Meek and Lowly in Heart

On Monday, April 12, I was accused of being irate. “Irate!? Irate!? I was not irate.” My boss, my coworkers, even the customer whose merchandise I was delivering did not believe the allegation. “Chester!? Not Chester!?” But, yet still, my conduct provoked the terminal manager who then demanded my immediate departure and prohibition from the grounds. Now my cousin, my aunt’s daughter’s son, he was irate.

On Wednesday, April 7, a man with a gun came to my aunt’s house looking for my cousin. He was not there, neither does he live there, nor, until recently, is he welcome there. Fortunately, no shots were fired. My cousin, after he had heard what had happened, cautiously sought out the man. When he had found him, my cousin, being protective of his family, entreated the man not to involve the relatives. He also tried to settle their dispute reasonably. The man, however, coaxed my cousin into coming to his home, where he and his business associates beat my cousin, leaving him half dead. My cousin, afterwards, was able to return to his home, where he retrieved a gun, and, unfortunately, returned to the area where he was assaulted, and fired many shots. I do not know if any one was hurt.

Again, I say, I was not irate. But, yet still, my conduct provoked the terminal manager who barred me from entering their yard. Naturally, I tried to justify myself. After reviewing the situation, I asked myself, What would Jesus have done? I was then convicted of sin. I wanted to return that night and apologize, but I was advised to wait a few days until the manager cools off.

“The professed Christian who comes up to that last fearful conflict unprepared will, in their despair, confess their sins in words of burning anguish, while the wicked exalt over their distress. These confessions are of the same character as was that of Esau or of Judas. Those who make them, lament the result of transgression, but not its guilt. They feel no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They acknowledge their sin, through fear of punishment; but, like Pharaoh of old, they would return to their defiance of Heaven should the judgment be removed.” (GC, pp. 620, 621).

On Easter, April 11, I talked with my cousin. (I’ve also witnessed to him in the past). He explained to me what started it all–an illegal business transaction gone sour. The man took, and my cousin took back. My cousin felt that he had made a mistake in associating with the man. My cousin admitted that his lifestyle was a mistake, an offence to his family, to society, and to God. “But,” he said, “What are the opportunities for a young black man besides basketball, rap music, and drugs?” But, then he is reminded of the opportunities once offered him. He was a certified welder. He had had a college scholarship. He was even invited to participate in the Olympics. Unfortunately, he confessed, he wanted to obtain a lot of money quickly with the least amount of work.

“Christ was the only sinless one who ever dwelt on earth; yet for nearly thirty years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of Nazareth. This fact is a rebuke to those who think themselves dependent upon place, fortune, or prosperity, in order to live a blameless life. Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness.” (DA, p. 72).

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8). “For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mat. 5:45, last part). “Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” (Job 32:29, 30, 27, 28). “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:15).

On Thursday, April 15, I apologized to the terminal manager for not being Christ-like, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:22, 23). “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:6-8).

Also on Thursday, it was confirmed. The body found yesterday was that of my cousin, my aunt’s daughter’s son. He had been murdered. He was only 22 years old.

“What is humility? That sense of sin and unworthiness which leads to repentance.” (9MR, p. 229). “A sense of our own weakness and frailty will lead us to lean upon One that is mighty to save, whose delight is to impart strength and courage to the humble, self-abased suppliant. Humility is the greatest ornament a Christian can wear.” (RH, 1-10-1856). “When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.” (20 MR, p. 117).

“The statement made by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that he was the meekest man upon the earth, would not have been regarded by the people of his time as a commendation; it would rather have excited pity or contempt. But Jesus places meekness among the first qualifications for His kingdom. In His own life and character the divine beauty of this precious grace is revealed.” (MB, p. 14).

“Look unto Jesus at all times and in all places, offering a silent prayer from a sincere heart that you may know how to do His will. Then when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard for you against the enemy. When you are almost ready to yield, to lose patience and self-control, to be hard and denunciatory, to find fault and accuse–this is the time for you to send to heaven the prayer, ‘Help me, O God, to resist temptation, to put all bitterness and wrath and evil speaking out of my heart. Give me Thy meekness, Thy lowliness, Thy longsuffering, and Thy love. Leave me not to dishonor my Redeemer, to misinterpret the words and motives of my wife, my children, and my brethren and sisters in the faith. Help me that I may be kind, pitiful, tenderhearted, forgiving. Help me to be a real house-band in my home and to represent the character of Christ to others.” (AH, p. 214 ).
Amen.

Chester Cosby, Detroit, MI