Three Words: Father, Forgive Them

By Kent Heaton

The panorama was a horrifying spectacle of death, misery and inhumanity of man measured out in slow torturous tones to three men considered criminals. A great multitude of people gathered on the hill crying and mourning with shrill cries of despair. Men in regal robes of Jewish hierarchy circled around the crowds sneering at the condemned. The Roman soldiers, fond of mocking those they executed, shouted insults and curses towards the helpless. One of those on the cross reviled the man in the middle as accursed and worthless.

All the earthly possessions of the condemned were auctioned off with lots being cast for the privileged one who would possess a simple garment. The crowd mingled by the picture of horror as they cast dispersions upon the man in the middle wagging their heads at him. The darkness that overspread the land paled in comparison to the darkness of hearts that drove the maddening crowd to a frenzied pitch of hatred. Eyes filled with disgust as faces contorted to express the contempt of the man on the cross.

Hands were raised against the man pointing fingers of accusation. Feelings of revulsion filled the air from those who gathered at Calvary that day. A few days earlier the man on the cross was hailed as a conquering hero but now as a vanquished foe (Matthew 21). He had been dragged from Gethsemane and remanded to the Roman and Jewish legal jurisprudence ending with a sentence of death. He had been spat on, slapped, ridiculed, mocked and scourged with the Roman whip. Made to carry his own cross he fell beneath the load and walked ahead of Simon whom they compelled to carry the cross (Mark 15:21).

At Golgotha , “which is translated, Place of a Skull” (Mark 15:22) the man was thrown to the ground and secured to the cross with nails. Lifted up he was crucified in the most humiliating and contemptible manner. Treated as filth the man writhed in intense pain and agony as his body responded to the murderous acts of slow death forced upon his body. The pain seared through his body in ribbons with incredible fury of torture. The act of taking a breath brought on the most agonizing misery. Tears stained the blood soaked dirty face of the man.

Barely audible he spoke with whispers of seven sayings. In the midst of noise echoing throughout the hillside and gardens a soft voice came floating from the parched lips of Jesus of Nazareth. "Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:33). The earth should have stood silent with those words but it did not. All of those gathered should have gasped when the words were said but they did not. The mountains should have shook and the herald of the archangel should have sounded forth from every corner of the earth but only the broken words of a dying man could be heard. He would breathe his last and die.

Jesus could hear the screams of those who reviled him. He could see the hatred in their eyes. The fear that filled the air was felt in the heart of God’s Son. The smell of death was pronounced upon the deeds done that day. But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them.” Three words: an address to his Father; a request for mercy; a blessing upon those who hated him. Three words: an appeal to the Creator; a plea for pardon; a petition for the creation. Three words: our hope; our need; our condition.

Can you stand at the cross and hear those words? Three words resonate after two-thousand years. The need is still here. The answer is still here. The hope remains. &

Unconscious Decisions

By Dick Millwee

Many years ago two FBI agents where killed in a gun battle with some criminals. When the police arrived at the scene they found both of the agents had no bullets in their pistols. They had an empty pistol in their right hand and six fired casings in their left hand. They had additional live rounds in their bullet pouches.

An investigation determined that during the heat of the gun battle, the agents fired all of their bullets, quickly ejected the spent cartridges into their free hand, and thus did not have a free hand to reload their weapons. Consequently, they were shot.

After this tragic incident an investigation caused the agency to change their training methods on teaching new agents how to fire their weapon on the firing range. Instead of instructing them to empty their spent cartridges into their free hand and then put them into an empty container before reloading, the new procedure was to empty the spent cartridges on the ground and immediately reload.

Under times of stress we react in the manner we have become use to under those conditions. Soldiers who have experienced armed combat know there is nothing but loud noise, confusion and chaos. What helps them to survive is unconsciously acting as they have been trained.

An interesting statement is made in Hebrews 5:14: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” The word “USE” comes from the Greek word HEXIS and is defined as “A habit, whether of body or of mind; a power acquired by custom, practice, or use.” It is the recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior, acquired through frequent repetition. The reason the FBI agents were killed is that they unconsciously, while under stress, acted as they had been trained on the range when firing their weapons.

I cannot emphasize enough the absolute necessity for our need to learn how God wants us to act under all circumstances and then use that information consistently no matter what we face in life. By doing this we develop a habit that becomes a powerful force in dealing properly with life’s challenges. When faced with these trails we unconsciously react according to the habit we have developed by purposely acting as God wants us to. It has just become our habit to do so. What a powerful force that is for us.

Those, who do not endeavor to learn what God’s word says about handling the trials of life, or fail to purposely follow His direction have not developed the powerful, unconscious habits of doing God’s will, no matter what the circumstances are. All that is available at these times is what the FBI agents had: WHAT SEEMED RIGHT TO THEM UNDER THESE CONDITIONS! That led to their death. I am reminded of what Solomon said in Proverb 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to man, the end thereof is DEATH!” Beloved, are we developing the spiritual habits that we should? If not, then, we become the plaything of Satan, acting according to the habits we have allowed him to develop within us. Remember, James said, “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22). &

The Christian and Civil Government

By Tim Haile

In last week’s article we considered Bible passages that emphasize our duty to properly influence society. Though we may not often consider its value, this influence can also be exerted in our civic duties. According to Romans 13:1-7, God has ordained both the concept and function of civil government. As plainly stated in this passage, the role of God-ordained government is to praise those who do what is right, and punish those who do evil. “Praise” involves protection, for Paul availed himself of the protective services of Roman authorities (Acts 21; 22). The “punishment” of the passage extends even to the practice of capital punishment, for civil authorities “do not bear the sword in vain.”

A God-ordained government creates an atmosphere that allows people “to lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1, 2). This means that Christians should be motivated to cultivate such a government. Bible students should speak out, for they are the ones that best understand critical moral and fiscal issues. They know that abortion, homosexuality (incl. gay marriage), theft (incl. confiscatory taxation), idolatry (incl. green-movement earth worship) and social welfare to able-bodied people are all wrong (Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Romans 1:22, 23; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Bible readers also understand then the planet earth was made for the sustenance and support of humans, not the other way around (Genesis 1:28).

Christians and Bible believers should inform and warn others, and yes, they should vote in support of likeminded and conscientious people. &