reign and glory, and assurance of His care and love for all eternity, etc.; the second truth sets forth God's expectations for our walk in this world, worship, His testimony in unity to honor Him and obey, etc.; and the third truth is about devotion, serving, growing or maturing in the Christian faith. General ministry on Christianity is also added. Each one of these should be studied for our good, and when you have questions please feel free to talk with me. We can look at the Word together which is our only authority under God. - Robert DeWitt
January Edition, 2012 www.BibleCounsel.homestead.com Scriptural Newsletter
Got Questions? --Feel free to write this site manager, or Bible Truth Publishers for information
NOTE: If readers find this site to be of some help, and would like to help this ministry, they can each invite friends or acquaintances to visit here, There is no obligation and no funds are solicited or wanted. It is hoped all will find some ministry to help, and perhaps a nice challenge for their faith.
Surely "the time is short", as God says, and surely we need to also "be about (our) Father's business". Please see the message and testimony at Site Manager Page. - Richland, Washington, USA
See thoughts about Brethren From 1827, and God's recovery of church truth for His testimony and our pathway as believers.
THE PURPOSE: Your visit here is appreciated, and questions and comments are welcome and held confidential. This web site is www.BibleCounsel.homestead.com and is non-sectarian ministry to encourage the reading of God's Word, and for serious seeking after truth. It values God's work of revival in the early 1800's, with which it is associated, and urges readers to learn about it (see Church Truth page and the Feature pages herein). It is always the desire and hope here to obey and honor our Lord, and encourage and seek unity and the spiritual welfare of all people.
Papers and comments here are changed periodically, and are personal convictions. There are many pages for help and encouragement. The manager may not have answers for all questions, but is glad to share what he has and be
of some help. We need to prove it by the Word. He is not perfect and revisions and up-dates seem needed at times to clarify thoughts, so one might note the revision date on any papers they wish to copy (set your print margins at .25). Any copies made should not be altered or taken out of context when shared with others.
[A consideration of the larger view of time and eternity]
Thoughts By R. L. DeWitt, '06; rev. 12/11
[This is man's time for a little while in a day of grace. His life at best is only brief in the great scheme of things, and soon his present body will expire and he will pass from flesh to an eternal state, according to the Word of God. A soul has an opportunity here and then leaves the world to the next generation. How great and solemn is that opportunity! ]
Does one wonder about the meaning of life? It appears all souls are given a time on earth to live for God, though most will not. Every eternal soul of Adam's race is afflicted with sin by procreation, and God would be justified and righteous to cast all away as He did in Noah's time ---though Noah and his own were called and given exception by grace; and others were also given the hope of righteousness, but would not receive it (Heb. 11:7; 2 Pet. 1:4-5). Even today "By grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph.2:8).
Out of eternity past God spoke a world into existence and began the element of time, according to His Word. It will run its course, according to His plan, then God will close time and man will dwell as eternal creatures ---apart from death, forever with God in heaven or cast away in hell forever (Rev.21:1-8). He created wondrous things, and the wonder of all is man, an eternal being created after God's own image (Gen.1:27).
Over fifteen hundred years before Christ, Job said: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not" (Job 14:1-2). Man cannot control the forces of life and death, good and evil; nor in his natural state as ruined by sin does he understand or have power to do anything right or good in the sight of God (John 15:5-6). The remarkable thing is that God made man for Himself and desires that he might know God and receive Him and blessings. When in the beginning of his history man chose to be independent of God, he fell in sin, which is lawlessness ---that which is not in subjection to God's laws of life. God then began His great plan of recovery and reconciliation by His grace as shown in His beloved Son, providing that one will repent and receive Him.
What about sin? That is another issue (called the gospel) to contemplate for another time, but suffice it here to say: every creature having life is either with God or in opposition to God. All animals obey God, but man has other ideas. Such life without God is naturally contrary to Him who alone is goodness, righteousness, truth, justice, love, etc. All else is self-interested and has not the nature of God. Why did God allow this to be? It seems evident in the Word of God that He was seeking children to love and return love, not seeking servants such as the multitude of angels He already possessed, and who obey Him. A relationship with His own children is the expressed desire of a good father. Man was given liberty to choose God and enjoy a Father-child relationship, and man chose self-exaltation; so the gospel message shows the way, the truth, and the life God offers to all (John 14:6).
In short: one is either of God or of sin, and in this day the mercies of God by the Holy Spirit is moving to restrain the fullness of sin, and speaking to man by every means to awaken him to his need. We ought to be thankful for this degree of goodness we see in the world. When the Holy Spirit is removed from this world one day, the unmerited favor to man (grace), and the loving restraint toward man (mercy) will be gone. The self-exalted flesh will then be manifest in the fullness of sin, and we can get a little picture of this dreadful and fatal condition in the record of the Tribulation period in the book of Revelation.
God says there is "a time to every purpose" (Eccl.3:1), and we might consider that all things are either appointed by God or allowed, and He always knows the end from the beginning. He is doing a good work and He gives man some participation in it. When God awakens one to Himself and calls, it is hoped that one will respond to the Father's call and not turn away after his own interests in the flesh; for in such folly he will surely perish. - RLD
Life at best is very brief, like the falling of a leaf, like the binding of a sheaf;
BE IN TIME!
Fairest flowers soon decay, youth and beauty pass away; oh, you have not long to stay;
BE IN TIME!
Time is gliding swiftly by, death and judgment both draw nigh; to the arms of Jesus fly;
BE IN TIME!
Sinner, heed the warning voice, make the Lord your happy choice, then all heaven will rejoice;
BE IN TIME!
Come from darkness into light, from the way that seemeth right; come and start for heaven tonight;
BE IN TIME!
If in sin you longer wait, you may find no open gate, and your cry be just too late;
BE IN TIME!
Be in time---be in time; while the voice of Jesus calls you,
