Just Say No

The following is an excerpt I found on Google regarding the above title: “Nancy Reagan often attributed the origins of the phrase to a 1982 visit to Longfellow Elementary School in Oakland, California: when asked by a schoolgirl what to do if she was offered drugs by her peers, the First Lady responded, “Just say ‘no’.”

I appreciate the response that Mrs. Reagan gave to the girl that day.  As I see it, the word ‘no’ is losing ground regarding its true meaning, as rebellion and disobedience fills our land.  It is shameful how this word is being ignored by people that are doing their own thing, while thumbing their nose at authority of any kind, especially those children that are disrespecting their parents.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (vs 2) “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (vs 3) “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” (vs 4) “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” (vs 5) “having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!”   

Look around; the things that are taking place in the world are signs that Jesus could come back at any moment to rapture the “Church” (Christians) and take them home for eternity in heaven.

Though many have forgotten the meaning of the word ‘no’, and have turned their back upon the Lord, it is not too late to say, “No!” to worldly pleasures and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As a child growing up, when my dad said, “No!” I obeyed him, because there were consequences for my disobedience if I did not listen.  When he made up his mind about something, there was no negotiating.  No, meant no and I knew I had better submit to his wishes, or there was a price to pay.

Occasionally he gave me an explanation, but other times when I questioned, “Why?” the answer was, “Because I said so.”  And then there were those times, “Because I said so, period!”

After all, he was the parent, and I was the child.  That’s the way it was back then.  I obeyed my parents, including Mom, especially when she exclaimed, “If you don’t mind me, I’ll tell your dad when he gets home from work!”  That was all she had to say.

Like most kids, on occasion I would get real brave and toy with the notion of disobeying and evading the warning I received by doing what I wanted to do anyway.  This was after much soul-searching and weighing the punishment vs. my desire, hoping I wouldn’t get caught.

I guess the one word I can think of relating to Dad is (respect), or perhaps a more fitting word is (fear), which brings a smile to my face.  He was never abusive or overbearing.  He was a dad that cared about what kind of man I would become. 

Not too often would I tempt fate, because I dreaded the consequences after a little bird told Dad about my disobedience.  I haven’t figured that one out yet, although I had three older siblings and Mom. 

No, they wouldn’t have given me up, or would they?  I sometimes wonder if that little bird is still around, telling on me.  Thinking back, all I needed to do was Just Say No to temptation and the Holy Spirit would have given me the strength to resist the urge to disobey Mom and Dad.

As an adult, God, my heavenly Dad, sometimes tells me ‘No’ when I want this or that, because He sees the danger in saying ‘Yes’, because He does not want anything to happen to me physically or spiritually.  He loves me that much; I am His child.

Now that I am older, and have raised three children of my own, I know why Dad said ‘no’ when he did.  He was protecting me, his child, from things that might have harmed me of which I was not aware of.  And like my dad, sometimes my Father in heaven must scold or chastise me for disobeying Him.  God most definitely loves me with agape love, and desires that the fruit of righteousness remains in me.

(Hebrews 12:7-12), “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (vs 8) “But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” (vs 9) “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (vs. 10) “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (vs 11) “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

The problem I see with Christians, or perhaps I should bring it closer to home, is that I am sometimes tempted to toy around with things that are not in my best interest, and I am tempted to evade the warnings from God.  But I have learned to Just Say No and then Satan flees from me, because I resisted him in the name of Jesus.

Through the years, God has taught me that it is all about love and the calling He has placed on me to be an example to others of the great and wonderful relationship that we, mortal humans, can have with our sovereign Creator.  This roots me in faith to not desire things that might jeopardize my awareness of His presence in my life.

There is nothing in this whole-wide-world that can compare or is more important to me than the personal closeness that I have with Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

“You and me, right God?”  “That’s right son; it’s you and Me!”  This is the feeling that encapsulates my committed relationship and awareness of God’s presence.  Undeserved love encompasses my walk with Him each day.

If you are needing a friend that will always walk by your side and stick closer than a brother, Jesus wants to be your friend and Savior.  Just Say No to the life you are now living.  This happens when you simply ask God to forgive your sins and invite Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and Savior.

That’s it!  It was that easy, because God does not make it hard to come to Him.  Welcome to the family of God!  You are now His child, saved by grace!  He loves you with a never-ending love!  All of heaven is rejoicing!

Written by,

Papa Boyd