Hey Gang, now here is a piece of
historic trivia that might earn you a bucket full of money, if you happened to
be a contestant on jeopardy. Did you
know that Edwin Thomas became a renowned master on the stage as a Shakespearian
actor at the age of fifteen? And did you
also know that his brother, John, played the part of Brutus in Julius Caesar
with Edwin? But did you also know that
two years later John assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?
Did you also know that Edwin, while
standing on the platform waiting for his train, saw a well-dressed young man
lose his footing and fall between the platforms and into the path of an
oncoming train? And with hesitation, Edwin locked his legs around a railing and
pulled the young man to safety. And
finally, did you know that young man was none other than the son of Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant? And that my friends
you can take to the bank.
Edwin and John had the same mother
and father, profession and passion – yet one choose life, the other death. One wonders how that happens but this we know-
it does indeed happen. We were blessed
with four children in our quiver; all lived under the same roof, interacted
with the same parents and siblings, attended church together but each one, in
their own way, is vastly different.
King David wrote, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me
in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks
to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are your works, and
my soul know it very well” (Psa. 139:13-14). And to each one, He placed the raw materials,
the unique abilities that made each one of us so different. Is it not fabulous that we are all
different?
Would it not be a boring
world if we were all prophets, or evangelists, or doctors, or truck drivers?
Yes, God formed us, we are fearfully
and wonderfully made but there are times when I wonder, if He made a mistake
when He did not place a stop control in us, so that when we choose to go our
own way, a siren or red light would appear.
Oh, but He did! It is called that
still small voice in the recesses of
our heart and mind that says, ‘Hey buster, you are out of line!’
How many times have you heard the
phrase, “I did it without thinking”?
Sorry, that does not compute in God’s kingdom. There is a mechanism built into our electric
system called choices; without them we are but mere robots driven by the wind,
subject to be moved and shaken by the whims that come into our mind. Paul talked about that when he said, ”I do
the very things I hate?” (Rom 7:15) But
that is not God’s way. He placed a
conscious deep in our soul -that is that red light and siren- but He also gave
us the choice to turn it off!
Throughout the Bible we see many
examples of those who shut it off; Cain and Able, both sons of Adam and Eve. Cain choose murder, and God let him. David and Saul – both kings of Israel, one
choose God, the other one power – and God let him. Peter and Judas, both denied the Lord, one
sought mercy and forgiveness, the other choose death, and God let them.
So, good folks, before this day is
over we will have opportunities to make a choice on whether we will feed the
white dog or the black dog. Jesus was
very clear: those who make the choice to go their own way are choosing eternal
punishment; but, praise God, we also have the option to choose eternity in His
presence in that place He prepared for His sheep.
Blessings.
Gramps.
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