What an Epitaph!

Many who started out in life with as fair and promising a morning, in their limited sphere, as Solomon had in his exalted station, through one false and irrevocable step in the marriage relation, lose their souls, and draw others down to ruin with them. As Solomon’s wives turned his heart away from God to idolatry, so do frivolous companions, who have no depth of principle, turn away the hearts of those who were once noble and true, to vanity, corrupting pleasures, and downright vice.

Solomon flattered himself that his wisdom and the power of his example would lead his wives from idolatry to the worship of the true God, and also that the alliances thus formed would draw the nations round about into close touch with Israel. Vain hope! Solomon’s mistake in regarding himself as strong enough to resist the influence of heathen associates was fatal. And fatal, too, the deception that led him to hope that notwithstanding a disregard of God’s law on his part, others might be led to revere and obey its sacred precepts.

Let the sad memory of Solomon’s apostasy warn every soul to shun the same precipice…. The greatest king that ever wielded a scepter, of whom it had been said that he was the beloved of God, through misplaced affection became contaminated and was miserably forsaken of his God. The mightiest ruler of the earth had failed to rule his own passions. Solomon may have been saved “as by fire,” yet his repentance could not efface those high places, nor demolish those stones, which remained as evidences of his crimes. He dishonored God, choosing rather to be controlled by lust than to be a partaker of the divine nature. What a legacy Solomon’s life has committed to those who would use his example to cover their own base actions. We must either transmit a heritage of good or evil. Shall our lives and our example be a blessing or a curse? Shall people look at our graves and say, He ruined me, or, He saved me?
Conflict and Courage p. 192
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Prayer Requests
—–Officer Jackie Tucker was shot in the head while responding to a domestic. She is currently fighting for her life and needs prayer. Coreen
—–Special Prayer Request!! My brother-in-law, Tim was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma in September and he has been getting chemo and they thought they had it contained, until Monday of this week when he went back for an exam and they found it had metastasized to his spinal column. He has been in the hospital since Monday and now they are giving him very strong chemo and may let him go home for Christmas. Please pray for Tim, and my sister Kim. They are precious people and this has hit them like a rock!! We never know from one moment to the next, what could be the beginning of the next chapter of our life! We may not know about tomorrow, but we know who holds our hand! Remember, God makes no mistakes!! Also, please keep me in prayer as I have a sinus infection and laryngitis,
Connie
—–God has answered my prayer for B. L
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Dear Friends,

Ron once read an article written by a certain man about his experience as a co-pilot for a large jet airplane. This man flew with a particular pilot, who was a stickler for flying “by the numbers.” The pilot insisted that they fly exactly as the manual said they should. The co-pilot just could not understand why a slight deviation in their instrument reading wasn’t good enough. No matter how many times the pilot explained the necessity of doing so, the younger man felt that he was just too rigid, too exacting.

One day, a terrible blizzard hit Europe. This was no ordinary blizzard. It was so bad that one could not see even inches from their face. It shut down everything—even airports. The pilot and co-pilot had nowhere to land. Their fuel was getting low after their transatlantic flight. It was critical that they find an airport as soon as possible. They contacted one airport after another, but no one would allow them to land. The co-pilot was getting worried.

Finally, the pilot flew toward Paris. When he was within range, he again contacted the control tower. The man in the tower told him that their was no way that he could land as visibility was zero. The pilot explained that it was either land or crash. He was given permission. The man in the control tower assured him that he would shine all lights as brightly as they could shine in hopes that they could see something besides the curtain of white that had descended over the Continent.

The pilot barked his orders to the co-pilot. Every instrument reading must be exact. The rate and angle of descent must be perfect. Anything less would mean instant death and destruction. Although they could see nothing, they began descending. The co-pilot’s increasing fear threatened to engulf him, but as he looked at the pilot, he saw only peace. He was doing as he always did—flying “by the numbers.”

The landing was so perfect, that only the instruments told them that they were on the ground. As they rolled to a stop, they assured the man in the control tower that they had arrived safely. The man could not see the plane, but sent out someone in a jeep to direct them to the terminal. The blizzard was so bad that the person in the jeep, could not see the plane even though it had all its lights on. Suddenly, the jeep crashed into something. It was one of the tires of the plane!

From that moment, the co-pilot understood why he should always fly “by the numbers.” The settings in the manual were there for a reason. They were there for his protection and well-being. From then on, he determined to fly as his pilot did obeying all settings exactly. He finally understood that his life could someday again depend upon it.

Just so, our Heavenly Pilot has given us a manual for our journey. It is full of the information that we need to stay on the right path to His Heavenly Kingdom. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Indeed, the entire Universe is governed by the Word of God. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Angels, that excel in strength, do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Ps 119:105, 160, 89, 90, 103:20

Our Heavenly Pilot greatly desires that we “fly by the numbers” that He has set forth in His Manual. These Ten Commandments are written for our good, for our safety. They encompass all situations, whether our life is going smoothly, or whether we are experiencing the severest “blizzard.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Ex 20:3-17

In His last great prayer, our Dear Saviour prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.” John 17:5,6 Paul tells us that Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb 5:9 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom 6:16

Let us study the Great Manual that our Heavenly Pilot has given us. Let us stick strictly to its precepts that in time of storm, we may have a safe “landing.” Let us pray as did the psalmist, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Thou art good, and doest good, teach me thy statutes. Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live.” Ps 119:81, 68, 66, 116

Rose