Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, all I can say is Wow! The Good Lord proved again today that He’s the greatest purveyor of drama! How, you ask? Well the Winter Olympics held the last two weeks in Vancouver, British Columbia, out on Canada’s West coast, might not have meant anything to many of you, but it sure did to the countries that participate in snow or ice based events. And believe me people, there was no bigger event than the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, which many expected Canada to easily win, given its glut of star players. And those expectations were the highest in Canada, especially playing on home ice. The fact is that whenever Canada enters an international hockey tournament, whether it be babies (smile) or big men, the Canadian population expects them to win, because Ice Hockey is OUR game. And Friends over the last few days the country’s been in an uproar; not only has this been the best international tournament ever with all the teams playing good ball, but the hometown favourites lost to the hated Yanks earlier on, then only managed to reach the gold medal game by the skin of their teeth. Hn! Long time I haven’t heard that term. Then today, playing the U.S again, with about half a minute to go and Canada leading 2 to1, the U.S ties the game. Imagine the unbelievable silence in the arena and throughout the entire country. So the game goes into overtime and about seven minutes in, the Canadian Poster Boy, ‘Sid the Kid,’ Sidney Crosby scores, giving Canada the gold medal. The arena crowd goes wild! Joyful pandemonium erupts throughout the entire country! Everything’s right in the Hockey Universe again. Oh Friends, if Canada had lost that game, it would be worse than many wars. The country would have been in such a negative uproar, with recriminations galore, numerous divisions, and twenty twenty hindsight ruling the roost. And although we won, some people still aren’t jubilant because they felt that the best team wasn’t chosen. And poor Sid would have been tarred and feathered, not that he played badly, but because he did not live up to his superstar billing. The U.S would not have allowed us to live it down either, especially with their team coach and G.M. holding the same positions in the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Franchise. But Friends the Most High God Jehovah is sitting on His heavenly throne controlling the show, and in His eternal wisdom decided to unite the country rather than divide it. And don’t think the ole fella wasn’t praying and pleading for Him to do just that. But as usual, His last minute timing drove the hearts of the nation crazy. It was a perfect Hollywood script with the perfect ending. With all the other problems we have, a loss would have severely dented the nation’s pride, plunged the country into a state of depression, disappointment, anger and plummeting self confidence. The record thirteen other gold medals we won would have been inconsequential, what with the Women’s team winning gold over the U.S. a few days ago. That’s the status some sports hold in some countries. The Russians lost badly to the Canadians in the quarter finals, although they were co-favourites to win gold. Do you think that will sit well in the halls of power in Moscow? Certainly not! Heads will roll for sure. It’s like soccer in Brazil, with so many talented players that national teams never satisfy everybody, and a loss brings all sorts of negative consequences. Now a national team, or one person winning international glory is a good way to bring a country together. An excellent example being Usain Bolt bringing Jamaica together with his spectacular success in the last Summer Olympics. People forget their problems, put their animosities aside, even for a short while, and rejoice in their country’s good fortune. But sadly Friends, it’s the same way one person or a small group can destroy a nation, bring it to ruin; ‘one sinner destroyeth much good.’ Look at Joshua Chap.7. ‘But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan…of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.’ (Josh.7:1) Achan took spoil from Jericho when the Israelites burned it to the ground, despite Joshua’s warning not to take anything for personal gain, with all the precious metals being dedicated to the Lord. (Josh.6:16-19) When found out, Achan confessed. ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted (desired) them, and took them; and behold they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.’ (Josh.7:20-21) Achan, his whole family and all his possessions were then burned and stoned. What a sad end for a few pieces of worldly treasure. But also, for one man’s disobedience, the Lord caused the men of Ai to defeat the Israelites in battle and also thoroughly deflate their courage; ‘for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down (on the descent): wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.’ (Josh.7:5) Another good example of one person spoiling things for a whole nation is Manasseh, king of Judah. ‘And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places (places for pagan worship) which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove (wooden image), as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, (the gods of the Assyrians) and served them.’ (2 Kin.21:2-3) Oh Friends, God sent repeated warnings to Manasseh and his people, but to no avail. ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold I am bringing such evil (calamity) upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.’ (2 Kin.21:12) My people that’s what happens when we’re disobedient to the Lord; even one person can cause a whole nation to suffer. So from here on in, let’s check our behaviour against the Lord’s dictates nuh, so that we neither suffer the Lord’s wrath personally, nor cause our fellow countrymen to do so. Remember, ‘Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.’ Much LOVE!…obedience and LOVE…that’s all Jesus expects from us…
Oh Friends, oh Friends, all I can say is Wow! The Good Lord proved again today that He’s the greatest purveyor of drama! How, you ask? Well the Winter Olympics held the last two weeks in Vancouver, British Columbia, out on Canada’s West coast, might not have meant anything to many of you, but it sure did to the countries that participate in snow or ice based events. And believe me people, there was no bigger event than the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, which many expected Canada to easily win, given its glut of star players. And those expectations were the highest in Canada, especially playing on home ice. The fact is that whenever Canada enters an international hockey tournament, whether it be babies (smile) or big men, the Canadian population expects them to win, because Ice Hockey is OUR game. And Friends over the last few days the country’s been in an uproar; not only has this been the best international tournament ever with all the teams playing good ball, but the hometown favourites lost to the hated Yanks earlier on, then only managed to reach the gold medal game by the skin of their teeth. Hn! Long time I haven’t heard that term. Then today, playing the U.S again, with about half a minute to go and Canada leading 2 to1, the U.S ties the game. Imagine the unbelievable silence in the arena and throughout the entire country. So the game goes into overtime and about seven minutes in, the Canadian Poster Boy, ‘Sid the Kid,’ Sidney Crosby scores, giving Canada the gold medal. The arena crowd goes wild! Joyful pandemonium erupts throughout the entire country! Everything’s right in the Hockey Universe again. Oh Friends, if Canada had lost that game, it would be worse than many wars. The country would have been in such a negative uproar, with recriminations galore, numerous divisions, and twenty twenty hindsight ruling the roost. And although we won, some people still aren’t jubilant because they felt that the best team wasn’t chosen. And poor Sid would have been tarred and feathered, not that he played badly, but because he did not live up to his superstar billing. The U.S would not have allowed us to live it down either, especially with their team coach and G.M. holding the same positions in the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Franchise. But Friends the Most High God Jehovah is sitting on His heavenly throne controlling the show, and in His eternal wisdom decided to unite the country rather than divide it. And don’t think the ole fella wasn’t praying and pleading for Him to do just that. But as usual, His last minute timing drove the hearts of the nation crazy. It was a perfect Hollywood script with the perfect ending. With all the other problems we have, a loss would have severely dented the nation’s pride, plunged the country into a state of depression, disappointment, anger and plummeting self confidence. The record thirteen other gold medals we won would have been inconsequential, what with the Women’s team winning gold over the U.S. a few days ago. That’s the status some sports hold in some countries. The Russians lost badly to the Canadians in the quarter finals, although they were co-favourites to win gold. Do you think that will sit well in the halls of power in Moscow? Certainly not! Heads will roll for sure. It’s like soccer in Brazil, with so many talented players that national teams never satisfy everybody, and a loss brings all sorts of negative consequences. Now a national team, or one person winning international glory is a good way to bring a country together. An excellent example being Usain Bolt bringing Jamaica together with his spectacular success in the last Summer Olympics. People forget their problems, put their animosities aside, even for a short while, and rejoice in their country’s good fortune. But sadly Friends, it’s the same way one person or a small group can destroy a nation, bring it to ruin; ‘one sinner destroyeth much good.’ Look at Joshua Chap.7. ‘But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan…of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.’ (Josh.7:1) Achan took spoil from Jericho when the Israelites burned it to the ground, despite Joshua’s warning not to take anything for personal gain, with all the precious metals being dedicated to the Lord. (Josh.6:16-19) When found out, Achan confessed. ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted (desired) them, and took them; and behold they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.’ (Josh.7:20-21) Achan, his whole family and all his possessions were then burned and stoned. What a sad end for a few pieces of worldly treasure. But also, for one man’s disobedience, the Lord caused the men of Ai to defeat the Israelites in battle and also thoroughly deflate their courage; ‘for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down (on the descent): wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.’ (Josh.7:5) Another good example of one person spoiling things for a whole nation is Manasseh, king of Judah. ‘And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places (places for pagan worship) which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove (wooden image), as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, (the gods of the Assyrians) and served them.’ (2 Kin.21:2-3) Oh Friends, God sent repeated warnings to Manasseh and his people, but to no avail. ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold I am bringing such evil (calamity) upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.’ (2 Kin.21:12) My people that’s what happens when we’re disobedient to the Lord; even one person can cause a whole nation to suffer. So from here on in, let’s check our behaviour against the Lord’s dictates nuh, so that we neither suffer the Lord’s wrath personally, nor cause our fellow countrymen to do so. Remember, ‘Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.’ Much LOVE!…obedience and LOVE…that’s all Jesus expects from us…
SCRIP-BITS 