Ah mih people, I hope yesterday’s Bit struck a wake up call in our evil, disobedient hearts, and at least got us to thinking straight again. Oh Friends, it’s not rocket science but basic common sense; simply doing right as opposed to doing wrong, with the rewards and penalties of going in each direction. This topic is of considerable importance to our society for it holds either the seeds of prosperity or those of destruction. It all depends on the way we choose to approach it. Consequently, it deserves another visit, focusing more on the scriptural aspect, highlighting some passages that bring out the true benefits and disadvantages of either course of action. And our first passage comes from Jeremiah 9, where he talks about disobedience bringing God’s judgement. ‘Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they be all adulterers, and an assembly of treacherous men. And how they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. Take ye heed everyone of his neighbour (friend), and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive everyone his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt (refine) them, and try (test) them, for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit, one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait (inwardly he sets his ambush). Shall I not visit (punish) them for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?’ (Jer.9:2-9) Friends, we have to be blind, deaf, dumb and totally unaware of what’s happening around us to not realize how aptly Jeremiah’s words apply to our world situation today. And it’s so sad that we’ve not only picked up all the wrong doing and disobedience of olden times, but that we’ve taken them to such high levels of refinement, it just boggles the imagination. We’ve taken evil, greed, lies, deceit, distrust, etc. to such meteoric heights, surrounded by such guile and intrigue that even our forefathers of a generation ago wouldn’t be able to comprehend our world. And mih breddren, it’s not like we don’t have numerous examples of unruly societies, beginning with Israel, right up to our time, who have eschewed the grace of Abraham’s God, disobeyed His edicts and suffered serious punishment, even unto total destruction. Our God is a living, LOVING, patient Being, but at the same time He’s just and righteous and not content to put up with our sottish, spoiled brat, whining, disobedient, wicked behaviour for ever. Remember Friends, time longer than twine, and all the evil we do will come back to haunt us, will boomerang back on us at some stage, be it now or later. Oh Friends, we just have to look back about 75 years ago, when we were a more God-centred people, how our society prospered. But very unfortunately that same prosperity caused us to move away from God who had provided it. We became rather enamoured of ourselves and our supposed might, wealth and wisdom, and pushed God aside to worship the idols of our own making. Since then my brethren, we’ve been on the downslide, and let’s not fool ourselves, we have not reached rock bottom yet. But if we continue following Lucifer and his evil cohorts, we’re guaranteed to hit rock bottom, and I assure us, it won’t be nice. What we’re undergoing now will seem like paradise when the real wrath of God hits us. My people, right now He’s just warning us, firing shots across our bows to keep us from going further into the depths of Hades with the enemy. But are we listening? Not really, because we’re still lusting mightily over the trifles and truffles of the world, and refuse to store up treasure in heaven as Jesus directed. That brings us to the next passage of scripture, from Bruh Paul’s writings to the Corinthians. ‘Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice ye be children, but in understanding be men.’ (1 Cor.14:20) Bruh Paul couldn’t put it any simpler. He’s pleading with us to be babes, innocent and guileless when it comes to evil, but to be bright, mature and wise in matters of godliness and understanding. Common sense mih people, strictly common sense! Sorry, I forgot that term is old school and no longer exists in our vocabulary. But we’d be wise to bring it back into vogue as quickly as possible, for therein lies our fate. And we’ll end today with a similar exhortation of Bruh Paul to the Romans. ‘For your obedience is come abroad (reported) unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise (crush) Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.’ (Rom.16:19-20) Oh mih people, let’s wake up and smell the smoke nuh, for where there’s smoke there’s certainly fire. It’s already burning and spreading, and if we don’t douse it soon with plenty water (godliness), it’s going to eventually engulf us in a deadly conflagration. Listen mih people, please listen! Much LOVE!…remember the promise…is the fire next time…
SCRIP-BITS 