A Living Dog Is Better Than a Dead Lion

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6, “For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”

Solomon wisely said that a LIVING DOG is worth more than a DEAD LION. I am always encouraged when I read this Bible verse. The greatest man I have ever known is Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), my hero of the Christian faith! For people who didn't know Dr. Hyles, it is easy for strangers to dislike, hate, slander and disregard a man's greatness. I was there during Dr. Hyles heyday!!! I watched this dear man's life firsthand. I heard him preach in person. I met with him and shook Dr. Hyles' hand. I loved him then during my Hyles-Anderson College days (1985-1993), and I still love him today, even more so, because I have lived long enough to see that his preaching was right on que! Pastor Hyles served God as a pastor for 55 years, pastoring his first church at age 19 in east Texas. Dr. Hyles pastored five churches total during his lifetime, being used of God to win millions of lost sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ. THANK GOD FOR JACK HYLES!!!

Something unique about Dr. Hyles was that he chose to live on life's Sunnyside. Dr. Hyles lived ABOVE THE CLOUDS, where the Son is always shining, removing himself from the dark and dreary rains of criticism and persecution UNDER THE CLOUDS. That was so wise! What saith the Scripture? Colossians 3:1-3, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” I love that! The Word of God teaches us as God's redeemed children to SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE!!! Amen. In other words, we should set our thoughts on heavenly things; such as, holiness, love, righteousness, soulwinning, prayer, walking with God, studying the Bible and meditating therein, thanking and praising God in every situation, trusting God at all times, serving God in a local church, helping the poor in Jesus' name, contending for the faith, fasting, et cetera.

I receive umpteen emails each year from hurting people whose lives are in chaos. Nearly all of them do not attend any church regularly. Many of them are messed up because they spend their time listening to corrupt TV, radio and internet neo-evangelical preachers. In most situations they have made some very bad decisions in their past, which have come back to haunt them. The Devil is a beautiful liar! Sin thrills and then it kills. Sin fascinates and then it assassinates.  Low living usually comes at a high cost! Be careful about sowing your wild oats, or you may end up praying for crop failure!

I am always humbled by Ecclesiastes 9:4, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” I am just a DOG! Dr. Hyles was a LION! I wish my ministry could make the kind of IMPACT that Brother Hyles' labours did. I want to get as many people saved as possible. Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

There are not many truly “great men” in the world today concerning Christianity, not compared to the 20th century. The words “godly man” are only found mentioned once in the book of Psalms. Psalms 12:1, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” Where is the faithful man today? Where are the 7,000 who have not bowed their knee to Baal? Job 17:10, “But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.”

I thank God for the godly influence in my life from GREAT MEN of time past; namely, Billy Sunday (1862-1935), Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951), Jack Hyles (1926-2001), John R. Rice (1895-1980), Lee Roberson (1900-2007), Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968), A. Ray Stanford (1916-2012), Lester Roloff (1914-1982) and many more imperfect but faithful soulwinning men of God. 

Jeremiah 5:5, “I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.”

I have been in the presence of great men. I saw and heard Pastor Lee Roberson in person preach at Hyles-Anderson College. I saw, heard, met and shook the hand of Pastor Jack Hyles. These were great men. Dr. Hyles never met Billy Sunday (who died in 1935), but he met Ma Sunday (Helen Sunday). Thankfully we still have the preserved sermons of great men like Brother Lester Roloff, Dr. Tom Malone, Dr. John R. Rice and Pastor Harry Ironside.

I may not be a lion like these great men of the faith were, but they are all dead now, and I am still alive, and a living dog is better than a dead lion the Bible says. Part of my ministry is promoting the sermons of these great men. That is the least I can do, to try to help others. Please don't listen to today's fake preachers (e.g. Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Robert Jeffress, John Hagee, Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, Ray Comfort, Ken Ham, et cetera). These men are all compromised and simply cannot be trusted theologically. Get you to the old preachers that I mentioned earlier. Go look up the sermons online by Pastor Curtis Hutson. Order his books from the Sword Of The Lord publishers online. You will be blessed if you do.

Notable Quotes On The Holy Bible

The following quotes are beautiful, honoring God's inspired Word. And may I say, today's modern Bible versions are NOT based any any legitimate ancient language; but rather, they are the mere rantings of scholarly madmen hellbent on making a buck from marketing their own copyrighted version:

“The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all who oppose it.” —Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

“It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.” —Horace Greeley (1811-1872)

“The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity.” —Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

“That book [King James Bible], sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” —U.S. President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)

“The Bible has been the Magna Carta of the poor and oppressed. The human race is not in a position to dispense with it.” —Thomas Huxley (1825-1895)

“So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible every year.” —U.S. President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. ” —U.S. President George Washington (1732-1799)

“The Bible, composed by many authors, over a period of many centuries, yet ONE BOOK, is, in itself, the outstanding Miracle of the Ages, bearing aloft its own evidence of its Superhuman Origin.” —Henry H. Halley (1874-1965)

“The Old Testament is an account of a Nation. The New Testament is an account of a MAN, The Nation was founded and nurtured of God to bring the Man into the world.” —Dr. Henry H. Halley (1874-1965)

“Bible reading is an education in itself.” —Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.” —Patrick Henry (1736-1799)

“The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever growing influence of the Bible.” —U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801-1872)

“God Himself became a Man, to give mankind a concrete, definite, tangible idea of what kind of Person to think of when we think of God. God is like Jesus. Jesus was God incarnate in human form. His appearance on earth is the Central Event of all history. The Old Testament sets the stage for it. The New Testament describes it. As a man, He lived the most strangely Beautiful Life ever known. He was the Kindest, Tenderest, Gentlest, most Patient, most Sympathetic man that ever lived. He Loved people. He hated to see people in trouble. He loved to Forgive. He loved to Help. He wrought marvelous miracles to feed hungry people. For relieving the suffering He forgot to take food for Himself. Multitudes, weary, pain-ridden, and heart-sick, came to Him, and found healing and relief. It is said of Him, and of no other, that if all the deeds of Kindness that He did were written, the world would not contain the books. That is the kind of man Jesus was. That is the kind of Person God is. Then: He Died, on the Cross, to take away the Sin of the world, to become the Redeemer and Saviour of man. Then: He Rose from the Dead: is Alive Now: not merely an historical character, but a Living Person: the Most Important Fact of History, and Most Vital Force in the world today.” —Dr. Henry H. Halley (1874-1965)

“The reason you don't like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you.” —Billy Sunday

“The Bible will always be full of things you cannot understand, as long as you will not live according to those you can understand.” —Billy Sunday

I am a big fan of preacher quotes! Quotes are nuggets of truth to help us discern truth and live right. You cannot live right if you don't first think right. A man who walks with wise men shall be wise. Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” We've got a bunch of fools in church pulpits today, who've been influenced by false prophets like John MacArthur, who denies that children can be saved, who denies that Jesus' blood is on the Mercy Seat in Heaven, and who requires discipleship for salvation (which is NOT the Gospel of free grace). The Devil well knows that human beings are very impressionable. We all love heroes! We all have people whom we look up to, good or bad. We need heroes and mentors. For the atheist, George Carlin is their hero. For a born-again, soul-winning, believer as myself, Pastor Jack Hyles is my hero!

I also encourage you dear friend to start collecting quotes, ponder the greatness of their meaning, and let them change your life for Christ. 

“Now you say, 'Brother Hyles, you make an issue.' You dead sure better know I'll make an issue!” —BATTLE OF THE AGES (MP3, Dr. Jack Hyles, “The King James Bible crowd is going to come out on top!”)