Charles Dickens described my lifetime as "the best of times, the worst of times" (Tale of Two Cities). This writer lived through Elvis, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, the Bush's 41 and 43, even Clinton and Obama. Before zippers, plastic, synthetic fibers, we thought things were bad during WWII- this was a time when patriotism was real, small business as well as the church, were real. Politicians-bureaucrats-pastors knew that financial largess came from producers, not government employees. Those who solicit funds for colleges, "do-gooder organizations" always hit the small business man, small farmer. Never, never, do you find a government official-employee-bureaucrat, making a gift of any size to charity. Those living off the hard work of others, always take care of themselves. In my lifetime, not only have I seen the entrepreneur, the Christian harassed and debased, but seen a multiplicity of citizen dependency on government, not even including the entitlements of social security, Medicare, college grants, grants to scientific organizations, etc. 100 million American's now depend on government welfare. About half the population pays no tax and yet, one half the population lives off the taxes and hard work of the other half. This is what happens when utopia goes bizerk.
Powerful, the last thing Jesus did on earth was show his love-salvation to a guilty repentant thief hanging on the cross next to him. "But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them" (Psalm 103:17-18). Basic Christianity, basic faith, "action based on belief sustained by confidence." The greatest things we can do on earth is what we do for others, "hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, prison, "One of the least of these you have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:36). Love through actions for a fellow man is an individual, not a government responsibility. "I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it" (Isaiah 46:11). "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand" (Isaiah 14:24). In the council chambers of eternity, God purposed everything in this world that has come to pass and will yet happen. We are thankful for both the valleys and the hills, trials as well as triumphs. The MYTH OF EVOLUTION extends to history and sociology just as it does to science. David, a man from God's own heart (Acts 13:22). David, a man who knew he was made "my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them" (Psalms 139:16).
God, omnipotent-sovereign of the universe, a purpose in everything, knowing that man would "wrestle" (Eph 6) against the powers of evil in the world, sent a line of absolutes, good and evil (absolutes of molecular weights, laws of motion, notes of music, chemical equations) to give man the knowledge that "he is boss," in control of everything.
The garden in which man and woman were made was perfect-beautiful in every way. Just one tree, man showed his nature to sin-selfishness, pride, ingrate.
In my lifetime, no better example than the end time of life...the no resuscitation order. The P.O.L.S.T (physicians order for suspending treatment) should be carefully considered and more carefully used. A younger patient has a remarkable ability to recover, the human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself. For the older patient, families and trust departments so anxious to divide their things-stuff with each other as well as the government. Over and over we hear the words, "They would not want to live in their condition." The sign outside the gates of Auschwitz, work camps-death chambers read "Work makes you free." The sign before the place where 275,000 disabled were killed, "They would want it this way." With the Nazi's or the neo-ethicists, removing life support was not reversible.
Perhaps this writer lived through America's utopia, opportunity-jump from poverty, the time when you could get your education on your own, build your business on your own, enjoy life without government controls on your own, a compilization of life's resources, resulting in Paul's admonition, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice." And when we could not rejoice, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phl 4:10).
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