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LET GOD BE TRUE
. . .
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which is not quoted, click on it.
. . . AND EVERY MAN A LIAR? It seems that nothing is taken at face value these days. It is fashionable, necessary even, to regard commercial adverts, political motives, scientific warnings, news reports, and all else, with a large degree of scepticism. Everything is taken culinary fashion, with a pinch of salt, or more likely with a large dose, betraying a suspicion that something unwholesome, or even poisonous, is being administered, and a curative measure is necessary.
We are no longer unaware of the manipulations of ‘spin doctors’ who attempt to forestall negative publicity by presenting a favourable interpretation of events or situations likely to arouse public censure.
‘Trust nobody!’ is an increasingly common attitude. Cynical people regard with distrust or contempt the apparent virtue or unselfishness of others. The sarcastic, mocking attitude has become popular in the world of entertainment, and comedians earn public acclaim as grumpy old men (or women) skilfully enlarging on the faults and failings of the world at large and the British in particular. Paradoxically perhaps, there is something of merit in such an eccentric portrayal of gloom and pessimism. It makes us think, and it makes us laugh.
An obvious corollary to such a prevailing attitude of distrust is that the honest, the sincere, the decent, and the innocent fall prey to the same critical scrutiny and condemnation as do the guilty.
Nothing New Under the Sun
There
may well have been Cynics among St. Paul’s audience in Athens when he noted
their altar to an unknown god and began to speak of Jesus. When they heard about
the resurrection of the dead some of them sneered, and others lost interest (Acts
17: 23, 32). The Cynics were a sect dedicated to expose the
meaninglessness of civilised life, and their ideas were immensely popular in the
ancient world.
Much earlier – some 800 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah
protested
against moral laxity and taught that kindness and justice to the poor are more
important to God than
observance of ritual and outward piety. He
spoke of a Messiah to come who would not fit
the people's expectations, a ‘suffering servant’, rather than a military
leader or king to raise the nation to glory and release them
from the dominion of Gentile powers. Grieving at the unbelief of his day, he felt his preaching was in vain.
‘Who has believed our message?’ was his cry – a reporter nobody listened
to (Isaiah 53: 1).
The scoffers were no doubt vocal and dismissive in the days of Noah, a
preacher of righteousness for more than a century as he built the ark at the
Lord’s direction. Jesus used that historical event to illustrate conditions in
the world when He would return in His Second Advent (Matthew 24: 37-39). And still the common reaction to the preaching of the truth is
indifference, mockery, and unbelief.
Living At Peace with
Everyone
While as Christians we are exhorted
to exercise a little sensible caution – to be ‘as wise as serpents as well as
harmless as doves’ – a carping and suspicious attitude would not reflect the
spirit of Christ. We can sometimes overlook another’s tendency to exagerate or
to embroider the facts, but strict honesty is our ideal – our yes is to be
yes and our no is to be no.
As to the present order of affairs, while not being in harmony with the ways of the world under the control of Satan, its prince, we are encouraged as far as is consistent with righteous principles to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13: 1-7). In response to a trick question as to the payment of taxes to the Roman rulers, Jesus asked whose portrait and inscription were shown on a denarius. ‘Caesar’s’, they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”’ (Luke 20: 25).
Blessed Are the
Merciful
As members of a sin-scarred race our
role is not to judge, but to bear witness to the Gospel. Jesus, prefiguring His
future office as Judge of the entire human family, did not fear to castigate in
particular the religious leaders of that time for their pride and hypocrisy
(Matthew
23).
But His compassion for ordinary sinners led Him sometimes to heal their diseases and point to the remedy, as in the case of the man healed at the Pool of Siloam – ‘Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you”’ (John 5: 14).
An incident related in Mark 10:
17-22 shows how the Lord’s compassion extended to those burdened with the
‘affliction’ of prosperity. A young man came and knelt before Him, and though he
lived according to the Law, he was evidently unsure of his standing before God.
‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus looked at him and loved
him. “One thing you lack”, he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this
the man's face fell and he went away sad, because he had great
wealth.’
A Coming
Revolution
When Christ establishes His
mediatorial reign on earth, when His promised King is come, revolutionary
changes will be seen in every aspect of human life. Not the least of these will
be the elimination of jaded thinking habits, of fear and suspicion, of gloom and
despondency. Cynics and sceptics will have no place, and the grumpy old men and
women – their youth restored as the eagle’s – will be as happy and as trusting
as in their early childhood.
‘and the
ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter
Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will
overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee
away.’
— Isaiah 35: 10
Copyright June 2009
ukbiblestudents.co.uk
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