Mortality continued..

More ramblings on this subject!

As I continue my thoughts on encouragement through mortality, I stumble across a thought from my wife’s blog. She stated that she wishes that she could have the “blessing” of Ezekiel and have her mouth sealed shut only to speak God’s words. This kind of ties into what I have been saying in a way. See, here’s what I think…may not be what you think (you are free to be wrong) but, I don’t believe that there are many that REALLY want to do what God wants them to or that really want to listen to His words. Here’s an example from Sundays sermon that is pretty frustrating: Kids are expelled from school or punished for praying since others observed them and it was considered against the rules. What are the parents thinking here? What do any parents think about this? Throw my child on the battlefront while both husband and wife go to work, then just discuss it with the child at home? Actually, I think in this particular example the child was punished by having them sit in an elevated part of the cafeteria by themselves facing the wall for all to see. Are we such cowards that we have our children bear the sacrifice of belief and parents do nothing? Why do Christians continue to send their kids to public schools at all?

"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount."Martin Luther, German Monk, Theologian, and Church Reformer (1483-1546)

Interesting, eh? I would wholeheartedly agree (lol, not that my agreement give it more weight or anything) . Isn’t it true that we say our kids are important, but so many of us say (without words) that they aren’t as important as being able to pay for our car, cable, vacation,  etc. We often claim untruths, fear and doubt as our alibis. Many say that they aren’t qualified to teach their own kids. They don’t know what to do, where to acquire resources, etc. They worry about the stupidest things like, socialization, children’s happiness, activities, unique experiences, etc. over things like persecution, teen pregnancy, peer influence, authority over their children’s lives stating that Jesus and religion is stupid and something that is wrong to have and do. Seriously? Some that I know want their kids to be in the battlefield….alone so, that they may be a good influence to others and witness to others. We don’t even throw soldiers into the battlefield without intense training, mock exercises, studying, rehearsals….boot camp. Sorry, AWANAS ain’t boot camp. They need to see it alive in their parents every day, in every decision, in every circumstance…that’s boot camp. It’s more than just Sunday school, Awanas, and worldly church camp. It’s more than fun time. It’s LIFE. That’s what I mean by not just going through the motions that I referred to in part 1 of this ridiculous post! ;-)

 

All these things make me wonder what they think about the scripture that states, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”?  Many that I know use a single scripture (inappropriately I may add) that states, “Be in the world and not of it”.  I encourage you to research these 2 scriptures and see what the Lord would say to you regarding them.

 

In any case, back to my “case”. Do we really fear the Lord? Are we afraid of His wrath? Do we fear the judgement? Is eternity just a word to us? Is there an overall feeling that since we’ve accepted Jesus, that’s good enough? If so, what does He mean and who is He referring to when he stated there would be some that He never knew? Those that THOUGHT they were His but weren’t! How can someone make that mistake? Could it be that we go through the motions? That we consider ourselves more important than others (a direct contradiction to the Lords words). Is it possible that we have been so deceived that we have bought into the worlds view regarding the things we need, where we need to put our kids, what we have, how we live over what scripture says?

 

The enlightenment regarding mortality is that I take Gods word seriously. That they make a difference to me in life and how I live, act and make decisions. Henry Blackaby stated regarding the Bible that “This is your life!”. There is no other that knows what you will need for the day besides God. I believe He wants me prepared. I believe that He wants me fully His. Now, I must act. I must. Death is at my door and there is work to be done before I go! As the old soap opera opening narrative states, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives”

 

… let’s rock and roll.