I hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend, I did. But how many know
what Labor Day is? Or was created for? To make a long story short, although it
is a very good long story, it was created to honor those that work in American
factories. Based upon most factories before the Civil War being in the north,
the south suffered from heavy taxes on items shipped into their ports, they
manufactured very little. The grousing continued for over 20 years after and
when Grover Cleveland sent troops to break up a riot near Chicago in the Pullman
Plant, they made high end rail cars, under pressure of reelection he promised
the workers a day of their own to have off, this long before 3 day weekends were
formed to accommodate us. And so Labor Day was born to honor workers, and today
130 years later we celebrate the day off, but not the labor. Along with many
other holidays, it is a three day weekend to party, but not to remember. Which
is what holidays were set up for, to remember an event or person. Now the event
is about the person of us....and we take great labors to see we enjoy it.
Travelling across America we see the remnants of the American worker.
Detroit once the Motor City is now in ruin. So are many factory towns in the
south where towels and sheets were once made. No more shoes come out of New
England, and no furniture from the midwest. Next time you see a train and
notice it all containers, they are filled with goods from China, where once box
cars moved American made goods, now we are an importer and consume non-USA
goods. Shipped in containers made in Korea. In many cases we have no choice,
even Walmart who at one time bragged on its American made inventory, now it is
hard to find anything made here in their stores. And we complain about the
lower quality, but not the lower price. We have learned the hard way that if
you squeeze the sponge the water will run out, and we have learned to live with
a dry sponge. That water was the life blood of America, the worker, who today
is dwindling in numbers. No more great factories, or factory towns that once
dotted the landscape, now we have mega warehouses filled with foreign goods. We
wanted less expensive and we got it, at a price, one we found out was too high
to pay. And to many of us we remember with pride when Made In America meant
something. When Japanese goods were tinny, and products from overseas cheesy.
When shoes were made and designed by Americans for Americans, and the rest of
the world wanted them. That label meant a lot to them too. Shirts and pants
hand sewn in the Carolinas or Pennsylvania. Cars were built in Detroit, and
ruled the world. We could afford the best, because we would not settle for
anything less, but soon we began to settle for less. The price became the
bottom line, and when the bottom line got so low we could trip over it, we fell
and fell hard. Looking up for a hand up, instead we got a hand out. But still
in our pockets. All the water had been squeezed from the sponge, and we were
left with no source to renew it. For water brings life, and we were dry.
Remember that as you get in your Mexican made Chevy, wearing Rebooks made in
South Korea, wearing a shirt made in Viet Nam, and listen to a radio made in
India. Wine no longer comes from France in a bottle, but in a box from New
Jersey, expensive burgers from Japan, and Mexican food has replaced the
hamburger as fast food’s favorite. We once had a Miss America Pageant, it too
is gone, and so no wonder I miss America. Give me an American made product,
made by real Americans, with instructions in English. Yet the American worker
has been reduced to immigrant status, like the man applying for a job at a
7-11. When asked if he speaks any foreign languages replies “English.” We all
want more for less, what we get is a lot less for a lot more.
Works with God too. We want all we can get from God, and God loves to
bless. So he sent Jesus to make the way back to him, unique in all religions
worldwide. In Christianity God reaches down, we don’t have to work our way back
hopelessly. And it is by his spirit we are called. Often referred to as water
in the Bible, the spirit brings life and joy. Peace and patience. Yet many
churches will emphasize Jesus, yet let you on your own to figure it out. “Read
your Bible, go out and do something for God,” and when you fail on your own you
get discouraged. You look elsewhere, and find a cheaper imitation of the
gospel. One that has been imported from hell, and doesn’t have room for the
spirit in its philosophy. You have replaced God in the equation, and the goods
you put out do not reflect God, but your own ways. Without the spirit guiding
you, something else does. Read the New Testament, Jesus tells us he will leave
a helper until he returns, the Holy Spirit. That even he didn’t do what he
wanted, but only what his father in heaven wanted. We are saved by his spirit
that called us, and guided by it when we are saved. The Holy Spirit is a
person, a real person. Yet after we accept Jesus, who we were led to by the
spirit, we neglect that very same spirit. And import other beliefs, ideas, and
religions not made in heaven. Some look good, even feel good. But soon the
patina of evil shows and we wished we had spent wiser. But yet the same spirit
we denied welcomes us back and forgives. Points again to Jesus, who gives
advice direct form our heavenly father. Where the spirit of the Lord is there
is liberty. To be all you can be, really to be all you can be in Christ. We
need to go back to what made us great, and it was Jesus who took us from sin to
grace. From lost to found. The spirit is the water that the sponge is lacking
today, and we need to dip into it and become useful again. Our lives need to be
about Jesus, not us. We need to celebrate what he has done, not what we have
attempted to do. We cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus. We need the
refreshing water of the spirit to make us new again. To give us life. Instead
we are offered days off, only to return to the same old drudgery the next day.
We need to back to when our song sang out “our country tis of thee,” not
because of me. Only in the spirit will we know the way. Will we know the way
Jesus. And will we be reunited with a loving father who sent his only son. Who
labored long for us. Today celebrate what Jesus has done, who never takes a day
off. We need to from work, but never should from Jesus. Seek the spirit and
the follow it to joy and peace. Know comfort among the pain and suffering. Be
reunited to goods made in heaven, by the God who created them. Celebrate the
labor of love he sent called Jesus, and know that no amount of hard work can
replace the free gift he offers. Dip your sponge into the fountain of life, and
find all you ever wanted and needed at a price you can afford. The gospel is
free and simple so we can afford it. It is by the spirit that we can read the
Bible and know the mysteries of Christ. Otherwise it is like the instructions
of my garage door opener made in Malaysia, with pictures but no words of
instruction. You guess....life is not to be guessed about. You can know the
truth and be set free....there are no uses for a dry sponge. No matter where it
was made. But a wet one is welcome everywhere a mess is made. Where clean up
is needed. Jesus makes all things good again. By his spirit. Dip your life
into him today. Be fully immersed in and by his spirit. His labor of love is
more than for a day. Why settle for a day when you can have eternity?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com