Lk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The news that has trumped even the U. S. President is the death of entertainer Michael Jackson. In my life time I have observed him beginning as a small boy with his brothers and becoming a “superstar” entertainer, composer, producer, singer, and dancer. I am not writing this to glorify a man or his career, but rather as a reminder of the certainty of death and judgment.
I suppose his greatest achievement, the work his is best known for and lauded for, is “Thriller,” which has sold more CD’s and music videos that than any other in the history of the business. I must confess I have not seen much of it, only what has been aired on TV news programs. But what I have seen appears to be a bad dream of a tortured soul. Music and dance are performed by those dressed and made up as zombies with Michael Jackson as the lead. And this is what American children and adults are “thrilled” by?
Well, Michael Jackson has gone out into eternity. His popularity, his financial prosperity, his prominence in the entertainment industry could not prevent the inevitable. Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Though he might have been able to buy his way out of situations he created in his life, he can not buy his way out of the wages of sin. No matter how much he was beloved by his fans, he now stands before a holy, righteous, just God....facing his own greatest THRILLER.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Hidden Things of Dishonesty
2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Those placed in political office are in a position of trust. Citizens of a city, county, state or country vote for the person they most trust, if they vote responsibly. When the citizens of South Carolina voted for their governor, they did not expect him to be unfaithful to his wife and children, disappear for five days, lie about where he was going and what he was doing, and use public monies to finance an affair. His confession is admirable and seems sincere (far from what we have observed among the those of the opposite party). One wonders, however, is the governor willing to make restitution to the state? Is this going to be another “my bad” situation or will he, indeed, reconcile with his wife and pay back the money he used to go to Argentina?
Pastors, evangelists, and missionaries must be diligent not to follow the pattern of the world. The pulpit must be a place of honesty and integrity. We are to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty.....but manifest the truth. Others are to have confidence in us as we minister the Word of God. It is a sacred trust to which God has called us. The pulpit is holy ground, not a platform for showmanship and deception. And while the admonition in 1 Timothy 5:18 reminds us that the laborer is worthy of his hire, it in no way suggests that the church is to finance immorality.
We live in an age when accusations are taken as proof with no regard for the truth. Anyone can level an accusation toward someone in position of authority and cause a “feeding frenzy” among the public. The same holds true toward churchmen and the local church. But God is the righteous Judge and He knows who is guilty and who is innocent. My suggestion to the governor is to resign and give attention to mending his family. And my admonition to preachers is to be honest or get out of the pulpit commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
The biggest liar is the man who has told the lie so many times he begins to believe it himself.
Those placed in political office are in a position of trust. Citizens of a city, county, state or country vote for the person they most trust, if they vote responsibly. When the citizens of South Carolina voted for their governor, they did not expect him to be unfaithful to his wife and children, disappear for five days, lie about where he was going and what he was doing, and use public monies to finance an affair. His confession is admirable and seems sincere (far from what we have observed among the those of the opposite party). One wonders, however, is the governor willing to make restitution to the state? Is this going to be another “my bad” situation or will he, indeed, reconcile with his wife and pay back the money he used to go to Argentina?
Pastors, evangelists, and missionaries must be diligent not to follow the pattern of the world. The pulpit must be a place of honesty and integrity. We are to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty.....but manifest the truth. Others are to have confidence in us as we minister the Word of God. It is a sacred trust to which God has called us. The pulpit is holy ground, not a platform for showmanship and deception. And while the admonition in 1 Timothy 5:18 reminds us that the laborer is worthy of his hire, it in no way suggests that the church is to finance immorality.
We live in an age when accusations are taken as proof with no regard for the truth. Anyone can level an accusation toward someone in position of authority and cause a “feeding frenzy” among the public. The same holds true toward churchmen and the local church. But God is the righteous Judge and He knows who is guilty and who is innocent. My suggestion to the governor is to resign and give attention to mending his family. And my admonition to preachers is to be honest or get out of the pulpit commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
The biggest liar is the man who has told the lie so many times he begins to believe it himself.
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