Have you noticed? People are restless. You see the evidence of that everywhere you look. On the movegoing, going, goingbut without any real sense of direction. Oh sure, they have gadgets every gadget you can imagine. They have cell phones, iPods, and computers. However, gadgets do not satisfy the emptiness that gnaws inside of them. Possessions? They have more possessions than they have ever had. They have houses, automobiles, motorcycles, boats, televisions, and on and on. Yet the emptiness gnaws. They cannot satisfy their real cravings with possessions. It seems that something is missing. It seems that "the eyes of man are never satisfied" (Proverbs 27:20 NKJV).

The people of Colossae, in the days of the Apostle Paul, were not very different from the people of America in our day. They, too, were restless. They, too, were on the move. They, too, had their gadgets, albeit not like ours. They, too, had a void that gnawed within. They, too, found that they could not satisfy the emptiness that gnaws within with possessions or gadgets. It takes something more. Many of them thought they could find it in the philosophy the world served. That left them empty, spoiled, and deprived of completeness. Into that environment went a passage of scripture that goes right to the heart of man. It tells him where he can find completeness that is to be found nowhere else. That passage reads like this, "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:10). They found their completeness in the only place where it can be found, in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Strong says this word complete literally means "to cram or level up." Barnes says this left them in a position where they had, "... no need, for the purposes of salvation, of any aid to be derived from the philosophy of the Greeks, or the traditions of the Jews." (From Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright ©, 1997 by Biblesoft). There is no need to look elsewhere.

Wait a minute! Can it be that simple? Can I find completeness in Him? Can He bring an end to the restlessness that stirs within? Can I find in Him that which cannot possibly be found elsewhere? The resounding answer to these questions is, "YES!"

The Central Church of Christ in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is happy to sponsor the ninth annual West Virginia Christian Lectures. This is our third opportunity to sponsor this great lectureship. Our theme for study will be "Complete in Him ... a Study of the Book of Colossians." The keynote speaker for this event is Clarence DeLoach of Cookeville, Tennessee. He will also do a study of the book of Ephesians during this event. Various other men will discuss matters pertinent to the main subject. (See schedule elsewhere in this paper). You are cordially encouraged to attend this great series. 90 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401. wfkenney@adelphia.net (304) 263 9249.

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