Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

For the storm, as it massed heavier and nearer, filling the earth with its desolation, bridged vast spaces for him, and he found himself suddenly face to face with the might-have-beens of yesterday.”
                    –James Oliver Curwood  (The Valley of Silent Men a Story of the Three River Country)

       “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
                    –Matthew 24:27 (NASB)
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We watched a movie a few nights ago, “Left Behind” with Nicholas Cage.  I had never seen this particular movie before but I knew the premises of the story–the Rapture.  The term, “rapture,” does not appear in the Bible, however, it is implied.  It comes from a Latin word meaning, “a carrying off, a transport, or a snatching away.”  Paul states, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, NKJV–caps added).
     I have heard this teaching all of my life, and from what I see taking place in the world, including this country, the coming of the Lord must be near.  But the movie, what stuck out to me from this particular film was the hours and days right after the Rapture.  Try to imagine, I know that it is really not possible, but try…  The film depicted the mayhem afterwards.  The stealing of goods, people fighting over material items, anger over traffic, not realizing what had taken place.  There were those in fear and those opening weeping over the loss of loved ones no longer with them.  It reminded me of the words of Jesus, “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-36, NKJV)  Imagine that scene!  Then there were those wandering around, hopelessness in their eyes, walking in a daze.
     Chaos will abound, mayhem will be rampant.  The people will not realize what has taken place.  I am reminded of the terrible teaching of Nietzsche, “One must have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.”  Out of this chaos will come order; Nietzsche said, “Once you said, ‘God’ when you gazed upon distant seas; but now I have taught you to say ‘Superman.'”  The missing millions will be explained away, by the “Superman” or known in Paul’s writing as the “man of lawlessness,” or the Antichrist.  People will believe him, because they have no other answer, and also because, “For this reason, God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11, NKJV)
     If people thought there was selfishness abounding after the Rapture.  If they saw chaos swirling around them, people missing, death all around, well, it will only get worse.  There are three sets of judgments ready to be poured out upon the earth as well as the hatred of the Antichrist:  the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Bowls.  “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth…” (Revelation 8:13, NKJV)  Through all of the horrors that come upon the earth, the people still will not repent and turn to God–amazing.  We even see that men will, in their condition, blaspheme the name of God (Revelation 16:9) rather than fall on their faces in repentance.
     The Lord will come as a thief in the night upon those not ready, those not expecting.  We should not worry or have anxieties regarding this matter.  Read again verse 18, “comfort one another with these words.”  We, as believers, should be looking upward.  We should be encouraging one another as the day of the Lord draws nearer.  We should praise Him for this blessed hope that we have and that we will be removed from the chaos and judgment that will befall the earth.  We should be working for the kingdom while waiting for the Lord’s return.
                    “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.”
                                –Revelation 22:20-21 (NKJV)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It was a custom that no man coming into your camp went away hungry, be he friend, stranger, or peaceful enemy. You could fight after you ate, if that was your mission.”

                    –Bobby Cavazos  (The Cowboy From the Wild Horse Desert)

      “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
                    –Luke 6:31 (NKJV)
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               “‘So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’  And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.'”
                         –Luke 10:36-37 (NKJV)

     We finish up this parable with a question by Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”  From this passage on the Good Samaritan, Gary Inrig says, “My neighbor is that person who is in need, whose need I see, whose need I can meet.”  He may be a friend, a stranger, or even an enemy, but if he has a need and I can help, he is my neighbor.  Inrig goes on to say, “Our need isn’t to define who our neighbor is, but to care for him.”
     A question that is also implied is, “Who became a neighbor?”  The teacher of the law, because of the Jewish hatred of the Samaritan cannot bring himself to say that the neighbor was “the Samaritan” so answers, “the one who had mercy on him.”  We need to become that person who cannot pass by on the other side.  All three men saw the same condition of the man, but only one took the time, took action, and had compassion.
     How do you love your neighbor then?  By sacrificial action.  The two men who passed by on the other side showed the lack of compassion which in turn was a symptom of a deeper lack.  We need to be willing to become involved in the needs of others.  
     But, wait a minute.  How can I help everyone who has a need?  You can’t.  What about the scammers?  Those “homeless” on the street corners begging; are they bums, panhandlers, or truly in need?  We are to be good stewards, and we need to check out the situation, but we cannot use that as an excuse.  Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and use wisdom.  I almost never give money, but I will put gas in a car, I will buy a meal.  I know that some give something to whomever they see; if that is what the Spirit is saying, then do so.  If you feel you should help–then help.  Will you get “burned”?  Yes, but follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  
     William Barclay says this regarding the genuine neighbor:
          1)  We must help a man even when he has brought his trouble on himself, as the traveller had done.
          2)  Any man of any nation who is in need is our neighbour.  Our help must be as wide as the love of God.  (And let me incorporate here, no nation in the world has been as benevolent as the United States, even to fallen enemies.)
          3)  The help must be practical and not consist merely in feeling sorry.  Compassion, to be real, must issue in deeds.
The great reformer, Martin Luther stated, “Faith alone justifies, yet faith is never alone.  It is never without love; if love is lacking, neither is there faith, but mere hypocrisy.”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The ways of Providence are surely beyond me at times.”   
                    –D.C. Adkisson  (The True and Unbiased Life of Elias Butler)


       “But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
                    –Luke 12:5 (NKJV)
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In any true discussion regarding the attributes of God we must look at one that is disdained and even frowned upon in this day–the wrath of God.  We must remember that all the attributes of God are equal and holy.  We darst not emphasize one over the other for all of them compliment each other.  In years past the wrath of God was emphasized, giving us a biased view of God.  Today, it seems that the love of God is emphasized, making Him seem too good to be a God of wrath.  If God is love how can He be a god of wrath?
     Christians openly apologize for this “blemish” on God’s character.  It is too horrible to contemplate and they say it is inconsistent with His goodness and His love.  Perhaps you have heard the question, “How can a loving God send anyone to hell?”  The fact is, He doesn’t.  He has given wonderful opportunity through His grace, mercy, and yes, love for anyone to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  God, Himself, is not ashamed to make it known that vengeance and fury belong to Him.

          “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.  For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, ‘As I live forever, if I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me.'”
                    –Deuteronomy 32:39-41 (NKJV)

     He hates all sin; His anger burns against the sinner.  Psalm 7:11, states, “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (NKJV)  But note this:  His wrath is perfect and holy.  Listen, we must accept all of Scripture.  Several years ago, a person working with college age people told me that God doesn’t kill anyone.  I pointed him to the above verse, mentioned the angel of death in Exodus, and a couple of other instances where God’s wrath brought death.  His reply, “I don’t agree with that.”  Whether a person agrees with it or not the fact remains that one of God’s attributes is that of wrath.
     Know that the wrath of God is His eternal detestation of all unrighteousness.  It is the holiness of God stirred into activity against sin.  It is justice being rendered.  It is His sovereignty being exercised over rebellion.  Our hearts need to be duly impressed that God hates sin.  We must not regard sin lightly, gloss over its hideousness, or make excuses for it.  God’s wrath should bring a true fear of God into our souls.  It should make us search our hearts.  “Let us have grace whereby, we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
     One of the greatest studies in the Bible is the study of God in regard to the cross.  God’s love is seen, God’s grace is provided, God’s justice is shown forth through the wrath of God upon sin.  Oh, there is so much more to this study; I would implore you to take the time to investigate the truth of the cross.  We need to give thanks to the Lord for having been delivered from the wrath to come.  Arthur Pink states, “Our readiness or reluctancy to meditate upon the wrath of God becomes a sure test of our hearts’ true attitude toward Him.”

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
They were purchasing,” Theo’s voice dropped to an almost whisper, “dynamite.”
     Doc and I looked at each other, then my eye caught that of the Reverend, who was still sort of moping.  
     After checking the dead body, Bart Feakes according to Theo, I stood up and went to the preacher.  Molly was there now with Edith consoling Betty, but it was time to get the preacher thinking straight.  Doc said that his shoulder would be fine, so I grabbed Parson Chapman by his jaw and turned his head where he could see his wife.  “There is your priority, not that man on the floor!  You did right!”
     He pulled away from my hands.  I could see he tried to smile at his wife, but then he turned his eyes towards me.  “But I didn’t have to kill him.”
     “No, he could have killed you, but worse, he would have made you watch while they took your wife,” I barked, then stooped to look him in the eye as he had dropped his head.  “Could you live with that?  Could she?”
     It was at that time that Betty stood up going over to her husband.  She knelt before him and they embraced, both breaking out in tears.
     Doc tugged at my arm and we stepped away from the two consoling each other.  “Miles, if Dale is right, then that man is going to be needing a doctor.  If he was shot in the hip he’ll need more than someone just taking the bullet out.  There’s a chance his pelvis or hip could be broken, plus he would have lost a lot of blood.  Let me head on back to my office and see if he shows up.”
     “Good idea, I’ll walk along with you,” came my quick reply.
     “No, no, let me get settled, and say, oh, maybe thirty minutes you can start to monitor the area.  They may be watching and if you’re with me, they might not show their faces,” urged Doc who then went over to Edith.
     I stood by as Doc talked to Edith and Molly who both agreed to stay with the Chapman’s as long as needed.  Doc nodded at me when he left, Edith was up and going to the kitchen to make some tea.  As Doc went out the door, Mateo entered.
     Theo was still standing there, so I thought I’d get him busy.  “Theo, tell those folk out there to go on home or go about their business.   I pulled Mateo aside to tell him the situation and what Doc and I had planned.  He said he would leave ten minutes after I did and take the long way around to Doc’s and come in from the back.  That way no one could enter or leave the office without being seen.  We wanted one of those men alive.
     Mateo said he recognized Bart Feakes and would Lester if he saw him, but he didn’t really know them.  They worked the mines from time to time, ran freight and did other odd jobs.  He didn’t know where they were staying, but would work on that.
     Edith was bringing the tea when I went over to the Chapmans.  “Pastor, this most likely won’t help, but I’ve struggled with what you’re thinkin’ in the past.  Sometimes we have to do unsavory things to save those we love.”
     He looked at me nodding, then took the cup from Edith whispering a thank you to her.  I went over to Molly to explain what Mateo and I were going to do.  She nodded, then embraced me.  “I’ll stay here as long as they need me,” she said, then looked at the body on the floor.  “It might be a help to all of us, if someone would cart that carcass out of the room.”
     “Parker should be here anytime,” I said, but got that look.  “Theo, help me move the body out of the house.”
     It was time for me to head out.  I glanced one more time around at those in the room.  I’d find the men who did this, and they would pay to the full extent of the law.  As I walked down the street, a thought struck me, “But whose law…”