Proverbs 4:19 “the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble”
We had been walking for weeks. The day before we were walking towards an old airstrip where we hoped that we may connect with a mission air flight and be able to fly out. Otherwise, we had another three weeks walk ahead of us, on top of the six weeks we had just completed. That day an old beat-up truck came down the track we walking on and stopped. The man inside got out, he had a handgun and made us empty our bags out. All we had was dirty clothes and a bible each. He played the big man for while, but then left in his pick-up, bouncing and bumping away along the rain rutted track.
But now we were here at the old airstrip, in Rio Platano, The Mosquito Coast, and there was a small hospital building there. It had been built in the time of the Contra (against) Rebels. It was far enough away to avoid being shelled by the rebel army, but close enough to carry the wounded (I would have struggled to carry anyone that distance) for help. We had just come from over the border in Nicaragua and had been in many of the villages impacted by the war. My lasting memory was of the grace and forgiveness that was tangible. The rebels had lined villagers up and executed them during the war, only maybe a year earlier in this area.
There was an older man at the hospital building, he was around seventy years old. He came to Central America each year since he retired, which I think was about ten or twelve years previous. Each year he came down he put a freshwater well into one village, which was a massive undertaking. (cholera was/is still rampant – in the first village we visited in Nicaragua eight people had died from cholera in that village the week before we arrived). In his days doing this part-time while he still worked he had seen a need for dentistry in the villages as well, so had put himself through dentistry school in the USA before he retired. And now as well as drilling wells he extracted teeth. Nearly always the local villagers had no access to a dentist so the affected teeth would be in a terrible state.
That day there was no power from the generator so I held a flashlight for him as he extracted teeth. I have to say the ladies were by far much tougher than the guys, even if the guys acted tougher.
There was no generator but there was light in the darkness for sure………
KNOWLEDGE
What a terrible picture is painted here, of people lost, given over to living the wrong way in the full-hearted pursuit of what they believe will make them satisfied and happy. They live inside an over-arching mental gloominess, living with the consequences of their choices, oblivious to what is happening to them, they keep to the same path, often thinking more is the answer. There is moral blindness to them, a lack of recognition. What seems ever so clear to those who have committed their hearts and their habits to God, is a foggy dense, uninhabitable place to the people described here.
Terrifyingly, their final curtain is certain, their conclusion is concrete.
Urgently we go back in our minds now to Prov. 1:4, “to give prudence to the simple” and Prov. 1:23 “if you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you”.
The word “reproof” is an unusual word for us today, the Hebrew word is pronounced “towkechah” and means to be chastised, corrected, chastened – by words.
There is a call on our lives (if we are followers of Christ) to be messengers to a lost and dying world, that our words would be Holy Spirit inspired and be spoken with a deep concern for others [not in judgement]. In the New Testament, I have been able to read at least 174 questions that Jesus used. Jesus would often answer a question with a question. Jesus often unlocked someone’s past and ushered them into a whole new future with a great question at the perfect time. At the very least they were presented with a choice to make.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “darkness” in the Hebrew language is pronounced ” ‘apelah”. This word appears 10 times in the Old Testament and is translated in the ESV into the English words, darkness, and gloom. In verse nineteen there is an aspect of the darkness of the mind, of a mental gloom and despair.
WISDOM: how do you allow the Holy Spirit to use you to ask “unlocking” questions, and when did you last do that?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Achiever and Communication as a theme dynamic, tell a great tale of wonders done.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [the course of the criminal’s life is full of gloominess and despair, they are unaware of how they stagger and totter on the brink of ruin.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to make great decisions with you each day for my own life and also in how best to help others. Thank you.
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
Hi ps Allan ; thx u for God words; well went I working I have student from Nicaragua unfortunately she was anxious; everything done with so scared and poor girl was lovely; she always ask me listen to her; in that moment only I pray and I said God is hope For u and ur family.
Thx u
God bless
Thank you pastor Allan.
Thank you ps Allan. What an inspiring story of 70 year old man to do his calling to help and serve others. Being fruitful and productive and always be the source of hope and help for others. That is the life that Jesus wants us to be. Amen
Pastor Alan, the more I read about your life it’s about like Indiana jones, some unbelievable scenes I vision in my head , the adventures just seem to go on and on from Scotland, Hondorus, Florida, Nicoragura, ( some excitement is just about to much😂), Reading about your life would b soooo good if it was made into a film (it seems never ending pastor 👏🏽👍🏾.
Hi Pastor Allan. You’ve certainly lived a full life of experiences. Now you are sharing those experiences with us especially of the special people who make a difference in people’s lives. Yesterday it was the woman working at the prison and today a man helping to provide needed wells and dental care to the needy. Actions does speak louder then words. Blessings.
There is a call on our lives (if we are followers of Christ) to be messengers to a lost and dying world, that our words would be Holy Spirit inspired and be spoken with a deep concern for others [not in judgement]. – I love that.
Being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Love the part were you talk about God’s call on our lives.
Love your strength thought also.
Unlocking questions – going to meditate on that today!
Allan your experience was so valuable to share. Especially, “ There is a call on our lives (if we are followers of Christ) to be messengers to a lost and dying world, that our words would be Holy Spirit inspired and be spoken with a deep concern for others [not in judgement) “
It is indeed sad to read about the people who have lost their way and live in despair and hopelessness, generation after generation.
Thank you, Pastor Allan for reminding us that it is our responsibility to be messengers of hope to these desperate people. They are also God’s children, just like us.
Thank you Pastor Allan – such an inspirational man!
Yes this verse clearly shows me how deceived & blind the wicked are in their minds which ultimately brings depression & darkness. What they sow will eventually catch up with them & they will pay a terrible price. So amplifies the need for me to testify to the truth of Christ & pray for the lost & broken-hearted to help prevent them from further sinking into a pit of destruction & despair.
Holding a torch light for a dentist to extract teeth was exactly what I did on a mission trip to China.
May you continue to be a blessing to those in your path.
We are followers of Christ and messengers to the lost and dying world.
Let’s keep doing what we have been called to do faithfully for the glory and honour of God.
Thank you Ps Allan.. blessings.
We are followers of Christ and messengers to the lost and dying world.
Let’s keep doing what we have been called to do faithfully for the glory and honour of God.
Today’s scripture tells us how dark sin is.
And once you have given in to sin it overtakes and destroys us.
We almost always stumble not knowing exactly the outcome of our actions.
But soon God in His great love for us will always rescue us from the traps.
Incredibly confronting picture of life from my vantage point here in Australia. Will I ever understand how truely blessed I am to have been saved ?