Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
“Thus Saith the Lord!”
Lou Coleman-Yeboah
By Lou Coleman-Yeboah
“Although I should have vomit you out of My mouth, because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked [Revelation 3:16], and because of your sinfulness and disobedience, know that I have loved you with an Everlasting Love, and because of My Love for you, welcome to the New Year, 2018. But, hear me and hear me good; DO NOT continue to take My Grace for granted, for there will come a time when I will not hear you, and it will be too late! You better ask Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. [Hebrew 12:16-17]. Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds. [Zechariah 2:4]. Return to Me and I will return to you. [Malachi 3:7]. For it’s time to make up your mind, “Choose Whom you will serve this day…” Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away…” [James 4:14]. Repent NOW I tell you, for tomorrow may be too late!
You know in the [Book of Hosea], Hosea didn’t try to hang on to Gomer by overlooking her affairs, manipulating her with guilt, or making empty threats. He simply said to her, “If you want to stay, I want you to stay, but with the understanding that you take whatever steps are necessary to end these affairs. If you want to go, you may go, but things cannot continue as they are. I want you to know that I’m not giving up on you, but I am willing to give you up if that is what you want.”
Hosea, after the manner of God, was to show Gomer that a relationship was still possible, not on the terms of her character, but on the terms of his commitment, “According to the love of the Lord.” Hosea’s solution to Gomer’s shameful past was to give her a brand new, secure start in their marriage. He was telling her that the past didn’t matter. They were going to begin working on their future, and there was only one rule – she had to let Hosea love her exclusively. She had to depend upon him for ALL her love needs. He ALONE was to be the source of her security in their relationship. That is God’s desire for all His people.
Don’t be like the foolish virgins who when Christ came like a thief in the night, they were not ready. This is a call to repentance. “Now therefore, says the LORD, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and He relents from doing harm.” [Joel 2:12-13].
I set before you today the choice of Life or Death: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statues, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.” [Deuteronomy 30: 11-18].
