LXIII

A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS

JAMES 1:8

SEVEN SALLIE (FATHER OF SEVENIA, GIRL PROPHETESS)

“Hey, little brother,” Six greeted me after Sevenia’s study/lecture was over. I was born ten minutes after my fraternal twin.

“Hey, big brother,” I replied. “What brings you back from the sunshine state?”

“The birth of my child,” he replied with a shrug. “The due date is only three days away.”

I felt a twinge of unexpected jealousy. “I guess you’re lucky he didn’t come early.”

“I quit drinking,” he told me. “I’ve been running every day.”

“You do look tan and healthy.”

“I feel healthy. I’ve even been going to a church.”

“Get out!”

“Well, they’re not as strict and rigid as yours. They focus on grace.”

This concept drives me nuts. Of course we are saved by grace. Just because my fellowship practices obedience to the law of God, some religionists act like we are trying to be saved by works. That we’re legalists. No, no, no! True, faith without works is dead (James 2:17). We obey the law of God, not TO be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. Obedience needs to stem from love for God; otherwise it is in vain. But I had been over this before with my brother so now wasn’t the time to quibble.

“Well, hey there, Six,” Salena greeted with a smile before she gently hugged the father of her unborn child. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“You knew he was coming?” I asked with a bigger prick of jealousy from the green eyed monster. The smile left her face and a cautious look came into her eyes.

“He called me yesterday,” she explained. “I haven’t talked to you until now. Otherwise I would have told you.”

“I drove straight through,” Six said and then yawned.

“Oh!” Salena said sharply as she put a hand on her stomach.

“What is it?” Six and I said at the same time.

“Oh, nothing,” Salena said with a sigh and then a smile. “Excuse me, I need to use restroom.”

We watched her waddle away. Then Six said. “So, I understand you and Salena have truly become an item.”

“I guess so,” I replied.

“You guess so?” he inquired with an arched eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you know so?”

“I guess so.”

Six chuckled. “Salena thinks you might be wavering in your affections for her.”

“Huh?” I replied, dumbfounded. “When did she tell you that? Why did she tell you that?”

“Yesterday when I told her I was coming. We actually talked for quite a while. She thinks you are smitten with Zella’s newfound faith and look.”

I felt my face flush. I glanced around for Zella, but didn’t see her.

“Miss LaStella left already,” Six said with a chuckle. “She bolted as soon as the class was over. I felt a vibe that she wants to steer clear of you. Also, I heard about your brief fall off the wagon that resulted in a roll in the hay with Zella. I doubt Salena let on to you just how much that hurt her. Especially when you were supposed to be paying Zella a visit to end things.”

“I know I hurt her.”

“I mean you REALLY hurt her.

“I know, believe me I saw how upset she was.”

“Okay, well, did you know that even now she has reservations about you and her? She told me so yesterday.”

“Huh?” I replied with a puzzled frown as I wondered why she wasn’t upfront with me regarding this.

“Dude, I realize there might have been extenuating circumstances,” Six said and then talked slowly. “But you still had SEX with ANOTHER woman.”

I’m sure Six saw me as a hypocrite, and I deserved it. I wondered if that’s why he made such an emphasis on grace. I felt like I was a stumbling block to my own brother. Why couldn’t I be a better example of faith? Like Captain Kirk (AKA Pastor Samson), Destiny, Brock, and my own daughter.

“I have no excuse,” I said as I hung my head.

“But I thought she plied you with alcohol?” Six asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Three glasses of Twisted Tea isn’t the main reason I gave into temptation,” I acknowledged. “It was seeing her virtually naked that did me in.”

“So did making love with her change your feelings for her?”

“It did,” I nodded. “But probably not in the manner you would expect. At first I was really angry that she snuck me alcohol. I was also angry that she tempted me with lust by unexpectedly walking out in a see through negligee. On the other hand, I was secretly glad. I’ve never been in such a bittersweet situation. I mean, being intimate with her was so incredible after two years of desiring her. It ignited such powerful feelings of passion. I couldn’t stop myself, didn’t want to stop myself. Then when it was over and I snapped back to reality. The guilt and remorse were overwhelming.”

“Do you realize how similar our circumstances were?” Six asked.

“What do you mean?”

“We both pined after a certain woman for a couple years. We both ended up having relations with the woman due to the influence of alcohol. We both felt guilty afterwards. Most significantly, we never stopped pining after the women.”

“You still desire Salena?” I asked as I felt the green eyed monster’s arms snake around me. What he left out is the fact that I had pined for two women, one of them being the one he pined for.

“More than ever,” he said with sentimental sadness. “The last couple months especially. I’m not gonna lie, I was hoping you wouldn’t have taken me up on my suggestion before I left.”

“You mean that I take up with Salena and play daddy with your child?”

“Yeah,” he replied, nodding. “There’s something about a woman carrying your child that is extra special. We created a human being together. There is going to be a person that is half me and half her. I didn’t fully realize the significance when she was first pregnant. I guess it took a while to sink in. ”

Even though I felt the green eyed monster squeeze, I understood how he felt. The love and bond I felt for my now deceased ex-wife when Sevenia was born was what caused me to forgive her adulterous behavior multiple times. “Is that why you came back, to reclaim Salena?”

He shook his head and looked at his feet. “I can’t do that to you, or her. I bailed on her, and I indirectly asked you to raise my child. I can’t undo that.”

“I think that should be up to Salena.”

He peered up at me with his head still mostly bowed. “Do you actually want me to pursue her affections?”

“Huh?”

“So you’re free to pursue Zella’s?”

I opened my mouth to protest, but nothing came out. Did I? If so, why did I feel threatened by my brother’s presence? Why did I feel an ache when I saw how delighted Salena was to see him?

“Guys,” Destiny said with a sense of urgency as she rushed up to us and gripped the crook of my arm. “Salena’s water broke!”

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM’S NOTES FROM SEVENIA’S 7^th LESSON

REASONS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT RELIGION

Americans are becoming less religious judging by such markers as church attendance, prayer, and belief in God. This trend is most pronounced in young adults.

Yet, religions usually get God wrong.

Many people have distorted views of God because religions have misshaped God’s character through erroneous doctrines. One of the biggest being the concept of hellfire and eternal torment. Only the righteous have eternal life! The lost are not tortured throughout eternity! Those deemed wicked experience the 2^nd death, or eternal death. Revelation 20:14.

(Amazing Facts Ministries have many Bible study guides on REAL Biblical truth such as the false concepts on hellfire and other Biblical misconceptions. Just google them, or YouTube Doug Bachelor’s many sermons. He is the main speaker.)

He that loves not, knows not God. (1 John 4:8).

If God is not lovely and lovable, then He cannot be loved.

Another area that’s been misconstrued by a superficial reading of scriptures is animal sacrifice. It was religionists before Christ that went nuts with these. God says, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6).

To actually know God is to live a merciful life.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Says Jesus. (Matthew 5:7)

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. (Isaiah 11:9).

“I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” Says Jesus. (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7)

(See Micah 6:6-8)

Religion is probably the number one place to hide from God.

Jesus said. “Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

God is not an idea, concept, or philosophy. He is a person.

Time           Truth           Trust

These are all important in a relationship. Whether it is with your significant other, or God. You need to spend time to get to know. (With God in prayer and Bible study) You need to be completely open and honest. (With God in prayer, knowing He already knows the deep secrets of your heart) And you need to develop trust in reliability. (With God in His promises!)

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the BEAUTY of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Jesus was indisputably a beautiful person. Jesus said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen God.”

Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 34:7)

When God gives you the true desires of your heart, He gives you Himself!

And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:7)

“And I, if I be lifted up from the face of the earth, will DRAW all people to me.” (John 12:32)

You can be DRIVEN by a frightening God. But you can only be DRAWN by a desirable God.

To be truly, completely, Biblical , our picture of God must have Him as beautiful and desirable.

(How can we not when we examine how Jesus lived and treated people! He was so kind and compassionate to those he healed and encountered. If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. He also was cruelly treated as He suffered and died for our sins! Completely innocent and voluntarily! Thank you precious Savior!) Dee

Jesus Himself resisted religion. (See Matthew 7:28, 29 and John 7:45, 46)

It was the religionists of Jesus’ day that hated Him and eventually killed Him.

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Jesus, not religion, is the Savior! (See Romans 10:9-13)

According to Bible prophecy, religion will largely be fallen “in the last days.”

JESUS WARNED OF

“False Christs” Matthew 24:24

“False prophets” verse 24

“Miracle workers” verse 24

“Wolves in sheep’s clothing” Matthew 7:15

“Persecution by religion” John 16:2

NEW TESTAMENT WARNS OF

Coming antichrists (1 John chapters 2 and 4)

Wayward religious leaders (Acts 20:30)

A great religious apostasy (2 Thessalonians chapter 2)

A man of sin acting like as God (2 Thessalonians chapter 2)

A Judas like betrayer (2 Thessalonians chapter 2)

REVELATION WARNS OF

Enforced religious practice (Chapter 13)

A fallen and persecuting church (Chapter 17)

A massive church-state alliance (Chapter 17)