It’s been a while since my lasted excursion into the world
of cyber-literacy. It’s not that I didn’t have anything to say (if you know me
you know I do not suffer the lack of words) but I really didn’t know how to
express my thoughts in a coherent way (again, if you know me…)
First, allow me a word about politics (skip a couple
paragraphs if you have no desire to hear about politics). Politics has been my
only spectator sport for many years. Got a question about a politician or
policy? I have an opinion. However, allow me to pass on what I wrote to the church
I serve in my bi-monthly email blast:
Election Day is behind
us. I pray that the nastiness, bitterness, anger and meanness that have been
prevalent will also end. I have been deeply saddened by the level of animosity
that has been displayed. I pray that all of us can make it our priority to be Salt
and Light and not Pepper Spray. If God’s people are not the voices of
compassion, forgiveness and forbearance, then from where will those voices come?
Our journey through “The Story” takes us to Chapter 10, Standing Tall, Falling Hard. It tells
us the story, from I Samuel, about how
the children of Israel clamored, whined, begged and complained that all the
other nations had a king, why couldn’t they. The problem, however, was that they
DID have a king…a majestic power house of unimaginable strength, but for some
reason they were unable to see Him because of their jealousy of their next door
neighbors. “I want what they got.” “They
have one, please, Please, PLEASE, can I have one too?”
Unfortunately for them, God said “OK”,
and provided them with a king named Saul. God also warned them that even with a
king, if they continued to look elsewhere rather than upward, no matter who was
sitting in the oval office, things weren’t going to work out well. And, it didn’t. King Saul, not only disobeyed God, he also threw his underlings under the
bus (sound familiar?).
There was another time in the nation of Israel's history that comes to mind with regard to earthly kings
and the King of Kings.
“Here is your king,”
Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted,
“Take him away! Take
him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your
king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. John 19:14-15
The Jews are
not the only ones that looked horizontally for leadership, guidance and
governance. Just turn on the news…pick a station, any station…and you will hear
exactly the same thing today as 2000 years ago.
A bit of Old
School for you that may be wet behind the ears. There was a song with these words:
Emperors have tried to
destroy it, Philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash
it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it, yet
it still stands. And there shall be that final day when every voice that has
ever uttered a sound, every voice of Adam's race shall raise in one mighty
chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus, for that day every knee shall bow and
every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ Is truly Lord!
You see, it was not
mere chance that caused an angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden,
His name, his name shall be called Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, you know, there is
something about that name.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's something about that name.
(“There’s Something
about that Name” Bill and Gloria Gaither)
Joshua ended
his service to Israel, and closed out his life with these words;
“…choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors
served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are
living. But as for me and my household,
we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Daily, we choose where we look for leadership, guidance and
assistance. Choose wisely, your eternal
destination depends upon it.
