Eddie Grant: "Front Line"

 This song from 1979 highlights the violence in African countries as well as other evils. It also has a cool synth riff and solid reggae beat. Check it out here.

We who believe in Christ are on the "front line" of an age-old spiritual war. As we read in 1 Peter 5:6-8 (Bible in Basic English), Christ will protect us but we must still be watchful for Satan's attacks. "For this cause make yourselves low under the strong hand of God, so that when the time comes you may be lifted up; Putting all your troubles on him, for he takes care of you. Be serious and keep watch; the Evil One, who is against you, goes about like a lion with open mouth in search of food;"

Being at the front of the battle, we need Armour to protect us. That's why Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:11 and 12 (BBE), "Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One. For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens."

Another aspect we must consider is enemy infiltration. As Jude 1:12 and 13 (BBE) warns us, "These men are unseen rocks at your love-feasts, when they take part in them with you, keepers of sheep who without fear take the food of the sheep; clouds without water rushing before the wind, wasted trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots, Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their shame, wandering stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever."

Likewise, Paul warned his readers in Galatians 2:4 (BBE) about these infiltrators from the Devil. "And that because of the false brothers let in secretly, who came searching out our free condition which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might make servants of us;"

With all the trouble we experience because of this spiritual war, it's good to know that it will come to an end. As Paul wrote about Christ's return in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (BBE) he'll come, "To give punishment to those who have no knowledge of God, and to those who do not give ear to the good news of our Lord Jesus:"

If that hasn't happened by Thursday, I hope to post about those who doubt us when we speak the gospel.

Eddie Grant, "Gimmy Hope, Jo Anna"

One thing is for sure, this world needs hope. With all the tragedies happening each minute, hope is in short supply. And though South African Apartheid is history, black militants are now killing white farmers. Those murderers don't realize that violence begets violence. So is there hope for peace in this broken world?

Eddie Grant, former member of The Equals,  sang many songs about the conditions in this broken world. This song is about South Africa and how the people of that country suffered  because of racism. Listen to the song here.

Often times, God turns hopeless situations around. We read of this in Ruth 1:11-13 (Bible in Basic English) where a widower and her widowed daughters felt hopeless. "But Naomi said, 'Go back, my daughters; why will you come with me? Have I more sons in my body, to become your husbands? Go back, my daughters, and go on your way; I am so old now that I may not have another husband. If I said, I have hopes, if I had a husband tonight, and might have sons, Would you keep yourselves till they were old enough? would you keep from having husbands for them? No, my daughters; but I am very sad for you that the hand of the Lord is against me.'"

We know, what Naomi didn't, that she would be the great great grandmother of King David. Through David's lineage, Christ came.

We also read of a man who lost his children and livestock all in one terrible day. Even his wife told him to curse God and die. We read his lament in Job 7:7 (BBE). "O, keep in mind that my life is wind: my eye will never again see good."

Unlike Job, we know that God gave him double the livestock and the same number of children again once the testing of his faith was over. And as James 5:11 (BBE) admonishes us, "We say that those men who have gone through pain are happy: you have the story of Job and the troubles through which he went and have seen that the Lord was full of pity and mercy in the end."

Then there's a psalm of David regarding Christ's crucifixion which ends in hope and victory. Psalms 22:9 (BBE) is the turning point of this sombre dirge. "But it was you who took care of me from the day of my birth: you gave me faith even from my mother's breasts."

As our Lord did when he went to the cross, so should we also do. Hebrews 12:2 (BBE) reminds us that we must always be, "Having our eyes fixed on Jesus, the guide and end of our faith, who went through the pains of the cross, not caring for the shame, because of the joy which was before him, and who has now taken his place at the right hand of God's seat of power."

And if he hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to post about the need to get away by one's self at times.