“With No Malice”©2012
A General Interest Opinion Column by an opinionated person.
Vic Topmiller Jr.
01/07/13(61)

“What makes a garden and why do gardens grow,
Love lives in gardens – God and lovers know!”
Carolyn Giltinan

I enjoy reading the prophecies of the Minor Prophets. You know, the guys at the end of the Old Testament. They spent all of their time running around Judah and Israel telling folks that God's judgment was at hand because they were bent on putting him on the same level as all of the other Mediterranean gods while still proclaiming that they were God's chosen people. Well, as I read, it appeared they actually only worshiped the God in pretense while in fact they worshiped the gods of the heathens because of the fleshy sins that made the worship appeal to their lusts. In other words, everything that God warned the Hebrews against is what they ran after. I hate to bring this up, but doesn't that remind you of something, someone or some country or countries?

I think our country is in lockstep with the idiocy that was taking place these twenty- five hundred years ago around the Mediterranean Sea. Probably all over the world at that time, as well as now. But remember, we are talking about the Hebrew people. The folks God promised Abraham. God gave them a basic mandate, obey my commandants, honor me and live your life. He would protect them. And as long as they did, he did.

But too much of a good thing and they couldn't handle it. It just looked like all of the heathens surrounding them, worshiping and enjoying all the sins of the flesh were having all of the fun. So, what did they do? COMPROMISE. God won't be too mad if we worship him on Saturday and the rest of the gods the rest of the week.

Guess what, he was mad as Hell. Not as a curse word, but literally.

Except for the warning to Nineveh where Nineveh acknowledged their mean flaws and begged God's forgiveness and was restored and not destroyed, the warnings were more nearly like announcements. Like “Okay you dummies, God gave you the Law, he gave you protection, he provided forgiveness but you didn't think you needed it. Now, times up – Adios."

All of that is to say this – our country is situated somewhere between where Nineveh was and the rest of the Hebrew world. We either have a chance of forgiveness or the unstoppable clock is running.

Now all of that is to say—since it is out of our tiny hands—it is prudent to spend some time dwelling on where we stand and what should we do.

One thing I picked up on as I read the Minor Prophet books is except for Nineveh, it seems clear that God wasn't offering a course of forgiveness but more what was to come. Heck, how many times had he forgiven them already? I asked myself one day, if it was predetermined what would happen (destruction of Judah and Israel and the Jews carried into Babylonian exile), didn't the Prophets feel like they were hollering “the day is coming” for no reason at all? I bet they did. But several things, one, God told them to. Two, God had a reason, when the destruction and bondage took place his people would know the reason. Another, you and I, reading the warnings of the prophets will know that because time and archaeology has allowed you and me to see that God's word is true and without flaw.

So what is that to you and me? It's this—even though the prophets knew their warnings would not be heeded, they screamed and hollered all the way to the end.

So our mandate is straight forward if we truly want to see and accept it.

CONTINUE TO SHOUT THE TRUTH AND PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

Before I go on, I want to tell you that the reasons for the Hebrew issue are complex but are extraordinarily easy for the one who cares to see. It's your call. Continue your study.

That gets us to, “Shout the Truth." Continue to fight to restore our country back to where God was the God and our country was the gift.

And then, “Prepare for the Worst.” For one, Plant a Garden. Feel the rich dirt in your hands, and thank God for the miracle of the seed.

That's My Opinion.                    

“There is no healing of thy bruise, thy wound is grievous; all that hear the report of thee shall clap the hands over thee; for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed over continually?” Nahum 3:19.

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