“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.”  (Ecclesiastes 7:10)  Righteous does not belong to a day.  It remains a timeless present.

The disease of sin has tainted every day of man.  Sickness abounds regardless the advances of technology.  Poverty may be chased into a corner.  But it remains a cancer among us.  And the folly of man’s greatest striving radiates a dark light.

The day we pine for is not within our grasp.  Even if it were possible to travel in time we would not find a day that is better than another.  The very moment you have is best.  For in that moment choices abound.  In that moment we encounter possibilities.  Attitude, placement, actions, and hope surround “The Moment” in which we currently live.

Learn to cease complaining.   Strive to accept.  The moment passes and another takes its place.  Good or bad, it is the only moment of time we are blessed to inhabit.  Greed can be defined as a deep desire to contain what is not rightfully ours.  There is no greed in holy righteousness.

How many times in your life were you pretty sure you were about to die?  Yet you’re still here to read this.   But what if the Lord came to warn you that your time was nearly finished here?  What a great kindness.  Who can testify that this has happened to them?  I suspect a few have received such grace from Jesus.  But where are they to ask?

Hezekiah found out that the Lord’s words are promise of surety.   “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

² Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah. . .”  (Isaiah 38)

What a blessing if we were living until we heard those words.  We would have time to set things right.  But that isn’t the case, is it.  Most of the time, death comes unannounced and unwelcome.   What a blessing to encounter the end of this world prepared to enter eternity.  I write this to praise the Lord’s kindness.  But I also write this to help others wake to the reality of this temporary place of testing.

It is no great difficulty to parade as a Christian when times go rather well.  Tiny set backs can be surmounted by the slightest reserve.  And when our possessions are confiscated, we have little difficulty perceiving that we are being counted as one of His children.  For we know that the world strives to retain what is rightfully theirs.  We have heard and believed that we are counted as heirs of God’s things.  So joy can be found in persecution of various sorts.

But what if we are the ones who have plundered our own treasures?  What if our unwillingness to obey His commands has ripped our faith?  What then?  We are the thief.  We are the murderer.  We find ourselves in a prison of our own making.  What then?

How should it be different when we are set upon by ourselves?  We are commanded to endure even such foolishness and treachery.  Consider what the writer of Hebrews wrote:  “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” (Heb. 10:35)

I write this for the sake of encouragement.  I know how devastating rebellion can be.  Our faith wanes horribly; even to the point of unbelief.  But our God is wise.  He has known us from the beginning.  He knows what reward He holds in His hand for all His people.

We are commanded to obey.  But we are also commanded to have faith.  Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

I walked among the “beautiful”.  Bodies displayed in all their filthy radiance.  Their shame covered by the tiniest of rags.  As fully attractive to the eye of lust as they could muster, women danced to entice.  I saw and heard things which would have brought the fire of Sodom in ages past.  Yet they call it normal.

Where is the familiar isolation I have come to thrive within?  Where is my private altar of prayer and consideration of what is Holy?  It is far away.  I am caused to pray incognito.  I am forced to lower my eyes to the floor or the heavens above.  Yet I must endure the onslaught of sin present before me.  I am caught in a whirlwind of man’s rebellion gone wild.  Propriety?  Where is propriety?  Where is restraint?  Where is consideration of what we are doing?  Where are thoughts of the Holy Angels?  They are far from this place.

He is faithful.  He alone gives endurance.  He was tested as are we, yet remains faithful to His Holy Father.  He causes endurance by loving us to understanding.  He reminds.  He guides, and we overcome.

I return to the familiar with little filth clinging.  Yet there is filth upon me.  “Forgive me, O God!  I have seen and perceived the things men do before Your Holy eyes.  Yet Your love embraces my yearning heart.”

To the work.  Let my soul propel the flesh into the things more pleasing.  I will search and listen with more ease now.  For our God and Lord Jesus is faithful.

By His Grace.

It seems simply acceptable.  What they call freedom is made of steel reinforced concrete.  Bars of heat-treated platinum encase their hearts.  And they perceive no evil.

Men parade their pride.  Even their humility is a prison.  Acceptable is tempered with human understanding.  Aspirations reach only the top hair on their head.  And their feet plod in the mud of sins up to their knees.

Women dress to entice.  Yet they consider their attire necessary.  Human beauty is the standard.  But it is only a mask to hide a sickly soul.

Where is freedom?  It remains in Heaven.  Who aspires to be free?  Who yearns to shed this cell of acceptable human behavior?  Let them show their desire.  Let them stand out among the crowd of prisoners,

If we must dress for social occasion, let us dress with our fellow-men and women in mind.  If we must speak, let it be as if before the Holy Throne of God.

The bars can be swung wide open.  For many, the bars stand away from latching.   Yet they remain inside.  Who is free?  Who can count moments in the Sun?  Yet who counts the darkness of that cell as daylight?

Let each man search for a love of wisdom on his own.  Assess one another, that you may know how to speak.  Do not waste time judging anyone.  But busy yourself with observation; that you may know how to help with love.

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Once an act is done it can’t be taken away.  Sinful acts can be forgiven.  But they remain.  Righteous acts are a strength of their own.  They remain forever.  They need no other supplement but praise to the Righteous Father.

By His Grace