Healthy Respect...

Healthy Respect 3-10-25

I have a healthy, well-earned respect for the Lord. That comes from a relationship that includes reading His word, praying, and enduring trial by fire. I am fearful of using God's name in vain. I shudder to think of cursing with the Lord's name in my mouth. I am reticent to even think about questioning His will. Don't get me wrong, I do have questions, but I would hesitate to question God's goodness, mercy, and guidance. I know He has my life in His hands. I know He will do what is for me, not against me. I know that sometimes I sit down and think, "Lord, show me where we are going." But that isn't questioning what He has planned. That is seeking His face and His guidance.

This afternoon, my husband and I ate dinner, and I sat down for a few minutes to watch some television before we finally (yes, I said finally) completed the taxes. One of the first stories featured a clip of a speaker at an event that was using God's name with expletives in a very disturbing manner. He was questioning God. The clip of the man was so disgusting that I immediately gasped, looked at my husband, and wondered if fire would strike my TV for watching that. I honestly didn't know what was coming, or I wouldn't have viewed the clip. The commentator was just as shocked by the manner and language as the viewers. The expletives were discretely covered with stars, but the words were clearly understandable, and the intent was not hidden.

My question. Where did the understanding of what is morally right and wrong go? What happened to understanding that using God's name in this manner was unacceptable? What happened to respecting the Lord our God? Are people so confident that they don't believe that God is real that they would go to this level to test Him? Do they think, as a former student does, that the Bible is fictional? I don't know, but I do know that Galatians 6:7 states, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap". God's justice is real.