In 1832 South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union over the Tariff. Passing the Force Bill in 1833 cooled their militance and led to compromise. The Compromise of 1850, surfaced by the annexation of Texas following the Mexican War, again prevented disunion over slavery. Popular Sovereignty, A.K.A. Kansas/Nebraska Act, the brainless child of Stephen Douglas in 1854, re-ignited discontent smoldering in the body politic since not long after Washington's Inauguration.
Slavery, the one issue of contention between North and South that defied compromise, finally led to armed conflict in 1861. Abraham Lincoln judged correctly in 1858-1860. The BEST time to LIMIT—understand that word—the spread of slavery had arrived. Stopping the spread would lead to slavery's eventual extinction. The South wouldn't tolerate limiting it—and made war. The North couldn't tolerate its spread—and accepted war—as Lincoln so eloquently stated in his Second Inaugural Address. But enough of history. Consider the spiritual lesson involved for Christians. While we excel at keeping today for ourselves and casually offering God tomorrow, God gives us only TODAY to serve him, with no promises for life tomorrow. Scripture sees TODAY as the BEST time to accept God's offer of forgiveness through Christ Hebrews 4:6-7. As Jesus limited discipleship to a single 24 hour period Luke 9:23. So TODAY, Christians, is the BEST time for us to resist to the point of conquering temptation Galatians 5:16-21. TODAY is the BEST time to plant the seeds of Holy Spirit fruit in our lives Galatians 5:22-26. What is in our lives that, if eliminated NOW, would make our strength against temptation obstinate? Or, NOT in our lives that, incorporating it, would make our witness for Christ invincible?
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