Cynicism and complacency

You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?”

When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi 2:17)

The cynic flatters himself or herself as a hard-eyed realist, a down-to-earth, unfazed, practical person of experience—especially in comparison with "the idiots who maintain some kind of fool hope or optimism." The cynic has been there, done that, and been disappointed. Won't do that again—no way! Won't feel that way again—not on your life!

“I won't be tricked into hope—I’m too street-smart for that.”

Cynicism often leads to complacency. Just because those who defy God’s law have often seemed immune to any retribution or worse still seem to propers, it does not give us the licence to be complacent. The Lord’s sense of time is very different from ours.

Complacency is the biggest killer and a silent time-bomb. Many industrial accidents were due to carelessness and complacency of those in charge of safety. The sinking of the Titanic had killed many lives mainly due to complacency. They thought the ship was so huge and so well constructed that it will never sink - and hence only prepared for half the lifeboats needed.

Likewise, our lives are relatively comfortable; we may even feel superior in terms of intellectual and material resources we possessed. Often times, we Christians live life that is no different from that of the world. Cynicism and complacency infect everyone of us.

Let us heed the words of Malachi, especially in 3: 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

The God Who Speaks

The title is deliberately written in the present tense. The present continuous to be exact.

Every intelligent being communicates. Humans are the epitome of creation in terms of intelligence and their ability to communicate and express ideas.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is the Creator of the universe. He is far far more intelligent beyond our mind could ever comprehend or imagine.

Many times I have thoughts and ideas where I wondered: " where do I get these?" I believe the bible shows us that our God is still speaking and he always will.

I like looking at the night sky where the stars shone brightly, Lately, I have taken the interest in capturing them in digital camera. The following are some samples.

 Stars studded night sky with trees and building silhouettes

 

A  meteor streak was seen in this photo!

Take at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand with the famous iconic Good Shepherd Church in the foreground

 

 

The following bible verse came to mind;

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. (Romans 13:11-13)

 

The amazing history of this verses is one of the early church father - Augustine of Hippo, who was a great intellectual of his time, but lived a life of drunkenness and debauchery. The above verses spoke to him when he heard a voice "take up and read! take up and read! " and the scripture was near him and the verses he set his eyes upon were these verses.

 

He was miraculously converted, having being convicted that God was personally speaking to him.  He went on to be a man great use by God, a theologian, a bishop, and the author of the famous classic "The Confessions of St Augustine" 

 

 

Make not mistake, our God still speaks today. seek Him!