HALLOWEEN | From the Heart


Horsefeathers!

"Holidays" ... a joy for most. 
Yet these are the the days that trouble my soul.

Hidden behind a grandfather's smiles and holiday warmth,
A broken heart languishes ...
A conflicted, nay, convicted soul anguishes ...

From the mantel a portrait ...
... A precious newborn grandchild...
... peering out from within a grinning jack-o'-lantern costume...

That demonic symbol of a severed death's head...
... pagan, occult, and obscenely rebellious to our loving heavenly God...

How many generations has my abused pulpit thus led astray?
How many precious lives received my gospel of compromise and mixture?
So palatable and seductive ... But alas, no gospel at all...

O that I would have had eyes to see, and a heart to preach...
... TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS UNTO OUR LORD...
...WHOSE NAME IS WONDERFUL ... WHO IS SO WORTHY ...

Rather, I stand mute witness to abomination sown into the fibre of generations...
... Rebellion against the Holy One ...
... Embracing filth of the world and the enemy's evil ...
... While holding onto a hope of heaven...
... Evidence of a God-given pulpit misspent...
... most keenly realized at this time of year.

So very much is invested ...
... Precious time, God's money, and great effort ...
... planning for this "family" event...
... so flagrantly evil and hellish in origin ...

A "holiday" ...
... For those who claim the Name of the Holy One?
... Whose "holy-days" are given us for HIS glory...
... Clearly described in His holy Word ...

Who also gives emphatic warnings to His children ...
Commandments from the very heart of our loving (and holy) God
... issued throughout His Word ...

"O My Beloved, DO NOT imitate the detestable practices of the pagans ...
... DO NOT incorporate the detestable symbols of worship to other gods into your lives ...
... My Dear Ones, DO NOT participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness ...
... They are an abomination to Me, your God and King.

"And teach your children to love the LORD your God with ALL their heart, and mind, and strength...
... Teach them NOT compromise and mixture ...
... Be NOT like Balaam ...
... Cause NOT your children to sin ...
... Train them NOT to cherish the ungodly revelries of the wicked and the lost...
... For I AM your LIFE.

"Have you not known, have you not heard,

"...they mingled with the nations
and adopted their customs.
They worshiped their idols,
which became a snare to them."
(Psalm 106:35-36)

"Horsefeathers!" You say, and roll your eyes ...
... You make too much of this!

And such as I would have concurred at a time not so long ago...
... O that I would have had eyes to see ...
... And shame like Adam and Eve in the Garden who knew their nakedness ...
... O that I would have preached the heart of God from that privileged place ...
... Rather than dulling the sharp edge of the sword—HIS holy Word ...
... With MY clever words and and MY worldly wisdom ...

But know, God is not mocked ...
... If you are His, there will be consequences.
... His spiritual laws are immutable.
Look at King David's life and family ...
... he was beloved and forgiven ...
... Yet the effects of sin ravaged his family.

My dear ones, please pray ...
... Is God not the same yesterday, today, and forever?
... Were not these things recorded for us as warnings, that we would learn from them?
(Hebrews 13:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11)

My heart condemns me ...
... As one who has been as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The wound feels incurable ...
... Yet I know the lovingkindness, forgiveness, and faithfulness of God is from everlasting to everlasting ...
... Undeserved, gracious beyond comprehending.

If I could but reach a soul or two ...
... And affect a heart toward exalting God ...
... Against this tide of wickedness and apostasy ...

O merciful Father,
Forgive us ... Open our eyes ...
And give us hearts to love You wholly ... holy...

— Anonymous

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