Sun Rise...

The billowing blue-gray clouds hang heavy threatening...or promising snow. The wind howls and tears at the few leaves audacious enough to still be clutching at their trees. It has been snowing leaves for a month now, showering the green grass with reds, yellows, and in some cases browns, in abundance. This morning it rained--the weather is in transition.

"These are really pretty pictures." We are looking through some 'ancient' history--pictures I took during the first years we were married.

"Yes, they are pretty. Here's a picture of a sunrise...and this one's a sunset."

"Oh! The colors are really pretty! But..." there is a slight pause as we look at the pictures, "how do you know which one is which?"

"This one is looking out over the cornfield this way, and that one is out over our west fence."

Jeremiah 25:4 And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear,) 5) saying, Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Jehovah hath given unto you and to your fathers, from of old and even for evermore;

The paths of time are like the paths in the ocean. If you are God you can see them both, but we are like the drowning person who only sees water, water everywhere. Where did the people of this land (our friends, neighbors, acquaintances) where did they take the turn that left God behind?

How, you might ask, do I know they have left God behind? Well, if you have ever asked them to a 'gospel' meeting, how many answers did you get? Probably a good many 'answers, but they all go something like-- I'm not interested; I believe in God, but...; We'll keep it in mind; Hey, yeah, we'll be there...maybe; --all sorts of answers that all mean "I'm not interested".

Ancient history...there was a time that people of the land would flock to the 'camp meetings'. Listening not just for hours but for days to the speakers. We, my spouse and I, have been married for a mere 36 (going on 37) years. During that time congregations have gone from having week long 'Gospel meetings', to three day meetings, and now folks have gone to 'week end' encouragement meetings.

Like the man said, "We used to have magazines like, 'National News'. Then we went to 'People Magazine', next we had 'Us', now we have 'Me' magazine."

Is there a trend here? The only thing folks are really into is --self.
"Not me, not me, get the fellow behind the tree." A few years ago in discussing 'cut backs', Mr. Paul Harvey made a statement to the affect that, "Everyone is in favor of 'cutting back' as long as we take away 'the other fellow's entitlement...but when they start cutting back on OUR goodies, we begin to cry."

When did Rome begin to crumble? Can we look back in history and point and say, "Right here, this is the day things started down hill."

Isaiah 28:9 Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? 10) For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.

We don't begin teaching five year olds Algebra, and higher principals of grammar, we begin with the alphabet, and simple mathematics. Teaching the beginning foundational things, and each year they learn more (line upon line, precept upon precept).

Galatians 3:24 So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25) But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The old law taught us many things and brought us (the Jews first, then the gentiles) to where we needed to be in order to be ready for Christ. In order to understand, and follow the 'law of Christ'.

Isaiah 28:16 therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.

1Peter 2:6 "Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. 7) For you therefore that believe is the preciousness:..."

Jesus is our 'precious corner-stone', given so that those who believe should not be put to shame.

Isaiah 28:17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

I will make justice the what? and righteousness...the what? But wait...

1Peter 4:17 For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18) And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? 19) Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

Is it important to be part of the 'house of God'? Is it important in the words of the trite saying from a few years ago, to 'keep on keeping on'?

2Corinthians 13:5 Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.

We must do more than just 'keep on keeping on', we must 'try' ourselves, and keep pressing on (striving daily) toward the goal (of our heavenly calling).

"So, which one is this?" here is another picture of another sun rise...or sun set, but it's from a different land scape.
"Oh, well, that's really hard to tell. There aren't any bearings on here.... You know the landscape is pretty, the sky is pretty, but I guess it's any one's call. It's a pretty picture, but is it a beginning of a day...or an end...I don't know."

I don't know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future...

Hebrews 2:12 saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise. 13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!