If it weren’t for the ugly an’ the evil, we wouldn’t know the beautiful an’ good.”
              –Zane Grey  (The Mysterious Rider)

    “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
              –Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV)
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I was in the ol’ steel mount the other day.  Some of my best pondering and philosophyzing is done while traveling; the problem is that when I stop I can’t remember most of what was floating through my mind to write it down.  However, on this particular day, I was pondering and the title of an old song came to me:  “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” by Geoffrey O’Hara.  It’s not a song that is normally sung in church except as a special, but I began to ponder.
    Even as a historian I have not had a real hankering to go to the Middle East.  I know it is almost a requirement by some; sort of a Christian hajj.  I figure that during the Millennium I will be able to enjoy the region more fully.  It might be nice to see the places where Jesus lived and traveled.  I’m the kind of person who likes to see these things and then think about those times.  I have done that for years when traveling through our great country, but it is not a requirement to go to the roads where Jesus trod.
    As I continued on my journey from Coldspring to Cleveland, the title wouldn’t leave my mind.  The rest of the song didn’t seem significant, but the title stayed with me.  I began to think of the steps of the Lord and if I truly believe the Holy Writ then it seems I should be traveling where Jesus walked.  If I am in His will, then He guides my steps, and walks right beside me.
    The “Paracletos”, some versions have the “Comforter,” others the “Advocate,” “Counselor,” or “Helper.”  Neither quite sums it up for the Holy Spirit is Someone who walks beside.  He is for sure our advocate in the courtroom, our counselor for all of life’s needs, our helper when we need more strength to get through the day.  At times He wraps His arms around us, or gives us a “high-five”; but often He may have to give us a kick in the seat of the pants, and may even drive us into the wilderness.  In other words, He gives us what we need!
    So, as I travel through life’s journey, I should be walking where Jesus walked.  If I am truly the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” then where I go, He goes.

During every moment, walking or sleeping, we are vulnerable…I could die tonight…tomorrow.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Mojave Crossing)

    “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
              –Romans 14:8 (HCSB)
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Maybe these words from John I. Durham is a good place to start:  “It is still easier to offer a bull, sacrifice a goat, make a special gift, or do a job than to grapple with the hard realities of honest faith.”  It is also a good section to start in thinking about Thanksgiving.
    “This section of Psalm 50 is targeted toward wicked people who pretend to be righteous…  God’s message is:  ‘Stop the act!  Repent!  Get back on track, and I will show you salvation!'” (William Petersen)  It is an encouragement to trust and giving proper sacrifice doing the will of God.

    15 – Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
    16 – But God says to the wicked: “What right do you have to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips?
    17 – You hate instruction and turn your back on My words.
    18 – When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers.
    19 – You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit.
    20 – You sit, maligning your brother, slandering your mother’s son.
    21 – You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you.  But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you.
    22 – “Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to rescue you.
    23 – Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God.”  (HCSB)

    The nonbeliever should tremble with these words, but most likely they will ridicule or ignore the warnings of God.  Does this not seem like today?  People using God’s Word where it suits them, especially in the fulfilling of their agenda with is really godless.  They recite God’s words then turn their backs on it.  They really do not want to hear what God has to say for it interferes with their lifestyle.  I like verse 17 from the NLT:

         “For you refuse my discipline and treat my laws like trash.”

    Could this be addressed to the culture of today as well as in David’s time?  Of course!  God’s Word does not change, nor does it alter with time.  When we honor God, He honors us.  However, there is a day coming.  Man has sinned, and God has kept silent.  Some take that to mean that God winks at sin; others say it shows that there is no God.  No, God is silently waiting; He is longsuffering wanting none to perish but there is a time coming.

         “Repent, all of you who ignore me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.”  (50:22, NLT)

Very similar to Proverbs 1, where God says, “Mock me, why when you cry out when calamity comes, I’ll mock you; I’ll laugh” (my paraphrase to Proverbs 1:22-33)  “Part of the value of God’s silence is that it allows us to be ourselves and thereby reveal ourselves.” (George O. Wood)  Are we listening to God?  Do we repent when convicted?  Which type of person are you–they type that trusts God and lives for Him, or the type that ignores Him, and misuses His Word?
    The true believer is safe.  The true believer is thankful that God is in control of his life and this world.  The true believer can give thanks in the midst of calamity, in the midst of a “pandemic,” in the midst of stress, trials, and terror for God is his salvation.  So keep on the path; meaning know the Word and follow it fully.  God is there for you.

         “With broken heart and contrite sigh,
          A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;
          Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:
          O God, be merciful to me!”
                 –Cornelius Elven

We talked about fear and how it can keep us from freedom to experience all that God has for us.”
              –Dan Arnold  (Bear Creek)

    “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.”
              –Proverbs 15:16(NASB)
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I have a question for you this morning.  Can a person have both fear and faith in their lives?  Ponder that for a moment.  Fear is the enemy of faith.  Now, I am not speaking of a natural fear nor the reverential fear of God.  There are somethings we should have a healthy fear over, but I am speaking more of how fear can wrack the mind and stir up the emotions.  How can one trust and have faith in God if they are in fear of the same thing they should be trusting in?
    If you read the “faith chapter” of Hebrews 11, I notice one thing that went along with the faith of those mentioned and that is courage.  Sometimes it takes courage added to faith to overcome fear.  The devil wants to destroy your faith and he very often does that with fear.  He loves for you to be anxious, oh, but how to overcome that anxiety.
    Worry, worry, oh, how can it be overcome?Sure, we have the pat answers that can be given, but I cannot know another’s heart, mind, or situation completely.  I can easily say, trust in God, but to do that one must cast away fear, and that takes courage along with faith.
    I think sometimes we take Scripture out of context, most often because we do not take the time to study and fully contemplate what is being said.

         There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”
                   –1 John 4:18 (Amplified)

This is a valuable and important Scripture in regard to fear.  I added courage to faith, but here we see that there is no fear in love.  But look at it more carefully:  “full-grown” or “complete, perfect” love is what does away with fear.  It is important to look at this first from a spiritual perspective.  Remember that John is writing to the Church, not to unbelievers.  The believer does not have to worry (fear) about punishment from God.  If he does, he needs to be reassured of the love of God, and that he is a child of God.  He has no fear of eternity.
    But there is a reflection of life in this world as well.  This is where we live, therefore, we must strive to overcome our fears by knowing that Christ loves us, cares for us, and those we love.  So many fret and are stressed in this life.  For some reason the devil makes us nervous over many facets that come our way.  We are to have confidence in God.

         “We’re not nervous, and God’s not nervous either…  He is firmly on His throne, and Satan can’t do anything about it.  Nobody can.”
                   –Dallas Willard

Perhaps that is what we need–a renewed and refreshed look at God on His throne.  
    Don’t be nervous about the future.  God is on His throne.  Don’t be nervous about the outcome of the election, nor fear what might happen if the liberals win.  God is on His throne.  Take a spiritual view of what is happening, have courage, have faith, and know that the love of God will “expel every trace of terror.”  With Thanksgiving in front of us it would do us good to begin thinking about how thankful we should be.  Begin, now on Friday the 13th, to be grateful and thank the Lord for what He has done and for what He will continue to do in your lives.

He [God] gets the last crack at them.  Some day they all got to stand there in front of that gate and let Him pass judgment.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (Captain’s Rangers)

    “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.  And they were judged, each one according to his works.”
              –Revelation 20:13(NKJV)
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There has definitely been a difference in response from the people in the election of 2016 and 2020.  Why weren’t there the riots by the right, the conservatives?  The left has little moral ground, therefore, what else can they do but show out their exasperations.  There is no hope in their ideas so what is left them?
    Now, what do we do?  Right now we let the lawyers and the courts, and yes, even the politicians fight it out.  My mercy, wouldn’t the liberal-left have a fit if the election was found to be in favor of President Trump.  But, what do you do in the meantime?  What is our responsibility?  
    The words of a song, which I thought was just a Sunday School chorus, came to my mind.  It was written back in the early 19th-century by Elizabeth K. Mills.  

         “O land of rest, for thee I sigh!
          When will the moment come
          When I shall lay my armor by
          And dwell in peace at home?”

I have thought, perhaps you have as well, oh, let’s get back to normal.  We might sigh, just as the composer said, when will the time come?  When can I relax and rest and dwell at peace?  Ah, but we must “put on the armor” and not take it off until that time when Jesus comes to take us home.

         “No tranquil joys on earth I know,
          No peaceful, shelt’ring dome;
          This world’s a wilderness of woe,
          This world is not my home.”

There is a fleeting joy, a fleeting happiness, but not one that is deep in the soul unless you know the Lord.  This world, read the news (even social media) and you quickly see that this world is one of woe.  Christians, you best wake us and realize that this world is not your home.

         “To Jesus Christ I fled for rest;
          He bade me cease to roam,
          And lean for comfort on His breast
          Till He conduct me home.”

Rest is only to be found in Jesus.  People cry for peace, they even riot for peace (think of that), but true peace only comes through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  Search for a substitute and quickly you will find that there is none.  Until He comes for us, we lean upon Him.

         “I sought at once my Savior’s side;
          No more my steps shall roam;
          With Him I’ll brave death’s chilling tide
          And reach my heav’nly home.”

What’s going to happen now?  Oh, woe is me, where are you Lord?  My friend, rest, lean upon Him.  When the time is right He call us home, whether by rapture or by the grave.  But back to the early question, what do we do now?  The liberals, the crazies have won the election, what, oh what, shall we do?  The chorus of this old song has the answer.

                   “We’ll work till Jesus comes,
                    We’ll work till Jesus comes,
                    We’ll work till Jesus comes,
                    And we’ll be gathered home.”

No, not just a little Sunday School chorus that the kids can sing to make them happy.  Hmmm, perhaps the reason it is no longer sung is that we are too busy hopping and jumping wanting to be entertained.  Perhaps it is because there are fewer who will work.