The other day, I had a long phone conversation with my younger brother, David. We both just needed company (I miss my Linda, so I have the greater need) and spoke of many things from our childhood. It wasn't long before the topic of food came up, but it wasn't a pleasant topic. Now, I LOVE TO EAT, but in the first few years of the sixties, we didn't have much. Dave would joke about the Christmas we had a potato to split between us or the Thanksgiving it took to prepare our Turkey Pot Pies (four hours to heat on a electric burner on top of the stove that only would heat half way) or the slop my Grandfather brought home from the kitchen where he worked. Sometimes, the food before us was unappealing to say the least. I remember my mother telling me, "I don't care what it looks like; eat!!!" and the kicker here: "EAT EVERY SINGLE THING ON YOUR PLATE, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE STARVING IN CHINA"!!! I was more fortunate than Dave, because our Grandmother favored me and used to secretly give me extra food to eat in a out of the way room in our old farmhouse. You guessed it- food is a controversial topic with Dave and myself. And that extra bit of food I received caused many, many problems. Doctors have told my brother that the severe physical problems he has today were caused by a lack of proper food in childhood and we both blame our parents for being lazy and not fulfilling their responsibilities towards their children. Parental indolence and many other sins were the cause of our hardship and frankly - their shame!!! Is all this just a bit TOO PERSONAL for you? Sorry about that, but these things (and many others I have mentioned in the past) are true. Our upbringing caused us to think long and hard about caring for our families and the value of work and to the best of my knowledge we both have provided for our families. All these things reminded me of a specific passage from Ezekiel and also of a generic passage as well. They are as follows...
Ezekiel, Chapter 18
1 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying, 2 What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die. 5 But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right, 6 and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity, 7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 8 he who has not lent on interest, neither has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man, 9 has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord Yahweh. 10 If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things, 11 or who does not do any of those things, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor’s wife, 12 has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, 13 has lent on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him. 14 Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father’s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like; 15 who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor’s wife, 16 neither has wronged any, has not taken anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity. 19 Yet you say, Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. 21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live? 24 But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. 25 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal? 26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die. 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair? 30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the Lord Yahweh. Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
Proverbs, Chapter 14
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Israel said they were suffering for what their fathers had done. Now, in ancient times, if a member of the family did something wrong, the WHOLE FAMILY often paid for it; often with their lives. But in this context, I believe we are talking about the personal responsibility for what you do and if you sin, you will pay for it!!! Sin will destroy a person spiritually as well as physically and this applies both individually and collectively as well. Sin and suffer the consequences. Let a nation sin and likewise there will also be consequences. The consequences that the path the United States of America has taken over the past few decades have led to the cartoon becoming a reality for a large segment of country. And, unless things change, America will continually degenerate and eventually fall!!!!
I urge every single person who reads this to take a moment to think about their lives. This year, have you even thought about your shortcomings, the things about your life that are not right and need to be changed and anything that might even be remotely classified as sin? Yes, sin. Remember this passage?
Romans, Chapter 3
19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. 20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; 26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Frankly, I can tell you I have thought of this passage often and encourage you to do the same. Along with the knowledge of sin, this passage gives us all a way out- take it!!!! Looking for the whole story? I encourage you to read Acts, Chapter 2 and follow the example of those who wanted to change.
Lastly, I know that today's post is both long and difficult (compared to what I usually write) but as one friend to another, sometimes facing difficult things in our lives really does work out for the best, once they are resolved. I wouldn't write these things unless I thought they would help both the writer and the reader!!!
Your friend,
Gary