[NeitherFirstnorLast]

I am sorry Saints, I suppose I need to write with more clarity sometimes, rather than letting muse take me.

Rather than saying industry enslaves us, let me say more specifically this:

"Our Creator has a purpose, for our being here on Earth." - and I think we agree that this purpose is not that we live our lives in the lap of luxury. It is not for us each to attain a fancy title, a shiny new car, a two-story house on a gorgeous acreage with a swimming pool in the back yard and 2 1/2 kids playing X-box in the living room. His purpose is not that we get to cruise the Caribbean, jet to Miami or New York or Chicago or Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver. It isn't for us to enjoy the finest exotic dining. It isn't that we get to have fantastic family holidays, work nine to five, and spend money like it's going out of style.

Do you know people like that? I do. Intimately. I've been one. How much time did I make for Him back then? None. I had it all, what did I need Him for? That's what I thought, anyway. Am I the only one who ever thought that way? I don't think so.

Solomon thought that way. Look at what happened to him. I have to say now also brothers, that Witness Lee though that way too - and look at what became of the 'temple' he built. Why do men crave human wisdom, when it is clear:

"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27

At the end of his life, Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. He tells us, because he knows, his kind of living was "vanity of vanities". If we are honest, the living we have here today is too. "What advantage does a man have in all his work which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the Earth stands forever." Ecc 1:3-4

Praise the Lord, He was quick to discipline me and I didn't have to wait until the end of my life to see how useless my "wisdom" really was. I rent a house now - and I am blessed, because it is a beautiful home and it suits our needs perfectly. I do enjoy time with my family, but it is a blessed time - because He is very much a part of it. I don't have a shiny new car, but He has provided a rugged old truck that does the job just fine. I don't have a fancy title, but that's okay. I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me - what could be greater than that!?

Israel struggled and fell under her kings - because the only King God ever wanted His people to have was our Lord Jesus Christ - the Saviour - the True Temple-builder whose prophecy Solomon usurped for himself.

God brought Israel to her knees; but did He do it because he wanted to hurt them for what they did? When my children cross a line, and do something wicked or foolish, do I punish them just to hurt them? Of course not! My punishment for their sins is given because I LOVE them - I want so much better for them and sometimes the only way to correct a behaviour is to allow the consequences of that behaviour to be suffered.

When our Lord speaks in His Word, He will say important things more than once. "Verily verily", He always spoke this way. Three times in His Word, He tells us He chastises or rebukes or disciplines those whom He loves. He said it through Solomon in Proverbs 3:12, He says it again in Hebrews 12:6, and lastly He reminds us of it again in Revelation 3:19. The Lord loves Israel - He's still not done with them, and they still haven't all turned to Him (although many more are coming every day, Praise Him!)

Power corrupts men, gentlemen, and angels - and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Idle hands are the devil's playthings. Not only familiarity but also comfort breed contempt... Etc. etc. Platitudes we remember well because they ring true.

Israel suffered for her sins as a people - but that suffering was not without purpose. God worked on that generation as He does on ours, to effect His purpose. He is seeking an intimate relationship with His people - and while this life may be brief, or it may be lengthened to all of 120 years, it still makes no difference whatsoever in the grand scheme - because it isn't over when you die, is it? If you live twenty years of misery on Earth but gain the Kingdom, you WIN FOREVER. If you live one hundred and twenty years on Earth in luxury and wealth and power, and die without a relationship with Him - you LOSE FOREVER.

Lord, I want to be like Lazarus and not the rich man. I want to be in Abraham's bosom, and not parched and dry and burning, regretting every opportunity I ever missed to gain You.

Jesus Christ is LORD!

Neither First nor Last