6 days left in this election cycle. A week from tonight, the newscasters will all be focused on declaring the projected winner before some voting sites even shut their doors. Candidates will be at party central. The populace will watching the game of the evening or the newest TV hit. And – whomever wins? Life will continue throughout the land.
November 1st is always the day that I try to pull out the the first of the Advent candles. One candle to light the darkness that Halloween always seems to bring into the world. A start to welcome righteousness back to a world that continues to fall further and further away from the path laid out in a perfect Garden.
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time,”~Gen 6:9
“…blameless among the people of his time.” Perfect. Righteous. According to Jewish sages, these are important words that most people just read over without thinking too much about them. I’ve done it many times. However, to the sages, every word is meant to be an important key to some wisdom that El wants us to understand.
The sages believe that one thing these words are to remind us that the times of Noah were completely empty of righteousness – – of any kind. But there stood Noah and his family. Not perfect by any means, but He did remember. He honored the traditions of his fathers and opened his tent to the four corners as he shared is belief in one God.
There are always a few – a remnant who remember. Always a God who continues to point the way and love us regardless. A Son who was completely righteous – in his time – and in ours and loved us beyond comprehension – with grace and mercy. That is what we have to remember – the righteousness that lives within us. The righteousness that has a plan – for us – – for our country – – for our world. We may not like it, but we have faith to lean on in the tough times.
Righteousness that awaits beyond next Tuesday. It will be there to guide and bless our journey forward. It will be there forever. All we have to do is open our tent to the four corners and share our belief in a Father who loved us enough to share His only begotten Son.
One candle in the darkness tonight.
1942 Daily Rations: ” ‘Thou said, ‘Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.’
“Read: Luke 23:1-9
“Pilate’s verdict concerning Christ, ‘I find no fault in this man,’ has been the testimony of mankind throughout the centuries. Consider the moral perfection of the Master. There was no flaw in his character. Although tempted in all points like as we are he was absolutely without sin.
“Consider is emotional perfection. There was no flaw in his attitude toward humanity. he cherished good will toward those who mistreated him. He forgave and prayed for those who crucified him. He hated sin, but he loved sinners and made the supreme sacrifice to redeem them.
“Consider his spiritual perfection. He lived in unbroken communion with God. From the time when as a lad in the Temple he said, ‘Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?’ until he declared from the cross, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,’ he wrought in perfect unity and harmony with God.
“Sidney Lanier has given classic expression to this universal sentiment concerning Christ’s perfection:
‘What if or yet what mote what flaw what lapse,- – –
What least defect, or shadow of defect,
What rumor, tattled by an enemy,
Of inference loose, what lack of grace
Even in torture’s grasp,, or sleep’s, or death’s,- – –
Oh, what amiss may I forgive in Thee,
Jesus, good Paragon, thou Crystal Christ?’
“Prayer: Our Father, prompt us to aspire after the highest holiest, and best as exemplified in Christ. We pray in is name. Amen.” [google images]
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