First, it should be said that if the author of this passage intentionally misrepresents any part his history, his current life's state, or the Creator's Word, may the Lord deal with him justly.
Labels are powerful. We should be careful what we call our fellowman. A label can become a destiny...
[Rom 4:16-17 KJV] 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
The Lord called Abraham the father of many nations, and that he became.
He said, "Let there be light" and it shone.
Abraham's was a favorable destiny. All are not such.
Ever met a parent who always called their child "stupid" and then wondered why his child was constantly making the "worst" mistakes.
This principle works in both directions. Consider this modern gospel song by Donald Lawrence and another one called Speak Life.
Yet, the author should warn you that using this principle can hit you like a boomerang, if you try tearing someone down with "words". Constructive criticism has a place, yet berating and belittlement does not.
The author is in the process of writing a remarkable autobiography, one that describes unbelievable triumphs and equally implausible lows for a young man accepted as part of Stanford class of 1992.
Yet, as he retraces the facts surrounding three decades of life's experiences, the most detrimental event was a medical misdiagnosis and negative social label given in the Fall of 1988.
This one medical label, driven more by socioeconomic factors than medical necessity, has played a major role in the serious mishaps which occurred in the author's life during October of 1993 and March of 1999. The author has some liability for these events but the bulk of it rest with the physicians which he saw from 1988 through 1995. These men and women basically branded him with this label.
In all honesty, the author is far from perfect, struggling with a pornography addiction much of his adult life. Yet, the bulk of his behaviors are well-above the norm. One Christian author wrote a book on this topic called, Every Man's Battle. The author of this weblog only saw about a decade and a half free of it, during his thirties and early forties. But, sadly, it was his "Christian" brothers who could not tolerate his liberty that drove him in the direction of sin again.
Some feel that liberty in Christ is the knowledge that one can do whatever he chooses and know that he is forgiven. This is a perversion of scripture. And, the author has seen plenty of perversion in his life. He know it when he sees it.
For one, Christ said,
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And, although,
[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
this is well-known:
[Mat 21:12-13 KJV] 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
In other words, he pulled a Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Steven Segal style move, kicking tail and taking names.
He is Just and does not play games. He is a terrible (terrifying) God uprooting mountains and casting them in the sea. This is what frightens the author most when he considers his treatment by some others and the mistreatment that he has doled out. He cannot bear thinking of what the outcome might be.
If the author can impart anything, do not let a label hindering you from reaching your potential as a God-fearing believer.
May the Lord Bless You and Your Endeavors as You Meet Challenge with His Successes
No comments:
Post a Comment