Many years ago, a group of men who were willing to risk their lives and fortunes to establish a nation that would be free from the avarice (insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth) and tyranny of men, penned the words (In Congress, July 4, 1776 - The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America): “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…”
Today, after 234 years, how is this Pursuit working out? Is the Government truly “of the people, for the people, by the people…”? How does one become like a mere pawn and relegated to insignificance? Do you feel and believe that The Government today is actually concerned for you and your need, or might there be a more sinister motive, namely, their own personal career and fortunes? How do people and governments get to this point of inward focus and personal interests?
Perhaps we can glean an insight and answer from the Book: The Choice by Max Lucado, where we read: “…Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. “There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter.” The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth. “Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation.” “Ah, but you’ve only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter.” A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, “What is it?” The Creator spoke only one word: “Selfishness.” The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths. “This is the result of choice?” the angel asked. “Yes.” “They will forget you?” “Yes.” “They will reject you?” “Yes.” “They will never come back?” “Some will. Most won’t.” “What will it take to make them listen?”
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him. With another step into the future, He paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler of a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon He would be hung on it…”
Has Max Lucado defined the issue for us – selfishness and self-centered interests? Is that why Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness seems to elude so many? In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus sets the parameters for following Him, and asks a poignant rhetorical question. We read: “Jesus said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Selfishness - self-centered interests – must be sacrificed on that cross. We are here to emulate the Savior and Creator! One needs to love God and to show God-Love to all. God-Love gave us Jesus and Redemption! Consider these things with me!
Today, after 234 years, how is this Pursuit working out? Is the Government truly “of the people, for the people, by the people…”? How does one become like a mere pawn and relegated to insignificance? Do you feel and believe that The Government today is actually concerned for you and your need, or might there be a more sinister motive, namely, their own personal career and fortunes? How do people and governments get to this point of inward focus and personal interests?
Perhaps we can glean an insight and answer from the Book: The Choice by Max Lucado, where we read: “…Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. “There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter.” The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth. “Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation.” “Ah, but you’ve only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter.” A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, “What is it?” The Creator spoke only one word: “Selfishness.” The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths. “This is the result of choice?” the angel asked. “Yes.” “They will forget you?” “Yes.” “They will reject you?” “Yes.” “They will never come back?” “Some will. Most won’t.” “What will it take to make them listen?”
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him. With another step into the future, He paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler of a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon He would be hung on it…”
Has Max Lucado defined the issue for us – selfishness and self-centered interests? Is that why Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness seems to elude so many? In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus sets the parameters for following Him, and asks a poignant rhetorical question. We read: “Jesus said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Selfishness - self-centered interests – must be sacrificed on that cross. We are here to emulate the Savior and Creator! One needs to love God and to show God-Love to all. God-Love gave us Jesus and Redemption! Consider these things with me!
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