Archive for 24 April 2010
The masquerades’
When the Bible referred to the heart of man as deceitful and desperately wicked
(Jeremiah 17:9), there were no classifications or specifics on the said ‘man’. Generally,
the reference to ‘man’ cuts across the broad spectrum of mankind. In other words,
all of man has the tendency for wickedness or evil deeds if by commission or omission
their hearts become a fertile ground for evil to thrive.
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Today the world is replete with sworn enemies masquerading as friends; mask wearers
mimicking a genial host. Wickedness is embellished; adorned with skin-deep cordiality.
Impersonators’ come in the name of God or ‘their gods’ to deceive; many turn away from
the faith, betraying and hating each other; and false prophets perform great signs andÂ
wonders to deceive even the chosen…. This painful reality is evocative of the end time
(Mathew 24:5-24). There are no holds barred to what atrocity man can perpetuate, so
much so that the atheist may wonder at the abominable and atrocious deeds of ‘some’Â
professed people of faith who claim to love light yet live in darkness; lions in sheeps’ clothing. Â
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Be alert and vigilant for the devil lurks around, usually in unexpected places and times.
Whether in the church, mosque, temple, workplace, school or pub, the devil has no first
or surname; it has no identity or fixed address. The devil could be anything or anyone
and can be anywhere at anytime; it is simply the prowling lion looking for someone to
devour. That Jesus Christ admonished his disciples to ‘watch and pray so as not to fall
into temptation’, underscore the need to have our back against the wall when it comes to
fighting off the devil - evident in human form, the absence of knowledge or otherwise.
No spiritual effort must be spared; no physical stone should be left unturned.
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These are dangerous and uncertain times and the masquerades’ are everywhere.
Undoubtedly, we live in the precarious age when evildoers have raised their game.Â
Whether the enemy manifests as man or a destructive indulgence, we contend with a
period of hightened temptation and evil in the world. The antidote is a honest encounter
with God; staying in active fellowship with Him and measuring our actions with His word. Â
Entering the kingdom of God is not about becoming born again, but remaining born again.
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                                                                                    – Victor Sisan Awani (24/04/2010)
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[Translate]Living beyond the moment
What do you see with your eyes; is it of light or darkness? The word of God
teaches us that we cannot pay allegiance to two masters concurrently. Light
and darkness cannot co-exist.
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Do not be swayed by the things of this world. Life is brief and transient and
ultimately we shall go the same way we came – naked and oblivious of the
treasures around us. Everything become immaterial in relation to life; our
earthly possessions or ‘Will’Â if one exits become relevant only to the living,
and only for as long as they have breath as well. A worthy life is notÂ
measured by its length or vain material acquisitions and attainments; but
by the Godly virtues – love and joy that we share and spread, the lives (not
necessarily our friends and family members) that we impact, touch and
change for the good of society.
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Be heaven focused and do not be consumed by the cravings for money and
materialism. In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “do not store up for
yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not
break in and steal.”
Make no mistake, there’s nothing wrong with prosperity or striving byÂ
dint of legitimate effort to prosper. But everything is wrong when greed takes
its toll on our conscience and all we see with our eyes is money; when the love of
money govern and rule our lives, and when nothing is off-limit as we jostle for it.
The word of God refers to the eye as “the lamp of the body”, therefore, if your
eyes are corrupted with the selfish, insatiable and vain cravings for worldliness,Â
“your whole body will be full of darkness” – Matthew 6:19-23.    Â
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We live for the moment when the lamp within us is of darkness; when the
devil become our paymaster and we conform to the world. As children of
God, our lives should and can outlive the moment if our eyes only see and
process light; subservient only to Godly virtues with hearts set no more than
on heaven. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and money” – Matthew 6:24.
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                               –   In His Grip
                                  Victor Sisan Awani (24/04/2010)
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