WEBVTT - Hour 1: Applying Scripture to Life's Challenges 0:00:10.000 --> 0:00:16.360 Tragic plane crashes, devastating fires, disastrous hurricanes. Where in the 0:00:16.360 --> 0:00:19.800 world is God in all this? Stay with me and 0:00:19.800 --> 0:00:23.400 we'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:27.080 Welcome to Open Line with me. Michael Wright. This is 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:31.920 Moody Radio's Bible study across America. My name is Michael Wright. 0:00:32.200 --> 0:00:34.760 I'm the academic dean and professor of Jewish studies and 0:00:34.760 --> 0:00:37.960 Bible at Moody Bible Institute. And I am so grateful 0:00:37.960 --> 0:00:40.839 that you're joining me around the radio kitchen table. And 0:00:40.840 --> 0:00:44.960 we're talking about your questions about the Bible, God, and 0:00:44.960 --> 0:00:48.440 the spiritual life. Well, if you have a question and 0:00:48.440 --> 0:00:56.319 you'd like to call the phone number here is (877) 548-3675. 0:00:56.320 --> 0:01:06.429 Once again 5483675. Tricia McMillan is our producer. Omar Mendoza 0:01:06.430 --> 0:01:11.030 is our tech guy. To hear is here as well. Uh. 0:01:11.069 --> 0:01:15.310 Anyone else? Am I missing anyone? Uh, glad for everyone 0:01:15.310 --> 0:01:20.790 here that's helping out. And, uh, time to get yourself 0:01:20.790 --> 0:01:24.750 a cup of coffee. Uh, and, uh, we're going to 0:01:24.750 --> 0:01:33.949 study the scriptures together. The phone number again. (877) 548-3675. Let's 0:01:33.950 --> 0:01:39.190 talk about all these disasters. Virtually, virtually all of us 0:01:39.190 --> 0:01:42.390 have been watching TV news reports about the tragic airline 0:01:42.390 --> 0:01:46.830 disaster at Reagan National Airport. It was so heartbreaking. We 0:01:46.830 --> 0:01:49.350 all wish we could somehow reach out to comfort all 0:01:49.350 --> 0:01:54.070 those who grieve lost loved ones. And while many are 0:01:54.070 --> 0:01:57.750 asking how in the world did this happen? Others are wondering, 0:01:58.580 --> 0:02:03.220 how could God let this happen? So how do we 0:02:03.220 --> 0:02:06.940 respond to this question? If God is good? Why are 0:02:06.940 --> 0:02:12.060 there terrible disasters like plane crashes, devastating fires, as we've 0:02:12.060 --> 0:02:17.260 seen in Southern California, or destructive hurricanes like a few 0:02:17.260 --> 0:02:22.859 months ago in North Carolina? Why are there earthquakes, tornadoes, 0:02:22.900 --> 0:02:28.300 floods that kill innumerable people and destroy communities? Simply put, 0:02:28.300 --> 0:02:32.260 there is no no simple. There is no complete or 0:02:32.260 --> 0:02:37.820 satisfactory answer completely for these questions. But I do think 0:02:37.820 --> 0:02:40.299 that there are some biblical concepts that will help us. 0:02:40.300 --> 0:02:44.340 And so I'd like to offer six quick biblical ideas 0:02:44.980 --> 0:02:51.220 that we can remember when disaster strikes. First, it's an 0:02:51.220 --> 0:02:56.300 absolute truth that God is sovereign in all these matters. 0:02:56.300 --> 0:03:01.570 No disasters. Surprise! God. He wasn't shocked by any other event. 0:03:01.690 --> 0:03:04.690 Evil or bad or good. Doesn't matter. He's never been 0:03:04.690 --> 0:03:09.290 shocked by any event that we've experienced. God says in 0:03:09.290 --> 0:03:14.450 Isaiah 45 seven, I form light and create darkness. I 0:03:14.450 --> 0:03:19.010 make success and I create disaster. I, the Lord, do 0:03:19.130 --> 0:03:23.170 all these things. Just as God is the sovereign creator, 0:03:23.250 --> 0:03:29.049 so he is sovereign even over earthly disasters. Second, our 0:03:29.050 --> 0:03:33.530 problem is that we don't know his purposes. It's a 0:03:33.530 --> 0:03:39.210 terrible mistake to assert that God's purposes are even knowable. 0:03:39.610 --> 0:03:42.730 That's why God declared through Isaiah, for my thoughts are 0:03:42.730 --> 0:03:46.930 not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, declares 0:03:46.930 --> 0:03:50.370 the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 0:03:50.410 --> 0:03:53.690 so are my ways higher than your ways, and my 0:03:53.730 --> 0:03:58.920 thoughts higher than your thoughts. That's Isaiah 55, eight and nine. 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:03.480 We can't explain God's intentions, nor should we ever try. 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:09.040 We just know God is there and God is good. Third, 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:11.839 we need to remember that tragic events are not necessarily 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:16.920 related to the specific behavior of nations or individuals. Evil 0:04:16.920 --> 0:04:21.440 things happen because we live in an evil and fallen world. 0:04:21.560 --> 0:04:26.680 People get terminal diseases. Planes crash. Tidal waves overwhelm communities. 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:30.799 Paul wrote in Romans 822, we know that the whole 0:04:30.800 --> 0:04:34.400 creation has been groaning, as in the pains of childbirth, 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:39.120 right up to the present time. For the Lord Jesus 0:04:39.120 --> 0:04:43.040 taught that disasters, whether natural or man made, are a 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:46.960 reminder of God's mercy. In Luke 13 one through nine, 0:04:46.960 --> 0:04:50.400 responding to the question of why God allowed different kinds 0:04:50.400 --> 0:04:53.240 of evil, Jesus said that bad things happen to some 0:04:53.240 --> 0:04:58.400 people not because they are more evil than others. Rather, 0:04:58.520 --> 0:05:01.560 according to the Lord Jesus. If God were to act 0:05:01.560 --> 0:05:05.800 based on all on our behavior, all our behavior, disaster 0:05:06.080 --> 0:05:10.039 and devastation would be the norm, not the exception. We 0:05:10.040 --> 0:05:13.240 all sin. And if God responded on based on what 0:05:13.240 --> 0:05:17.560 we all deserve, we'd all be devastated. That's what Jeremiah 0:05:17.560 --> 0:05:21.000 meant when he wrote, because of the Lord's great love 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:27.679 we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 322. 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:32.480 It's only God's loving mercy that prevents him from destroying 0:05:32.600 --> 0:05:40.200 all of us instantly. Fifth. God uses suffering to remind 0:05:40.200 --> 0:05:43.599 us to turn to him when we see disasters strike others. 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:45.880 Jesus said that this was a reminder for all of 0:05:45.880 --> 0:05:48.839 us to turn to God before we perished as well. 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:52.240 That's found in Luke 13 three through five. That's the 0:05:52.240 --> 0:05:55.390 very reason the psalmist wrote, I turned to the Lord 0:05:55.390 --> 0:06:01.230 in my distress, and he answers me. Psalm 120, verse one. C.S. 0:06:01.230 --> 0:06:05.310 Lewis wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks 0:06:05.310 --> 0:06:09.550 to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. 0:06:09.910 --> 0:06:14.550 It's his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. God uses 0:06:14.550 --> 0:06:17.870 our pain and our sorrow to get our attention and 0:06:17.870 --> 0:06:22.830 remind us to turn to him for comfort. Sixth, God 0:06:22.830 --> 0:06:26.029 uses tragic events to remind us that we're not home yet. 0:06:26.430 --> 0:06:29.470 It's so easy to get overly comfortable here on earth 0:06:29.470 --> 0:06:31.990 never to want to leave. As if this was the 0:06:31.990 --> 0:06:37.029 best God has for us. But there is an eternity 0:06:37.670 --> 0:06:41.870 of suffering on this. Suffering on this earth reminds us 0:06:42.110 --> 0:06:44.990 that God intends a far better home for us in 0:06:44.990 --> 0:06:49.789 the future. These present sufferings are not worth comparing with 0:06:49.790 --> 0:06:53.380 all the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 0:06:53.380 --> 0:06:57.500 818 says, disasters remind us not to allow ourselves to 0:06:57.540 --> 0:07:01.940 become overly comfortable or satisfied with this world, but to 0:07:01.980 --> 0:07:05.820 remember that we're citizens of a far better future world 0:07:06.260 --> 0:07:09.060 where every tear will be wiped away and all pain 0:07:09.060 --> 0:07:16.180 and sorrow will be removed. One last thought. Dorothy Sayers 0:07:16.220 --> 0:07:18.700 said that when it comes to the problem of evil, 0:07:18.700 --> 0:07:23.540 this must be said. God took his own medicine in 0:07:23.540 --> 0:07:27.100 the Messiah, Jesus. God entered this world as a fully 0:07:27.140 --> 0:07:32.260 human person and not only suffered with us, but he 0:07:32.300 --> 0:07:38.020 suffered for us. That through his death and his resurrection, 0:07:38.020 --> 0:07:50.050 we can have life forever. If you'd like to read that. Um, 0:07:50.090 --> 0:07:53.770 when tragedy strikes. That's at my website. On my blog. 0:07:54.050 --> 0:07:57.250 When tragedy strikes at michael-ray. Org or it's linked at 0:07:57.250 --> 0:08:00.130 our Facebook page on Open Line. So if you'd like 0:08:00.130 --> 0:08:03.810 to read that, go over it a little bit more slowly. 0:08:04.410 --> 0:08:09.930 It's available to you right there. I think we're, uh, 0:08:09.970 --> 0:08:16.050 you know what I, I want to mention our current resource. Resource. 0:08:16.330 --> 0:08:19.450 Remember the old days when we took trips and would 0:08:19.450 --> 0:08:23.730 plot our way with a Rand McNally road atlas? I 0:08:23.730 --> 0:08:26.090 think when we read the Bible, it would help to 0:08:26.090 --> 0:08:30.570 have a road map. Also, even when reading the New Testament, 0:08:30.570 --> 0:08:34.090 we can get lost. And that's why our current resource 0:08:34.130 --> 0:08:38.770 is survey of the New Testament by Paul Benware. This 0:08:39.290 --> 0:08:43.569 complete guide takes us on a journey from Matthew to Revelation. 0:08:43.610 --> 0:08:46.250 It it gives us a road map for God's Word. 0:08:46.809 --> 0:08:50.840 You'll discover how each book connects to tell one great 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:55.400 story of God's redemptive plan. And if you're a regular 0:08:55.400 --> 0:08:58.400 listener and maybe have never even given a gift to 0:08:58.440 --> 0:09:01.920 Open Line before, you won't want to miss out on 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:07.040 this excellent resource. We want to send it to you 0:09:07.040 --> 0:09:10.160 and everyone that gives a gift of any size to 0:09:10.200 --> 0:09:13.120 just whoever gives a gift. We want to give it 0:09:13.120 --> 0:09:18.320 to you. And, uh, and then we'll, uh, be sure 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:22.880 to to send you a copy of Ben Ware's survey 0:09:22.880 --> 0:09:25.400 of the New Testament. How do you get it? Uh, 0:09:25.400 --> 0:09:36.400 you just call (888) 644-7122 or go to open line radio.org. 0:09:36.800 --> 0:09:38.720 And when you give a gift, we want to say thanks. 0:09:38.720 --> 0:09:41.120 And we'll send you a copy of Ben Ware's survey 0:09:41.120 --> 0:09:44.800 of the New Testament. I'm not seeing any callers up there. 0:09:44.880 --> 0:09:49.590 I'm pretty sure that there Are a Naja. Welcome to 0:09:49.590 --> 0:09:51.590 open line of Naja. How can I help you? 0:09:53.590 --> 0:09:57.870 Uh, thank you for taking my call. Um, I've always 0:09:57.870 --> 0:10:03.709 wondered this, and, um, I'm wondering what you think of 0:10:03.950 --> 0:10:08.430 the concept of pre-existence. Of souls. Um, when we read 0:10:08.429 --> 0:10:12.750 the book of Jeremiah, chapter one, verse five, the prophet says, 0:10:12.790 --> 0:10:17.670 before I was even born, you knew me intimately. Um, 0:10:17.710 --> 0:10:21.590 and so that to me entails that, you know, we 0:10:21.590 --> 0:10:24.550 probably existed even before we were born. So what are 0:10:24.550 --> 0:10:28.230 your thoughts on this? Do you believe that, um, we 0:10:28.230 --> 0:10:31.949 were with God even before we were born? Or do 0:10:31.950 --> 0:10:36.390 you believe that, um, you know, our souls, you know, 0:10:36.429 --> 0:10:40.270 emerge when we are physically born? Um, and I ask 0:10:40.270 --> 0:10:44.550 this because there are so many people now. I mean, 0:10:44.590 --> 0:10:48.739 if you look online, Um, there's a concept called pre-birth memories. 0:10:48.740 --> 0:10:51.020 There are a lot of people that I know, and 0:10:51.020 --> 0:10:55.939 some are Christians who say that they remember, um, instances 0:10:55.940 --> 0:10:59.500 of even before they were born. They have memories of 0:10:59.500 --> 0:11:02.819 times before they were born. So, um, what are your 0:11:02.820 --> 0:11:03.740 thoughts on that? 0:11:05.140 --> 0:11:08.860 Well, I don't think Jeremiah one five is is actually 0:11:09.780 --> 0:11:16.300 talking about being in existence before conception. It says, I 0:11:16.340 --> 0:11:20.339 chose you before I formed you in the womb. So 0:11:20.340 --> 0:11:23.980 that's that God chose him, not that he existed, but 0:11:23.980 --> 0:11:27.180 God made the choice because God knows he's omniscient. He 0:11:27.179 --> 0:11:31.540 knew exactly who would be formed in the womb. I 0:11:31.620 --> 0:11:34.740 set you apart before you were born. That could have 0:11:34.740 --> 0:11:37.980 been very well, not just in election, but also in 0:11:37.980 --> 0:11:42.340 the womb. Uh, saying that God knew someone. I mean, 0:11:42.340 --> 0:11:47.530 that's foreknowledge, uh, God knows and determines what will happen 0:11:47.770 --> 0:11:51.490 before it ever happens. So saying that God, I mean, 0:11:51.530 --> 0:11:57.050 that's mentioned in Ephesians one, that we were foreknown by God. Uh, 0:11:57.050 --> 0:12:02.690 and so to say that Elijah was foreknown doesn't indicate 0:12:02.690 --> 0:12:07.449 pre-existence of his soul. That's, that's just reading way too 0:12:07.450 --> 0:12:12.450 much into it and too little into God's nature, which 0:12:12.450 --> 0:12:18.330 is omniscient. And so even before we exist, he knows us. Uh, 0:12:18.330 --> 0:12:21.770 and so that's all I think that is saying. As 0:12:21.809 --> 0:12:24.530 for people who think that they remember things, they're usually 0:12:24.570 --> 0:12:30.730 talking about remembering not what existed before, uh, they were conceived, 0:12:30.730 --> 0:12:33.410 but rather they they claim to have memory of what 0:12:33.410 --> 0:12:37.890 was going on in the womb. Uh, I don't think 0:12:37.890 --> 0:12:42.010 that that's really possible, but that's what people people are 0:12:42.010 --> 0:12:45.480 very creative. and they think that they remember those things. 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:49.120 That's all I think it is. And I'm sorry to 0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:52.079 disappoint you, but I don't I don't see anything in 0:12:52.080 --> 0:13:00.160 Scripture that would indicate pre-existence of souls before being born. Now, frankly, uh, 0:13:00.200 --> 0:13:03.280 you know, origin, I believe the church father believed in it. 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:06.240 There are people who have believed in it. I just 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:11.319 don't see anything in the Bible that's, uh. That actually 0:13:11.760 --> 0:13:15.199 indicates that. So. But anyway, thanks. Thanks for your call 0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:19.120 on Nadia. And, uh, we're going to take a break here, and. 0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:24.240 Are we not in the window here? Yeah, we're going 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:28.719 to take a break. That's it. I'm looking at, uh, 0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:31.440 looking at my friends here and wondering what in the 0:13:31.440 --> 0:13:32.840 world is going on. We're going to take a break. 0:13:32.840 --> 0:13:35.920 We're going to come right back. And, uh, when we 0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:39.160 come back, uh, we'll take more of your questions. The 0:13:39.160 --> 0:13:45.309 number 83675. Stay with us. This is open Line with 0:13:45.309 --> 0:14:03.190 Michael Radonich. Welcome back to Open Line. So glad you're 0:14:03.190 --> 0:14:06.230 with us today. My name is Michael Wright and I'm 0:14:06.270 --> 0:14:09.070 grateful for every listener. Really glad that you're here with us. 0:14:09.309 --> 0:14:11.230 If you'd like to call with a question, the number 0:14:11.230 --> 0:14:17.109 is (877) 548-3675. We're talking about your questions about the Bible, 0:14:17.110 --> 0:14:21.390 God and the spiritual life. And Paul in Schaumburg listening 0:14:21.390 --> 0:14:25.590 on Wmbi. Schaumburg, Illinois has a question. Welcome to Open Line. Paul. 0:14:25.590 --> 0:14:26.510 How can I help you? 0:14:27.830 --> 0:14:30.430 Yes. I have a question about our book of Haggai, 0:14:30.470 --> 0:14:33.950 chapter two 1 to 10. God spoke. And then I 0:14:33.950 --> 0:14:37.350 just want to know if it has been ever been 0:14:37.350 --> 0:14:41.310 fulfilled and if it is when and how. That'd be great. 0:14:41.310 --> 0:14:41.830 Thank you. 0:14:42.870 --> 0:14:46.190 Well, the issue that comes out is I will shake 0:14:46.230 --> 0:14:50.109 the nation so that the treasures of all the nations 0:14:50.110 --> 0:14:53.910 will come. Some people say, or the desire of the 0:14:53.910 --> 0:14:58.230 nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory. 0:14:58.270 --> 0:15:02.950 Verse seven. Uh, that's the question that people really struggle 0:15:02.950 --> 0:15:05.990 with in the King James Version. It says the desire 0:15:05.990 --> 0:15:11.470 of nations will come to this House. Uh, my version here, the, 0:15:11.470 --> 0:15:15.830 the Holman CSB that I've been reading that says the, 0:15:15.830 --> 0:15:22.230 the treasures of all the nations. And there's a lot of, uh, 0:15:22.230 --> 0:15:28.710 discussion about this verse, just to be, uh, honest and 0:15:28.710 --> 0:15:33.270 forthright about it. There's a lot of people who think, uh, 0:15:33.270 --> 0:15:36.950 that it does not refer that it's referring to the 0:15:36.950 --> 0:15:42.180 messianic kingdom, and that when the Messianic kingdom arrives, the 0:15:42.220 --> 0:15:45.060 thousand year reign of Jesus, then the treasures of all 0:15:45.060 --> 0:15:48.460 the nations will come to the temple that will be 0:15:48.460 --> 0:15:51.300 built in the Millennial Kingdom, which will be the throne 0:15:51.300 --> 0:15:54.380 room of the Messiah. So that's what some people think. 0:15:54.380 --> 0:16:00.180 I actually believe that this refers to the desire of 0:16:00.180 --> 0:16:04.940 the nations who will come, and that's referring to the Messiah, 0:16:04.940 --> 0:16:07.580 and that he will come. And at that time God 0:16:07.580 --> 0:16:11.060 will fill this house with glory. I think it's referring 0:16:11.100 --> 0:16:13.660 to the coming of the Messiah. Now, I don't really 0:16:13.660 --> 0:16:16.300 think it's talking about the first coming of the Messiah. 0:16:16.300 --> 0:16:20.580 When he came, when the Second Temple was built. Although 0:16:20.580 --> 0:16:24.420 we got a little foretaste of that when the Lord 0:16:24.420 --> 0:16:29.220 Jesus went and worshiped in the Second Temple, Herod's temple. 0:16:29.780 --> 0:16:33.660 The glory or the desire of the nations came. But 0:16:33.660 --> 0:16:37.970 this is talking about the messianic Kingdom. The final glory 0:16:37.970 --> 0:16:40.890 of this house will be greater than the first, and 0:16:40.890 --> 0:16:43.130 it will be greatest, because the Messiah will be reigning 0:16:43.130 --> 0:16:47.290 from there. So we got a little image, a little picture, 0:16:47.330 --> 0:16:50.250 a little pattern of the future. But it will be 0:16:50.250 --> 0:16:53.730 fulfilled when the desire of the nations, the Messiah, Jesus, 0:16:53.730 --> 0:16:56.730 enters into that millennial temple. Okay, Paul. 0:16:58.050 --> 0:16:59.210 All right. Well, thank you so much. 0:16:59.770 --> 0:17:01.930 Yeah. Hey, Paul, let me ask you something. Uh, did 0:17:01.930 --> 0:17:04.090 you look that up in the Moody Bible Commentary? 0:17:06.170 --> 0:17:13.530 Um, no, it was something that, uh, was, um, you know, uh, the. So, um, 0:17:13.570 --> 0:17:17.090 so I was wondering what, uh, had Lord had in 0:17:17.090 --> 0:17:21.250 mind for me. So I was just, uh, whistling and, 0:17:21.290 --> 0:17:24.850 you know, trying to do what he. Yeah. 0:17:25.530 --> 0:17:27.530 Do you have a moody Bible commentary in which you 0:17:27.530 --> 0:17:28.450 could have looked it up? 0:17:30.090 --> 0:17:31.650 Um, no. No, I do not. 0:17:32.410 --> 0:17:35.210 Okay, you hang on, Paul, because I think you'd really 0:17:35.210 --> 0:17:37.760 benefit from a moody Bible commentary. And we're going to 0:17:37.760 --> 0:17:39.359 send you one. So. 0:17:39.760 --> 0:17:42.719 Oh, I appreciate I really appreciate it. Thank you so much. 0:17:43.240 --> 0:17:46.200 Yeah, I especially like. The book of Haggai, because that 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:48.679 was one of the commentaries that, that I didn't. Edit 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:53.920 just I actually wrote it. So and I really, really wow. Yeah, 0:17:53.920 --> 0:17:55.880 I love I love the. Book of Haggai. I love 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:58.600 to preach on the book of Haggai. I loved writing 0:17:58.600 --> 0:18:02.560 that commentary. And so we'll send you not just Haggai. 0:18:02.560 --> 0:18:04.879 We'll send you the whole moody Bible commentary. It was 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:07.840 written by the faculty of Moody Bible Institute. It's a 0:18:07.840 --> 0:18:11.040 really it's a commentary you can trust. And if you're 0:18:11.040 --> 0:18:14.320 listening and you think, man, I need a one volume. Commentary. 0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:17.280 The best place to go to get one would be 0:18:17.280 --> 0:18:21.680 to go to to Moody Publishers. Dot com. Or you 0:18:21.680 --> 0:18:25.400 could possibly go to any online bookseller, and I'm sure 0:18:25.400 --> 0:18:27.679 you'll be able to find a copy of it right there. 0:18:27.680 --> 0:18:31.159 The Moody Bible Commentary. It's it's a really uh, or 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:33.880 you can go to your local Christian bookstore, if that will. 0:18:33.920 --> 0:18:36.709 If they carry it, I'm sure they do. And that 0:18:36.710 --> 0:18:38.750 would be a big help. You know, I was in 0:18:38.750 --> 0:18:44.750 a major bookstore at Christmas time, a secular bookstore. And 0:18:44.750 --> 0:18:47.909 it had this was kind of fun. It had, uh, 0:18:47.910 --> 0:18:53.310 they had a bookshelf with the employees favorite books. And, uh, 0:18:53.310 --> 0:18:57.109 the Moody Bible commentary was there for, as one of 0:18:57.109 --> 0:19:00.229 the employees favorite books. I was so happy when I 0:19:00.230 --> 0:19:02.270 saw that. And then I saw the employee. She used 0:19:02.270 --> 0:19:04.470 to be in a Sunday school class I taught, and 0:19:04.470 --> 0:19:07.230 so now I knew why it was there. So that 0:19:07.230 --> 0:19:10.590 was kind of fun. But anyway, we'll send you one. Paul. Okay. Uh, 0:19:10.590 --> 0:19:11.190 you hang on. 0:19:11.190 --> 0:19:12.550 Thank you so much. And we'll. 0:19:12.830 --> 0:19:14.989 Sure, we'll get your address and we'll send you one. 0:19:14.990 --> 0:19:17.830 Thanks for listening, Paul, and thanks for your question. Uh, 0:19:17.830 --> 0:19:23.070 we're going to talk to Jeff in Florida, listening on Wmhb. 0:19:23.109 --> 0:19:25.870 Welcome to Open Line. Jeff, how can I help you today? 0:19:27.550 --> 0:19:36.100 Yes. Uh, Psalms 102 18 to 22. It just looks 0:19:36.100 --> 0:19:38.980 like it's like a prophecy of the people of that. 0:19:39.500 --> 0:19:42.219 In the Old Testament time period, it was like a 0:19:42.260 --> 0:19:43.859 to me. I just want to know, is this what 0:19:43.859 --> 0:19:50.260 it is? It's like a foretelling of salvation to of course, 0:19:50.260 --> 0:19:53.139 I know Christ had to complete the salvation back in 0:19:53.140 --> 0:19:56.660 the Old Testament, but it just looks like it's declaring 0:19:56.660 --> 0:20:02.060 that from 18 to 22, uh, it's, you know, and 0:20:02.060 --> 0:20:04.780 I just want to ask that question because it looks 0:20:04.780 --> 0:20:06.860 like it to me. It speaks that. 0:20:06.900 --> 0:20:08.060 It says it says. 0:20:08.060 --> 0:20:10.500 This will be written for a later generation, and a 0:20:10.500 --> 0:20:13.780 newly created people will praise the Lord. He looked down 0:20:13.780 --> 0:20:16.340 from his holy heights. The Lord gazed out from heaven 0:20:16.340 --> 0:20:19.620 to hear a prisoners groaning, to set free those condemned 0:20:19.619 --> 0:20:22.100 so they might declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, 0:20:22.100 --> 0:20:25.300 and his praise in Jerusalem. When peoples and kingdoms are 0:20:25.300 --> 0:20:28.100 assembled to serve the Lord. I think this is just 0:20:28.100 --> 0:20:32.770 saying that there, uh, that the Lord will reach people 0:20:33.850 --> 0:20:37.050 in the future. This will be written for a later generation. 0:20:37.130 --> 0:20:40.010 It's not just now. It's talking about the future. So 0:20:40.010 --> 0:20:44.530 in that sense, it's prophetic and that people in the kingdom, 0:20:44.530 --> 0:20:47.290 when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the Lord, 0:20:47.410 --> 0:20:50.850 they will also declare the name of Yahweh in Zion. Zion. 0:20:50.850 --> 0:20:55.250 It's it's basically saying from now and forever. That's that's 0:20:55.250 --> 0:20:56.930 what it's saying. 0:20:56.930 --> 0:20:57.290 Okay. 0:20:57.490 --> 0:21:01.290 Amen. All right. That's what it was just such a 0:21:01.290 --> 0:21:04.810 joy because I was I saw this thing where David 0:21:04.810 --> 0:21:08.050 was said he was he was distraught and he said, 0:21:08.050 --> 0:21:10.770 I go down. Please talk to me, because I'm just 0:21:10.770 --> 0:21:12.010 going to feel like I'm going to go down in 0:21:12.010 --> 0:21:15.050 the pit. And I then I just researched it through 0:21:15.090 --> 0:21:18.370 YouVersion and I ended up here. So it was awesome. 0:21:18.410 --> 0:21:21.250 It was just awesome. And I have two commentaries. I 0:21:21.250 --> 0:21:22.330 should have looked at it. 0:21:23.010 --> 0:21:23.610 Oh, good. 0:21:23.730 --> 0:21:24.250 Always a good. 0:21:24.250 --> 0:21:24.609 Idea. 0:21:25.010 --> 0:21:28.610 That's great. Thanks for your call. I really appreciate it. 0:21:28.650 --> 0:21:33.439 We're going to talk to Luneta in Cleveland, Ohio, listening 0:21:33.440 --> 0:21:38.040 on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line. How can I help you? Lunetta? 0:21:38.880 --> 0:21:41.240 Yes. I just want to make sure that I'm correct, 0:21:41.240 --> 0:21:46.119 because I am telling people that, um, we're paying, you know, 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:49.560 everyone is praying for peace in the Middle East and 0:21:49.680 --> 0:21:54.080 all over America, but can we actually have peace without 0:21:54.080 --> 0:21:58.560 having the Prince of Peace without being born again? And 0:21:58.560 --> 0:22:02.760 if so, where is the Scripture found? Because I want 0:22:02.800 --> 0:22:04.640 to make sure that I'm accurate. 0:22:06.400 --> 0:22:13.320 Uh, well, I think the idea that God can grant peace, 0:22:13.680 --> 0:22:18.720 I don't know, it sounds to me like you're confusing, uh, 0:22:18.760 --> 0:22:25.000 national peace with personal peace. Uh, you know, in terms 0:22:25.000 --> 0:22:29.510 of personal peace, obviously it's possible for someone to someone 0:22:29.510 --> 0:22:34.389 to have peace. But for the most part, the idea 0:22:34.390 --> 0:22:37.150 of personal peace starts with peace with God. 0:22:38.830 --> 0:22:39.310 Okay. 0:22:39.350 --> 0:22:44.430 And, uh, and when you, when you think of it that, uh, 0:22:44.430 --> 0:22:49.710 we're at enmity with God when we don't know him, and, uh, 0:22:49.710 --> 0:22:55.950 but God creates peace with him. And as a result, 0:22:55.950 --> 0:22:58.830 we can have peace in our own lives and peace 0:22:58.830 --> 0:23:02.510 with each other. I was thinking about, first of all, uh, 0:23:02.510 --> 0:23:07.870 peace with others. Uh, in Ephesians two, uh, it talks 0:23:07.869 --> 0:23:11.550 about that there was enmity between Jew and Gentile and 0:23:11.550 --> 0:23:16.430 that God created peace first, not just by by kind 0:23:16.430 --> 0:23:19.630 of bringing them together, but by bringing those who were 0:23:19.670 --> 0:23:21.830 far from him and those who were nearer, but still 0:23:21.830 --> 0:23:26.150 not with him, and reconciling them to the Lord through 0:23:26.150 --> 0:23:30.619 the Lord Jesus death and Than resurrection. And through that he. 0:23:30.660 --> 0:23:38.859 This is Ephesians two about, uh, about verse 14 through 16. Uh, 0:23:38.859 --> 0:23:44.100 and he he brings peace. And as a result, uh, 0:23:44.100 --> 0:23:48.899 he reconciles people because they have been first reconciled to God, 0:23:48.900 --> 0:23:51.899 that he reconciles us to each other because we can 0:23:51.900 --> 0:23:55.219 be reconciled to God. And that's where it starts. And 0:23:55.220 --> 0:23:58.780 then also in Ephesians, in Philippians chapter four, where it 0:23:58.780 --> 0:24:00.979 talks about the God of peace guiding us and the 0:24:00.980 --> 0:24:06.899 peace of God that surpasses all understanding, controlling us. Uh, 0:24:06.940 --> 0:24:09.980 that we can have that. Why? Because we know him 0:24:09.980 --> 0:24:13.540 and we're praying and we're walking with him. And then 0:24:13.540 --> 0:24:17.260 the God of peace gives us the peace that passes understanding. 0:24:17.780 --> 0:24:21.180 So I think that, uh, now, I'm not saying it's 0:24:21.180 --> 0:24:24.740 not possible that God could give peace to someone or 0:24:24.740 --> 0:24:27.220 bring peace nationally. I mean, I mean, there have been 0:24:27.220 --> 0:24:31.700 wars that have ended and that have led to a peace. Uh, 0:24:31.700 --> 0:24:36.700 but that doesn't necessarily mean that people have personal peace 0:24:36.700 --> 0:24:39.420 or peace with God. They've not been reconciled to God 0:24:41.020 --> 0:24:44.340 until they come to know the Lord Jesus, that we 0:24:44.340 --> 0:24:48.139 all you know, we're all at enmity with him. We're 0:24:48.180 --> 0:24:51.859 far from each other. Uh, because we're far from God. 0:24:51.859 --> 0:24:55.180 And as a result, what the Bible says is that 0:24:55.180 --> 0:24:59.580 the Lord Jesus came and he was the great peacemaker. Uh, 0:24:59.580 --> 0:25:02.860 in fact, in Ephesians two it says he is our peace. 0:25:03.500 --> 0:25:07.420 He personifies peace. And so because we can have peace 0:25:07.420 --> 0:25:10.620 with God through him, then we can have peace with 0:25:10.619 --> 0:25:13.340 each other. And if anyone's listening and you think, man, 0:25:13.580 --> 0:25:18.260 my life is is struggling and I, I really, really 0:25:18.260 --> 0:25:21.540 need peace from God and I don't know the Lord Jesus. 0:25:22.140 --> 0:25:24.180 This is where to start to put your trust in him, 0:25:24.180 --> 0:25:25.969 that he died for us and us and rose again. 0:25:25.970 --> 0:25:28.930 Believe that our sins will be forgiven. We'll have peace 0:25:28.930 --> 0:25:33.250 with God. And and that is what we need, so 0:25:33.250 --> 0:25:37.650 that it can lead to personal peace and reconciliation with others. 0:25:38.210 --> 0:25:41.290 So anyway, thanks for the great reminder, I appreciate it. 0:25:41.290 --> 0:25:43.250 We're going to come back with the mailbag in just 0:25:43.250 --> 0:25:46.610 a moment. Tricia McMillan is going to bring it in, 0:25:46.609 --> 0:25:49.649 and we'll talk about the questions you've sent in. Again, 0:25:49.650 --> 0:25:52.250 this is open line with Michael. Stay with us. More 0:25:52.250 --> 0:26:09.970 questions coming up straight ahead. Welcome back to Open Line. 0:26:09.970 --> 0:26:12.129 I'm so glad to be with you this Saturday morning 0:26:12.170 --> 0:26:16.169 talking about your questions about the Bible, God and the 0:26:16.170 --> 0:26:22.490 spiritual life. And, uh, we are going to be, uh, 0:26:22.490 --> 0:26:25.760 answering the questions you've sent in because it's time for 0:26:25.760 --> 0:26:30.000 the Febc mailbag. We're grateful that Far Eastern Broadcasting Company 0:26:30.480 --> 0:26:34.120 partners with Open Line to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag. 0:26:35.280 --> 0:26:38.160 Febc is a terrific organization. They bring the good news 0:26:38.160 --> 0:26:42.400 to people via media through personal engagement. Check out the 0:26:42.400 --> 0:26:47.240 Febc podcasts podcast. It's called Until All I've Heard. You 0:26:47.280 --> 0:26:51.840 find it by going to febc.org. And joining me right 0:26:51.840 --> 0:26:58.080 now is Tricia McMillan. Hey, Trish. Hello. Now, uh, you know, 0:26:58.840 --> 0:27:02.560 I was just talking with William Washington. He's our big 0:27:03.240 --> 0:27:06.920 kitchen table partner. Promoter William Washington is the VP of 0:27:06.920 --> 0:27:07.760 student life. 0:27:07.840 --> 0:27:11.360 Yes, at Moody Bible Institute. Yes, yes. Friend of the program? 0:27:12.080 --> 0:27:16.520 Yeah, he's he's probably listening right now, but, uh, I 0:27:16.520 --> 0:27:19.560 was I was laughing with him because, uh, he and 0:27:19.560 --> 0:27:22.790 I are called partners in crime at Moody, which I 0:27:22.790 --> 0:27:24.870 always think is funny even though we're not really doing 0:27:24.869 --> 0:27:29.350 anything criminal. It's just that we we do things. I 0:27:29.390 --> 0:27:33.830 work with the faculty and oversee the the educational part 0:27:33.869 --> 0:27:37.629 of the undergraduate school, whereas he's working with the the 0:27:37.630 --> 0:27:43.310 student life area. And we try and complement each other 0:27:43.310 --> 0:27:46.750 rather than conflict with each other. And we are generally 0:27:46.750 --> 0:27:49.950 on the same page. And I think that shows how 0:27:49.950 --> 0:27:55.949 important partnership is. And he was and he said, we 0:27:55.950 --> 0:27:57.790 were talking. He said, you ought to talk about that 0:27:57.790 --> 0:28:00.550 and then tell people how important their partnership is to 0:28:00.550 --> 0:28:03.470 become a kitchen table partner. And I said, okay, that's 0:28:03.470 --> 0:28:07.190 what I'll do. So, you know, being a kitchen table 0:28:07.190 --> 0:28:10.350 partner really does mean a lot to us. And we 0:28:10.350 --> 0:28:12.030 it puts us all on the same page. We're so 0:28:12.030 --> 0:28:15.830 grateful for everyone that has already decided. We've got over 0:28:15.830 --> 0:28:19.310 800 kitchen table partners. That is just amazing. And William 0:28:19.350 --> 0:28:23.220 told me, you know, we need 1000. So he's been 0:28:23.220 --> 0:28:26.500 saying that for a number of years now. So but anyway. 0:28:27.020 --> 0:28:29.780 But we're grateful for every single person who has decided 0:28:29.780 --> 0:28:33.740 to become a kitchen table partner because we work together 0:28:33.740 --> 0:28:36.540 as partners. And what you're doing is making it possible 0:28:36.540 --> 0:28:40.180 for us to be on the air. And so if 0:28:40.220 --> 0:28:42.420 you'd like to consider becoming a kitchen table partner, what 0:28:42.420 --> 0:28:45.060 we do is we send you a Bible study moment, 0:28:45.100 --> 0:28:49.180 a pre-recorded audio Bible study, just for a few minutes 0:28:49.180 --> 0:28:52.340 every other week so that you can that's sort of 0:28:52.340 --> 0:28:54.700 like a special benefit for those of you who are 0:28:54.700 --> 0:28:57.660 kitchen table partners. Any other benefits? Tricia? 0:28:59.820 --> 0:29:02.700 Um, there is also, if you give it the $30 0:29:02.700 --> 0:29:04.979 a month level as an auto gift, which is like 0:29:05.180 --> 0:29:08.459 where it just is an automatic deduction. Um, then you 0:29:08.460 --> 0:29:12.220 get 50% off of all Moody Publishers catalog. So that 0:29:12.220 --> 0:29:15.220 includes the Moody Bible Commentary. It includes Bibles. It includes 0:29:15.220 --> 0:29:18.340 Bible studies, a lot of the resources that we talk 0:29:18.380 --> 0:29:20.570 about on the air, but also a lot of the 0:29:20.570 --> 0:29:23.090 other books, nonfiction and fiction and all of it. 0:29:23.450 --> 0:29:27.170 Everything in the catalog. Yeah. It's great. So I'm kind 0:29:27.210 --> 0:29:29.850 of trying to think of some other possibilities of what 0:29:29.850 --> 0:29:31.810 we can do for our kitchen table partners. We'll be 0:29:31.810 --> 0:29:35.250 talking about that in upcoming weeks. But for now, if 0:29:35.250 --> 0:29:37.410 you'd like to become a kitchen table partner, we'd really 0:29:37.410 --> 0:29:43.410 appreciate it. All you have to do is call (800) 864-4712 0:29:43.450 --> 0:29:47.170 two or go to open Line radio.org. And we really 0:29:47.170 --> 0:29:49.330 appreciate it. Well Trish do you have a lot of 0:29:49.330 --> 0:29:50.210 questions for me. 0:29:50.370 --> 0:29:52.890 I do but we're going to start I had several 0:29:52.890 --> 0:29:57.410 come in from out of the Paul's letters to the Corinthians. 0:29:57.410 --> 0:30:00.210 And so I'm kind of lumping them together even though 0:30:00.210 --> 0:30:02.930 topically they might not be the same. They're all from 0:30:02.930 --> 0:30:04.410 the letter, those two letters, the. 0:30:04.410 --> 0:30:05.130 Corinthian letters. 0:30:05.130 --> 0:30:05.890 From the Corinthians. 0:30:05.890 --> 0:30:07.650 I read them once, I think I can do it. 0:30:07.650 --> 0:30:09.010 The Corinthians. Okay. 0:30:09.170 --> 0:30:09.970 I read it once. 0:30:10.090 --> 0:30:14.610 Good. So our first question is from Robert in Massachusetts, 0:30:14.610 --> 0:30:19.480 who listens online to Spotify where you can find our podcasts. Um, 0:30:19.520 --> 0:30:22.960 thank you for a great program. In first Corinthians five nine, 0:30:23.200 --> 0:30:25.200 Paul mentions a letter that he wrote to the church 0:30:25.200 --> 0:30:29.080 in Corinth, which seems to make First Corinthians a response 0:30:29.080 --> 0:30:31.840 to questions that the Corinthians had sent in response to 0:30:31.880 --> 0:30:35.560 Paul's first letter. So the verse says, I wrote you 0:30:35.560 --> 0:30:38.640 in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 0:30:39.200 --> 0:30:42.840 So clearly he has written them something else. Um, but 0:30:42.840 --> 0:30:45.200 they seem to be lost. Are there any known copies 0:30:45.200 --> 0:30:49.240 or fragments of other churches responses to Paul's letters, or 0:30:49.320 --> 0:30:51.080 these other letters that Paul's written? 0:30:51.760 --> 0:30:55.080 Yeah. The fact that he wrote another letter is also evident, 0:30:55.080 --> 0:30:58.280 I think, in verse 11, because he says, but now 0:30:58.400 --> 0:31:01.840 I am writing. Meaning I wrote before, but now I'm writing. 0:31:01.840 --> 0:31:09.280 So this is a different letter. He it is, uh, 0:31:09.280 --> 0:31:12.320 it it's possible, I think, that Paul did write other 0:31:12.320 --> 0:31:19.750 letters to the Corinthians. It's possible that's what he's talking about. Uh, 0:31:19.750 --> 0:31:23.270 it could be that he's referring to what he was 0:31:23.270 --> 0:31:26.350 talking about in the first eight verses, when he says, 0:31:26.350 --> 0:31:29.350 I wrote to you in a letter before, but I 0:31:29.350 --> 0:31:33.470 think he's actually talking about another letter that he wrote 0:31:33.470 --> 0:31:39.830 something else. And there's no we have no, uh, we 0:31:39.830 --> 0:31:43.230 have no copies of it. Okay. We have no fragments 0:31:43.230 --> 0:31:51.350 of it. Uh, we, uh, we've got no evidence, uh, 0:31:51.350 --> 0:31:54.510 that that anyone has it. And if we found it tomorrow, 0:31:54.510 --> 0:31:55.910 it wouldn't be part of the Bible. 0:31:57.030 --> 0:31:59.190 Okay. Even though Paul wrote it, it is not being 0:31:59.190 --> 0:32:01.510 written by Paul. That makes it part of the Bible. 0:32:02.070 --> 0:32:04.469 Exactly. Uh, a lot of people think that one of 0:32:04.470 --> 0:32:07.790 the tests of canonicity about what made it into the 0:32:07.830 --> 0:32:12.709 canon is Apostolicity. They called it, you know, did an 0:32:12.710 --> 0:32:18.940 apostle write it? Uh, I think that many things the 0:32:18.940 --> 0:32:22.220 apostles wrote did make it into the scriptures, but not 0:32:22.220 --> 0:32:24.500 everything they wrote. You know, Paul would go down to 0:32:24.540 --> 0:32:28.500 the agora, the the ancient market, and he would have 0:32:28.500 --> 0:32:31.700 his little he'd have a little papyrus with his notes 0:32:31.700 --> 0:32:35.100 on what he was buying, a shopping list, a shopping list, 0:32:35.100 --> 0:32:39.020 dozen eggs, whatever it is that he was picking up there. Uh, 0:32:39.020 --> 0:32:43.100 maybe a new quill for his letter writing. Uh, I 0:32:43.100 --> 0:32:46.140 don't know what he would buy, but if we found 0:32:46.140 --> 0:32:49.900 that shopping list, that wouldn't go in the Bible. Uh, 0:32:49.900 --> 0:32:53.660 what it was is the books that were deemed inspired 0:32:53.900 --> 0:32:56.620 were immediately received by the people of God and placed 0:32:56.620 --> 0:33:02.460 in the canon and recognized as inspiration. The test of 0:33:02.460 --> 0:33:05.700 of candidate for Canon City was inspiration. Is this an 0:33:05.700 --> 0:33:08.620 inspired book? And so he wrote another letter. It was 0:33:08.620 --> 0:33:11.740 not deemed inspired. So it was not kept or it 0:33:11.740 --> 0:33:15.739 wasn't preserved. It wasn't put into the canon. Now there 0:33:15.780 --> 0:33:18.780 are other books that were preserved, but they were not 0:33:18.780 --> 0:33:20.980 put in the canon, and that was because they were 0:33:20.980 --> 0:33:28.660 not characterized as, uh, biblical. They're not inspiration, they're not Bible, uh, 0:33:28.660 --> 0:33:32.860 they're not inspired. And so, uh, it's just one of those, 0:33:34.260 --> 0:33:37.860 you know, things that we're looking at. The test was 0:33:37.860 --> 0:33:41.100 did the church immediately receive it as the word of God? 0:33:41.100 --> 0:33:44.180 And when they did, it was placed into the canon. 0:33:44.740 --> 0:33:49.260 Okay. Thank you. So our next move moving down to 0:33:49.300 --> 0:33:53.460 first Corinthians seven. Mhm. Dan in Illinois says I'm married 0:33:53.460 --> 0:33:55.980 to an unbeliever and we have a baby boy. Please 0:33:55.980 --> 0:34:00.180 pray for my wife. My question is about first Corinthians 0:34:00.180 --> 0:34:04.900 714 which says, for the unbelieving husband is set apart 0:34:04.900 --> 0:34:07.260 for God by the wife. And the unbelieving wife is 0:34:07.260 --> 0:34:10.260 set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children 0:34:10.260 --> 0:34:13.290 would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. 0:34:14.210 --> 0:34:16.850 I know that my wife isn't automatically forgiven and redeemed 0:34:16.850 --> 0:34:19.330 because I am a believer, but what does it mean 0:34:19.610 --> 0:34:23.450 when Paul says that that unbelieving spouse is set apart, 0:34:23.450 --> 0:34:26.489 or made holy or sanctified through the believing spouse? 0:34:28.610 --> 0:34:37.010 Well. I remember way back when I was a moody 0:34:37.010 --> 0:34:39.570 student at the turn of the century. It seemed like no, 0:34:39.570 --> 0:34:41.610 before that, the previous century. 0:34:41.650 --> 0:34:42.330 Right. 0:34:42.850 --> 0:34:46.730 When Lincoln was president or Roosevelt or someone. But no, 0:34:46.730 --> 0:34:51.930 I was, uh, there was someone who was justifying dating 0:34:52.210 --> 0:34:56.810 someone that wasn't a believer and marrying them because they 0:34:56.810 --> 0:34:58.650 were going to they were going to get that person 0:34:58.650 --> 0:35:02.930 saved without them actually believing. The Bible is really clear. 0:35:02.930 --> 0:35:08.009 We are only saved by grace through faith in Jesus, 0:35:08.650 --> 0:35:11.009 that we have to believe that Jesus died for us 0:35:11.010 --> 0:35:14.520 and rose again. We have to have conscious faith of 0:35:14.520 --> 0:35:18.560 our own. We can't be saved because of siblings or 0:35:18.560 --> 0:35:24.200 parents or spouses. And so what does it mean? I 0:35:24.200 --> 0:35:27.120 think it puts them in a position where they are 0:35:27.200 --> 0:35:31.799 more likely to be saved, which is what Paul's point is. 0:35:31.880 --> 0:35:36.280 He's saying if you have an unbelieving spouse, don't abandon 0:35:36.480 --> 0:35:38.680 the marriage. Stay with them as long as they're willing 0:35:38.719 --> 0:35:42.239 to stay with you, because you'll be able to influence them, 0:35:42.239 --> 0:35:44.879 and you can have a positive effect, and that your 0:35:44.880 --> 0:35:47.960 children you can influence. And as a result of that, 0:35:48.600 --> 0:35:52.480 you will you will have a sanctifying effect on your family, 0:35:52.719 --> 0:35:57.200 because it's more likely that the unbelieving person will come 0:35:57.200 --> 0:36:01.600 to believe through your ministry in life. And that's what 0:36:01.600 --> 0:36:02.920 I think that's talking about. 0:36:03.040 --> 0:36:06.440 Okay. So similar to the children that they're now, they're 0:36:06.440 --> 0:36:10.279 seeing what that looks like in the home. So they 0:36:10.390 --> 0:36:15.790 will have that, that additional input. Um, spiritually. Yeah. Okay. 0:36:15.830 --> 0:36:19.070 That's it. All right. Let me try one more. Yeah. Okay. 0:36:19.310 --> 0:36:23.709 Deborah in Illinois listens to WNBA second Corinthians five nine 0:36:23.710 --> 0:36:27.509 and ten talks about the judgment seat of Christ. It says, therefore, 0:36:27.510 --> 0:36:29.950 whether we are at home or away, we make it 0:36:29.950 --> 0:36:32.430 our aim to be pleasing to him. For we must 0:36:32.430 --> 0:36:35.390 all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each 0:36:35.390 --> 0:36:37.350 may be repaid for what he has done in the body, 0:36:37.350 --> 0:36:40.790 whether good or worthless. So Deborah wants to know, what 0:36:40.790 --> 0:36:44.550 is this account that we're giving? Will all of my words, thoughts, 0:36:44.550 --> 0:36:49.670 behaviors be replayed there as I stand before him? Do 0:36:49.670 --> 0:36:50.549 we know what that will look like? 0:36:50.590 --> 0:36:53.509 You know, I don't have any details on on how 0:36:53.510 --> 0:36:55.910 much you know. Will a transcript of our life be 0:36:55.910 --> 0:36:58.350 played for us? A video of our lives? I don't 0:36:58.350 --> 0:37:01.470 think so. But, you know, that's what some people think. 0:37:01.630 --> 0:37:04.150 I think that it really when you look at first 0:37:04.150 --> 0:37:09.180 Corinthians three, it talks about how we're building on the 0:37:09.219 --> 0:37:14.740 work of that God began. And some people build with wood, 0:37:14.780 --> 0:37:17.819 hay and straw. And it has to do with their 0:37:17.820 --> 0:37:22.220 their service for the Lord. And then other people build 0:37:22.219 --> 0:37:26.500 with gold and silver and precious gems, and that the 0:37:26.540 --> 0:37:31.980 work will be tested by fire. And even if the. 0:37:32.020 --> 0:37:34.900 It's all wood, hay and straw, if it's completely burned up, 0:37:34.900 --> 0:37:37.100 the person himself will still be saved. 0:37:37.980 --> 0:37:47.740 Uh, yes. Um, okay. Um, I think we're having some 0:37:47.739 --> 0:37:52.420 technical difficulties with Michael. Um, we're having some technical difficulties 0:37:52.420 --> 0:37:57.420 with Michael's, uh, microphone. And so, um, we will come back. 0:37:57.500 --> 0:37:59.900 We're going to take a break right now. We'll come back, 0:37:59.940 --> 0:38:03.380 get that resolved, and, um, get the rest of this 0:38:03.380 --> 0:38:06.100 answer about the wood, hay and straw right after this break. 0:38:06.140 --> 0:38:08.890 You're listening to Open Line with Doctor Michael Redlich. I'm 0:38:08.930 --> 0:38:11.210 Trish McMillan, the producer of the program. This has been 0:38:11.210 --> 0:38:14.370 our mailbag program, our mailbag segment. We'll be back with 0:38:14.370 --> 0:38:17.370 your calls after this break. This is Moody Radio. 0:38:36.090 --> 0:38:40.770 Welcome back to Open Line. Uh, a little glitch there 0:38:40.770 --> 0:38:43.170 at the end of the last segment. My my microphone 0:38:43.170 --> 0:38:46.730 kind of turned off, but, uh, just to remind you 0:38:46.730 --> 0:38:49.410 that someone asked, what will we be judged at? At 0:38:49.410 --> 0:38:54.370 the at the Bema Seat. And, uh, we were I 0:38:54.370 --> 0:38:56.410 was saying that we'll be judged by our works for 0:38:56.410 --> 0:38:59.290 the Lord based on First Corinthians three. Either they'll be 0:38:59.290 --> 0:39:01.609 like wood, hay and straw and be burned up, or 0:39:01.730 --> 0:39:05.569 some of it would be gold, silver, precious gems. And 0:39:05.719 --> 0:39:09.640 remain and will receive a reward for that. But even 0:39:09.640 --> 0:39:14.200 if we don't have anything that remains, the Bible says 0:39:14.200 --> 0:39:16.399 if we know the Lord. And everything is wood, hay 0:39:16.400 --> 0:39:20.040 and straw, we will still be saved yet so as 0:39:20.040 --> 0:39:22.759 through fire. But the goal would be obviously, I would 0:39:22.760 --> 0:39:25.040 love to hear the Lord. This is going to be 0:39:25.200 --> 0:39:31.400 the best reward, not the not the anything in terms of, uh, 0:39:31.440 --> 0:39:35.200 you know, great rewards. I want to hear well done, 0:39:35.239 --> 0:39:38.320 faithful servant, good and faithful servant. That's the best reward 0:39:38.320 --> 0:39:41.400 I could ever receive. Maybe that's my love language. I 0:39:41.400 --> 0:39:44.239 don't know, Trish might tell me if I knew better. Uh, 0:39:44.239 --> 0:39:50.800 words of affirmation. Right. So. So. Well, uh, before we 0:39:51.080 --> 0:39:53.480 go back to the phones, I want to tell you 0:39:53.480 --> 0:39:58.040 about the Chosen People ministries. Free gift. Since Hamas began 0:39:58.040 --> 0:40:01.120 this war with Israel, seeing Israel has pretty much shut down. 0:40:01.120 --> 0:40:03.359 I don't know if you've realized that, but if you'd 0:40:03.360 --> 0:40:05.870 like to see Israel and you haven't been able to go. 0:40:06.310 --> 0:40:09.350 Chosen People Ministries, one of our ministry partners, is offering 0:40:09.710 --> 0:40:12.390 Israel the land and the people. It's a coffee table 0:40:12.430 --> 0:40:15.670 book with some of the best photos of Israel anywhere. 0:40:16.710 --> 0:40:18.710 Not only does it show the beauty and the history 0:40:18.710 --> 0:40:22.029 and the culture and the variety of the land, from 0:40:22.070 --> 0:40:24.469 Mount Hermon with its snow top in the north to 0:40:24.510 --> 0:40:27.149 the fortress of Masada in the south, you can see 0:40:27.190 --> 0:40:33.350 ancient Jerusalem versus modern Tel Aviv. It's got so much. And, uh, 0:40:33.350 --> 0:40:36.509 it's also has prayer prompts for those who care about 0:40:36.510 --> 0:40:39.710 being watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. To pray for Israel, 0:40:40.110 --> 0:40:42.870 to get your free copy of Israel, the land and 0:40:42.870 --> 0:40:46.110 the people. Just go to Open Lines website. That's Open 0:40:46.110 --> 0:40:50.150 Line radio.org, our website. Scroll down until you see the 0:40:50.150 --> 0:40:53.390 link that says A free gift from Chosen People Ministries. 0:40:53.510 --> 0:40:55.469 Click on that and then you'll be taken to a 0:40:55.469 --> 0:40:57.830 page where you can sign up for your own copy 0:40:57.830 --> 0:41:03.310 of Israel, The land and the people. And, uh, we're 0:41:03.310 --> 0:41:06.740 going to talk to David in Montana, listening on Moody 0:41:06.780 --> 0:41:10.180 Radio Northwest. Welcome to Open Line, David. How can I 0:41:10.219 --> 0:41:10.820 help you? 0:41:11.940 --> 0:41:16.580 Well, my wife and I work with Awana at our church, 0:41:17.260 --> 0:41:19.900 and some of the kids asked me a question about 0:41:19.940 --> 0:41:23.620 their pets going to heaven. And I told them that 0:41:23.620 --> 0:41:27.939 I didn't believe that pets could go to heaven as 0:41:27.940 --> 0:41:31.540 we do, because John 14 six says, the only way 0:41:31.540 --> 0:41:35.060 to get to heaven through personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 0:41:35.100 --> 0:41:38.819 And I believe that people are made in a different 0:41:39.580 --> 0:41:43.260 way than animals because we're made in the image of God, 0:41:43.739 --> 0:41:48.820 and God gave us dominion over animals. So there are 0:41:48.820 --> 0:41:53.580 different hierarchy in God's plan. So I don't know, Dave. 0:41:53.620 --> 0:41:56.700 David, why are you asking me? 0:41:58.340 --> 0:42:01.460 The reason being is because you have a lot more knowledge, 0:42:01.460 --> 0:42:02.890 and I want to want to make sure I didn't 0:42:02.890 --> 0:42:06.810 miss anything when I was talking to the children. And 0:42:06.810 --> 0:42:09.969 it's good to interface with other believers because we can 0:42:09.969 --> 0:42:13.090 come up with with. Okay, David. 0:42:14.050 --> 0:42:18.890 Uh, I think that you're, in my opinion, uh, I 0:42:18.890 --> 0:42:23.650 think God made man, humanity, man and woman in his image. 0:42:24.090 --> 0:42:27.569 And part of the aspect of, uh, being made in 0:42:27.570 --> 0:42:31.850 the image of God is being able to engage with 0:42:31.850 --> 0:42:36.009 God to have a relationship with God. Uh, but there 0:42:36.010 --> 0:42:40.129 are verses that talk about, uh, the new creation and 0:42:40.130 --> 0:42:42.410 that there's going to be animals, which is really what 0:42:42.410 --> 0:42:45.730 heaven is, the new heavens and the new earth, and, uh, 0:42:45.730 --> 0:42:48.489 for our eternity, our eternal state. And there's going to 0:42:48.489 --> 0:42:54.810 be animals present at that time. Uh, so I'm not sure. 0:42:54.850 --> 0:42:58.330 Maybe there'll be animals that are from then and not 0:42:58.370 --> 0:43:03.410 resurrected animals, I don't know. Uh, I'm. I'm inclined to 0:43:03.410 --> 0:43:05.690 agree with you, but I never tell that to kids. 0:43:05.690 --> 0:43:08.609 I just say we'll see when we get there. Uh, 0:43:08.610 --> 0:43:13.009 because there's, you know, I'm not absolutely certain. And, uh, 0:43:13.010 --> 0:43:16.130 I quote Don Cole, who used to host this program. 0:43:16.130 --> 0:43:18.450 Pastor Cole used to say, when you get to heaven, 0:43:18.450 --> 0:43:21.410 give a whistle. Who knows if Rover will come running? Uh, 0:43:21.450 --> 0:43:25.489 we'll just see. Okay. And that's probably how I would 0:43:25.489 --> 0:43:26.850 answer a kid in Awana. 0:43:27.650 --> 0:43:31.330 So I appreciate your wisdom. And that is exactly what 0:43:31.370 --> 0:43:32.610 needs to be done, is. 0:43:32.610 --> 0:43:36.050 We'll see. Okay, great. 0:43:36.330 --> 0:43:40.129 Okay. Thanks for your call, David. Appreciate it. Uh, we're 0:43:40.130 --> 0:43:46.290 going to talk to Bruce in Florida. Welcome to Open Line, Bruce. Uh, 0:43:46.290 --> 0:43:48.330 listening on RMB. How can I help you today? 0:43:49.610 --> 0:43:53.130 Hi, Michael. I'm a fellow Jewish believer. 0:43:53.170 --> 0:43:53.330 And. 0:43:53.690 --> 0:43:55.770 I've listened. I've listened to your. 0:43:55.930 --> 0:43:57.290 Can you turn off your radio? 0:44:00.040 --> 0:44:03.040 Um, yes. One thing. 0:44:03.080 --> 0:44:03.960 I keep, I keep. 0:44:03.960 --> 0:44:05.040 Hearing myself. 0:44:05.239 --> 0:44:05.759 Myself. 0:44:08.120 --> 0:44:09.480 Can you hear me now? Better. 0:44:10.040 --> 0:44:10.520 Yes. 0:44:11.440 --> 0:44:14.960 Okay. I'm a fellow Jewish believer. In fact, I've heard 0:44:14.960 --> 0:44:18.680 your testimony, and we're of similar age and backgrounds. 0:44:19.320 --> 0:44:21.520 Mhm. And, uh. Well, good. 0:44:21.560 --> 0:44:25.880 I was, I was calling because, uh, I had a 0:44:25.880 --> 0:44:31.120 question about Matthew 22, the parable of the wedding feast. 0:44:31.160 --> 0:44:36.680 What is your, uh, interpretation of who the person without 0:44:36.680 --> 0:44:40.160 clothes is in verses 11 to 13. 0:44:41.560 --> 0:44:43.799 When the king came in to view the guests, he 0:44:43.800 --> 0:44:46.080 saw a man there who said to him, who is 0:44:46.080 --> 0:44:49.080 not dressed for a wedding. So he said to him, friend, 0:44:49.600 --> 0:44:51.920 how did you get in here without wedding clothes? The 0:44:51.920 --> 0:44:54.879 man was speechless, and the king told the attendants, tie 0:44:54.880 --> 0:44:56.960 him up hand and foot and throw him into the 0:44:56.960 --> 0:45:02.270 outer darkness. It seems to me that even though the 0:45:02.270 --> 0:45:07.350 invitation went out for everyone to come, uh, he chose 0:45:07.350 --> 0:45:14.750 his own way rather than the appropriate wedding clothing. And, uh, 0:45:14.750 --> 0:45:19.630 that that the King would provide. And it seems to 0:45:19.630 --> 0:45:22.549 me that what this is talking about is people who 0:45:22.550 --> 0:45:25.109 are invited into the kingdom but want to have their 0:45:25.110 --> 0:45:29.390 own righteousness rather than the imputed righteousness that our King offers, 0:45:29.390 --> 0:45:33.230 the righteousness that he offers us by faith in him. 0:45:33.670 --> 0:45:35.950 And and I think that's what it's talking about. It's 0:45:35.950 --> 0:45:38.870 talking about the person who says, oh, I'm invited, but 0:45:38.870 --> 0:45:40.589 I'm going to I have to earn my way. I 0:45:40.590 --> 0:45:42.750 have to make my own way. I've got to earn 0:45:42.790 --> 0:45:46.469 my way into the family of God. Uh, because God 0:45:46.469 --> 0:45:49.270 invited me. But I still have to be good enough. No, 0:45:49.390 --> 0:45:51.750 we have to be faithful enough. We have to trust 0:45:51.750 --> 0:45:54.390 in Jesus. That's what it's talking about. That would be 0:45:54.390 --> 0:45:58.420 the appropriate wedding clothes. Does that make sense to you, Bruce? 0:45:59.500 --> 0:46:02.940 Yes. I always thought it was interesting the way Jesus 0:46:03.100 --> 0:46:05.500 throws that into the middle of that parable. 0:46:06.140 --> 0:46:09.060 Yep, I agree. Well, thanks for your call. And thanks 0:46:09.060 --> 0:46:12.100 for listening, everyone. That's the first hour. Keep listening. There's 0:46:12.100 --> 0:46:14.739 the second hour of Open Line on most of these stations. 0:46:15.020 --> 0:46:18.259 If your station doesn't carry Open Line second hour, you 0:46:18.260 --> 0:46:20.259 can always listen on the Moody Radio app or the 0:46:20.260 --> 0:46:23.380 podcast or online during the break. Check out our web page. 0:46:23.380 --> 0:46:25.859 Open Line radio.org has all sorts of links to things 0:46:25.860 --> 0:46:30.780 you're looking for, including a link to my personal page 0:46:30.780 --> 0:46:32.420 where you can see about some of the things that 0:46:32.420 --> 0:46:35.900 I'm planning for the next year. Our Bible study across 0:46:35.900 --> 0:46:39.380 America will continue in the second hour, so stay with us. 0:46:39.980 --> 0:46:43.419 Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a production of 0:46:43.460 --> 0:46:46.620 Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. We'll be 0:46:46.620 --> 0:46:48.660 right back. So stay right there.