Tuesday, August 19, 2008

James 3:11-12

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James 3:11-12


11 Doth [meti] a fountain [pege] send forth [bruo] at [ek] the same [autos] place [ope] sweet [glukus] water and [kai] bitter [pikros]?
12 Can [me] [dunamai] the fig tree [suke], my [mou] brethren [adelphos], bear [poieo] olive berries [elaia]? either [e] a vine [ampelos], figs [sukon]? so [houto] can no [oudeis] fountain [pege] both yield [poieo] salt [halukos] water [hudor] and [kai] fresh [glukus]. KJV-Interlinear



11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh. NASB


In the natural and normal course of things, you will not find absurdities in nature, as you find them in mankind.

James gives us just a couple of examples.

The springs of water that come out of the ground, provide the same type of water from the same hole. Springs do not pour out one type of water and then another type and then back to the first. Nor do two types come out in a mixed fashion.

What do fig trees produce? Figs. What do olive trees produce? Olives. What do grape vines produce? Grapes.

Have you ever seen a grape vine produce anything else? Corn perhaps!

And this all points to Gods design in creation, for certain things to function in a certain way, and it all comes together perfectly, naturally and normally.

But then, man comes along and functions abnormally. Man takes creation and tries to modify it, to improve on it, to redefine it. And what happens? Things get all messed up.

James warned us that we should not even try to become instructors, leaders, teachers, people of influence, because that position comes with a huge responsibility. People who try to weld their influence on others, in whatever way, risk increased discipline and evaluation tests from Christ, when they stand before His Judgment Seat.

God designed the tongue for the dissemination of truth, not as a tool for promoting ones evil agenda. And all verbal expressions which do not line up with truth, are in effect, evil.

God designed the perfect tool for communication, and man has taken that tool and used it for ego approbations, ruthless tyrannies, malicious prejudices and gossip, for self-advancement at the expense of others, for deception and propaganda, for fraud, for all manner of lies and wickedness.

That which is impossible in nature, should also be viewed as absurd in human behavior. But then, how many will nod their head in agreement, but go right back to their same former behaviors?

How many live their life in fellowship (very few), and how many live their life under the influence of the sin nature (most everyone)? And you, do you follow Gods design or the absurd?