The Ten Cannots

Today's editorial is based upon a word that most of us don't like to hear. Especially when it's directed towards ourselves. It's the word "cannot," as in you "cannot do _____?_____." Human nature being what it is, whatever it is that we're told we "cannot do" just seems to make us want to do it even more, doesn't it?

I'm going to couple that thought with the current election season we're in the midst of and cite to you something written by a minister in 1916 that I feel fits very well with all the political campaign speeches we're bombarded with daily. He entitled his article: "The Ten Cannots." I think you'll find it applicable.

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift."

"You cannot help small men by tearing down big men."

"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong."

"You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer."

"You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich."

"You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income."

"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred."

"You cannot establish security on borrowed money."

"You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence."

"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."

In looking at those "cannots" I see just about every one of them being violated by the words and promises of those running for polital office.  And, they're not restricted to just the Federal venue, but apply to the state government and on down to the local city leadership.

Basically the candidates seem to be operating on the premise that the electorate, the citizens of whichever venue fits, all have "itching ears." (2 Tim. 4:3) As in, they are going to say and promise anything that sounds good, especially if it's promising to "soak the rich" and give it (welfare, etc.) to the poor. And, of course, we all see ourselves as "the poor."

And now, I'd like to add my version of Ten Biblical Cannots for you to consider.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." (Mt. 5:14)

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Mt. 6:24)

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor a corrupt tree good fruit." (Mt. 7:18)

Both a kingdom or a house "divided against itself cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)

"Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, speaking of the "water and the spirit" in vs. 5)

"As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15:4)

"So they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:8)

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor. 15:50)

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. (Titus 1:3)

In closing our thoughts for today I'm going to add one more biblical "cannot" to our list and it's based upon our "7^th cannot" wherein Jesus said that if we did not abide in Him we'd be an unproductive branch. If we look a little further we see in verse 6 that if we don't "abide" in Christ we, as an unproductive ("withered") branch, will be cast out and be burned.

Let's lay that thought alongside something said by the Apostle Paul while being taken to Rome for trial. The ship he was on was caught in a violent storm and about to go down will all hands. Paul told them that God had told him that he and all who were with him would be saved from the storm and Paul said "I believe God." The crew then decided to abandon ship in a lifeboat and Paul uttered the words that have a great parabolic meaning to us and the lesson today. He told them: "Except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 27:31)

Ron Covey