Alec and Eva who were evicted from their home were devastated behind their financial Tsunami. Accusations became more frequent and the last argument they had ended terribly. One afternoon Alec came home in foul mood and when Eva greeted him, his response was: “We’re in this mess because you’re so high maintenance: the weekly massages, pedicures, hair and nails, the cleaning service, personal shopper and jeweler, extravagant vacations, birthday gifts for people that never remember yours, giving away ‘my’ money like it’s candy to your crack head relatives and always giving my money away to that church.” Eva was horrified by Alec’s comments. What he said was hurtful, but the way he said it was the most offensive. A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. Proverbs 15:18 (NLT). The Holy Spirit told her to be quiet but the more she thought about it the angrier she became. She opened her mouth and it felt like a tornado entered the room. She usually has a calm disposition but she went straight hood, which threw Alec off completely when she said: “Who you think you talking to. I’m not know lil’ trick from the row? It ain’t like I’m laying up every day watching reality shows, addicted to social media with a bunch a bay-bay kids and no daddy. Those people I’m always giving money to happen to be your sisters who do nothing but complain about how horrible their lives are and think I’m an ATM machine. Not that it makes a difference to me, but let’s be very clear, I have ALWAYS made more money than you. I’m not the one who had jacked up credit when we got married and who shops without looking at the price tags, though I can. I work hard for the money that I contribute to our family and as God is my witness, it is because He blessed the 90% that He allows us to keep that has helped us to acquire what we had so quickly.
She
was hot as fish grease, but as soon as she said it, she regretted it and then
she heard a still small voice say: “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t
let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to
the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT). In her heart Eva knew (at least partially)
why they were facing this mountain but she dare not say it because that would
probably send Alec over the edge. She
took a deep breath and said: “Babe, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have reacted that
way. We’re not going to get anywhere
blaming each other. We need to look for
the lesson in this challenge and ask God for his help." Alec never said a word, he grabbed his jacket
and left. That was two months ago and
the beginning of pain and loneliness she had never experienced. She missed him terribly, his laughter, the
all night conversations, even his scent.
She never imagined separation from the love of her life.
During
a recent Victory Declaration we discussed the Eviction Notice given by
God to Adam and Eve, not for a failure to pay, but for a failure to obey. Being evicted had to be devastating for them,
but the separation from God must have been earth shattering. Though God did not abandon them the dynamics
of the relationship completely changed. I’m
sure you can relate to relationships (e.g. parents, siblings, spouses,
children, friends, etc.) that ended in separation. Believe it or not there is a grieving process
associated with separation, even if it’s from a job, especially if they
terminated you. Feelings, in no
particular order, of disbelief, frustration, anger, sadness, disappointment,
betrayal, depression, wanting to retaliate and/or vindicate yourself and then
there is the blame, blame and blame. I’m
sure Adam and Eve experienced many of these feelings, but can you imagine how
God felt. Oh, you thought He didn't have
feelings? For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
God
had to separate himself from Adam and Eve because of sin. God could have stopped Adam from eating the
fruit but He didn't because He gave Adam a "free will of choice". God will never impose His will over anyone
(and neither should we). Every choice we
make -- good or bad -- has an outcome.
Some call it Karma, but it’s the Word.
Don’t be misled—you
cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
(Galatians 6:7 NLT)
The
impact of the separation meant that God would no longer communicate with man
the way He originally did, leaving man to his own devices. Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear
too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that
have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will
not listen anymore. (Isaiah 59:1, 2 NLT)
It’s not that God can’t hear us it’s that He will not listen because of
the sin in our lives. But Tania, I know
people who pray every day and God answers their prayers. How do you know that? Believers all over the world are praying for
people like the people you know, who you say have their prayers answered. It's called "intercessory prayer",
praying for people they don’t know and/or those unable to pray for
themselves: single parents; pastors; 1st
ladies; victims of abuse; suicide attempts; grieving people; the sick; depressed;
hungry; our youth, elders, children, families, marriages, for jobs; safe
travel, peace; etc. God hears and honors
the Believers', but according to the Word sin separates, cuts us off completely
from God.
Listen,
you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but don’t see and ears but don’t
hear. Shouldn’t you fear me,
declares the Lord, and tremble before me, the one who set the shoreline for the
sea, an ancient boundary that it can’t
pass? Though its waves may rise and roar, they can’t
pass the limits I have set. And yet the people have stubborn and rebellious
hearts; they turn and go their own way. They don’t
say in their hearts, Let’s fear the Lord
our God, who provides rain in autumn and spring and who assures us of a harvest
in its season. Your wrongdoing has turned these blessings away. Your sin has
robbed you of good. Criminals are found among my people; they set traps to
catch people, like hunters lying in wait. Like a cage full of birds, so their houses
are full of loot. No wonder they are rich and powerful and have grown fat and
sleek! To be sure, their evil deeds exceed all limits, and yet they prosper.
They are indifferent to the plight of the orphan, reluctant to defend the
rights of the poor. Shouldn’t I punish such
acts? declares the Lord. Shouldn’t I repay that
nation for its deeds? An awful, a terrible thing has happened in the land: The
prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule at their sides, and my people love
it this way! But what will you do when the end comes? (Jeremiah 5:21-31 CEB)
Tania,
if God is so loving, why would He abandon people? God hasn’t abandoned anyone, they’ve abandoned
Him when all He wants is the very best for them/us. Can you imagine God sitting on the edge of His
throne waiting for us to get in position to be blessed? Before they call, I will answer; while
they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24 CEB).
You
may think it's unfair, but how fair is it that we sacrifice our lives (fasting,
witnessing, keeping the peace, learning to wait, church on Sundays, bible class
mid-week, up on a 6am call, etc.) but somebody who lives a raggedy any old kind
of life can have the same privileges as us?
How fair it is it that God our Creator made a way for us to escape sin, the
effects of sin and an abundant life but we reject the plan of Salvation by
choosing filthy, nasty, deadly sin that will make us miserable? Fair, who said life was fair?
We'll
pick it up tomorrow
In
His Humble Excellence
Tan
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