Short Stories

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THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS


We live in a dispensation of Government sponsored fornication. Those entrusted with the public good make a mockery of this trust. Diligently, they encourage children to have babies and women to abort the fruit of their wombs, defiling the sanctity thereof. They pass out condoms to our children, purchased with our tax dollars, upon which, are written the words, "In GOD We Trust." Have we become a nation of fools ruled by hypocrites?

Deliberately, they discourage the teaching of basic moral values, and have outlawed Christian teaching from public schools. As their redemption, they package unspeakable perverseness, they label it "sex education" claiming that AIDS preys upon the uneducated. They have turned our schools into breeding grounds of sin; iniquity is their only fruit. With diligence and deliberation, they train up our children to be twofold the children of hell that they are: yet the man of GOD teaches not his own children within his own house because it is not convenient. This same man "will not plow by reason of the cold therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing." (Prov 20:4)

We live in the midst of a nation of strangers. The closer we build our houses together, the more distant we become from each other. Friends are kept at arms length, we allow them not into our sanctuary, we die of loneliness - in the midst of a multitude. We do not see as we are seen. Friend no longer sharpeneth friend as friendships have been replaced by pacts, formed for reasons of personal benefit. We are looked upon by our countrymen as a sheepfold, a commodity to be raped, a gazing stock for the shearers. We are manipulated for their profit; we are bought and sold by zip codes; we are seduced by their wooing, hypnotized by their glitter, we are targets for their campaigns of deceit. In seeing and hearing our souls have become vexed, we are bewitched and we know it not. We pay them to come into our homes and rob us of our sensibility. We are mesmerized, we drink in with our eyes, and they smile to our faces as they pick our pockets. Are we not contrary? Do we not sell that which is precious for that which is devilish? It cannot satisfy neither does it endure, for it perishes with the morning dew, in the heat of the sun we are spent, we are left with nothing. Verily the ungodly sell their souls for gain - but what hast thou gained, oh man of GOD?

We live in an age where the people have lost their vision. Like blind men, they have stumbled from the way of GOD and are turned, every man, to his own way. Everyone doeth what is right in his own eyes, their feet are swift to do evil, they prey, everyone, upon his neighbor.

We have become, as it were, a nation of lawyers, yet they justify the wicked for reward; justice is far from us. Lawyers become politicians; they manipulate the legislative system passing laws convenient for their peers. They have cast the Bible from the courtroom, they teach for laws the words of men. They bow down to worship the Constitution, which they manipulate and misuse to justify their evil enterprising. "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor." (Isa 10:1-2).

Justice has been perverted by corrupt minds it is become a commodity of the rich, it is bought and sold in back rooms for gain. The love of money feeds upon our nation like an eagle which preys upon a defenseless animal. Held tight within its talons, evil tears from us whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. Would it not be an act of mercy to just bury what remains of us?

The lack of integrity is considered a virtue, and honesty is looked upon as a conspiracy against opportunity. What can't be enticed into corruption is to be mistrusted and despised. To the ungodly nothing is pure, there is no soundness in their ways, the whole head is sick and yet the principled people have gone the way of the dinosaurs. There is a generation that calls evil, good, and good, evil. My friend, we live in the midst of it.

We live in a dispensation of time when people are without natural affections. Women laden with lust, seek out, and are led away captive into abusive relationships. Of this sort are they, which consider natural affections to be dull. They are no longer able to respond they are past feeling they desire to feel. They prefer the heights and valleys of abuse to the deadness of their souls. Upon their emotional roller coaster they confuse that sick feeling in the pit of their bellies for the thrill of love as they are cast down and trodden under foot. Through the desire of their hearts, they cause their eyes to be blind, they lie within themselves, they say, "he loves me." "The fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." (Prov. 18:2)

We live in a dispensation of time wherein human relationships are no longer predicated by natural affections. Human relationships have become inordinate, no longer founded upon Biblical principles; they have degenerated, becoming shallow, unstable and nomadic in nature. From the onset, they are entered as transient affairs, transforming "The Home" into little more than seedy motels, a place to hang one's hat until checkout time. Mutal pacts formed in darkness for financial or personal gain; living together in sin has become the norm, and marriage is considered an institution for fools. From the beginning, it was not meant to be so, but the hardness of their hearts has caused it to be.

Evil concupiscence has replaced godly love and charity has come to be defined as a "tax deduction" rather than the "Bond of Perfectness." (Col 3:14). Even the children are not safe in their own beds. Their mothers pretend piety as they instill frowardness: her words are towards her children, yet her desire is to her appetites. She brings home strangers, she instructs her children to call them father, they are become a prey to reprobate minds to do those things, which are not convenient. There is no sanctity in the home of the ungodly, "The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked." (Prov 3:33).

We live in a day when the ungodly are proud, and the man of GOD is ashamed. The ungodly parade their perverse ways shamelessly down Main Street: as the Christian scurries like a rat down the alley his Bible concealed in a brown paper bag. He is careful to avoid confrontation, lest "The offense of the Cross" (Gal 5:11), should come unto him. The name of his savior, JESUS CHRIST, is nigh unto the ungodly, even in their lips, for it is the name by which they curse their friends; their lips are the snare of their souls. We live in the midst of a people of unclean lips, to whom profanity is fashionable. In their vanity, they compete to invent new sayings; they collect them like diamonds and store them in their hearts. Proudly they utter them aloud, amusing the public's ear. But the man of GOD timidly moves his lips as he silently prays in the restaurant, lest someone should hear, and he should "suffer persecution for the cross of CHRIST." (Gal 6:12).

As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of CHRIST (Gal 6:12). And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision (righteousness by works), why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased. (Gal 5:11). Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution. (2Tim 3:12). For GOD hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our LORD, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of GOD. (2Tim 1:7-8). For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of GOD unto salvation to everyone that believeth. (Rm 1:16). Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of CHRIST'S sufferings (1Pet 4:12-13), which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of GOD, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of GOD, for which ye also suffer. (2Thes 2:5). For unto you it is given in the behalf of CHRIST, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29), that ye may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. (Phil 3:10). Let this mind be in you which was also in CHRIST JESUS: who, being in the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:5-8). Though he were a SON, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (Heb 5:8). Forasmuch then as CHRIST hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of GOD. (1Pet 4:1-2). For even hereunto were ye called: because CHRIST also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps. (1Pet 2:21). Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you in due time (1Pet 5:6) for GOD resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble (1Pet 5:5) And the GOD of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by CHRIST JESUS, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1Pet 5:10). Wherefore, JESUS also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Heb 13:12-13).

There remains, therefore, a principle, found in the word of GOD that Christians must suffer for CHRIST'S sake (Phil 1:29). Those who refuse to suffer in this life shall suffer later, for "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall SUFFER LOSS: but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire." (1Cor 3:13-15). My brethren, let us choose rather to suffer affliction now, with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures of the world: having respect unto the recompense of the reward (Heb 11:25-26).

He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief it pleased his FATHER to bruise him. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of GOD and afflicted. Shall we continue to hide, as it is, our faces from him? He is despised, and we esteem him not, lest we should suffer "The Offense of The Cross."

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