UNMASKED EVIL!

 

Thursday, September 30, 2021

 

UNMASKED EVIL!

 

Psalm 73

 

           Typical of Hebrew writing, the conclusion is presented first. “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Ps 73:1 No matter how much evil rages around us the pure and good nature of God is unchanged.

 

           But as for me! Evil, when it is cloaked produces suspicion and caution. The hairs stand up attentive to warn us that what we are seeing is deceit. Body heat concentrates in our core. The ears tune in to lies and the eyes dilate to catch every nuance. This is evil. We know it but it is wearing fine clothing and presenting itself with manners.

 

           Unmasked evil is shocking! All our suspicions are verified, and cordiality turns vicious. Evil bears its teeth and its breath is foul. We are afraid. We are angry and we are discouraged. How could such open evil parade in our streets? How could evil sit openly in our halls of government and in our pews singing our hymns? It can no longer hide so it abandons pretense. “Our steps have well nigh slipped” because evil has provided a slippery slope for us.

 

           Evil prospers for a time! “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Ps 73:12 Evil rewards itself with stolen treasures. The good and the meek have been mugged and lay bleeding in the streets. They have been spoiled. We are incensed and seek revenge, but evil is too strong for us. We need a champion.

 

           Evil has an end! “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

Ps 73:16-17 In the sanctuary evil has only one of two choices. It may continue to destruction, or it may receive forgiveness through repentance. But it is in the sanctuary that evil comes to an end.

 

Dear Lord, in your sanctuary put an end to evil. In your sanctuary put an end to discouragement. In your sanctuary let my lips sing your praise. AMEN

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

 

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

 

Eccl 12:13-14

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

In childhood our flesh is ignored, and we hardly give our bodies much thought. Our days are spent running and playing and catching lightning bugs and pollywogs. We ford streams and climb trees; our skin is burned by the sun and scraped by the rocks. The pains of the body are quickly removed by a mother’s kiss. God is a mystery!

 

In youth our flesh demands attention. Great sweeping change takes place and almost violent emotions emerge. All is drama! The eyes swell with new sights and the skin tingles with new sensations. Desire is awakened and demands to be fed. Lightening bugs chase us but we pay no attention. Our bodies are strong yet out of balance and clumsy. God is postponed for another time!

 

In adulthood our bodies serve us well as vehicles for all our ventures. Hard work is done, and sweet sleep is enjoyed. The body settles down and so do we. Families are built and memories are stored to be enjoyed later. Business and busyness fill our days. In making a living we often forget to live. God stands waiting!

 

In older age our bodies are an inconvenience. The spirit awakens to a waiting God, hopefully. Children are our greatest joy, and we sympathize with the struggle of youth, close our eyes, and shake our heads at them. They will survive if they are careful. Pain can no longer be kissed away and becomes a familiar companion but not a friend. Sleep is sporadic, fitful, and unfulfilling. Friends depart and loneliness arrives, but memory nearly bursts in its vibrancy. Wisdom is abundant but no one seeks it. God is a Friend!

 

Gal 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

Dear Father, be my Lord in all the changes of my life. AMEN

CHARACTER IS ESSENTIAL

 

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

 

CHARACTER IS ESSENTIAL

 

Rom 5:1-5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

           In an end-of-the-day conversation with my daughter, she mentioned a well-known minister who had allowed his charisma to trump his character. It was clear by her comment that this man, although very popular and influential, had lost both his popularity and his influence by neglecting his character.

 

           Character is what the Bible calls “truth in the inward parts” (Psalm 51:6). Popularity is the result of marketing, but character is the result of rigorous training and firmly held lessons learned. It is defined by Dr. Charles Stanley as “doing what is right because it is right.” When character is observed by others it develops what Marvin Vincent in his Word Studies calls “tried integrity.” In the Greek, dokime is translated “trustiness” or trustworthiness.  

 

           Character is best known and most easily seen when it is absent. It is not always the traveling partner of popularity and fame. It is something to be sought after and fiercely guarded. The Apostle Paul tells us that it is developed as a product of difficult experiences.

 

           Character guides our decisions in life because we remember hard lessons. We do not eat un-paid-for fruit because we remember Momma pulling us into the grocery store by our earlobe with a banana peel and an apology followed by a spanking. The next time we see a perfectly ripened banana, our brain chemistry has been changed. We either leave it or we reach into our pocket to pay for it. Voila’ Character!

 

Dear Lord, I know that I am what I have been becoming. Let me arrive having been fully developed. AMEN