The Life and Times of Joseph, the Encourager

Many know of this man named Joseph, but know him by another name, Barnabas (Acts 4:36). We read here in Acts that Joseph was called “son of encouragement” by the apostles, which means Barnabas. Immediately, his name speaks volumes of the man’s character because it was not his given name, but a nick name given to him by the apostles of the Lord.

From the word go, this Levite from Cyprus (Acts 3:36) was a giving man. We are told in the next verse that he sold a field and gave the money to the apostles to distribute as they saw fit. What an example for both the believers of his day as well as for us.

The next time we here of Barnabas is in Jerusalem aiding a fellow Christian (Acts 9:26-27). The man he was helping found himself in quite a predicament. The man Barnabas helped was Paul; the persecutor formerly known as Saul, who relentlessly imprisoned and murdered members of the church but now turned Christian. When all others wanted to avoid this murderer of Christians, Barnabas went out on a limb to reach this new born babe in Christ. What a leader, example, and encourager he was.

Barnabas accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys until an argument caused them to go their separate ways. In Acts 13:13, Paul and Barnabas left for another mission trip with John Mark, who was Barnabas’ cousin, but for some reason Mark turned back. It was not until Paul and Barnabas were planning another trip that there was a disagreement between the two friends. Paul wanted to leave Mark behind but Barnabas wanted to take him. Even apostles argued (Acts 14:14) and even fell short and sinned (Gal. 2:11-13).

This is not the end of our story, Paul, Barnabas and John Mark were eventually reconciled in 1Cor. 9:6. Through out the book of Acts, we see this man Joseph popping up, risking his life for the sake of Christ (Acts 15:26) and called “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and Faith” (Acts 11:24). You see, no one remembers a man named Joseph from Cyprus, but every one remembers Barnabas the Encourager. By the power of Christ and His blood, Joseph was transformed into this man who encourages still so many today. What is Christ transforming you into (Rom. 12:2; 2Cor. 3:18)?

“Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”

From time to time I like to stop and take a look at the lyrics from songs that we sing in worship. This week I want to break from that tradition and look at some lyrics to a song we may sing in our cars, homes, or workplace. “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” is a song performed by country singer Kenney Chesney, and written by Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song lyrics are as follows:

1ST VERSE
Preacher told me last Sunday mornin`
Son, you better start livin` right
You need to quit the women and
whiskey, And carrying on all night
Don`t you wanna hear him call your name When you`re standin` at the pearly gates I told the preacher, "Yes I do", But I hope they don`t call today
I ain`t ready

CHORUS
Everybody wanna go to heaven
Hallelujah, let me hear you shout
Everybody wanna go to heaven
But nobody wanna go now

2ND VERSE
Said preacher maybe you didn`t see me
Throw an extra twenty in the plate
There`s one for everything I did last night
And one to get me through today
Here`s a ten to help you remember
Next time you got the good Lord`s ear
Say I`m comin` but there ain`t no hurry
I`m havin` fun down here
Don`t you know that

BRIDGE
Someday I want to see those streets of gold
in my halo
But I wouldn`t mind waitin` at least
a hundred years or so

I believe that this song raises some interesting points. In the last chorus of the song, Mr. Chesney adds this line, “I think I speak for the crowd.” The song writers attest that this is the majority opinion, and I believe that they are correct in that! Most people today believe that they are going to Heaven, or some other place of eternal reward. This being said, nobody seems in any hurry to get there. In the space provided I would like to address of few of the points made in this song.

Not Prepared to Go Right Now…
This individual is engaged in sinful activities. The ‘preacher’ tells him to quit: women, drinking, and carrying on all night. The Bible refers to this as: fornication, drunkenness, and revelry. This type of behavior is constantly taught against in the Bible. Paul said to, “Abstain from every appearance of evil.” (I Thes 5:17) These things certainly constitute as evil. In fact in Paul’s lists of works of the flesh and sinful actions, these things always make the list. ( I Cor 6, Gal 5) This man says that he’s, “havin’ fun down here,” and that’s the reason he’s not ready. As Christians we need to “…walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” (Rom 13:13)

This man is not ready to go “right now.” He says, “There ain’t no hurry…I hope they don’t call today…I wouldn’t mind waiting at least hundred years or so.” He is simply having too much fun to be ready to go to heaven. This man needs to read James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away,” or perhaps II Peter 3:9, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Maybe he would like to stay around for that event? I think not. As Christians we need to always live our lives in accordance with God’s will and be in a constant state of preparedness. After all we don’t know what tomorrow holds…

Paid for Reserved Seating...

This man claims that he has paid for his sins. This implies to me that he has paid for his admission into heaven, for God to ‘reserve his seat’, because he’s obviously in ho hurry. Notice the second verse.. He has placed $20.00 in the collection plate. One for the sins he committed Saturday night, the other is for the sins he may commit on Sunday. He gives the ‘preacher’ $10.00 as a bribe to God. This attitude is very reminiscent of the selling of indulgences by the Catholic Church many centuries ago. One could purchase salvation, and even remission of sins that had yet to be committed! This mans seems to think that he can purchase his salvation, and even bribe God. The Bible says that, “…God is no respecter of persons:” (Acts 10:34), no matter the money. For an example of this notice the parable of the RICH fool in Luke 12.” But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” In regards to purchasing salvation, I remember another song that says, “He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay…Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.” Paul in a warning to the elders at Ephesus states that, “the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) John says that, “…the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” (I John 1:7) So then the Bible says, that we can’t purchase our salvation, because Christ has already paid that price for us.

Everybody Wanna go to Heaven, but Nobody Wanna go now…
As Christians, this is not an attitude that we need to have. This may be the way the world views eternity, yet it flies in the face of Biblical teaching. We need have and attitude of expectation and excitement in regards to Heaven. Notice Peter’s words regarding eternity,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (II Pe 3:12-15 )

So what about this song? Should we turn it off when it comes on the radio? So would say yes. I say NO. When you hear this song, turn it up, listen to the lyrics, and remember that this is how the world views your hope of heaven and eternity! This is great reminder of the condition of the world…LOST…and need of salvation. If we don’t take the Gospel to the world, who will?


---Josh Robinson