Category: Biblical Insights

There is a mystery going on these days. Strange things are happening without any rhyme or reason. Common sense isn’t half as common as it used to be. Wrong is becoming right and right is becoming wrong. Many are unaware, but some are asking; what is happening to America today?

America Under Attack

There are no foreign guns, no tanks, no fighter jets, no cannons, no torpedoes, and no foreign soldiers on our soil. Yet, we are under attack. This attack is much more insidious than the usual weapons of war and that is what makes it so effective. This war is not carnal but spiritual (2 Cor. 10:4). What we need to understand is that what happens in the natural, first occurs in the spiritual.

This attack is hitting the nation at the very core, the foundation of its existence, chipping away at the foundation of the structure. In addition, if the powers that be don’t soon recognize what is happening, there is going to be a mighty shaking and crumbling.

The Evidence

What went on at the Capitol on January 6th
is merely a symptom of what is really taking place in the United States.

Let’s look at the manifestation of this attack.

Crime and violence – Gun violence is on the rise precipitously with no end in sight, and the government cannot reach a consensus on how to curb it. We are literally shooting each other in the streets. We do not need a foreign army to kill us we are doing it ourselves!

The Spirit of rebellion is running rampant among us to the point that we no longer respect authority and rebel at the consequences. We simply want to have our own way.

Immorality – We have drifted away from the standards commanded by God and have set our own standards chipping away at the principle of moral right and wrong. Mankind has become a god unto himself and set his own standard for righteousness, right and wrong, morality, and convinced himself that there is no God.

This standard has manifested itself in the following ways:

• God’s law no longer applies
• God’s Commandments have been abolished
• God’s Commandments are no longer relevant
• God’s standing of righteousness is no longer binding
• God’s Law has been amended.
• God’s Word has been abridged

Now, what do the Scriptures say about this mindset? Prov. 28:26 reads:

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Here we have the contrast between the wisdom of those that trust in the Lord and those that trust the folly of self-trust.

First, we have the character of a fool: He trusts to his “own heart,” to his own wisdom and counsels, his own strength and sufficiency, his own merit and righteousness, and the good opinion he has of himself; he that does this is a fool because he who exercise this kind of trust, not only trust in that which “is deceitful above all things”—his heart (Jer. 17:9) but that has often deceived him. This implies that it is the nature of a wise man to put his trust in the Lord, and in his power and promise, and to follow his guidance (Prov. 3:5, 6. 2). The comfort of a wise man: that is he that walks wisely and does not trust in his own heart, but is humble and self-diffident, and goes on in the strength of the Lord God, shall be delivered; when the fool on the other hand, who trusts in his own heart, shall ultimately be destroyed.

This is because man’s heart, which is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), will without fail deceive him.

This spirit of self-trust and denial of God has permeated into the upper echelons of leadership in the government causing a huge problem for the entire nation.

Let’s look at the Scriptural confirmation of this phenomenon. Rom 1:18-32

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. NIV

This passage contains the last half of chapter one and depicts a picture of the human predicament before a holy God. Further, it contains God’s wrath against mankind and the consequences have been disastrous as sin continues to increase.

Verses 19-20 – These verses make the point that God shows His anger against sinful and wicked individuals who cover up the truth of God through their wickedness, even though they are fully aware of the truth about God because He has made it evident to them. It is obvious through the creation of the world which demonstrates His eternal power and divine nature. Therefore, there is no excuse to not know God.

Verse 21 – We see and live in God’s creation every day. For this reason, how can we deny God? Scripture further answers that in Ps 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” NIV

Although they knew God, they refused to glorify Him or give thanks for His blessings (i.e. food, clothing, shelter, salvation, life). This is simply the failure to recognize God. When He is removed from the equation that only opens the door to evil.

When we eliminate God, we lose our standard or reference point from which to work. When anything goes, everything becomes useless.

To neglect what is good unavoidably leads to perpetuating what is evil. Lack of appreciation may appear to be a small thing, but it commences a downward spiral into depravity. To forget to thank God for all He is and all He has done reveals dangerous self-centeredness. The effect of this is darkness, pride, futile thinking and planning, blindness, and lastly total removal from God that erupts into a deluge of sin.

When God is removed from human thought, much more is lost than gained. Truth and absolutes are quickly abandoned and everything is subjective to opinions and feelings, including God Himself.

God created mankind with a void that needs to be filled. Therefore, something or someone must be at the center of life. This void is to be filled with God but without Him, we make ourselves central. Subsequently, everything we try is futile in giving satisfaction. As with Solomon, we find out that everything is “meaningless! Meaningless! … Utterly meaningless!” (Eccl 1:1-2 NIV). Living for oneself or some other idol is utterly futile (see Daniel 5:23 ff.). When God is removed from the equation, anything goes and everything becomes futile.

The “heart” is the center of intelligence, feelings, and moral choice. Hearts become foolish when they refuse to recognize God (more on this in verse 22). Useless thinking is followed by useless living. At this point, both mind and heart become completely lacking of light. When confused thinking becomes a lasting mindset, individuals are unable to turn to God.

Verse 22 – In this verse, we have the word “fool” (s) again. Without God, individuals become so caught up in their own professing wisdom that they are actually fools.

Acknowledging self instead of God is seen as a sign of sophistication and intelligence. However, by Biblical definition, any individual saying he or she cannot consider there is a God, or refusing to accept God, is acknowledging being a fool (Ps 14:1). The proof that God exists is so plain and clear that to ignore it is simply foolish.

Verse 23 – Mentioned earlier was the void that God placed in mankind. This verse elaborates on what is used to fill this void intended for God. Instead of worshipping God, man creates images of his own to worship.

Whether the images were created out of stone, metal, wood, or are humans elevated to the status of gods, they lack the glory that belongs only to God. These artificial gods might inspire fear or reverence, but they undoubtedly do not deserve worship. Only God is to be worshipped.

Verse 24 – In this verse, we get a glimpse of what is in the “deceitful” and “desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9) heart. Go turns over a heart that has turned against Him. One of these manifestations is sexual immorality. Sinful desires, then, cover a multitude of lusts. More on this to follow.

Verse 25 – Just as people exchange the glory of God for lackluster images (vs.23), they additionally trade what is known about God for a deliberate distortion. This falsehood is the belief that something or someone is to be worshipped in place of the one true God. Instead of worshipping the creator, the creation is worshipped—the things God made rather than God Himself.

Verses 26 & 27- More sexual immorality. The downward spiral continues to the point that God’s gift of sex becomes utterly depraved.

Verse 28 – People may start with some knowledge of God, but somewhere along the line, they chose not to glorify him nor thank him any longer. This generally leads to questions and doubts that led them to no longer recognize God as God. At that point, they refuse “to retain the knowledge of God.” Moreover, when they make the choice to reject God, He allows them to do it. As a result, their minds become depraved, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong is lost. Once the conscience is tainted, there is little hope. “To do what ought not to be done”
is a sign that the people were not just doing things that were offensive to God, but additionally offensive by human standards.

God does not generally halt mankind from making choices against his will. He has granted free will to mankind and allows the declaration of the so-called independence from him, even though He knows that in time we will become victims to our rebellious choices. In other words, we will lose our freedom not to sin. There is no worse slavery than to be enslaved by sin.

Verses 29-31, Paul carries on to name the shocking consequences of human desire operating without godly control.

The Takeaway

A nation without God is a nation in chaos. The Scripture reads in Prov. 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” NIV

Iniquity, abiding in a nation, places disgrace upon it: Sin is a condemnation to any nation or kingdom and leaves them disgraceful among their neighbors. For example, the citizens of Israel were often instances of both parts of this equation; when they were good, they were great but when they forsook God all the nations about them insulted them and trampled upon them. It is therefore the interest and duty of leaders to use their power for the suppression of iniquity and support of virtue.

The fact of the matter is, America is under Spiritual attack and is in the midst of  losing the battle of spiritual warfare.

Life Application

A sinful nation will eventually come to shame (this is the future of our land in the US). This is a slow burn.

Unfortunately, Paul’s discussion in our text is not out of date. The same rebellion against God is alive and well in the human hearts of our nation. We fail to realize that we can be trampled upon just as ancient Israel was. History does indeed repeat itself; especially when lessons aren’t learned from it.

The United States has been on a downward spiral for some time as it heads toward becoming a secular nation. As mentioned earlier, what happens in the natural first happens in the Spiritual. America is losing its battle of spiritual warfare. Nevertheless “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Eph 6:12 NIV). For more on spiritual warfare, please see the article, All about Spiritual Warfare, on this website.

The capitulation of the battle began with the removal of prayer from our schools and has progressed steadily from there. America has embraced social behaviors that grossly transgress God’s laws. A few are mentioned below

Abortion – Abortion is the termination of human life and the Bible is clear about murder as well as the sacrificing of children. Yet, it is legal in this country. Statistics show that from the year 2005 to 2018, 10,121,000 legal abortions were performed in the US.

Homosexuality – Homosexuality is regarded d an acceptable practice by many in our nation today — even by some churches! Many homosexuals feel that their desires are normal and taunt they have a right to express them. However, society does not set the standard for God’s law and this is a clear violation. Despite this, according to a survey conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute, there are 10,338,000 homosexuals (LGBT) in the US.

Same-Sex Marriage – Further condoning of homosexuality to the point of marriage between individuals of the same sex even though the Scripture never confirmed acceptance of this practice. However, according to a 2019 population survey, there are 543,000 same-sex married couple households and 469,000 households with same-sex unmarried partners living together in the US.

Transgenderism
– A branch of homosexuality that involves the altering of one’s behavior concerning their natural gender. God has created us in His image as male or female and we are to conduct ourselves as such. Yet, according to a 2019 survey conducted by UCLA’s Williams Institute, 1,397, 150 individuals are transgender.

These are some of the major manifestations of the disregard for God and His laws.

How can we tout, God bless America when we flagrantly shake our fists in God’s face and transgress His laws? The question becomes, why should God bless America?

This is the result of what is made clear in our main Scripture text (vss. 21-22); disregarding God and professing ourselves to be wise we are becoming fools.

We are so wise that:

• We can’t pass common-sense laws for gun control to help fight gun violence
• We cannot make common-sense decisions about taking a vaccine against a life-threatening disease.
• We rebel against common-sense methods of protecting ourselves (e.g. wearing masks).
• We rebel against authority, bringing disenchantment upon ourselves, and rebel further against the consequences.
• We place every issue on the stage of political theater and politicize everything instead of seeking God’s wisdom.
• We are depending solely on the government to answer our problems instead of God
• The government is in constant conflict about how to help the citizens by failing to implement common-sense solutions.
• We want to decriminalize practically everything, including illicit drugs
• Our form of government, democracy, is under threat through insurrection, voter suppression, etc.
• We have made our own idols to worship (careers, homes, jewelry, cars, money, children, education, etc). Who needs God?

We are so wise that we have become divided to the point of chronic dysfunctionality.

The Solution

Not all is lost for America if we come to our senses. The prescription is in the Scriptures.

2 Chron. 7:14 reads:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. NIV

God has provided provisions for sin.

• – We must humble ourselves and admit to our sins
• – We must pray to God and ask for forgiveness
• – We must seek God on a continual basis
• – We must repent, turning from our sinful behavior

Real repentance is more than talk—it is a change in behavior. Whether we sin independently, collectively, or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness. God will answer our sincere prayers.

We need a national day of repentance that commences an earnest effort to seek God for forgiveness so that He can heal our land.

He is willing but we must make the choice to seek Him. If we cannot do it collectively as a nation, we are ultimately responsible for ourselves. Therefore, we must strive to become part of the remnant that will be saved.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

Baptism is a topic that concerns a fundamental tenet of Christianity. It raises questions particularly for those new to the Christian faith. This article is all about baptism to answer those questions.

What is Baptism?

The root word for baptism is ‘bapt’, which has several variations: baptize, baptism, baptizer, etc. It is used in reference to washing and dipping.

Baptism is a Christian religious ceremony or rite. It is when water is either sprinkled or poured upon an individual or is immersed in water. It is the rite of induction into the Christian community. It symbolizes the individual’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some Christian denominations perform the baptism of infants as a covenant sign of identification in the Christian community of the faithful. However, the majority of Christian groups practice what is called believer’s baptism. Here is how the Scriptures explain it. Rom 6:3-6

(3) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

(5) If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (6) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—NIV

In this chapter, Paul is addressing the Christian’s death to sin in principle.

What is Water Baptism all about?

Baptism is a representation of a spiritual truth. Baptism follows an individual’s decision to trust in Christ marking him or her as a follower of Christ, and a member of the Christian community.

Individuals who have faith in Christ are baptized into him and baptized into his death; in other words, they are joined with him. Just as Christ died, we die to our old, sinful lifestyle, and a new life begins. Scripture confirms this precept in 2 Cor. 5:17, which read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” NIV

Immersion is the form of baptism for this principle— that is, Christians are completely buried briefly in water. It is recognized that this form of baptism represents being buried with Christ, thus the death and burial of the old way of life as a result. Rising up out of the water symbolizes resurrection to new life with Christ, in addition to the promise of a future bodily resurrection. As Jesus Christ was raised from the dead … we may also live a new life. If we consider our old, sinful life as dead and buried, we have a vigorous motive to defy sin. We can then willfully choose to treat the desires and temptations of the old nature as though they were dead. Subsequently, we can carry on enjoying the wonderful new life with Jesus. As the Scripture reads in Gal 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

John the Baptist also taught baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Matt 3:11

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Here John the Baptist clarified that his baptism with the water from the Jordan River demonstrated repentance or a willingness to turn from sin. This was the initiation of the spiritual process. John baptized individuals as a sign that they had requested God to forgive their sins and had determined to live as he desired them to live. Baptism was an external sign of commitment. However, to be effective, it had to be and still needs to be accompanied by an “inward” change of attitude leading to a changed life as it does today. John’s baptism did not yield salvation. However, it prepared an individual to receive the coming Messiah and accept his message and his baptism.

The statement from John, “he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” exposed the character of the one who was more powerful arriving after John as the promised Messiah (Jesus). The coming of the Spirit had been prophesied as part of the Messiah’s arrival (Isa. 44:3, Jer. 31:31-34, Ezek. 36:26-27).

Perhaps the most significant baptism is the one Christ taught in the Great Commission. Matt 28:18-20:

(18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

First, we see that God gave Jesus power over heaven and earth, an all-encompassing concept that entails divine status. That is to say, nothing is outside of his supreme control.

Second, based on this authority, Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. “Make disciples” meant instructing new Christians on how to follow Jesus, to submit to His Lordship, and to take up his mission of compassionate service.

“Baptism” is significant because it unifies a Christian believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism represents surrender to Christ, an eagerness to live God’s way, and identification with God’s covenant people. Baptism is decreed by Jesus. To baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”
affirms the reality of the Trinity, this concept coming directly from Jesus himself.  For more information on the Trinity, please read the article, All about the Trinity, on this website.

Is Baptism Required for Salvation?

Baptism is not required for salvation. Baptism is not a necessity for salvation because we are justified by faith. Rom 5:1-2

(1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. NIV

Eph 2:8-19

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. NIV

Therefore, it is evident that we are saved by faith—not by faith and a ceremony (works). A religious ceremony is a set of activities or rites executed by someone. For example, circumcision was a ceremony where one individual performed a religious rite on another individual. Similarly, baptism is also a ceremony where one individual performs a religious rite on another individual; however, we are saved by faith alone, and any works we do, including ceremonies, will not help.

Works (action) are things we do as a result of salvation. James 2:17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” NIV

If baptism was necessary for salvation, then no one could be saved on his or her deathbed or children that had not been baptized. Also, the bedridden could not be saved. Remember Jesus granted salvation to the criminal on the cross (who had not been baptized).

Therefore, baptism is not required for salvation. However, it is a crucial rite in the Christian community and theological revelation of the New Testament.

Baptism is an external display and confirmation of one’s salvation.

 Why was Jesus Baptized?

When Jesus requested John the Baptist to baptize Him, John balked at the idea. Jesus explained that it would be the proper way for them to “fulfill all righteousness.”  [Matt. 3:15]

What did He mean? It seems that Jesus saw his baptism as advancing God’s work.

The fundamental reason that Jesus was baptized was to fulfill the Old Testament requirements of entering into the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.

While even the greatest prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) were required to confess their sinfulness and desire for repentance, Jesus didn’t need to admit sin because He was sinless (John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 John 3:5). Although Jesus did not require forgiveness, He was baptized for the following reasons:

(1) To confess sin on behalf of the nation, as did Isaiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah had done (see Ezra 9:2; Neh. 1:6; 9:1 ff.; Isa 6:5).

(2) To carry out God’s mission and advance God’s work in the world.

(3) To show support for John’s ministry.

(4) To initiate his public ministry in order to bring the message of salvation to all individuals.

(5) To identify with the penitent people of God, such as with humanness and sin.

(6) To give us an example to follow.

We see how pleased God was with Jesus’ baptism in Matt 3:16-17:

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The illustration of the Spirit of God coming down from heaven like a dove was a sign that Jesus was the Messiah and that the age of the Spirit predicted by the prophets was formally beginning (Isa 61:1).

The downward Spirit portrayed a soft, quiet, but energetic presence arriving to anoint Jesus. It wasn’t that Jesus required to be filled with the Spirit (as if there was any lack in him) because he came “from the Holy Spirit” (1:20) since his conception. Rather, this was his regal anointing.

Baptism is a joyous external act of transformation and confirmation. There is nothing like a fresh start in life—especially with Christ!

Amen

Any questions, comments, or concerns may be left below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

 

 

 

The United States of America is experiencing a big dose of civil unrest: particularly against the police. There are numerous instances involving police brutality and excessive force. With the advent of the Smartphone giving access to practically everyone to cameras these days, these events have been bought to the spotlight. This has led to increased scrutiny and public outcry against the authorities, specifically the police. While this outcry and scrutiny are justifiable in many instances, is it the total answer? Will it bring change? What does the Bible say about authority? It is time for us, especially Christians, to take a close look at authority and the Bible.

What is Authority?

According to Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, authority is “The power or right to do something, particularly to give orders and see that they are followed. The word authority as used in the Bible usually means a person’s right to do certain things because of the position or office he [or she] holds. This word emphasizes the legality and right, more than the physical strength, needed to do something.”

Authority and the Bible

Now that the definition of authority has been established, what does the Bible say about Authority?

Rom 13:1-6

13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [cf. 1 kings 10:9] (2) Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (3) For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. (4) For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (5) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

(6)This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. NIV

This is what the bible says about power and authority.

Ok, let’s take a close look at this passage.

Verse 1 – Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

The Scripture says, “Everyone must submit.” Submission means cooperation, loyalty, and a willingness to obey.

Looking at the context of this passage, Paul was writing to Christians in Rome that were living under an authoritarian and oppressive government. Even so, in spite of them ruling in an ungodly way, Paul advised them to submit to this authority.

Why? “The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Authorities are established by God. Though they may not act as such, even though they are operating in an ungodly way, they have been established by God.

Verse 2 – Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

When citizens rebel against the authorities, they are ultimately rebelling

against God because it is God that has placed them there. Further, those who disobey bring judgment down on themselves. When citizens disobey the authorities they are simply on the wrong side of the law and there are consequences for that action. Part of the reason for so many police killings and incidents is rebellion against authority.

Verse 3 – For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

In this verse, Paul is addressing the proper function of authority and government: to uphold those who are right and punish those who are wrong. If we do what is right, there is nothing to fear. This is the will of God for authority.

Verse 4 – For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

The Sword presents authority and the powers have God-given authority. It is important to understand that it was given for our good. However, if we rebel against this authority, we can expect wrath and punishment. No one is above the law. Therefore, when we behave as evildoers and lawbreakers we are treated as such. All communities are responsible to obey the law (vs.1).

There is more Biblical wisdom on this in Prov. 24:21-22:

21 Fear the Lord and the king [the government], my son, and do not join with the rebellious, 22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,and who knows what calamities they can bring?

If we do not want to be treated the same as the rebellious, we should not engage as they do.

Verse 5 – Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

Responsible citizens have two (2) good reasons to submit to their government: to avoid punishment and to take note of their own conscience, for it is the conscience that will prompt them to do what is right. Christian believers especially know in their consciences that obeying the authorities pleases God. If we are to maintain a good conscience and honor God, we must honor authority.

Verse 6 – This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

We actually pay for this authority to protect us from the lawless. The duty of government and authority is to serve and protect. Therefore, why should we not submit to them?

To Summarize

The present situation is beginning to resemble Rome. But even in living under an ungodly and cruel government such as Rome, the Scriptures state that citizens are to obey their authority. Otherwise, expect no more than wrath and punishment. The powers, the government is placed in power by God and will ultimately have to answer to God for whatever injustices have been committed against its citizens. Since this power was not given to us as individuals, we have no right to rebel or disobey and expect any other outcome. Therefore, it behooves us to obey and leave the rest to God.

Life Application for Today

Today, concerning the government, the big emphasis of concern is on the police and the excessive use of force—rightly so. Police reform is drastically needed to balance order in our cities. However, something is missing in this effort. If this missing element is not placed on the scale, it will never balance. This missing element is the citizen (s).

All of the effort to attain this balance is being directed toward the police. However, what about the responsibility of the citizens? We have seen in the above passage of Scripture that it is the responsibility of the citizen to obey the law. Citizens must be accountable for their actions as does the Police.

The postmodernism movement has ushered in a toxic atmosphere of rebellion that includes rebelling against authority. This is particularly dangerous for our youth and they are suffering as a result. The community leaders of influence and all adults need to encourage our youth and one another to respect and obey the law. We must work on being better citizens.

We promote all sorts of social concerns through public service announcements (PSA’s). These include littering, the wearing of seat belts, anti-cigarette smoking, and being vaccinated.   Why not  PSA’s that promote an anti-crime movement that focuses on civil compliance to the laws – on being responsible citizens, working together with the authorities to attain and maintain peace. This climate will help to avoid arrests initially.

In most (not all) of the cases of excessive force that have reached national attention and notoriety, a balanced observation will yield a conclusion that an act on part of the citizen initiated action from the police. There is usually some form of resistance (e.g. running away, grabbing the officer’s weapons, disobeying commands, resisting handcuffs, etc.) that requires actions from an officer. While the officer’s actions in these cases may be excessive, if the citizen’s actions were in compliance with the law, perhaps no force would have been necessary initially. These actions from citizens only escalate the situation.

Even if we are approached for the wrong reason or what we may feel is the wrong reason, we must comply (vs. 2).

The Takeaway

There must be law and order in the land. The first step for law and order is obeying the law.

While the outcry for police reform is necessary, there is also a need for an outcry to submit to authority and obey the law instead of focusing solely on the actions of the police. Obedience to the law will cool the temperature and reduce the need for authoritative action. The more we obey the less of a need for police engagement.

In order for police reform to succeed, there must be obedience to the law. It is an imbalance to restrain the police and not address lawlessness. We must be careful not to restrain the police to the point of non-effectiveness. This will only lead to uncontrollable civil disobedience.

Balance is the key to life and God delights in balance and obedience. 1 Sam 15:22: “…To obey is better than sacrifice,”

Justice is a two-way street. Let’s look at the definition of justice from Nelson’s Bible Dictionary.

JUSTICE- “The practice of what is right and just. Justice (or “judgment,” KJV) specifies what is right, not only as measured by a code of law, but also by what makes for right relationships as well as harmony and peace.”

“The English term justice has a strong legal flavor. But the concept of justice in the Bible goes beyond the law courts to everyday life. The Bible speaks of “doing justice” (Ps 82:3; Prov. 21:3), whereas we speak of “getting justice.” Doing justice
is to maintain what is right or to set things right. Justice is done when honorable relations are maintained between husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, government and citizens, and man and God. Justice refers to brotherliness in spirit and action.”

Any relationship is a two-way street, including the relationship between the government and the people! This must be a collaborative effort.  If we want to have a better relationship with the police, we must do our part and work on being better citizens. We must work together, not in rebellion.

This is what pleases God. Prov. 21:3,

3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. KJV

Amen

Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, and concerns below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

 

 

 

Obedience to God is the most important way for us to go through our lives. But, why? For starters, it is our way of showing our love to God and maintaining a relationship with Him. Additionally, there are benefits when we are obedient to God because He blesses us. So what are the benefits of obedience to God? What happens if we are not? The purpose of this article is to respond to these questions.

What is Obedience to God?

First, obedience is carrying out the word and will of another person. Since we are addressing obedience to God, this definition applies specifically to the will of God. Equally in the Old and New Testaments, the word obey is related to the idea of hearing. Obedience is a certain, active response to what an individual hears. God directs individuals to active obedience to His representation.

Nevertheless, as much as God desires man’s obedience, He does not force obedience but has always given mankind a choice since he created him. Let’s look at the choice God gave to Adam. Gen 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. KJV

God clearly gave Adam a choice; obey and live or disobey and die. Adam was God’s crowning creation. God created him in His own image (Gen 1:17), provided the best for him, and made a conditional covenant with him.

We all know the choice Adam made and he, as well as all of those that followed, has paid the price for that choice as we live in a post-Eden world.

Let’s fast forward some 2500 years when God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them into the wilderness of Sinai. There thru His servant Moses, He delivered His law and made a covenant with them. Ex 19:5-6

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The Israelites were God’s chosen nation and if they kept His covenant, they would be above all the other nations on the earth.

Ex 23:22-25

22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

God through His conditional covenant promised to bless the Israelites mightly if they obeyed Him. The Israelites accepted this covenant (Exodus 19:7-8).

God promised to provide, protect, and usher them into the Promised Land (Exod. 3:8).

The Consequences of Disobedience to God

When the Israelites were on the verge of entering the Promised Land, the Lord through Moses requested men, leaders from each of the 12 tribes to go out and survey the Land and surmise how to approach it (Num. 13). However, 10 of the spies returned with a negative report and only two (Caleb and Joshua) yielded a positive one.

As a result, the Israelites rebelled to the point that they wanted to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb (Num. 14). God appeared to Moses and threatened to wipe out the nation entirely but Moses interceded..again and God recanted. This wasn’t the first time Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites (Num. 14:22). They were pretty rebellious.

Nevertheless, never the less, God still handed down a judgment against the people (Num. 14:23-38). All of the adults that had murmured, complained, and rebelled against God and refused to go into the Promised Land would wander in the wilderness for forty years and subsequently die in the wilderness without entering the Promised Land. Only their children would be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

After the forty years had passed, the new generation was about to enter the Promised Land. Moses had a meeting with the congregation and repeated the Laws of the covenant, and encouraged them to obey the Lord. He put before them the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience; life and death and encouraged them to choose life.

Deut 30:15-19

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Fast-forward 830 years only to discover that Israel did not choose life and remain faithful to God. Instead, they engaged in idolatry and raised God’s anger.

In the book of Ezekiel, the announcement of judgment is found in chapters 5 & 6.

Ezek 6:11-14

11 Thus saith the Lord God; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

13 Then shall ye know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

14 So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Man’s failure to obey God results in judgment. In the Old Testament covenant between God and man, obedience was the basis for knowing God’s blessing and favor (Ex 24:1-8). Samuel highlighted that God’s pleasure was not in sacrifice but obedience
(1 Sam 15:22). Even the promise of a new covenant emphasized obedience as God’s gift (Jer. 31:33).

However, throughout the Old Testament, man has chosen to disobey God and has paid the consequences of that disobedience.

God blesses obedience but judges disobedience.

A New Covenant

Because the old covenant (The Old Testament) was not adhered to, God desired to establish a new covenant (The New Testament). Jer. 31:31-33:

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This new covenant arrived with the advent of Jesus Christ. Heb 9:11-15

11 But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new testament, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. NKJV

In the New Testament, the obedience of Christ stands in stark contrast to the disobedience of Adam. The disobedience of Adam brought death, but the perfect obedience of Christ brought grace, righteousness, and life (Rom 5:12-21).

Christ’s sacrificial death did away with the old system of redemption through the blood sacrifice of animals, and His shed blood was the only sacrifice needed for the redemption of sins allowing entrance into eternal life (John 3:16).

This is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ!

Today’s Choice

The Promised Land for the Israelites was an earthly one. But today’s Promised Land is a spiritual one—eternal life! Even so, obedience still yields blessings for us as we live our lives today. We can be blessed in many ways while on earth. These blessings are individual and too numerous to name.

With this good news, man (mankind) today has a choice.

Take note of Jesus’ response when the rich young ruler asked Him what he must do to have eternal life. He said, “…if
you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” (Matt 19:17) TLC

Notice the word “if” which represents a condition. If we obey God, we will have eternal life. It also indicates that we can or cannot chose to obey.

Here is another one: John 14:23-24

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me…”

Many say that they love God and His Son but still disobey. If we really love Jesus, we must obey His Words. I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have in my home!

Making the Wrong choice

Until Jesus returns man (mankind) will always have a choice and if the choice is to follow Christ, let us hold on to the faith that we profess. The Scriptures offer encouragement with this.

Heb 10:19-23

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. NKJV

The choice we make is not necessarily the final one. Free will allows us to change in either direction, to follow Jesus or not. However, we are warned against drawing back in the Scriptures.

Heb 10:26-31

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  NKJV

If we chose to reject Christ at any point, either before accepting Christ or afterward, there is no longer a conduit from our sins but a conduit for judgment. [Rev. 20:11-15]

If we just look around us, we can see the fruits of disobedience.

I pray that we all choose to experience the benefits of obedience to God.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

 

 

 

Have you ever wondered what it was like living in the days of Noah? By the end of this article, you may discover that you don’t have to wonder as much as you may think.

The Days of Noah

Let’s first take a look at what the Bible says the days of Noah were like in Gen 6:5-8

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. KJV

So we see that God observed that man’s wickedness was great upon the earth. By great, it is meant that man’s wickedness multiplied. Man committed increasingly more sin, more and more acts of wickedness. Society was not getting better, not becoming more and more righteous and godly.

Instead, society was becoming more lawless and crime-ridden, and sin became ubiquitous. Lawlessness and crime, immorality, and corruption were increasing more and more every year, instead of decreasing. The man’s wickedness had swept the earth; swept every place where man was. (How much like today!)

However, great wickedness does not only mean that sin multiplied, it also means that sin became even more extreme and terrible. Sin became: more mean and vile, more immoral and perverse, more fleshly and carnal.

Since Adam’s fall into sin, man had become exceedingly sinful and more and more bold in his sin. Man was now committing great wickedness upon the earth, and God saw man’s great wickedness. However, God observed something else about man as well.

He observed that every imagination and thought of man was evil—evil continuously—evil all the time. In other words, God saw that man was very depraved. Evil was a culture—a way of life.

Understand that this does not mean that man never does anything good. Total depravity means that man has a sinful nature; therefore, he fails and sins. Man cannot keep from sinning and doing wicked things. No matter how much man tries not to fail and sin, he will still find himself failing and sinning ever so often. [cf. Romans 7:18-19]

But the point is, in God’s eyes, man’s heart was evil, and notice that it was only evil; that is, it was corrupted and contaminated and short of perfection. Anything less than perfection is evil because it stands opposed to God and His perfection.

In verse 6, we see that God grieved over man and that He had ever created man. So, one may ask, how could God ever regret that He had made man?

Because man was condemning himself, cutting himself off and separating himself from God forever, and dooming himself to spend eternity in hell apart from God. This was not the purpose for which God had made man and it grieved Him greatly. Therefore, God regretted that He had ever made man.

In verse 7, we see that God Judged man. This is because man had aroused the holiness and wrath of God against sin. God is love and in His love, He reaches out to man. But God is also just and holy and His holiness has to act just as His love acts. God’s holiness has to strike out against injustices and immoralities and against all wickedness—to protect His name.

Being perfect, God has to correct all the injustices and wrongs of the earth. Consequently, He had to judge and condemn man for his wickedness. This grieved God to the depths of His heart.

Nevertheless, God judged and condemned man to be destroyed, wiped off the face of the earth—both man and land animals because the whole creation was corrupted. The Hebrew word translated as destroy is descriptive: it means to blot out completely.

We see in verse 8 that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. We will come back to this later.

Are we Living in the Days of Noah?

Well, let’s look at this. In the US, the country has become increasingly secular and sacrilegious. The population has condoned a plethora of ungodly practices and doctrines. It has legally embraced abortion and same-sex marriage. There has been an assault on the Scriptures to discredit and disregard them. There has been an attack on the freedom of religion to bend toward the secular way of thinking. There is corruption within the church including homosexuality, and child pornography, and pedophilia.

The government is corrupt and dysfunctional with a leader who lives in an alternative reality, and who thinks only of himself instead of the country and has placed the country on a path of division and confusion and death. As a result, the country is ideologically split politically and morally.

There is civil unrest because of the increasingly apparent social injustice, inequality, and the failure to correct it. Citizens are shooting and killing each other, looting and destroying property.

The citizens are confused and in denial. The country is in the midst of a deadly pandemic and yet, many refuse to follow simple and easy preventative measures that would protect others and themselves. They want to continue on with life as though the pandemic doesn’t exist. They say, “This is America” “we have freedom of choice” “stop taking away our freedoms.” “The masks are uncomfortable” Really? Aren’t we talking about life or death? Is lying in a casket freedom? Is a ventilator more comfortable than a mask?

Citizens are having house parties and other large gatherings, and people who are dying from the virus are in denial stating that “the virus is a hoax!”

They don’t care about the truth, or about science, they just want to have their way and live in their own reality.

Even countries in Europe are protesting against restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. This denial is world-wide.

This is rebellion—plain and simple!

Does it make sense to sacrifice life for financial stability? Can we spend money from the grave? But this is what happens when a nation turns away from God. He leaves us with our own dysfunctional, depraved minds that are totally irrational and illogical (Romans 1:28).

Nevertheless, people want to have their own way, in spite of the consequences. It happened with Biblical Israel, during Christ’s time on earth, and it is happening today. We are certainly walking (living) in the days of Noah.

This behavior: the refusal to follow instructions, to listen to reason, this total illogical reasoning, not to mention the blind ear to sound Biblical doctrine, is evidence of the last days we are living in. Jesus prophesied about it regarding His second coming in Matt 24:37-39

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  NIV

When will Christ return? No one knows but His return finds its equivalent in Noah’s day. Jesus will return when the world is living as it was living in Noah’s day: living sensual lives, eating, drinking, marrying, divorcing, and remarrying over and over and refusing to heed Noah’s message of repentance, righteousness, and coming judgment.

Notice the words “up to the day Noah entered into the ark.” While Noah was building the ark, he preached the righteousness of God and the coming judgment. The people had the testimony of Noah’s life and his belief in God’s Word as a warning, a warning that man was responsible to live righteously and that judgment was coming. They saw Noah building the ark. But even though they observed the ark, they rejected Noah’s message and testimony. They went on living in worldliness, in their eating and drinking, and in pursuing their own lustful desires, and they did so right up until the very day that “Noah entered into the ark.”
Then suddenly, unexpectedly, their world was shattered.

They “knew nothing,” which means this: they did not expect the coming judgment. They did not believe the fact, the word, and the message. They were close-minded; they did not bother too much about listening and studying the matter. Therefore, they were willfully ignorant of the truth. They simply did not want to know the Word of God and they suffered the consequences, ” the flood came and took them all away.” We can only walk in our own reality for so long before the the actual reality rises to the surface.

When will Christ return? He will return just as He came in Noah’s day: at a shocking time. Just as they “knew not” that the end was coming, so He will return when the world knows not.

In verse 8, we see God’s grace: “but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” This is the first time grace or favor is mentioned in the Bible.

What does that mean? It means that Noah believed in God and His promises. As a result, God poured out His grace and favor upon Noah.

God had mercy upon Noah and chose Noah to be the individual to be saved through the coming judgment. Noah’s faith in the promise of God—his faith in the coming Savior—saved him. Noah was saved “by grace through faith” in the coming Savior (Ephes. 2:8-9). Noah found grace because he believed God, believed God’s promise of salvation through the promised seed,
the coming Savior.

Noah chose not to live as the world was living, he chose to be righteous instead, and he chose the narrow way.

Any and every individual can be saved just as Noah was…by the grace of God through faith in the promised seed, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ if they chose to. [cf. Eph 2:8-9]

Are we living in the days of Noah? We certainly are, but we have the same choice that Noah had: to trust and believe God, to accept His Son as Lord and Savior, and live righteously. Jesus is our ark!!

The Bottom line: He will return when people are living just as they were living in the days of Noah: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” His coming is certain and assured. That is the real reality!

So let us be obedient and ready!

I encourage you to leave any comments, questions, or concerns below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!!

There is a question that is asked by many. Christians ask this question in order to get a deeper understanding of God and how he operates. On the other hand, this question is asked by skeptics and atheists to substantiate their non-beliefs. That question is, why does God allow evil to exist?

What is Evil?

Evil is a force that is in opposition to God and His work of righteousness in the world. Additionally, the word is used for any disturbance to the proper order of the universe, such as disease.

In the Scriptures, it is represented as moral and physical. We will cover the subject under these headings. Many of the evils that men encounter have not been intended by those who suffer them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food (famine), may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Often, the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is evident. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which fall upon them.

Moral Evil – This term refers to the wrongs committed to our fellowman, where the executor is responsible for the action. The immorality may be present even when the action is not physically committed. As the Scripture reads in Matt 24:48, “But if that evil servant shall say in his heart…,” whether he shall smite his fellow-servants or not, the moral evil is present.

Jesus also made this point in Mark 7:21-23

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The last six commandments of the Ten Commandments apply here (Ex 20:12-17). For one to dishonor one’s parents, to kill, to commit adultery, to steal, to bear false witness, and to covet are moral evils.

The fact of the matter is, words and deeds are established in the heart before the world sees or hears them, both good and evil. As Jesus said in Matt 12:34-36:

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

The point: for the deeds we do and the words we speak, we are responsible.

Physical Evil – Often, the bad is physical; it can be occasioned by the sins for which the people of the nation were responsible, or it may occur, not as an act of vengeance, but from accident or negligence or other causes unknown. Very often, the evil is a corrective, to cause individuals to forsake the wrong and accept the right.

For example, the flood was sent upon the earth because “all flesh had corrupted their way” (Gen 6:12). This evil was intended to serve as a warning to those who were to live after. The ground had already been cursed for the good of Cain (Gen 4:12). The two (2) purposes seemed to direct the treatment.

Where Did Evil Come From?

For starters, I want to introduce the point that evil existed before man was created. Take note of what the serpent said to Eve when he tempted her to partake of the forbidden fruit in Gen 3:5:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Take note of what God said in Gen 3:22:

22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

When man partook of the forbidden fruit, he gained knowledge of good and evil that existed prior. However, that is a theological topic for a future post. For this post, the focus is on post-Adam evil that is active in the world today.

To answer the question of where did evil come from, it came as the result of sin, ushered in by God’s main adversary, Satan.

When the first couple sinned, they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and entered into a world of hardship. Life became difficult and subsequent generations became more and more morally corrupt.

Because of the immorality of man (Adam), the physical earth was cursed (Gen. 3:17) and hardship fell upon all aspects of the world.

The Consequences of Evil

Because of man’s disobedience, he became destined to know both good and evil and this knowledge was to be gained through experience. Therefore, they were plagued with all sorts of negative elements referred to in the Scripture as “thorns also and Thistles.” These are the terrible results of disobedience. God gave man a choice and he chose disobedience—sin.

So today, we are experiencing death, illness, hardships, adverse weather conditions: floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Hardship fell upon Adam and all of his offspring, which includes us today. The Scripture reads in Rom 5:12-13:

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death is the great enemy.  All of the consequences mentioned above result in death. There is no escape for the young or the old.

These seeds of death are manifested by multitudes of infirmities and diseases of the mind and body, upheavals of nature, accidents, and man’s cruelties to one another in war and crimes. These all add to the process.

As strange as this may sound, this is all part of God’s great design.

How Long will Evil Prevail?

But all is not lost! God’s great design does not end with the human race powerless in death. God is allowing evil to exist but at the same time, he has made a provision. This provision is possible through Jesus, the Redeemer who has made it possible for all to be awakened from death and restored. The Scripture reads in 1 Cor. 15:21-22:

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

This provision of life through Christ is based on Jesus’ personal death and resurrection. Jesus Himself said in John 6:51:

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

This is the reason Jesus, God’s Son, was born into the world as a human—to save the world! (John 3:16, 1:14, Heb. 2:9, 14). Jesus’ resurrection overcame death. He is “the firstborn from the dead.” (Col. 1:18).

Jesus also said in John 11:25:

25 I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. NLT

HOW PRECIOUS IS THIS GIFT!

By fully accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, we are saved from eternal death to eternal life (salvation).

In the fullness of time, Christ will return to the earth to claim those who died in Him (the righteous) and judge the unrighteous. This is our hope, Acts 24:15 reads:

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

So we must wait for the day of redemption when the dead is resurrected and the world is rejuvenated.

The Scriptures explain this way in Rom 8:18-26

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently). New Living Translation

In this passage, Paul addresses some key points: creation is subject to corruption. All of creation, whether minerals, plants, or animals, suffer just as men do. All of creation suffers hurt, loss, damage, deterioration, erosion, death, and decay—all creation struggles for life.

We see in verse 20 that creation did not willingly choose to be condemned to corruption. Creation was fated to vanity, futility, and frustration—by God. The world was made to be the home of man, the place where he resides. Therefore, when man sinned, his world was fated to suffer the consequences of sin along with him. Man’s world was cursed right along with him. But the creation has hope!

In verse 21, we see that the creation (the earth) shall be delivered from corruption. The creation is looking forward to redemption along with the children of God and is groaning in pain as an expectant mother’s labor pains for the new birth.

The balance of the passage further addresses the hope we have. God is allowing evil to exist but only for a time. It won’t be as long as it has been before the return of Christ as we are living in the last days.

In the meantime, while we wait, we are to serve Christ—love and obey Him.

Therefore, as the winds of adversity swirl around us, as we deal with civil unrest, pandemics, a corrupt and divided government, climate change, sickness, and death, we must keep hope alive!

For more detail on hope, please read the article, The Reason for Our Hope on this website.

Please leave any questions, comments, or concerns below.

Blessings!

 

 

 

 

The world we live in today is a troubled one. We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has resulted in tremendous loss: loss of jobs and income, education of children as we know it, social freedoms and gatherings, and life overall has come to practically a standstill. This has caused great anxiety to much of the population. But despite all that is going on in the world that we can’t control, it’s important to remember that God is in control and He is our hope. In this article, we are going to look at God: the Source of all Things.

The Issue

Today’s society has turned further and further from God and the focus has been taken off Him onto the natural and material things. But what must be realized is the natural things (Jobs, homes, cars, clothes, jewelry, etc) would not exist without God.

To put things in perspective, God is the source and the natural-material things are resources. Nothing exists without God. This is an unequivocal fact. John 1:2-3 reads, “The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

One of the greatest errors made in today’s society is the forgetting of God. But what has caused us to forget God?

Many people seldom think about God. Occasionally, the thought of God may cross their minds, but not often. God is not a major part of today’s thinking, neither of our lives. The world does not include God and our lives are not focused upon God. To most, God is way off and out of reach.

To some individuals, God may or may not (agnostics) exist. To others, God does not exist at all (atheists). Therefore, God is not a subject that dwells in their minds. As a result, God is simply rejected and denied; so, there is no need to give thought to God. God is forgotten.

The Warning

There is a clear and strong warning against this in the Scriptures. Let’s take a look in Deut 8:11-15:

11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

The setting of the passage is Moses preaching under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit. Notice what he proclaimed to the Israelites: Beware! Be careful! Be on Guard!

We must conscientiously guard against forgetting God. Three (3) conditions will cause us to forget God.

In verse 11, we see the encouragement to keep God’s commandments. Failing to obey God’s holy commandments will cause us to forget God. We must obey God’s commandments, by keeping our minds upon obeying them. If we neglect and ignore His commandments, we will grow cold and indifferent, soon forgetting about God. Our consciences and minds will become dull, insensitive, hard, callous, and dead to God (1 Tim. 4:1-2). The thoughts of God will before long pass from our minds. We will forget God.

On the other hand, if we obey God’s commandments, then He will be active in our hearts and lives. Our minds and thoughts will focus on God, and we will seek to fulfill His commandments. Step by step throughout the day, we will seek to please God by obeying Him. God will be alive in our hearts and thoughts. We will then not forget God.

In summary, keeping God’s holy commandments is the way to guard against forgetting God. On the other hand, failing to obey God’s holy commandments will cause a person to forget God.

In verses 12 and 13, we see what can happen with prosperity. Being prosperous, at ease, satisfied, and complacent can cause us to forget God.

This was of great concern to Moses for the Israelites. Once they had overpowered their enemies and settled down in the Promised Land, there was the danger that their subsequent prosperity would cause them to become satisfied and comfortable. They would become cozy in Zion. Notice how Moses warns the people against becoming complacent and satisfied with their prosperity:

• – They would have plenty of food, be full, and satisfied
• – They would have great and fine housing, settle down and be comfortable
• – Their wealth (gold, silver, herds, and flocks) would greatly multiply.

Our society, particularly in the US is duplicating Biblical Israel’s downfall. The relatively young United States has been blessed to become the most prosperous nation on earth—a superpower— and in the process has turned away and is continuing to turn away from God exponentially. Instead of focusing on the source (God), the focus is on the resources.

In verse 14 we see what can be the result of focusing solely on resources—pride.

Possessing pride and a sense of self-sufficiency can cause an individual and a nation to forget God. An individual or a nation can begin to feel that subsequent prosperity is due solely to knowledge, ability, and skill. We can easily forget that our life, health, and strength—our very existence upon this earth—are due to God. It is God who willed us to be born and who had established the laws of reproduction through which we are born.

We Christian believers must guard our hearts against becoming proud and self-sufficient, from thinking that it is we alone that has produced the prosperity. We must not forget God: everything we have comes from God. God has willed for us to prosper; therefore, the Christian produces the products and possesses the things he owns. God is the primary, ultimate source of everything we are and have; our abilities, skills, health, and possessions. Man does not live upon this earth unless God wills him to live. Consequently, there is no place for pride or self-sufficiency within the heart of man. Humility and thanksgiving is to be entrenched in our hearts.

In summary, in the midst of all our prosperity, we the people of God must guard ourselves against becoming complacent, self-satisfied, at ease, comfortable. We must not become apathetic, lethargic, indifferent, sluggish, stagnant, cold-hearted, and unresponsive to God. We must not forget God.

We also see in verse 14 as well as verse 15 God’s protection. He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and saved them out of enslavement. This He did to give them the hope of the Promised Land. However, when they forgot God, they forgot their salvation. They forgot the very purpose for which God saved them, the very reason why they were living in the Promised Land.

If we forget God, we are forgetting the guidance and protection of God. We will forget that it was God who led us through our wilderness wanderings, through all the terrible trials and difficulties of our wilderness. We will forget that He protected us from situations equal to our venomous snakes and scorpions.

If we forget God, we will lose the guidance and protection of God. We will be left all alone upon this earth, leaving us only to what we can personally do for ourselves and what others are willing to do. In facing the trials and tribulations of life such as accident, diseases, financial difficulties, job or business problems, relationship difficulties, family and school problems—any problem or trial of life—the only help available will be the aid of flesh, only what we or some other person can do to help us. We will have lost the guidance and protection of God—if we forget Him.

If we forget God, we will forget His provision. It is God who provides the necessities of life: water to drink and food to eat. But, if we forget God, we lose God’s day-by-day provision, lose the assurance of having Him look after us. We will have no guarantee of the necessities of life. We must keep in mind that God had given the Israelites water gushing from a rock and manna to eat day-by-day out in the desert. They had no excuse for forgetting God.

Let’s look at verses 16-17:

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

In verse 16, we see one of the reasons God provides for us: to humble us. If we forget God, we will forget the humbling experiences. We forget that God tests us to make us stronger and to make things go smoother for us.

In verse 17 we see that if we forget God, we will forget humility and we develop a sense of self-sufficiency that leads us to believe that we did it all on our own.

The fact of the matter is, pride and a sense of self-sufficiency will lead an individual and a nation to forget God (Prov. 16:18); therefore, we must unquestionably guard against these two terrible sins, sins that cut the heart of God ever so deeply. Nothing can sink us faster spiritually than pride.

The Solution

But Moses not only shed light on the problem but he also passionately shared the solution in verse 18:

18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

This is the first of three (3) actions that will protect us from forgetting God.

Remember the source of all things: “the Lord thy God.” We must always remember that it is God who gives us the ability to work and produce. Our ability is due to God, not to us. But even more, there is another fact that we must grasp: God fulfills His covenant, the gift of the promised land. It is of essential importance to remember this.

Remember the past blessings. By focusing on past blessings, God is being recognized for what He has done in the past and keeps the focus on Him.

The Promised Land during the time of Moses was an earthy one (the land of Canaan). For us, it is a Spiritual one (eternal life in heaven), and no individual can enter or possess the Promised Land apart from God. The Promised Land is a precious gift of God and not the creation of man. Only God can yield the Promised Land to an individual. God and God alone is the source of all things. Focusing on this fact should keep an individual from forgetting God.

Verses 19 and 20 contain the second action that will protect us from forgetting God

19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

20 As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.

The second action is, consider the judgment of God. We must not forget God nor engage in false worship lest the judgment of God falls upon us. If we forget God, His judgment will fall upon us, destroying us just like it did the nations and peoples before us ( Sodom and Gomorrah, etc.).

The third action is recognize the sovereignty of God. No one recognized this better than David who wrote in  Ps. 103:19, “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”

God is the ultimate ruler and is in control of all things at all times. We must recognize Him for who He is.

Conclusion

I am going to repeat something I wrote earlier: Our society, particularly in the US is duplicating Biblical Israel’s downfall. We are walking after other gods (vs. 19). We may not bow down and worship with statues as Israel did, but we do have our idols (jobs, careers, cars, houses, spouses, education/academic degrees, etc.). However, these are resources that we would not have without our source—God.

As the nation turns from God, it relies on the government. But the government doesn’t recognize God as it should and has become divided and dysfunctional; paralyzed to help the people as intended. This is apparent from the very top of the government to the lower echelons.

Another Scriptural warning is found in Rom 1:28-31

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

When God is removed from the mind and heart, He turns us over to our

natural, depraved minds to do things that should not be done. The results are below.

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

We are witnessing Scripture unfold before us!

Today the nation is highly divided and the atmosphere is toxic and saturated with uncertainty and mistrust. Rebellion and civil unrest headline the news. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear end to the downward spiral. It is common knowledge that superpowers are not destroyed from without, but from within.

The United States has gone from the awe of the world as a superpower to a nation of immense vulnerability. The world is watching and is viewing the US with a mix of shock, vexation, and, most of all, bafflement. This is because she is duplicating Biblical Israel’s drastic downfall.

It is imperative for us, as Christians, to remember our source especially during these difficult times. Our resources may be threatened but our source is firmly in control and we are to focus on Him.

King Solomon was the wisest king that has ever lived. In his essay on life, he

concluded with the best advice ever. In Eccl 12:13 it reads:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Remember what Jesus said in Matt 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

First, seek God above all and “these things,” the resources, will be granted to us.

So be encouraged my brothers and sisters—TRUST GOD!

We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Amen!

Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, and concerns below.

Blessings!

Recently, I posted an article that addressed being a disciple of Christ, which explains what being a disciple means precisely. For more detail, please read the article, What is a Follower of Jesus Christ, on this website. This article (the one you are reading) elaborates on a specific characteristic of a disciple. This quality holds the authenticity of disciples, which are being the lights of the world.

What are the Lights of the World?

The lights of the world in the Scriptures are symbolic. Light and darkness are in contrast to each other, and the Scriptures portray the world as dark, sinful, and evil. Because of this sinful state, the world is condemned. Jesus said in John 3:19-20:

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Here we have the contrast between light and darkness, darkness being evil, and hating the light.

Most evil, which is committed in darkness, and the one who is committing the evil, hates the light and will not come into the light because of his evil, sinful deeds that will be exposed.

Jesus continues in verse 21:

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Here we have the other side of the contrast, he that doeth truth.” Truth represents righteousness—doing what is right; the person that does right will come into the light so that his deeds may be known.

Later in the book of John, Jesus states His position in this contrast. In John 8:12, He said,…” I am the light of the world…”

Jesus is the righteous light that came to this dark, condemned world to save it. John 3:17 reads:

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

This verse is why we call Jesus our Lord and Savior; He saves us from the world of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9).

When an individual accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, a transformation from darkness to light takes place.  Jesus confirmed this in John 12:46

 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. NIV

Those who genuinely believe in Jesus have left Satan’s dark kingdom and influence and have entered the light of God’s kingdom. This transformation is what the born again experience encompasses.

However, many individuals in the church behave as though they continue to remain in darkness. Jesus died so that we might transform from the darkness. If one’s life is not changing, then they may not have genuinely begun to follow the light.

Some individuals attempt to—profess Christ and Christianity yet live without really following Him. For more on this, please read the article, Christianity Without Christ on this website.

But let us look at those who are genuinely following Jesus. We have already seen in John 12:46, where Jesus acknowledges that those who believe in Him will not stay in darkness. Let’s look at another acknowledgment in Matt 5:14-16:

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Because Christians no longer walk in the darkness of the world, they “are the light of the world” as Christ is. Light makes a difference in its surroundings, and it cannot be hidden just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden. As we live for Christ, our lights are to shine in the world and glorify the Father. It should be evident that we are followers of Christ.

The reality of the matter is that even though we’re walking in the light, our lights can get dusty and cloudy. This dust comes from the issues and problems of living in the world. These issue include the corruption, the politics, the crime, the civil unrest, the uncertainty, and of course, the pestilence (e.g., the coronavirus). These things can dim our lights to a glimmer (if we let them).

However, we cannot let our light become dimmed; we must allow our lights to continue to pierce the darkness, no matter how much darkness is around us. The greater the darkness, the brighter the light.

We have Scriptural encouragement and instruction on this in Phil 2:14-15:

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

We are not to murmur, complain, and dispute as the ungodly does. When we do, it makes a poor representation of Christ. We are to be imitators of Christ and walk in love (Eph. 5:1). When we do, we become “blameless and pure.” That does not mean that we will be perfect but above the criticism of the unbelievers.

We are to be comforters, carrying our lights with kind words to encourage and not discourage. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the spiritually weary to a divine resting-place.

The result is we will be held “blameless and harmless”
as children of God in the middle of “a crooked and perverse nation” with our lights shining in the world.

The purpose of this article is to encourage readers to press on in spite of the circumstances we’re living under.

So let us remember what the encouraging Scripture says in Gal 6:9

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. NIV

Remember, we cannot reap a harvest if we give up laboring in the field!

Amen.

Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, and concerns below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!

 

 

 

The Bible is a very popular book. It has continuously been on the best-seller list. According to statistics from Wycliffe International, Gideon’s International, and the International Bible Society, the number of new Bibles that are sold, given away, or otherwise distributed in the United States alone is about 168,000 per day. Additionally, according to Guinness World Records as of 1995, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Yet, it is highly controversial for some. Some question its authenticity. However, one of the attributes of Scripture that proves its authenticity is prophesy. Approximately sixty percent of Biblical prophecy is already fulfilled. The featured prophecy in this article is: The Coming Apostasy.

What is Apostasy?

According to Nelson’s Bible dictionary, apostasy is a falling away from the faith. Apostasy is defined generally as the determined, willful rejection of Christ and His teachings by a Christian believer (Heb 10:26-29; John 15:22). This issue is different from false belief, or error, which is the result of ignorance.

The Coming of Apostasy

The Bible contains a prophecy of the impending apostasy in several passages. The most major of these is in 2 Tim 3:1-9 reads:

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth — men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. NIV

This passage is from an instructional letter from the apostle Paul to a young pastor named Timothy. In the previous chapter, Paul is encouraging Timothy to carry out his duties because it would be even more difficult in subsequent days because of the impending apostasy.

In verse 1, we see the mention of “terrible times.” These words describe the arrival of difficult, troublesome, trying, uneasy, hard, violent, threatening, and dangerous days.

Question: do any of these words not apply today? If not, which ones?

Perhaps before COVID19, some may have been able to pick out a few. Still, with the arrival of the pandemic, It’s hard to imagine anyone not observing the above adjectives to explain our current state of existence.

The Scripture further mentions, “in the last days.” Last days is a term the Bible uses that points to a period that began with the ascension of Christ and continues to the end of the present age.  It continues up to the days right before the return of Christ and the end of the world as we know it. It is important to note that these terrible times will intensify in the last days (cf.Matt. 24 1-25, 46). The closer to Christ’s arrival, the greater the intensity.

In verses 2-4, we see godlessness. The first mark of the last days will be a godless world. The world will be dangerous because it will be godless. As you read through, take note of how the terrible marks of the last days seem very much like a picture of today.

For starters, people “will be lovers of themselves.”
Understand that this does not refer to the standard and natural love of life and of oneself that we all should typically have. Rather it refers to selfishness and self-centeredness.

It is an inconsiderate love. This love tends to focus upon oneself and one’s pleasure and flesh instead of upon God and other people. This behavior extends to wives, husbands, parents, children, friends, and neighbors.

This love leads one to seek their desires without considering others, even if it is unwise to do so.

This love leads one to feel that everyone and everything revolve around them and to focus strictly on their pleasure and ignore the needs of even the desperate and dying.

Last but certainly not least, it leads one to put their own will before the will of God.

Self-love sets an individual up like a god and feels that nothing matters as much as the pleasure of oneself. In the last days, people will love themselves more than they love anyone else. Selfishness is one of the terrible marks of the last days.

We don’t have to look very far to witness this behavior because it is ubiquitous. It begins at the top with governments. Governments all over the world are failing to serve the citizens because the participants are more concerned with their own self-interests and political agendas.

The worldwide civil unrest has increased as citizens remain divided over their rights and agendas, which are, in no small degree, ungodly. People are looting and shooting one another to satisfy their desires and interests.

But this is what happens when God is removed from the equation. We cannot govern ourselves. When left to our own devices, we only destroy ourselves (Rom. 1:21).

The Scripture mentions “lovers of money.” According to the Scripture,

people will love money, what it buys, and allows them to do, and they will covet more and more of it and the things it yields. Their eyes and hearts will become focused upon money instead of God. They will indulge and hoard instead of meeting the desperate needs of the poor and the lost of the world.

Bringing this to today, people now want more and more and bigger and bigger and better and better, and they will rarely be satisfied with what they have (cf. Eccl. 5:10). In the last days, people will focus more and more on material wealth than at any other time: money, real property, stocks and bonds, possessions, travel, and power.

With the arrival of COVID19, the ability to earn money has been hindered by many and has resulted in suicides. Suicide, in these cases, is the result of putting trust wholely in money and self but not in God. This behavior proves that without God, we become completely lost—we are in despair.

Money has become the new religion. It is the supreme motivation for everything we do these days. It is the reason we wake up in the morning and remains the focus until we rest at night. Some can’t sleep for thinking about money. We beg, rob, and steal for it, and without it, we are merely hopeless.

People will be “boastful.” These are people who brag and boast in what they have. They also pretend to have what they do not have or to do what they haven’t done.

Bragging can involve anything from a job to an achievement, anything to impress others. It is an individual who feels the need to push themself above others even if it involves pretension, deception, and lies.

Today the world is full of boasters and braggarts.

The Scripture says that people will be “proud.” This word involves self-exaltation, conceit, and arrogance. It means to lift one’s head above another; to hold disgust for another; to compare oneself with others. Pride can be concealed in the heart as well as displayed openly.

In other words, the proud person feels that he is better than others. Again, this is a feeling within the heart. A proud person may seem quiet and humble, but within their heart, they can secretly feel better than others. A proud person can even put themself above God (Dan. 4:30).

God opposes the proud (1 pet. 5:5). In fact, He hates it. [Prov. 8:8] Therefore, pride is a sin. Prov 21:4 reads,

“Haughty eyes and a proud heart,the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” NIV There is nowhere for a prideful person or nation to go but down.

Next, the Scripture says that people will be “abusive.”
The King James translation uses the word blaspheme, which translated from the Greek word that means to slander, insult, rail, reviles, reproach, and to curse. Blasphemy is to be against God, generally speaking, which it is. But it is also a transgression against men. Men can blaspheme other men. Just think of the cursing and insults thrown against God and men today. Practically everyone is cursing and insulting someone: fathers, mothers, teachers, children, professionals, actors, comedians, politicians, even some professing religionists feel the need to curse occasionally to be acceptable.

Profanity is so ingrained in society that some cannot express themselves without using it.

Why is there such an excessive amount of cursing today? Because there is a loss of respect for both self and others concerning both position and authority. People behave this way when they are disturbed within—when they sense dissatisfaction, disapproval, and unacceptance within their hearts. A disturbed and dissatisfied heart causes people to blaspheme God and man, including themselves.

Next, the Scripture says that people will be “disobedient to their parents,”
refusing to do what one’s parents request, rebelling against one’s parents, showing disrespect to parents, rejecting parental instruction; dishonoring parental example. This behavior is what goes on today.

If a child will not honor, respect, and obey his mother and father, then who will he respect? If a child will mistreat his parents—those who are the closest to him— those who love and care for him most, who then will he obey, who else will he mistreat?  When this behavior becomes accepted as the norm, the home, society, and civilization will crumble.

Next on the indictment is “ungrateful.” In the last days, people will be unthankful without a sense of gratitude or appreciation for what they have received. There is no giving of thanks to God or man. Many individuals will feel that the world and society or business and government owe them the good things of life. They have little if any sense of debt to others and feel little obligation to the world and society.

They take and take and forget all about the thanksgiving—the debt and contribution—they owe to God and men. They will take everything for granted.

Bringing this to today, how many people do we know are genuinely grateful for what they have? We complain more about what we don’t have, rather than being grateful for what we do have.

Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving Day has merely become a day of gluttony and shopping for “Black Friday.” There is little to no consideration for the blessings from God and no appreciation for man through whom the blessings come. I have personally been criticized on Thanksgiving Day for praying too long, a whopping 1-2 minutes! If we can’t take time to give God special thanks on Thanksgiving Day, then when?

Next, people will be “unholy” and given over to the most base passions, being blind to modesty, decency, purity, and righteousness.

Unholy people are ones who are mastered by their passions, seek constant gratification of the flesh, seeks his pleasure in the abnormal, feel little to no shame, and are blind to decency.

So, think of the abnormal sex that is displayed and flaunted today. You don’t have to think very hard!

The people will be “without love.” Natural affection will go out of the window. Instead, there will be abnormal affection and love. People will become heartless, without human emotion or love, a lack of feeling for others, and exhibit abuse of normal affection and love. People will use each other for little more than pawns for their self-use, benefit, pleasure and purposes, excitement, and stimulation.

As confirmed in Scripture, we are to be affectionate towards one another. Eph 4:31-32 reads, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” NIV

But in the end time, individuals will be so absorbed with satisfying their flesh and pleasure that they will forget God, family, friends, and everything else. They will immerse themselves in doing their own thing and so self-centered that they will have little affection for anyone or anything else.

This pathetic condition will  manifest in several ways:

⇒ There will be little affection for the normal and natural. People will turn to the abnormal and unnatural in relationships and behavior, pleasures, and sex.

⇒ Not very much affection for the home. The home will be little more than a place to change clothes and sleep.

⇒ There will be not much affection between husband and wife. A spouse will be very little more than a person to help pay the bills and to keep up a front for social acceptance. Men and women will become unfaithful and depraved.

⇒ There will be little to no affection for friends, country, and earth. Selfishness will be the law of the last days.

Are there any signs of these behaviors in action today?

There will be little regard for God and the church. God and church will be things to be squeezed in when they do not interfere with personal desires and pleasures, rest, and recreation. But this has been going on pre-pandemic.

So then, is it any wonder that God allowed a virus that even stopped worship in the church? Do you think perhaps He’s trying to tell us something?

To move on, we’ve examined the first mark of the last days, which is godlessness; we will now look at the second mark, which is a powerless religion.

Verse 5 address this state of affairs by stating, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

In the last days, churches and temples and worship centers will be everywhere, (as they are today). Individuals will claim and profess “godliness,” but their worship will be only a “form” only an outward profession, only an appearance of godliness. They will not possess God; they will not have God or Christ in their hearts and lives. They may:

• profess Christ and God

• be baptized into the Christian faith

• be present at church worship services

• partake in the rituals and ceremonies

• deliver the creeds

• even sometimes talk about God

However, they will deny the very power of God. What is the power of God? It is the power to deliver men from the bondage of sin, death, and hell—all by way of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the power of the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ—the power to save people from perishing and to grant them eternal life.

These truths are precisely what Scripture states. But the Word of God and sound Biblical teaching will be denied. Paul also addressed this to Timothy in 2 Tim 4:3-5, which reads:

3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. NIV

Bringing this Scripture to today, individuals are professing Christianity but are completely ignoring sound Biblical doctrine. They simply don’t want to hear it.

The result is a powerless religion. It doesn’t save anybody; at best, it’s merely treading water, and you can only do so for so long, and then you go under.

This truth is a segue to the next point. In verses 6-9, we have the third mark of the last days, which is corrupt ministry.

In verse 6, we see that corrupt ministers lead gullible followers astray. The focus is on women because of the situation that was occurring in Ephesus. Some of the women in the Ephesian church were following the corrupt ministers. However, the fact of the matter is, all must be on guard against corrupt ministers.

The corrupt minister seeks people who are laden and burdened with sin and guilt, thus being easily swayed by all kinds of desires and lusts. Also, those individuals who are seeking truth and will attempt to learn from anybody who claims to have it can be trapped.

The problem, these individuals will never learn the truth because they are presented with “a form of godliness,” not true godliness. True godliness is godliness that is found in Christ alone and nowhere else.

Today we have a form of godliness; it is called popular Christianity. It professes God and Christ but denies the power. It is essentially Christianity without Christ. For more information on this movement, please read the article, Christianity Without Christ on this website.

Paul’s letter to Timothy containing this prophecy was written approximately 66-67 AD, and it is now unfolding before our very eyes and will continue to evolve and increase in implementation.

In the US, church attendance is waning, and ungodliness is on the rise. The less we depend on God, the more we look to government and look at what a mess the government is.  Again—we cannot govern ourselves, and without God, we become fools (Rom 1:22).

This apostasy is infectious among Christians. Some Christian doctrines teach that apostasy is impossible for those individuals who have truly and genuinely accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. However, there is always a

choice before us and, Satan, our enemy, is continually trying to pull Christians away. Some have gone astray without realizing it, and more will follow.

But we must heed the warning contained in the Scriptures. 1 Peter 5:8-9 reads:

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. NIV

The bottom line is, the coming apostasy …is here and growing! We must be on guard and stay strong.

Please leave any questions, comments, or concerns below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!