Why did he do such a thing? What was she thinking!?! Whatever made you think you could....? (you fill in the rest, since we have all said or had it said to us).
We ask this question when something (usually bad) happens that shocks us. For some reason we think people should act according to a moral standard, while we refuse to accept the fact there is a moral standard. We teach our children there is no " absolute right or wrong", just "do what you want". We say each person must make choices based on what is "best for yourself". We teach selfishness and encourage rule breaking.
There seems to be an unspoken assumption that people should live according to the principles of conduct found in the Holy Bible. We expect people to live as Christians, yet deny and reject the surrender of self to Christ that is necessary to live up to those standards.
The idea of wickedness and sin is rejected as primitive and unworthy of consideration in these "enlightened" times. We may joke about how "the devil made me do it", but of course we say that is only a joke and not at all real.
So when a terrible act is done by a person, or several people, we look for an "explanation". We look at the background, the upbringing, the environment, the associates, anything and everything in an effort to explain. If we can explain it then we can excuse it.
That is the real problem. What we really are looking for is an excuse. Our approach is that people are basically good, and if given a choice, or a chance, will do good. So when they don't we look for an explanation that will excuse them, and by extension ourselves.
But there is no excuse. We are all evil. The only source of goodness is outside ourselves. The Bible says the only one good is God. It is only the grace of God that keeps wickedness in check. It is only the principles found in the words of Jesus, in the Bible, that have power to change us and keep us from destroying ourselves and everything else.
As the principles in the Bible are tossed aside as old fashioned, or ignored, we are left with no protection against the wickedness that we are subject to as sinners. We are left to the control of the Destroyer, the Liar, the Murderer. So we lie and murder and destroy.
There is only one choice. We either continue as we are, or we choose to yield to the grace of God and accept His power to overcome sin. It's an individual choice. Evil cannot be excused, or explained. It can only be overcome by accepting the life God offers. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and He is the only One who can. We must give up our life and accept His life. Yielding to Him, and only Him, gives freedom from the evil that controls us. Then we have the peace and joy that cannot be taken away.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Whether The Weather?
"I wish I had a job like the weather person, where I could be wrong a lot and still have a job". I have said this often as I watch the actual weather compared with what was predicted. I know there is a lot of science involved in studying the wind patterns and temperature gradients and all the other knowledge required to try and figure out what the future patterns might bring. A semester of Meteorology was one of my favorites in Science class one year.
But it does seem clear to most people that the "averages", the "usual trends" we came to expect are no longer "usual". We seem to encounter more unexpected and rare weather patterns than before. The "unusual" appears to have become "the usual".
Of course there are various explanations and "scientific rationale" for these anomalies. But no matter how you slice it, the bottom line is we just don't seem to be able to count on things being as they have been in the past. On one hand our experience shows less stability, more unrest, while at the same time we are given "reasons" in an effort to tell us this is "normal". As long as we can explain it, we don't have to think about it.
Am I still talking about the weather? Actually I think the weather situation is just one part of a necessary learning experience we all need. A wise and loving Heavenly Father is trying to help us realize we cannot depend on anything on this earth. More and more we are being shown the instability of this world. We are being reminded that nothing we know here can be trusted. Our confidence in what we think we know is being shaken.
I am reminded of God's word: "He has promised that He will not shake the earth only, but also heaven. He reminds us by removing the things that can be shaken, so that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. We are to receive a kingdom that cannot be moved, so let us accept His grace so we may serve God acceptably..." (Hebrews 12:26-28)
The end of everything we have known stares us in the face. Everywhere we look we are met with failure. The physical world, the political world, the spiritual world. The economy, medical fears, no matter where we turn we hear voices of fear on every hand. Is there anything solid enough for a foundation we can build a future on?
Jesus said the only solid foundation we have is His Word. "Whoever hears what I say and does what I tell them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. When the storms came, the wind and rain and floods beat on the house but it did not fall because it was founded on a rock." (Matthew 7:24-27)
A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. A loving Father is warning and preparing us so we can live through it and come out on the other side victorious and happy.
"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer..." (Psalm 18:2)
But it does seem clear to most people that the "averages", the "usual trends" we came to expect are no longer "usual". We seem to encounter more unexpected and rare weather patterns than before. The "unusual" appears to have become "the usual".
Of course there are various explanations and "scientific rationale" for these anomalies. But no matter how you slice it, the bottom line is we just don't seem to be able to count on things being as they have been in the past. On one hand our experience shows less stability, more unrest, while at the same time we are given "reasons" in an effort to tell us this is "normal". As long as we can explain it, we don't have to think about it.
Am I still talking about the weather? Actually I think the weather situation is just one part of a necessary learning experience we all need. A wise and loving Heavenly Father is trying to help us realize we cannot depend on anything on this earth. More and more we are being shown the instability of this world. We are being reminded that nothing we know here can be trusted. Our confidence in what we think we know is being shaken.
I am reminded of God's word: "He has promised that He will not shake the earth only, but also heaven. He reminds us by removing the things that can be shaken, so that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. We are to receive a kingdom that cannot be moved, so let us accept His grace so we may serve God acceptably..." (Hebrews 12:26-28)
The end of everything we have known stares us in the face. Everywhere we look we are met with failure. The physical world, the political world, the spiritual world. The economy, medical fears, no matter where we turn we hear voices of fear on every hand. Is there anything solid enough for a foundation we can build a future on?
Jesus said the only solid foundation we have is His Word. "Whoever hears what I say and does what I tell them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. When the storms came, the wind and rain and floods beat on the house but it did not fall because it was founded on a rock." (Matthew 7:24-27)
A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. A loving Father is warning and preparing us so we can live through it and come out on the other side victorious and happy.
"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer..." (Psalm 18:2)
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