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Can You See The Man?

The prophetic books of the Old Testament are an oft ignored area of our Bibles, as we live in this New Testament world. However, even a quick study of these books reveals many lessons and messages that are still very relevant to us today. For instance, let us take a look at just three verses from the Book of Amos...

Amos 6:3-6 "Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near; who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." (NKJV)

Can you see the man? Can you see the man who stretches out on his couch with a beer in his hand? He watches his expensive television and listens to his expensive stereo - perhaps to religious music. He turns it up to drown out the cries of those in need. He eats the best food and uses the best lotions and cosmetics to make himself feel comfortable and look good on the outside. Everything that he does is done to attend to his own desires, and he denies himself nothing among those desires. He is self-centered and cares nothing about his neighbors. Can you envision this man?

Now consider Philippians 2:5-9:

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (NKJV)

Can you see this man? Not just a man, but God himself, whose love for mankind ran so deep that he left Heaven to live as a man, and die for mankind. Can you see him as he bore the cross through the streets of Jerusalem? Can you see him as he fell under the weight of the cross? Can you see him as the people hurled insults at him, while he died so that they could be set free from sin? Can you see the spikes as they pierced his wrists and ankles... can you see him as he hung on the cross, and as he cried out "My God My God, why have you forsaken me?" Can you see him forgiving the people even as he died, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"? Can you see him, as he died with a broken heart?

Consider this: God wants us to be like Jesus - humble, meek, loving, and generous. The man of which Amos speaks is among the first to "go into captivity" (to be judged), while Jesus is exalted to the highest Heaven, as will be all those who are saved and covered by his blood.

Can you see both of these men? Now look at yourself - which man do you see now? --- V. J. Eagan, III

Safety from the Flood

It was early spring in the sleepy little town in Central Pennsylvania, but a disaster was looming. Several years before a group had come here, and built a recreational fishing area. They built a dam, and filled it with dirt. This spring, during the late 1800's, had been especially rainy, and the snow had also been melting from the mountains, running down into the streams, which then ran into the reservoir at South Fork, PA. And one spring day, March 30, 1889, the dam at South Fork broke.

Fourteen miles downstream from South Fork was the city of Johnstown. They had no warning that a towering wall of water was headed for the town. Life was going on as normal in the city. People went about their business, trains ran, sawmills hummed, expectant mothers knitted, and children played and busied themselves as all small children do. Sudden and unexpected, a flood ripped through the heart of the city, and when it was all over, more than 2000 people had died.

Perhaps if the people had known what was about to happen, they would have taken precautions. Perhaps if they had been warned, they would have been ready when the flood came. But, like us, the people in Johnstown were completely unaware of the impending doom. Just like us.

People today are in danger of a disastrous flood. They are drowning every day, all around us. Some are drowning in a flood of sin. Some are drowning in a flood of doubt and worry. Some are drowning in a flood of self pity and guilt and fear. Some are even drowning in floods of their own pride and arrogance. They don't realize the danger they are in, even as they drown they are not aware of their endangered state. And once they become aware, they see no way out.

Psa 69:1-2 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me....

Psa 69:14 -15 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the water flood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Out of the many stories about the flood, one in particular stands out. It is the story of a young child who was climbing up the stairs in her house, and was in the attic at the time the floods overtook the house. A tree limb smashed through the wall, and the girl ended up sitting on the limb, and riding this through the flood. This was how she survived that fateful day.

Like this young girl, we also have a log to ride over the floods of turmoil in this world. When we view the Psalm of David, we see that he is praying to God to save him from a flood. The flood which David speaks of is not a literal flood of water, but symbolic of the type of floods we face today. God has sent us safety from the flood.

God sent His Son, Jesus the Christ, to die on a cross. Though tempted in all ways like as we are (Heb. 4:15), he was sinless, and therefore became that one perfect sacrifice that could give us salvation, once for all. Jesus died so that we would no longer have to drown in floods of sin, guilt, and fear. And it was Jesus alone who could die, he alone who is perfect, and thus no man can boast that he obtains salvation through his own righteousness. All the sinner has to do is accept God's love and forgiveness by being obedient to the gospel. Then, and only then, can we have the calm assurance that comes from having safety from the flood.