The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Zinyemba
MANY times we easily get consumed by what takes place around us and life seems can appear overwhelming.
We have hurricanes in America and landslides in Sierra Leone. There are deadly diseases wiping out communities. Economies are struggling and wars are raging.
You have unfulfilled dreams, insurmountable challenges and no sign of any reprieve. It is possible that in the midst of all these activities we can miss what is staring us in the face.
In Hebrews 1:3, the Bible says God upholds everything by the power of His Word. In Genesis 1, God spoke the sun and the stars into existence and they are still there today.
Know that despite all the turmoil, doom and gloom around us, our God is in control and He is bigger than anything we could ever face.
Focus on that and it will help to locate yourself in the storms of life.
Today I want to touch on something that we have spoken about quite often. We are faced with numerous choices on a day to day basis. Some are life and death issues, some are trivial and yet some might seem simple yet they get complex as time unfolds.
I personally believe that between the ages of 18 and 30 years, we make decisions that literally shape our lives and set us on a path to blessing or sorrow.
Yes definitely, God is able to fashion new opportunities later on in life but it is always better to do it right at the first time of asking as the second time around will always require more effort. I have always referred to a statement that my father in the Lord always says: Principle versus Personality.
A principle in simple terms is a laid down procedure or process that has been proven to produce the desired results over time. Good examples are scientific, financial or economic principles the same is true for values and beliefs.
A personality is an expression or behavioural attribute that is based upon a particular individual or organisation. This has to do with a particular persona or character traits.
Sometimes we can encounter very colourful and larger than life individuals who seem to be above the law.
This still does not mean that they are not subject to the principles that govern life and the universe. We all know that God is the ultimate power of the universe.
Consider David in 2 Samuel 11.
David is a mighty man of God. He killed Goliath and took a nation that was wallowing in an economic depression and turned it into a regional power house. He was the king who brought unity and peace to a nation.
David is the one whom God said was after the heart of God. David was a musician and a true statesman, a larger than life character who was a living legend. The story of 2 Samuel 11 comes in the backdrop of all of David’s mighty works.
He takes another man’s wife and sleeps with her. He tries to cover up her pregnancy by bringing her husband from the battleground. When that doesn’t work he gets the husband killed and takes the woman as his wife.
In 2 Samuel 12 the Prophet Nathan confronts David through a parable.
The parable speaks of a rich man (personality) who takes away the one lamb that belonged to a poor man in the village yet he had many sheep of his own to choose from (violation of principle).
When David heard this parable he was very angry and wanted that man to be tried and killed at the gallows. He was dumbfounded when the prophet revealed that he was the rich man in question. David was heartbroken and repentant.
The moral behind the story above is that no matter who you are, no one is above the principles of life.
Psalm 138:2 says of God “… for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”.
The names of God show His personality and His Word shows us His principles. Hence one of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh meaning the Lord provides. But the Word of God says that He will bless the work of your hands.
It is very unlikely that God will bless laziness and back door dealings simply because His name is Jehovah Jireh. Likewise if you follow the principles of the Word of God you will reap the benefits of the personality of God.
Today we live in a world of personalities and celebrities. One would be forgiven to believe that they are above the law. Whether they be politicians, artistes, sportsmen or royalty, we have characters that are continuously behaving in immoral and ungodly ways.
I want to encourage you to stay true to the principles of God. Galatians 6 says you will reap from whatever it is that you sow no matter who you are.
Stay upright, keep yourself pure, when making decisions ask yourself whether you are promoting a personality or you are being guided by principles and values of life.
There is value in obeying the Word of God, and there is nothing like having a clear conscience. Till next time, take care and God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with New Life Covenant Church. Feedback: [email protected]
