SCRIP-BITS

 Isaiah 52:12.    For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.

Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s another beautiful day in Paradise! Hn, hn! And some of you, whose lives contain nothing whatsoever to equate with that legendary place are wondering if I’m crazy. Who knows eh?  Well if it’s not Paradise where you are, then let’s call it the Promised Land. And there you can’t call me crazy, because as the song rightly says that ‘the Promised Land is not Asia, is not Africa, is not Europia, is not America,’ in fact it’s not a physical place at all: ‘The Promised Land is a State of Mind.’ Yes Friends, that’s what we’re trying to build here today, a state of mind that envisions Paradise. Wow! And don’t say we can’t do it, because we indeed have all the tools to do so. We have the faith, hope and LOVE of the Father, in the person of Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, and the Word to show us the right paths. All that’s left is for us to put those things together and lift our minds. And here’s a quote from that famous American author and activist, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) that will jump-start us. ‘Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.’ Oh my people, that’s gospel! For if we don’t go confidently where our dreams lead, then they’ll never come to fruition, and we’ll be wasting all those wonderful ideas and schemes that the Lord’s put in our hearts to make this earth a better place. Remember too that the Lord recently sent us a message to begin dreaming again and also to dream large. I guess that quote’s a reminder for us to get a move on with the dreaming scene. But note too what our Bit says: ‘For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward (rearguard).’ Yes my people, that’s a word of caution which Isaiah advanced when he spoke about the deliverance of Zion from captivity. Those same words of caution can be applied to our situation today. Though we need to go out strong, confident and courageous, we ought not to go hastily. And yes my young D, I’m not practicing what I preach, because I’m typing too hastily and making too many mistakes. (smile) The old people knew that when they cautioned us, ‘more haste, less speed.’ It’s a proven fact, for the more we hurry, the less we accomplish. And my hasty typing is a perfect example: I’m trying to type quickly so that I’ll finish fast and get the Bit out early, but with all the mistakes I’m making, I’m defeating the purpose. The only time the Lord really required some form of haste from His people is on that first Passover in Egypt. ‘And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded (a belt on your waist), your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement: I am the Lord.’ (Ex.12:11-12) Otherwise my brethren, we’ve always been instructed to not go hastily. Hear Cousin Sol: ‘Also that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good: and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.’ (Prov.19:2) So to even walk too quickly is a sin. And again: ‘Go not forth hastily to strive (bring a lawsuit), lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.’ (Prov.25:8) So Friends, in all things we ought not to move forward too quickly, because in whatever we do, two things are essential. The first is: ‘for the Lord will go before you.’ And all God’s people gratefully shouted: ‘Thank you Lord!’ Without the Lord going before us my people, we are certainly doomed. Just look at what’s happening to our world now with all the ungodliness that’s terrorizing it. Oh Friends, the Lord is our Guide! If we go forward without Him at the front, without Him leading the way, then we’ll eventually get lost, frustrated, confused and filled with despair, just like we are these days. Man is a very poor and inefficient guide, so it’s no wonder our society, our world is falling apart. Listen to how Micah prophesied it; re the promise to the remnant, and remember we’re the remnant. ‘The breaker (one who breaks open) is come up before them: they have broken up (out), and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on (at) the head of them.’ (Mic.2:13) A very wise and astute promise Friends, with the Lord leading the way. So since we’re the remnant, it’s absolutely essential that we have the Lord going before us to pave the way. And the second absolute essential in our lives people, is as Isaiah states: ‘and the God of Israel will be your rearward (rear guard).’ And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘Thanks be to thee O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our Guide and Protector!’ Yes Friends, as the young people would say today, ‘the Lord has our back.’ And this is something He’s done from day one. Listen to the Good Book tell it: ‘And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them: and the pillar of cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.’  (Ex.14:19-20) Praise the Lord, my people, for His constant watching over and guarding the sinful, undeserving children of men! So Friends, I hope you got the picture. The long and short of the story is that we shouldn’t rush into things, but first think them through with godly patience and contemplation. Oh I know that sometimes we need to make split second decisions, but even then, how long does it take to plead: ‘Oh God, please show or tell me what to do?’ Not very long my brethren, but long enough to give God the chance He desires, to be involved in all the aspects and decisions of our lives. And have no fear, for if you’re sincere in your questioning, He will answer you; with perfect timing too, for He’s the master of timing. Oh my people, as believers it’s ever so important that we cause God to be involved in our entire lives, so that we can get the proper protection He’s promised; both to go before us and show us the right way, and also to come after us and protect our rear. All armies need a guide at the front and someone guarding the rear. In this case we’re just exceptionally fortunate that the Most High God Jehovah does both jobs for us, very efficiently too. And if the truth be told Friends, the Lord’s not asking much from us, for as our Creator, Guide and Protector, communication is essential. But He will not impose His will on us, we have to go to Him and ask for His help. So if you truly want Him to be your Guide and Protector, then please dial His hotline that’s never busy, and operates 24/7. Till the next today, God in favour, walk safely with Him. Much LOVE!…the believer’s duty…LOVE Your God…LIVE Your Faith…SPREAD His Word…