American actor Ernie Hudson is known for his role as Leo Glynn, the warden of the "OZ" penitentiary, in the series of the same name, as well as for playing one of the Ghostbusters (in this case, Winston Zeddemore) in the 1984 and 1989 films, and as the judge in the film "God's Not Dead II," in addition to a series of other works in film and television.
His life, however, did not have an easy start. Hudson never knew his father, who was merely a lover of his mother, whom he never married and whom he abandoned as soon as he learned of her pregnancy: born without a father, Ernie also has no memories of his mother, who died when he was only one year old.
Under such circumstances, one would not expect him to be someone who had many possibilities of achieving success in life.
However, what we see is a man who has become world-renowned without being involved in the criminal world (as happens with many children who lack the support of a father and mother), and who is an outspoken Christian, the kind who preaches and testifies whenever he has the opportunity, whether in churches or events.
So what happened in his case? Of course, the fact that he was raised by Christian grandparents and ministers of the Gospel helped, but the choice of what to do with his life was solely his own.
There are also very sad examples of children of preachers who are extremely faithful to God not following the path of Christianity: one of the best known is that of Abraham Piper, son of the renowned pastor John Piper, who is an avowed and militant atheist, opposing everything his father believes, preaches and teaches for several decades.
Although circumstances can influence this, there is no way to predict which path a person will choose to follow in life. The two examples mentioned illustrate this very clearly.
There are even biblical examples of such contrasts and apparent inconsistencies within Scripture itself:
King Hezekiah, considered the most pious of those who ruled the kingdom of Judah (according to 2ⁿᵈ Kings 18:1-5), was the son of Ahaz, a king so idolatrous that he burned one of his sons as a sacrifice to pagan gods (see 2ⁿᵈ Kings 16:3)!
Even so, Hezekiah restored the worship of the one God in Israel and remained faithful to the Creator all the days of his life.
However, his son and successor, Manasseh, returned to practicing the gross idolatry that his grandfather had practiced (see 2ⁿᵈ Kings 21:1-9In the book of Chronicles, it is revealed that Manasseh repented of his evil ways and turned to the true God, but only after undergoing severe discipline from the Lord (see...). 2ⁿᵈ Chronicles 33:10-20).
Thus, just as there are those who—like Adam and Eve—fail in paradise, there are also those who—like Our Lord Jesus Christ when tempted by the same devil who tempted Adam and Eve in paradise—triumph in the desert.
Ultimately, the issue is not the circumstances in which one lives, but the choices one makes.
In writing to the Galatians, Paul makes this point, stating:
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
(Galatians 6:7-8 – KJA)
Therefore, whatever a person sows, that is what they will also reap!
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption;
But whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The harvest will come from what is sown, not from the circumstances in which it was sown.
These things can make sowing easier or harder, but they cannot prevent it. Ultimately, the only one responsible for the outcome of the sowing is the one who does it. One cannot, as Jesus says in Matthew 7:16, "To gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles.".
Thus, the example to be followed by every Christian is, as always, that of Jesus: He overcame temptation in the desert, even though our first parents failed in far more favorable circumstances at the beginning of time.
He also lived his earthly life amidst betrayals, slander, and insults, but went about doing good (see Acts 10:38).
He was obedient unto death—even death on a cross!—and his sowing, however difficult and painful it may have been, earned him the name that is above every name and lordship over all creation.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
(Philippians 2:5-11 – KJA)
Thus, in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name;
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In earthly life, much of what is sown is reaped: Ernie Hudson is an example of someone who—even with very unfavorable circumstances—sowed good seeds and reaped the rewards… and his greatest harvest will be in eternity: his choice determined that his life would be a glorification of God's majesty in this world, not the circumstances.
Jesus showed that He also had a choice when He was about to be crucified, telling Peter that He could plead with the Father and He would send him more than twelve legions of angels to deliver him, but that He was there to fulfill the Scriptures, and that this was His decision (check Matthew 26:53-54).
He—in the most unfavorable circumstances imaginable—sowed according to the Father's will and reaped the eternal Kingdom, which He will share in its fullness in eternity with all who believe in Him.
Therefore, on Judgment Day, no one will be able to accuse those around them of being unjust, malicious, or negligent, seeking to justify the crooked path they followed: those who chose the wrong path were not those people, and much less God… it was the person themselves!
Even though sowing good seeds is difficult, the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to choose the right path, a path that may not yield its full harvest in this earthly life, but will certainly do so in eternity.
In the Bonds of Calvary
ORIGINAL TITLE: You don't choose the circumstances, but you do choose the path.
We are seeing a generation capable of claiming to be attacked and "destroyed" simply because people lack the telepathy to embark on their delusions of being what they are not, in open rebellion against the way they were created by God. Intellectually, emotionally, and sensually possessed people wanting not only to have another sex, but even to be animals… this is also just another example. indication That the end times are rapidly unfolding, and before the Lord returns like a thief in the night, the prophesied reign of the Antichrist must be consolidated not only in Brazil, but throughout the world!
Since 2023 I decided to use new formats for The Worst Gospel, hoping to help increase the reach of content related to the Scriptures — stories, videos, shorter texts, guest authors… — and this publication, which I took the liberty of revising and illustrating, is part of that project.
Thank you for reading this far.
I still need all the help I can get: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was entirely produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.
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