The Da Vinci Code is an important book that we need to understand. This book may be a well-written suspense thriller, but for historical accuracy it is hard to imagine one that has so twisted and distorted the facts. Even though it is a compelling read, it is taken too seriously by many, which is a statement about our times that we need to understand.

          The American Founding Fathers believed that tyranny could come from either the government or from the people. Because of this, they built a brilliant system of government that had firewalls to protect against the tyranny from either direction. They warned that if these firewalls were torn down, the Republic could not last. In the last century, we tore both firewalls down, and the system has been crumbling since.

Through Achan’s sin, Israel had learned some valuable lessons about both greed and rebellion. Sin results in defeat. Rebellion results in defeat. To take the Promised Land, or to possess our promises, we need faith, courage, wisdom, and a resolute heart to obey the Lord.

The next aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is “gentleness” (Galatians 5:23). This is defined as being “mild, kind,” or “not being rough, violent, harsh, or severe.” Some people may be born with a natural gentle demeanor, but the fruit of the Spirit that is gentleness is to conduct yourself with sensitivity and consideration for others.

The world’s problems are getting bigger, more complicated, and increasingly beyond man’s ability to solve. The end of this age will be marked by cascading problems that have surpassed any human ability to deal with them. This is the ultimate fruit of man trying to live without God. Not only man, but the whole creation will forever be able to look back on the history of the earth and see what the results are when trying to live without God. In the midst of this, there will be a testimony of what it is like to live with God.

Our perspective of the kingdom must be based on knowing the King. As I have contended that much of the biblical teachings on righteousness deal with stewardship, which is management, there is a sure biblical witness that the Lord cares deeply about this. It was this issue in the Parable of the Talents that determined which servants heard "Well done," and which heard "You wicked, lazy slave!" (see Matthew 25:21-26 NIV) That is how important being a good steward is.

The most basic principle that we must understand about the kingdom is that Jesus is the King of the coming kingdom. That may sound ridiculously obvious, but it has been easily forgotten by those who sought to prepare the way for His kingdom throughout history. Actually, many of the greatest mistakes made by Christians throughout the church age were made by overlooking this most basic truth. Of course, we know it in our minds, but it is not believing in our minds that results in righteousness, rather it is believing in our hearts (see Romans 10:10).

We have been briefly discussing how the seedbed of the fruit of the Spirit is New Testament church life. Of course, another main seedbed of this fruit is family life. This is why both of these, church life and family life, are under such an assault in our times. However, it is during these times that the greatest church life and the greatest families will emerge.

Yesterday, Reggie White passed away at his home near Mooresville, North Carolina. He was 43. He is survived by his wife, Sara, his son, Jeremy, and his daughter, Jecolia.

Reggie was one of the biggest men I ever knew, in body, soul, and spirit. In almost every way that greatness can be measured, Reggie was one of the greatest men I have ever known. To say that he will be missed just does not capture the void that his passing makes.

          A disciple lives to learn from their master and to become like them. This is our ultimate life purpose as Christians—to learn from the Master every day, to become like Him, and to do the works that He did.