Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday November 7, 2011

You would think that people with college educations would learn to quote the Bible with at least a semblance of accuracy. Such is not always the case as was brought to the attention of the entire world when the spokesman for the most powerful person in the world made a gaffe that went around the world.

Jay Carney in an attempt to put some oomph into President Obama's speech concerning creating jobs said the following: "I believe the phrase from the Bible is, 'The Lord helps those who help themselves.'"

Red faces blossomed in the higher echelons of government as the Bible says no such thing.

While serving a particular church that I remember fondly, I often heard supposed biblical phrases such as "He that bloweth smoke through his nose shall not see the kingdom of heaven" and a favorite standby of individualists, "Every tub shall sit on its own bottom." As strongly as you may feel that these verses should be in the Bible, God for reasons known only to Him did not include them in the pages of Holy Writ.

When you think about being saved by grace the idea of blowing smoke through your nose may in fact get you into heaven much sooner. During the same pastorate I announced from the church, the local newspaper, and the radio and TV programs that I, Larry the Great, was going to preach an earth shaking sermon based on the scripture, “And God Gave Unto Them Shoes of Steel.” It was truly a wonderful thought. You can imagine my terror when I could not find the verse. Had I used the word Iron I could have saved myself and the more fastidious members of our group a ton of embarrassment. God promised to help the Children of Israel in such a manner in Deuteronomy 33:25 "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be."

The promise of shoes being up to the task of a long and bitter walk through forty years of testing along with the assurance of God's strength for whatever the day may hold were two truths that helped the mind and heart find the courage to continue. John Wesley expanded "So shall thy strength be" to read, "Thy strength shall not be diminished with age, but thou shalt have the vigour of youth even in thine old age: thy tribe shalt grow stronger and stronger." Just a thought. Moses experienced the same thing as his vision was not dimmed or his natural force abated at 120 years.

What with usury being the order of the day for the last eighty years I am amazed that persons in either party would have the nerve to attempt to quote the Bible. Just saying..

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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