Oh Friends, it’s the weekend! Whoopee! But remember that the fellowship aspect is just as important as the fun and rest, so please don’t ignore it. Now hear this quote from Helen Keller. ‘Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.’ And that’s a tried and proven fact my people! The best remedy for unhappiness is helping someone else, and once we can lighten someone else’s pain, then our lives are not wasted. That ties in very nicely with the good deed we’ve promised ourselves to do every day. Remember to do it today, no matter how small, and make a difference, for that’s what Jesus expects of us. Turning to our Bit, which deals with Peace – one of the two most important things in the world, the other obviously being LOVE – we can talk about it for the whole day and not run out of scriptures. So let’s see where the Spirit leads us. In his hymn of praise, when the redeemed Israel enters New Jerusalem, Isaiah proudly declares: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That statement Friends has been true from day one, and will continue to be true forever. Peace is basically important for mankind in two ways; so that civilization can be advanced and enlightened, and also to live the good life ordained by our Creator. One of the first directions the Lord gave Moses, re Aaron and the priests, was the manner in which they should bless the Israelites, which included: ‘The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee (look on you with favour), and give thee peace.’ (Num.7:26) The psalmists too, especially Bruh David, talked a lot about peace. In Psalm 34:14 he solemnly advises us to: ‘Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ That doesn’t mean simply looking for peace, but more importantly, setting it as a goal of your life and actively pursuing it. Then in Psalm 29:11 he staunchly declares: ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.’ This rightly indicates that peace comes from God. And Jeremiah, when lamenting the desperate state of Israel mournfully stated: ‘…for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall (bitter or poisonous water) to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!’ (Jer.8:14-15) That solidifies the argument my people! There is no peace where sin reigns and ungodliness abounds. No wonder our current world is fraught with so much strife and turmoil, for we have become one of the most sinful, ungodly and idolatrous generations ever. Our state of sinfulness would totally amaze and sadly dismay our forefathers of just two generations ago. We’ve attained such heights of ungodliness in such a short time that it’s a wonder the Lord hasn’t wiped us off the earth as yet. There’s been ample warning though, which in our arrogant pride and fool’s wisdom we’re not heeding, so who knows what the final outcome will be. Oh Friends, the Lord promised perfect spiritual peace to the redeemed Israel in the New Jerusalem because as Isaiah joyfully declares: ‘Open ye the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.’ (Is.26:2) That’s right Friends! Israel had become an obedient, God-fearing, nation, deserving of His blessings of peace. And until our society does the same, we will never find peace; there will always be an inordinate amount of strife and war. Obviously we can’t completely remove the negatives that cause strife, for some of us are so inherently evil that only a miraculous zap from the Lord will ever change us. But we surely can reduce them to insignificant amounts if we seriously try. But are we trying, even half-heartedly? I don’t know mih people, but it sure doesn’t seem so, since the ungodly and the wicked appear to be getting more popular and powerful every day. Listen to this passage from Isaiah that describes a society like ours. ‘I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ (Is.57:19-21) Friends, we all know that the Word of the Lord does not change, so that declaration also applies to us today and to those who come long after us. What can we do about the sorrowful situation in which we’re enveloped? Lots! But the more insightful question is what are we prepared to do about it? Talk is dirt cheap, no, even cheaper than dirt, and you know that we Christians are great talkers but not such great doers. Anyway Friends, we’ll end here for today. I’ll leave us with the brightly lit scenario of our evil, ungodly society on our minds, knowing that we’re on a sure path to destruction if we continue in this direction. Destruction that will come either from an angry, fed up God, or by our own, stupid, selfish efforts. Let’s all sit and think seriously about the choices we have, and what we’re willing to do to alleviate the situation. Remember, if the situation is to improve at all, it will be strictly up to us believers to do so, since the iniquity workers are quite enamoured of the status quo. Oh my people, let’s think about the generations to come, is this the legacy we want to leave them? And all God’s people shouted in unison, ‘NO!’ Then let’s get up and do something concrete about it nuh! Now go in peace, and may the Lord bless and keep us till tomorrow, when we’ll continue talking about that controversial, hard to find, but oh so important and invaluable state of peace. Much LOVE!…only those who sow peace…will ever reap peace…
SCRIP-BITS 