Something Necessary for Today

Before you read any further, you should know that this article will contain some strong language. It is not my intention to offend, but I will take the risk...

The sensitivity of people in our nation is at an all-time high. (The way you interpret the word 'sensitivity' might be positive or negative.)

I saw an ad posted on social media recently after which several 'comments' were posted. The comments offered testimonials for the product. Then followed a comment accusing those posting the testimonials of being paid for their endorsement. Following the accusation were dozens of comments agreeing and disagreeing with the accusation, and accusing the accuser of a judgmental and intolerant attitude. Sound familiar?

"Tolerance" has become the banner cry of our nation's younger generation. It's companion: "Don't judge me!"

Who would disagree? Tolerance seems to support 'peace on earth' and that would be a really good thing. Likewise, to rid society of judgmental and prejudicial attitudes would make life so much better. This kind of thinking seems to promote love and harmony. However...

I've noticed something, perhaps you have too. Our society's cry for tolerance masks a deep-seated problem that is self-defeating. Too many people apply tolerance reflexively. In other words, they apply it to themselves wanting everyone to tolerate them so that they can enjoy a life with no restraints. They are fools!

I have taken the word fool from the Proverbs in the Bible. By definition the fool lacks good sense in the social, moral and practical areas of life. Tolerance thinking cannot be sustained the way our society preaches. A lack of personal restraint is sure to lead to anarchy (chaos where no one rules). I do not need to cite studies; common sense will do.

A lack of self-restraint is unhealthy for government, society, church, family and even the individual. The answer...discipline. (I warned you.)

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools.
--Proverbs 26:3

The whip is used to make a horse do what the horse is meant to do. A bridle is used to make a donkey do what the donkey is meant to do. The horse, left on its own is wild and relatively useless; so also the donkey.

Left on his own (with no restraint), the fool is like a wild animal, relatively useless. For the fool to do what is worthwhile and right, a rod is necessary. 

Though a literal rod was used in Solomon’s day, it symbolically represents any measure of appropriate strong discipline.

The fact that the whip works for the horse, and the fact that the bridle works for the donkey should tells us with great clarity that strong discipline will work in the case of the fool.

The rod is not about punishment but rather, discipline.

• The rod of discipline has a purpose.
• The rod of discipline is not pleasant.
• The rod of discipline works.
• The rod of discipline is necessary.
  

Tolerance sounds nice, but it just won't work!

Christians, self-discipline is necessary so that 'rod' will not be necessary.
Parents, the 'rod' is necessary for your children.

Something Better Than Wealth

Indulge me for a moment…

What is your dream?

Go ahead...give yourself a moment...dream!

Was it that two-story house with a wrap-around porch set on ten acres with a nice pond with a wooded area beyond? (My wife has the house; the pond and wooded area are mine.) Or perhaps your dream is simpler: a BIG bank account. Some might think about career or retirement or dream vacations. I wonder if anyone thought about good health.

I’ll bet most folks think only of themselves, but some might have thought about something for family or friends. I would not be surprised if your ‘dream’ was influenced by the fact that the question appeared in a religious context.

Whatever the case, whatever you might have dreamed, do you think anyone thought about their name?

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t, but reflect with me for a moment about the value of a good name.

There are people we know about who have a terrible reputation. They may only be known for one event in their life, but that event defines them and gives them a bad name:

• Adolph Hitler
• John Wilkes Booth
• Charles Manson

We could make a contrasting list of people with good names, but what does it take for a person to have a good name?

• People do not trust a liar; a liar will not have a good name.
• Someone who gossips will not have a good name.
• A person who is self-centered will not have a good name.
• A person who manipulates other people will not have a good name.
• A person who uses others to get ahead will not have a good name.
• Someone who cheats will not have a good name.
• Someone who complains all the time will not have a good name.
• Someone who is short-tempered, gruff, unkind, or uncaring will not have a good name.

What does it take for a person to have a good name?

A good name is the result of good character. Good character is nothing other than godliness, that is, God-like-ness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
--Galatians 5:22-23

Though not an exhaustive list, these qualities will certainly produce a good name.

A good name is to be more desired than great riches,
Favor is better than silver and gold.--Proverbs 22:1

Look back at your life for a moment--What have you been pursuing?
Now, look to the future...Do you see the value of a good name, or do you still believe the illusion of wealth?

Be Wise.

Holy Smoke

Of our five senses, sight is probably the one we protect and rely on the most. Next would be hearing and speech. So, what about our senses of smell and taste?

It might surprise you to know that there are many scientific studies in the areas of taste and smell. In fact, the sense of smell is quite powerful. Americans, however, have generally desired to mask unpleasant odors, which makes us an exception among the nations of the world.

According to “The Smell Report” by the Social Issues Research Center (yes, this is real), humans are able to detect thousands of odors even when present in infinitesimally small amounts. Yet this pales in comparison to many animals whose sense of smell is 10 to 20 times more sensitive than that of humans.

Discoveries regarding the human sense of smell are quite extraordinary. But even more amazing is how our sense of smell coordinates with our memory. Most adults can probably relate from experience what ‘smell studies’ have concluded through research: A single odor smelled in years past can immediately bring back vivid memories of the original event.

For example, for many folks, it is the sense of smell that brings back fond memories of a special holiday.

Did you know that God actually created a specific aroma for the ancient Israelites to use in their worship?

The book of Exodus contains many requirements regarding sacrifices, feasts, fasts, the clothing of the priests, the articles used in the tabernacle, the utensils used in the sacrifices, and so on. Among these many regulations was a special formula for the anointing oil and incense that were to be used in the worship (Exodus 30:22-38). The anointing oil was 'Holy' oil, and the incense was 'Holy' incense. Each was to be used only in the tabernacle and only for the worship of God. Neither of these could be used on the body as a perfume. They were prescribed by God and belonged exclusively to God: Holy.

The purpose seems clear: The fragrances from the holy oil and holy incense were used as a call to worship through the sense of smell. After smelling the distinct fragrances of God’s holy oil and holy incense, it would not have been long before the Israelites would have associated those fragrances with worship to God.

That unique smell communicated “worship” to the mind of the people. It was the smell of surrender to God; the fragrance of praise and honor to God; the aroma of security in the arms of God.

Whenever a person had been away from the worship for a period of time and then returned to the assembly, they would breathe deeply of that sweet smelling aroma and remember their God, their Deliverer, their Creator.

With the exclusive scent of the Holy Oil and the aroma of the Holy Incense, God called his people to remember Him and to worship Him.

Who is this wise and wonderful God who would assign a specific fragrance to the worship? One cannot help but stand in awe!

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There is another aroma found in the Bible. The Apostle Paul reminded Christians:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing....
--2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Just as the aroma from the holy oil and the holy incense reminded the Israelites of the worship of God, Christians today are the aroma of Christ in this world reminding people of Christ and calling them to worship Him.

May we conduct ourselves in such a way that we will be the sweet smelling fragrance of Christ to all who encounter us.

What about Witchcraft and Sorcery?

The ancient Israelites were forbidden involvement in witchcraft and sorcery. In fact, there were a number of other forbidden practices including:

• Divination
• Exorcism
• Fortune-telling 
• Necromancy
• Magic
• Secret arts
• Spiritism
• Astrology
• Wizardry
• Conjuring
• Soothsaying
• Using omens
• Using amulets
• Speaking enchantments
• Speaking charms
• Consulting mediums
• Casting spells

What were these practices?

Modern literature and film have developed these concepts in the popular genres of science fiction and horror. The things we read in books and see on screen are generally far removed from what we find in Scripture.

In the Bible diviners, fortune-tellers, sorcerers, etc. were consulted by those who wanted information that they could not obtain through normal means, often knowledge of the future. They were 'advisors' of sorts.

The Hebrew source words behind these terms provide only marginal insight into the various practices. One Hebrew term, translated divination, fortune-telling, or omen, 'may' suggest that the practitioner had a keen gift of observation. However, he expressed his advice so as to suggest a source of other-worldly power.

Another Hebrew term, translated medium, meant, to ask. The practitioners of this art pretended to consult pagan deities, the dead or other-worldly powers.

Other Hebrew terms suggested that insight was obtained by reading the clouds, or by reading the stars. (A king could only wish for a matching set to cover all weather conditions.) Others consulted livers cut out of an animals; still others, arrows thrown on the ground. All of these were akin to today’s palm readers and astrologers.

King Saul consulted a medium in hopes that she could conjure up the deceased high priest Samuel. The king wanted to know whether Israel should go into battle against the Philistines. Because of sin in his life, he was getting no answers from God. (1 Samuel 28)

King Nebuchadnezzar had an assortment of 'advisors.' Yet, none were able to use their arts to tell and interpret his dream of the great statue (Daniel 2). Years later when King Belshazzar witnessed a hand writing a message on the wall, none of his advisors were able to read and interpret the writing (Daniel 5). In both cases the kings were perplexed and desired understanding. True knowledge and understanding came only when God revealed his messages to his servant Daniel.

On yet another occasion King Nebuchadnezzar stood in a literal ‘Y’ in the road desiring to know which branch to take. (One road led to Jerusalem and the king wanted to know if he should lay siege to the city.) He ‘shook the arrows,’ consulted idols, and ‘looked at the liver.’ These were different kinds of divination. (Ezekiel 21)

When God originally forbade Israel from consulting the practitioners of these dark ‘arts,’ we learn the reasoning behind his prohibition:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.     —Deuteronomy 18:15

God wanted His people to depend upon Him for advice. He wanted His people to listen to His revealed word, not ‘made-up’ advice that ultimately came from the minds of men. He still wants people to listen to Him.

In our day there are many voices. If you are actually listening to fortune cookies, the Ouija board, horoscopes, palm readers, tarot cards, anyone who claims to speak with the dead, etc., you are NOT listening to God. The Bible is God’s revealed word. Jesus is God's living message to mankind. God's message is reliable. It is sufficient.

Remember: Wisdom is only as good as its source!