God Is Not Fair!

January 13, 2008 | 4 Comments

For quite awhile I did not do any of my Sunday Thoughts and to start the series again I would like to share this article on "God Is Not Fair" with you. Starting with a poem composed by Walt Huntley.

How good it is that God above has never gone on strike,

Because He was not treated fair in things He didn’t like.

If only once, He’d given up and said, “That’s it I’m through!

“I’ve had enough of those on earth, so this is what I’ll do:-

“I’ll give my orders to the sun – cut off the heat supply!

“And to the moon – no more light, and run the oceans dry.

“Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on,

“Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone!”

You know He would be justified if fairness was the game,

For on one has been more abused or met with more disdain

Than God, and yet He carries on, supplying you and me

With all the favors of His grace and everything for free.

Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go,

But what a deal we’ve given God to whom all things we owe,

We don’t care whom we hurt to gain the things we like,

But what a mess we’d all be in if God should go on strike.

All of us can understand the rights of the victims of crime, overtaxed citizens, battered wives, unborn children and prisoners of war. In fact there is a whole lot of special interest groups that have points to make for legitimate cases, examples:-

Women’s rights; Men’s rights; Criminal rights; Animal rights; Patient rights; Human rights; Constitutional rights; States’ rights; Labour rights; Religious rights; Civil rights; Consumer rights.

Each of these has a degree of legitimacy, but where do we stop? Do we give mothers a right to decide whether they want their unborn children to live? Do we slap a murderer on the wrist because his lawyer successfully argues “temporary insanity”? Do we excuse a high school boy for raping a girl because the judge feels that the boy had been subjected to sexual stimuli in society and was only doing what was natural? Do we make it legal to kill millions of unborn children while bringing harsh fines and swift imprisonment for killing bald eagles? Do we adopt the philosophy that personal rights and pleasure are more important than loyalty to marriage vows? Do we continue to allow confessed criminals to escape the consequences of their actions because of foolish technicalities?

What about God’s rights? Have we ever stopped to think about it? He has allowed himself to be victimized. Over the course of history many have exploited His name for personal gain. He has been hated without cause, slandered without reason, and forgotten without apology. His character has been misrepresented when humans have suffered. His name has been cursed when humans have reaped the results of personal sin. His family has been abused and injured by every kind of irresponsible behavior. At best, His authority has been ignored.

He has been blamed for famine, war and disease. A tree falls on a car and the insurance company calls it “an act of God.” People have killed other people in His name. His wisdom has been mocked by each successive generation. His standard of holiness have always been considered old-fashioned by the sin-soaked society of every era.

Is He big enough to handle all this abuse? Of course He is. He is not insecure. He can take care of himself. But the telling point is that because of His unconditional; love, He has chosen to make himself vulnerable. He is wide open to abuse from humans who are especially interested in their own private rights.

Human sense of “fairness” reduces God’s standards to the place where we can perform and function in life without utter, total dependence on Him. Complicating matters, “fairness” demands that we take time to clarify and evaluate circumstances from the limited perspective of each person involved, rather than from God’s eternal viewpoint. As a direct product of humanistic philosophy, the “fairness” doctrine is based on man’s value system and timetable! The parable of the prodigal son and especially the attitude of the elder brother is an example for a case in point.

Since God isn’t “fair” as humans perceive “fairness” what is the alternative? Praise God that there is and it is God is merciful and just! “Fairness” tries to remove guilt, usually by mocking principles set forth in God’s Word or by shifting the blame. Justice however states that we are individually responsible for our internal attitudes and external behavior. Justice by itself will send all of us to Hell! This is where Mercy comes in to help us! Through the eyes of mercy He looks beyond our faults and sees our needs, patiently viewing us as finished products – even while we are in process. Mercy is given to those who agree with God’s standards of righteousness, but then immediately confess their inability to achieve those standards. This however, requires adjustments on our part.



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Turning Inwards Personally

December 19, 2007 | 1 Comment

In less than a week’s time is Christmas where Christians the world over, will be remembering as well as celebrating the Coming of The Saviour of the World! What is your favourite Christmas story? For many it’s the birth in the manger! Many preachers preached on the story where it mentioned that there was no room in all the lodging places and that’s why Joseph and Mary had to spend the night in a manger! Sermons were made from the phrase “and there was no room” to asked the congregation is there room in our hearts for Jesus?

Perhaps it would do a lot of good during the Advent, to reflect more on ourselves who are known as Christians! As Christians we are the followers of Jesus Christ and some are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. What is so scary about having the label of ‘a Christian’ is the nagging question at the back of my mind, am I the true representation of Jesus’ Character and Ways in our daily living, dealing with others and especially to our own family members? Am I misrepresenting Him? Sadly, one needed to listen to the world to know that their impressions were not very good. Yes we may portray piety in our religious activities like worshipping, praying and fasting, giving and good works and that’s good. However there are many who sort of living in a state of ‘unconscious unreality’! What it means is that we are not real and yet we are not even conscious of it! For this reason Jesus was so mad at the religious leaders of His time, namely the Pharisees and Sadducees and Teachers of The Law! By their religious position and demands, they lay such a burden on the people that they find such great difficulties to know God to the extent that many despair and gave up trying. Does it have a familiar ring today? Many around us are not interested to know about our Christianity!

Some wise preacher once asked this question, ‘Is my practice of Holiness repelling others?’ Most pious people do not realize that! I am sure you have encountered such people or have heard of such a one. Is our holiness attractive or repelling? The wonderful thing about Christ during His walk on earth, He attracts sinners rather than repelling them. The healing of the sick and other miracles were only secondary to His innate nature of being attractive to people! Yet the Bible tells us that in Him there is no comeliness! Not a physically handsome person! It was His ways and character, love and compassion that draws the suffering people to Him. Not His piety or holiness although He is Holy!

Sometimes I wonder is it because of this ‘unconscious unreality’ that Churches are no longer the place of choice for sinners to go! Perhaps we made them feel unclean, just like the Pharisees and Sadducees and the world despair! May this coming Christmas, be a time for us to be sober, serious and take a long hard look at our lives, character and behavior and asked ourselves am I attracting or repelling others! I remembered one of my teachers mentioned this. When people are serious just about anything but God then spiritual hunger is at its highest level!



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Christmas Mystery

November 30, 2007 | 6 Comments

Christmas is less than a month away and soon you'll hear Christmas Songs being played at hotels, shopping malls etc. There is one particular Carol that I never understood its meaning and thats the Twelve Days of Christmas! Do you? Then some years back someone sent me this excerpt explaining the meaning and so hope to pass on to those who want to know the meaning of this favourite Carol!

12 Days of Christmas--Defined

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Today, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.
So now you can enjoy this Carol in its proper meaning!


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Need some comforting

October 17, 2007 | 6 Comments

There are times in life when things just don't go well or like people says 'life throws you a curve ball'. Watch this clip and may you draw comfort and encouragement from the story!

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Attention! - Manufacturer’s Recall Notice

August 12, 2007 | 5 Comments

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of Make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality," or more commonly known as S. I. N., as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms: 1. Loss of direction. 2. Foul vocal emissions. 3. Amnesia of origin. 4. Lack of peace and joy. 5. Selfish, or violent behavior. 6. Depression or confusion in the mental component. 7. Fearfulness. 8. Idolatry. 9. Rebellion. The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
  • The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
  • Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
  • Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace. 4. Patience. 5. Kindness. 6. Goodness. 7. Faithfulness. 8. Gentleness. 9. Self control. Please see the operating manual: The B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes. WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS. DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention! Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!


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