Articles
No !
You have no doubt heard the phrase, “What part of NO do you not understand?” No is a simple word that many fail to appreciate. You get a sales call, and you tell the salesperson, “No.” The difference in a good salesperson and a bad one is the ability to sell the product after the customer has said no. You’re still of a mind to ask the person, “What part of no don’t you understand?” It’s a matter of bewilderment that an individual will continue to do what they do, despite the evidence to the contrary. The same is true with unbelief. The Psalmist once observed the wicked and said, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalms 36:1).
The conduct of certain people brings a sense of bewilderment to the mind of those who are in tune to the reality of punishment. The scriptures tell us that “we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly” (1 Timothy 1:9). Law has been established to rein in those who would abuse their fellowman, but refrain from doing so because of the consequences. The apostle Peter wrote, “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well” (1 Peter
What keeps some people from abusing others for, personal advantage, is the fact that they understand the authorities will punish them. If law was removed, then “might would make right,” and the “survival of the fittest” would prevail. Such being the case, lawlessness causes bewilderment among those who recognize the principle that punishment will be applied to the lawless. The Psalmist was also aware of this principle and bewildered by the wickedness of men when he said, “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon Jehovah?” (Psalms 14:4).
When “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and vain glory of life” (1 Jn. 2:16) arises just say “NO,” and keep saying NO! The Psalmist said, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms 14:1). Do not be that fool.
Ross Triplett, Sr.
