I cannot help but relate to you another experience I had with Brother Scott Richardson which the Lord used to teach me something.

Once while he was preaching for us in a meeting, he was staying with my brother at his house which is not far from my house. Brother Scott was taking me home in his car and when we got to the drive I told him to just let me out and I would walk on down my long gravel drive. He said, “Oh no, I’ll take you all the way.” He then told me that when he was a young person with no car, he would catch a ride from town with someone else. But when they would get to the road that led up the hollow to where he lived, they would let him off there because the road was bad and they didn’t want to harm their car. He’d have to walk the rest of the way down that dark road himself and by himself. He said that he made up his mind then, “if I ever get a car of my own and I give someone a ride, I’ll take them all the way home!”

Many times I have used that illustration to show how that Christ, in saving all His people from all their sins, has done and will do everything necessary to take them “all the way home.” All the way to HIS heavenly home! There, by His coming to where we are and by His cross death, He has prepared us a place. There are the many dwelling places for the redeemed and He will come for us, either in our death or in His second coming, and receive us unto Himself that, where He is, we may be also. His deliverance and salvation is a full one as well as a free one. He saves “to the uttermost.”

As I stood by the graveside of our departed brother I thought, “God was surely faithful to him and He has now taken him all the way home!”

Our Savior will surely do the same for all who believe on Him. They will never be disappointed for He will never leave or forsake them! His promise is sure, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20 That’s all the way!

Gary Shepard

SECURED BY THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; Re 18:4.

But, what is the great and infallible security against being led away by the heresies around, and the discovery of the false spirits which come forth to deceive? There is but one, and a sure one it is, which never hath failed, neither can fail, amidst all the present errors of the day, or all that may arise; namely, the regeneration of the heart, or the being born of God. Where God the Spirit hath quickened a sinner, which was before dead in trespasses and sins, this precious child of God hath in himself a full testimony to his sonship, in being born of God, and a confirmation also, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, being God and Man in One Person, the Christ of God.

Reader! look into your own heart, and see whether it be not a most firm and unquestionable security against this, and every other error, of either ancient or modern heresy or heretics. If so be the Lord the Holy Ghost hath regenerated you, and the Spirit witnesseth with your spirit, that you are born of God. For then hath he taught you the plague of your own heart. And what artifice of men, or devils, can bear up against this divine teaching, when you yourself also daily feel, and know how that heart is for ever interrupting your spiritual pursuits, and warring against 'your soul! So, in like manner, when God the Holy Ghost hath taught you who Christ is, and the efficacy of his blood and righteousness; when you have felt the sovereignty of his grace, the completeness and fullness of his finished salvation; have known the love of God, the sweetness and suitableness of his promises, and been fed by them from day to day, can an host of heretics persuade you that these precious things are false, and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is not come in the flesh? Oh! how gracious hath our God been, to provide such blessed securities for his people against all perilous times like the present!

Robert Hawker

FADE, FADE EACH EARTHLY JOY

Fade, fade, each earthly joy, Jesus is mine!

Break every tender tie, Jesus is mine!

Dark is the wilderness, Earth has no resting place,

Jesus alone can bless, Jesus is mine!

Tempt not my soul away, Jesus is mine!

Here would I ever stay, Jesus is mine!

Perishing things of clay, born but for one brief day,

Pass from my heart away, Jesus is mine!

Farewell, ye dreams of night, Jesus is mine!

Lost in this dawning bright, Jesus is mine!

All that my soul has tried left but a dismal void;

Jesus has satisfied, Jesus is mine!

Farewell, mortality, Jesus is mine!

Welcome, eternity, Jesus is mine!

Welcome, oh, loved and blest, welcome sweet scenes of rest,

Welcome, my Savior’s breast, Jesus is mine!

Copied / Traditional Hymn

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1Jo 4:1-3

I do not use the term “false prophet” lightly. I know how easily I am deceived myself apart from the grace and power of God. I also know that rather than quickly labeling someone as such, I am to test what one preaches by the holy scriptures. I am not to get a second opinion from man, not even my friend, but to honestly confess what God has written to be true and all those who preach it in truth to be true. That test has to do with what they say about Jesus Christ, who He is and what He’s done. A man is not a false prophet because someone says he is but because of what he says about Jesus Christ! I’m careful because many called my Savior a false prophet!