Cornerstone

Hebrews 11:23‑29 (24)

A story in Today in the Word, July 13, 1993, relates that “During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?”

“Who said that?” roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.” “

All people face these decisions.  Will you stand for what is right or will you do what is convenient or conventional?  Will you turn from strong influencers when their desire goes contrary to your standard of ethics?  We all have to make decisions that people will question.  We all have to make decisions that people may never understand. In the end our destiny and our unsullied relationship with God is what really matters.

Once to Every Man

Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth or falsehood
For the good or evil side.

But to every man there openeth
A high way and a low
And every man decideth
Which way his soul shall go.

-          James Russell Lowell

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Matthew 19:16‑22 (22)

He drove me down the streets of the exquisitely exclusive neighborhood in one of his new BMWs.  He showed me the streets that were named for his children.  He told me of his investments.  He made sure that I felt insignificant by telling me how with his doctorate he had gained fortunate and notoriety. He assured me that now that I had my doctorate I should go back to school and get a doctorate that would make me some money. He scoffed when I made mention that there must be a lot of millionaires in that neighborhood in order to own the houses I admired.  “What’s a million,” he said and drove into the drive of his palatial property.

I have often thought of that visit with my friend.  And yet I can’t block out memories of the time I met the same man in an expensive hotel so that he couldn’t unburden his heartache.  He had lost his wife, his children were not turning out as he had planned, and the story of hurt continued.  The saddest part of this story is that this man was the son of a holiness preacher, knew God’s desire for his life and yet chose prestige, property, possession and popularity instead.  He had it all and yet he had nothing.  True value isn’t preceded by a dollar sign.

by Dr. Gayle Woods