Jimmy Cliff: "The Harder They Come"

This reggae artist had a hit in North America in 1969 called "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" but no other hits that I can recall. Even so, this song from 1981 showed his talent wasn't a fluke.

Listen to the song here:

This song certainly portrays the attitude of worldly people. They figure we only live once so why not grab all the gusto while we can?

We who follow Christ know better. He said in Mark 8:36 (Bible in Basic English) in regard to eternity, "What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?"

Many non Christians figure we'll only have God's provision of our needs in eternity. But we know what our Lord said in Mark 10:29 and 30 (BBE). "Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, There is no man who has given up house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, because of me and the good news, Who will not get a hundred times as much now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land--though with great troubles; and, in the world to come, eternal life.'"

Furthermore, the alms we give to the poor aren't wasted. As Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) reminds us, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

Non Christians also figure we're depriving ourselves of fun. In fact, we're much better off being sober and prudent with our lives and money. As 1 Peter 4:3-5 (BBE) reminds us, "Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images; And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you: But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead."

This even helps us in our walk with the Lord. Ephesians 5:18 (BBE) advises, "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

If Christ hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to feature one of those social comment songs about society.

Of Wrong Doctrines and Drugs

What do wrong doctrines and illegal drugs have in common? Both promise happiness but deliver slavery and misery. 

All wrong doctrines are based on lies. This is proven by what Satan said to Eve in Genesis 3:4 and 5 (BBE), "And the snake said, 'Death will not certainly come to you: For God sees that on the day when you take of its fruit, your eyes will be open, and you will be as gods, having knowledge of good and evil."

And which one of us wouldn't daydream about having god-like powers? Some men have even declared themselves to be gods. As 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 4 (BBE) tells us, "Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction, Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God."

We also know how Satan twists Psalms 82:6 (BBE) in the Mormon church to mean that we are little gods. "I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High:" Of course they don't read the next verse which says those judges will all die like men.

Though the Bible doesn't mention drugs, it does mention intoxicants. As Paul said about food and drink in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (BBE), "I am free to do all things; but not all things are wise. I am free to do all things; but I will not let myself come under the power of any."

When a person is intoxicated, they lose their judgement. That's why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18 (BBE), "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

We whom Christ rescued from the world's debauchery must remain awake and aware. As 1 Peter 1:13 (BBE) exhorts, "So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

If our Master doesn't return by Thursday, I plan on posting about how we don't grieve like sinners do when a sibling in Christ goes home to be with the Lord.

Saturday Song; The Amboy Dukes, "Journey to the Center of the Mind"

The nineteen-sixties certainly was a decade of change. One destructive trend was the use by the public of mind-altering drugs. People figured that it would free their thinking of restraints and expand their perceptions.

The Amboy Dukes were one band who glorified the use of psychedelic drugs. But at least they did warn that listeners might not come back from their "experimentation" with these substances.

Listen to this song here:

The Bible doesn't mention street drugs but it does mention another kind of intoxicant. The Apostle Paul admonished his readers about being a good example to non Christians. Part of that was staying sober. Ephesians 5:18 (BBE) warns, "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

Self control is also highly prized by the Lord. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 and 7 (BBE), "So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake. For those who are sleeping do so in the night; and those who are the worse for drink are so in the night;"

We also see in the Bible that God uses drunkenness as a metaphor for judgement upon the evildoers. Psalms 75:8 (BBE) reads, "For in the hand of the Lord is a cup, and the wine is red; it is well mixed, overflowing from his hand: he will make all the sinners of the earth take of it, even to the last drop."

So we know that though intoxication may seem enjoyable, it robs us of our self control and wisdom. Bad things often result when a person isn't restrained by reasonable inhibitions.

On Monday, unless Christ returns first, I hope to publish a post about why breaking just one of God's laws breaks them all.

Saturday Song: Neil Diamond, "The Pot Smoker's Song"

With Cannabis being legalized in Canada and some American states, this song is germane to the issue. If you listen carefully, you'll find that all the people speaking between the choruses tell the story of their broken lives and pot's failure to satisfy them.

Hear Neil Diamond's thoughtful song here.

Though marijuana wasn't known to people in the Middle East when the scriptures were being penned, we can easily use strong drink as an analogy. Both are mood-altering drugs and both dull a person's awareness.

According to the New Testament writers, we err whenever we let our senses become misled by alcohol. The Apostle Paul warned in Ephesians 5:18 (KJV), "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

Booze also makes people act stupidly. Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) warns, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

I notice that in many passages of the Bible, drunkenness is used as a metaphor for God's judgement upon nations. Look at what Isaiah 63:6 (KJV) says. "And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."

But some will argue that Jesus turned water into wine. Isn't that hypocritical? Christ's first miracle was an act of kindness and generosity to the wedding guests and their host. John 2:11 (BBE) gives another reason. "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and let his glory be seen openly; and his disciples put their faith in him."

So we can see that a little wine isn't bad for us. It's when we become totally out of control that God frowns upon our behaviour. It ruins our testimony too. And since both marijuana and cigarette smoke cause lung cancer, it's best to abstain from both.

What do you think of the song and what I've written? Please feel free to comment.

By the way, I'll be posting about the sinfulness of sin on Monday. The Bible portrays it as a horrendous affront to God but the Qu'ran says it's no big deal.

Saturday Song: The Ink Spots, "The Java Jive"

Though this song was recorded in 1940, I still relate to it. I love strong coffee first thing in the morning. The aroma and the steam rising up to my face encourage me. After all, morning comes too early in the day for a night owl like me.

Listen to the song here.

Now I know that caffeine is a drug. Even so, I don't go overboard on it. In fact, I limit myself so I can sleep at night.

As Philippians 4:5 (KJV) wisely advises, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."

And as far as I know, people didn't know about coffee in Bible times. Even so, we need to be sober and vidulent. As Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) reads, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

And as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (KJV), "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."

It's also unwise to be unaware of what's going on around us, physically and spiritually. Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV), "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary  the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may  devour:"

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written? Please tell me. But if you would rather not, have a wonderful weekend anyway.

My next post will be about hell and how some sinners joke that they'll be partying with their friends there. They won't be partying when they find out that their intense agony will never end.