What does the parable about having faith as a mustard seed and moving mountains mean?

Sincerely,
Strong Man

Dear Strong Man,

The verse you are referring to is Matt 17:20.  Jesus was talking to the apostles (Matt 17:19) about why they were unable to cast out a particularly stubborn demon (Matt 17:14-16).  Jesus told his apostles that the reason they were unable to cast out the demon was because they didn’t have enough faith.  If they had been more faithful, they could have performed the miracle.

The story is not directly applicable to us today because we can’t perform miracles like the apostles could – but there is an important principle being taught: faith makes a difference.  Faith is one of the greatest elements of Christianity (1 Cor 13:13).  If we trust God, great things can happen.

For every one day in Heaven that passes, one thousand days pass on earth.  How many days would have to pass on earth to equal one thousand years in Heaven?

Sincerely,
All About The Math

Dear All About The Math,

If we were simply doing math, the answer would be 365 million days… but this subject isn’t about arithmetic.  You have misunderstood 2 Pet 3:8.  That verse isn’t discussing a literal time-delay between Heaven and Earth; it is addressing the patience of God (as seen in the following verse – 2 Pet 3:9).  God is patient with mankind and is patiently awaiting the proper time to end this world (2 Pet 3:10) because He wants everyone to have the opportunity to obey Christ.

I have got a question about “we reap what we sow”.  I can’t seem to understand this.  It seems that if this were true… how come some people that are really "bad or sinful" get really great lives and seem to have such great luck while some people give to the needy and help people all their lives and always seem to have bad things happen to them?  It would seem that this “we reap what we sow” would not let that happen.  Sometimes I would see someone (for example) lie to get a job, and I would think that one day it would come back to bite them, but after years of them getting everything (it seems all that they ever wanted), I start to wonder.  I do believe in “we reap what we sow”, but I just don’t understand why it only seems to work for some people.  I’m sure this is a question a lot of people wonder about; that is another reason why I am asking it.  Thanks and God bless!

Sincerely,
Small Harvest

Dear Small Harvest,

It is a question that a lot of people ask, and the answer is “consider their latter end”.  In Ps 73:3-12, the psalmist, Asaph, ponders why it is that wicked people prosper and the righteous are downtrodden.  The question vexed him deeply because his enemies succeeded while he, a godly man, was constantly in pain (Ps 73:13-14).  Eventually, Asaph went to the temple and thought about the end of a wicked man’s life (Ps 73:16-17).

A life of wickedness is a slippery slope – one lie leads to another until all you have is a tangle of lies and deception (Ps 73:18).  The wicked man has no peace because he is totally dependent upon his own strength and wiles for success… every moment of life is lived upon a precipice (Ps 73:19).

Contrast that life to one of a righteous man.  God holds the hand of the righteous, so they will not despair (Ps 73:23), and God is a righteous man’s counselor and friend (Ps 73:24).  Ultimately, the righteous go to heaven, and the wicked spend eternity in hell (Ps 73:25).

It may seem like wicked people prosper, but eventually, their wickedness becomes their downfall.  Sometimes their sins take years to catch up with them (pay attention to some of the latest headlines in politics and Hollywood), but they always do.  If a man becomes wealthy through evil… he may have money, but he won’t have peace.  As Pr 15:17 points out, a wealthy feast filled with hatred isn’t nearly as enjoyable as a humble meal eaten with loving friends.  Financial prosperity is not synonymous with happiness.  Gal 6:7 is always true… but you and I may not always see the sorrow and suffering that goes on behind closed doors.

In one instance, why did Jesus heal a man and then ask him to go and not tell anyone?

Sincerely,
It’s A Secret

Dear It’s A Secret,

Jesus was trying to restrain the people from making Him a physical king.  On multiple occasions, He commanded both people and demons to remain silent about His deity (Lk 4:41, Mk 1:44).  Jesus needed to be able to move freely about the country in order to preach; if word of Him spread too quickly, He would be inundated by the crowds.  In fact, this eventually happened (Mk 1:42-45).  Jesus was trying very hard to avoid allowing His popularity to overcome His message.  The people were so impressed by the miracles that they sought to make Him a physical king… completely missing the point of what He was teaching (Jhn 6:14-15).

The Bible says in the New Testament that a deacon or pastor should be the husband of one wife.  I attend a Baptist church that does not allow a man to be a deacon or pastor unless he has only been married once in his lifetime.  I do not disagree with this and I believe this to be true, but my question is if the pastor or a deacon in my church has had sexual relationships prior to meeting and marrying their first and only wife, would this not disqualify them from their office of pastor or deacon?

Sincerely,
Double-Checking

Dear Double-Checking,

The qualifications you are referring to occur in 1 Tim 3:2, 1 Tim 3:12, and Tit 1:6.  The term ‘husband of one wife’ literally means ‘a one woman man’ in the original Greek.  In order to be a deacon or a pastor, a man must have shown himself to be dedicated to one woman and committed to monogamy.  Previous relationships before marriage would not necessarily disqualify a man from serving, but all those details must be considered before appointing a man to the position of deacon or elder.  The question is simply, “Is this man a dedicated one-woman man?”  Answer that question, and you will know whether he is qualified.