The Fountain magazine Issue 02, April 2014

Encounters
Caution Is Wisdom
Let us be vigilant and cautious in all goodly undertakings...
The pounding rain could not
stop the dedicated evangelist.
He proceeded unimpeded
with the door to door visits
in the company of equally zealous
youths. How beautiful it was
to share the good news of the
fountain of life while the showers
of blessing kept pouring. The appreciably
beautiful lady who led
the way was rightly at the front;
her charming smile and exuberance
was the key with which
they unlocked doors and opened
the hearts of strangers. It was a
lovely procession.
As they approached the next
household, a lady approaching
from the opposite side politely
cautioned them to tread with
greater care since that ground
was slippery. But the team leader
was quick to respond, and in her
careless excitement and with
a sneer of derision, questioned
whether it was her duty to dictate
how people walk and where they
step. Bad mistake! Her words had
barely left her mouth when she
skidded horribly and fell awfully
on the muddy path, leaving her
hitherto white skirt dreadfully
stained. And the evangelist’s
reaction was equally malapropos.
Unable to contain himself, he
broke into an ugly and thunderous
laughter, eventually losing
his own balance. His fall was
even more comical, and he fortuitously
missed landing on the
lady by a few inches.
That infelicitous occurrence halted
the day’s plans and the gospel
train retreated in disgrace. But
the import of their predicament is
significantly broad: This world is
slippery. This world can fall you.
This world can shame you. The
Christian ought to tread carefully,
for its ugly twists are unpredictable
and unparalleled.
You can be as beautiful as
Jemima the daughter of Job, or
ruddy and of fair countenance
like David the son of Jesse, or
handsome in form and appearance
like Joseph the son of Jacob,
or even as refined and elegant
a preacher as Paul the Apostle,
but the world will neither respect
nor adore such. It adores neither
beauty nor riches, and has
dishonored both the lowly and
the mighty. Yes, it mortifies and
moves on. It tramples and treads
on. It abases and then abdicates.
by Dr. Joe Rosana
Therefore, let us be vigilant and
cautious in all goodly undertakings,
because caution is wisdom
and wisdom is strength. And we’ll
do well to remember fondly the
words of Apostle Paul, who captured
this in the best way he only
could, when he aptly exhorted us
in Ephesians 5:15-17;
“See then that ye walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but
as wise, Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding
what the will of the Lord
is.”
Again I say: caution is wisdom.
My Past, My Present, My Future:
Fourteen years ago, my mother
was heavy with child, yet
elated that her first-born child
was on the way. Finally, I was
born, introduced into the human
race. Innocent as I would look, I
was in sinful nature, and sinful in
nature I was until I accepted and
went under water, kneeled down
with uttermost humility at Calvary
and accepted the sacrifice made
for me.
Human history was merged at
the point Jesus committed His
spirit into the father’s hand and
died like the most sinful of men.
It was at that point that all creatures,
both divine and physical,
had a turning point. From then on,
18 The Fountain | April 2014
A reflection
there was provided bright hope for
today and for posterity.
Yet right now, I live in full awareness
of the pain my saviour endured.
I know well that each time I
sin, God stretches His hands wide
and invites me to go to Him and I
will receive rest. Though my sins
be as red as scarlet, He will make
them as white as snow. This is the
great message; the good news
that we simply need to lay at His
feet all our cares and believe He
has forgiven us.
Brethren, lets live to the best we
can honouring the sacrifice at Calvary,
the blood that flowed for my
sin and yours, the flesh torn for
our transgression and the brow
pierced for our guilt. Then when
our work on earth is done, and the
trumpet shall be sounded, it will
be our joy to inherit the everlasting
Kingdom, see our Saviour and
live with Him forever and ever.
Then o’er the bright fields we shall
roam, in glory celestial and fair.
With saints and with angels at
home and JESUS HIMSELF WILL
BE THERE.
by Charles Omondi,
Alliance SDA Society