July 17 - Pollution Warning

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 29-31; James 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Even with clear skies above,
a more insidious form of pollution is still lurking!

We may see it in L.A., occasionally in Vancouver, and in particular the Fraser Valley, especially lately with forest fires burning out of control. I’m referring to a pollution warning, being prompted by the last verse of James 1. But even when there are clear skies above us, a more insidious form of pollution is always there!

James, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds us about real religion: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (1:27). I love reading through James - he tells it like it is, practical, no nonsense. If you say you have faith, show me by your words, better yet, your actions because they speak louder than words. And one of the things pure faith requires is just that, “purity,” staying uncontaminated by the world.

When visiting Puerto Vallarta recently, it appeared to be unspoiled paradise. However, one evening at the resort, before the live entertainment started, a music video was playing. I actually thought I liked the artist they were featuring until I finally heard the words to a song I’ve hummed along to before. There are good words, like “spiritual,” “born again,” “faith,” and “heaven,” but they all refer to sex, and I suspect it’s not the kind within the holy bonds of matrimony. What was more shocking was the mother and her 5 year old son beside us singing and dancing to those lyrics. It looked harmless, even heart-warming, but it was an insidious reminder of the pollution we see everywhere on this planet.

Our Isaiah reading talks about Israel’s fascination with returning to Egypt. The Egyptian Empire represents the world and Israel kept forgetting that God had miraculously delivered them from the bondage of that sin-contaminated environment. Reading God’s Word and applying it every day, even while on vacation, will keep us pure and we will be blessed in all we do (1:21-25). “Lord, thank You for the pollution warning I needed to hear today!”