"Stories of Old" -2

"We have heard with our ears, O God, our Fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old." (Psalms 44:1) Seeing how this Psalm is meant to be about "A Prayer for Protection", I have got to stop and wonder, Protection from what? I have already mentioned the devil, and how he wants to destroy anyone that has a chance to make a difference for the kingdom of God; but there is someone else who will also do just as much damage, if not more, and he resides within. Yes, I am talking about that old man, the one which has been crucified with Christ, yet keeps on rising up, time and time again. Listening to Pastor Matt yesterday, I could not help but think of all the stupid and hurtful things that I have done over these last 33 years; things that make my spirit groan just thinking about them. And the worst thing of all, is that they were things that I am sure made people stumble, and at the very least, did not show forth the love of God in my life. I think sometimes we focus too much on how bad the rest of the world is, and then accept something that is just par for ourselves; when God wants us to be totally different, which means that we can be seen as different in the eyes of the world; most of the time it is really hard to tell who's Christian and who is not. And then you have those that try and adjust their lives to meet today's standards, as if God's requirements for godly living have changed with the times; God has not changed, and His word has not changed; so where do we get the idea that His requirements have changed? Well, just look at the world, some would say; It's a whole new frontier, filled with vast technology, instant communication, and has become one big planet; you have got to adjust your way of thinking to keep up with this modern world. It is pretty interesting, but have you ever thought what things would be like if everything failed? I mean, if all the systems crashed; there would be no food deliveries, no power to run all of our technology, no gas to pump into our cars; everything would just come to a halt, say, just for a week or so; what do you think that would look like? Well, I believe it could happen, and if it did, this place would be an instant place of chaos. God has not changed, and neither should we accept anything less than what He has prescribed for us in His word... "Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:7-13)