Volume 46   Number 7                                                              March 2004

When thinking about how God has chosen to save man, we must never forget that God's ways are not man's ways. So the Apostle Paul wrote,

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" (1 Corinthians 1:21-23)

Man never has and never will be able to find God in his own way, or in his own wisdom. We may use art or images to stir feelings and think that we have found God, but this process is nothing more than paganism where worship is defined as that which makes a person feel good. The way for us to find and to know our Creator is through His chosen way, the preaching of the gospel. Proclaiming the story of Jesus goes not only to the heart, but to the mind of man. God's wisdom is seen in this method, though it may appear foolish or weak to man. The eternal Word of God is what gives Life, and this Word is what we must hear in order to know our Creator.

"But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1Peter 1:25)

This message was all that Paul was prepared to bring with him when he came to Rome, the mighty capitol where Caesar ruled the world.

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:15,16)

Simply preaching the gospel accomplished what God intended at Galatia. "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1) So powerful was the preaching of the gospel it was as if Jesus had been crucified right there at Galatia! And this happened nearly 2,000 years ago, long before the silver screen and the magic store.

With television and movies constantly making visual impressions on the mind of modern man, we can easily forget about the power of God in the preaching of the Gospel. The best lessons I have ever heard, or have ever given, are those that tell the old, old Story. Brethren who are not especially noted for speaking ability wax eloquent when they choose the gospel message as their theme. As listeners we become 'riveted' to the one telling the story because we love to hear about this lone Galilean who met and resisted temptation, yet without sin. We thrill to listen to all that the meek and lowly Jesus began to do and teach so that we might be saved from our sins! We are amazed at the Holy One's patience in enduring the pain and torture of the last hours before His ultimate sacrifice on the cross! One sister said that during one such lesson her mouth actually stayed open for a time until she realized she was drooling! All of this from simply hearing the Word, without any visual aids or special effects.

Isaiah 53:1 asks the great questions, "Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" The gospel will always be a stumbling block for some hearers, while there will be others who reject it because they think it is just plain foolishness. But for those who humble themselves and believe it, the good news about Jesus reveals 'the arm of the LORD': His mighty power to save and to make our lives whole! Obviously, Mr. Gibson's movie will cause many to consider the passion of Christ, but let us never think that art and man's devices can add one ounce of saving power to the simple proclamation of the everlasting gospel!