Down an Unfamiliar Road

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION –

David’s problems due to his foolish census taking were not over quickly. He spent many long nights weeping and pleading for God’s understanding and forgiveness. But his people were harder on him than God was. Many of them lost loved ones in the plague, and were not about to forgive their king so quickly. So David turned to the one he knew he could trust to understand his dilemma; someone who is not easily offended because He has a patient and a forgiving heart when trying to help us learn and understand the benefit of being obedient.

“O LORD Eternal, You are my only hope; don’t fail me now since I put my complete trust in You to be fair with me in coping with this mess I’m in. I’m waiting for You to hurry up and get me out of this debacle; yes, be the One to defend me and protect me from further harm. You’ve always been like a fortified castle and an impenetrable fortress to me; You are always there to coach me and instruct me, because that’s the kind of Friend You are. This was a camouflaged trap set to catch me; if anyone can get me out it’s You. O LORD Eternal, my faithful King, I’m putting everything into Your hands, because I know You have the answer. I can’t stand it when I see others place all their hopes on empty promises, because I have nothing but complete trust in the LORD Eternal. It’s the knowledge that Your love for me will never die that keeps me going; and I rejoice whenever You show me that You are aware of how miserable I am; no one knows how distressed I am, better than You. Some walked off and left me as though I was already finished; I felt like trash. Yes, I panicked once when I thought You didn’t care either. But then I learned You were the only one who really cared, that’s why You didn’t abandon me. So listen everyone, love the LORD Eternal because it’s the LORD Eternal who safeguards the faithful and will more than repay those who try to put them down. So stay strong, be courageous, and never give up on the LORD Eternal!” Psalm 31:1-7, 12, 22-24

Reflection: In Red Bank Cemetery, Waynesville, North Carolina – some twenty miles west of Asheville, on Route 23 – you’ll find an engraving on the tombstone of 25 year old Effie Jean Robinson (1897-1922), which reads: “Come blooming youths, as you pass by, and on these lines do cast an eye. As you are now, so once was I; as I am now, so must you be; prepare for death, and follow me.” One day a person visiting the cemetery noticed that someone had scratched this addendum underneath: “To follow you, I am not content, how do I know, which way you went?” David left no doubt about where he was headed. We all know that our struggles with difficulties, trials, and hardships serve as examples for others to either follow, or to avoid the same errors we made. David did all he could to survive with God’s help, leaving the impossible up to his loving, caring God. If we want our lives to be an example for others to follow, we must remember that we can only do so while we’re alive. So let God guide you in coping with difficulties and disappointments so they become road signs for those still looking for the right way to go. Never accept failure as an option. Always remember, you are not handling these things all by yourself; God’s Spirit is right beside you, holding you, encouraging you, and nothing can separate you from God’s love.

DON’T JUST SHAKE YOUR HEAD

David was a man after God’s own heart, but sometimes his own heart deceived him. He ordered a census taken in violation of God’s instructions. As a result, God offered him three choices of punishment. David chose 3 days of sickness in which 70,000 of his people died because of his folly. After it was over, David built an altar for sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for His love and mercy. But the most important altar was the one he established in his heart; a place where he could always give God thanks for being so patient, kind, and forgiving.

“O LORD Eternal I can’t thank You enough; when I was down You picked me up so others could not gloat over my mistakes. When I needed You the most and cried out to You in desperation, O LORD Eternal, my One True God, You were right there to heal my broken spirit. O LORD Eternal, I could have ended up in the grave had You not come in time to pull me back from its edge. So to all believers everywhere I say, ‘Worship the LORD Eternal, and praise the awesomeness of who His is. His discipline is short and quick, but His compassion is never ending. We may lie down and spend the whole night weeping, but by morning we’ll be shouting for joy! There was a time when things were going so well with me that I thought I would never fail. I knew You were behind it all, O LORD Eternal, You made me feel as strong as a rock. But when the blessings stopped coming, I started getting scared. That’s when I began to call out to You, O LORD Eternal, and prayed fervently to my Divine Master. It didn’t make any sense for me to end up in the grave; I knew a decaying body could not worship You for Your faithfulness. So I begged for Your attention, that You would be merciful and help me, O LORD Eternal. That’s when You transformed my despondency into dancing; yes, You helped me pull off my mourning cloth and put on a robe of joy. That’s why now I endlessly sing hymns to You with everything that’s within me, O LORD Eternal, my One True God. And I will go on giving You thanks forever and ever.” Psalm 30:1-12

Reflection: Thomas A. Edison had an assistant who was becoming very upset over his inability to solve a particular problem. Every now and then Edison would ask, “How are you doing?” He assistant would shoot back, “Terrible, I’ve done five hundred different experiments and found nothing that works. It’s all a waste of time!” The great inventor placed his hand on the assistant’s shoulder and said, “You’re wrong, you’ve found five hundred wrong ways to rectify it. Now keep going until you find the right solution.” David found out the hard way that he could put his abilities and resources to better use by following God’s will. But the main source of strength during those times remained God’s unwavering love for His anointed. God’s encouragement, compassion, understanding, and unending faithfulness helped David make it through. So we can learn that no matter what trials and hardships our mistakes may bring us, we must never unplug ourselves from our divine lifeline and source of forgiveness, mercy and grace or shake our heads in disgust when things don’t work out our way. God refuses to throw someone away for whom He paid the highest price to redeem.

When we receive forgiveness from God, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t feel bad and convicted about doing something wrong against His word. But it does mean that because of what Jesus did right for us, the punishment for our wrongdoing will not be carried out. We should thank God everyday of our lives that Jesus willingly took the punishment for us. And one of the best ways to thank Him, is to never do it again. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW MEANING OF STAND UP FOR JESUS –

When Richard II, King of England, was deposed in 1399 AD, and was succeeded by Henry IV, King Henry decided to schedule a meeting of the parliament at Westminster. Knowing that the new king wanted to get a grasp of what was going on in the kingdom, a parish priest named William Sautre, a good man and faithful servant at the church of St. Scithe the Virgin, in London, and also known to be on fire with the zeal to transform the church into one that was true to the Word of God, asked if he could speak to the parliament and the new king. But some bishops of the church were aware of Sautre’s eagerness to reform the church’s ways, were less than enthusiastic about his request. So on Wednesday, February 12, 1400, Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a meeting with his provincial council, spoke against letting Father Sautre speak. He pointed out that Sautre had once appeared before the bishop of Norwich, and after being asked about his objections to the way the church was going, the bishop of Norwich puts it this way, “Sautre renounced and abjured divers and sundry conclusions heretical and erroneous; and that, after such abjuration, he publicly and privately held, taught, and preached the same conclusions or such like, contrary to the catholic faith, and to the great peril and pernicious example of others.” They spoke a different kind of English in those days. So if you have trouble with this 15^th century vocabulary, the bishop was saying that Sautre was being accused of speaking against many practices and beliefs of the church that he considered heretical and inaccurate. His actions were considered to be detrimental and caused great trouble for the church since it encouraged other believers to think the same way. As a result, the archbishop of Norwich ordered that these charges against Sautre be written down on a scroll.

1. He will not bow down at a replica of the cross on which Christ suffered, but only to Christ that suffered on the cross.
2. He would sooner bend a knee to a temporal king than to a replica of the wooden cross.
3. He would rather bow in honor in front of the bodies of the saints than to a replica of the cross of Christ on which He hung, if it were before me.
4. He would rather bow to a man truly contrite than to the replica of the cross.
5. He would rather bow to a man that is predestined for heaven than to a figure of an angel of God.
6. That if any man vowed to visit the monuments of Peter and Paul, or go on pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Thomas à Becket, or anywhere else, in order to obtain any temporal benefit, he should not be forced to keep that vow but feel free to distribute the expenses raised to fulfill his vow as a contribution to the poor.
7. That every priest and deacon should feel more bound to preach the Word of God than to recite the fixed prayers at regular intervals.
8. That, after the pronouncing of the sacramental blessing over the communion bread, the bread remains of the same nature that it was before because it is still only bread.

On Friday, February 14, 1400, after Sautre was confronted with these charges, and was asked to renounce or revoke them, he answered that he would not renounce any of them. His refusal only made the church hierarchy even more uncomfortable, so they continued to interrogate him. Then on Wednesday, February 19, 1400, they demanded that Sautre be held accountable by the church for his stance on these issues. The council decided to punish him gradually, so first they took away his status as a priest and demoted him to Deacon, then to Sub-deacon, then to acolyte, then as an exorcist, then as a reader, then as a sexton and then as a greeter at the church door. Finally, they considered him nothing more than a secular lay person. While under the banner of the church, Sautre was not subject to the civil laws of the land. But now King Henry saw this as an opportunity to gain the support of the church hierarchy, and so he issued a warrant which was sent to all the sheriffs of London to be carried out. In the indictment Sautre was denounced as a heretic because he had caused great pain and suffering to the church. Therefore, the police authorities were directed to arrest Sautre and prepare to have him burned at the stake in a public place, and announce it to all the people so they could come and watch. If they failed to do so, they would be punished. But right up to the moment when he was tied to the stake and the kindling was lit, Sir William Sautre, champion of the Word and soldier of the cross refused to take back any of his beliefs, and died a martyr for the Christ he preferred to bow down to rather than a replica of a wooden cross. A British historian noted that after William Sautre was martyred, that for King Henry, “Neither was the time of his reign very quiet, but. full of trouble, of blood and misery.” But Sautre went out rejoicing. Knowing that the day would come when all those who plotted against him, will be shown to have really been plotting against Jesus Christ. Therefore they would have to stand before the eternal Judge and face the punishment for their rejection of the true gospel.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE –

Nothing occupied David’s thoughts more than his dream of getting the Ark of the Covenant into the tent he erected to house it. To him the Ark represented the presence of the Holy One, and the power of the Almighty One who led His children to many victories over superior enemies. So as he transported this holy object to Jerusalem, he wanted everyone to rejoice that now the visible presence of God was in their midst. It gave them more faith to believe in the God who was their God by knowing that He was nearby and reachable with their prayers and worship.

“Let every believer shout and applaud the LORD Eternal; yes, praise and worship the LORD Eternal because you know how powerful He is. Yes, give the LORD Eternal a standing ovation out of respect because of who He is, as you bow before the LORD Eternal with respect and awe. The sound of the sea is the voice of the LORD Eternal; the roaring waves are the voice of the LORD Eternal. The LORD Eternal has a powerful voice; a majestic voice. The thunder that ripples through the trees is the voice of the LORD Eternal; the thunder that causes the ground to shake is the voice of the LORD Eternal. There is fire in the voice of the LORD Eternal; yes, you can hear the voice of the LORD Eternal as it ripples across the deserts and the plains. The voice of the LORD calls out and deer give birth in the forest; His voice shakes the trees and makes their leaves fall, as all those gathered in His Holy Sanctuary shout, ‘Glory!” The LORD Eternal was in control during earth’s most chaotic times and the LORD Eternal will rule and reign forever. So we ask the LORD Eternal to grant His children recognition as special people, and may the LORD Eternal cause them to be honored as people of peace.” Psalm 29:1-12

Reflection: While at a camp meeting in Western Canada I noticed the ushers suddenly scurrying outside then back in, whispering to people in the congregation. Soon the overseer went to the microphone and announced that a terrible hail storm with terrific lightning and thunder was about to slam into the area. He cautioned everyone with cars to get them under cover. By the time I stood up to preach, the thunder cracked loud and sharp overhead. The audience became distracted by the strong wind blowing through the trees as hail began pounding the tin roof of the tabernacle. So I asked everyone who believed that God possessed power over nature to stand and pray with me. It was a simple prayer, asking God to calm the storm so the meeting might proceed. Within 15 seconds the hail stopped and the winds died down. I was able to go on and preach the message God laid on my heart.

Little did I know that on that very night several prostitutes from the local town had been invited to the service. When I gave the altar call they came forward for salvation. When asked later, by one of the ministers, what did the preacher say that convicted you to go forward to be born again? One of the ladies responded, “Oh, it wasn’t so much what the preacher said, it was how God answered his prayer and stopped the storm. Then I knew that God was real and I needed to repent and accept Him as my Lord and Savior.” No wonder David spent so much time in his psalm describing the might of the God he worshiped. The world may doubt God’s word, but they cannot explain away His power.

WHAT REALLY COUNTS

This Psalm continues David’s growing sense of need for God to help him in fighting off people who hated his dedicated lifestyle, and their attempt to either pull him down to their level, or cause him to waiver in his resolve to put God first in every area of his life. It came as a shock to David that a dedicated lifestyle could bring such adverse reactions from some of his own people, as well as his closest friends. But his devotion to the God who anointed him and the God he served was worth all the hardships brought on by his commitment to the God he loved. He knew that if he wanted peace in his heart and mind, he could only find it in the security of the love he had for God and God had for him.

“O LORD Eternal, I’ve been calling out to You? You’re the best source of protection; please don’t ignore my cries for help. For if You give me the cold shoulder, people will write me off as a complete failure. So with my hands extended toward Your holy throne in heaven, I plead with You respond to cries for mercy. I don’t want to end up like those with evil minds and wicked hearts who act like friends to their neighbors, while all the time looking for ways to hurt them. Let them get what they deserve for such actions; they are full of spite and should receive the same in return for what they give out. They have no interest in knowing what the LORD Eternal expects of us, nor do they care hearing about all the good things He’s done for others. I think He should put a stop to what they are doing and never let it happen again. Then I will tell others why I praise the LORD Eternal, because He’s always ready to listen to my faintest call for help. He encourages me and causes my heart to bubble over with joy. That’s why I break out in song as I worship Him. Yes, the LORD Eternal encourages all His children; He’s the One all of those who He has chosen run to when they need a true Friend. So I say to Him, ‘Let Your people prosper; let them become renown in the land; yes, treat them with love and nourish them with care as they go along their way’. ” Psalm 28:1-9

Reflection: A hardworking business man finally retired and wanted take up full-time his life-long dream of being an artist. But the years of heavy labor and arthritis had so crippled his hands and fingers he was unable to pursue his dream. Therefore, he decided to have a contest for up and coming artists and guarantee the winner his full financial support to paint the masterpieces he could now only dream of. So he rented a large auditorium and sent out invitations to all aspiring artists in the country to enter the competition. He announced a common theme for all artistes to try and interpret in their painting and that was, “Peace.” On the day of judging, along with several well-known art curators, he began walking down between the many rows of canvasses to see who portrayed “Peace” the best. At one point he stopped at the easel of a young lady to study her work. It depicted a scene high up in the Alps with untouched snow filling the valley, and a small cloud seemingly snared by the apex of the highest peak; as the sun shining through the pure air glistened off the undisturbed mountain landscape. With a smile on his face he asked the young lady, “What do you call this painting?” “Peace on the Mountain,” she replied. He walked on and after a while came to a portrait done by young man. As his eyes examined the canvass he saw a beautiful vale with knee-high grass, blossoming flowers, and trees full of fruit; several deer were drinking from a slow moving brook flowing through the lush meadow. In the background sat a beautiful vine-covered cottage with a wisp of smoke rising from the chimney. “My, my, what do you call this piece?” he asked the young man. “I call it, ‘Peace in the Valley’,” replied the young fellow with a gleam in his eyes. As he finally approached the end of the last row in the exhibition, he spotted a watercolor created by an older artist that immediately caught his startled eye. He walked over to get a closer look at the canvass just to make sure of what he was seeing. There was a portrait of a wild rushing river white with foam, roaring through a mountain gorge carrying everything in its way. The sky was pitch dark and flashes of lightening emitted from the clouds with brilliant bursts, as rain pelted down with horrendous fury pounding everything it hit with ferocity. The philanthropist was taken aback, and looking at the artist exclaimed with a frown, “The theme was ‘Peace,’ I don’t see any peace here!” The artist asked the gentleman to get nearer so he could see a scene portrayed up on the side of a sheer cliff. There he saw a limb sticking out underneath an overhang holding a nest on which a small bird sat chirping away as she calmly covered her eggs. “What in the world do you call this” the philanthropist exclaimed! The artist smiled and said softly, “Sir, I call it ‘Peace in the Time of Storm’.” Some believers only find peace when they are on the mountain top or in the tranquil valley, but David was able to find peace in the time of storm. That’s the peace the disciples experienced during the storm on the Sea of Galilee. It’s the peace that only Jesus can bring. So the next time you find yourself in a storm, remember that Jesus is in the boat with you.

BEING WHO I NEED TO BE

David knew that adversity often lay waiting just around the next corner. He faced that when he was confronted by Goliath at a young age, and then challenged later in life by another giant from Goliath’s clan named Ishbi-Benob. However, a young hero named Abishai came to his rescue and killed this monster to save David’s life. This taught David that even when facing the same challenge again he did not depend on his own abilities and strength or experience to survive, but was willing to accept God’s help whenever, wherever, and in whatever way God provided it.

“The LORD Eternal provides me the insight needed to survive, there’s no reason to fear life’s challenges. The LORD Eternal is my blessed assurance, there’s no reason to be anxious about tomorrow. When people without character come at me, intent on tearing my reputation apart—they are the ones, these manipulators, these people of ill-will who will be exposed and fail. And no matter how many of them take aim at me, I won’t give in to fear; even if they declare war against me, I will not be shaken. I’ve made one request of the LORD Eternal, and that’s all I want: that for the rest of my life I will be able to sit down in His house to witness the splendor of His power as I meditate in His presence. For I am convinced that He will always be there to shelter me during the time of storm; yes, He will have a place for me to feel safe; like putting me high up on a protective rock where I can’t be reached. That’s why I feel secure from all those around me who want to see me fail. So I will go to His house, where I will celebrate, and sing songs of praise to my LORD Eternal.” Psalm 27:1-6

Reflection: Natan Shransky, the hero of the anti-Communist resistance in Russia, who languished many years in Soviet prisons, wrote in his autobiography about his liberation. During his solitary confinement, a little booklet of the Psalms saved his sanity. Verse 10 from this Psalm proved especially sustaining: “Even if my father and my mother abandon me, the LORD Eternal will take care of me.” These words assured him that he was not alone; God was standing right beside him. We find similar stories of other men and women around the world, who, facing danger and hardships, turned to the Word of God to be their strength. But the unconditional love of an unchanging God proved to be their anchor in times of storm. Adverse circumstances, and those who cause them, may take away many things from a person, but they cannot take away hope and faith. They must either be surrendered or thrown away by the person possessing them. David decided to hold on no matter what and let God handle the rest His way.

ARE THEIR FRACTURES IN YOUR SINCERITY?

David often faced being outnumbered by his enemies both without and within. This put tremendous pressure on his conduct, beliefs, and patience to stand firm and not falter. Many times David was told that he was wrong; that he was to blame for starting the conflict, but he refused to let this dampen his spirits or cause him to doubt that he was in God’s will. In David’s mind, if you are going to say what you believe, then you need to believe what you say.

“O LORD Eternal, confirm that my actions were right because I did what I did in all honesty; I never doubted it for a second or lost my faith in Your guidance, O LORD Eternal. So go ahead and examine my reasons and motives anyway, O LORD Eternal. I’m ready to be tested because I have complete confidence in Your undying love, and will follow Your principles no matter what. I don’t hang around with dishonest people, nor do I spend time consorting with hypocrites; As a matter of fact, I detest that evil crowed and will have nothing to do with them. When I stand before Your altar, O LORD Eternal, I do so with a clear conscience. That’s why I can raise my voice to You in praise and testify about all the good things You’ve done for me. O LORD Eternal, I spend as much time as I can in Your sanctuary where I can feel Your presence and experience Your power. So don’t let me be confused with those who act evil; I don’t want to end up like people who spend their time ruining other people’s lives. They’re known for being up to no good, and are always out for what they can get by exploiting other people’s mistakes. I’ve made up my mind; I’m going to be open and honest. So be gracious and help me stay on course. I want to stand up before the congregation and give You all the glory and honor, O LORD Eternal.” Psalm 26:1-11

Reflection: Historians tell us that in ancient days when glazed pottery was shipped from one country to another by ship or caravan, they often arrived with fine cracks on the surface. Such imperfections in the porcelain dropped their value dramatically. So retailers would melt candle wax and pour it over these fractures and then polish the vase to make the fissures almost invisible. However, for their valued customers, the merchants would examine their merchandise and if found to be in perfect shape they marked them: sincerus — Latin for “sound” or “whole,” from which we get our English adverb, “sincere.” Then out on the street they were sold as sine cera – “without wax.” David wanted God to know that he was not trying to hide any cracks in his character, but neither was he pretending to be perfect. When it came to being honest with God, David did not pretend or play games. David knew that under any pressure and in the heat of the moment the wax of hypocrisy would melt and expose his real character. Let God prove us to be honest and sincere. After all, whose approval are we really seeking, man’s or God’s?

ARE YOU LISTENING

There were many times when David needed God’s guidance, from the time he faced Goliath, to running from Saul; from the treachery of Absalom, to his many skirmishes with the Philistines. He learned the hard way what happens when one does not follow God’s directions and decide to trust their own inclinations. On the other hand, he also experienced the joy and victories that came when he was obedient to God’s will. That’s why, whatever was troubling him at this point in his life, he chose to look back at the value of obedience and reaffirm his faith and trust in God his Savior.

“O LORD Eternal, I’m being totally honest with you, because You are my One True God, and I trust You with all my heart and soul not to let me down so others will laugh and make fun of me. Please don’t let anyone be disappointed who puts their trust in You; let those who cheat others be the one’s who are disappointed. O LORD Eternal, show me what to do and how to do it. As my One True God, be my guide and help me find Your purpose for my life, that’s all I ask. I’m reminded, O LORD Eternal: that Your compassion and steadfast love have been available from the beginning of time. That’s why I trust in Your steadfast love to keep my mind free from immature and rebellious thoughts; and I depend on You’re goodness, O LORD Eternal, to always be there for me when I need You most. For You are known, O LORD Eternal, for always doing what’s good and right; even pointing unbelievers in the right direction. You will always guide those willing to listen how to conduct themselves no matter what the situation. That’s why everything the LORD Eternal asks those who follow His commands to do, is based on steadfast love and honesty.” Psalm 25:1-10

Reflection: Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, wife of pre-Communist China’s leader and founder of the Taiwanese nation on Formosa, once told of her mother’s custom of spending hours every day in prayer. She set aside a special room on the third floor of her house for her daily devotions. When any of her children sought advice, she’d reply, “First let me ask God about it.” No matter how long it took, she prayed until she felt God gave her an answer. She never doubted for a moment that what she told her children came from Him. Often our acts, intentions, thoughts, deeds, and plans are based on emotional and intellectual impulses. Without God’s influence in our hearts and minds, those objectives may bear no resemblance to God’s real plan for our lives. Only when we bring everything to Him for editing and approval will we know that we’re on the right road headed for the right goal. Just like David, we must not allow the pressure or ridicule of those around us to become a deterrent in us being where God wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do.

PASSING THE TEST

David wanted to thank God because He cared so much for him. So he searched to find a piece of land where he could erect a tent and then bring the abandoned Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Araunah the Jebusite wanted to give it to David, but David refused because he did not want to give God something that did not cost him anything. This was not an attempt to try and pay God back for all His goodness and kindness. Rather, it was David’s deep gratitude and thankfulness wanting to find a way to tell the LORD how much he loved and adored Him. No wonder David felt so blessed when the Ark of the Covenant finally arrived so they could celebrate having God in their midst.

“Our LORD Eternal owns everything and everyone living on earth. He created it and started it running the way it is. So who may go up to meet Him face to face? Who may walk into His holy presence? Only those with a clear conscience and pure heart; only those who are not dishonest and will tell the truth no matter what. Those are the ones the LORD Eternal blesses; yes, our One True God will personally hand them their reward. This describes the kind of people who really seek Him; those who want to be in His presence. So open the gates and make wide the sacred doors so our glorious King can come in. What glorious King am I talking about?—it’s the LORD Eternal who gallantly fights His battles; our undefeated Champion. So open the gates and make wide the sacred doors so our glorious King can come in. What glorious King am I referring to?—the LORD Eternal of heaven’s hosts; that’s the glorious King I’m talking about! ” Psalm 24:1-10

Reflection: Imagine a young man who bribes his friends to provide answers for tests in order to graduate from high school. Then upon joining the military, he lies on his application about his age and keeps the fact that he’s color-blind a secret. Once he gets into combat, his commander sends him out to man an important road block with these instructions: “If you see a red flare in the air, immediately fire a rocket propelled grenade at the first vehicle you see because it’s a suicide bomber. But if you see a green flare, then let the vehicle through because they are friendly troops. He leaves without revealing the truth about his colorblindness. When he sees a flare go off, and not being able to tell whether it was red or green, in panic he fires and murders ten of his own buddies. Later he claims that someone overpowered him, took his weapon and fired the grenade. But pictures from a flying drone reveal the lie. We may fool people now with hypocrisy and pretension, but when the glorious King comes through the gates we will be judged for our foolishness. Better to fall on our knees now then wait until He appears. By then it will be too late.