WORDS THAT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN by Robert Soto (Posted on an email from Words from the Creator)

WORDS THAT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
By Robert Soto
Posted on an email from Words from the Creator

November 12, 2009

Matthew 12:36-37 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

I remember one day going to the bank to attempt to get a loan to buy a van. When that loan agent asked what I did for a living I told him I was a pastor. He said, "Oh, one of the three "P's" that we do not lend money to?" It caught me by surprise so I said, "What was that?" Then he said, "You have heard of the three "P's" that you cannot trust or lend money to? They are politicians, policemen and preachers." Well, I remember when I was a little boy we were hired by my dad to spread flyers advertising the Christmas specials in the store. While we were there a politician asked us to put his political flyer in my Dad's flyer and he would be waiting at the end of a certain street with the money. He promised five cents for every flyer we delivered. When we finished we went to the corner he told us to meet him at and as expected, he never showed up and of course we never got our money. When I told my dad about it he looked at me and said, "Son, never trust a politician; they never keep their word." Words I have never forgotten and that I am reminded of when a politician will say whatever it takes to get elected and them go back on his word.

I guess that was a lesson Geronimo learned early in his life: who can trust the government? Just as they say whatever it takes to get elected, so they will continue to say whatever it takes to get what they want. General Miles told Geronimo, "The President of the United States has sent me to speak to you. He has heard of your trouble with the white men, and says that if you will agree to a few words of treaty we need have no more trouble. Geronimo, if you will agree to a few words of treaty all will be satisfactorily arranged." It seemed that when it came to our people, promises and treaties were made but never meant to be kept. But one thing one must remember is that there is a God who cares about the words we speak and promise. There is a God who will hold man to account for the countless treaties they have broken. Jesus said, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." One day our government, our politicians and even we ourselves will have to be accountable for all the broken words we've spoken.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church