| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Didn't you get the memo? The prophet Isaiah (as well as many others) warned of the progression and result of evil. The World view is that man is basically good, and absent some external catalyst, he will remain that way. It's never his fault when he acts out, no matter how violently or inappropriately. God however, says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer. 17:9 Nugget: You are what God says you are, w/out regard to your feelings. The dilemma comes when well intentioned but naive people think we can get rid of authorities who's mandate it is to protect us. I wish they weren't necessary, but there is in fact, abject evil. It entered the world in Gen. 3, is rampant today, and must be dealt with. Many believe if we can get the Word of God out far enough and fast enough, it will usher in the Millennial Reign of Christ, and all will be hunky dory. Actually (don't hate) The Bible is clear, that before that can happen, before the Anti-Christ and all, there will be an (wait for it) Apostasy or a great falling away. Fasten your pew-belts, - We're here. "..their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therin shall not know peace"- Isaiah 59: 6b-9. In the New Testament - (2nd Tim. 3:1-5), we get another relevant picture of what we are seeing play out now. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent (lacking self control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." We would do well to ruminate on each of these characteristics as they apply to our world. Then the question. Whatever should we do? We are learning at Emmanuel Baptist, that God doesn't want us to react as much as to have a position. Two things. 1) These people have all manner of things they like to worship, but "deny its power". What is that power? What has been changing lives, minds and the eternal destiny of people for two thousand years? The answer is in Romans 1:16 = "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation............" This leads us to 2) In the midst of these violent, chaotic times, our mandate remains the same. Sure you should protect your family, property etc, but our # 1 job has to be sharing the gospel. Jesus said "for this cause came I into the world, to seek and to save that which was lost" - "and as the Father hath sent me, so send I you. Don't let the tares of the world distract you from your mission. You will reap a harvest. |
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