“Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last, where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest out feet stray from the places, our God, where we meet Thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget Thee; shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land.” (Words from Lift Every Voice and Sing, referred to as the Black National Anthem. It was the first written as a poem, composed by John Weldon Johnson and put to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson.)
Darkness is on its ongoing mission of trying to overtake the light and disrupt the illuminated path on which we trod. How did this happen? What went wrong?
Well, when we live by God’s word in all arenas of life: individual, social, and political, things are done right, and things are as they should be. However, when we wrongly live opposite of God’s word, a word that offers no exemption for the rich or poor and offers no exclusion for the person(s) in authority, of course, as you would expect, things go inevitably wrong.
What went wrong? History should have taught us the lesson, as it reveals the correct answer to the question, “What went wrong?” However, in case we have forgotten the facts from the dark past that history taught us, note that included in the history of mankind, we find the inspired words below, taken from the profitable word of God. Meditate on these verses and use them as a lens of clarity to magnify how you look at the events in our world. After doing so, see if you have an answer to “What went wrong?” Share this with others! Stir up the minds of others who need to learn some undeniable truths, beyond the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Finally, since it is Saturday, let me encourage you to show up at the house of God tomorrow! Go and hear the specific message that God has specifically for each of us and be part of the assembly of the saints that lift their eyes, looking to the hills from whence commeth our help; knowing our help comes from beyond the hills. Our help comes from the Lord above. And as scripture says, “He is a very present help in times of trouble.” Be blessed!
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:1-12 The Message Bible))
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
P.S.
Written “for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 The Message Bible)