SCRIP-BITS

Luke 13:34b.       how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

And this first Tuesday in September 2023 has opened bright and beautiful, but it also contains a heat warning like Labour Day yesterday. Oh, it’s just another abnormality in our weather patterns. (smile) Usually after Labour Day the cold winds begin to blow; however, this week will probably be the hottest one we’ve felt all summer. But those are the consequences you face when you screw up God’s well timed and appointed planet. Remember, to every action there’s a reaction, and we’re now suffering the negative reactions to hundreds of years of polluting the planet. 

And if we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy fairly balanced and pleasant weather patterns in the future, then we’ve got to stop our silly pollution RIGHT NOW and try to bring some sense of wisdom to our hitherto foolish actions. For there’s no doubt that our serious pollution of the earth is causing severe, unfamiliar and rather disastrous weather situations, that’s causing us all sorts of problems with an intensity that we’ve never felt before. 

Look at the heat waves, the strong winds and the lack of rain that’s caused a spate of wildfires all over the world, wildfires that so far, we have been unable to tame. Then there’s drought in so many places where there was once lots of water, and also floods in places that never knew such disastrous conditions. The hurricanes and typhoons and tornadoes have become even more deadly and unpredictable and that’s only the tip of the iceberg; the natural part of the disastrous situations. 

What about the pandemic and all the sickness that the world is undergoing when our medical knowledge is the best it’s ever been? The economic struggles are also terrible, leading more folks than ever to poverty-stricken situations in an era of plenty. The greed, the hatred, the resentment that’s currently running amok in our world and causing immense strife in a time of supposed peace. 

But who knows how long that supposed peace is going to last, when all the major nations are currently flexing their muscles with a whole torrent of nuclear warfare talk accompanied by some initial, preparatory activity. And it’s all so foolish, because we all know that with first nuclear warhead fired at any nation, all the nuclear warmongers will join the fray, and the whole world will be immediately engrossed in a flaming nuclear holocaust, from which we’ll never recover! 

And you tell me that mankind is the smartest of God’s creation? Steups! I beg to differ yes! But all we poor bystanders, those without the power to make any meaningful worldwide decisions, can do is place our trust in Almighty God and embrace His promises that He will never leave nor forsake us, and that He has wonderful thoughts toward us, thoughts to give us a future and a hope. 

We can’t even say let’s appoint or elect new sensible leaders, because all those running for office are so power hungry and seeking their own aggrandizement that once they get in office, they completely forget who put them there and the reason they were placed there. Every leader now wants to be a dictator, and surprisingly so, many of them are becoming just that, because they have a fearful population, who are afraid to rock the boat. 

And if it’s not the leaders who are hogging the reins of power, then it’s the gangs, the cliques and cartels who are leading the show of torrid crime, corruption and violence. Even the church, Christ’s body here on earth that’s supposed to add some sense and wisdom to help our negative situations are not making a worthwhile difference, because it’s so divided that no coherent action is possible. And some of the churches are so tied into the power brokers that we couldn’t raise a contradictory finger or voice, even if we had the desire to do so. 

I know it’s a real negative picture of our world that I’m painting, but it’s the reality of what’s now on tap. And that’s been a problem of mankind for a long time, our inability to see life as it truly is, always hoping that someone else will fix it for us. But friends, the reality of it all is now coming home to roost, and if we don’t wake up and fix things for ourselves, turn to Christ in droves, turn from the abominable evil that’s currently driving our world, and allow the LOVE REVOLUTION to retake our world, then to put it simply and mildly; crapaud smoke we pipe! 

Oh friends, Christ is indeed our ONLY hope! Either He comes very soon and raptures His church, or we do some mighty evangelism, evangelism like the world’s never seen before, to turn things around. That brings us to this lament of Christ over Jerusalem. No doubt, He’s likewise lamenting over our sorry situation right now too. 

‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stonest them that sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’ (Luke 13:34-35) 

Oh my people, that was Jesus’ heartfelt lament over the sins of Jerusalem, showing His affection for God’s chosen place and the people, but knowing that their sins would eventually drive them to desolation, and that they won’t be saved until He comes again. The same thing might be said of us my fellow saints. Our sins have driven us so far from God that we will have to pay a price of desolation, until Jesus comes again. 

But let’s not give up. Let’s keep ploughing forward to the best of our ability. Let’s live our best lives, and show the world our best face, ones filled with the LOVE of Christ, so that they may know that we are indeed the real deal. And in keeping with those sentiments, let’s go home now declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

It’s now our duty to get out into the evil world and share that amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…only in Christ…is there real hope for a better tomorrow… 

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