Abused Talents

And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. Genesis 4:21, 22.
There perished in the Flood greater inventions of art and human skill than the world knows of today. The arts destroyed were more than the boasted arts of today….
Looking upon the world, God saw that the intellect He had given man was perverted, that the imagination of his heart was evil and that continually. God had given these men knowledge. He had given them valuable ideas, that they might carry out His plan. But the Lord saw that those whom He designed should possess wisdom, tact, and judgment, were using every quality of the mind to glorify self. By the waters of the Flood, He blotted this long-lived race from the earth, and with them perished the knowledge they had used only for evil. When the earth was repeopled, the Lord trusted His wisdom more sparingly to men, giving them only the ability they would need in carrying out His great plan.
The world today takes much satisfaction in talking of the progress of the age. But in this God does not delight. It may be said of the men of this time, as of those before the flood, They have sought out many inventions. In the antediluvian world there were many wonderful works of art and science. These descendants of Adam, fresh from the hand of God, possessed capabilities and powers that we never now look upon.
Those who lived before the flood were only a few steps from God, the Creator of the world and its inhabitants. The long life and large intellect given to these men might have been used in God’s service. But their intellectual strength, that mighty power, was perverted to dishonor God….
When men separate from God, they place themselves under the control of Satan. Talents have been given to men that they may be used in God’s service…. There is only one safe way for any man, and that is the way of obedience to a “Thus saith the Lord.”
Conflict and Courage p. 34
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for the following meetings: • Canon City, COL (Feb 18 – Apr 2) Michael Sady• KwaZulu-Natal, ZA (Feb 22 – 23) Doug Batchelor• Gauteng, ZA (Feb 26 – 27) Doug Batchelor• Patterson, CA (Feb) Weekend evangelism through the month of February• Rogers, AK (Mar) Amazing Facts – Ryan Day• Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (Mar 11 – Apr16) Amazing Facts – Carlos Munoz• Charlotte, NC (Mar 21 – 26) The Last Day of Prophecy – Doug Batchelor• Lexington & Central KY (Mar Apr) NADEI, Ron Clouzet• Gweru, Zimbabwe (Mar 20 – Apr 4) It Is Written – John Bradshaw
—–Please pray for B who is sick and still needs a good-paying job. L
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Esther Marie and some friends went to a weekend retreat on top of the mountain. While there, the friends decided to go sledding and invited her to come along. She had not warmed up from going snowmobiling earlier, but they persuaded her to go against her better judgment. She did not really have warm clothes like the rest of them did, and she did not realize how far they were going to slide; so she went along. Dressed in her winter jacket and jeans, she put on her snow boots—the only thing she really had for the frigid weather and the many feet of snow.
She had not been sliding down the mountain long before she realized that they were going much farther down than she had thought that they would. Soon she was terribly cold and her jeans were frozen solid to her legs. She told the others about her predicament, but they didn’t seem to be concerned. Laughing at her, they washed her face in the snow. They were having too much fun to stop and called her a sissy. Her friends told her to sit down and wait for them to finish their fun, but she knew that if she did, she would soon be a victim of hypothermia. Finally, she was able to convince them that they had to go back up to the top. They were about a mile from the top of the mountain. Her friends were not happy at having their fun interrupted, but went with her anyway. This was no easy climb. The snow was chest high and Esther had to scoop the snow away enough so she could take a step and move forward. There were many times that she felt so tired and weak, that it was all that she could do to continue on; but she knew that if she stopped, she would not make it. She was praying all the way up.
At last they reached the cabin. Poor Esther was nearly frozen and in great pain. She knew that she had to thaw out slowly or she would have even more trouble. She took off her jeans and noticed that her red and blue splotched legs had hard knots where the skin appeared frozen. Crying in pain, she rubbed those frozen areas. By this time, her two girl friends realized that she was indeed having problems and began trying to warm her. It took nearly an hour before she thawed out. It seemed like forever.
Just as Esther knew that she needed to continue to climb up the mountainside not stopping for even a moment, so we must continuously climb the rugged and narrow path to the Heavenly Kingdom. Our Dear Saviour bids us, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,14 How easy it is to slide down the broad way. How difficult is the narrow path which leads to life eternal. Praise God! We do not have to climb it alone. Our Heavenly Friend, the One Who “sticketh closer than a brother,” (Prov 18:24) has trod the way before us. He is by our side leading and guiding us all the way. He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8
How important it is that we continue the climb Heavenward with Him. How important it is that we co-operate with Him every step of the way. We must keep going even when weary. We must continue climbing no matter how difficult the path. Stopping would have grave consequences. The way may be steep. The way may be painful, but we must keep going step by step. Our Dear Saviour promises, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 We must endure ” a great fight of afflictions” unto the end. Heb 10:32 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 Paul tells us, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 2 Tim 2:4,5 ; 1 Cor 9:24-27