“Strange Slips”
cji
9/23/13
God
has warned you over and over of the deception that is coming upon the earth
today, and those that have taken up their strange slips don't care what God's
Word says, for they tailor God's Word to conform to their ideas, not accepting
His Word to follow. … This is what observing their "strange slips" will
do for you. You are playing with the "tares of the field" and don't even
realize it.” http://www.theseason.org/isaiah/isaiah17.htm
Terry
Ball and Nathan Wynn in their book, “Making Sense of Isaiah” quote the
following, “In this context “strange” means foreign, or outside the covenant. A
slip is a twig or cutting used instead of seeds to grow new plants. Thus, as
Israel forget the Lord and worshipped false gods, they were planting “strange
slips.” (p.53)
What
is found above is very telling in today’s world especially when compared to
Isaiah’s world so long ago. Times and seasons continue to change but the
secular desires of men and women do not. In fact they continue to get worse!
The idea of payment for services rendered means currency – not blessings! Thus
sexual favors, money, or other physical payments are required and the costs
continue to sky-rocket. Some might call this graft, bribes, pelf, getting all
one can – while they can. And this comes from the very highest offices in the
land as well as from the halls of Universities and churches.
Jeffery
R. Holland (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said this, “Of course
the centuries-long drift away from belief in such a perfect and caring Father hasn’t
been helped any by the man-made creeds of erring generations which describe God
variously as unknown and unknowable—formless, passionless, elusive, ethereal,
simultaneously everywhere and nowhere at all. Certainly that does not describe
the Being we behold through the eyes of these prophets. Nor does it match the
living, breathing, embodied Jesus of Nazareth who was and is in “the brightness
of his glory, and the express image of his [Father].” (Heb. 1:3; see also 2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15.)
Satan
is the father of all lies – all of them! While the Savior is the “Word, Truth
and Light!” We’re to learn to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior – in
other words we’re to learn the truth of all things – which will then set us
free. (John 8:32) Thus we need to know are we planting seeds or just
relying on slips (strange slips)?
Discussion:
Satan
has one supreme goal – “To keep all people from embracing the truth!” I’m sure
this can be said in many different ways – but if we understand the truth is the
Savior – then this is his primary and supreme goal. In addition, since truth
can only come from the Father and or the Son – then learning the truth or about
the truth leads us to eternal life and salvation if we accept and act upon what
we learn. (Note: the Savior taught that whatever his Prophets or Apostles speak
is the same as if he had spoken it – Doctrine and Covenant 1:38; 1 Thes. 4:2.)
Therefore the Father and the Son expect each person to hear not only them but
those whom they’ve sent – Prophets and Apostles in the past and today. Now this
is the area where Satan is achieving his supreme goal in getting people to
believe there is no more revelation – miracles – no more Prophets and Apostles
and there is no one true Church restored in these the latter-days.
Consider
that most of the literate world doesn’t care one way or the other – these Satan
has already beguiled by centuries of confusing, guile and revisions to any and
all teachings of the Old or New Testaments. The greater percentage of the
world’s population will never hear about the Father or the Son – and will only
hear during the millennium. This accounts for those living in lands of complete
spiritual darkness (either by design or simply having no access to the truth).
One must remember most of the population of the world over the thousands of
year has been illiterate and totally dependent on others for what they’ve been
taught or told to believe. Terry Ball has given a quote, “Satan don’t kick no
dead dogs!” (he admits this is horrible grammar but anyway one would not
remember it) – in that Satan only has to work on those who are searching or
have the truth already in their lives. Thus, he makes anyone who has or is
searching to feel worthless and hopeless. His minions (knowingly and
unknowingly) mock, ridicule, abuse, scorn, stone, persecute, deride and
otherwise make their lives miserable (as is he/theirs). Thus, one is searching
questions themselves of the why of their search – it’s so much easier to go
with the crowd – why am I doing this. Or those who’ve already found the truth –
have been baptized – received the gift of the Holy Ghost (by those having
authority) see their peers doing whatever they want and getting away with it –
while they are known as a peculiar people or person. They choose to be
righteous rather than profane!
A
recent speaker I was listening to reported the following. “Our family at
the dinner table found the kids asking to go to a particular movie. The oldest
child (about 15) when asked about the movie and if it were family oriented
answered, ‘oh it’s okay – lots of action and some violence but nothing really
bad.’ To which the father asked – what do you mean by ‘really bad’? Again, the
oldest child replied, ‘nothing to get upset over – whatever.’ The father had to
think about how to get a better definition. He went to the kitchen and came
back with a glass of orange juice asking which of the children would like to
have this glass of OJ? All of the children immediately said they would. He then
took them to the bathroom – and had a spoon with him. He went to the toilet
bowl and took a very small spoon of water and put it into the glass of OJ and
again asked who would like it? All of the children in disgust ran from the room
– as he said, ‘well it’s only a little bad.’ The lesson was learned and
from then on in this family was very careful about choosing which movies to
watch and or not watch.”
Why
the above lesson – for when we are making choices – Satan applies the most
worthy temptations available to get us to choose the lesser of two evils –
rather than choosing neither! No one knowingly went to the dark side willingly
when having had exposure to the truth and the teachings of the Holy Scriptures
– but more of a choice by choice movement further and further from the path to
Zion. Thus, in our decisions we choose either plant ‘slips’ or ‘seeds’ – in
seeking our eternal harvest. Surely our decisions should be made carefully and
based on truth rather than conjecture or false doctrines or premises.
In
James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom ask of God who giveth to all men
liberally.” Yet most fail in the reading the 6th verse, “But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Thus it requires faith and
steadfastness to seek the truth. Many pretend to be seekers after truth – but
in reality are only putting on a show without merit. Many of these are those
who profess the validity of the creeds of men rather than the Scriptures of the
Father or the Son. Thus they are accepting ‘strange slips’ rather than ‘true
seeds’ for their spiritual gardens.
Which
are we gathering and planting ‘seeds or slips’ - are we on Zion’s road or
Babylon’s? This is the most important question we can answer in our mortal
probations. We need to know and understand that this our 2nd estate
– and thus our mortal testing window – where we make those choices with eternal
consequences. Thus we will be beaten down, dragged under the bus – and hated by
much of those of the worldly today. We have to endure to the end – holding fast
to the truth – having deep roots in Scripture understandings and knowing who
the Father and the Son really are and what they mean to us and us to them.
Summary:
Over
time this repetitive message of seeking truth become wearying to many – while
the guile and soft rhythms of the adversary become louder and louder and more
acceptable. This is because it is always easier to try to plant a slip than to
nurture a seed. As it was referenced in the beginning the world is a very
wicked place and continues to get wickeder by the day (if not the hour). The
pervasiveness of the adversary is reaching into our children at an ever
increasing pace – to where the educational system teaches more about
selfishness, cheating, abnormal behaviors, and all things which are an
abomination to the Father and the Son (and should be to each of us). Sadly
parents are no longer the leaders in the education of their children they’ve
abdicated this to the streets, tv, movies, music, video games and the computer
Facebook and other such sites.
Immorality,
fraud, illegal and criminal behaviors are now acceptable – while the law favors
the criminal and not for the protection of the innocent or victims. Judges,
politicians, lawyers, teachers and many professionals are found to be pawns of
others who allow them to stay in their positions. While those who present truth
or righteous behaviors are fired or made to look like fools. Our main stream
media forgot long ago about presenting truth – and now present only that which
is politically correct or pushes their agendas for power and or lusts. The
‘strange slips’ have taken over most of the literate world with ready
acceptance and actually invitations to come within. Satan rejoices and as we
hear from Enoch (Moses 7:28-33 Pearl of Great Price):
28 And it came
to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue
of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that
the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
29 And Enoch
said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep,
seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30 And were it
possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths
like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations;
and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom
is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast
taken Zion
to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity;
and naught but peace, justice,
and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face
and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
32 The Lord said
unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine
own hands,
and I gave unto them their knowledge,
in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said,
and also given commandment, that they should love
one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are
without affection, and they hate
their own blood;
Thus
we are included in this weeping in Heaven – having either chosen to plant the
‘strange slips’ – or having chosen to plant righteous truthful seeds. For on
the one – having chosen the world over the Father and the Son the weeping is in
sorrow; or on the other for the persecution which we endure and the weeping is
one of joy. We’ve to consider very carefully to either endure or to submit. It
seems so much easier just to give in to the worldly ways and not continue to
fight and fight and fight. While in reality it is much easier to be on the
Lord’s side – enduring to the end – knowing of the truth – knowing with a
surety the Father and the Son – and having their peace (not the peace of the
world) within us and with us while in our second estate. It’s easier because it
is the right thing to do – for the right reason and at the right time! To
pursue any other course is difficult and surely leads to failing our second
estate.
“Strange Slips 2”
cji
9/23/13
Planting thistles and
briars
fertilizing with acid
and vinegar
finding lies and
deceptions
encouraging pelf and
greed
pleasure of the
moment
ignoring the growing
season
rather to be playing
in evil
accepting false
doctrines
failing to heed or
read truth
caring not anything
of value
unless found
extrinsic today
selfishness to feed
as famine
chastising the
righteous all
hearing only satan’s
call
planting strange
slips!
Copyright © 2013 –
cji
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