January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Reaping the bitter harvest of turning our back on God
Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Bermuda, when we will stop and take stock of our choices concerning our relationship or lack of relationship with God? We must be so aware of how we have shaped this island, as we seek to reshape her into the isles of paradise we were once known to be.
Something has gone wrong, and I sincerely believe that most of Bermuda understands where we have gone wrong.
Here it is: We have forgotten the Lord God who caused us to be rich and powerful in the first place. Bermuda, we have loved money above all and far too many live their lives to attain this resource by any means necessary. This is the new legacy we have introduced to this present generation.
Unfortunately, with a less than desirable educational system (always going through its own changes) and with a less stable home-life (constantly changing for many), some of our youth are not able to acquire money through education and/or hard work, nor are they willing to become respectable citizens.
No, they aim to follow the examples they see and have come to admire. They do not see church or experience church. So, we cannot expect them to model their lives after godly things and we cannot expect them to behave wisely. Again, we have no one to blame for our condition but ourselves.
By and large, Bermuda made a choice to place mammon above God and now "the chicken has come home to roost". So many have sown the wind and now Bermuda feels the effects of the whirlwind. A significant segment of our youth have lost respect for God, themselves, and others. By the way, we cannot say it is only about five to 10 per cent of the youth who have gone wrong and leave it there.
What we must understand is that all it takes is a small percentage of angry, undisciplined, unregenerate, and unrefined youth (and adults for that matter) to place a 20-mile island in a state of panic. What a pitiful and horrible thing that is.
Yet, all is not lost and we are not lost. For God yet has His hand upon us. Yes, as long as there are righteous people in the land, God will provide a way of escape.
The question is will we hold to God's hand or will we refuse to accept His hand while He holds it out to us. It is our choice Bermuda?
What will we do?
The happenings over last weekend should serve as a catalyst for:
1. Self-examination - May we each use a self-examining microscope and see if our lives add to the negative atmosphere of Bermuda. If it does, let us make the choice to change.
2. Self-determination - May we stop and make a plan. Let us consider what we want our lives to look like in five years and begin to walk in that way.
3. Self-actualization - May we use each day to walk further along destiny's road. Let us not allow bumps in the road to permanently impede our progress.
4. Self-denial - There are some things we will have to reject if we are to be a successful nation. What has not worked in the past will most likely not work in the present. Let's stop repeating past mistakes and begin to make wise choices for our future.
5. Self-repentance - We must absolutely acknowledge that we have missed it. We have let go of the hand of God, which caused our ancestors to be able to build a better Bermuda for us. We must forgive ourselves, and seek God's forgiveness for what we have done in the past.
6. Self-study - We must become a people who strategically and scientifically study our lives and see where we made wrong moves. Then we must determine that we will begin to make right moves.
7. Self-will - Bermuda, none of these steps is going to be an overnight cure. It took time for us to forget God and it will take time for us to remember Him and ask Him to remember us. Only God can put the pieces of our puzzle back together again. Be determined. Fight for a good life! Fight for the future and how our children and grandchildren will live.
Bermuda, there is nothing that the enemy can form that will prosper. In other words nothing that the devil brings about will bring life, joy, and peace. I beg you to turn back to God and begin the process of life again. The power of this choice is in each and every one of our hands. Respice finem.
Rev. Dr. Maria Seaman serves as the Pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, worshipping at the Victor Scott Primary School, Glebe Road, Pembroke.
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