" . . . your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away." Hosea 6:4
Jehovah's charge against Ephraim was their fickleness. When in trouble, they cried unto the Lord and made great promises, only to forget them when the trouble disappeared. Man is still like that. How we can pray and cry to God when in distress and danger, and how soon we can forget the resolutions and promises we made!
Two men in a boat were caught in a sudden squall. The one took to earnest praying, while the other frantically rowed to reach shore. Soon the latter touched bottom with the oar, and turning to his praying comrade said, "There's no need to pray any more, for I can touch bottom now." Yes indeed, what is the use of praying "when you can touch bottom"? Don't smile at the story, for you may be smiling at yourself. There are thousands who think this man foolish, who by their conduct say the same thing. How many have cried to God in times of trial and sickness and made solemn promises to God, only to forget them when they recovered and could "touch bottom." How often in a time of peril and testing you have resolved it would never happen again, only to be forgotten when you could "touch bottom".
A miser, desperately ill and fearing death, called the minister to pray to God for his recovery and said, "I want to give $1000.00 to the church which I have so long neglected." (He couldn't touch bottom and so asked for prayer.) He recovered, but failed to keep his promise. He gave the great expense of doctor and hospital bills as his excuse for not keeping his promise to $1000.00. Have you kept your resolves and promises paid up? Have you covenanted with God, and made any resolutions and promises, and then failed to keep them? Then you, too, have said in your heart, "I can still touch bottom, why worry?"
Pay your vows; don't be fickle and hypocritical!
"Bread For Each Day"
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