The doom and gloom offensiveness of social media

A month or so ago, I was listening to a sermon and the pastor regaled, over and over again, how our society was in such dire turmoil--there was a certain candidate to the highest court in the United States who was being put through the ringer, just to give you an idea as to what I'm talking about.

Although, as I looked among the pews, I saw no such doom and gloom.  At work, at home, at the store, no sign of any doom and gloom.

Now, I know what you're going to say.  "But you were in church.  Obviously everyone is going to get along there."

Although that may be true, if you jumped on any social media platform or 24/7 news media outlet, you saw it.  Doom and gloom.  A constant stream of people being offensive and cruel.  Yet day in, day out, I have witnessed people being good and kind to each other.

If you read any portion of the Holy Bible, you will see your fair share of doom and gloom, people doing bad things.  Yet God, our Heavenly Father, was there to show people the way to Him.  Even when he sent his Son Jesus to earth, there was much turmoil--especially His final hours when he was nailed to the Cross.  And there were no social media or news media outlets as we do nowadays.

Take a break from the constant offensiveness spewing from social media and the news outlets, and pick up the Bible.  You'll be amazed at what you read.

Elisha is in danger

Starting at the 24th verse of chapter 6, in the book of 2 Kings, there was a great famine in Samaria.  The king of Israel heard a woman cry out to him, asking for help.  She told him that a woman came to her, asking to eat her son.  In exchange, they would eat the woman's son the next day.  But when that day came, the woman had hid her son.

The king was devastated by this.  He then sent a messenger to behead Elisha.

But Elisha knew what was coming, thanks to the Lord, and told the elders to not open the door to the messenger.  Unfortunately they were too late.  The messenger confronted Elisha, asking why he should wait on the Lord.

Elisha told him that the Lord will provide food for them the next day.  And it was done.  Food arrived at the gates of Samaria.

Chariots of fire

In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 6, the king of Syria was warring against Israel.  He advised his servants that they will make camp at a certain place.

Armed with this knowledge, he sent word to the king of Israel about the camp and to avoid the place.  The king of Syria found out and was troubled by this.  He too wanted a man of God and went to seize Elisha.

The servant was told by Elisha to not be afraid, for an army of horses and chariots will surround the city where they resided.

And it was done as was the will of the Lord, for the raids by Syria did not come again.