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Seaty Brows

5/8/2012

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Picture
Yesterday, I got the diagnosis; internal complications. The lawnmower has engine problems to the extent that repairing exceeds the value of the mower. Nothing lasts forever in this world. This morning I fought with the weed whip trying to get it started for a quick trim. The morning chill was still in the air, but after dozens of pulls on the recoil, I was perspiring.  The trim was accomplished with many starts, stops, recoil pulls, nursing the throttle, and the weed whip operating sporadically. Nothing runs well forever.

By the sweat of my brow.

My comments are not intended to be pessimistic, but a statement of reality living in a fallen world. The Bible says that we will have sweaty brows in this world. It came about when satan, who was an angel,  rebelled against God. He lost his place in heaven along with his angels and is now leading the world in rebellion against God.

Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Satan got Adam and Eve to join his rebellion. Their disobedience brought a sin stain on our planet and the entire human race.

Genesis 3:17-19  To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
    through painful toil you will eat of it
    all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food
until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

So, there is a natural corruption in our world as well as a moral corruption. It is evident every day and will be evident to some degree or another until the end of the age. Lawnmower engines fail. Weed whips require tune ups and repairs. You and I fail in living in ways that show we love God.

What should keep us from total despair if every day means sweaty work?
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We break the cycle when we admit our rebellion against God and surrender to Him. He rescues us and gives us a full life of victory over broken mowers and broken lives. This is a great reminder every time we start sweating the small stuff!


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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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