Skip to main content

The best solution is simple yet ignored

In the city of Manila there is a place called "Smoky Mountain". This place is continually burning and smoky, not because it is a volcano, but because it is a pile of rubbish that is continually in a state of combustion. It is smelly and difficult to get near, but there are people who ignore all that and scavenge for recyclables in the midst of the garbage, and even live in the edge of it. The rest of us passing through this area may be appalled at this to the point of feeling nauseated. This is how you may feel as you read Chapter 22 in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 22:11-12
One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father’s daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord GOD.

Human sacrifice. Making and worship of idols. Sexual perversity.  Social injustices of the worst kind. These could all be found in Jerusalem and caused its downfall. Yes, nauseating. But do we feel the same today with the same things happening around us?  God forbid we get immune to them.  It is unnatural.  Our God given conscience should be getting rubbed the wrong way.  It should spur us to action, rather than apathy.  Perhaps it is because we have seen so many solutions applied and see them not working.  Time to do it differently.  This includes Christian organizations trying to use Godly humanitarian aid, and/or values to solve the problems.  The solution is truly a reconciled relationship with God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is no other solution.  They need Jesus.

Father, let me not be immune to the sin and the consequences of sin around me. Let me pray and share the way of salvation and reconciliation of God.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Journey of Faith

Sreedhar standing to the left of his grandfather in the center Almost 55 years ago a son was born to a Hindu family.  The parents were 2nd generation Malaysians raised in a rubber estate near a small town called Sungei Petani in Northern Malaya at that time.  This first child was given much love and care by their parents and had the privilege of growing up in 3 different states of Malaysia, most of which was in Petaling Jaya.  He was blessed with his first domestic airplane ride when he was 10 years old, and made his first trip by airplane to Bangkok at the age of 11.  In the mid 1970's the family moved to a large house in a relatively exclusive neighborhood in Petaling Jaya. This was a result of the favor his father, aged about 35 at that time, had in the workplace,. As a result, this son grew up in a mostly multicultural environment with Indian, Chinese and Malay children.  In the process, his perspectives became cosmopolitan and racially neutral.  On...
Post a Comment
Read more

Heavenly courage and capability

Anybody reading this belongs to the military or was in the military? I commend you if you were. Whatever reason you were part of the military, it takes great courage to perform your role. If you are protecting the sovereignty of a country and you go beyond the call of service, your work is beyond anything money can pay. Such a person that acted in this manner was Abram. Genesis 14:14, Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. Abram had 318 men and he was going after 4 kings who just defeated 5 kings. He was rescuing, among others, his nephew Lot and his family. He is acknowledged and blessed by Melchizedek . Genesis 14:18-20, Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High...
Post a Comment
Read more

Time to return to an old and faithful relationship

Unfaithfulness or lack of loyalty is prevalent in our society today.  But was it any different "back then"?  This issue is a perennial one.  From ancient times you see switching of loyalties and allegiances to suit the personal agenda of the person.  Sometimes this could involve an entire nation.  The kings, peoples and nation of Israel were no different.  But there is hope. Hosea 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days. Hosea was again asked to do a prophetic illustration. He was to take on a harlot and demonstrate Israel's unfaithfulness. It was sad. Chapter 3 of Hosea goes on to mention that there will be no king and no sacrifices. Therefore, no leader and no forgiveness of sins? But in actual fact the situation is reversed.  The people return to God and David their king. It is not talking about the dead David but the J...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Being Ready" cannot wait

Ready for the end of the world? Ready for death? I am sure many reading this are indifferent to this question. You don't care. But if you care about what you eat each day. You care about who you meet. You care about your health. And perhaps, you even care about people, your community and/or the environment. Then, you are avoiding the question about being ready for the most important event of your life, because you don't know the answer. John writes about this in Revelations. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. The time is near!  In the KJV it says, the time is at hand!  The revelation given to John is difficult to completely appreciate because He is sharing God's perspective on time (from eternity to eternity).  In the human context, time cannot be stored.  If you missed it, you missed it.  It is spent.  You cannot redeem time.  It is...
Post a Comment
Read more

Keep to the Original

When you buy things, a branded piece of garment mostly gives you an assurance that it meets a certain set standard of quality.  It allows you to decide whether paying a certain price is worth the money.  A cheap brand attracts a low value, while an expensive one probably has the design and other qualities that are worth paying for.  I have my favorite brands not because I am brand conscious, but because I want to be assured of the value experience.  I sometimes try new brands, but as a test.  However, I am wary of "copycats".  I prefer to stay with the ORIGINAL. Ezekiel 41:4 He measured the length, twenty cubits; and the width, twenty cubits, beyond the sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.” In Ezekiel 41 God continues to give clear instructions on the building of the temple. Outer courtyard, inner courtyard, altar and how the walls and doors were to be decorated. Everything has a meaning and significance. Palms, lions, cher...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be unconventional; it is okay!

In every society and organization there are cultural norms. There are practices that are observed and are deemed normal. Anything else would be unacceptable and may cause the person committing this to be taken out. In a religious context many of these may have no relevance to the practice of the faith. They are just ways to deal with all other aspects of life together. In this regard, Jesus was fairly unconventional. Mark 2:5-7 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus constantly brought up or did things that were never seen before. He forgave sin. He healed the paralytic. He caused a tax collector to join His discipleship group. He had close fellowship with tax collectors and sinners. His disciples did not fast while He was with them. His disciples picked grain in t...
Post a Comment
Read more