Articles
Don't Turn Your Back
“Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness. None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace. Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity” (Isaiah 59:1-9). It was a lengthy reading, but appropriate for the thought of the day.
Of those who believe in God, most are pleased that God gave each of us a mind, a brain, and a conscience to think for ourselves and understanding that how we act on those thoughts will have consequences—good or bad. Yet when man chooses to do evil (lies, thefts, assaults, murders, etc.) people ask, ‘Why did God let this happen?’ and then turn their backs on Him when they are unable to formulate a rational answer.
This dilemma is not new. The scriptures reveal that Israel had the same mind set: “As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets; who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us” (Jer. 2:26-27). Thus, the short answer: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
The long answer: Isaiah 59:1-9. Because of the sins of
The fact is those who blame God do not suddenly “turn their backs on Him.” The fact is they already had and want to blame someone else for their misfortunes.
The prophet Samuel, said, “Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his ordinances were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect; With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness” (2 Samuel 22:21-29). Ross Triplett, Sr.
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