Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but, on the brink of the new millennium died in the United States from heart failure.
No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes and factories, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.
For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life is not always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn): reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the children): and that it is acceptable to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, The Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived many cultural and educational trends. But his health declined when he became infected with the if-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth it virus.
In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well-intentioned but overbearing regulations.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports about a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live when the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their nooses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports
When a woman who failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, and was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.
At the end, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations such as those for low-flow toilets, rocking chairs, and step-ladders. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust: his wife Discretion: his daughter Responsibility: and his son Reason.
He is survived by two step brothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
The above article appeared in a recent issue of my wife's favorite papers "The Fishwrapper".
Today is man's day according to 1 Corinthians 4:3.
1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
The word judgment is the Greek word hemera {hay-mer'-ah} and is translated day 355 times in the KJV. And that's what is should read here. When Adam sinned and gave over his God given authority to rule to judge the earth to the devil, evil began to grow and cover the face of the earth.
NIV Luke 4:6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. BBE Isaiah 29:15 Cursed are those who go deep to keep their designs secret from the Lord, and whose works are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? and who has knowledge of our acts? And this is exactly where we are today in Washington and in the great universities in our nation. BBE Isaiah 29:16 You are turning things upside down! Is the wet earth the same to you as the one who is forming it? will the thing made say of him who made it, He made me not: or the thing formed say of him who gave it form, He has no knowledge? Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Today is man's day and what you see around the world is the result of evil men who have turned their back on God. They are controlled by the prince of this world and endeavor to operate in secret places out of the light. For the most part people are easily led astray by fancy words and sugar coated lies. We as God's people cannot afford to be deceived by the rhetoric of most politicians or the current social agendas brewed in the cauldrons of the elite universities and fed to the next generation of leaders and educators of our day. When did it become a crime to defend life over death? Today millions of so called Christians will vote for the right to murder a helpless child in the womb. And yet they will praise the Lord Sunday morning in the buildings where the Lord has long vacated. Their homosexual multi-color banners and flags have replaced God's truth mercy and love.
Isaiah 5:20-21 20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
God's true believers are the last line of defense here on earth. We must hold the line and speak the truth in love without compromise.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Not half-truths, not sermons that sound good and foster man's opinions and ideologies over the revealed word of God. The truth and the only truth. You can stake your life on God's word. His written word and his word made flesh Jesus Christ his son.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The devil's goal is to destroy the word of God. Today he has planted false apostles, pastors, and teachers within the church teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:1-9 1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It was worship but it was vain worship.
This month we celebrate our independence, our freedom on July fourth. My exhortation to you this month and every month is to stand fast in the freedom that Christ has made us free. And don't be entangled with false pastors and teachers endorsing the world's causes and crusades.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Happy Fourth of July God bless you.