Why All These Problems  - Hmmm?


If we ignore God's Word, life gets messy and troubling. What to do, can, in part, be found in heeding the following words from the past.

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," - Acts 3:19 (48 - 62) - Peter

"If you would be good, first believe you are bad." - Epictetus (55 - 135)

"True repentance is to cease from sinning." - Saint Ambrose (340 397)

"Repentance, of all things in the world, makes the greatest change; it changes things in heaven and earth; for it changes the whole man from sin to grace." - Jeremy Taylor (1618 - 1667)

"Repentance is a hearty sorrow for our past misdeeds, and is a sincere resolution and endeavor, to the utmost of our power, to conform all our actions to the law of God. It does not consist in one single act of sorrow, but in doing works meet for repentance; in a sincere obedience to the law of Christ for the remainder of our lives." - John Locke (1632 - 1704)

"Perish with him the folly that seeks through evil good." - John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892)

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." - Proverbs 26:11-12

Have we made peace in this world? Will we ever without the help of God? Do we think we are wise, 'in our own eyes?' "

Has history given us evidence of Proverbs 26:11-12? Consider the following.

Charles Francis Potter was also one of the original 34 signees of the first Humanist Manifesto in 1933. "Humanism is not the abolition of religion," he was quoted as saying., "but the beginning of real religion. By freeing religion of supernaturalism, it will release tremendous reserves of hitherto thwarted power. Man has waited too long for God to do what man ought to do himself and is fully capable of doing." It was to be, he said, "a religion of common sense; and the chief end of man is to improve himself, both as an individual and as a race."

If seems to be that Mr. Potter may have forgotten and ignored Ephesians 2:10, which says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." He is not alone in this regard, as evidenced by the many "self-help" books that can be found in many bookstores, libraries, and in book shelves in our residences. It seems that self-help may be a philosophy - idolized perhaps. The result we may forget God in our thoughts, and that we are His workmanship. Really? Is there anyone who can remember, fully comprehend and speak and act with complete and correct upright behavior in all situations in life? Could we expect Peter, Whittier, Solomon or anyone of us to be without some shortcoming in our character? Its true, we need to hear someone preach to us to 'correct, rebuke and encourage us' that we might become more Christlike, considering Romans 8:28-29

Other people speak of life with a greater perspective. Here's what a few have said:

"Life is the childhood of our immortality." - Goethe (1749 - 1832)

"The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God; and this can be done only by means of the acknowledgment and profession of the truth by each one of us." - Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)

"The last great hope for the survival of mankind rests not in implements of war but in a strong and abiding faith." - Henry 'Scoop' Jackson (1912 - 1983)

"Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message." - Malcolm Muggeridge (1903 - 1990)

Thank God for His forgiveness, may we live realizing our hope for the future is found in God and in the Savior Jesus Christ, as many have before us.