How Many Legs Does A Dog Have If You Call The Tail A Leg?

The question in the title of this article was asked by Abraham Lincoln, many years ago. Stick with me, because I'll share his answer with you in a few moments.

You know, I don't think about being in the public eye, but I am because I write as well as speak publically. Actually I speak to only a few people, but my writings filter through the newspapers and thousands of computers in many different countries. I bring this up only because of a letter I received from a lady a week or so ago of the most critical nature.

This "lady" had apparently received something which someone else forwarded to her, which I did not write regarding homosexuality being considered a sin in the scriptures. However she spotted my name in the forwarded list of email address and wrote a very hate filled letter condemning me for the contents of the letter. She also claimed to be a faithful member of a church and knew I was completely off base.

I was a little confused at her vehemence towards me, since I had not even written the article and responded to her expressing my confusing, but also that I did agree with the things said in the article. And since she went to great lengths to describe how unloving and unforgiving I was, I mentioned that I felt very little love flowing my direction through her words. Apparently that wasn't the right thing to write to her as she responded in a very "unchristian" manner. If I had been talking to her in person I have no doubt the words she wrote would have been screamed in rage.

Now please understand something. I am not writing this to have you say, "Oh, poor baby Russ, she shouldn't have done that". I've been around long enough to know how to handle things of this nature. I'm writing this to let you know that sometimes by taking a stand for what is right is not going to be easy. Sometimes by upholding the standards of morality which God sets for us we are going to become very unpopular. Sometimes you may even be ostracized or attacked by those who disagree with you or God's word.

Now, back to Abraham Lincoln's question, "How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?" Lincoln said the correct answer was, "Four"; because, "calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." You see, you can call it anything you want, but the dog's tail is still a tail!

You see, those in our world a can reject the truth, but what they substitute in its place does not automatically become truth. God's word is the only truth that lasts, (John 17:17). Words can hurt if you choose to let them, so just remember as you stand for God, what Jesus said about it. In Matthew 5:11 Jesus said: "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." (NAS)

Don't feel very blessed right now? Maybe it's because you are not using the right protection! In Ephesians 6:11 the apostle Paul writes, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil".

When you became a Christian you made a choice, don't forget your choice! Don't neglect to stand for the truth when you must stand or have the opportunity to stand, even if someone hurls insults at you or worse! You see, not matter what happens to us here, if the world rejects you, if we remain faithful to God's word, we win in the end!

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart (http://mfth.net)