Wakefield

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  “In some old magazine or newspaper I recollect a story, told as truth, of a man—let us call him Wakefield—who absented himself for a long time from his wife. The fact, thus abstractedly stated, is not very uncommon, nor, without a proper distinction of circumstances, to be condemned either as naughty or nonsensical. Howbeit, this, though far from the most aggravated, is perhaps the strangest instance on record of marital delinquency, and, moreover, as remarkable a freak as may be found in the whole list of human oddities. The wedded couple lived in London. The man, under pretense of going a journey, took lodgings in the next street to his own house, and there, unheard of by his wife or friends and without the shadow of a reason for such self-banishment, dwelt upward of twenty years. During that period he beheld his home every day, and frequently the forlorn Mrs. Wakefield. And after so great a gap in his matrimonial felicity—when his death was reckoned certain, his estate settled...

Profanity

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Webster’s Dictionary defines profanity as, “not sacred or holy; irreverent toward God and man; contempt for holy things; blasphemy and serving to defile that which is holy; also not possessing expert knowledge.” The use of profane words is popular, looked upon as being “up to date” in many places where instead the most important thing, salvation from sin, is neglected.

What is a person doing when using profane language? Do children know what is being said? Other than demonstrating how one has no knowledge or control over the way one uses the mouth, does one realize when he curses the doom he pronounces to a soul that never dies? “The tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6).

Do you know why they are called, “curse words”? The one who curses is actually praying:

• That God should curse instead of forgive;
• To put in prison instead of set free;
• To cast away instead of deliver;
• That God should use His power to punish instead of bless or have mercy;
• To be guilty instead of pardoned;
• Strip all happiness from body and soul in this world and in eternity;
• Shut out of heaven and cast into hell.

The horrible sentence man pronounces upon himself is indescribable, and can only be continued when one is sold to and is under the control of Satan.

Have you used God’s name as a curse word? That’s called blasphemy, and you’ve broken the 3rd Commandment. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him without guilt who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

“But,” you say, “I’ve would not dare use God’s name like that!”

Then I ask, have you called yourself by God’s name, as one of His children, taking His name upon yourself, calling yourself a “Christian”? If so, have you always represented Him properly to the entire world? If not, then you’ve taken His name in vain. Listen, professing Christian: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:3-4)

The tongue, unless the heart of man is cleansed by the Holy Spirit, remains an unruly evil in one way or another, even though man may possibly stop from grosser sins such as profanity and other evils: nevertheless, out of the heart the mouth speaks! The Bible says: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth the evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45).

Today there is still pardon for our sins if you will repent (turn from your sin) and come to the Lord Jesus Christ, who made a payment for our sins through His shed blood on the cross. "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18).

"And put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness . . . let no corrupt communication proceed our of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may give grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:24,29).

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