"I have made my bed in darkness..."

"I have made my bed in darkness..."

The first step to protecting yourself or your family from danger is to recognize that a danger exists. That's why people fasten seat belts and put fences around their swimming pools. A local two year old child was recently bitten by a Copperhead. He may have been surprised by the snake or he may have simply been unaware that the sliver was so deadly.

There is a deadly enemy permeating American culture. It is our failure to recognize the serpent who lurks within the deep crevices of our culture. He is a deception, a darkness that is slowly overtaking us without us even realizing it."Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil." Proverbs 2:12

Bishop Joseph W. Walker III made this comment at Steve McNair's funeral, ""What I do know about this man (referring to McNair) was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect, but he knew God." Is Bishop Walker excusing Mr. McNair's behavior? Is he inferring that one can know God, go to heaven and still have an ongoing six year intimate and extramarital affair with an exotic dancer.

Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments." I pray sincerely that God will have mercy on the soul of Steve McNair but I also pray our youth will not be taken in by the deception that there is no penalty or eternal consequences for sin.

The Episcopalians are meeting in California. These are the words of Episcopalian Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori "It's "heresy" to believe that an individual can be saved through a sinner's prayer of repentance. The great Western heresy: that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God."Ms. Shori evidently doesn't know the same Jesus I know who repeatedly preached this message, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Sounds like a personal, saving relationship to me!!We are in darkness because we have made a pact with sin. We no longer fear of sin nor do we even recognize sin because we no longer know God. We understand what cold is because we know hot. We recognize light because we can compare it to darkness. We cannot recognize sin because we have no knowledge anymore of the true holiness of God. God have mercy on us!!