Because God Allowed Us To

“And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”  Matthew 17:20

     “We choose to go to the moon.  We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too….

     Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, "Because it is there."
     Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.”

     On May 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy, before a joint session of Congress set the nation to commit itself to doing the unthinkable:  landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth, within NINE years.  A task that wasn’t even though possible, as of yet.  Sixteen months later, at Rice University, President Kennedy gave his speech to the public, that came to be known as the “We Choose to Go to The Moon” speech.  He ends with stating the need for God’s blessing on this endeavor.  God would be the ONLY way that this journey was going to happen.

     Seven years later, America was in a turmoil of hatred and violence.  It was the year of the Tet Offensive, in Vietnam.  The assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy.  Riots broke out in Washington, D.C.  Racial tensions were sprouting up everywhere.  The nation was broken, torn, in trouble.  Then, something amazing happened.

     On Christmas Eve, 1968, three men accomplished an historic task.  Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders found themselves in orbit around the moon, staring at the beautiful and desolate body that has been Earth’s companion among the stars.  At 8:11pm (Houston time), on a live broadcast, the crew read from Genesis, of God’s creation of the Earth.  What better way to mark the occasion, by remembering the One that made all things possible?

     An entire year of chaos, ended with a comforting feeling of peace.  It was a reminder that, even when things are going bad, we can turn to the Lord and good will prevail. 

     “It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars.”  Richard Paul Evans

     Let us remember to seek the Lord when we face a new challenge, need to be healed, or being thankful when an imaginative goal is made into reality.

Temperamental Jonah

     “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it.”  Jonah 3:10

     Do you ever feel like Jonah, wanting to run away from responsibility?  Not out of fear but, in not wanting to see the expected result, Jonah fled.  When God instructed him to go to Ninevah, to speak against the wickedness of what they were doing, Jonah just didn’t want to do it.  Why?  He did not want to see Ninevah change their ways.  He did not want to see God have compassion on them.  Jonah wanted to see God “stick it to them”.  THAT is why he tried to run away.

     I will admit, it is very difficult, at times, to not want to see those that are blatantly turning away from God and refusing His commandments, to get their “just desserts.”  We want to see God lash out at them, rightfully so!  We want to see Him take His wrath against the ungrateful.  Not a great attitude to have.  That’s a thought that would give a fish a sour stomach (pun intended). 
     Jonah, reluctantly, did as he was told.  He went to Ninevah, spoke out against their actions, and watched as they turned their hearts to God.  Hallelujah!  Except, Jonah went outside of the city and pouted.  Then, He told the Lord, “THIS is why I didn’t want to come here!  They don’t deserve your kindness!  They deserve a lightning bolt up their backsides!”.  I’m editorializing this, of course.  Read the 4^th chapter of Jonah, for the exact conversation.  This is the exact danger that we need to be conscious of: wanting God to reap vengeance, instead of hoping to turn the hearts of the wicked to God.  Isn’t that what God instructs us to do?  To try and help? (1 Thessalonians 5:12).
     Why do we hear some people, speak out against the evil ways of society?  To judge?  To condemn?  To reap coals of fire upon them?  NO!  It is for the EXACT same reason God sent Jonah on this mission: to help save the lost!  Jonah tried to run from it and he was caught in a storm, then swallowed by a fish, to be vomited up three days later.  You would think that we’d want to listen to God, not be like Jonah.
     When you are faced with that moment, that God is using you, LET HIM!  You are keeping His commandment, in doing so.  You are helping to win as many as possible (1 Corinthians 9:19).  You are helping to defeat Satan, robbing him of more souls.  That is where vengeance lies, defeating the evil one! 
     Amen?

A Nation On Fire

     "For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you.  Your dealings will return on your own head."  Obadiah 1:15

    

 

 

     Has this nation of ours lost its greatness?  What was once glorious and splendid, is now in deep peril.  Do you feel it?  You have corruption bleeding from the top down.  Those officials that are sworn to "...preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States", are doing just the opposite.  They are promoting sin.  Illegal immigrants are being allowed to live off of the people.  Laws are enforced to allow same-sex marriages.  Now, the government is debating on transgender restrooms?  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY???

 

     This country is sick.  It has been infected with immorality.  It is plagued with transgression.  What is worse, people are believing "since the government is allowing it, it MUST be right."  I hear the voice of God saying, "I AM THE WAY".  The further we, as a nation, turn from that one concept, the deeper into destruction, our country will fall.

    

     Last week, I was reading the book of Amos and a very sobering thought came to mind.  Amos speaks of God destroying a nation, Israel....HIS PEOPLE!  They were choosing to follow their own beliefs, instead of following God.  The Father decided that it was time to bring His children to their knees, so they may remember whom has provided for them.  Using a tender hand, no longer worked.  It was time to show the hardness.  Read Amos 7-9. Punishment had to be set. 

 

     Wow!  Does that thought bring a chill to anyone else?  The Israelites, the people that God has pulled out of many dangers, protected them from any outside peril.  They were now going to feel a wrath for defying those blessings from their Protector.  That though sends chills up my spine!  It is saying that NO ONE (individual or nation), is above God's judgement.  No one will be able to use the excuse: "The government made it a law.  THEY said it was alright..."  What is the government compared to the might of God?  After all, it was God that created the government.  It was God that led the people to this land, to create a new government.  It was God that steeled the will of those oppressed people that risked everything to seek the new land.  IT WAS GOD! 

 

     Now, you know what I love about the concept of the mythical phoenix?  A magnificent bird that burst into flames, when it is time for it to die.  Out of the ashes, the phoenix is reborn.  THAT is a definite truth.  History has shown that the worst has to happen, before a rising can take place. 

 

     Richard Evans once stated, "It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars."  Yes, I feel that this nation is still going to crumble.  I fear that the worse hasn't come, yet.  However, I also firmly believe that God's children will unite to raise this nation, to her former grace.  Just as the phoenix must die in fire, in order to be reborn, strong and healthy; so must this nation do the same.  We need to be prepared to lift her up.  We need to be ready, armed with the word of God, when He appoints the time to bring this country back to Him. 

 

     Not only do individuals need God.  Entire nations need Him.  He has already shown that He will exact judgement over entire nations.  Why do we want to challenge that?

 

Think about it.

 

"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained." 

                                                                                 - George Washington, in his First

                                                                                   Inaugural Address

Walking Tall

"Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God...". 2 Timothy 1:8

     “Walk softly and carry a big stick.”  Does anyone remember that from the old “Walking Tall” movies?  Prepare yourself, for whatever life throws at you and STAND UP for what you believe in.  That’s the key to it all.  It’s the refusal to conform to what those around you set their beliefs in. 

     Jesus had stated to His Father, as recorded in John 17, “for I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” (vs. 14) He continues to ask God “not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (vs. 15) In a way, you can read that as: not letting them become OF the world.  Jesus doesn’t want us to be removed from this world of sin and corruption.  He expects us to be wary of the world.  To be prepared to stand against the corruption.  To take the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17) and fight. 

     We are not doing family or friends any favors by shrinking to their lack of commitment.  Remember, you and your actions, alone, will be on trial, on the day of your judgement.  Your family won’t help you.  Your friends won’t help you.  It’s going to come down to how you chose to serve God, during your life.  He is greater than all of the friends and family that you can have around you.  He and His Son are the only entrances into Heaven.  Would you choose to gamble that, for the sake of what those around you make think of you, for being a faithful servant of God?

     If you love them, care for them, and respect them, then you need to be the one setting the example for them.  YOU need to show THEM the better way of life.  What happens in their life on Earth, is temporary.  This life is just the test!  When we meet our end of this mortal life, that is the day that God “grades the test.”  What “grade” do you want to achieve, at that time?

     Don’t forget, you won’t get to retest.

 

Being A Real Man

   

   
     "My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; that you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge."  Proverbs 5:1-2

     I previously spoke of what the Bible stated that the qualities of a woman needed to be.  Men, now it's your turn!  As God wants us fellows to find that good-hearted woman, He also wants the men to be upstanding, pure of heart and mind, and a leader to others. 

     If you continue in the following verses of Proverbs 5, we find that God does not want man to be of a weak mind, swayed by the temptations of women to fall off of God’s path.  If anything, God expects the men to steer clear of whatever sinful obstacles that tend to get in his way (vs. 7-9).  

     Let’s look at other aspects that God holds in expectation to the men of this earth:

-      They are to be men of prayer (1 Thess. 5:17-18, James 5:16, 1 John 5:14)

-      They should be continuous students of God’s Word (Proverbs 16:3, Matthew 4:4, 2 Tim. 3:14-17)

-      They should lead by God’s example (1 Peter 3:7, Matthew 25:21, 1 Tim. 3:2-3, Romans 1:16)

     There is so much more that God’s Word continues to tell us on how men need to conduct and improve themselves.  God sent us the perfect man, His Son, as a role model for us to follow.  God knows that we are not able to be perfect, in the same manner that Jesus was.  He does expect us to try to be, daily.  Men should be inspiring for righteousness, rather than being a voice for Satan.  

     Ladies, what sort of a man do you want to look up to?  Do you want a man that is all immature and “just fun”, that has no true substance?  Or, do you want a man that is willing to guide you in God’s path, following and passing on God’s instructions for life?  Think about it, ladies.  

     Guys, let me leave you with one final thought:

“He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and foremost commandment.’” Matthew 22:37-38