SCRIP-BITS

Jeremiah 7:26.    Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
 
Oh Friends, last night a wicked windstorm passed through my area just before midnight. Just wind alone, no rain, lightning or thunder. You should have seen the trees, even the leafless ones, dancing crazily in the strong wind, while their fallen leaves were whipped around, cyclone style. Now who or what brought that on? Only God in His wisdom knows. But here’s some wisdom that we ought to know and follow. It’s a quote from my ‘I LOVE YOU’ Poster, which says: ‘Carrying a grudge is like a run in a stocking – it can only get worse. Forgiveness is the answer.’ Oh Friends, who ever wrote that certainly knew what they were talking about! It is an awful truth that the longer a grudge is held, the worse it gets, until finally bitterness and it’s negative cohorts permeate the entire soul, heart, body and mind. It’s also true that forgiveness is the only antidote to grudges and its ilk. Turning to our Bit: ‘Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened (stiffened) their neck: they did worse than their fathers.’ Oh my people, unfortunately that’s another awful truth! For this generation has disobeyed God way more than our fathers ever did. And if we leave it as is, without valiantly trying to improve it, to turn it around, the next generation will be even more ungodly and sinful than us. That’s certainly not a nice legacy to leave our offspring. As the Lord said to Jeremiah, re Israel’s broken covenant: ‘For I earnestly protested (exhorted) unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting (exhorting), saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked everyone in the imagination (stubbornness) of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.’ (Jer.11:7-8) Does that sound familiar my people? It should, for sadly that stern denunciation also applies to us today, even more than then, since we’ve become even more individualistic, idolatrous and stubborn. Talking about stubborn and stiffnecked, listen to how Nehemiah puts it in his prayer when the Israelites were preparing to rebuild Jerusalem and belatedly decided to repent and turn back to the God of their fathers. (Neh.9:1-15) The Lord had magnanimously given them succour in the wilderness, only to have them complain and rebel. ‘But they and our fathers dealt proudly (acted presumptuously, insolently), and hardened (stiffened) their necks, and hearkened not to (did not heed) thy commandments. And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.’ (Neh.9:16-17) Now that’s true forgiveness Friends! If the Lord had kept that grudge in His heart, His anger would have been great and most likely he would have totally destroyed His chosen people, thus bringing all His well-laid plans to naught. Ah mih breddren, these are indeed crucial and critical times in the annals of man, possibly the closest we’ve come to annihilation, what with our wonderful weapons of mass destruction, and the evil, ungodly spirit that currently holds our world in a tight, vice-like grip. It hearkens back to the Lord’s warning to Jeremiah, re signs of Israel’s coming captivity. (Jer.16:1-9) ‘And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt show this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil (disaster) against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God? Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law. And you have done worse then your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination (stubbornness) of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me. Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not show you favour.’ (Jer.16:10-13) Oh my people, we are guilty of the very same offences. The only difference is that we most likely won’t be sent into captivity, we’ll be totally destroyed, annihilated, if we continue down the God forsaken path we’re currently treading. Please note one thing, our God doesn’t make idle threats, and though He often forgives, stubborn, prideful disobedience will eventually be punished. You can bet your bottom dollar on that! So please, let’s smarten up and change our evil ways before it’s too late nuh, so that these words of utter damnation from Jesus won’t apply to our generation. ‘Wherefore ye be witnesses unto (against) yourselves, that ye are the children (sons) of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure (of guilt) of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation (brood or offspring) of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?’ (Matt.23:31-33) Oh Friends, a word to the wise is sufficient. Much LOVE!…if you don’t hear…you’ll certainly feel…