Christian Living

WHEN THE SOAP BOX CALLS

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
04/16/20
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

PROLOGUE

Do you remember this quote of Charles Dickens? I surely do. His book “A Tale of Two Cities" was required reading for me in high school.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Was Dickens a profit? Did he have a divine prophetic visionary of today’s culture? Did he foresee this Coronavirus Pandemic?  Maybe not, but this insert surely fits into today’s society, one would diffidently say.  

In a reversal of Dickens famous cliché, the characteristics of evil versus good are very easy to behold. Simply read your local newspaper, tune into your television news, surf the Internet. Or you could talk it over with your next-door neighbor to gain a comparison between the "Worst" and the "Best" of times.

Yes, we have experienced many a pandemic down through the ages. We got through them all, and we will this one as well. I trust you will positively digest this simple blog entitled “ WHEN THE SOAP BOX CALLS"  

“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:3-4)

Here I go again, standing piously on the proverbial “soap box.” You see, I’ve just about had enough. “Enough of what?” one might ask.

Not to lose my religion, let me just put it this way as my old veteran friend would say ”If you can find a better foxhole, go jump in it.“ To this I shout a big Amen!

In all due respect to the mindset of our present age, I sadly wonder how many are actually searching out any foxholes of truth?

So, how are you faring these days having been placed under house arrest?  This confinement is surely having its effects on our free society. Nonetheless, isn’t this great country of ours, “The land of the free, the home of the brave” great? Freedom still reigns, in spite of all the negative published efforts to the contrary. 

Obviously, this so-called cabin fever does have its limitations. If this pandemic doesn’t let up soon, I’ll probably have to apply for a dog tag, not having had a haircut in weeks. However, the fast food business is thriving. I haven’t missed any of those super-duper, juicy, calorie-laden hamburgers with a side order of fries. 

Aren’t those old black and white, silent movies awesome? Causes me to brush up on my speed reading. Just go light on the fat-free popcorn, please.

I do miss our God-given religious freedom of church service assembly. Nonetheless isn’t online Tv great? Soon we’ll be back to normal. Amen!  

Speaking of religion, this brings me to another unfortunate subject, that of this unwanted Coronavirus Pandemic, and its hold on our free society. Has this caused another form of totally sacrilegious worship? If so, who is the originating culprit?  Are we now being misled, in the worship of such?

One need only surf the internet to find any number of altars around the world. Most are in the name of religion, but some not. Let me just add another to the mix. This unswerving altar of pandemic worship. Are you too worshipping at the altar of pandemic fever, no pun intended? I surely trust not.

If so, just what brought you to your knees, to this ungodly shrine?   Was it allegiance to panic control, brought on by the government, the news media, the general public, or a combination of all?  

If so, just what caused such fearful panic? Scripture tells us we are to have fear in the sense of awe (I Peter 1:17; 2:17), but not cowardice.   

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (I Timothy 1:7)

In other words, we should stand firm in our God-given beliefs and not be spinelessly faint hearted. Now more than ever, we need to not only prayerfully step up and take care of ourselves, but our loved ones, our friends and neighbors as well. Are you overcoming fear with a sound mind?

Regretfully, any crisis is bad, especially when it comes to the sanction of precious human life. But the Scripture is quick to tell us to not lose heart, either in today’s setting or in the days to come.

“Your life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.  You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.” (Job 11:17-19)

I seem to recall that Christian television ratings have recently increased, as opposed to secular news ratings having decreased. If this be true, I can rightly understand why. America’s populace has always taken a more positive spiritual view of the imminent. What has happened to the tried and true news motto ”We report; You Decide”?

Now, more than ever before, even with innovative state-of-the-art technology, all forms of media broadcasting seem to be missing the mark. Americas population has always had a deep-seated longing for the truth, the right kind of knowledge.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

I recently conducted a little math experiment with respect to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Taking into account the population of our particular county as opposed to the number of reported Coronavirus cases, it gave me a percentage of less than two percent reported cases in our county.  

Again, I can’t over-emphasize that human life is priceless. Just one loss is too many. Nonetheless, the old cliché of “doom and gloom” has no place in today’s society. So, why are the various channels of distributed information not broadcasting such factual numbers?  The old standby phrase “creative accounting” comes to mind.

And too, why are such creative accounting practices used by news media? Could it perhaps be in search of increased popularity or ratings? Maybe a case of super ego. Maybe just a popularity struggle. I’m not rightly sure of the answer.

Such practices are probably legal. Nonetheless, loopholes can and often times exploit a difference of opinion that jeopardizes public trust.

How is the sudden increased feeling of pessimism and despondent fear among the populace damaging to our future societal prospects?  

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (I Timothy 1:7)

Understandably this Coronavirus pandemic is surely a bad crisis. However, America has had many like crises in the past. Capitalism is America’s great God-given right. A right that should never be over- or under-used.

Why not lean on the old tried and true idiom “this too will pass"? Or better still rest in the proven divine instruction labeled Faith. (Hebrews 11:1) 

Yes, our God-given freedoms can be abused and over-stepped by any number of entities such as the government, the news media, the television, the radio, word of mouth, and oh yes, sad to say, the church as well.

Nonetheless, it is our duty, as American citizens, to show the proper loyalty to our founding rights, as well as to our governmental authorities. Such rights were divinely ordained. (Romans 13:1-7)

EPILOGUE 

I trust then you have gotten the point of this blog. As America’s famous motto relates, it is still, “In God We Trust.”  

As you retire for the evening, don’t forget to pray for this great country of ours and for all that entails.  God is willing and waiting to talk with us. (Leviticus 26:12)

Now, as you leave this blog, please read Psalm Ninety-One. This psalm of trust may be outlined as follows: the bases of security found in the character (vv. 1-2) and care (vv.3-8) of God; and the blessings of security (His protection, vv.9-13, and His love, vv.14-16).

FOR ADDITIONAL BLOGS PLEASE VISIT MY WEB PAGE http://ccrobey.wixsite.com/themessage