OUR MANCHESTER CAPABILITY

OUR MANCHESTER CAPABILITY

Friday, May 26, 2017

Jeremiah 17:7-9 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: The train of thought is apparently this: If the man is so blessed who trusts in Yahweh, what is the reason why men so generally “make flesh their arm”? And the answer is: Because man’s heart is incapable of seeing things in a straightforward manner, but is full of shrewd guile, and ever seeking to overreach others. Desperately wicked - Rather, mortally sick. The answer to the question, “who can know it?” To himself a man’s heart is an inscrutable mystery: God alone can fathom it.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

  There is truth that I do not like or want to believe about myself and all others.

  The murder and maiming at Manchester, England, brings up the truth yet again. Scientists, social experts and others considered less wise are energized in looking for reason(s) for the evil actions of man. The well-worn list is again being examined and paraded before us: Genetics, culture, family, stressors, environment social and physical (diet, pollutants etc.), experiences, conditioning, et al. Their motive to alleviate and/or solve is commendable, but they are amiss as they deny the actual reason.

  It’s a spiritual matter. The truth being that we are all capable of evil actions. This is evidenced in our life of socially risking that which we dare; exampled from our tongue and/or countenance used for malice, manipulation, instigation, or other forms of social arson; all the way to horrific deed; or somewhere in between. Actions malevolent or merciful are only limited by that which we believe.

  Once upon a time I believed I am basically good but occasionally commit bad acts.

  Trusting the Word, God Incarnate (Jn.1:1), and trusting His word, the Bible, I repented of such foolish misbegotten thinking and the difficult work began.

  We are innately sinful ever since Adam and Eve refused to trust God. Apart from accepting Jesus and His regeneration we cannot even hope to live with clearest vision.

  This I believe.

EBB4