Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. (Luke 21:26)
I realize that the above verse is meant for the Great Tribulation, but it came to mind as I read some of the “news reports” that have come across my screen this week. Here's a sample of what's currently going around.
1. The President and all of his men are lying through their teeth regarding the government's health care proposal. They plan to take over the insurance industry, require everyone to enroll, and appoint bureaucrats we'll never meet to determine the level of care we deserve.
2. People will take to the streets this fall in rebellion against the government's attempt to make flu shots mandatory.
3. The coming commercial real estate and credit card melt downs will be the worst yet.
4. By mid fall the talking heads on Sunday news shows will be openly using the word “depression” to describe our economic condition.
5. In a move to replace the dollar, banks will close for a few days soon to prepare for issuing new currency. When they reopen everyone will discover that the new currency is only worth 8-16 cents on the dollar.
6. The National Guard is recruiting people they can train to become internment/resettlement specialists, perhaps to man the internment camps that are being constructed across the country.
7. The government is working on a way to implement “preventive detention” programs to lock people up in advance for crimes they might commit.
These are just the reports I received from sources I have always believed to be credible. I won't even mention the ones I get from the “wing nuts” out there. I have no idea whether any of these claims are true. And that's part of the problem. I don't think there's one single unbiased information source left in this country. Everyone's pushing some kind of agenda. The middle ground seems to have totally eroded away, and people on both sides are becoming just plain mean to anyone who disagrees with them. This polarization of opinions has effectively put an end to any meaningful discussion.
As a result, a growing number of people believe that the government is trying to pull a fast one on us and they're upset. And when it seems like all the government does is attack those who criticize them, it makes people even more suspicious.
And that's what made me think of Luke 21:26. They say our greatest fear is the fear of the unknown and right now there's a lot that's unknown. So let's take a moment to review what we can know and focus on that.
We Know This
The first thing we know is that historically, God has always taken issue with those in leadership positions when their plans have run contrary to the welfare of His children. He had the Prophet Micah explain this in no uncertain terms.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the LORD says, "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. (Micah 2:1-3)
Obviously Micah was speaking to Israel, but the parallels with current events are striking, and Paul did say that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. (Romans 15:4) According to some, the biggest transfer of wealth in history has just taken place. Before this is over many will have had their homes and property seized and many more will have been defrauded of their inheritance.
But wait a minute, you say, fraud implies a dishonest intent. Indeed it does. Does any body believe the current financial meltdown, decades in the making, just snuck up on us? Were the best financial minds alive today all taken by surprise? Did those in the know suffer the loss of half their assets too? Where did all the money go?
On one day last week a panel of economists declared that the recession is over, and a major bank reported paying over $3 billion in bonuses to its senior staff. The next day we learned that retail sales for July had plunged unexpectedly and a record number of new unemployment applications had been filed. And the recession that's supposed to be over won't show us any solid proof of its demise until the middle of 2010. Are you feeling a little like a mushroom? (Kept in the dark and fed a bunch of manure?)
In effect the Lord had Micah tell the leaders of Israel, “You're lying in bed at night devising new schemes for defrauding my people? Fine. I'm lying in bed at night devising ways to punish you.” Who does history say won that contest? If it's going on again, who will win this one?
And We Know This
So if we're being victimized, the leaders responsible for doing it will get theirs. But the Lord has a message for the victims too, and that's the second thing we know. There are many versions of this message, and we've covered some of them before. King David wrote this one.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.(Psalm 37:1-4)
When evil men prosper, it doesn't have to be at our expense. The Lord has unlimited resources and by trusting in Him our heart's desires can be fulfilled regardless of what others do. We start by trusting in him (we yield our lives to Him) and doing good (literally, we're pleasant and agreeable toward Him). We dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (we abide in Him and let Him provide for us). We also delight ourselves in Him (we let Him pamper us). As we do He gives us the desires of our heart (answers our prayers and petitions). Are you out of work, or worried that you soon will be? Are you losing your home or other assets? It might be a great opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord, and let Him do all the things He's always wanted to do for you. Remember, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Still OK financially? Do it anyway.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:5-9)
We need only commit our hearts to Him and trust Him to do this. Even if it seems like wicked men are prevailing against us, we're to be patient and not get angry or lose hope. We can afford to be like the first century Christians who joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property, because they knew that they themselves had better and lasting possessions. Like them, we should not throw away our confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We need to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:34-36)
Remember when Pharaoh's army had the Israelites trapped between the mountains and the Red Sea? The people felt betrayed and were terrified. They demanded that Moses explain how he had gotten them into such a mess.
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13)
That's still good advice. The Lord is not like us. He doesn't change His mind or break His commitments. (Numbers 23:19) The promises of Psalm 37 are still more certain than the most ironclad agreement you could ever negotiate on Earth. You only have to trust Him.
That's all we can do, and that's all we need to do. We can't trust our leaders, we can't trust the experts, we can't trust the media. We can only trust the Lord.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This we know.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thy Will Be Done
How often do we pray “Thy will be done” and then go about doing our own will instead of God’s. Why is that? Is it God’s will that we become slothful and apathetic instead of focused on His coming Kingdom? The Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are certainly deceived as they remain in their false religion, yet the one thing we must give them credit for is their very aggressive stance on witnessing and their evangelistic approach. Comparatively those two false religions are head and shoulders above Christianity in regards to their evangelistic approach especially when it comes to witnessing. Why aren’t my Christian brethren as aggressive? Is the body of Christ so full that there’s no further need for evangelism? If we’re sincere when praying those words “Thy will be done” then we would see many more positive results. Sadly, what we see, in America at least, is Christ’s Church losing ground, fast.
With so many ignoramuses running the Christian churches today guiding their flock into complete heresies there’s no wonder true Christian evangelism has declined. Here’s what the Lutherans have recently come up with to be a light to the lost world. They now allow homosexuals to takeover of the administration of the Church, thus, they’ve now allowed the fox into the hen house and they’ve closed and locked the door behind them. We will see much more of this nonsense in the near future as we grow ever so much closer to the biblically prophesized last days. In the meantime the Great Apostasy is here.
Why do so many Christians simply ignore scriptures? Once we’re “in” that’s it, that’s good enough. “Well I’m okay. I’m headed in the right direction. The rest of those folks out there have had the same opportunity as me.” Have they? I wonder. With all the false teaching being promoted as truth these days and as the church is seemingly going along with it like sheep being led to the slaughter, are all the walking dead actually given the same opportunity as the rest of us?
Have you ever talked to a Mormon about salvation? They do feel, through a burning in their bosoms, that they know Jesus Christ, but if you really delve into their church doctrine you will find that they teach that Satan and Christ are spiritual brothers. Wow. They don’t know my Messiah at all. My Messiah is God Almighty; He’s not brothers with Satan. Jesus Christ created Lucifer as the cherub that covers but who later fell into rebellion against Him. True believers know Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are condemned but how many of my brethren ever attempt to explain the truth to these foolish people?
Isn’t it possible that many in these cults have never heard the true Gospel? It is God’s will that His Gospel, His truth be preached to the entire world, not false gospels. God’s command to spread the good news includes witnessing to all those individuals who are stuck in false religions. They may even live right next door to you. Your next door neighbor, who, in your mind may be past the point of no return, may only be a few yards and words away from hearing the truth and becoming born again. My fellow brethren, it’s time to burden our hearts with a desire to spread the truth to all the walking dead.
Let me tell you a story about a man who previously filled the ranks of the walking dead. Not that he was in a cult, but he was just as dead. He was a man who would not allow the subject of God to be brought up in his presence. This man had no desire to know God or to include Him in his life. Oh yes, he had heard about God in his past, he had an Aunt who would take him to Sunday school now and then, a dad who liked watching Billy Graham on TV, and a mom who would cry whenever her son would claim he didn’t believe in Jesus. This man had at least heard something of what people said about Jesus Christ. He had seen the signs on storefronts indicating “Jesus Saves” but he really hadn’t a clue as to what any of it meant. He thought being born again was for those fringe religious freaks, hippies and other weirdoes. For the first forty-four years of this man’s life no one even made an attempt at specifically explaining the Gospel to him. There were the occasional Christian cults that would show up at the front door of his home, but they would not endeavor to return once they encountered this man’s hostility.
This heathen man was an alcoholic, a blasphemer, a liar, a cheat, and what’s worse he would browbeat his fellow man to submit to his will. At six feet four inches tall and weighing in at 250 lbs he was a formative foe to any who would dare challenge him or stand in his way. Some of his neighbors attended church each and every Sunday, but never once witnessed to him. Were they afraid of him? Possibly. But where in the Bible are we told, by Jesus, or any of the biblical writers, that if we are afraid never mind witnessing? God will get someone else, you just take it easy. God placed no such qualifying words in His command to go and preach the Gospel to all nations.
America has been very diligent, even impressive, in past accomplishments at spreading the Gospel of Christ to foreign shores. Such has been the case for many years, yet, in the meantime, America itself suffers. We have now become a country where believers from other nations come to evangelize us. America’s spiritual heart is out of order. Certainly something has fallen through the cracks. That something is God’s word. Oh sure, the cults are still out there actively seeking converts and doing quite well I might add. But where’s the Church, the true body of Christ, the front line if you will?
The religion of Islam is making huge strides here in the US. Many people are becoming Muslims, even many who were brought up in the Church are turning to Islam for their answers. Why? What could Islam possibly offer people who were brought up in the Christian Church and in Christian homes? What would be so appealing that these folks would turn their backs on Jesus Christ? It’s my opinion that no truly born again believer “in Christ” would ever turn their backs on Him and attempt to join the ranks of the condemned. But for those who are only going through the motions not really believing the word of God I can see how they could be led away. No roots, no commitment, no real faith, but totally lost.
What does all of this have to do with the man I was talking about? The man who, for forty-four years lived as a walking dead person because no one with any intestinal fortitude ever took the time to witness to him? Some of you might have figured out by now that the man was me. Although I was and am married to a wonderful Christian woman, she was going through a lapse of faith when I met her and so her witnessing was at a standstill even before she met me. Finally, one day after some years of marriage she came to me and told me she needed to get back to Church. I thought to myself “that’s no big deal I can tag along every now and then” and so I did.
In the church we attended was a man, 20 years my senior, who was a fishing guide on the famous Rouge River in Oregon, one day this man decided I needed a fishing lesson. If he was scared of me he never showed a sign of it. Sitting in his boat for almost 8 hours gave him ample opportunity to explain Jesus Christ to this heathen. After that full day of fishing spent with my new friend in his boat in the middle of a freezing cold raging river, in the middle of March, and after landing two of the biggest Salmon in mankind’s history (okay, that’s a fish story) I asked Christ into my life and became born again. This older gentleman never worried about what my response would be or whether or not I’d lose my temper and possibly lash out at him with a volley of foul language, which I was quite proficient at by the way.
Elvin was his name and what he did was he simply shared the Gospel with me that day and it was as though the proverbial light bulb had just come on. Suddenly the whole world changed before my eyes. The Holy Spirit, through His constant prodding, finally chipped away at the last remaining vestige of my prideful self-reliance, self-will, and doubt. The seeds that had been planted years before finally bore fruit and my eyes were opened to the truth of the Gospel.
Elvin went home to be with the Lord a few years ago, but through his diligence the Gospel continues to be preached. Not only by me but by numerous others he touched as he guided them in a fishing journey of a lifetime.
Every believer has the same responsibility lying at their doorstep. Preach the Gospel to the world. Remember most of the lost world is outside the church buildings doors. Believers who actually do witness and evangelize are in no way waging a losing battle. God opens doors, opportunities if you will, and His word will never come back void. It may only be one person you witness to who becomes a part of the body of Christ, but that one person may affect the lives of thousands, even millions. You have no idea of your potential and you may never know the flood gate you opened. But God knows and He never forgets. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building,” 1 Corinthians 3:8, 9. We are to be about our Fathers business as He directs, and his directions never include simply standing by as others perish. We are God’s husbandry, teachers, preachers, ministers and laborers with God spreading the truth to a lost world.
Many of you will recall the conversion story of D.L. Moody. For those who have never heard or read this story here’s a quick synopsis. A youth pastor by the name of Mr. Edward D. Kimball pursued the young Moody, even going as far as reaching out to him at his place of employment, Holton’s shoe store. Kimball shared the truth of the Gospel with D.L. and there in the back of that shoe store in Boston the future great evangelist gave himself and his life to Christ. If that youth pastor (E.D. Kimball) hadn’t bothered taking a few extra moments with Moody, how many others worldwide might never have had the opportunity to hear and receive the Gospel of Christ?
Believers cannot surrender or retire; there are no qualifying words in Mark 16, or Matthew 28 for that matter, that give rise to the idea that there is ever to be an end to our witnessing and spreading the Gospel while we are alive. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Matthews Gospel is just as clear we find no reference to a time when we are to cease evangelizing the lost. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19.
I’ve heard from some who complain that the lost have so thoroughly hardened their hearts toward God that it’s a futile waste of time trying to evangelize them. I know when it comes to a hardened heart and the subject of God many have been so deeply influenced by the lie of evolution, or by the seductive programming of the secular media, and even the many lies of most of those who run our federal, state, and local governments, that they seem to have no mind or heart of their own. Some of you have responded to me in the past with “they belong to Satan and he’s not letting go, why should I continue in what is certainly a futile effort?” If that’s your attitude toward evangelizing go back up the page and read again about my life as a dead man walking and then think about your attitude and what God is able to accomplish through our perseverance.
All humans while living and breathing can be converted from dead to alive. There’s a story in our Bibles of a woman who had a problem and she went to a judge for help. This judge had no fear of God or man. He told this woman to scram he couldn’t be bothered with her problems. The woman wouldn’t give up; she persisted in her attempts to find relief for her problems and continued to petition this judge to intervene. She confronted him over and over with her problem. Finally he relented. He had had enough. He told the woman he would help her so he could finally be rid of her.
This story is of course a paraphrase of Luke 18. Although Jesus is speaking about our persistence concerning our prayer life and petitioning God, we learn that persistence is the key to open many doors. Will we meet with brick walls? I say “most assuredly”. Here’s the reality, as we spread the Gospel to an individual or even a group, we then move on to our next challenge. What we left behind is the word of God planted as a seed in the minds and hearts of those folks. Some will believe and become born again, and yes there will be those who won’t accept the truth and they will continue in their rebellion to God. Even though we may never know which of the folks we encounter will become believes we can be assured that the word of God will take hold in some hearts. How do I know? (So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.) Again, how do I know? Because God says so.
“Thy will be done” is a prayer most of us have committed to memory, many have prayed this prayer from the time they were children. We pray that God’s will is accomplished here on earth and it will be. We also know that His will is for us to continue in His service until He brings us home, as it should be. When you pray that prayer stand by it, it’s the right thing to do.
With so many ignoramuses running the Christian churches today guiding their flock into complete heresies there’s no wonder true Christian evangelism has declined. Here’s what the Lutherans have recently come up with to be a light to the lost world. They now allow homosexuals to takeover of the administration of the Church, thus, they’ve now allowed the fox into the hen house and they’ve closed and locked the door behind them. We will see much more of this nonsense in the near future as we grow ever so much closer to the biblically prophesized last days. In the meantime the Great Apostasy is here.
Why do so many Christians simply ignore scriptures? Once we’re “in” that’s it, that’s good enough. “Well I’m okay. I’m headed in the right direction. The rest of those folks out there have had the same opportunity as me.” Have they? I wonder. With all the false teaching being promoted as truth these days and as the church is seemingly going along with it like sheep being led to the slaughter, are all the walking dead actually given the same opportunity as the rest of us?
Have you ever talked to a Mormon about salvation? They do feel, through a burning in their bosoms, that they know Jesus Christ, but if you really delve into their church doctrine you will find that they teach that Satan and Christ are spiritual brothers. Wow. They don’t know my Messiah at all. My Messiah is God Almighty; He’s not brothers with Satan. Jesus Christ created Lucifer as the cherub that covers but who later fell into rebellion against Him. True believers know Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are condemned but how many of my brethren ever attempt to explain the truth to these foolish people?
Isn’t it possible that many in these cults have never heard the true Gospel? It is God’s will that His Gospel, His truth be preached to the entire world, not false gospels. God’s command to spread the good news includes witnessing to all those individuals who are stuck in false religions. They may even live right next door to you. Your next door neighbor, who, in your mind may be past the point of no return, may only be a few yards and words away from hearing the truth and becoming born again. My fellow brethren, it’s time to burden our hearts with a desire to spread the truth to all the walking dead.
Let me tell you a story about a man who previously filled the ranks of the walking dead. Not that he was in a cult, but he was just as dead. He was a man who would not allow the subject of God to be brought up in his presence. This man had no desire to know God or to include Him in his life. Oh yes, he had heard about God in his past, he had an Aunt who would take him to Sunday school now and then, a dad who liked watching Billy Graham on TV, and a mom who would cry whenever her son would claim he didn’t believe in Jesus. This man had at least heard something of what people said about Jesus Christ. He had seen the signs on storefronts indicating “Jesus Saves” but he really hadn’t a clue as to what any of it meant. He thought being born again was for those fringe religious freaks, hippies and other weirdoes. For the first forty-four years of this man’s life no one even made an attempt at specifically explaining the Gospel to him. There were the occasional Christian cults that would show up at the front door of his home, but they would not endeavor to return once they encountered this man’s hostility.
This heathen man was an alcoholic, a blasphemer, a liar, a cheat, and what’s worse he would browbeat his fellow man to submit to his will. At six feet four inches tall and weighing in at 250 lbs he was a formative foe to any who would dare challenge him or stand in his way. Some of his neighbors attended church each and every Sunday, but never once witnessed to him. Were they afraid of him? Possibly. But where in the Bible are we told, by Jesus, or any of the biblical writers, that if we are afraid never mind witnessing? God will get someone else, you just take it easy. God placed no such qualifying words in His command to go and preach the Gospel to all nations.
America has been very diligent, even impressive, in past accomplishments at spreading the Gospel of Christ to foreign shores. Such has been the case for many years, yet, in the meantime, America itself suffers. We have now become a country where believers from other nations come to evangelize us. America’s spiritual heart is out of order. Certainly something has fallen through the cracks. That something is God’s word. Oh sure, the cults are still out there actively seeking converts and doing quite well I might add. But where’s the Church, the true body of Christ, the front line if you will?
The religion of Islam is making huge strides here in the US. Many people are becoming Muslims, even many who were brought up in the Church are turning to Islam for their answers. Why? What could Islam possibly offer people who were brought up in the Christian Church and in Christian homes? What would be so appealing that these folks would turn their backs on Jesus Christ? It’s my opinion that no truly born again believer “in Christ” would ever turn their backs on Him and attempt to join the ranks of the condemned. But for those who are only going through the motions not really believing the word of God I can see how they could be led away. No roots, no commitment, no real faith, but totally lost.
What does all of this have to do with the man I was talking about? The man who, for forty-four years lived as a walking dead person because no one with any intestinal fortitude ever took the time to witness to him? Some of you might have figured out by now that the man was me. Although I was and am married to a wonderful Christian woman, she was going through a lapse of faith when I met her and so her witnessing was at a standstill even before she met me. Finally, one day after some years of marriage she came to me and told me she needed to get back to Church. I thought to myself “that’s no big deal I can tag along every now and then” and so I did.
In the church we attended was a man, 20 years my senior, who was a fishing guide on the famous Rouge River in Oregon, one day this man decided I needed a fishing lesson. If he was scared of me he never showed a sign of it. Sitting in his boat for almost 8 hours gave him ample opportunity to explain Jesus Christ to this heathen. After that full day of fishing spent with my new friend in his boat in the middle of a freezing cold raging river, in the middle of March, and after landing two of the biggest Salmon in mankind’s history (okay, that’s a fish story) I asked Christ into my life and became born again. This older gentleman never worried about what my response would be or whether or not I’d lose my temper and possibly lash out at him with a volley of foul language, which I was quite proficient at by the way.
Elvin was his name and what he did was he simply shared the Gospel with me that day and it was as though the proverbial light bulb had just come on. Suddenly the whole world changed before my eyes. The Holy Spirit, through His constant prodding, finally chipped away at the last remaining vestige of my prideful self-reliance, self-will, and doubt. The seeds that had been planted years before finally bore fruit and my eyes were opened to the truth of the Gospel.
Elvin went home to be with the Lord a few years ago, but through his diligence the Gospel continues to be preached. Not only by me but by numerous others he touched as he guided them in a fishing journey of a lifetime.
Every believer has the same responsibility lying at their doorstep. Preach the Gospel to the world. Remember most of the lost world is outside the church buildings doors. Believers who actually do witness and evangelize are in no way waging a losing battle. God opens doors, opportunities if you will, and His word will never come back void. It may only be one person you witness to who becomes a part of the body of Christ, but that one person may affect the lives of thousands, even millions. You have no idea of your potential and you may never know the flood gate you opened. But God knows and He never forgets. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building,” 1 Corinthians 3:8, 9. We are to be about our Fathers business as He directs, and his directions never include simply standing by as others perish. We are God’s husbandry, teachers, preachers, ministers and laborers with God spreading the truth to a lost world.
Many of you will recall the conversion story of D.L. Moody. For those who have never heard or read this story here’s a quick synopsis. A youth pastor by the name of Mr. Edward D. Kimball pursued the young Moody, even going as far as reaching out to him at his place of employment, Holton’s shoe store. Kimball shared the truth of the Gospel with D.L. and there in the back of that shoe store in Boston the future great evangelist gave himself and his life to Christ. If that youth pastor (E.D. Kimball) hadn’t bothered taking a few extra moments with Moody, how many others worldwide might never have had the opportunity to hear and receive the Gospel of Christ?
Believers cannot surrender or retire; there are no qualifying words in Mark 16, or Matthew 28 for that matter, that give rise to the idea that there is ever to be an end to our witnessing and spreading the Gospel while we are alive. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Matthews Gospel is just as clear we find no reference to a time when we are to cease evangelizing the lost. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19.
I’ve heard from some who complain that the lost have so thoroughly hardened their hearts toward God that it’s a futile waste of time trying to evangelize them. I know when it comes to a hardened heart and the subject of God many have been so deeply influenced by the lie of evolution, or by the seductive programming of the secular media, and even the many lies of most of those who run our federal, state, and local governments, that they seem to have no mind or heart of their own. Some of you have responded to me in the past with “they belong to Satan and he’s not letting go, why should I continue in what is certainly a futile effort?” If that’s your attitude toward evangelizing go back up the page and read again about my life as a dead man walking and then think about your attitude and what God is able to accomplish through our perseverance.
All humans while living and breathing can be converted from dead to alive. There’s a story in our Bibles of a woman who had a problem and she went to a judge for help. This judge had no fear of God or man. He told this woman to scram he couldn’t be bothered with her problems. The woman wouldn’t give up; she persisted in her attempts to find relief for her problems and continued to petition this judge to intervene. She confronted him over and over with her problem. Finally he relented. He had had enough. He told the woman he would help her so he could finally be rid of her.
This story is of course a paraphrase of Luke 18. Although Jesus is speaking about our persistence concerning our prayer life and petitioning God, we learn that persistence is the key to open many doors. Will we meet with brick walls? I say “most assuredly”. Here’s the reality, as we spread the Gospel to an individual or even a group, we then move on to our next challenge. What we left behind is the word of God planted as a seed in the minds and hearts of those folks. Some will believe and become born again, and yes there will be those who won’t accept the truth and they will continue in their rebellion to God. Even though we may never know which of the folks we encounter will become believes we can be assured that the word of God will take hold in some hearts. How do I know? (So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.) Again, how do I know? Because God says so.
“Thy will be done” is a prayer most of us have committed to memory, many have prayed this prayer from the time they were children. We pray that God’s will is accomplished here on earth and it will be. We also know that His will is for us to continue in His service until He brings us home, as it should be. When you pray that prayer stand by it, it’s the right thing to do.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
2012 … The End Of The World?
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25)
The year 2012 is lining up as a uniquely pivotal year in many respects. Aside from the fact that some futurists are predicting world wide food and job riots by then, and the two most powerful thrones on Earth (US and UN) will be up for election, there is a never before seen confluence of signs in the heavens due to arrive then. In case you've been visiting another planet for the past couple of years, here they are.
Mayan Calendar Ends. Dec.21, 2012
By way of introduction, somehow the Mayans knew that the Sun travels in an orbit through the galaxy just like the planets of our solar system travel in an orbit around the Sun. They calculated that it requires 25,625 of our years for the Sun to complete one circle, called a galactic day. The Mayans divided this day into 5 cycles of 5125 years each. According to their calendar the current cycle, which is the 5th, will end on the day we know as Dec. 21, 2012, the winter solstice.
The Mayan Calendar does not necessarily predict the world will end on that day, as some think, but they did believe that the Sun, having reached the exact center of the galaxy, would receive and emit a powerful surge of light from this alignment and would reverse its polarity. This would cause a great cosmic event on Earth and result in the end of life as we know it. Below are some modern confirmations that will demonstrate how startlingly accurate the Mayans were. They lend more credibility to the view that the influence of the Nephilim with their supernatural knowledge might have been much more widespread than previously thought. Hints of their meddling can be seen world wide.
According to the Mayans, the effect of all this will depend on our reaction to it. If, as a civilization, we try to cling to our current ways we'll suffer chaos and destruction. But if we change to become united in one positive consciousness and stop fighting each other and poisoning our environment we'll enter our Golden Age. Sounds straight out of the New Age, doesn't it?
Magnetic Polar Reversal, Earth And Sun Combined. 2012
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Rev. 6:12-14)
Over the past few years the magnetic North pole has been drifting across Canada and is headed for Siberia. Also, the Earth's magnetic field has weakened noticeably when compared to its strength when scientists began measuring it in 1845. Based on these findings, some scientists are now convinced that a reversal of the Earth's magnetic poles is underway. They're predicting that in 2012 the magnetic field will be at its weakest and a polar reversal could suddenly and dramatically take place with the North pole having the polarity of the South pole and vice versa.
In 2012 the Sun will also experience a polar reversal producing radiation emissions at their strongest levels in 50 years. Although the Sun's magnetic poles reverse every eleven years, in the memory of man the Earth has never experienced such an event. While no one can predict the outcome of this double shift, it could produce massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of a magnitude that could actually cause a measurable continental shift.
A study by the National Academy of Sciences released in early 2009 indicated that a “solar storm” like this could also cause catastrophic damage to the power grid and other communications as well, knocking out satellites, phones, and computers. They confirmed that the 2012 event would be more severe than others we've experienced in the past.
If this reversal caused the magnetic field around Earth to collapse, the effect would be even more severe. According to some projections, the electromagnetic energy released from the sun during a polar reversal could cause Earth's upper atmosphere to "erupt in flames" if our magnetic field isn't there to deflect it. Was John referring to this in saying the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up? No one knows. We can only imagine what a sudden reversal of magnetic poles would do to life on Earth. Predictions range all the way from a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to a worldwide disaster of "Biblical proportions."
Galactic Alignment. Sun At The Center Of The Milky Way. Dec. 21, 2012
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(Rev. 8:5)
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)
In December 2012 the Sun will reach the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy, as the Mayans predicted, with all the planets lined up in their orbits behind it, like little chicks behind their mother. Some scientists believe this will amplify the Sun's gravitational pull on Earth causing increased instability in its inner core. They say the increased gravitational pull combined with increased radiation from the twin polar reversals will heat the Earth's molten core and cause it to spin faster. This could result in anything from more frequent and more powerful earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, great tsunamis and even displacement of the Earth's crust.
Planet X Returns To The Solar System. 2012
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Rev. 8:8-11)
Planet X has been the subject of much debate among scientists, both as to its actual existence and its name. Some refer to Planet X as Nibiru, a large planet listed in 5000 year old Sumerian tablets, but missing from the solar system today. Others say it's Rahab, the ancient seat of Satan, hinted at in Job 9:13 & 26:12, Psalm 87:4 & 89:10, and in Isaiah 30:7 & 51:9. Those who advocate for its existence say it's been privately tracked by NASA since the 1980's and both the New York Times and the Washington Post have speculated about its appearance in the sky. Documented naked eye sightings from the Southern Hemisphere are also claimed.
The name Rahab appears in the Old Testament a total of 11 times. Five times it refers to the Rahab of Jericho who hid the 2 spies, was the mother of Boaz, and appears in the Lord’s genealogy. The other six times, listed above, it does not. Some believe these other references are to a planet that was once part of our Solar system and that Satan and his followers inhabited along with Earth and Mars. These people disagree as to whether it was originally our 5th or 6th planet, but supposedly these three planets were judged at the time of Satan’s rebellion in the gap between Genesis 1 :1 & 1:2 . They also disagree as to whether it was completely destroyed leaving only the asteroid belt as a memorial, or was sent spinning out into the far reaches of the universe, or some combination of the two. Proponents of the partial destruction theory say that the remnant of the planet Rahab can now be seen again, and that God will use it to effect some of the judgments of Revelation.
To many, this idea of Satan's Kingdom planet re-entering our solar system is wild conjecture. After all, they say, it was developed out of a study combining the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the application of ELS (Equi-distant Letter Sequencing), commonly known as the Bible Codes. But if we’re as close to the end as I think we are, it won’t be long until we know whether the Rahab theories are truth or fiction. For what it's worth, some believe Nostradamus predicted a comet/planet coming in 2012.
In any case, whether you call it X, or Nibiru, or Rahab, there are some serious people who believe it's headed our way and will at least come dangerously close to Earth in 2012, showering us with the asteroids it has captured and causing great damage on Earth.
What's The Point?
The short answer to the title question is, “No. 2012 will not be the end of the world.” But without attempting to tie these predicted events to specific prophecies, I think it's interesting to see how similar the Biblical descriptions of end times judgments are to the scientific view of possible coming events. Due to the nearness of 2012, I only used verses from Revelation that describe judgments during the first half of Daniel's 70th Week , before the Great Tribulation even begins. After that it gets much worse very quickly.
See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.
The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.
I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13)
So what will the 2012 disasters accomplish? I believe that God will use these and other End Times judgments to begin putting the Earth back into the condition it was when He gave it to Adam. Remember, Jesus called the Millennium the time of restoration of all things (Matt. 19:28) and Paul said the whole creation has been groaning in anticipation of being liberated from the bondage it was subjected to. (Romans 8:20-21). And at the beginning of the Millennium God will proclaim, “I am making everything new.” (Rev. 21:5)
Since the creation, mountains have been pushed up and valleys made lower to contain the enormous amounts of water generated in the Great Flood. The protective water vapor canopy that permitted long life spans in pre-flood times collapsed at the time of the Flood. Earth's land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth's orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees. All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.
You and I will view all of this from the mezzanine during our time of repose with the Lord. On Earth it will be the beginning of the most terrible time known to man.
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD ? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah
The year 2012 is lining up as a uniquely pivotal year in many respects. Aside from the fact that some futurists are predicting world wide food and job riots by then, and the two most powerful thrones on Earth (US and UN) will be up for election, there is a never before seen confluence of signs in the heavens due to arrive then. In case you've been visiting another planet for the past couple of years, here they are.
Mayan Calendar Ends. Dec.21, 2012
By way of introduction, somehow the Mayans knew that the Sun travels in an orbit through the galaxy just like the planets of our solar system travel in an orbit around the Sun. They calculated that it requires 25,625 of our years for the Sun to complete one circle, called a galactic day. The Mayans divided this day into 5 cycles of 5125 years each. According to their calendar the current cycle, which is the 5th, will end on the day we know as Dec. 21, 2012, the winter solstice.
The Mayan Calendar does not necessarily predict the world will end on that day, as some think, but they did believe that the Sun, having reached the exact center of the galaxy, would receive and emit a powerful surge of light from this alignment and would reverse its polarity. This would cause a great cosmic event on Earth and result in the end of life as we know it. Below are some modern confirmations that will demonstrate how startlingly accurate the Mayans were. They lend more credibility to the view that the influence of the Nephilim with their supernatural knowledge might have been much more widespread than previously thought. Hints of their meddling can be seen world wide.
According to the Mayans, the effect of all this will depend on our reaction to it. If, as a civilization, we try to cling to our current ways we'll suffer chaos and destruction. But if we change to become united in one positive consciousness and stop fighting each other and poisoning our environment we'll enter our Golden Age. Sounds straight out of the New Age, doesn't it?
Magnetic Polar Reversal, Earth And Sun Combined. 2012
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Rev. 6:12-14)
Over the past few years the magnetic North pole has been drifting across Canada and is headed for Siberia. Also, the Earth's magnetic field has weakened noticeably when compared to its strength when scientists began measuring it in 1845. Based on these findings, some scientists are now convinced that a reversal of the Earth's magnetic poles is underway. They're predicting that in 2012 the magnetic field will be at its weakest and a polar reversal could suddenly and dramatically take place with the North pole having the polarity of the South pole and vice versa.
In 2012 the Sun will also experience a polar reversal producing radiation emissions at their strongest levels in 50 years. Although the Sun's magnetic poles reverse every eleven years, in the memory of man the Earth has never experienced such an event. While no one can predict the outcome of this double shift, it could produce massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of a magnitude that could actually cause a measurable continental shift.
A study by the National Academy of Sciences released in early 2009 indicated that a “solar storm” like this could also cause catastrophic damage to the power grid and other communications as well, knocking out satellites, phones, and computers. They confirmed that the 2012 event would be more severe than others we've experienced in the past.
If this reversal caused the magnetic field around Earth to collapse, the effect would be even more severe. According to some projections, the electromagnetic energy released from the sun during a polar reversal could cause Earth's upper atmosphere to "erupt in flames" if our magnetic field isn't there to deflect it. Was John referring to this in saying the sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up? No one knows. We can only imagine what a sudden reversal of magnetic poles would do to life on Earth. Predictions range all the way from a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to a worldwide disaster of "Biblical proportions."
Galactic Alignment. Sun At The Center Of The Milky Way. Dec. 21, 2012
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(Rev. 8:5)
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)
In December 2012 the Sun will reach the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy, as the Mayans predicted, with all the planets lined up in their orbits behind it, like little chicks behind their mother. Some scientists believe this will amplify the Sun's gravitational pull on Earth causing increased instability in its inner core. They say the increased gravitational pull combined with increased radiation from the twin polar reversals will heat the Earth's molten core and cause it to spin faster. This could result in anything from more frequent and more powerful earthquakes to volcanic eruptions, great tsunamis and even displacement of the Earth's crust.
Planet X Returns To The Solar System. 2012
The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Rev. 8:8-11)
Planet X has been the subject of much debate among scientists, both as to its actual existence and its name. Some refer to Planet X as Nibiru, a large planet listed in 5000 year old Sumerian tablets, but missing from the solar system today. Others say it's Rahab, the ancient seat of Satan, hinted at in Job 9:13 & 26:12, Psalm 87:4 & 89:10, and in Isaiah 30:7 & 51:9. Those who advocate for its existence say it's been privately tracked by NASA since the 1980's and both the New York Times and the Washington Post have speculated about its appearance in the sky. Documented naked eye sightings from the Southern Hemisphere are also claimed.
The name Rahab appears in the Old Testament a total of 11 times. Five times it refers to the Rahab of Jericho who hid the 2 spies, was the mother of Boaz, and appears in the Lord’s genealogy. The other six times, listed above, it does not. Some believe these other references are to a planet that was once part of our Solar system and that Satan and his followers inhabited along with Earth and Mars. These people disagree as to whether it was originally our 5th or 6th planet, but supposedly these three planets were judged at the time of Satan’s rebellion in the gap between Genesis 1 :1 & 1:2 . They also disagree as to whether it was completely destroyed leaving only the asteroid belt as a memorial, or was sent spinning out into the far reaches of the universe, or some combination of the two. Proponents of the partial destruction theory say that the remnant of the planet Rahab can now be seen again, and that God will use it to effect some of the judgments of Revelation.
To many, this idea of Satan's Kingdom planet re-entering our solar system is wild conjecture. After all, they say, it was developed out of a study combining the apocryphal Book of Enoch with the application of ELS (Equi-distant Letter Sequencing), commonly known as the Bible Codes. But if we’re as close to the end as I think we are, it won’t be long until we know whether the Rahab theories are truth or fiction. For what it's worth, some believe Nostradamus predicted a comet/planet coming in 2012.
In any case, whether you call it X, or Nibiru, or Rahab, there are some serious people who believe it's headed our way and will at least come dangerously close to Earth in 2012, showering us with the asteroids it has captured and causing great damage on Earth.
What's The Point?
The short answer to the title question is, “No. 2012 will not be the end of the world.” But without attempting to tie these predicted events to specific prophecies, I think it's interesting to see how similar the Biblical descriptions of end times judgments are to the scientific view of possible coming events. Due to the nearness of 2012, I only used verses from Revelation that describe judgments during the first half of Daniel's 70th Week , before the Great Tribulation even begins. After that it gets much worse very quickly.
See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.
The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.
I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13)
So what will the 2012 disasters accomplish? I believe that God will use these and other End Times judgments to begin putting the Earth back into the condition it was when He gave it to Adam. Remember, Jesus called the Millennium the time of restoration of all things (Matt. 19:28) and Paul said the whole creation has been groaning in anticipation of being liberated from the bondage it was subjected to. (Romans 8:20-21). And at the beginning of the Millennium God will proclaim, “I am making everything new.” (Rev. 21:5)
Since the creation, mountains have been pushed up and valleys made lower to contain the enormous amounts of water generated in the Great Flood. The protective water vapor canopy that permitted long life spans in pre-flood times collapsed at the time of the Flood. Earth's land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth's orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees. All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.
You and I will view all of this from the mezzanine during our time of repose with the Lord. On Earth it will be the beginning of the most terrible time known to man.
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD ? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Things We Know
Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. (Luke 21:26)
I realize that the above verse is meant for the Great Tribulation, but it came to mind as I read some of the “news reports” that have come across my screen this week. Here's a sample of what's currently going around.
1. The President and all of his men are lying through their teeth regarding the government's health care proposal. They plan to take over the insurance industry, require everyone to enroll, and appoint bureaucrats we'll never meet to determine the level of care we deserve.
2. People will take to the streets this fall in rebellion against the government's attempt to make flu shots mandatory.
3. The coming commercial real estate and credit card melt downs will be the worst yet.
4. By mid fall the talking heads on Sunday news shows will be openly using the word “depression” to describe our economic condition.
5. In a move to replace the dollar, banks will close for a few days soon to prepare for issuing new currency. When they reopen everyone will discover that the new currency is only worth 8-16 cents on the dollar.
6. The National Guard is recruiting people they can train to become internment/resettlement specialists, perhaps to man the internment camps that are being constructed across the country.
7. The government is working on a way to implement “preventive detention” programs to lock people up in advance for crimes they might commit.
These are just the reports I received from sources I have always believed to be credible. I won't even mention the ones I get from the “wing nuts” out there. I have no idea whether any of these claims are true. And that's part of the problem. I don't think there's one single unbiased information source left in this country. Everyone's pushing some kind of agenda. The middle ground seems to have totally eroded away, and people on both sides are becoming just plain mean to anyone who disagrees with them. This polarization of opinions has effectively put an end to any meaningful discussion.
As a result, a growing number of people believe that the government is trying to pull a fast one on us and they're upset. And when it seems like all the government does is attack those who criticize them, it makes people even more suspicious.
And that's what made me think of Luke 21:26. They say our greatest fear is the fear of the unknown and right now there's a lot that's unknown. So let's take a moment to review what we can know and focus on that.
We Know This
The first thing we know is that historically, God has always taken issue with those in leadership positions when their plans have run contrary to the welfare of His children. He had the Prophet Micah explain this in no uncertain terms.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the LORD says, "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. (Micah 2:1-3)
Obviously Micah was speaking to Israel, but the parallels with current events are striking, and Paul did say that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. (Romans 15:4) According to some, the biggest transfer of wealth in history has just taken place. Before this is over many will have had their homes and property seized and many more will have been defrauded of their inheritance.
But wait a minute, you say, fraud implies a dishonest intent. Indeed it does. Does any body believe the current financial meltdown, decades in the making, just snuck up on us? Were the best financial minds alive today all taken by surprise? Did those in the know suffer the loss of half their assets too? Where did all the money go?
On one day last week a panel of economists declared that the recession is over, and a major bank reported paying over $3 billion in bonuses to its senior staff. The next day we learned that retail sales for July had plunged unexpectedly and a record number of new unemployment applications had been filed. And the recession that's supposed to be over won't show us any solid proof of its demise until the middle of 2010. Are you feeling a little like a mushroom? (Kept in the dark and fed a bunch of manure?)
In effect the Lord had Micah tell the leaders of Israel, “You're lying in bed at night devising new schemes for defrauding my people? Fine. I'm lying in bed at night devising ways to punish you.” Who does history say won that contest? If it's going on again, who will win this one?
And We Know This
So if we're being victimized, the leaders responsible for doing it will get theirs. But the Lord has a message for the victims too, and that's the second thing we know. There are many versions of this message, and we've covered some of them before. King David wrote this one.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.(Psalm 37:1-4)
When evil men prosper, it doesn't have to be at our expense. The Lord has unlimited resources and by trusting in Him our heart's desires can be fulfilled regardless of what others do. We start by trusting in him (we yield our lives to Him) and doing good (literally, we're pleasant and agreeable toward Him). We dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (we abide in Him and let Him provide for us). We also delight ourselves in Him (we let Him pamper us). As we do He gives us the desires of our heart (answers our prayers and petitions). Are you out of work, or worried that you soon will be? Are you losing your home or other assets? It might be a great opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord, and let Him do all the things He's always wanted to do for you. Remember, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Still OK financially? Do it anyway.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:5-9)
We need only commit our hearts to Him and trust Him to do this. Even if it seems like wicked men are prevailing against us, we're to be patient and not get angry or lose hope. We can afford to be like the first century Christians who joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property, because they knew that they themselves had better and lasting possessions. Like them, we should not throw away our confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We need to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:34-36)
Remember when Pharaoh's army had the Israelites trapped between the mountains and the Red Sea? The people felt betrayed and were terrified. They demanded that Moses explain how he had gotten them into such a mess.
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13)
That's still good advice. The Lord is not like us. He doesn't change His mind or break His commitments. (Numbers 23:19) The promises of Psalm 37 are still more certain than the most ironclad agreement you could ever negotiate on Earth. You only have to trust Him.
That's all we can do, and that's all we need to do. We can't trust our leaders, we can't trust the experts, we can't trust the media. We can only trust the Lord.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This we know.
I realize that the above verse is meant for the Great Tribulation, but it came to mind as I read some of the “news reports” that have come across my screen this week. Here's a sample of what's currently going around.
1. The President and all of his men are lying through their teeth regarding the government's health care proposal. They plan to take over the insurance industry, require everyone to enroll, and appoint bureaucrats we'll never meet to determine the level of care we deserve.
2. People will take to the streets this fall in rebellion against the government's attempt to make flu shots mandatory.
3. The coming commercial real estate and credit card melt downs will be the worst yet.
4. By mid fall the talking heads on Sunday news shows will be openly using the word “depression” to describe our economic condition.
5. In a move to replace the dollar, banks will close for a few days soon to prepare for issuing new currency. When they reopen everyone will discover that the new currency is only worth 8-16 cents on the dollar.
6. The National Guard is recruiting people they can train to become internment/resettlement specialists, perhaps to man the internment camps that are being constructed across the country.
7. The government is working on a way to implement “preventive detention” programs to lock people up in advance for crimes they might commit.
These are just the reports I received from sources I have always believed to be credible. I won't even mention the ones I get from the “wing nuts” out there. I have no idea whether any of these claims are true. And that's part of the problem. I don't think there's one single unbiased information source left in this country. Everyone's pushing some kind of agenda. The middle ground seems to have totally eroded away, and people on both sides are becoming just plain mean to anyone who disagrees with them. This polarization of opinions has effectively put an end to any meaningful discussion.
As a result, a growing number of people believe that the government is trying to pull a fast one on us and they're upset. And when it seems like all the government does is attack those who criticize them, it makes people even more suspicious.
And that's what made me think of Luke 21:26. They say our greatest fear is the fear of the unknown and right now there's a lot that's unknown. So let's take a moment to review what we can know and focus on that.
We Know This
The first thing we know is that historically, God has always taken issue with those in leadership positions when their plans have run contrary to the welfare of His children. He had the Prophet Micah explain this in no uncertain terms.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the LORD says, "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. (Micah 2:1-3)
Obviously Micah was speaking to Israel, but the parallels with current events are striking, and Paul did say that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. (Romans 15:4) According to some, the biggest transfer of wealth in history has just taken place. Before this is over many will have had their homes and property seized and many more will have been defrauded of their inheritance.
But wait a minute, you say, fraud implies a dishonest intent. Indeed it does. Does any body believe the current financial meltdown, decades in the making, just snuck up on us? Were the best financial minds alive today all taken by surprise? Did those in the know suffer the loss of half their assets too? Where did all the money go?
On one day last week a panel of economists declared that the recession is over, and a major bank reported paying over $3 billion in bonuses to its senior staff. The next day we learned that retail sales for July had plunged unexpectedly and a record number of new unemployment applications had been filed. And the recession that's supposed to be over won't show us any solid proof of its demise until the middle of 2010. Are you feeling a little like a mushroom? (Kept in the dark and fed a bunch of manure?)
In effect the Lord had Micah tell the leaders of Israel, “You're lying in bed at night devising new schemes for defrauding my people? Fine. I'm lying in bed at night devising ways to punish you.” Who does history say won that contest? If it's going on again, who will win this one?
And We Know This
So if we're being victimized, the leaders responsible for doing it will get theirs. But the Lord has a message for the victims too, and that's the second thing we know. There are many versions of this message, and we've covered some of them before. King David wrote this one.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.(Psalm 37:1-4)
When evil men prosper, it doesn't have to be at our expense. The Lord has unlimited resources and by trusting in Him our heart's desires can be fulfilled regardless of what others do. We start by trusting in him (we yield our lives to Him) and doing good (literally, we're pleasant and agreeable toward Him). We dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (we abide in Him and let Him provide for us). We also delight ourselves in Him (we let Him pamper us). As we do He gives us the desires of our heart (answers our prayers and petitions). Are you out of work, or worried that you soon will be? Are you losing your home or other assets? It might be a great opportunity to turn your life over to the Lord, and let Him do all the things He's always wanted to do for you. Remember, Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Still OK financially? Do it anyway.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:5-9)
We need only commit our hearts to Him and trust Him to do this. Even if it seems like wicked men are prevailing against us, we're to be patient and not get angry or lose hope. We can afford to be like the first century Christians who joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property, because they knew that they themselves had better and lasting possessions. Like them, we should not throw away our confidence; it will be richly rewarded. We need to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:34-36)
Remember when Pharaoh's army had the Israelites trapped between the mountains and the Red Sea? The people felt betrayed and were terrified. They demanded that Moses explain how he had gotten them into such a mess.
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (Exodus 14:13)
That's still good advice. The Lord is not like us. He doesn't change His mind or break His commitments. (Numbers 23:19) The promises of Psalm 37 are still more certain than the most ironclad agreement you could ever negotiate on Earth. You only have to trust Him.
That's all we can do, and that's all we need to do. We can't trust our leaders, we can't trust the experts, we can't trust the media. We can only trust the Lord.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This we know.
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