Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Perhaps the most overused word in all of advertising is the word new. The implication is that it is better. It also implies it hasn’t been abused by anyone else. In this modern disposable world new has taken on power to influence desire. Believe me, that is nothing new.

Our modern manufacturing techniques have driven us to the point of refining perfection that certain technologies seem to be obsolete even before they find their way to the sales shelf.

All we have done is improve the ways in which we inspire desire. While the price of televisions is dropping from year to year, the telephone is increasing. Smart phones now cost a thousand dollars new. Why? Because they are more desired and integrated into the life of the user.

I had a dream about a woman running me off the road while texting. I yelled at her and she waved me off as if to yes, “Let me finish this text.”

The more our desires drive us to distraction the less import people become in our lives. Even commercials on television have made fun of people sitting around the dinner table texting one another to pass the butter. It sounds funny and we do see the irony in a technology that was meant to bring us closer, divides us.

The thing here that is not new, that has been this same way since sin began, is that desire dehumanizes us and makes us insensitive to the people we should love.

Original sin cause separation and it hasn’t stopped ruining relationship since it began.

What are you paying attention to today?

Habakkuk 1:1-5 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

I see what Habakkuk saw and I see it now. I would be surprised if you did not see it for yourselves. How I came to these verses was in studying and listening from Joel chapter two. I was led there by what I considered to be Peter’s misquote of Joel.

So often we see a thing and it reminds us of previous scriptures and they appear to fit our present circumstance. It is very easy to relate to scriptures that appear in the moment. What Peter seemed to leave out was some relevant passages about conditions that contained the word “afterward”.

We want to know about end time events, we look for signs of His coming. These signs will appear in our natural world, but they have to happen in order.

I do not see the preconditions of Joel chapter 2 which brings a hope for what follows. Then again, Habakkuk penned these words also. “I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe”.

So while I do see what Habakkuk saw, I must also give room that the Lord just might be doing some other preparatory work at this time.

Joel 2:1a Blow ye the trumpet in Zion.