Yesterday, I felt like I was in a rut. About noon, I just couldn't take this "cabin fever" any longer and said to my wife that we should take the dogs for a walk- but someplace different!!! So, we all got into the truck without knowing where we were going. All the dogs seemed to understand was "walk"- and we didn't seem to know much more than that ourselves. Then Linda told me of a park she wanted to go to in Dade City. So we went downtown to the bank and took a left onto Meridan street. Then we came upon the Price Park and I decided to take the pictures you see at the top of the blog post. Nice park!!! I especially liked the "dog walk"- very nicely done!!!! However, I was a little surprised at the last picture, as it was "news to me". Well, we all had a good time (I even jogged a little- if you can believe that!!!) and after we were soaked from the exercise in the oppressive heat, we left for home. Only thing was- that sign bothered me. I guess I must have thought about it a lot because it was still in my thoughts this morning. Then, I came across this passage from the book of Ezekiel....
Ezekiel, Chapter 7
1 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2 You, son of man, thus says the Lord Yahweh to the land of Israel, An end: the end has come on the four corners of the land. 3 Now is the end on you, and I will send my anger on you, and will judge you according to your ways; and I will bring on you all your abominations. 4 My eye shall not spare you, neither will I have pity; but I will bring your ways on you, and your abominations shall be in your midst: and you shall know that I am Yahweh. 5 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: An evil, an only evil; behold, it comes. 6 An end has come, the end has come; it awakes against you; behold, it comes. 7 Your doom has come to you, inhabitant of the land: the time has come, the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting, on the mountains. 8 Now will I shortly pour out my wrath on you, and accomplish my anger against you, and will judge you according to your ways; and I will bring on you all your abominations. 9 My eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will bring on you according to your ways; and your abominations shall be in your midst; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, do strike. 10 Behold, the day, behold, it comes: your doom has gone out; the rod has blossomed, pride has budded. 11 Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of their wealth. There shall be nothing of value among them. 12 The time has come, the day draws near: don’t let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is on all its multitude. 13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they be yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude of it, none shall return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. 14 They have blown the trumpet, and have made all ready; but no one goes to the battle; for my wrath is on all its multitude. 15 The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine within: he who is in the field shall die with the sword: and he who is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. 16 But those of those who escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity. 17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. 18 They shall also clothe themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be on all faces, and baldness on all their heads. 19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Yahweh: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it has been the stumbling block of their iniquity. 20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein: therefore have I made it to them as an unclean thing. 21 I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a plunder; and they shall profane it. 22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall profane my secret place; and robbers shall enter into it, and profane it. 23 Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. 24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the nations, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pride of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be profaned. 25 Destruction comes; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. 26 Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders. 27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do to them after their way, and according to their own judgments will I judge them; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
I am not making any direct application of this verse to that infernal sign, but our country has been changing in ways that I never dreamed possible- so anything is possible. I just don't know if I can trust anyone in the media or the government to tell me the truth. Could that sign be true? Here are a couple of links that I found on the internet...
What was supposed to be just "A walk in the park" left me wondering about the future. Honestly, I still am unsure about the sign. However, if the very worst happens, I know that God will take care of me. After all, there have been wars and murders since the beginning of mankind, so why should things be different today?
That wise King of ancient Israel said these words- and they are worth remembering...
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12
13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Gary- Don't worry; God is in control. You obey from the heart and whatever happens, happens.
Everyone else - Look at the pictures and give these things whatever consideration you think is appropriate. You might want to re-read the Ecclesiastes verses- something to think about!!!!