Fantastic, amazing, soulful, breathtaking, masterful, evocative — and the list could go on forever. That is how I would describe Michael Jackson. I was never simply a fan. To me, he was far more than an entertainer, artist, or superstar. Just as Michael Jackson was never an ordinary performer, my connection to him was never ordinary admiration.

From the age of six, watching The Jackson 5 cartoons and listening to their music, I felt drawn to him in a way I could never fully explain. By the time I reached puberty, I had already decided I was going to marry Michael Jackson. Childish as that may sound now, it reflected how deeply connected I felt to him even then.

Watching this movie “Michael” recently brought all of those emotions rushing back. I cried because I realized just how much I still miss him and how much I truly loved this man. From childhood, I always felt as though his heart and soul somehow resonated with my own. I felt spiritually connected to him. I never saw him merely as a celebrity or global icon. Through his music, lyrics, and humanitarian spirit, I saw someone who was genuinely a gift from God to the world.

His music felt prophetic, inspirational, and healing. In times of struggle, confusion, and pain — much like the state of today’s world — his songs carried messages of love, unity, compassion, and hope. They reached people across every race, culture, and nation.

In the Bible, 1 Samuel 16:14–23 tells us that when an evil spirit troubled King Saul, David would play the harp and soothe him, bringing him peace. In many ways, Michael Jackson’s music did something similar for millions of people. Today, the world feels overwhelmed by anger, division, hatred, and spiritual darkness, and sometimes I feel as though we need Michael Jackson’s music now more than ever to remind us what compassion, humanity, and healing sound like.

His music soothed my spirit many times throughout my life. At times, listening to his songs felt almost like prayer. To this day, I believe there is no other artist whose music has touched the entire world on such a deep emotional and spiritual level regardless of race, ethnicity, language, or culture.

When I see public figures comparing themselves to Jesus Christ or portraying themselves as spiritual saviors, I cannot help but reflect on Michael Jackson differently. No, I do not believe Michael was Jesus, nor would I ever place him above Christ. But I do believe there are parallels in the suffering he endured.

All my life, I watched Michael Jackson pour love into humanity and strive to make the world a better place. I also watched as the world tried to break him. Like Jesus, he faced relentless public humiliation, false accusations, ridicule, mockery, and betrayal. They called him “Wacko Jacko.” They accused him of terrible things. They attempted to destroy not only his reputation, but his spirit.

Yet time after time, he endured.

I believe he was covered by the prayers of his mother, his family, and millions of people around the world who genuinely loved him. Still, the attacks never truly stopped. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps God called him home because humanity would have continued trying to crucify him emotionally and spiritually over and over again.

Michael Jackson had one of the most compassionate hearts the world has ever seen. His pain was visible behind the smile, behind the performances, behind the fame. I often think that carrying the emotional weight of humanity eventually became too much for him.

I remember the excitement surrounding the This Is It tour announcement. I rushed home, changed clothes, and sat in front of the television binge-watching Michael Jackson videos for hours. I was so energized and emotional that I could not sleep. I even got my husband caught up watching the videos with me before he eventually fell asleep while I kept watching.

Then I remembered the day Michael died.

I cried inconsolably while watching the news coverage. Every channel was covering his death. His music played everywhere. The entire world seemed to stop for a moment. During my dramatic breakdown, my daughter told my husband to comfort me. He looked over and jokingly replied, “Why should I? She’s crying over another man.”

Even through my tears, I had to laugh. In that moment, I realized just how much my husband had endured throughout the years because of my lifelong love for Michael Jackson. I used to joke with him that Michael was the only man I would ever leave him for.

Now, after midnight, I find myself awake reflecting on the question that still lingers years later: Why him? Why did God take him?

What settled in my spirit was this: perhaps he had completed what he came into this world to do.

Just as Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” perhaps Michael Jackson’s purpose here had also reached its completion. I truly believe that even in death, his spirit, message, and music continue to illuminate hearts and remind humanity of the goodness we once had but too often took for granted.

In a world increasingly filled with cruelty, division, selfishness, and despair, Michael Jackson’s voice still reminds people to heal the world, care for children, protect the planet, and love one another. His influence did not end with his death. In many ways, it only became immortal.

Sometimes it feels as though nothing truly good is meant to last forever in this world. The pure-hearted often seem to suffer the most, and sometimes the brightest lights leave us too soon. Jesus was only thirty-three years old when He died.

I still miss Michael Jackson deeply, and I can only imagine the pain his family continues to carry. My prayer is that the Lord continues to bless and strengthen them with peace, love, healing, and unity.

Michael Jackson may be gone from this earth, but for millions around the world, his music, spirit, and message will never die.

From the earliest laws given in Scripture to the teachings of Jesus, there appears to be a tension between justice and mercy. In Exodus 21:24–25, we read, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Yet in the New Testament, Jesus raises the standard in Matthew 5:38–42, saying, “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” He goes even further in Matthew 5:44–48, calling us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

At first glance, these teachings seem contradictory. However, the command in Exodus was not a license for personal revenge, but a limitation—designed to prevent excessive retaliation and establish measured justice. Jesus, on the other hand, calls His followers beyond legal justice into personal transformation. He challenges us not merely to act justly, but to live mercifully.

This standard is difficult—perhaps even more so in today’s world. Many would argue that such expectations ask too much. Society has shifted; reverence for God has diminished, and obedience is often replaced with emotion, personal ambition, and self-interest. We are quick to react, slow to forgive, and often driven more by how we feel than by what we know to be right.

Yet Jesus presents a different way.

To “turn the other cheek” is not weakness—it is strength under control. It requires humility, restraint, and a deep trust in God. As written in Romans 12:19, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” True faith rests in this assurance, even when injustice goes unanswered in the moment.

Jesus Himself modeled this perfectly. Though He had the power to defend Himself, He chose silence, humility, and obedience, even as He was beaten and led to the cross. His response was not retaliation, but forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

This raises an important question for us today:
Do we truly not know what we are doing—or are we choosing disobedience despite knowing the truth?

Unlike earlier generations, we live in an age overflowing with knowledge. Through technology, social media, and access to information, we are more informed than ever before. Yet knowledge has not translated into righteousness. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we often witness God’s provision and still complain, doubt, and turn back.

After being delivered from slavery, the Israelites longed for Egypt when faced with hardship (Exodus 14:11–12). They murmured over bitter water (Exodus 15:23–24), complained about food (Exodus 16:2–3), questioned God’s presence (Exodus 17:1–7), and repeatedly rebelled despite His faithfulness (Numbers 11; 14). Their struggle was not ignorance—it was a lack of trust and obedience.

This same pattern exists today.

We wrestle with faith in a world filled with distractions. Technology, ambition, and the pursuit of wealth and recognition often take precedence over spiritual discipline. The question “Where is God?” echoes in times of chaos and suffering. It can feel as though evil is unchecked and the world is unraveling.

But Scripture reminds us that God’s delay is not absence—it is patience. He allows time for repentance, even as humanity exercises free will in ways that lead to disorder and pain.

Still, the tension remains. The world teaches that strength is found in retaliation, dominance, and power. Jesus teaches that strength is found in humility, forgiveness, and love—even toward enemies.

These are not just moral ideals; they are spiritual demands that reveal the condition of the human heart.

Forgiveness, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:21–22, is not limited. “Seventy-seven times seven” is not meant to be counted, but lived. This kind of forgiveness cannot come from human effort alone—it requires transformation. The flesh seeks revenge; the spirit calls for grace.

At the same time, humanity continues to chase power, often looking to leaders as saviors—individuals who are themselves flawed, imperfect, and susceptible to corruption. History shows that power and wealth, without humility and accountability, often lead to deeper injustice rather than lasting peace.

True change does not begin with global control or human dominance. It begins within the individual—through surrender, obedience, and alignment with God’s will.

We are not without responsibility. Those who profess faith in Christ are called to reflect Him not only in words, but in action. To speak with truth, walk in humility, show compassion, and extend forgiveness. Our lives are meant to mirror His character.

The world may be filled with turmoil, but the call remains clear:
to choose mercy over vengeance, humility over pride, and obedience over self-will.

Humanity’s greatest struggle is not a lack of knowledge—it is resistance to obedience.

And yet, despite this struggle, there is hope.

If we are willing to release our grip on power, let go of the need for retaliation, and trust in the justice of God, we have the opportunity to reshape not only our own lives, but the world around us. Not through force or control, but through a quiet, transformative strength rooted in faith and love.

In the end, the question is not whether we understand what is right.

The question is whether we are willing to live it.

If someone slaps you on the cheek, are you going to fight back for truth, or your ego? This what Jesus is talking about, when he says turn the other cheek. Turning the other cheek to me is a form of fighting for truth not ego. Truth is never about self, but standing in love.

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone because of extreme wickedness, violence, and widespread immorality (Genesis 19). Yet today, many reduce that judgment to a single issue, when the biblical account points to a much broader corruption—one that included injustice, abuse, and cruelty toward the vulnerable.

The cities had become a place where wrongdoing was normalized: violence, exploitation, and disregard for human dignity. What we now call trafficking—enslaving women and children for exploitation—reflects the kind of moral collapse that Scripture consistently condemns. Evil thrives wherever people are dehumanized and treated as objects rather than as beings made with purpose and worth.

Jesus made it clear how seriously God views the harm of the innocent. In Matthew 18:6, He warns that causing a child to stumble carries severe consequences. And in Matthew 19:14, He emphasizes the value of children in the kingdom of heaven. These teachings remind us that protecting the vulnerable is central to righteousness.

Sin manifests in many ways in our world. It affects individuals and societies, and ultimately leads to brokenness and death. Scripture teaches that all have sinned and fall short, yet also offers forgiveness to those who genuinely seek truth and righteousness.

Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if any righteous people could be found (Genesis 18:22–33). None were found. This echoes an earlier time in the days of Noah (Genesis 6), when humanity became so corrupt and violent that judgment came upon the earth. These accounts emphasize how seriously God views unchecked evil.

Today, we live in a time where information is widely accessible. Much that was once hidden is now being exposed. Technology has made it possible for truth—and falsehood—to spread rapidly. This increased awareness brings responsibility. With greater knowledge comes greater accountability.

Recent public scandals involving figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and R. Kelly have brought attention to long-hidden abuses of power and exploitation. While these cases are not identical to ancient Sodom, they reveal how corruption can persist in secrecy until it is exposed.

History shows that humanity often repeats its failures. Progress in knowledge and technology does not automatically lead to moral progress. When people lose sight of truth and righteousness, societies can drift toward confusion—where right is called wrong, and wrong is called right.

At the same time, Scripture offers hope. Even in a broken world, there are those who seek to live faithfully, grounded in truth and guided by the teachings of Jesus. Their presence matters.

This is a time that calls for discernment, humility, and responsibility. Awareness alone is not enough—what matters is how we respond to what we know. The call is not just to recognize evil, but to turn away from it and pursue what is good, just, and true.

The cities had become a place where wrongdoing was normalized: violence, exploitation, and disregard for human dignity. What we now call trafficking—enslaving women and children for exploitation—reflects the kind of moral collapse that Scripture consistently condemns. Evil thrives wherever people are dehumanized and treated as objects rather than as beings made with purpose and worth.

Jesus made it clear how seriously God views the harm of the innocent. In Matthew 18:6, He warns that causing a child to stumble carries severe consequences. And in Matthew 19:14, He emphasizes the value of children in the kingdom of heaven. These teachings remind us that protecting the vulnerable is central to righteousness.

Sin manifests in many ways in our world. It affects individuals and societies, and ultimately leads to brokenness and death. Scripture teaches that all have sinned and fall short, yet also offers forgiveness to those who genuinely seek truth and righteousness.

Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if any righteous people could be found (Genesis 18:22–33). None were found. This echoes an earlier time in the days of Noah (Genesis 6), when humanity became so corrupt and violent that judgment came upon the earth. These accounts emphasize how seriously God views unchecked evil.

Today, we live in a time where information is widely accessible. Much that was once hidden is now being exposed. Technology has made it possible for truth—and falsehood—to spread rapidly. This increased awareness brings responsibility. With greater knowledge comes greater accountability.

Recent public scandals involving figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and R. Kelly have brought attention to long-hidden abuses of power and exploitation. While these cases are not identical to ancient Sodom, they reveal how corruption can persist in secrecy until it is exposed.

History shows that humanity often repeats its failures. Progress in knowledge and technology does not automatically lead to moral progress. When people lose sight of truth and righteousness, societies can drift toward confusion—where right is called wrong, and wrong is called right.

At the same time, Scripture offers hope. Even in a broken world, there are those who seek to live faithfully, grounded in truth and guided by the teachings of Jesus. Their presence matters.

This is a time that calls for discernment, humility, and responsibility. Awareness alone is not enough—what matters is how we respond to what we know. The call is not just to recognize evil, but to turn away from it and pursue what is good, just, and true.

The Antichrist is one who opposes or denies Jesus Christ, the Son, and God the Father. But what is it, truly? Is it an ideology, a myth, a man, a spirit, or the devil himself? Scripture speaks of the Antichrist as an entity that will arise before the second coming of Christ. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the Antichrist is “one who denies or opposes Christ; specifically, a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness, but ultimately to be conquered by Christ at His return.”

The Bible offers both a present and future understanding. In 1 John 2:18, it says, “even now many antichrists have come,” while 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 speaks of a “man of lawlessness” who will exalt himself above God. Likewise, 1 John 4:3 teaches that the spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world.

I recall, as a child, my fifth-grade religion teacher saying there would come a time when it might feel—as though not definitively—that the presence of God had left the earth. Our prayers might seem unanswered, and our struggles heavier and harder to bear. That thought captivated me. My teacher spoke of God in such a way that His presence felt alive and real. The idea of not experiencing that presence, even for a moment, felt unimaginable.

God has always been real to me. Even as a child, I felt His presence when I prayed. I often say I was born a believer, not made.

With a vivid imagination, I would picture the sun setting and rising again. To me, that rhythm reflected God’s presence—constant and faithful. I refused to believe He would ever leave us. Scripture supports this: Hebrews 13:5 says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” If God’s presence ever feels distant, we must ask ourselves: Have we drawn away from Him? For James 4:8 reminds us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Often, we drift slowly—caught up in the world—unaware of how far we’ve fallen.

In this sense, the Antichrist can also be understood as the condition of humanity when we fall away from God. Like Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3), we give in to temptation through vulnerability, curiosity, and desire. Sin disrupts our oneness with God. It doesn’t just bring death; it separates us from intimate relationship with our Creator.

Throughout history, humanity has struggled to stand firm in God. Yet through Jesus Christ, we are called back. When we follow Him and walk in His ways—emulating His faith, authority, humility, love, and truth—the Antichrist has no power over us. For 1 John 4:4 declares, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The power of life is in Christ Jesus, while death is in sin (Romans 6:23). So the question becomes: whose side are we on?

If we say we choose Christ, why do we live contrary to what He taught—humility, forgiveness, compassion, unity, love, and mercy? What is the opposite of these things—and are we, knowingly or unknowingly, aligning ourselves with it?

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he called out, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me” (Exodus 32:26), after witnessing the people worshiping the golden calf. Today, we must ask ourselves: are we any different? After all God has done—after the coming of Christ—have we become proud or forgetful?

Jesus said in John 14:12, “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” Have we allowed advancement, knowledge, or pride to distance us from God, as it did the Israelites?

We have come too far with God to turn back—to become like Adam and Eve in disobedience or like the ungrateful Israelites in rebellion.

Too often, we give more power to evil than to the goodness, truth, and righteousness that come from God. We were never meant to be left alone in our struggle against sin. Yet some choose not to resist it, but to give in—knowingly or unknowingly.

Instead, we must fix our eyes on Jesus—the Savior and Redeemer (Hebrews 12:2). We must seek Him, turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14), and grow in relationship with Him. In doing so, the Antichrist has no hold over us.

Lawlessness, greed, pride, and the pursuit of power—these are distractions that pull humanity away from God. History has shown us this pattern again and again. The question is: are we learning from it?

Could it be that what we call “the Antichrist” is also the very sin we have been praying to overcome? A force that reveals itself like a mirror—exposing our fears, our weaknesses, and our faith?

This reality can be especially difficult for believers, because we long to be found faithful and worthy in God’s sight. Yet sometimes, that desire can lead to striving in our own strength rather than surrendering to God’s will. As Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

If we do not submit fully to God, we risk repeating the pattern of Adam and Eve—seeking to be like God rather than walking with Him. Then we find ourselves exposed, ashamed, and hiding from the very One who created us (Genesis 3:8–10).

Ultimately, the Antichrist represents any power, force, spirit, or will that seeks to oppose God or take His place. It is both something to come and something already at work.

The question remains: will we resist it—or unknowingly become part of it?

I call it ignorance—nothing less than ignorance—that in the world we live in today some still believe, based on the Bible, that women should not lead.

Many point to 1 Timothy 2:12, which says that women should learn in quietness and full submission and are not permitted to teach or have authority over men. Others refer to 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, which instructs women to remain silent in the churches.

But that was then, and this is now.

If we truly understand the New Testament and the significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, along with the teachings and actions of Christ himself toward women, why are we still clinging to interpretations rooted in limitation rather than truth?

Galatians 3:28 declares that in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female. This powerful statement points toward equality in Christ — an equality that includes the ability to serve and to lead.

Jesus came into the world giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, and healing the sick. He broke religious expectations and traditions openly for all to see. Yet while he worked outwardly in the world, he also worked inwardly through the woman who carried him — his mother Mary — even before his birth.

Just as sin entered the world through both Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden tree, redemption came through the womb of a woman named Mary, with the support of her fiancé Joseph. This time the story was not about disobedience, but about submission and surrender to God’s will.

From the moment of Gabriel’s annunciation — “Hail Mary” — to her faithful “yes,” Mary became a living vessel of God’s Spirit. Through her willingness to accept God’s will, she opened a door for all women to stand with courage and faith.

Mary demonstrated leadership in her relationship with Joseph by standing firm in her conviction to obey God. She accepted the risk to her reputation, her safety, and even her future marriage. Though engaged and suddenly pregnant, she did not waver.

Through faith and boldness, she faced Joseph with the truth of her situation and trusted that God would make a way. She waited, prayed, and believed that the Lord would speak to him.

That is leadership.

Joseph, like Adam before him, might have walked away if it were not for God’s intervention and Mary’s unwavering faith. Unlike Eve, Mary did not turn away from God but trusted him completely.

Mary became a blessing and a model for all humanity. Her life teaches faith, surrender, resilience, courage, and obedience to God’s will.

Her conversation with the angel Gabriel reveals intelligence, wisdom, understanding, and deep spiritual awareness. Most of all, it reveals trust in God.

Mary understood her mission as the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. In a similar way, women who nurture life today — whether through birth, adoption, teaching, or caregiving — participate in God’s work.

Anyone who lovingly cares for a child reflects the spirit of motherhood, even if she is never called mother.

Mary carried out her mission with courage and grace. She faced the possibility of rejection, disgrace, and even death by stoning. Yet the world now calls her Blessed Mother.

We must recognize the divine design in God’s work. God formed man from the dust of the earth, and then planted life within the woman who came from man. Through that same design, God brought redemption into the world.

Through Eve came the poison of the forbidden fruit; through Mary came Jesus — the antidote for us all.

Without Mary, there could be no Jesus.

Consider this: God formed Adam from the ground, yet he chose not to bring Christ into the world in the same way. The God who can do all things chose instead to work through a woman.

Through Mary, God elevated the role of women in his divine plan. Women who accept God’s will — not only in bearing children but in nurturing and guiding them — participate in God’s creative work.

Pregnancy itself reflects God’s hands at work like a potter shaping clay (Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1–6). During that time, the presence of God becomes deeply personal — spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

Men may plant the seed, but God shapes the life. God is the giver of life.

If women are entrusted, according to Proverbs 22:6, with teaching children the ways of the Lord so that they will not depart from them, then why should women not also be entrusted with leadership?

Men cannot bear children, and God has not changed the order of creation from the days of Adam and Eve until now. Yet through Mary, the position of women before God was elevated and honored in a profound way.

It is striking that in the days of Noah the world was judged when angels took women and bore children with them, yet later God himself chose a woman through whom his only begotten Son would enter the world.

The difference is simple: God asked Mary, and Mary said yes.

In Eden, Eve was deceived. But in Nazareth, Mary consented.

Even though he is God, he sought Mary’s agreement. That tells us something profound about the character of God.

What I admire most about Mary is that she chose God — whom she could not see or touch — over her fiancé Joseph. That is true faithfulness. That is putting God first.

Joseph, unlike Adam who stood ahead of Eve, stood beside Mary in fulfilling God’s will. He was not placed over her to rule, but alongside her to support and protect.

Through Mary, Joseph himself grew closer to God, especially after the dream in which he was told to take her as his wife despite her pregnancy (Matthew 1:18–25).

Joseph became not only a stepfather to Jesus but a faithful earthly husband to Mary, guided by God to protect them both.

He may have expected an ordinary marriage, but God gave him a greater calling — a test of faith that required obedience and trust.

Together Mary and Joseph fulfilled God’s will, succeeding where Adam and Eve had failed.

Both Adam and Joseph listened to their wives.

So who, then, is the true leader?

Perhaps leadership is not about domination but about faithfulness and obedience to God.

We should observe the relationships of pastors, preachers, bishops, and church leaders with their spouses. Strong leadership often comes from unity — like parents guiding a household together in love.

If a man can be Pope, I see no reason why a woman cannot lead.

Why should Peter, who denied Jesus three times, be elevated while the mother who bore him is excluded? Both were loved and blessed by Christ.

From the beginning of time, women have demonstrated leadership.

Eve stood before the serpent without fear and sought understanding. Adam failed to guide them both according to God’s command.

Genesis 3:12 records Adam saying to God:

“The woman you gave me gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

God commanded both Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree. Adam could have reminded Eve, yet he chose instead to follow.

They were both responsible, which is why both were cast out of Eden.

Neither could lead alone; they were like the blind leading the blind.

But through Jesus and his mother Mary, God restored balance.

True leadership requires both man and woman working together under God.

It takes both.

Amen.

What Is Truth? When Doing Right Still Feels Wrong

As a child, I remember learning one of the Ten Commandments:

“You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16).

In my young heart, that became simple: Always tell the truth.

One day, the woman who taught me this commandment brought her mother to meet me. I thought the woman herself was beautiful. But as a child — maybe four or five years old — I looked at her mother and said plainly, “She’s ugly.”

I thought I was doing the right thing. I was telling the truth.

Instead, I was rebuked.

“Why would you say that? You shouldn’t hurt people’s feelings. That’s not nice.”

And I remember feeling confused. If I am commanded not to lie, then what is truth? If truth hurts, should we still speak it? If truth wounds, is it still good?

That moment stayed with me.

Truth Without Love Is Not God’s Truth

As I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand something I did not know as a child.

Scripture does not only command truth — it commands how truth is delivered.

Paul writes:

“Speaking the truth in love…” (Ephesians 4:15).

Truth by itself can be sharp.
Truth without love can be cruel.
Truth spoken without wisdom can destroy rather than heal.

Proverbs tells us:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

God never intended truth to be a weapon. He intended it to be light.

“The Truth Shall Set You Free”… But Why Does It Sometimes Bind Us?

Jesus said:

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

But if we are honest, sometimes truth does not feel freeing.

The truth that someone betrayed you.
The truth that someone you trusted hurt you.
The truth that the world is not fair.
The truth that lawless behavior often appears to go unpunished.

Sometimes truth feels devastating. It doesn’t set us loose — it feels like it binds us in grief, anger, or confusion.

So what did Jesus mean?

The truth that sets us free is not merely information. It is Him.

He said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

When truth is separated from Christ, it can feel crushing. When truth is anchored in Him, it leads to freedom — even if the circumstances remain painful.

When Righteousness Seems Unfair

As I look at the political climate in America, I sometimes think about this struggle.

I think about former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama — eight years in the White House, careful with words, measured in tone, often appearing to “dot the I’s and cross the T’s.”

And then I see the turbulence, the lawlessness, the harsh rhetoric that has followed in later years. I see conflict, accusations, division. I see what feels like morality being dismissed.

And I ask the same question I asked as a child:

Why do some of us work so hard to do what is right, while others seem to break the rules and get away with it?

Psalm 73 wrestles with this very tension. The psalmist writes:

“For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

He observed that the arrogant seemed to flourish. They were not plagued like other men. They appeared to thrive.

It troubled him deeply — until he entered the sanctuary of God.

Then he saw the bigger picture.

Lawlessness and the Times We Live In

Jesus warned:

“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

When morality seems optional…
When humility is mocked…
When truth is manipulated…
When power appears to excuse behavior…

It can make the righteous feel angry. Or bitter. Or confused.

I have felt that anger.

It feels similar to how I felt as a child — trying to do what was right, only to feel confused when the outcome didn’t match the effort.

But Scripture reminds us:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Righteousness is not validated by immediate reward.
Integrity is not proven by applause.
Obedience is not dependent on fairness.

God sees.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

No one ultimately “gets away” with anything.

Does It Make You Better or Bitter?

That is the question.

When you try to live morally…
When you practice humility…
When you love your neighbor…
When you hold yourself to a higher standard…

And then you watch others ignore those standards — does it make you better, or bitter?

Hebrews warns us:

“Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble…” (Hebrews 12:15)

Bitterness binds us more than injustice ever could.

Truth without grace makes us harsh.
Righteousness without humility makes us proud.
Anger without surrender makes us weary.

So What Is Truth?

Truth is not merely blunt honesty.
Truth is not merely exposing wrong.
Truth is not merely facts about circumstances.

Truth is alignment with God’s character.

God requires truth because He is truth (Numbers 23:19). He commands honesty because deception corrupts the soul. But He also commands love (Matthew 22:37–39). He commands mercy (Micah 6:8). He commands humility.

The full truth is this:

The world is unfair.
People are flawed.
Leaders will disappoint us.
Morality will rise and fall in cultures.

But God remains just.

And our calling remains the same.

To walk humbly.
To love mercy.
To do justly.
(Micah 6:8)

A Final Reflection

Maybe the real freedom is not found in whether others behave righteously.

Maybe the freedom is found in knowing that we obey God because He is worthy — not because the world is fair.

The truth that sets us free is this:

God sees.
God judges rightly.
God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7).
And righteousness is never wasted.

So I ask myself:

Will I continue to do what is right even if it feels unfair?
Will I guard my heart from bitterness?
Will I speak truth in love?
Will I trust God with justice?

Because in the end, truth is not about winning arguments.

It is about becoming more like Christ.

I can only speak for myself. This is my testimony: God is real.

The Word says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8, NKJV). What I have come to understand is that God is nothing like what we imagine. He declares, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

We cannot reduce Him to our preferences, experiences, or emotions.

Scripture tells us, “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). He loved this world — this earth and all He created within it. Yet Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His love is not based on our deserving it. It is rooted in His nature.

Paul writes that we are invited to know “the love of Christ which passes knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). His peace “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). There are depths of God that the human mind cannot comprehend.

And yet, humanity often misunderstands Him.

When Jesus cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34), He exposed a painful truth: we often act in ignorance. Second Corinthians 4:4 explains that “the god of this age has blinded” minds. Our pride, wounds, and emotions can distort how we see our Father.

But Proverbs 9:10 declares, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” True understanding begins with reverence. It begins when we admit that we do not fully know — and we ask Him to reveal Himself.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom… but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me.”

That is the invitation.

Not just to know about God — but to know Him.

If we truly desire wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God, we must seek Him intentionally. Scripture promises, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Ask Him to remove the blindness.
Ask Him to soften your heart.
Ask Him to reveal who He truly is — beyond your assumptions.

Open His Word.
Humble yourself.
Pray.

James 1:5 gives us this promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.”

God is not hiding from us.
He is inviting us.

The question is: will we seek Him?

Numbers 12:4-9 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edomite. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

And the people came to Moses and said, “we have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

What’s really going on with the world today, I’ve asked the Father? After decades of fervent fasting and prayer the closeness and friendship I’ve acquired with God who allows me to question Him truthfully from my soul when my spirit cries out like Jesus on the cross, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me/us/the world?” And He answers, whether it’s in scriptures, a song, movie, person, situation…or a voice inside my head. Some would wonder, “how do you know it’s God speaking?” For years, the discernment came from hearing, doing (obedience to whatever the voice tells me) and seeing (dreams and visions and reality) I’ve received the confirmation by His works. From Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Joseph with the coat of many colours…Mary speaking to Gabriel the Archangel, we see examples in the Bible of people having connection with God; as I and I’m sure some others also have.

What’s happening in United States of America is affecting the entire world; especially in light of what it had represented to the world: “land of the free and home of the brave” “And this be this our motto: ‘In God is our trust’”. Both verses of the Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of United States of America. The United States of America was once a beacon of light to the world and is now in its own darkness. It stood as a fortress representing a lot of good for other countries who wanted to be just like them; when freedom, compassion, mercy, humility and selfless motivation began to reign, power and protection was given, by God. The USA had once let the Lord in. I say let the Lord in because God doesn’t just possess and take over; He simply asks or knocks. When He knocked for world peace, benevolence, diplomacy, USA openly answered. Called like Israel to reconciliation and repentance, they were set up to be admired and followed for all their gifts having been faithful to God. But like Babylon, the USA will fall for its defiance of God, luxury, greed, oppression of people, pride and self-exaltation and due to becoming the symbol of the wickedness and evils in the world, for the actions of its ruler and subjects.

The People Chose

Everyone ,

May want to blame the ruler, but remember it was a choice, your choice; whether you voted or not as a citizen. And for everyone who had chosen the ruler, you have a choice, knowing now what you know, to make the necessary change for the good according to your stance in faith following Jesus, knowing, “He is the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6.

It is said, “it’s better to not know than to know and still make an unwise decision. For example, if you know someone has been charged or investigated for a crime like robbery, why then would you let them have access to your house, finances or anything valuable, including ethics and morality in leadership and governing.

We can consider ourselves lucky to be able to choose, via a democratic process (by voting), who we want to be our leader of our country on a world stage and not simply have someone who’s born to inherit the responsibility of ruling who also might hate it, or a cruel dictator who may have bullied and killed for the position. But we get to choose them on the basis of their platform; what they say they are willing to do to make our lives better, whoever can best represents us to the world, and help make our lives easier but let’s not forget by following Jesus. Let this sink in for a moment. And we got to consider how blessed and fortunate we are in the west. Let’s give recognition to the most popular, powerful and influential country in the world, the United States of America and its 47th president. Like the Israelites being delivered out of Egypt, for everything the people of America were blessed with, they still complained and wanted change and to make America, “great again”what’s the great again in the history of America? It was admired and envied because of its greatness, especially civil rights movements, and all laws of the constitution, movies, music, armed forces…the reason everyone from all over the world wanted to visit, live, take refuge and imitate it.

It is known that people from many countries and in the USA itself, including me, don’t like the way 47 is governing. It goes against everything the outsiders admired and respected America for. For me to have a clear understanding of it all, I had to take to the Lord in prayer and fasting. I remember hearing the 47th ruler was the Lord’s chosen. At first, I was very much a skeptic, because we all have a preconceived notion that anything to do with God has to come in the form of goodness. God is loving, caring and compassionate, merciful…anything to do with God has to represent those characteristics, but most of all, to be like Jesus. But a Judas is always needed to carry out God’s perfect will and plan for humanity. A Judas is God’s fulfillment and man’s betrayal. Luke 22:31 Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. He assured Peter he has prayed for him that his faith won’t fail. But yet he told Judas, “hurry and do what you’re going to do” John 13:27. How ironic that Jesus who loves all his disciples seems to be showing favouritism between Peter and Judas. He rebukes Peter for wanting him to avoid his predestined crucifixion in Jerusalem, Matthew 16:22. Prayed for him and not Judas? knowing as it is written in the text all his disciples were going to be, in other words, provoked, tempted or tested by the devil to fall short. Jesus knew Judas was the means to God’s plan for his crucifixion. It wasn’t about anything else.

People are hating on the 47th ruler with good reason. He’s presenting as an out of control, “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” scenario for lawlessness and the undisciplined. The epitome of sin within all of us. The true nature of sin in humanity we cover up with religion, public facades we struggle with and hide from others. For some, it’s because they can’t be so blunt with their self-righteous goody two shoes self and other ethical, and moral standards. He dare to say and do whatever he wishes without consequences we sometimes deep in our hearts would like to say or do, but because of fear or we’re ethically and morally inclined not to, or just can’t. The audacity of a man to be so emboldened in sin and no one seems to be able to stop him has many people afraid. It is the fear of his unconventional actions that’s driving the world and his people crazy, because they can’t seem to stop him. But this has to play out its course. Like the crucifixion of Jesus, it was precisely orchestrated by God. This is the work of God, who says fear not, this is a lesson for the world to learn in obedience to God, what happens when lawlessness, immorality and undisciplined. Romans 8:28 “ all things work for good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I say this because, like Peter, what we’d want to protect or make good on sometimes is the very thing God, himself is using to bring about His will. Genesis 50:20 “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” I understand that anything we see as evil is not always the devil behind it, or the person or situation is evil sometimes it’s God’s way of pulling out the good through bad, if that makes sense. The lesson is not how we perceive it, but the outcome of the Lord’s perfect will and plan.

Jesus took on our sin and carried it to die on the cross, that we may look up to Him on the cross and be saved from our sins. Instead, we’re still looking to sinful man and his ways which may seem glamorous, courageous and show of might and strength. A fool’s gold instead of the real deal. Man hides behind the true symbolism of the cross using it for deception and or manipulation. The cross is the coffin for the burial of sin, but Jesus is salvation of sin in humanity when we look to and follow Him; but most of all, without repentance and baptism, our actions in faith can only be deceptive. Matthew 16:24 Jesus told His disciples, “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” A good leader of God’s people, whether it be a church, or country has to have the willingness to sacrifice personal desires, die to self for Jesus sake and endure hardship.

Morals and ethics whether faith based or not now has to be the driving force to anyone who wants to lead the world not withstanding of what is being perceived in the world stage today of leadership. Truth and righteousness stands courageous with evidence to injustice, provocation and lies. Don’t be fooled, goodness and righteousness have their turn to show itself especially after wicked and evil intent. How can we as Christians who read and study the Bible not recognize a Pharaoh as a leader when we see one?

A blessing as small as a mustard seed we are to share it from heart to heart with each other. I remember hearing this as a child in church. God is not a selfish God. His heart is open to all, the good and the bad. He says to those who try their best, to be and do good, “all that I have is yours already: the grace, power and authority…and most of all my unconditional love. To those who are bad, “seek, knock, and ask. I am your doctor, come to me for healing.” God is not seeking for perfection in humanity; we have to at least show some effort we’re trying to do what’s right. If you’re heavy laden with burden, Matthew 11:28- 30“ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Sometimes we have to get over ourselves. “This woe is me attitude got to stop.” Many times it’s ourselves that gets in the way of God’s business. Humanity can be so nasty and cruel to one another, they hurt each other to the core of their being. As a human being, unaware when doing that to someone, you’re being a vessel for the devil, carrying out his evil deeds, especially unable to catch yourself because it makes you feel good. You feel good to hurt or see someone who has hurt you get hurt themselves.

It’s devastating when you’re pierced in your heart for your love by doing good for others or just helping out someone; following Jesus, doing good wherever you go. If you’re truly faithful and is led by the the Holy Spirit of God within, you can do like Jesus did and say what Jesus acknowledged to us on the cross and said, “forgive them for they know not what they do.” We are given great power, and that power is to know when to reject and restrain from using it because of the pain, hurt, and rejection for doing good, inflicted on our souls.

What do you consider as being good? We can be angry, but not sin, Ephesians 4: 26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Romans 12:19-21 “Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath , for it is written “vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary: “I f your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this , you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. When we just can’t forgive, the bitterness, envy, jealousy and hatred has overtaken our souls. When we can’t get past the hurt, pain and the feeling of uncertainty of ever trusting again, because of the brokenness of one’s spirit, remember Jesus.

In this world we’re living in today there’s so much pain and suffering; regardless of the many advantages we are now capable of achieving and experience compare to our ancestors beginning with the life and death of Jesus whom had prophesied in John 14:12 “ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” And so far look at the things we were able to accomplish: medicines, technology, science and spirituality…we’ve come a long way and yet sin is still a battle we continue to struggle with, and can’t seem to overcome.

What is the driving force in your soul? Is it love, commitment, obedience…fear or hurt? Don’t allow your emotions to lead you. Matthew 26:41 “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Jesus said. But it is through Jesus our flesh is now made strong by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

He came into the world to be the final sacrifice; atonement for our sins, lest we forget. He didn’t come to judge or condemn the world, but save it. Love, unconditional love and grace we’re not deserving of we are given through him and yet we still sin. The Lamb of God without blemishes was nailed to the cross on Calvary. His the sacrifice took place, as the angel stood around weeping, singing and praising him, with their swords drawn in hopes of no interference by Satan the devil who would try to stop him from fulfilling God’s will. Swiftly the Lord God lifted Jesus’s spirit out the body and he descended to hell; when the earth was darkened, it was because the light which manifested his presence left the earth for a while to show he was power and authority, the son of God. He entered hell dragging his light with him taking all Satan demons binding them and replacing them with the saints of God who was being held captive. The earthquake as the fight between Jesus, the angels and Satan and all his demons, the opening up and bringing forth the tombs and life of all the dead saints. The veil itself was a partition( division) of old to all God people except the high priest. Jesus has now replaced the old veil, becoming a bridge, a joining of both the Devine and humanity. The veil in the temple was torn, symbolizes Jesus spirit was actively moving throughout the world breaking away the old traditions for the replacements of the new. Through the spirit of Jesus and his sacrifice, his blood, accessibility for ALL had been given to draw closer to God to communicate with him. Jesus blood replaced all the animal blood in which the veil was darkened with. Jesus blood became the new clear veil, giving access to ALL humanity through him. Jesus has now become the true veil, John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Having victory over Satan, conquering hell, Jesus had gotten the keys to hell letting out all captives Saints of God by Satan and his demons. The graves were opened and many of God’s people who had died came to life by Jesus death, and was seen by others. Though we were dead in sin, no matter what through Jesus life death and resurrection though we die we shall be resurrected through him.

I remember as a child my first experience with the season of Lent and its impact on my life, from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday; not eating of flesh(meat). It was a wonderful experience which came natural to me. I had no problem going without food, praying…better than Christmas, for all the present, I’d looked forward to it. I had prophetic dreams and visions from a child to an adult. Besides fasting, praying, abstinence and atonement for sin leading up to Easter, I was told we are to get closer to Jesus, and trace his step, and what I’ve learned is unbelievable.

Jesus told us, “ask and you shall receive, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” Matthew 7:7. I have learned that whatever you ask, seek and knock, especially when it concerns drawing nearer to God, God answers. So in our asking, seeking and knocking let God always be first and everything else last. Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all things shall be added unto you.

After years of my participating in the season of Lent the traditional way I decided under the circumstances of the world we’re living in today I would still fast, pray, but I wanted to trace Jesus steps by drawing near to him in prayer and fasting. I needed to understand what’s it’s like to be more like Jesus and what I found out is Jesus never wanted us to follow him by being sacrifice on the cross, but to love, have compassion, help others in need, not to judge or condemn…and the knowledge to forgive when wronged. “The Love of God which passes all understanding,” To love, yet still, is the greatest sacrifice in the midst of hatred for no reason, falsely accused, picked on, disliked…I was told. My faith has to be in God’s ability to hear and answer my prayer, not necessarily my actions, but my obedience to His will and purpose. To listen attentively to His voice in this noisy, disruptive and corrupted world. Like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane knowing to accept the cup and accepting it’s not my will, but God’s will to be done, Matthew 26:39

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. We have to be careful trying to do God’s business in our own way and strength, for this reason we get ourselves into trouble with the enemy(devil). “We’ve got to wait patiently on the Lord who will strengthen us, and to be still and know that He the Lord is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” Psalm 27:14, 46:10 and 100:3.

In some ways those of us who truly love the Lord with all our hearts, mind, body and soul, like Jesus being oneness with the Father we also have to follow him in being in oneness with him. We suffer in many ways like Jesus for being and doing good. Not the good that is in our sight, but the good in the spirit of Jesus. We may not be placed upon a cross, but we might as well be for the pain and heart aches we endured for goodness sake. Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. God never gives us more than we can handle, but the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. We give into fears, doubts and the weakness of the flesh, in all temptation and provocation, by the enemy.

Jesus is all man in the flesh we can see, but all God in the spirit we can’t see. John the Baptist was the door to the kingdom even Jesus walked through, when being baptized by him. Jesus the key: the manifestation of the purpose and will of Gad; the living, walking manifestation of the law of God. No man can say it’s impossible as a man to obey and be subjected to God will and purpose when Jesus born of man has shown us it can be done. The excuse that Jesus being a deity made it all possible is lie, because we die and resurrected in him. Through him by the power and authority of the Almighty we can do all things in faith. We can walk on water knowing his hand is stretched forth to us if we believe and don’t even entertain in our thoughts of falling.

The blood of Jesus on the cross still works because every good deeds when prosecuted by ingratitude, for all the sacrifice it takes to do good for the love of God, like being sacrificed on the cross, many hearts, mind, body and souls are bleeding remaining in Christ, holding steadfast until he returns. In this world there are people of good character who follows Jesus wholeheartedly, truthfully, righteously who endure long suffering for the love of God. Following through on the word of Jesus to his disciple Peter, “if you love me feed my sheep, if you love me tend my lambs.” The blood flow has remained in those who are true to the will and purpose of God for ALL humanity as Jesus did, showing no favouritism of people.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is about a world in crisis and the God send our light and salvation. Salvation has come (Jesus) and never left. We are the ones who drifted away, for our own will and purpose being overcome by sin. Once again the world is in crisis and we must remember Jesus who promised to never leave us neither forsake us, he will be with us even unto the end of the age. He’s here with us in spirit. I look to Jesus and he looks back with his hand stretching forth to me. The veil has been torn so we can all have access to the Lord, take advantage of it in these trials and tribulations times in the world. He hears and answers prayers so believe when it is said, “this to shall pass.” In everything there’s a reason for such a season, and in this time we are living in is for us to draw nearer to God. There are seasons we go through to learn, evolve, and shift…know that God Alway has a plan and is in control. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There’s a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Amen