2 Timothy 4
1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

   Those of us of the “older” generation are sure to remember “the way it used to be” in Christianity.  We see the changes.  Quite frankly, many of the changes are not for the better.
   If you read Timothy, you will find that even in his day, there were those who turned away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There were also those who would not hear or heed the teachings and Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I guess you might say: “things haven’t changed at all”!
   I believe that at least in my lifetime, things have changed.  The conviction, the emotion, the drive and the immediate change of the person seems to be few and far between.  Altar calls are not the same.  Testimonies are not the same.  Christians are not the same.
   Yes!  There are Christians who still have these assets.  Unfortunately, there does not seem to be as many.
   I am featuring in this issue, the auto-biography of my childhood Pastor.  His auto-biography is kind of long and is listed in our Table of Contents page as a PDF file.  Even if you read a little at a time, it is worthwhile as an example of how God changes a life.  He was also my uncle by marriage.  Rev. B.H. Lucas.  Although many today would think he was hard and judgmental.  I find today that I wish there were not only more like him.  I find myself wanting to be more like him.
   I’m not referring to “hell fire and brimstone” preaching.  I’m referring to the dedication of men like him.  Men who live hard and sinned harder but were turned away from that sin and became a mighty force for God.
   It is true that God is Love.  However, he DEMANDS obedience.  He teaches love, but He tells us that He hates sin.  He has a punishment for sin.  Therefore, if we go to hell, it is not because God doesn’t love us, it’s because we didn’t obey Him.  If he will not allow sin into heaven, then it is the sinner that sends themselves to hell, not God!
   There are so many churches today.  So many denominations.  There is only ONE GOD.  There is only ONE JESUS.  Why are we so divided over so many petty little differences in belief.
   When Jesus was accused of casting out demons in the name of baelzebub.  Jesus said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand”.
   Paul said: I Corinthians 1:12-13 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
   This scripture tells us that there were forms of denomination even then.  Paul set them straight.  There is only One Christ.  There is only One denomination.  The name on the door is there because the government wants a name.  There can only be ONE name in that house.  That IS The Name Of Jesus!
The Devil wants us to fight.  The Devil wants us to be divided.  God wants us to be united, together, in Jesus.
   The next time someone asks you what church you go to, tell them: “We are The Church, We are The Temple of God, this building is only the place we meet in for fellowship.
   ”Forsake not the fellowship”.  Now that’s another story.