FOMENTING

 

Write From My Heart

May 28, 2021

 

FOMENTING  to promote the growth or development of; rouse; incite

 

Isaiah 59:1-4 and 12-15 (NIV)  Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. … For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

 

Ponder this: The prophet Isaiah spoke these words some 2,700+ years ago yet his warning is just as relevant as if it were the news headlines for today. If you are guilty of skimming through the above passage, this is your opportunity to stop and read it again—this time carefully, word for word, considering with each line how it applies to our own Nation. The tragedy is that our offenses are always with us. As long as we are content to allow corruption to go unchecked, to “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,” then we are essentially turning our back on the God of righteousness. Worse, we compound our offenses and iniquities by promoting their growth and development—again, by lack of willingness to condemn wrong where it exists. We customize truth to suit our own needs and desires—uttering lies our hearts have conceived. Whoever shuns evil becomes prey to the cancel culture of our day. When will Christians grow enough courage to say enough is enough? When will we say, go ahead and cancel me, I will still serve the Lord God Almighty? When will we become advocates for truth and justice? When will America be able to claim once again, “In God We Trust” [and obey], for there is no other way?