Another Morning of Quiet Assurance?

Another Morning of Quiet Assurance?

The feeling that everyone shouldn’t experience a world that seems to have lost its way.  Watch a little child who lives in an upscale home with the desire to live in an environment that has children playing with toys, being cuddled by loving parents, and waiting to run outside and meet their playmates.  One time many years ago there was no consideration of anything different than the aforementioned dream that has erupted into just that, a dream that for many has turned into a nightmare.  Unless these children live in a gated community or a very upscale neighborhood where security still exists for many of their generation, their compatriots are waking up to police sirens and in some areas gunshots in the very late hours of the night.  

There was a scenario that echoed these same atrocious events in many neighborhoods where not a day would we wake up to another murder, people running wild putting fear into the peaceful seeking citizens well-being, and the effortless approach to bring an end to all this turmoil.  

After 9/11 when an enemy brought down the two twin-towers in lower Manhattan and the churches were filled with people, now cowering in the fear that appeared  to awaken all of us who never dreamed that this could happen.  The hope of fighting back to a foreign entity also might be the desire of peaceful citizens in once quiet neighborhoods to get hold of a peaceful world that seems to elude us.  

What has occurred in all the communities everywhere can be allotted to the one term many do not want to admit is sin.  What? Some will shout!  You mean sin has brought about the uncontrolled violence that has erupted throughout a nation where there are people who trust in God and reflect this by attending their church services weekly and telling God they follow him?  Let’s reiterate the words of Jesus said to some who insisted they were true believers:  “Not everyone who says to me , “Lord, Lord,”  will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day,” Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?  Did we not drive out demons in your name?  Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?”  Then I will declare to them solemnly, “I never knew you.  Depart from me, your evildoers.”   (Mt 7: 21 - 23).  What seems to be a rash judgment on disciples who follow Jesus reflects how these outward believers put on airs but deep down still persist in sins that are their real reproach to righteousness.  

Going back to the reason that man was corrupted in all the mannerisms, that has a destructive effect, a divine solution must be established.  The mannerism we are discussing is sin!  

Can we say that the attack on 9/11 was due to sin?  Absolutely!  Sin is at the basis of all evil that has been and still confronts mankind in spite of his outward signs of saying Lord, Lord!  The true disciple, in spite of his weaknesses, must be true to his word that he seeks and follows Christ without expecting rewards.  God’s grace is what we depend upon and that is enough.  Accepting that gift that is without cost and requires we do not seek repayment.  “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.”  (Mt 10: 8).

Ralph B. Hathaway