Why? Well, simply because just for that short time, be it a few minutes, hours, or even days... it's as if God is washing the earth clean--again. When the rain is said and done, the air smells sweeter, the plants look more lush and green, and the chorus of tree frogs and bull frogs down in the river swamp are music to my ears. For just a short while, I feel separated from the cares of this world, and cares there are many.
On any given day, when checking my email, it seems that well meaning brothers and sisters in Christ are sending out doom and gloom. "Sounding the alarm" it's been said. Okay.. the alarm's been sounded. What's next? From the terrorist, to abortionists, to child abuse, human trafficking, you name it... I receive at least, no less than 6-7 emails a week, or postings on the social networks about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket, and we must do everything in our power to stop it.
Yeah. Good luck with that.
Seems to me that Revelation speaks of something along the line of one world government, and that government will be the epitome of the Anti Christ. So, exactly what good are these emails doing? What purpose do they serve, other than getting our minds off of Jesus Christ, and onto the depravity of this world? Even if we are against the depravity, are sending emails to other anti-depravity people going to stop the depravity? Seems to me it's been going on for thousands of years. The depravity--not the emails..
I tried to read a few 'uplifting' FWD's from well meaning friends, and would only wind up sighing. Surely you know the ones--the ones that say something along the lines that "I prayed for you, now you send this to 10 people, or the prayers/wishes won't come true" or something like that? Or, better yet, how about those "Christian" ones that end their thing with guilt. "Send it on if you agree, or simply delete if you have no time for God". I can't roll my eyes round enough when I get those type of emails. Not FWD'ing a guilt laden "prayer email' is going be an indication of whether or not I'm ashamed of God? I guess that Bible verse should read, 'Men will know you are my disciples by the emails you send to one another" rather than, "Men will know you are my disciples by the love you have one for another" (John 13:24-26).
I have to admit, I'm rather anxious for Christ to come back. Sometimes I'm fed up with worrying about if a loved one is ever going to come to Christ for Life. Can't God just get it over with? But of course, God is long suffering and wishes that no man should perish. I just wish life would get on with it. Sometimes, waiting to die is a lot like going to the doctor's. You know when you get there, he's going to poke, prod, inject, and who knows what else to you, 'for your good'. You know it'll be better in the end, but you just don't like those razor sharp needles he has to use for injections. That's how I feel about dying sometimes. I wish it'd just go ahead and get it over with. That way I won't have to look at the suffering going on here. But I just don't want to go through the death process. Then, at other times, I imagine myself in heaven, with all my loved ones, both, those that have gone on before me, and those still left with me. Won't that be a grand time? Finally--to be safe from heartache, disease, and whatever else that robs of us peace on earth. We'll have the Prince of Peace in our midst.. forever. A friend of mine once summed up the book of Revelation like this: The Lamb Wins. I have never forgotten that. Whatever battles are being fought and cooked up down here, the end is inevitable: The Lamb Wins. I love that.
Well, my thoughts are starting to drift.. a sure sign that it's time for me to sign off..
…and after you have done everything, to stand firm…
ReplyDeleteOne reason the state of Israel exists today is because the Israelis are a praying people who trust God to go before them into battle against their enemies. And after every battle Israel has prevailed. Even amid seeming impossible odds their wildest dreams were surpassed when they realized the spoils of battle were theirs to apprehend. And the land of Israel increased.
As children of God (Christians) are we not to take up arms against the enemy and resist those who wish to see us destroyed? Or as we live and breathe by faith in Jesus are we to sit back and do nothing “physical” to take our stand against the devils schemes (the true enemy) who would have us annihilated along side of every breathing Jew?
Scripture tells us what the grace of God is all about; that it is this grace (the power of God to give eternal life) that makes our salvation possible while teaching us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions. And after we have resisted to the point where the enemy says ‘We will have no more to do with them!’ do we then stop resisting?
Scripture tells us not to be deceived by merely being hearers of the Word of God but instead to be “doers” of the Word. Should we Christians simply choose to sit idly within our comfort zones asking God to do our bidding on our behalf and suppose He will fight all our battles for us? Or is doing this nothing more than presumption and not truly living and walking by faith in God’s promises?
Scripture tells us to know that our ultimate battle (singular) is not against flesh and blood but rather one against the spiritual forces of evil [darkness] in the heavenly realms. Scripture even tells us the weapons we are to use as we go into combat. But what about the physical, flesh and blood battles that we all encounter in our own country and neighborhoods? Should these not be fought and won by a tangible force of power lest we be found dead and mutilated on the streets or even in our own homes by our enemies? And are we to presume the Lord will miraculously keep our children from dying at the hand of thieves and killers and rapist and abortionists and political henchmen without our taking some kind of action against the carnage?
Scripture tells us the devil prowls around making a lot of noise akin to a roaring lion and that we believers in Christ must be vigilant and alert in our resistance of him [and his minions] lest they “turn and tear you to pieces”.
Yes, the great and final battle has been fought and won at the cross because of the death, burial and resurrection of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. But what about all the skirmishes and traps and lies planned and put into action by flesh and blood anti-Christs (just prior to the return of the Prince of Peace) whose mouths are watering to eliminate Christ from the very core of our nation…even the world? Are we merely stand idly by and love them to Jesus?
Are we merely stand idly by and love them to Jesus? Good question. Can we do both simultaneously? Can we love them, and not do anything? There is a term called "Tough Love", where although we love someone, we don't allow them to get away with whatever it is that they're doing, because it's neither beneficial to them, nor to those around them. This is certainly the case of the terrorist who would wipe the face of the earth clean of everyone but those of their belief systems. Those that are so warped in their thinking that they are an endangerment to themselves and those around them, what is the proper procedure for handling them? Kill them before they kill us? Try to "rehabilitate"? (HA!) They're going to die sooner or later, just like the rest of humanity. The question is, do we play God and say, "okay, times' up!" The New Covenant is pretty silent on this matter. We see all sorts of corrupt government killing, arresting, beating, etc the Men of God, and even God incarnate, Jesus Christ! Yet, no one retaliated against them, at least not in those few epistles and gospel recordation that we have. To be honest, I like our country, and would rather not have our comforts taken from us, simply because those in anti-Christ bondage can't stand not being in power over me. Of course, I suppose the Native Americans probably thought the same thing, or close to it, when the Europeans came and took the land by force. Some native americans helped the Europeans, and some fought the Europeans, but in the end, it was all the same--they all died. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I imagine the Africans didn't take too kindly being sold into slavery. Some of the Africans were even recorded as helping sell the opposing tribes into slavery, to make things better for themselves. Any way you slice, humanity is corrupt. The ones who are in Christ. What is our responsibility to those not in Christ? We do know to share the gospel message; but what about, as you've mentioned, on a national level? Global level? Do we kill or be killed? My flesh says, "Kill 'em all, and let God sort 'em out". I just don't think that lines up with Scripture, though. None the less, wars and battles will not cease until the Prince of Peace returns. If it's not a global war, then it's gang wars; if not gang wars, then family feuds. No matter the size of the war, the results are the same, hatred, bitterment, and death. I honestly don't think we have a choice but to be involved in war. Scripture tells us that there will be wars and rumors of wars. No getting around it. There are many parts to the body, but all one body. We have soldiers who are trained to kill at a drop of a hat, we've got doctors who can bind up the broken, and clergy to give encouragement to the disheartened. Any of those can be a child of God, but not all of them are.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, we're not going to change the course of the world. It is indeed going to hell, and fast. It's simply ruled by fallen humanity, which of course, is under the rule of You-know-Who. So whenever we're involved in a war, and the war is 'over', we might catch our breath for a minute, but do not mistake that this is 'world peace'. World peace does not and will not exist, until Christ comes again.