Oh my people, I had to chuckle just now when I realized a very pertinent fact. Today is the 3rd of August and with the way the days are quickly flying by, it means that August, as well as summer, will soon be over. Hn! But we’ve been so taken up with the pandemic and racial protests, too busy to notice that our favourite season has sprinted by, like Usain Bolt, while we were unfortunately cooped up, imprisoned in our homes. And come September, the cold winds will start to blow and the leaves will begin to lose their green colour and fall lifeless to the chilly earth.
And I know that those of you fortunate to not have winter will be chuckling at our sad situation, but don’t laugh too much, because just as we were locked down for the summer and couldn’t enjoy the good weather the way we are accustomed to, you were also locked down and couldn’t enjoy your tropical weather. And furthermore, when we are locked down for the winter, you will be locked down too, so that your tropical weather won’t do you any good! So put that in yuh pipe and smoke it nuh! (smile) Covid-19 have all of us in jail, regardless of the weather.
And our current situation puts me in mind of Daniel’s prayer on Israel’s behalf when they had sinned against God and were carried captive to Babylon. Listen to Daniel. ‘O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face (shame), to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.’ (Dan. 9:8) Now that’s something none of us can argue is untrue, for we have done everything in our power to make Jehovah God of little or no account in our modern society. No wonder the tough situation in which we now find ourselves.
Regardless of what the world says, we cannot deliberately disobey God for any length of time and not suffer serious consequences. And the reality is that He doesn’t even need to intervene; because our foolhardiness will cause our own demise. But yuh know what friends, Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is so magnanimous and merciful that although we rebel against Him, He will not allow us to be completely destroyed. Hear how Daniel puts it nuh. ‘To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.’ (Dan. 9:9-10)
Both statements are awesome truths my people! Our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have sinned against Him. And how do we change, correct our situation? By falling on our knees, our faces, prostrating ourselves in sincere repentance before the Creator of the universe, and asking for mercy and forgiveness for our sinful rebellion, and grace not to make the same foolish mistake again. But yuh know what, although the Lord knows that there’s a rather high probability that once we get back on our feet, we’ll do the same thing, He will forgive us. That’s why He’s called the God of many chances.
But please, let’s not forget that there will always be tough consequences to our disobedience, just like Israel discovered way back then. So let’s come to the throne of grace with humble confidence nuh, and express our heartfelt sorrow and repentance through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn.
All together now: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You that this Monday morning we’re alive, and hopefully haven’t contracted the virus that’s causing havoc around our world. And our anxieties have been recently deepened because some restrictions have been lifted in the lockdown, so more of us are going out to work now without any guarantees of safety. Then to complicate matters Father, suddenly, and unexpectedly, just like the virus, worldwide strife and protests have also struck us in this sad time of pandemic, and we don’t have a clue how to handle either situation properly.
Mass confusion is currently prevailing in our world, and we desperately need your help to solve both problems, as You are the ONLY One with the power and insight to successfully handle them. Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously come short in obedience and compliance to Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, and You have faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face.
That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us, ordinary folks, as well as our leaders, employers and medical personnel, wise guidance and direction. Please show us how to successfully handle these scourges that are currently plaguing Your beautiful earth. Please help our leaders to wisely quell the strife and protests, thus bringing unity, peaceful consensus and real improvement in the areas that are now sadly lacking. Please help the scientists to also find a positive solution, a sure antidote to the virus as quickly as possible.
And for those who have already contracted the virus, or been injured in the strife, we pray that You will ease their suffering and heal them. Father, please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again we say: Amen!’
Yes my people, we sounded good, and the Lord heard us, but right now He’s investigating every heart that made that prayer to make sure its motives were right and sincere and not just mere words spoken to try and appease Him. So let’s hope enough of us were truly sincere, so He will take us seriously and help us. And for those of us who don’t have to go to work today on this Civic Holiday in the stage 3 opening of the lockdown, a word of warning, please go easy on the celebrations. And as Granny would say: ‘Sonny boy, drunk or sober, please mind yuh business because Covid still out there, and it not making joke! Much LOVE!
…repentance…the best remedy for a sinful soul…
SCRIP-BITS 