Desperation

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  (Galatians 6:17)

            Henry Thoreau, author of Walden Pond, said, "Most men live lives of quiet desperation."  This writer has often said, "The test of a man is not what happens when everything is going good, but what happens when everything goes bad."

            On recent news broadcasts, we have had almost continuous stories about people caught in desperate situations.  As one who has traveled around the world many times, many flights on every type plane, I can well imagine the desperation of the 239 passengers on Malaysia flight 370.  After almost three weeks of continuous searching by many nations, spending millions of dollars, speculation-conspiracy theories of every type, we still have no idea what happened to that large 777 plane.  Different is the community-village lost in the state of Washington mudslide, we know about the many buried alive there, the desperate struggle of not only the victims, but also of those who were trying to rescue them. 

            No person, no thing, is born or invented great.  Greatness must be achieved.  Many inventions, brain child of someone with superior motives, never advanced in any way.  Many did not believe the telephone, television or teleprompter would ever amount to anything.  Yet, we know just how much people depend on this technology today and how many billions of dollars have been made on these inventions.

            Most individuals who have achieved greatness were born into adversity, a penalty of success.  One would never compromise morality or fall into very much sin, if he just spent his life in bed, doing nothing.  Like a flickering candle flame draws the unwary moth, Satan has a way of drawing us into his web, ensnaring us.  How does one survive, particularly a Christian, who does not EVERY day beg-plead with God to keep the temptations of Satan away from him?!  God puts his chosen where He wants them and gives to them the knowledge He wants them to have.  This writer, born and raised in poverty, saw in the desperation of farmers-cotton mill workers of Eastern North Carolina the desire, from their own inner resources, to achieve and make a better life for themselves, their family and their community.  I believe my ancestors-parents, many of the desperately poor students and soldiers with whom I came into contact, the thoughts they were being smothered-broken by the powers of government control that surrounded them.  The paradox, with technology-progress of every sort, lifestyles which should be so much better, life has not improved.  I find the greater percentage of the population has just as much trouble paying their bills, staying healthy, and facing an uncertain future now, as ever before.  I find that many Christians-politicians-intelligentsia are just blind actors pretending.  Christians pretending to follow Christ, politicians pretending to be concerned about their fellow man, the intelligentsia-academicians pretending to produce knowledge to help every one.  Really, most are just eaten up with the nihilism of meism... doing what is best-most profitable for me (WIFM - What's In It For Me?).  Is this what happened to the pastor of the world's largest church located in Seoul, South Korea (Yoido Full Gospel Church) where the pastor, Rev. Cho Yong-gi, just went to jail for three years for embezzling church funds?  Is this what happened to the mayor of North Carolina's largest city, Charlotte, where Mayor Patrick Cannon, will probably go to prison for bribery (he had only been in office for six months), for taking at least $48,000?  We know that this pastor, mayor and every politician is well paid.  God only had to say it once, "For the love of money is the root of all evil." (I Timothy 6:10)  It lead to the down fall of a disciple who actually walked and talked with our blessed Lord, Judas.  Seldom does a week go by when we don't hear of some politician or leader in the business world caught up in this trap.  Like tyrants, most embezzling, thieving politicians trip and fall over the flag of the United States of America... proclaiming their patriotism, love of God, family and country as they attempt to deceive everyone AND often thinking, fooling God.  In their desperation for reelection, possessing more than they will every need, their greed, their thinking they can be successful in decent, often supersedes respect for family, friends and associates. 

            George Washington will always be the father of our country.  Abraham Lincoln will always be the savior of our country.  WHY, after our history, after our progress does the American voting population insist on placing men and women into public office (from the white house to the local court house) who are guiding us quickly and stoically into the sewer?!

            Jesus Christ will always be the head of the church.  Christ-like people, whether the pope of Rome or a Godly grandmother will always be a stand in for Christ.  Technology has made it convenient for all of us to find or seek reparations in someone else... the street homeless people must suffer for their own sins... the government will take care of veterans and welfare people.   Many live vicariously watching the sins of others on soap operas and situation comedy on television.  Most pretending Christians, I know about-hear about, are envious of their non-Christian, unbelieving friends who are enjoying a "sin for season." (Hebrews 11:25)  Sinners are so much fun!  We like their phrases-language... we like the way they dress, their music and their designer lifestyle.

            BUT, at a time of desperation-terminal illness-crash of some sort-climate act of God, to whom do they turn for help?  There are no atheist in fox holes, and much to the surprise of those who have never been there, not comfortable.  Most pastors, politicians  and patriots, not knowing the difference in the walk and the talk, want comfortable, air conditioned fox holes for our war fare against world-flesh-devil.  Desperate followers of our Lord are protected by the whole armor of God.  (Ephesians 6:11)  Whatever comes, sickness, weather, desperation, ANYTHING, whether we live or die we are winners, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:8)