To Know Or Not To Know

You might ask, well what's the question? The question is it better (or maybe worse) to know the word of God and continue to do wrong OR not to know the word and do wrong? If do not know the ways of God and you are out there bad, you can say or pretend you didn't know any better. BUT if you do know the Word and continue to do things that are not Christ like, would someone that was possibly on the verge of giving their life to Christ, be able to tell you were saved by YOUR speech or actions over the past 24 hours, the past week, the past month or the past year?Do you act like you're saved and put on your best suit or best dress on Sunday's but call yourself and others such things as playa, pimp, gangsta, b*tch, ho and other degrading names Monday through Saturday night which are all opposite of God's image? Do you call others that? Genesis 1:27 says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."Do you act "church" around church folks to live up to that persona you have created but act "thuggish", slut-ish, or act like you've never been to church or know the Word to satisfy the life you lead around your family, friends, co-workers or classmates? What kind of world would this be if Jesus mirrored us instead of us trying to mirror him? Just think if he copied your EVERY move for the next 24-48 hours. He would probably be confused wondering who we really are. Do I sing, "Lets get back to Eden, Live on top of the world by Donald Lawrence or No Battle, No Blessing by Sherry Addison or God Is Good by Regina Belle, God in Me by Mary Mary. Where 12 hours ago I was at a lounge or club blamin it on the al..al..al...al..al..alcohol with Jammie Foxx and T-Pain. Now maybe you say Jesus drank wine...that's true but He was never drunk. What if Jesus sang Birthday Sex on His birthday?Obviously, nobody is perfect. The bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" He knows we will make mistakes but stop making the same mistakes over and over again. Especially when are not learning anything from them. If you are cooking and you open the stove and accidentally touch a hot pan and burn yourself, the next time you remember to get a pot holder. If its your first time cooking, then your are more than likely to make this mistake than someone that is seasoned in the kitchen. Again, mistakes happen to everybody. Its what you learn from that mistake to make sure it doesn't happen again. For some, you may be a quick learner. For others, it may have to leave a permanent scar for it to be a constant reminder for you.IF you love the Lord, love Him and praise Him at all times and not when its convenient for you. Like when you are on the verge of losing your job. Perhaps you say "Oh Lord, help me". If you or a loved one just went in or got out the hospital. Maybe you say, "Lord heal my body or heal their body" If you narrowly avoided an accident or avoided something bad happening to you. Maybe you say "Thank you God".What about thanking God when things are going well in your life? Thanking Him for everything you have right now.Psalm 34:1 (KJV) says "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." So that means to give Him thanks when things are going well, give Him thanks when things are not going well, give Him thanks for when things hit rock bottom and you don't know how you are going to make it. Give Him thanks WHEN he delivers you out of that situation. Give Him thanks right now. God is a God full of grace and mercy whether you believe in Him or not. Isaiah 26:10 says "Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness, they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord."Remember when things get hot for you, instead of going in alone and getting burned, let God be your oven mitt or pot holder. He can keep you from getting burned if you use Him and trust Him.So I ask again, is it worse to know the Word of God and continue to do wrong or not to know?

By
Jason H. Richardson
(9/25/09)