From:    heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
To:      "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Date:    Thu, 4 Dec 1997 00:06:10 +0000
Subject: Choose Life!

To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From:          Ben Goodwyn
Subject:      Choose Life!

DEVILS

In Isaiah 45:7 It is written, "I formed the light and create darkness:
I make peace and CREATE EVIL: I, the Lord(Yahweh), do these things."

Again in Deuteronomy 30:15 it is written, "See I (Yhwh) have set before 
thee this day life and good and death and EVIL."

Both these verses affirm that it is G_D Almighty (Yhwh) who creates 
evil in this world.  These verses underscore the fundamental biblical 
teaching that it is the perfect spiritual balance of good and evil in the 
world that confronts every searching soul.  Providing evil is part of 
the Divine plan for this world. It is through man's personal decision 
to turn away from evil and choose good that virtue can be attained.  

In the book of Job, HaSatan, the accuser, is a loyal servant of the Almighty
who brings evil and tests Job.  Job is written for each of us. Each of us
will be tested and if we overcome our "EVIL INCLINATIONS, will be refined
like gold and will eventually "enter into the kingdom as good and faithful
servants."  We are made pure by the tests of our virture with HaSatan
presenting the temptation.

I am reminded of the comedian, Flip Wilson, and his character, Geraldine.
Geraldine was forever blaming the devil for her "slips of virture."  "The
Devil made me do it," was her plaintive cry, as if, she could not resist.
In Genesis 4:7 it is written:

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well,
sin lieth at the door.  And unto these shall be his desires and thou shalt
rule over him."

The Almighty Yhwh tells us that sin lurkes behind the door, but each of us
is fully capable of mastering sin."  Most of us sin because we have made a
conscious decision to sin.  

In my understanding of the scriptures, each of us makes myrids of decisions
in our lives which effect our manner of living on this earth.  If a young
man in his rebellion against authority takes on drugs, he has made a
decision which can destroy him and his chances for a meaningful life.  If
his girl friend elects to take up with such a character, she maybe electing
a life of pain and drudgery. The evil inclination within each human being
can be controlled, however, if desired.  

More importantly, we can not blame the devil for our predicament any more
than I can blame a tree. This permissive society in which we live has become
a society of victims.  Everyone is a victim...no one is responsible for
anything anymore. The Devil made me do it!  No, I made the decision to do it!

My point is that I am responsible for my life.  I would hope that each of
you take the same responsibility for your lives.  Make decisions based on
Torah.  It does not guarantee that I am not subject to the trials of life,
but I will have less of them and pass through them faster.  

See I have set before you today, LIFE and good and Death and evil......

                         CHOOSE LIFE !

Shalom  aleichem-----------------------------------benGoodwyn

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