Years ago, when I was learning to type, the instructor introduced us students to the practice text, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”  I would love to have a dollar for every time that I typed that line.  My speed was excellent in those days, …until I had to type something other than the practice text.

  Recently I came across that old familiar line again and was taken back by how apropos it sounded for our day.  Our country could surely use some good men in places of leadership right now, and more good men to follow them.  But how would you define a good man?  If you were to see a good man, what would he look like?  For an answer that is categorically right, we need look no further than the Bible, the Word of God.

  First, the Bible defines a good man as one who allows God to call the shots.  “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23)”  He waits for God to tell him Who, What, When, Where, Why and How, before he acts or speaks..

  Secondly, a good man is one who is generous but discreet.  “A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. (Psalm 112:5)”  He spends himself and his substance for the worthy cause.

  Thirdly, “A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD… (Proverbs 12:2)”  You can tell by watching, and listening, that his God is pleased with him.

  Fourth, a good man concerns himself with the future of His children, and grandchildren.  “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children… (Proverbs 13:22)”  He prepares them for both a temporal and eternal inheritance.

  Fifth, a good man is responsible for producing good things.  “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things… (Matthew 12:35)”  His words are always true, and carefully chosen to benefit the hearer.  “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:6)”

  God give us more good men!  Amen!

  Do you ever wonder how the dark ’isms of the age have made their way into the forefront of political ambitions in our day?  In the political theater, many politicians, and their accomplices whose commentary and opinions most of us still refer to as “The News,” have no apparent appreciation for the past successes of our beloved constitutional republic.  They unashamedly strive to shift our nation to a new political paradigm.  Some of us are starting to conclude that their intentions are either ignorant or evil, or maybe both.

  These ruling class hopefuls are vying for a revised philosophy of our governance, in which they believe “Democratic Socialism” to be the next best step in a path that, according to Karl Marx, might eventually lead to a New Communist Manifesto of America.  Anyone who has some knowledge of history, and who understands the diverse political theories of our day, might wonder what motivates these rogue patriots. Why do they desire a form of government that has never produced any semblance of the freedoms and privileges already afforded us Americans for almost 250 years now?

  Those who have escaped communism, or have been brave enough to voice their concern over the rigors of life they have experienced under the thumb of a communist regime, have clearly indicated that there is a dark side to Socialistic or Communistic governance.  They have exposed the barbaric mindsets of their communist leaders who, like zoo keepers, tend to view them as ignorant, lower forms of life, in need of their perpetual oversight.

  What can you do to prevent our further slide into the clutches of a heavy handed, godless government?  You can pray, vote, and share your thoughts in the public forums across this land, …but most importantly, you can surrender your life to God, who has promised, “…happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. (Psalm 144:15)”  And, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)”  God’s desire is that you get to know Him through His Son, Jesus (John 3:16).

  Perhaps you have noticed that we are becoming a nation without laws, or at best, one whose laws do not apply to everyone equally.  There is corruption among our leaders, and widespread sin is on the rise.  It is relatively common now, to hear officials say emphatically that another, or several more, 9/11 type terrorist attacks on our soils are inevitable, and that a major economic earthquake is imminent.

  While no human knows what tomorrow holds, perhaps we should stop to consider whether our present state is an evidence of God’s judgment on our nation, and if so, Why? What have we done?  Abraham Lincoln said it best:

  “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, who owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by a history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

  The awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people.

  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has grown, but we have forgotten God.”

  The Bible says very clearly, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… (Psalm 33:12).”  But to sinful Judah God said, “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger… (Isaiah 1:4)”  Is this now America’s standing before the Lord?

  And what can we do if this is judgment? We must learn quickly, and repent.

  When we use the phrase, Weight Loss, it is generally referring to the loss of a few pounds to improve one’s body mass index (BMI), and promote good health.  Or perhaps some would think of it in terms of dropping a few inches from their girth, so as to de-escalate the need for purchasing a new wardrobe to adorn their new BMI.

  But there is another realm in which the words Weight Loss might also be applied, namely, in measuring the importance of the items we have placed on our priority lists.  e.g. “Now this is a very weighty matter to me.”  What we mean is that this item is consequential, crucial, or even grave.

  I’m learning that some of the weightier matters in my life may need to experience some weight loss—they are not nearly as important as I once imagined.  Perhaps I have spent too many years majoring on the minors, have been a bit nearsighted in prioritizing the stuff of life, have put too much emphasis on the here and now: the creature comforts that I enjoy, the way of life that I have grown to love, the personal goals that I sought to obtain.  I  see now, I have neglected the spiritual and eternal elements of my existence, giving preference to the less weighty, temporal things of life. 

 How about you?  What are the weighty matters affecting your life?  Perhaps you are thinking about a mate, a diploma, a first house, a career, retirement, or maybe, your poor health.  These are indeed weighty matters, but have you considered the more crucial matters of:  your relationship with the Creator, the divinely issued purpose of life, the eternal abode of your soul, and your influence on the eternal souls of those you love, etc.?

  Perhaps you should join me in putting the temporal things that are on your priority list on a diet so that they seem less weighty in the years you have left, and so that the more weighty matters, that pertain to the unseen and eternal issues of life, will take their rightful place at the top of your list.  God says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these [temporal] things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)”