C A R L B. G A R N E R

THE MOST HATED WORD

What word is the most hated by modern man? Would it be war? Or taxes? Or calories? Or losing? My experience tells me the word most hated today is "must." No one likes the "musts" of this world. We can handle should. And ought seems to be a bit less painful. Must, however, carries with it a demand; an action or an attitude that is required, and we don't like to be told what to do or how to behave. We hate being told "must" so much that we form ways of avoiding such demands. But there are some musts in everyone's life, and denying our obligation to them is fruitless. You must pay your taxes or someone comes and takes you where you do not want to go. You must present yourself to your employer's service if you want to be able to support your family. You must take care of your health or you will pay the consequences of pain and physical incapacity.

Several musts are found in the Bible that demand our attention. It does no good to ignore or avoid them, for God has the right and the power to demand that we honor those musts. Consider:

"YE MUST BE SUBJECT" Jesus told His disciples that they had an obligation to the government that required them to pay their taxes, Luke 20:25. In Romans 13:1-6 we read, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God....Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God...rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil....Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also...." Yes, we must give proper respect to those in positions of leadership in our nation. This means obeying laws duly and legally established. It means paying taxes and respecting authority, whether earned or not. It means being a good citizen. Christians must do that, 1 Peter 2:13.

"WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AN DIN TRUTH"
It surprises some that God demands worship; and not only worship, but worship that is from the heart and according to God's truth. Note John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." This is not a suggestion, for the word must carries with it the authority necessary to enforce the demand. Worship must be from the heart of man, but it must also be in harmony with the truth God reveals. Some prefer to snooze during prayer. Day-dreaming in the song service or during the sermon is in for others. The Lord's Supper is the time some choose to clip their nails or pluck their eyebrows. But "they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Don't forget!

"YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN"
Again, the imperative term must is central to the conversation between Jesus and the ruler Nicodemus. He struggled with his understanding of this demand, this "born again" principle, but not the fact that some action was demanded: a "must" for him and others. The metaphor used here is one that can hardly be more demanding and restrictive; "born again." It sounded as though a person would be born a second time from his mother's womb. But while the physical birth is not under consideration here, a spiritual birth is under consideration here. Paul would say it this way: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God.....If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," Colossians 2:12 and 3:1. It is in the act of baptism that the old man of sin is put to death and the new man comes alive, being resurrected to a new life. This is as imperative as any demand in the Bible; "Ye must be born again." It is still true today.

"WE MUST ALL APPEAR..."
As a young man I heard a lot of joking about getting a letter in the mail from the draft board saying, "Greetings." This was usually a summons for one to appear for induction into the armed forces. While there were some options to this demand, there were only two chances to get around this summons; slim and none. There will be a summons for all men at some unknown future date. It is described in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." It is an appointment all must accept, like it or not; an appointment with eternal results. Hebrews 9:27 says it this way: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Death, then judgment. An accounting based upon our life, our deeds and our attitudes, all compared with what the Bible says. If the world continues we will all die. After death, we must face the judgment and the sentence of God. Just another "must" in the life of man, but please don't wait too long to prepare for it.