Short Stories

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OUR PRIDE AND JOY

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song: and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" (Psa 137:1-4)

How much stranger must this land become - before we come to our Christian senses and realize that we dwell in the midst of Babylon: the land of confusion? "...Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18:2-4)

Drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication, we consider not, that the delicacies of Babylon are an abomination unto GOD. We dine from the plates of devils and gorge ourselves, upon every foul spirit. We have acquired the taste for uncleanness, and the word of GOD no longer appeals to our appetite. We have lost the heat of our passion for CHRIST as we have partaken of her sins, and we received of her plagues. Having forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters, we sit down by the rivers of Babylon and seek to be refreshed. Like the woman at the well, we covet waters, which cannot satisfy we stare upon the face of them like wine, they mock us. To the eye they are pleasing, to the touch they are cooling, to the spirit, there is no relief: They promise much, but they deliver only addiction.

The king of Babylon (the god of this world) has become our cruel taskmaster. Like a thief in the night, he has broken in upon us as we slept for we kept not a watch neither did we pray. We were taken captive, yet not as by might, but as by deceit we were carried away bound, yet not as by chains, but as by lies. Like strong drink, which moveth itself in the cup, sin mocks us we tarried too long at the cup, and it biteth like a serpent under its influence, we were led away like men, which have no eyes to see.

In the midst of Babylon, we are become a reproach to those we have made our fellows, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. We are become their song, yea, we are become the byword of their lips. We are in their sight as the offscouring of the earth, and we are powerless to resist them. When we think to answer them again, our shame rises within us; it silences our tongues. Guilt causes us to hang our heads: for we have forsaken the darling of our souls.

By the rivers we weep as we remember the sweet fragrance of the ROSE of SHARON. The presence of his SPIRIT filled us and satisfied like the aroma of summer flowers. We remember that our thoughts of him were precious, and all our meditations of him were sweet. We have allowed it to slip away, as we willingly deceived ourselves. Ignorantly, we allowed the merchants of Babylon to entice us away with the delicacies of the world. We were desirous of their dainties, we considered not, what was before us for they were deceitful meat. We gave ourselves over to our fleshly appetites, we allowed our bellies to rein over us as god, and we put not the knife to our throats.

Our captors mock us, they say to us as we weep, "Make mirth for us, make us to laugh. Sing for us one of your LORD'S songs, be our entertainment. Sing to us of your sorry GOD!" Behind our backs, they laugh and say between themselves, "If these be Christians, what a sorry GOD they must serve." We hangs our heads and look away, as we stand before them in filth covered rags our hands stained with the uncleanness of our ways. Deep within, their piercing words find their mark, and we know that the name of GOD is blasphemed among them through us. We creep away, our spirits bent low, our hearts broken. Silently we whisper these anguishing words to ourselves, "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?"

We hang our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. "We cannot sing the LORD'S song in this strange land." The songs of praise we once played upon our harps have vanished from us. We hang our harps upon the weeping willows, they are turned to mourning, and our organs, into the voice of them that weep. All hope of singing the songs of joy are gone, only our shame remains and the anguish of our spirits. The warm winds have abandoned the empty wings of our broken spirits. We cannot soar, as we are lowered into the dark depths of unquenchable anguish.

The LORD'S song is a song of praise! It cannot be sung without the joy of the LORD. His praises shall not roll from the tongues of those who dwell not in his presence. Our sins are become a wall of partition between our deliverer and us. We are hid from his face. In the shadow of our iniquities, we shiver with cold there is no warmth of spirit to be found. Our fingers are numb. The instruments of our rejoicing collect dust, and spiders weave their webs upon our harps.

At night, we weep upon our beds, the mornings bring with them no joy. We have broken ourselves off from the vine of life, which provided our strength, our joy. We have fallen to the ground, there we remain, withering in the fires of our own making, as the fowls of the air pick at our flesh. We look for deliverance, but no one cometh to our rescue. We cry out loud, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!" (Gen 4:13) but because we cry without hope, no ear is open to our pleas.

We are defeated because we have become defeated in our minds. We have been told we are beat, and we believe it. Our minds have been corrupted, we brought not our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST. Instead, we conformed our minds to the world, as we slowly replaced truth with lies. The waters of our minds are become bitter. Our thoughts toward GOD are become poisoned. The winds of deceit trouble the surface, and the waters have become murky with mire. There is no clarity only deep confusion: No longer can we see into the depths and where there is no clarity, there is no understanding. Confusion passes unchallenged we perish from lack of understanding. The way out remains hidden from us, how is it that we have come to this?

We blame GOD for the absence of joy. Fool, does GOD take it from thee? Or has thou sold it for that which perishes with the using? Is not the absence of joy the price extracted for your sin? Did you do well? or have you robbed yourself of that which GOD freely gives? And now you seek to call GOD a thief. Be satisfied with that which you have withheld from GOD: for it is the wages of your unrighteous doing.

The LORD'S song we have all but forgotten the melody. Vaguely we remember some of the words. Like faces we haven't seen for so long, they linger at the edge of darkness in the shadows we see the shapes, but the features still escape our vision. We say, "If I could only remember, then would I sing, and my troubles would flee like when David played his harp, and the evil spirit fled from Saul." A thin ray of light glitters in the distance, it causes us to consentrate. Slowly we begin to recall the words. We whisper them, they seem foreign to our mouths our own tongues convict us, as our ears hear the voice of a hypocrite. By the words of our own mouths we stand convicted, with our own tongues we're reproved.

In the moment of our desperation, we fall prostrate to the ground, and we begin to whisper this prayer: "GOD, I pray that I might hum a bar, that I might remember how to sing your songs of praise, that my soul might be lifted from the mire which holds it captive. Let the words come flooding to my memory; let them sweep away this song of desperation. Make your face to shine on me do not elude me always. My spirit thirsts for thee, let me not be ashamed to trust in you, but let my hope come again to me, and let this dark night pass at the entrance of thy words. Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones, which thou hast broken, may rejoice. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. Open, thou, my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise: for I have sinned, in that I did not make you my confidence. I trusted in my own devices, my counsel was not according to thy word, and I sought to sing the song of the wicked."

Like a search light, these words then came flooding into our minds: "Return unto me, Oh ye of little faith, and I will receive you unto myself." And as we lay silent, his words continued: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and MY WORDS abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my FATHER glorified, that ye bear much fruit so ye shall be my disciples. As the FATHER hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandment, ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my FATHER'S commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (Jn 15:5-11)

"But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23) In order to enjoy the fruits of the SPIRIT in your life, you need to abide in the VINE, GOD'S word needs to abide in you, and you need to keep his commandments. These things were written unto us that his joy might remain in us and that our joy might be full. If we abide not in the vine, if his words abide not in us, and if we keep not his commandment, then we do not well, and the fruits of the SPIRIT will not be ours to enjoy. "And this is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Jn 15:12-13) JESUS laid down his life for us: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (Jn 15:14) we need to lay down our lives for him. We need to come out from among her, and be not partakers of her sins but live separated lives amidst a corrupt and wicked generation.

"And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD." (Gen 4:3) And Cain took his offering and set out on his way to his brother Abel's house. And when he had come unto his brother, he said, "Come, let us give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come with me into his courts." (Psa 96:8) "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof." (Gen 4:4) And together, Cain and Abel set out to worship GOD and as they journeyed they said one to another, "Oh come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." (Psa 95:1-2) "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is GOD: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psa 100:2-4)

As Cain and Abel came before the presence of the LORD bearing their offerings, they were joyful, they came exuberant, full of excitement as they laid before the LORD their meager offerings. "And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." (Gen 4:5)

Cain was devastated more than anything he had coveted GOD'S approval. He had been certain that the LORD would be pleased with his offering that he would find favor in the eyes of his LORD. Never, had it been his intentions to displease his LORD. Yet, instead of accepting his offering, GOD despised it. His expectations were destroyed. That which he had yearned for was being denied him. His joy was instantly turned into mourning, and the anguish of his heart ate slowly away at his countenance. That which he feared most had come unto him and in the bitterness of his soul, he turned his heart away from GOD. "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Gen 4:5)

"And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" (Gen 4:6-7) And Cain communed with himself over the words, which the LORD had spoken unto him: Yea right! If thou doest well - who does he think he's kidding? If thou doest well - I worked hard to please him and what thanks did I get. I labored and sweat, and worked my fingers to the bone to grow those fruits and vegetables, and what does he do? He spits on them. All the time I'm out in the hot sun, sweating over the fruit, what was Abel doing? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! He just sat around on his lazy butt, and GOD knows it, he sees everything. Yet, there he is, doting over Abel like he's some sort of hero. I'm the one who worked hard, not Abel. It just isn't fair!

Contrary to the image one first perceives from reading Genesis, Cain wasn’t a bad man by any stretch of the imagination. In fact Cain was your typical devout religious type you pass on the street everyday, who scurry about in their busy lives desperately seeking God’s favor in this life. Cain suffered with the same disease that you and I suffer with: PRIDE. He never inquired of GOD as to why his offering had been rejected - he knew why. Cain knew that GOD required a blood sacrifice. Cain knew that without the shedding of blood, there was no remission of sin. He knew that salvation was by grace and not of works. Yet, Cain chose to ignore the words of GOD, saying to himself, "What's so special about blood? Anybody can bring blood, but if I bring to GOD, that which I labored and sweat over, surely GOD will see my hard work and will deem it more acceptable than that which costs me nothing. Is not personal sacrifice better than blood?" And yet the battle continues today, unwittingly we try to earn the gift which God freely gives through grace – and the blood of Christ is trodden under foot.

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Gen 4:7) Cain was given a choice. GOD pointed out to Cain what his options were. Yet, Cain did not choose to swallow his pride and seek to correct that which GOD found to be displeasing. Instead, he maintained that his intentions were honorable, and that GOD was unrighteous. Rather than admit his wrong doing, he gave himself over to his anger and allowed sin to rule over his heart. And in his anger, he "rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." (Gen 4:8)

And God banished Cain for murdering his brother Abel. In reply to GOD'S judgment, Cain cried, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth and from thy face shall I be hid…" (Gen 4:13-14) Cain was sentenced to a joyless existence: for only in GOD'S presence is there fullness of joy.

Joy is GOD'S reward for doing well, and if we do not well, then sin lieth at the door, and GOD'S face is hid from us. Like clouds, which hide the sun, his warmth is withheld, and a cold chill is sent shivering up our spine. You need to "DO WELL" in order to win GOD'S approval. You need to do that which you know is right in order to experience the joy of the LORD. And if you "do not well,” then you go the way of Cain, who cried, "My punishment is greater than I can bear."

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he (JESUS) entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house." (Lk 10:38) "Martha, my disciples and I are wearied from much travel. Bid us enter thy home that we may rest and be refreshed." Martha was joyful as she bid them of all people, my LORD has chosen me to minister to his need. Martha rejoiced as she quickly welcomed JESUS into her home and made him comfortable.

"What a privilege is mine," she prided herself as she went to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her honored visitors "the hand from which all blessings flow, has knocked on my door he has asked that I serve him. I'll cook the best dinner he ever tasted." As she busied herself, JESUS began to teach those who had gathered around him the word of GOD. "And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at JESUS' feet, and heard his word." (Lk 10:39) And Mary's eyes bubbled with excitement as she looked up into the face of her LORD. She listened attentively to every word, which proceeded from his lips. And as she listened, these words ran rejoicing through her thoughts: "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as a shield." (Psa 5:11-12)

Mean while, Martha was hard at work in the kitchen, in service to her LORD, "Wait till he tastes my mutton stew, he will be so proud of me, I'm so excited I can't wait." But as time continued to pass, Martha began to weary. Preparing a meal for as many visitors as she had, was no easy task bringing in fire wood, keeping the fire going, milking the goat, kneading the bread, churning the butter the list was endless! "If I don't get some help, I'll never finish what will the LORD think of me?" Martha looked over where JESUS stood teaching, at his feet she saw her sister Mary. "Why that little twit," she thought, as she wiped the sweat from her forehead, "here I am working my fingers to the bone, while she just sits there on her lazy butt. Why doesn't JESUS tell her to come and help me? He knows how hard I'm working out here in this hot kitchen. After all, it's his dinner that I'm preparing! Apparently, he just doesn't care about me."

Saddened by the thought, Martha went back to work, trying not to think about it, it was just upsetting her, and she didn't want to be upset not today. Yet, the more she tried not to think about it, the more it kept sneaking back into her thoughts until finally, she couldn't think about anything else. The more she thought, the angrier she became until finally, she couldn't contain herself any longer. "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, LORD, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." (Lk 10:40)

Martha wasn't concerned with what Mary wanted, nor did she seek out the LORD'S advise concerning her sister. Martha was only concerned with herself and what was best for her. She went to JESUS, and said, "dost thou not care?" Only pride questions the integrity of GOD. As did Eve before her, Martha questioned the LORD'S love towards her "Bid her therefore that she help me."

As a child who can't have her own way, she said to JESUS, "You don't care about me, if you cared, you would make her help me. Bid her therefore! Prove it, if you care!!" "..LORD, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?" It is pride that leads one to believe that they alone, are left to serve GOD. It doesn't matter what anyone else may be doing, it isn't as important as what they are doing. "Dost thou not care...that I am left to serve alone?" Love never questions the sincerity of GOD, nor does it seek to test the integrity of his love.

"And JESUS answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Lk 10:41-42) That's what's good about eternal things they last forever. While Martha dabbled with carnal things, Mary feasted on spiritual things. Motivated by the pure love of GOD, Mary humbled herself at the feet of her LORD and worshipped him. Martha was much troubled, and was worrying about many things: on the other hand, Mary was experiencing much joy, and the peace of GOD made her careful for nothing. Serving GOD must begin at the feet of JESUS.

Pride will only push you so far but real joy will carry you through troubling times to the very end: and no one shall take that joy from you. Martha's pride was sufficient to sustain her until the going got rough, then it left her empty it robbed her of her joy, and in its place it left behind doubt and bitterness. Pride always looks around for someone else to blame. Martha blamed her situation on her sister and accused GOD. "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" (Gen 4:6-7)

Tribulation and affliction are sent into our lives to strengthen our faith. As we endure the trials, our joy is increased. In the parable of the seed sower (Mt 13 and Mk 4), there are four different groups of hearers. Only one group is said to have received the word of GOD with joy. "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it." (Mt 13:20) "And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." (Mk 4:17)

This group has no depth, they are shallow being a Christian is merely a superficial matter. They wear their Christianity like a cosmetic it looks good, but alas, it's only skin deep. Outwardly they look pious, while inwardly they are happy-go-lucky they idol away their time seeking that which gives them pleasure. They are content to be Christian so long as it is "FUN" after all, it beats going to hell, any day but don't mention sacrifice or talk about responsibility: for as soon as the joy goes out of it, they vanish. To them, it's just another garden party mention suffering for CHRIST'S sake, and the party is over. It's time to move on to palm reading, chanting, and Yoga.

"And have no root in themselves, and so ENDURE but for a time:" (Mk 4:17) A plant which has shallow roots cannot endure the hot sun. Having no depth of root, it cannot draw nourishment from deep within the earth, with which to strengthen itself: Therefore, it endures for a time, then almost instantly, it wilts and dies. A Christian needs depth he needs something within that he can draw on for strength when things get tough. If you have been saved for any length of time, and if you don’t know anything else about joy, you at least know this: "...For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto your LORD: neither be ye sorry: for the joy of the LORD is your strength..." (Neh 8: 9-10)

"The joy of the LORD is your strength." Most people tend to think of this joy as gasoline they say, "Well I just can't seem to get myself started in the work of the LORD I'm fresh out of joy today. If I only had a little joy, then I would do great things for the LORD the joy of the LORD is your strength, you know. Maybe I'll feel more joyful tomorrow." Go to the ant thou sluggard and be ye wise! Joy isn't like gasoline it's more like a carrot that GOD dangles before your eyes to get you hopping and hoping. "If thou doest well, shalt thou not have this carrot?" (CS 4:7) God doesn't give you joy to feed your pride he gives you joy to soothe the pain of suffering in his service. You want a little joy in your Christian life? Then get off your butt and earn it!

"Oh if I only had a little joy, then I...," who you fooling? Fool! Get off your lazy butt and read your Bible! "I just can't seem to get myself in the mood to..." "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back." (Prov 26:3) get down on your face, and pray that GOD forgives you for your endless string of lame excuses! You want joy? Then "DO WELL." You know what's right, you don't need anybody to explain it to you, again get off your lazy butt while there is still time, and get involved in a ministry, then thou wilt be accepted. Like Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things. But the one thing that is needful, you neglect. I'm fearful for you who hath bewitched you?

Like the carrot, joy lies before you it is to be received as a result of doing well. It is never to be found in the lap of leisure. You need to run the race which is before you that you may finish your course with joy. (Acts 20:24) "...Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher of our faith" (Now listen for once) "Who for the joy that was set before him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD." (Heb 12:1-2)

"Who for the joy that was set before him endured...” Superficial Christians, having no root in themselves, endure but for a time. Are you all out of endurance? Maybe it's because you have no joy. You need to do well. Jesus didn't endure the cross for the joy that was to be had from hanging there. He didn't give his back to those who ripped the flesh from it for the pleasure of the experience. Do you need some endurance? Look to the author of your faith. He didn't let them tear his beard from his face because it was pleasurable neither can you be a Christian for the mere pleasure of the experience. God rewards those doing well with his joy.

JESUS despised the shame. The only thing you despise is the preacher when he tells you that you need to be more responsible about tithing. "Well, maybe if he preached something that made me feel more joyful, then I could be the cheerful giver that GOD loves." Fool! Know ye not, that the only things that will last are eternal things? You mock GOD with your "Give-GOD-a-bone" mentality. Keep your bone, it was for your benefit that GOD intended you should give. But GOD is not mocked, you're the one who has no joy you rob yourself, not GOD! A church filled with Superficial Christians will endure but for a time: and as it wilts away, are you doing well? And if the church dies, will you blame GOD for being unrighteous?

If you have no joy in your Christian walk, then you need to start doing well. You need to start doing those things, which may not be fun, but are pleasing to GOD. You need to start reading your Bible, you need to start being the witness for GOD that you know you should be. You need to become active in the ministry. GOD loveth a cheerful giver. Can GOD be happy with what you gave last week? How can you have joy knowing that GOD has no respect unto you or unto your offering? Your time, your talents, and your money, can only make you happy if you use them in serving GOD, everything else is vanity and pride.

"And let us not be weary in WELL DOING: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Gal 6:9) In other words, we shall be fruitful we shall, of the SPIRIT, reap joy. As we come to a close, I would like to leave you with this thought: Joy is always proceeded with labour. "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." (Jn 16:21-22) Choose that one thing which is needful: and like Mary, no one shall be able to take your joy from you. DO WELL!!

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