A Good Advisor
The foremost reason for the downfall of humans is the result of bad advice. Our father Adam though kept God’s law for seven years and live in heaven, he was deceived by the evil advice of Satan, then loose almighty Lord like God and holy place like heaven. This is due to evil advice; Now on this earth, alike previously, being aware or unaware, there are some bad advisers in deceiving and leading to unlawfulness.
On the other hand, there are good advisers initiating for goodness, direct the real path in enriching God, like Apostle Philip who is good advisor and dear friends. (John 1:46-51)
The orthodox man shall recognize with whom he/she shall spend his/her day and night, because bad neighbor destroys good behavior. If one person does not know “who will take me where?”, someone who he/she is close with could lead them to the wrong path. Then finally, could disappoint God and even apart from him/her. If our mother Eve had known this, would have not talked with the devil hidden within the serpent’s body, might not have revealed the law of creator and creatures, would have not been led by the evil advice of the devil and as a result got kicked out from heaven. As it is said, “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
A person who has a good friend shall first realize the honor of humans. We people are created by the likeliness and image of Holy Trinity; thus the honor of us is more than other creatures. Those who have done the unlawful, disgraced from their honor were the fallen angels and mankind. However, after Adam defied, he has repented eve before the fallen angels. This has helped man to gain back the grace he lost. By accepting his fault and pleading for forgiveness to the Lord he betrayed, his heart desire in being God has been fulfilled by the personhood of The Holy Son. The Lord’s revelation in flesh is the imitation of our honor.
Who is like a mankind living in a dual world (on earth and heaven), having two children-hood, eats the flesh and drink the blood of his Lord and live eternal life, in general taking part of the Sacrament of Eucharist, And given an authority to imprison and liberate? All these tell about the honor and greatness of mankind. Therefore, men shall recognize the honor, realize his place, choose and be friend with good advisers. The downfall that not discerning honor is heavy. In knowing this, only searching for man’s history is enough.
A person without a good adviser is like a car without a wheel. If a vehicle does not have a driver, will not have the capacity to go on the right road. If a man does not have a good adviser as a friend, will most likely make a wrong turn in life, and even be trapped by unlawful decision. The resemblance examples to be mentioned here are the stories of Saint Cyrus and Saint Julita. When the mother and son were getting ready for martyrdom, Saint Julita got terrified by the threatening of the king and watching the boiling water, the three year old Saint Cyrus saying, “o my mother, do not be afraid; God will save us from this boiling water as he saved Azariah, Hananiah and Mishael from a burning fire”, did not only comforted her but helped persevere for she would receive martyrdom, being both like a son as well as a father.
We may be friends with brothers and sisters who diligent to worship God; persevere in faith; initiate for a goodness; awake at night for “Mahlete” and, Seatate”; rush for attending “Prayer of Kidane”, and morning “Divine Liturgy.” Do not seize to visit monasteries and parishes in acknowledging their history.
May He bestow us a good advisor and friend for all of us; Amen!
Glory be to God!