ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE

Scripture: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world...But of the Son He says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom...For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." Hebrews 1:1,2,8 and 2:1

When humanity is Deified [made to be gods], and when Idolatry is made normal, and when unfounded Entitlement thrives, the person, community, or even nation, will D-I-E. It is a slow death by a thousand cuts, often with the spoiled fruit of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. These are but vapors.  Nothing becomes good, absent the full equation of life which is constructed of both Righteousness and Love, God being the bringer of both, and defining both. Summarized, we have this from the book of Judges at its ending: "In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." [Judges 21:25] Sounds a bit like 'now'. [hear the steps of that ol' golden bull?]

The Bible in contrast says "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not unto Your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct Your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
Diversity without love prompts animosity, contempt, envy and alienation; without righteousness, it breeds chaos and destruction through the efforts of fallen man. The peace of God saves and is saving. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He is "the Prince of Peace". Him, and Him alone. Love shown and known will birth unity from diversity. The love and holiness of God, and the risk and benefit of freedom can be understood 'at Calvary'.

Absolute Inclusion is a myth, unless truth is sacrificed. Truth, by its very nature excludes some things, leaving those other things to be untrue, the pleasing as well as the wacky lies.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world..." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." [from John 8:12, and 14:6] And the psalmist shares this with us about God's Word: "Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple." [Psalm 119:129-130]  We are hard-wired for the 'wonderful'. Accept no substitutes. Equity, artificially assuring equal outcomes, disallows one's unique God-given design, freedom, capacity, trajectory, growth-velocity and appointment in favor of earthly social or political engineering.

God [here pronounced 'Gawd!], has materially brought all into nuthin, surrendering it all to be appreciable by His gifted attributes of language and listening to us creatures, allowing it transmissibility to both page, and spirit, through called-out ones to speak it and write it. In this context, equity is but an attractive shackle. Let grace be our chains!

Disease? Fear? War? Confusion? Distress? Death? Loneliness? Each has an answer in Jesus. Sin? The answer is in, and of Jesus. Now is the time for each holy 'yes', and every righteous 'no'. Now is the time for the love of God to show in His people. It is time to stand. What need be our 'hope and plea'? You know the hymn. Accept no substitute.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please lead we all sons and daughters across these forthcoming chapters of our histories. Bless us now, upon the blessing had, that our flourishing reveals Your Son in us. Lead us to 'look and live'. Let our heart's gaze be dominated by Your Word, and let the details of our appetites' shine Jesus' light. Have Your way Lord, now and evermore. Amen.
By Bro. McNeal Brockington