ETERNITY: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT FEELS

                                                   

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Eternity is a reality all must embrace. Man basically believes somewhere inside him that death is not that absolute end of man but a unique means to an end - that end is eternity which is interpreted endlessness.

WHAT IS ETERNITY?

The English Dictionary defines the term as “the remainder of time that elapses after death” that is to say that, the life we live on earth is am aspect of eternity. Also, the Scripture made us to understand that eternity is the life of God (John 17:2). One gospel writer argued that, eternity does not terminate at the time of death; death is just another wrung on the leader of eternity.

HOW ETERNITY FEELS:

Let us consider some illustrations; suppose a small boy were to empty an ocean using a cup; the time it will take the boy to do so is a very tiny part of eternity. Then again, if it were possible to gather all the books that have ever been written in all fields of human endeavor and in all languages, and a student were to read them all one by one; the time the student will spend reading all the books will only amounts to a minute fraction of eternity. Let this example make meaning to us for it serves as the best way to say how eternity feels.

HOW ETERNITY WORKS:

Eternity according to scripture is the exclusive life of God - endless life. No human has experience such life and has explained to the living how it works. However, scriptural evidence (Proverbs 8:1-31; Romans 11:33-36), revealed that God Himself is eternity, and no human language can explain how it works better than the owner of eternity – this truth is further affirmed in (Deuteronomy 29:29); that eternity is a secret that belongs to God.

WHEN/WHERE TO OBTAIN ETERNITY:

The time to go for eternity is now! Yes, now. No other time is best but now. You may ask where I can obtain this precious gift. The answer is, in God. But how? By seeking Jesus Christ and turning away from any form of sin and unrighteousness (Isaiah 55:6-7); for doing this He will have mercy (Romans 3:23 – 24, 10:9-10).

CONCLUSION

Eternity is the desire of everyone living. This life is free and given by one – Jesus Christ. No one may tell you how eternity is; hence, it is best experienced individually. Grab your portion by being rooted and built up in Christ. God bless you!

A SPEECH TO THE LORD

INTRODUCTION

Yes! It is Biblical to present a speech to the Lord (Hos. 14:2 ISV). Someone may be saying, "but this is not the tradition" well, no problem about that. Speeches are made to individuals in high and exalted positions of the world. Such positions include the presidents', vice-chanchelor, chairperson of institutions etc. It is vital for a well prepared speech be given to the One who is in charge of our lives. Amen!

MODEL SPEECH (AS TO INDIVIDUAL)
The Lord demanded that people (those who have fallen due to sin), as a matter of urgency present a well prepared speech to Him. And this is to be in this manner: SAY TO HIM (HOS. 14:2A ISV);
Take away all my iniquity , and accept what is good (genuine repentance), then I will present the fruit of my lips (confession). Satan and his cohorts will not save me. I will never again say to idols that they are my God. These idols are the work of my imagination. But you are God. Indeed, in you the orphan finds mercy (Hos. 14:3). Hence, save me Lord for I have nowhere to go to, other than to you and you alone (Romans 10:9-10).

MODEL SPEECH CONT. (AS TO GROUP) DANIEL 9:3-12
Hear this, as Daniel interceded for himself and his people before God. ...And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him.... We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from your precepts and your judgements (verse, 5 NKJV). Daniel went on to say that: "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.

GOD'S RESPONSE TO SUCH SPEECH
God always is all-ears to such speech; He responded thus (Hos. 14:4), I will heal their backsliding/errors/apostasy/waywardness, I will love them freely (what a compassionate God) for mine anger is turned away from him/them.

CONCLUSION
Brothers, sisters and friends, if you are on a crossroad about the decision to take as relating to your life. The above model shall be a very helpful tool. You may as well locate a man of God in your locality to guide you in this business. God give you understanding! Amen!

WORD OF WISDOM
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things. Whoever is discerning, let him know. For the ways of the Lord are right: the righteous follow His example, but the rebellious stumble in them (Hos. 14:9).

For comments, do use the comment box!

3 Bible Verses You May be Getting Wrong

BY  BST (Bible Study Tools)

Bible verses need a home. When they get plucked out of their dwelling place—that is, the surrounding paragraphs—they can make a great deal of mischief. Many times, isolated verses can cause damage to our understanding of the truths of Scripture. They can get tossed around to end arguments, shut down discussion, and instill false hope. That’s why one verse a day isn’t enough. You need hearty daily bread, not a daily crumb.

So, if you’ve mastered the verses that aren’t in the Bible, now make sure you know the true meaning of these 3 commonly misused verses. After all, when we truly understand what they say, our knowledge of God grows, too.

1. “Do not judge….” Matthew 7:1a

This one seems so straightforward on the surface. When Jesus was explaining how Christians should live the Kingdom life, He explicitly told us not to judge… anyone... ever. At least, that’s how some have come to understand this verse. If anyone questions their lifestyle choices, moral decisions, or actions, they remind us that Jesus said not to judge.

But we need to be careful how we use this verse by understanding what’s happening. Namely, this verse comes in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus explains to His followers what a God-first life looks like. He shows them why they don’t need to worry, how they should pray, how they should fast, and so much more. His main concern, in fact, involves believers and how they treat other believers or “brothers” (i.e., the Church). In other words, this isn’t really a discussion of confronting someone in sin as it is examining someone else’s Christian walk.

Even still, Jesus tells us that the problem isn’t in judging itself. The problem is in that we must judge a matter in the same way that we would want to be judged (a form of the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12). And if we are to be fit to do the judging, we must do so only after examining ourselves (Matthew 7:5; Romans 2:1).

After all, Jesus—only a few paragraphs later—says that we must watch out for “false prophets” by looking at their fruit (7:15–19). We cannot do so without making a biblical judgment about their lives. Otherwise, we’d be in danger of accepting any teaching without testing it by the Bible.

In addition, God has already declared what is sinful in His Word, and we know that His rulings about morals, lifestyle chioces, and actions are always right. It is not “judging” anyone if we point out what God says about a certain sin. The ruling has already come, and showing them that something is against God’s perfect standard is the most loving thing we can do:

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” (1 Corinthians 6:2)

So, while we must be very careful about examining ourselves first and treating others with love, we also must judge when judgment is warranted or God has already declared a verdict.

2. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7…

What goes around comes around, karma, poetic justice, sowing and reaping—for many, this Bible verse proves the concept of getting what we deserve. If someone hurts us or treats us badly, we know they’ll reap what they sow. Right?

Well, that’s not exactly what this verse means. In fact, taking a look at the context shows that the idea isn’t about some “cosmic retribution”; it’s really about how we live our lives. Let’s step down one verse:

“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)

In other words, when we live a life to please ourselves and satisfy all our desires, we do reap the consequences of our actions. These include heartache, shame, regret, fear, physical effects, and more. Our earthly appetites can cause real damage, not to mention the spiritual ramifications. But when we pour ourselves into Spirit-led living, we reap eternal treasures.

Really, the idea of “karma” is completely contrary to God’s Word. Why? Because we humans deserve one thing, and that’s death:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

We all sin, but we don’t get what we deserve. We get grace instead—all of us. In fact, you could say that God even blesses the “evil” and “unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). His love is so powerful that Jesus came to earth to blast karma to pieces by taking the “reaping” that we should have gotten:

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

To be sure, sin-obsessed living will lead to physical consequences. But God’s mercy and patience mean that He gives us the opportunity to turn to Him (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). We don’t deserve the chance, but we get it anyway. We pray that you will take it if you haven’t already.

3. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

This one isn’t so much just the verse as it is the whole chapter. We know this virtuous lady as the Proverbs 31 woman, but for many wives out there trying to live up to the example, the better name might be “impossible standard woman.” After all, she rises up before it should be legal, goes to bad crazy late, and has her hands in every single aspect of the household. She does it all with a smile and nary any bags under her eyes.

But using this chapter as the definitive job description for a wife isn’t really fair to anyone. Husbands who expect their wives to do everything listed will be sorely disappointed, and the wives who try to make it happen will be sorely exhausted. What was supposed to be encouraging and affirming becomes something that is, instead, a big pain.

Here’s the secret, though. Proverbs 31 works like an amalgamation, a collection of snapshots of women of faith and solid character. (You could think of it like the hall of fame of great wives and some of the amazing things they do for us.) One wife like this wakes up early to get things ready for her house; one knows how to make savvy business deals; one makes clothes like nobody’s business. Some may even have done a couple of them well.

But the point is that the noble wife is a godly woman who loves her family and blesses them. She uses the gifts and talents God has given her uniquely. How she uses her gifts depends upon the situation and what God leads her to do. That doesn’t mean she’s a failure if she doesn’t sew her own clothes; it means she’s a success if she allows God to use her to point her family and others to Christ.

BIBLE CHALLENGE

                         

Today I just dragged myself off the bed. The morning dew was still dripping down the glass windows. Today was one of those days you just didn’t feel like stepping off the bed. The birds gave that soft coo-coo that made you want to sleep more. My roommate was still deep in sleep and I didn’t want him to  out-sleep me.  But I knew I had lectures by 8am. If I didn’t stand up now to read the Bible, now that it was still 6am in the morning, I was going to drift back to sleep and wake up by 7, by which time, I will be in a rush to eat, bath and go to school.
I made for the Bible that was sitting quite comfortably on the plastic table on the corner of the room. As I reached for the Bible, my phone rang. Immediately I was done with the call, I dumped my Bible back on the table where I had picked it up from and immediately picked up my books. My friend had just informed me that he had confirmed that what we had this morning was no lecture, but that the lecturer was going to give us a surprise test too. It was understandable that I had to dump my Bible today. I had hardly read anything on that course.  By the way I can read my Bible this evening when I came back from all of today’s running around.
The next day.
I really cannot account for all that happened yesterday. Today I was a little determined to read the Bible. I made my way to the table but I could not find my Bible. I remembered then that my friend next door had called me to request permission to carry my Bible to a night vigil. The other translation around was a King James Bible, and trust me, you don’t want to start your day with some King James! My roommate had a newer translation, but then I had to wait until he was awake to borrow it from him. Some ideas bumped into my head. Some of the ideas suggested I just walk around to ‘hail’ my neighbors, but I would have none of that.
As these things were going through my head, my friend from next door bumped into my room. The unique thing about this my friend was that he always didn’t have time to cook, but he had ample time to eat with anyone who had the time to cook. He wanted to know if I had fetched water from the tap yesterday. Our house tap does not run every morning. Sometimes it just pretty much runs in the evening and that was it. Those who were wise enough always got enough water for the next day during those evening spurts. Clearly my friend needed water and I obliged him.  I guessed it was not just water that my friend wanted. His next statement was to affirm that my position.
“Are you making food this morning?” he asked.
I told him that the fact that I had no lectures this morning did not translate into fasting and prayer.
“Ok o,” he said between chuckles, “I will ‘show’ when you’re done cooking.”

As he left, my roommate opened his eyes. Evidently the noise my ‘visitor’ was making had disturbed him. He asked to know if it was ‘bluetooth’-for that was the name we had given the young man, that just came in. I laughed and told him that it was surely him.
He then told me that the room next door had collected our kerosene container together with the kerosene inside and had not even returned the container. I was angry. In fact angry was a word too mild to reflect how I felt.  I jumped off the chair I had been sitting on and stormed in to the next room.
“Who dared use up my kerosene without letting me know?” I thundered at the people I met in the room. They rose to defend themselves and before long, altercations began.
At the end, I did not read any Bible that day. Who even reads the Bible on the day he and his neighbor just finished shouting at each other?
The next morning, when I opened my eyes I was face to face with the Bible as I had rolled over to the edge of the bed with my back to the ceiling and my face to the floor. It looked like my friend had returned my Bible, but had now dumped it beside the bed for me. My roommate was still soundly asleep.
I picked it up and dusted off the little dust that had settled on it. I opened the pages I saw a devotional inside it. Somehow my friend who had borrowed the Bible had forgotten the devotional inside it. I opened the devotional for that particular day in the calendar. The devotional spoke to me. It referred me to Philippians Chapter four as the passage for the day.
 On second thoughts I picked up my phone and switched it off. I got up and shut the door firmly; surely the devil would be away today. I read Philippians chapter four, the message from the passages was touching. Soon I was to wander off in thoughts. I remembered that although we had exams in two weeks time, I still hadn’t paid the fees. My thoughts wandered but my eyes were still on the passage I was reading. This continued for a while until my eyes fell on the verse fourteen of the passage. It read
   “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Tears came to my eyes as I saw God’s word come alive to me. When I was done, my spirit was doubly exhilarated. God has through the Bible given me hope.
That afternoon my mother called me. She told me that my aunty had phoned in from Lagos. My mother told her that I needed money for my school fees. She had promised to transfer the money and actually did transfer the money later in the afternoon. I was just full of praise to God.
 Today unlike yesterday and the day before, I had won the challenge over the devil. I had finally read my Bible.
CONCLUSION
The devil may never worry if you read your bible or go to church. But he trembles if you APPLY to your living all that you have read in the Bible as you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Hence, keep reading and applying, may His grace abide, Amen!!!

ANOTHER DIMENSION OF GRACE

                                                                                 

 ANOTHER DIMENSION OF GRACE

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his

grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;

but I labour more abundantly than they all:

yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”

(1 Corinthian 15:10) 

INTRODUCTION

Grace in most Christian literature is defined as “unmerited favour” and “fullness of God in the life of a believer” (Reagan, 2015). However, I shall be taking us to a related, yet, another perspective of GRACE which is; “GRACE IS ABILITY TO HOLD ON” – sort of endurance, right? Yes! In addition, by God’s grace, I have seen Grace as an acronym, meaning: ‘Gift Received and Comfort Earned’. Hope this makes sense to you. The lines below delineate on these dimensions of Grace; in the light of these scriptures - 1 Corinthians 15:10, Roman 6:4, Joshua 1:7, Luke 1:28

GRACE IS HOLDING ON

Paul said in (1 Corinthians 15:10), “But by the Grace of God I am what I am” This is a declaration, this servant of God made, which is a product of God’s grace upon him and his ministry. He was able to say this not because, he worked in a different region away from others, but because, he was “consistent (enduring) and making progress in the good work he is doing”

The ability of a believer to ‘hold-on’ the Christian (even in these difficult times) faith is due to the grace of God in such a believer’s life. And it is this grace that keeps him/her enduring till the coming of our Lord and Redeemer.

Grace is what made Saint Paul to endure, irrespective of the fact that he has been facing series of persecutions. Grace of God would keep you on, on and on, seek grace all the time of your living in order to keep you on in the race.

GIFT RECEIVED AND COMFORT EARNED (GRACE)

Saint Paul again, buttresses the fact that, it is by heaven’s grace that we (believers) are able to be raised with Christ from the death; to newness of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4). Man receives grace to live and not die (Deuteronomy 33:6), from Him that God sent to redeem man (John 3:17). Therefore, the gift of life from God is borne by His unreserved grace upon mankind; and man receives it by accepting Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour; thus earning same and becomes comforted in the end. For Christ alone is the way to: the life to man and the truth that man needs to escape the wrath of God (John 14:6).

It is after the admitting and accepting of Christ into one’s life and living, that is when the aspect of Comfort Earned comes in. There is an inherent desire in man to live and not die. Which is why, everyone is afraid to die, even though the death may be honorable (but I do not think there is anything in death that is honorable for man was not created to die, yet, he did, due to sin. So also, he may live if he accepts the One that brings and gives life – Christ Jesus).

NOTE THIS: We do not need to come to God because we are afraid to die, rather we are to come to Him because,  that is the default design of every man. Comfort Earned is an appendage to the glory we receive from God for enduring to stay right in Him by His Grace.

CONCLUSION

Grace of God is not to be seen in a Calvinistic perspective (that God have destined already a few to benefit from His grace of life), rather God’s grace is potentially available for any fellow who will accept the Lordship of CHRIST in sincerity. Like Jackson stated in his article ‘The True Meaning of Grace’ and I quote “grace is a soul-thrilling concept; it must be deeply appreciate, but never manipulated or distorted” That is, you cannot dilute God’s grace, if you do, then it is not His.

PRAYER FOCUS

Sweet Jesus, I thank you for coming across this aspect of your grace. Dear Lord, supply me with all aspects of divine grace to make me desiring you more and more and holding-on till You come back again; Amen!!!

MISCELLANEOUS

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WHY STRIVE WITH MY MAKER

                                                                

‘’Woe to you who strive with your maker… woe to anyone   who

Says to a father, what are you begetting….” Isaiah 45:9-10

Go over to v. 19

“I have not spoken in secrete, in the dark place of the

Earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘seek Me in vain’,

I the Lord speak righteousness I declare things that are right.

INTRODUCTION

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WHAT IS THE MEANING OF STRIVING?

Well, you need not answer this. Let me do for us. Strive in this context, is said to be a negative opposition to what is evidently good. According to Webster’s Bible Dictionary, the word strive is rendered as; “to contend; to contest; to struggle in opposition to another; to be in contention or dispute; followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against temptation; strive for the truth”

From the above rendition, strive is taking a forceful and conscious stance against a known value or entity. Now, let us go to the next noun in the topic ‘MAKER’

The same source defines MAKER as “the Creator” that is to say, God Almighty. Furthermore, MAKER is seen as “one that makes, forms, shapes or molds; a manufacturer; as a maker of watches, or of jewelry; a maker of cloth”

If we are following up to this, then the work is smoothly done, but not finished yet.  Keep reading.

HOW DO MEN STRIVE WITH THEIR MAKER

As we are told above, maker is God Almighty. The Creator of all mankind. There are many ways individuals strive with God. The following shows thus:  Isaiah 1:18; Man right from the beginning has been striving with God almost ceaselessly. In all the striving, God still calls men to stop striving with Him and start reasoning with Him positively. Today, man still strives with his maker in several ways. Let us see some of the ways;

SINNING: sin has taken a dynamic trend in today’s world, from trying to legalizing abortion, legalizing adultery, gay marriage, and promoting subtly instructional corruption/terror – people of our day are becoming extremely wise and skillful in committing sin (Genesis 3:6-7).

REFUSING TO HEED GOD’S CALL: God did call all races through His prophets to come and reason to gather with Him. By doing this, they will receive divine amnesty or pardon for whatever sins committed (Isaiah 1:18). This angle has been an aspect that man strives with God, He is however, still calling on the human race to give up their evil ways and come to reason with Him. So as to receive divine pardon for all their sins so committed

SEEING GOD’S LAW AS BEING ANTIQUATED: men have allowed what they called civilization, modernism, globalization and other similar concept to blur their rightful perception of GOD’s law. They often than not see this LAW as old-fashioned and a thing for those in the past – what a misconception. The Law of God is simple and accurate;

           “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

       with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your

      strength. This is the first commandment” MARK 13:34.

Sometimes, I ask myself, have I “loved God the  way this scripture commands” and I will say Lord; Yes! I know I can, as you strengthen me. We need to have this reflection in our daily thoughts and actions, this will help a great deal.

HOW NOT TO STRIVE WITH OUR MAKER

What am giving hear is not my principles – for whatever we know, we know in parts. For every believer is in a continues growth process, until we get to the full stature of His Son (1 Corinthians 13:9-12 & Ephesian 4:13). Let us examine the following points below;

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ACCEPT TO REASON WITH OUR MAKER

et us give it all up for Christ Jesus in every aspects of our lives. Put away every doubts and self-condemnation and anything of such sort.

WE ARE ORIGINALLY FROM HIM (ACTS 17:28)

 Having this conception always will spur us to keep enduring in God’s way. Returning to Him will always be paramount.

ACCEPT HIS LORDSHIP (ROMANS 10:9-11)

Every individual must be answerable to someone above him/her. And going by this law, all persons existing must locate their allegiance and loyalty to God Almighty in all things

CONCLUSION

The striving between men and God has gone on for too long. It is high time we end this contention between us and our maker for the good of ourselves and all parties involved.

FOCUS AREA

Dear Lord, I refuse to persistently strive with you in all area of my life. Please Lord, help me to be at absolute peace with you and every of your creation. Amen!!!

NO SIN, NO ILLS

“Your iniquities have turned these things away,

                                And your sins have withheld good from you”

                                                JEREMIAH 5:25   

INTRODUCTION

Our topic today says; 'No Sin, No Ills' meaning if there is sin then there is woes. Whether in personal living, or in corporate living. God told the people in Jeremiah's days that their iniquities (not one, but many) have turned these things away. Let us pause a little, and ask: what things? There are many like I said. These include: not pleading the (Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked) cause of the fatherless; and the right of the needy they do not defend. An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: says the Lord. The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power;  And My people love  to have it so.  But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:28-31). The worst of it all is that they have turned away from God (Jeremiah 4:1) “If you will return, O Israel,” says the LORD, “Return to Me;  And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight,  Then you shall not be moved").  

That same verse 25 of Jeremiah, the Lord God said that their sin have withheld good from them. Now, the question is what good? The answer is in the lines below;

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:22). Everlasting life is the chief of the gifts of God's good things. Hence, no one will not desire not to live or have this life if God.

PRESENCE OF SIN

The presence of sin enthrones many ills. Such as dead of both body and soul, Unimaginable deserters and God's anger and fury on humans etc. Often time, people are tempted to ask: why will a loving God allow all these things to happen to people? Like the one that happened in Philippines where a child (12-years old Glyzelle Palomar) asked the pope; "Why does God allow these things to happen to us"? Yet no one cared to ask; "what happens to God if we SIN"?

Sin found its origin from Lucifer who wanted to be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-15; Job 20:6; 2Thes. 2:4). And man suffered the effect latter after the temptation, in the Garden. One standard about God is that, He abhors sin in all its aspects. The next unit deals on this.

EFFECT OF SIN

From the above analysis, the answer to this unit is not far-fetched. When a nation becomes corrupt and decays, even the innocent can suffer (Wayne Jackson, 2015). In addition, Wayne Jackson in his article titled 'Have You Considered the Consequences of Sin' outlined worthwhile information, and I think is wise to include in parts what he wrote - here; As noted above there was an initial effect of sin that afflicted the newly created earth (e.g., thorns and thistles). It is scarcely realized, however, what a cataclysmic effect the Flood of Noah’s day had upon our planet. Subterranean “fountains” yielded vast and violent explosions of water. Combined therewith was an outpouring deluge from the “windows of heaven” (Genesis 7:11). Megatons of violent upthrusts of water and debris came from the bowels of the earth. Rain descended in unimaginable torrents for forty days and nights. The composition of the ancient earth was radically affected. Global and continental temperature zones were altered, and varying pressure systems created an environment that facilitated hurricanes and tornados. Land mass arrangements became unsettled and earthquakes followed in their wake. The violent features of today’s earth have their ultimate origins in the catastrophic events of Genesis 6-8. There is ample geologic and archaeological evidence of an ancient earth significantly different from today’s planet. Geologists testify to the early uniform climate of the earth as revealed by the fossil record—of both plants and animals. Even skeptics concede that at a point in the ancient past the earth had a “mild and constant climate” and “the elements of that world were in perfect balance” . Archaeological records from ancient Sumer (the oldest known civilization) speak of a land of the ancient past that was “pure,” “clean,” and “bright” — a “land of the living” in which there was “neither sickness nor death”. Though the geophysical catastrophes that frequently ravage our globe today cannot be attributed unequivocally to the direct action of God, they can be traced ultimately to human rebellion, and the permissive will of the Creator (Rehwinkel, 1951, 1-54; Jastrow, 1977, 69; Kramer, 1959, 144 in Jackson, 2015 ). So is the fate of man and earth. May God send to us His help.

CONCLUSION

The presence of sin translate to the predominance of woes, which is why the Bible declared righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). So dear friends, it is wise to accept the nature of God by turning wholly to Him and abhorring any form(s) of evil (sin). Meditate closely on the word of God. Ask Him always for His help. And He will answer you. Read Romans 10:9-10 in order to give your life to Christ. Shalom!

WHY TODAYS YOUTHS ARE NOT TOMORROW’S TRUE REPRESENTATIVES

INTRODUCTION

The life of a child is like the flow of current, if it is carefully directed, it produces light for all to use. But if it is abused and neglected, it either sparks violently or destroys the things it was meant to power correctly. A man once said; “if other children around your environment are not saved it therefore means your child (ren) is not saved.

The life of a child (youth) is a boomerang for or against the parent(s)  and the society at large – some children have taken the day-light out of their parents and devoured like wolves the lives of others, reason being that they are not decently nurtured (PROVERBS 22:6). Below are more facts on the issue of youth’s violence, keep reading.

TODAY’S YOUTHS ARE PRONE TO VIOLENCE

Majority of what causes and sustains violence in youths is “attitude” attitude is the product (mother) of either positive or negative action(s) in people. According to World Health Organization WHO (2014), “youth violence is a global public health problem. It includes a range of acts from bullying and physical fighting through more severe sexual and physical assaults to homicide”. The body further gave the following facts:

Key facts:

(a) Worldwide some 250 000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years of age each year, which is  43% of the total number of homicides globally each year. (b) For each young person killed, 20–40 more sustain injuries requiring hospital treatment. (c) In one study, from 3–24% of women report that their first sexual experience was forced. (d) Youth violence has a serious, often lifelong, impact on a person's psychological and social functioning.

Youth violence greatly increases the costs of health, welfare and criminal justice services; reduces productivity; decreases the value of property; and generally undermines the fabric of society.

Risk factors:

Factors that increase the likelihood of youth violence are complex.

Risk factors within the individual;

Hyperactivity, impulsiveness, poor behavioural control, attention problems, history of aggressive behavior, early involvement with alcohol, drugs and tobacco, antisocial beliefs and attitudes, low intelligence and educational achievement, low commitment to school and school failure, coming from a single-parent household, experiencing parental separation or divorce, exposure to violence in the family.

Prevention

Prevention programmes shown to be effective; include: life skills and social development programmes, designed to help children and adolescents manage anger, resolve conflict, and develop the necessary social skills to solve problems; schools-based anti-bullying prevention programmes.

PREVENTION OF YOUTH’S VIOLENCE GOD’S WAY

The problem of man started in GENESIS CHAPTER 3:20 when Man devalued Woman and named her Eve. Hence, the charge in MALACHI 2:16. For the Man who does not love his wife (or Woman) but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard your selves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.

The above injunction is not just a common saying, but a law everyone interested in a violence-free world should go by. It is quit unfortunate that violence has existed on the earth since the second generation of existence; When Cain killed his brother Abel (GENESIS 4:8). The lines below tells us more on prevention of violence God’s way:

Accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour and inviting in sincerity His Spirit in ours as well as living as he leads us – all the way.

If all the families on the earth will stop seeing divorce as option and start loving genuinely their wife and children, then the world will be violence-free the next minute of taking the action (COLOSSIANS 3:19). For God hates the wicked and the one who loves violence PSALMS 11:5.

Has anyone wondered the rate of the world’s population – how come the lack in everything, ranging from water, shelter, food, sustainable health, etc. this may be due to the fact that citizens of the world seriously revolted against God and the one he has sent JESUS CHRIST. Hence, this is a call for all to come to CHRIST JESUS and remain in Him always.

In Ephesians 4:29 God admonishes all to desist from corrupt talk. Such must not come out of our mouths. But that which is good to the hearing of all.

We live in a world where nearly everyone is offended in one another. Fellow road users are offended in each other’s driving. The masses are grossly offended in the government of the day. Individuals are offended in their spouses and so on so forth. Yet the Bible puts it this way; “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (COLOSSIANS 3:21). Discouragement is an essential drive for violence – behaviorists know better. Similarly, Ephesians 6:4 maintained thus: “fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD” all the world deserves is peace – which literally is the absence of violence. Hence, to attain this; a sincere shift in the way we think is essential.

 CONCLUSION

To attain a violence-free world is not an easy task. For the scripture records in MATTHEW 11:12 that the Kingdom of God has been facing violence right from the days of John the Baptist, and it is forcefully advancing.

The solution at this time is not far, since the problem is identified – attitudinal. For our youths to represent well, the parents’ attitude must change for good in Christ Jesus (ROMANS 10:9-10).

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