Determined – thoughts on the state of the world

This is Jasper, a border collie-maremma cross. His temperament is by far more maremma than collie. he is very determined. He lived with us when we had the acreage, but when we moved to the city, he and Misty, the border collie, moved to a friend’s farm, where they live happily today.

Border collies are hyperactive herding dogs that seem to have to work to live. Maremmas are livestock guard dogs that are content to lie on a raised area, surveying their kingdom and flock with regal authority until danger arises. Then watch out.

Jasper is a master at regally surveying his domain until danger arises. Unless there’s a squirrel. A squirrel throws a switch in his brain, and he just must get them. Then he thinks he’s a hunting dog crossed with a beaver. 

You can see from the picture that he has a squirrel treed and is determined to bring it down. Yes, he gets so excited that he gnaws the tree. 

That’s determination…or madness.

There’s a lot of that sort of determination come madness in the world. The world is determined to dethrone God and do whatever it wants. That’s bad enough, but they want everyone else to celebrate the insanity.

What is evil is now considered normal, even virtuous, by many.

The Bible has some thoughts on that subject. The prophet Isiah was inspired by God to write on the subject 2800 years ago.

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work  that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! Isaiah 5:18-23

Paul opened his epistle to the church in Rome by talking on the subject (it’s worth taking a moment to read Romans 1 in full).

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Romans 1:20-23

Such people are under the wrath of God. Still, there is hope they will see the light and turn back before it’s too late.

Our job isn’t to hate or judge these people; it’s to love them. Loving them doesn’t mean that we accept or follow their view, but it does mean that we pray for them, meet their needs when we can, and treat them as our neighbours.

 We, too, were lost in our sin and enemies of God at one point, and in His mercy, He reached down and saved us. Let’s pray He does the same even for those we might consider our enemies.

Be blessed

Kevin

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