And so we are finally nearing then end. Just look at the middle east- it is going up in flames. Absolutely insane are the happenings, as no one seems to know what the word "peace" means over there anymore. Governments are being overthrown, riots in the steet, leaders killing their own people... And at the end of the day, we are left wondering who to cheer for. Do we applaud the uprising of the people who are attempting to break free of oppresion from dictators? Or do we hope for the dictators because we see lurking in the shadows, those who are attempting to take control- and in seeing them, we realize that the dictator may be the lesser of two evils... All the while the reality that our one true mideast ally, Israel- may be soon facing a war they are not wanting... And we are reminded in our minds that in the end times, there will be wars and rumors of wars.
Add to that the recent earthquake and tsunami that recently shook the very foundations of Japan. Death, destruction, despair. A quake so powerful that the tsunami even reached U.S. shores. In this short time after, we have yet to see just how many people have been killed, how many homes have been lost, at the hand of the 5th most powerful quake since 1900... And our minds are reminded that in the end times there will be earthquakes and natural disasters...
Then we cast our gaze to our own land. This Christian nation that boldly proclaims, "In God We Trust" on the money we spend on pornography. This Christian nation that proudly sings "God Bless America" at every ball game while we stay too busy with our entertainment to give God any more time than that. This Christian nation that bends over backwards to make sure that a criminal's rights are not violated, while refusing the basic right to life to our own children. And our minds are reminded that in the end times, it shall be like the days of Noah...
And so we wait. We cast our eyes to the heavens, anxious and looking for His return. We just know that we know that Jesus is coming to rescue us from this land! Any year now; any month now; any day now; any minute... Ah, yes- we are committed to this belief. Look, there on the nightstand- we have a book explaining all the last days signs sitting right next to our Bible. We watch the news with disdain, trying to see the signs we have read about in every newscast... LOOK THERE! Wasn't that a prophecy fulfillment from Daniel about the end?! On the rare occasion that we do take our gaze off the skies, we look around and get depressed at the state of affairs. We become filled with sarcasm and cynicism; our eyes become dark to the idea of hope for this world. Just look at the sexual deviants, the killers, the vile filth, on and on we just want to SCREAM!!! So we quickly return our gaze back to the heavens, choosing to remain silent except to utter those famous words- "come quickly, Lord... Come quickly and save your servant..."
It is at this time that I must interject a thought... What if... What if we are wrong?
I quickly try to push that thought, that heresy from my mind! I quickly shut my mouth as soon as I utter the words, for fear that I may be shunned as a non-believer... And yet, still- the question lingers...
Now let me clear something up before your mind wanders too far- I am not suggesting we are wrong about GOD, or His Word. But rather, I think we may have some things a little screwy when it comes to our view of the end times, and the current times. Allow me to explain:
I know there is a lot going on in the world right now. I know we are in some, shall we say, frightening times. Uncertain times. Dark and sinful times. I agree that at times it seems there is little hope for this world. But I am not quite convinced that our eyes should be cast upward just yet. I am, in fact, a little less than concerned about it. How can I dare utter this, you ask? Do I not realize that any moment Jesus could appear from the clouds and catch me in my heresy of not believing it is the end times? The answer to the second question is, Yes. I do believe He COULD return any minute. But my answer to the first question explains why I am not convinced He WILL return any minute.
I think Paul said it best, put into words better than I could, why I feel the way I do. He writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 the following: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit nor by word; nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall NOT come, except there come a falling away FIRST, AND that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as god sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is god."
I think this passage should be self explanatory; but I think the most interesting point is the thought that the day of Christ shall not come till the man of perdition- that is, THE Antichrist- be revealed... Last time I checked, we still haven't seen his ugly mug...
Call me nieve, perhaps- but until the day that we can say, "Hey WOW that guy HAS to be the Antichrist" and actually BE right as opposed to guessing- I will hold to a different perspective on our times. And what, persay, is that perspective you ask?
It is simply this (in the words of the great Yogi Berra): "It ain't over til it's over!"
I think that we need to get our head out of the clouds. The American Christian has been hung up on this idea for the past few decades that Christ is gonna rescue us any minute now. So we look up, we reach up, we hope up... In the meantime, there are lost people who need to hear the Gospel walking right under our nose. In the meantime, there are people who desperately need the Hand of Christ to reach out to them, walking beneath our upwards and outstreched arms. There are people who need to know that there is hope for the sinner, hope of a love that can set them free, who don't even understand our hope stretched into the atmosphere...
My friends, it is so easy to get caught up in the idea that this is the end times. But the reality is, we don't know that. We can't say that for sure, because as Paul pointed out, not all the signs are there yet. And while we sit on our virtual mountaintop for Jesus we are completely missing out on opportunities to be used by God in changing lives in the valley. I would daresay that we even border on dwelling in pride and self pity, believing that we are here to wait for God to rescue us from this garbage that surrounds us, from these heathens that pester us, from these unrighteous souls at our doorstep... Oh, that God would free us from their putrid filth that vexes our souls!!!
I will end this with a question: Why are you here? Why are you on planet earth? Is it to wait for the King to rescue you when you have already been rescued from darkness? Is it to sit on a mountaintop, refusing to use your talent that he has given you because you are too busy wating for His return- and besides, it would just be wasted on those infidels anyways? Is God really o.k. with that? Or would He rather us be down in the valley, answering the times the way Isaiah did when asked by God "Who will go for us"- answering with those solem words, "here am I Lord, send me"? Would He rather us take the good news of His grace, His mercy, His freedom to this dark world than to sit on our hands asking Him for more freedom from those around us?
Think about it. Then ask yourself if the reason there is no revival in America is because our head is in the clouds...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
God has given us each other, and we will never walk alone
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (You will never walk alone)
I know! I know! it is a bit strange, perhaps, to start out a blog with song lyrics. But I have always believed music is a powerful spiritual force, and have always been very moved and often inspired when men write from their hearts and place that on the stringed instruments... :) So forgive this brief indulgence, and know it is with a purpose...
I first heard this song by Jars of Clay at the Rock and Worship Roadshow. It placed deep thoughts in my brain and I have had it's message stuck in my head ever since. What is this? I thought Christ was our shelter! How is it then that this songwriter has made a bold proclaimation of living in the shelter of each other?
Now I must confess, that I have not spoken with said songwriter. But I believe I have an idea of what he was after when he penned this song. And I believe it is a message that needs to be echoed throughout our churches. Why? Because I believe the message that the songwriter was expressing is the same message that God expresses in the Word, and if applied, could radically alter the future of this nation...
I think the first thing to look at is what exactly it is that we, as a group of believers, are. We as Christians are described as many things- from the light of the world to the salt of the earth, to priests and children of the most High God- but there is one thing we are referred to that caught my attention as concerning this current subject. And that is, the Body of Christ Himself. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul illustrates this idea that some of us are likened spiritually to the feet of a body; some likened to hands; some to ears; and so on. He illustrates the point that we all are different, and we all have different gifts. I think it is safe to say that Paul was in a sense, saying that there are no blank-minded robots in the family of God. We are all individuals, unique in a variety of ways. BUT despite this undeniable truth of individuality, Paul ALSO makes another point in his "unique" comparrison of the church to a body: that just as in the physical, the "eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you"- so we, as a part of the Body of Christ, cannot say to another "I have no need of you"! In fact, Paul takes it one step further by stating the following: "There should be no schism in the Body, but that the members have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, ALL the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, ALL the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor. 12:25-26) This same idea is echoed in the book of Hebrews, where it is written "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also IN THE BODY." (Hebrews 13:3)
In a lost and dying world, we have been left as a witness to those around us, to show Christ, to shine His Light in the darkness, to reflect Him that set us free. We ARE His Body on this frail planet. As a result of that, we must also understand that we ARE His arms for reaching not only the lost- but those amongst ourselves that are hurting, that are in need, that are weeping, that are broken. Here is my thought: Is it at all possible that Christ provides us that much needed shelter that we are so desperate for, those arms that we so badly need to lean on in our darkest hour- that He provides for that need through His Body? That His Body- the Body of believers- is to be the comfort, the shelter, the fulfillment of His promise?
I would daresay that the answer to that question is yes. If we are to weep with those who weep, if we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, then we must have need to be involved with each other's lives. We are to be that fulfillment of promise. Can you imagine what kind of effect that would have on this world if they saw us actually loving each other?
Now this does not mean welcome with open arms any who claim the name of Jesus. we must be wise and discerning, for scripture warns us that there are many false teachers and antichrists that may look good on the outside, but in reality are just pawns of the devil himself, teaching wicked doctrine. We must be cautious not to endure false teaching, and rather rebuke it with love. But that is the key- LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13 style love. And for those who are His- we must unite in love. We must be those arms of comfort. We must be the healing hand. We must find shelter in each other.
Instead, though, too often we are divided. we fight over carpet colors at church. We fight over pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation rapture. We fight over worship styles. We fight over whose denomination is the best. We gossip about each other, we are backbiters, hateful, bitter, angry at our brothers and sisters. Paul said that the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of you- but the reality is, we attempt to do that constantly.
I recently heard an interesting observation about communism- that the leaders of the communist movement seek to divide a nation's people. The reason being, is simple: a united people cannot be defeated. I think there is a lesson we need to take from the Marxist-loving atheists. It is, in it's simplest form, as follows: Satan seeks to divide the Body of Christ. The reason being, is simple: a united Body cannot be defeated. In fact- the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
My friends, we live in desperate times. I believe the only hope for this nation is the message of the Gospel- a message that can only be effectively communicated by a united Body. Isn't it time that we lay aside our petty differences, put down our own pride, accept that on some matters it is more important to be there for your brother as opposed to be more right than your brother? My friends, I daresay that there is a nation full of broken people who are desperate for us to heal our own self-inflicted wounds so that we can, in turn, take the healing salve to them.
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (You will never walk alone)
I know! I know! it is a bit strange, perhaps, to start out a blog with song lyrics. But I have always believed music is a powerful spiritual force, and have always been very moved and often inspired when men write from their hearts and place that on the stringed instruments... :) So forgive this brief indulgence, and know it is with a purpose...
I first heard this song by Jars of Clay at the Rock and Worship Roadshow. It placed deep thoughts in my brain and I have had it's message stuck in my head ever since. What is this? I thought Christ was our shelter! How is it then that this songwriter has made a bold proclaimation of living in the shelter of each other?
Now I must confess, that I have not spoken with said songwriter. But I believe I have an idea of what he was after when he penned this song. And I believe it is a message that needs to be echoed throughout our churches. Why? Because I believe the message that the songwriter was expressing is the same message that God expresses in the Word, and if applied, could radically alter the future of this nation...
I think the first thing to look at is what exactly it is that we, as a group of believers, are. We as Christians are described as many things- from the light of the world to the salt of the earth, to priests and children of the most High God- but there is one thing we are referred to that caught my attention as concerning this current subject. And that is, the Body of Christ Himself. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul illustrates this idea that some of us are likened spiritually to the feet of a body; some likened to hands; some to ears; and so on. He illustrates the point that we all are different, and we all have different gifts. I think it is safe to say that Paul was in a sense, saying that there are no blank-minded robots in the family of God. We are all individuals, unique in a variety of ways. BUT despite this undeniable truth of individuality, Paul ALSO makes another point in his "unique" comparrison of the church to a body: that just as in the physical, the "eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you"- so we, as a part of the Body of Christ, cannot say to another "I have no need of you"! In fact, Paul takes it one step further by stating the following: "There should be no schism in the Body, but that the members have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, ALL the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, ALL the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor. 12:25-26) This same idea is echoed in the book of Hebrews, where it is written "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also IN THE BODY." (Hebrews 13:3)
In a lost and dying world, we have been left as a witness to those around us, to show Christ, to shine His Light in the darkness, to reflect Him that set us free. We ARE His Body on this frail planet. As a result of that, we must also understand that we ARE His arms for reaching not only the lost- but those amongst ourselves that are hurting, that are in need, that are weeping, that are broken. Here is my thought: Is it at all possible that Christ provides us that much needed shelter that we are so desperate for, those arms that we so badly need to lean on in our darkest hour- that He provides for that need through His Body? That His Body- the Body of believers- is to be the comfort, the shelter, the fulfillment of His promise?
I would daresay that the answer to that question is yes. If we are to weep with those who weep, if we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, then we must have need to be involved with each other's lives. We are to be that fulfillment of promise. Can you imagine what kind of effect that would have on this world if they saw us actually loving each other?
Now this does not mean welcome with open arms any who claim the name of Jesus. we must be wise and discerning, for scripture warns us that there are many false teachers and antichrists that may look good on the outside, but in reality are just pawns of the devil himself, teaching wicked doctrine. We must be cautious not to endure false teaching, and rather rebuke it with love. But that is the key- LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13 style love. And for those who are His- we must unite in love. We must be those arms of comfort. We must be the healing hand. We must find shelter in each other.
Instead, though, too often we are divided. we fight over carpet colors at church. We fight over pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation rapture. We fight over worship styles. We fight over whose denomination is the best. We gossip about each other, we are backbiters, hateful, bitter, angry at our brothers and sisters. Paul said that the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of you- but the reality is, we attempt to do that constantly.
I recently heard an interesting observation about communism- that the leaders of the communist movement seek to divide a nation's people. The reason being, is simple: a united people cannot be defeated. I think there is a lesson we need to take from the Marxist-loving atheists. It is, in it's simplest form, as follows: Satan seeks to divide the Body of Christ. The reason being, is simple: a united Body cannot be defeated. In fact- the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
My friends, we live in desperate times. I believe the only hope for this nation is the message of the Gospel- a message that can only be effectively communicated by a united Body. Isn't it time that we lay aside our petty differences, put down our own pride, accept that on some matters it is more important to be there for your brother as opposed to be more right than your brother? My friends, I daresay that there is a nation full of broken people who are desperate for us to heal our own self-inflicted wounds so that we can, in turn, take the healing salve to them.
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