Reading Time: 7:05
It seems today that everyone around you is demanding that you take a stand on various human rights issues, or race issues, or poverty issues, or governmental issues in general. Like the book of Ecclesiastes states:
“9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before
our time. 11 No one remembers the former generations, and even those
yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 NIV
I remember when I was a kid. My life’s issues seemed so big. They seemed beyond my ability to grasp altogether, until I asked someone older and they explained to me that they had seen this all before. Well, today what you are seeing has all been done before. However, it’s a new generation trying to discover their way and their identity in the midst of things they have never seen before and do not understand. Nations come and nations go. God sets one up and takes another down. He does what please him and continues to work out his purpose in creation.
Those who seek to know God by his Word will find that these things we are going through are not as earth shattering as we think. Yes, we can say that all these things point to the end times. It’s true! We are already living in the end times. Jesus said:
“Even so, when you see these things happening,
you know that it is near, right at the door.”
Mark 13:29 NIV
And again in Luke he says:
“Even so, when you see these things happening,
you know that the kingdom of God is near.”
Luke 21: 31 NIV
We were told that nation will rise against nation. We were warned of persecution, and hatred, and famines, and uprisings. However, Jesus said:
“When you hear of wars and uprisings,
do not be frightened. These things must happen first,
but the end will not come right away.”
Luke 21:9 NIV
Yet, what puzzles me and what perplexes me is that Christians are acting like their whole way of life is being ripped from beneath them. Were we not the ones warning our nation to repent and turn to God before judgement comes? Were we not prophesying destruction on this land because of the rampant abortion and homosexuality around us? Are we not even at odds with other believers over doctrines that divide?
We say this nation is corrupt beyond all remedy, but we are still so unwilling to see it fall? It is so sad to see Christians more concerned about political outcomes than the advancement of the gospel. Still, even today, changing people’s hearts is the only way to change nations. How foolish can we be to think that a change in a law will result in people loving one another as we are commanded to do by God.
Whose Side Are You On?
Joshua was a man of action and, after Moses died, took up the mantle of bringing the people of Israel into the Promised Land. He became a great military leader and backed down from no one. Yet, one day when he met a warrior in a field he challenged him with these words, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The warrior standing before him with sword drawn replied, “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5:13-15 NIV)
I refuse to be led from the duties I have to my king to serve the temporary kingdoms of this world. All you have to do today to become the enemy of someone is to not support what they are fighting for. For me, like the man Joshua spoke to, I am about the Lord’s business. I am a citizen of a heavenly kingdom that does not go to war with carnal weapons, but with the Sword of the Spirit.
“4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive
every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2nd Corinthians 10:5, 5 NIV
Knowing this, I was compelled to add my voice to the fray, as so many ministers have done. Fighting poverty is important. Fighting injustice of every kind is important. Fighting the destruction of our planet is important. And the list goes on. All these things must be done. And you should do them. I though, will focus on changing hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that those who take up the mantle of social justice will do it in a right way before God.
“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast,
since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me
if I do not preach the gospel!”
1st Corinthians 9:16 NIV
Too often we feel that if anyone is not as involved in a matter as we are then they are our enemies and weaken the hands of those who are fighting. In some respects I understand what they are saying. However, the same applies for me. Should we not be spending every moment of our lives sharing the salvation that is offered by Jesus to those around us?
I cannot imagine anything more urgent than to present the forgiveness of God and the hope of salvation to each and every soul in the world. Especially with all the prophetic signs we are seeing, Yet, I reach out to those who endeavor to right the world’s wrongs and bring justice to the oppressed by saying, “Please do it with the love of God in your hearts for the lost of this world.”
And on a final note. Please understand that those who disagree are not your enemies. Sometimes they are not even wrong. Yes, I constantly try to extend myself beyond my current mindset, but I am always punished when I do. Hate hardens, love lifts. Lift up and encourage one another in hard times.
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has
already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our
salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Romans 13:11 NIV
Until next time, keep looking up.
“26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world,…
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place,
stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:26-28 NIV
Pastor Brian Jenkins
Calvary Assemblies of God