Due to illness in my home, I was not able to attend service on Sunday so, as I often do, I reached back to an earlier message -- reruns aren't bad if they come with a blessing.
Our scripture for this Lord's Day began with Isaiah, chapter 5, verses 18-21. It is interesting that God warns us that we are not to call good evil or evil good. You might say how can this be? Stop and think. Sometimes we tend to overlook things that we know in our hearts are transgressing the laws of God. We call them not that bad. I am here to tell you there are no gray areas in the word of God. That is why we must study the word and, in it, find the answers to the question, "What's wrong?"
No matter how much we try, there are times we just cannot find the answer to a situation. We experience much pain when we fail to seek God's will. We will only hear from God if we make ourselves available. Do you really want to hear what He says about your problem? Sometimes, we want our own way so badly that we are not ready to listen. We should never attempt to find the answer to a problem without seeking God first.
In the 20th verse, He tells us that we should never put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Never confuse these two, as it could result in really finding a false answer. The 21st verse says, "Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes." It's a fearful thing to take our life into our own hands. In the same book of the word, chapter 1, verse 18, we read that we are to reason together, you are not alone and this is another promise we have been given. We are told that though our sins are as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. He can cleanse us from all our sins and plant our feet on holy ground where we can find the path that leads to everlasting life. We must be faithful to his commandments.
In Matthew the 26th chapter, verse 41, we are reminded that there will be temptations because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We have a problem trying to keep the flesh under subjection. You can often hear a Christian say, "I am only human." That is why God said we must cast off the old man and take on the new. That old body is often trying to creep back in but, as the title proclaims, God can fix what's wrong.
Jesus was in the garden where he went to pray. He took Peter and two sons of Zebedee and was very sorrowful because his time for the cross was drawing near. He left those who came with him and went a little farther from them, falling on his face and praying. He asked them to tarry and watch with him. When he returned, he found them sleeping. See, even the disciples were tempted and yielded to the flesh. We have to stay in the shadow of our Lord in order to find the strength to overcome the flesh and temptations we face. God sent his son to provide a way of escape from the destruction that sin has brought upon the lives of his children. We should always make it our goal to lift the name of Jesus and never feel that there are answers other than the ones we find in his word. The Bible warns about false prophets and those who attempt to deceive the people with doctrines other than the true word of God.
In closing, Pastor Bob told us once again that God knows what is wrong. He always makes a way where there seems to be no way. We want to be found watching for his coming. We pray for all who will come and join in this wonderful life of promise. We lift them up and help them find that they will be overcomers. We are so glad for the word of God and we are blessed to have a pastor who is constantly teaching us how we must live to find our needed answers.
If you do not have a home church, we invite you to come worship with us on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. There is Bible study on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. We are the church at the top of the hill in Lanagan. It's the church with the steeple pointing souls to Calvary. Come and be blessed.
Opinions expressed are those of the author.