"One Life to Live" - To

 "This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Ecclesiastes 9:3 KJV)

  "On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, "I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" He looked around at them one by one and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him." (Luke 6:6-11 NLT)

 There is a connection here, believe it or not. This passage from Luke is meant to show the hearts of the sons of men, being filled with evil and madness in their hearts. You must realize the connection, because many of us were just the same; I know firsthand what I am talking about. 

 Having grown up in a religious, so called, off and on environment, I can remember back to around the time I was 12 or 13, I became very rebellious and really didn't care if I lived or died, as long as I could do whatever I wanted to do. I stopped reading the Bible and gave up on religion, all together. I still believed in God, but I became rebellious towards Him, having drugs and drinking as the god that I followed. 

 By the time I was 15 years old, I had crossed the line; giving all of my time to partying and calling myself a Rebel, who was on the highway to hell. Before I turned 16, I was arrested and charged with 6 grand-theft-auto charges, and numerous breaking-and-entering's. Which sent me into being locked down until after I turned 17. But after only a month or so, I was arrested again, with the judge giving me a choice: go to CYA of leave the State of California. So I went to Texas to live with my grandfather; while at the same time, being kept on probation. 

 I only say this, because the madness part of this evil is real! Once you commit to dying, as if it is the only real hope for your future, you seriously go off the rails! There is really hardly anything you aren't willing to try or do; even if it might seem totally wicked, it really doesn't matter, because death is certain, and life is not; so, you give it all you got.

 Now, think for a second about these 'Teachers of the law and the Pharisees.' These are men of the law, supposably being those who teach the law of Moses, and should know full well that God's laws were given to show man his faults and the things he fails to do. The Sabbath day was a day that honored God, and by resting from your daily work, you were to be dedicating that day to God.

 I hope you can somehow you see the connection, because there is something very familiar with the heart's condition of these men and my condition as a rebellious teenager. Jesus did nothing wrong, yet they treated Him as if He had broken something, that crossed the line, so to speak. Not only did He heal that man on the Sabbath, but He did so in front of everyone, making sure He had their attention. 

 Believe it or not, but they were very closely aligned with me, during my time of rebellion and being evil. There is something that happens in our hearts when we turn away from God; whether you know what you are doing, or not, you actually are taking on a partnership with the devil. 

 And who, pray tell is the devil...

"If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT)