There’s a lot of things I have been and am no more. There’s a lot of things I am not and will never be. But there is one thing I am and was meant to be from eternity past when God chose me in Christ Jesus, predestinating and electing me to join Him and His Son in the great family of God. I am a teacher of God’s Word in truth and faithfulness. I am not and will never be infallible, but I have a giant “leg up” on, or distinct advantage over most other men and women who place themselves in the office of a teacher, I am anointed of God to teach His Word. I am not alone in this calling. There are thousands and thousands of us on earth at any given time. In the main, we see eye to eye – just as God’s prophets and apostles did. God does not work at cross purposes with Himself, inspiring and leading one teacher to teach one thing while another anointed teacher teaches an opposing and contradictory doctrine.
“But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him…..God has tempered the body together….But God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers…” (See I Corinthians 12:18, 24 and 28). Therefore, I do not need, nor do I desire any man, or group of men, to examine me, lay hands on me, and “ordain” me to the office or position of teacher in their particular assembly or denomination. Our Lord did that Himself long, long ago.
Oh, and one more thing. I AM going to live a long, long time. And, no, that’s not wicked presumption. The Holy Spirit impressed upon Paul that his life course was going to continue for some time when to all appearances he was going to suffer the death penalty. Years later the Holy Spirit impressed upon Paul’s mind that his life course was at an end. (See Philippians 1:19-26 and 2 Timothy 4:6-7). And, though I am now in my eighty second year and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May of 2016, a cancer that metastasized to the lymph nodes a few years ago, my healing Lord caused the metastasized cancer cells to vacate my lymph nodes a few months later. The Spirit of God witnesses with my human spirit that my race is not yet over.
To date, I have written approximately one thousand Bible related articles, many of which I have posted either on my Facebook page or my website . I continue to write such articles almost daily – either entirely new articles or expanded versions of shorter articles posted years ago. I, of course, have my detractors – some calling me a heretic and demanding that I repent, but I also have a multitude from coast to coast and around the world who read my articles and praise God for my writing ministry. I seem to recall some of our Lord’s apostles and prophets having their detractors, also. So, I am in good company at least in that regard. May God help you to understand what I write and what you read is my prayer.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley