January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Bad decisions, as Bible shows, will come to haunt us
One more time we recognize the saying, "United we stand; divided we fall." For sure, the poor choice of one person can indeed cause an institution and even a nation to fall.
Christians will also note that this very same principle was shown in Genesis. The poor decision of one person, Adam, caused all of mankind to slip into a fallen state of sin. However, thanks be to God that because of the decision of one man, Christ Jesus, mankind was restored back into right relationship with God.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The power of unity or oneness can never be underestimated. In Joshua chapter 6, we meet a leader named Joshua, who was given the privilege and responsibility of taking God's people across the River Jordan. This same Joshua called God's people to a silent six-day walk and then a supernatural 7th day walk around the walls of Jericho, which culminated in the enemy walls being levelled to the ground. All of this happened because the people operated in unity.
In chapter 7 of Joshua, those same people suffered an embarrassing defeat at Ai. God desired that His people not touch or take of the spoils of their victory at Jericho. Joshua and the leaders wailed and travailed before God, only to be told by God to get up and deal with the disunity in the camp - the Achan in the camp. Amongst God's people there was a disobedient man who did the very thing that the Israelites were told not to do. Everyone should have obeyed that instruction, but Achan sinned.
Unfortunately, Achan fell prey to sin just as Adam and Eve did. Achan looked at a beautiful Babylonian robe and decided to take it. Achan saw the silver and took that too. Achan saw and handled a thing that was unholy. Yes, it was beautiful, but it was unholy. Yes, the money was worth a lot, but it was unholy and therefore it was about to cost a lot more than Achan could have ever realized.
Isn't this usually the case? People are always warned to beware of the beautiful thing and the money-thing.
Bermuda, let this even be a warning about gambling with the future of generations to come so that a select few can gain material wealth.
Isn't it amazing that no matter how many are opposed to gambling, those who can afford to gamble and can pay for their own counselling sessions will see to it that gambling is brought to the shores of the island.
At the beginning it was said that gambling would take place during certain hours, for certain people, at a certain location, and now they are saying that it will be available to all.
In Joshua, the sin of Achan was exposed, and his entire family was annihilated. That was so sad, because God had given Achan an opportunity to get it right. God had called for Joshua to call the people to a place of sanctification.
That could have been the ideal time for Achan to confess his faults and come clean. Instead he kept his secret, a secret, or so he thought. God revealed truth and then God removed the traitor.
The power of one is real. Look at what Rosa Parks did. Look at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Those persons made positive choices.
The Achans of this world make negative choices, which can lead to the downfall of a people. My prayer is that each of you will make the decision to consider the power of your one voice as it pertains to the life of your children and the life you will continue to live in the island of Bermuda. Respice finem.
DR. MARIA SEAMAN is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, 98 North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.
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