Thought of the Day - The Pot of Sin Stew

Why Are We Bothered With Troubles?
The Pot of Sin Stew
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7

At noon, on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, the crowd on the dock was tremendous. Family members and friends of 2201 people, which including the employees themselves, that were going on a trip of a lifetime were waving and cheering. It may have very well been a brisk day in South Hampton, England, as all the people looked upon the ship, which was deemed unsinkable by many. False security was built up to people about this ship. A group of reporters gathered at the New York office of White Star Line and questioned the company’s Vice President, Philip Franklin, when he showed up for work, and he reassured everyone with the following statement. “There is no danger that the Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.” Even one of the White Star Employees, who was about to launch out on this trip said, “Not even God Himself can sink this ship.” The fact is there were not many people, including the captain and the ship’s engineers believed that God could sink it either. Four days later, the bright stars were shining down on a wide open sea. It was reportedly 33 degrees, on that cold Sunday night of April 14, 1912, as many of the passengers, who had enjoyed a meal and went on to the dancing, and wining and dining, that usually goes on with these trips. Of course, at 11:00 p.m., many of the people had no doubt gone to bed, to be refreshed the next morning. There had been many warnings about icebergs in this area. “Full steam ahead,” the captain said, “We are making great time.” It is said that they were ahead of schedule on this trip. However, at 11:40 p.m. the ship came to an abrupt stop when it encountered an iceberg that doomed this unsinkable ship. By 2:20 a.m. on Monday, April 15, the ship was sunk and 1,517 people including men, women, and children were all gone.
In the passage of 2 Timothy 3:2, Paul writes, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…” We have established that perilous times will come because of men loving themselves, and because of men’s love for money. However, Paul covers two things that go hand in hand after that. So, in this pot of death stew we are cooking we add boasting and pride. We see that “In the last days, men will be boasters and proud.” Pride has always been a downfall for man. The pride happened when Lucifer told God that he was going to ascend his throne above the Lord’s. He, in fact, had 1/3 of all the angels supporting him. He was cast to the earth, where he controls the lost and makes war with God’s children. Pride got the best of the captain of the Titanic. He thought the ship was unsinkable and invincible. Even though he may not have said it his actions showed it. He found out that his pride ended up costing 1,516 more lives. It wasn’t just his life lost.
America has the same kind of problem today. We are full of pride and boast about the accomplishments that we make. Pride will be the downfall of America. It already is. Many people who call Jesus their Savior have the same pride. We have become complacent in our nation and in our lives. We believe we are invincible too. Pride separates man from God. He cannot work in a person’s life the way HE wants too, when a man is proud. This nation has had many great tragedies happen to it in it’s 200 plus years. Many hurricanes, tornadoes, and natural phenomenons have happened and many lives have been lost. However, we stay with the way we are and the way we live. Pearl Harbor and the twin towers were wake up calls from God, but we return to our sinful ways. I can remember when the nation prayed after 9/11, but less than 2 months we went back to life as we love it. God was, again, put to the side.
Solomon tells us, in Proverbs 6:16 – 19, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto HIM: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Does it surprise you that the seven things start off with pride? I know many people who believe in a Godly pride, but we need to understand that God will not have that which HE hates. There is no such thing. Pride has been the downfall of man since Adam. Adam had to test the Lord, so he could know as much as God. Guess what? He still doesn’t know as much as God and we don’t either.
Humility draws God to us. I am reminded of what the Lord told Solomon when he finished the house of the Lord. Solomon had prayed and dedicated the house of the Lord to the Lord. The Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land,” (2Chronicles 7:14). This applies to all the Christians who have truly accepted Christ as Savior. The Lord specifically addresses this to HIS people. Christians are the ones who are really called by HIS Name. The instructions HE hands out here can only be done with humility. We are instructed to be humble before we pray.
Just like the Titanic, we feel our nation, our lives, and everything about us are pretty much invincible. We believe we are unsinkable. With that attitude, we will find our fate. Humility never hurts, and pride kills. The pot of stew is cooking good now. Can you smell what we are cooking in America? Loving ourselves and money more than God; boasting about it and being proud. This things by themselves lead to destruction.