Applied Christianity - Walter Martin

May 31, 1975

In the First Psalm, God says the man that delights himself in "The Law of the Lord" shall be like a tree planted by the riverside, his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith My God to the wicked." Isaiah 57:20, 21

We cry peace, peace, but make little effort, if any, to cut out our personal wickedness and indifference, or to rise up and put away the lawlessness all about and around. In Amos 5:23-24, God says:

"Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs, for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgement run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."

In plain everyday language God is here saying: I am sick of your songs and music, take it away. What I want is judgment and righteousness established in the land like mighty rivers and streams that bless the earth and her inhabitants. That God's Kingdom might come and His will be done on earth as in Heaven!

"The lapse of Church discipline was a certain symptom of political and social anarchy," said the English Historian, Terry, as he looked across centuries of experiences of the English people. Church anarchy in doctrine and conduct produces political and social anarchy. Neglect and unbelief of God's Book, The Bible, produces Church anarchy! If you are a Church member you can do something to correct this situation by being faithful to your vows to serve God.

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for He hath no pleasure in fools; Pay that which thou hast vowed." Eccles. 5:4

All that has been said in the above concerning God's message in the Second Psalm, might be summed up in just one short verse of The New Testament, Romans 6:23:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." "Sin is any want of conformity unto, or, transgression of the law of God."

It is the duty of every true and faithful witness of Jesus Christ to "cry aloud and spare not" to denounce every transgression of the law of God, and the rejection and departure from "one jot or tittle" of God's Ten Commandments which reveal the very character of the Omnipotent Creator. Such witnesses are not your enemies, but friends in that they seek to turn you away from the wrath of God. The wages of sin is death, and these faithful witnesses are seeking to "smite death's threatening wave before you."

This quote is from the old and beloved Christian Hymn:

"God be with you till we meet again, smite death's threatening wave before you, keep love's banner floating over you, --"

The Almighty has engaged Himself by means of the New Covenant, and the work and ministry of The Lord Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit, to write these Laws upon the hearts and in the minds of true and faithful believers. "We are workers together with God," don't rage against Him!

"The wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ Our Lord." Death does a mighty big business every day! Probably all over the world at this moment there are between 150,000 and 200,000 dead bodies waiting to be buried. And tomorrow there will be an additional like number, with you and me included in one of those tomorrows! If just one day's "crop of death" was gathered in one place, what a territory would be covered! Great nations, great institutions, companies, unions, and concerns of all kinds also die, perish off the earth.

John Bunyan said, give a little thought every day to your own funeral in order that you might be prepared! "O Death --!" The Lord Jesus Christ is the Mighty Conqueror of Death! He raised the dead! He raised Himself from the dead! Don't neglect and reject Him and His "Wonderful Words of Life." Surrender! Submit! -- We deliberately use the word "Submit" rather than "Commit", as it appears to us there is quite a difference. In Mark 1:15, Jesus said, " --The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the Gospel"

"God be with you -- smite death's threatening wave before you!"