Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: January 13, 2008
A TRIBUTE TO BILL PATTERSON
Bill Patterson was truly a great man,
A man of God who always took a stand.
He loved God’s truth and was always willing to contend,
Yes, he did so unto the very end.
Bill was a worker in the kingdom of God,
In an area of service that few men would trod.
For 20 years he labored in the prison with the gospel he proclaimed,
And never once was he ever ashamed.
Bill to me was a dear friend,
Always having something to commend.
With a hand shake and a word of encouragement he would submit.
Yes, this is something I will never forget.
Bill is truly one we will all miss,
But one day, we will all reunite in heavenly bliss.
Let us all make Bill proud in this world in which we abide,
In remaining faithful to God in whom we always confide.
I know this is what Bill would say,
For he lived it himself every day.
Bill Patterson: 1928 — 2008
— Ben Justice
HEAVEN AND HOW TO MISS IT
J.D. Tant
The voice of mourning and the day of sorrow come to the happiest of homes here. But we
have the promise of no sorrow in heaven. The fond mother and the devoted father often
must say farewell to the child they love dearer than life. But in heaven, there is no
disunion, no sad farewells.
Today we hear the voice of joy and laughter, but before the sun goes down, sad and
bitter tears are shed. But John tells us that God will wipe away all tears (Rev. 21:4).
This life is filled with disappointments, but in heaven we shall be like Him and
disappointments will be unknown.
In many homes, there is sickness from the cradle to the grave, but no one is sick in our
Father's home. Finally, death will come to claim all, but we are taught that no death will
enter the city of our God, for it will be life eternal and we shall serve Him forever and
forever.
All these blessings held out to intelligent men and women should create within them a
desire that heaven should be their home.
If this is the home that God has promised to those who love Him, how is it possible
for me to miss it?
— By Indolence —
Many times in the Bible do we read the warning to take heed how we hear. Many hear
with a lingering thought that some day they will accept the Lord and all will be well. They
put off the matter from time to time until death may come and find them unprepared.
— By Neglect —
God calls but, like the indolent, they neglect that call until it's too late.
— By Morality —
Perhaps this is the greatest drawback to Christianity now existing in the religious world.
They hear it from every pulpit: "Just as good people in one church as in another." "Good
and bad in all churches." "Many good people outside of all the churches." Then, they
draw the conclusion that as men are good they will be saved. But they forget that God
never promised salvation to man on account of his goodness.
Jesus says, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:3).
Yet the new birth is not considered by many in our time. People only look at a man's
goodness. There are just as good people in heathen nations as are found in nations
professing to follow Christ. Among infidels who do not believe the Bible, you often meet
good, honest and truthful men. If God saves a man because he is good, why not save
infidels?
There are just as good men outside the Masonic Lodge as in it, but do Masons bury a
man with Masonic honors because he is good, or because he is a Mason? It matters not
how good a man is, the law does not force him to support a woman to whom he is not
married.
There is a spiritual law which makes men and women Christians. It is called "the law of
the Spirit of life" (Rom. 8:2). In obedience to this law we become children of God.
Nothing short of obedience will make us free, regardless of the idea of goodness (Rom. 6:
17).
— By Fear of Persecution —
We can miss heaven by fear of persecution. We learn that while Jesus was here in
person that many believed on Him, but for fear of persecution they would not confess
Him because "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (Jn. 12:42-43).
— By Procrastination —
Many of us are like Felix in Acts, chapter 24. We say, "Go thy way for this time; when I
have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25). Yet, as far as we know, that
"convenient season" never came.
— By Vain Religion —
There are many religious people who will never reach heaven. They are worshiping all
the time, but Jesus taught that it is a vain worship, because they teach "for doctrines
the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9).
— By Deliberate Sin —
Jesus taught that certain people desire darkness instead of light, because "their deeds
were evil" (Jn. 3:19).
Now, after taking a look at these things that can cause me to miss heaven, I ask,
"How can I gain heaven?"
— By Diligence —
We are commanded to give all diligence to make our "calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:
10).
— By Remembering God In One's Youth —
Timothy had known the Scriptures from youth, which were able to make him wise unto
salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). Solomon says, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh; when thou shalt say, I
have no pleasure in them" (Eccl. 12:1-2).
— By Spirituality —
Religion is not always Christianity. To be a child of God, one is to be led by the Spirit of
God through the words the Spirit revealed (1 Cor. 2:9-13). Men and women should not be
led by their feelings or the doctrines of men, but by the Spirit-inspired word of God —
the Bible.
— By Living As A Child Of God —
Do not grow weary in well-doing or in suffering persecutions (1 Cor. 15:58). We are
taught that no man lives a godly life in Christ without suffering persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).
— Accept His Offer Now —
Today "is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7) is the warning coming to us from
God all the time. We can gain heaven by following only the Christian religion and that is
done by doing the following.
Hearing Christ in all things (Acts 3:19-21).
Believing with all our hearts that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Jn. 20:30-31).
Repenting of our sins as commanded by Christ (Lk. 13:3; 24:47).
Confessing that Christ is God's Son (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10).
By being baptized for the remission of sins as found in Acts 2:38.
By enduring faithfully to the end (Rev. 2:10).
If these plain, simple rules will give us a home in heaven where neither sickness,
sorrow, nor death will ever come, why should we not all strive to enter there?
— via “Gospel Preceptor,” www.gospelpreceptor.com