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I begin the New Year challenging all professing Christians and preachers to make this the year any that are guilty stop trying as Israel’s false prophets of old to sugar coat the unusual weather patterns, related disasters and other calamities as simply the unexpected activities of so-called “mother nature” as though you know nothing of what has been foretold about these latter days in God’s Word (Jeremiah 23:16-22; Luke 21:11, 25-26). Since He is ultimately in absolute, sovereign control of His creation right down to the smallest particles (Psalm 147:15-18; Colossians 1:15-17), those saved by grace through faith in Christ are to tell the truth that He has permitted all calamities He has not directly caused in accord with His purposes!
Our mission is not to be God’s public relations spokespersons attempting to spin disaster and calamity in such a way that His benevolent image is not harmed, but we are charged to preach the Gospel of and give witness to Jesus Christ; preaching “the word…in season and out of season,” (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8, 2:38-40; 2 Timothy 4:1-2, NKJV). Truly, even in the day of persecution, we are to stand ready to witness Christ (Luke 21:12-19)! Led by the Holy Spirit in compassionate service to survivors yet, with wisdom and full knowledge, we use the disasters and calamities of this world to do what the Lord Himself did, warn that unless they repent (Psalm 39) they shall “all likewise perish,” (Luke 13:1-9, NKJV).
As the Lord has led, I have reposted this edited 2011 blog that continues to be very relevant in light of the recent violent storms and other calamities that have hit and those yet to come upon our nation. The only way anyone can posit that our nation could somehow be exempt from the judgment of God is to foolishly insist America is dearer to the heart of God than Israel; the people of His ancient love (Jeremiah 31:1-14)! Scripture is clear: if God has judged Israel for its sins as He has in various ways as promised over 3,500 years, there is no escape for any other sinful nation including ours since He is immutable (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Jeremiah 25:15-33, 30:23-24)!
Therefore, let every soul in our nation and the world know and understand that it is God, the living God that is active in the disasters and calamities of His creation going forward whether those who profess to be His people tell the truth about it or not--woe to the preachers of “peace and safety” apart from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, NKJV)! Indeed, it is soon to become very obvious to all that the mighty power of God is at work in the disasters, calamities and painful events occurring in the earth and universe (Revelation 8-9, 10:5-11:14, 16:1-12). And again, what does God desire before He finally pours out the fullness of His wrath on this world (Revelation 11:15-19, 16:17-21)? Repentance from sin and a turning in faith to His Son, Jesus Christ for salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11)!
Originally Posted August 28, 2011
What are the odds of an earthquake and hurricane hitting the East coast of our nation within the same week? The odds had been very slim indeed! Yet, I get the impression while everyone agrees the experience of our nation’s East coast this past week is a strange set of circumstances, the attitude is we successfully endured another couple of natural events by “mother nature.” Rather than so-called “mother nature,” may I proclaim for the record, the never changing God who created and controls His creation as evidenced in His Word is dealing with and speaking to our nation--if we will hear it (Isaiah 45:7; Lamentations 3:38; Amos 3:6).
In these and the other major calamities that have struck our nation this year so far, He has only sought to get our attention and bring us to repentance. If He had wanted to severely judge us, there would have been greater destruction and loss of life. Is that extreme? So be it! In The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, I warn that God’s attitude toward rebellion against Him is displayed in His dealings with Israel found in the Bible. He has not changed! You cannot have the blatant wickedness--which includes the destruction of the family as God designed it--that we have going on in our nation and expect Him to be silent indefinitely. Unbelievers from whatever motives can attempt to push the reality of the living God to the side if they choose, but that does not cause Him to cease to exist (2 Timothy 2:13).
My heart goes out to those who have lost family members and/or experienced property loss or displacement of any kind this past week. But it is not the prideful boast of American resilience God wants to hear at this hour. It is the humble repentance in all brokenness of a nation that “gets it.” This was the Lord’s purpose in sending calamity after calamity upon Israel; for He wills to save not destroy. However, when the people’s hearts are so proud and stubborn that they will not be humbled, then the Most High must deal with them severely which is exactly the scenario presented in Amos chapter four.1
Please, my nation, I hurt for us. Let us turn to the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ in all repentance to obey the Word as it is written and not as we corrupt it to have our way. Our way has put us on a collision course meeting with the never changing God. If you doubt that is not a good thing, the example of Israel in the Bible and history is God’s witness.
1 You can hear a sample and obtain a copy of a message entitled, When A Sinful Nation Meets God! from Amos 4:6-13 in the Strong Man
Store at www.thestrongmanofGod.org that fully explains these truths.
I close this year out as the Lord leads offering a biblical worldview on the topic of gun violence which so tragically dominated the headlines. It was the violent headlines of 2012 and early 2013 that are noted in this edited blog repost. There is at least a tempering solution to gun violence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns if even professing Christians will embrace it since many are proud gun owners for protection contrary to His warning and instruction. Thank you for taking the time in your busy life to read and reflect on the things written in this blog the past year. In spite of all of the evil in the world, I wish you and yours a blessed New Year!
Originally Posted February 17, 2013
The debate raging over what to do about gun violence in the wake of the rash of high profile incidents including the murder spree ended this past week by the decease of former police officer, Christopher Donner (and now the charge of murdering his girlfriend facing celebrated Olympic athlete, Oscar Pistorious of South Africa) centering on gun control alone does not go deep enough. While limiting access and availability to guns along with their capacity to fire bullets may frustrate those bent on gun violence, gun control alone will not address the problem of people killing people that as a matter of divine foretold lawlessness in these latter days, will continue to increase (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 6:3-4, 9:21).
As an aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ, I am convinced of Him that gun ownership is not needed for personal or family protection (Job 13:15a; Psalm 27:1-3, 59:1-4, 118:5-9; Matthew 5:38-48, 26:51-56; Romans 8:35-39, 12:18-21; Philippians 1:27-30).1 Though I am not an advocate of our nation’s Second Amendment to the Constitution, I agree with those supporting this position that guns do not kill people, people using guns do. The existence of guns and other weapons (or for that matter, mental illness) does not drive violence according to the Word of God, sin in the heart of man does! Indeed, weapons or how they were used (along with mental illness) are not even mentioned in the biblical narrative laying out what brought about God’s decision to destroy the world of Noah’s day.
However, the narrative does say, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). And again, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” (Genesis 6:11, NKJV). Evil in the heart of man due to sin led to a world filled with violence and all manner of other corrupt behavior not weapons (or mental illness). Therefore, in the divine assessment, violence and murder with guns or any other weapons must be addressed at its root: sin in the heart of man (Mark 7:20-23)!
Only God has the free fix for man’s heart in His Son, Jesus Christ, that breaks the power of sin in man and also addresses another source of his encouragement to violence, Satan, the original murderer (John 3:14-21, 8:43-47; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 8:1-4, 10:6-13, Colossians 1:13-14, 2:11-15). Even so, further proof that sin in people is the real issue with gun and all other violence is given by God in His prophetic Word. It presents us with an advance look into the thousand year reign of Christ to begin at His Second Coming. Of His many initial acts in the cause of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, Satan, that great instigator of violence among men will be removed from the world (Revelation 20:1-3).
The Lord will also order the nations to transform all swords and spears into peaceful tools (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-3); Israel will destroy the weapons of Armageddon by fire (Ezekiel 39:9-10). Access to manufactured weapons of violence will be eliminated. Any sinful, mortal man that murders in that Day will do so with whatever is at hand including his hands. He will also face the swift, sure and severe judgment of King Jesus (Psalm 2:7-12; Isaiah 11:1-9; Malachi 3:5; Revelation 19:15-16). Yet, after the end of that millennium, Satan is released and instigates mortal man’s final revolt against God complete with weapons (Ezekiel 38:1-17; Revelation 20:7-9a).
This final satanically instigated human revolt is permitted by God to show one last time His eternal wisdom and righteousness that necessitated the cross of Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant for sinful men who have believed. For in that Day even under the perfect rule of Christ, sinners will do what sinners do and would do it forever if the Lord allowed (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 31:31-34; Hebrews 9:11-10:18)! He also shows how because of His holy character, it is impossible for sin and evil whether in angels or men to peacefully co-exist with Him in His Kingdom. Sin and sinners which are unnatural to God’s eternal existence must be completely removed from His presence.
He, therefore, in response to the revolt after the end of the Messianic millennium and close of this mortal age, pours out the consuming fire of His holy wrath upon all revolting flesh as well as the entire physical creation; thereafter in judgment consigning everyone and anything not destined for eternal dwelling with Him to the lake of fire (Isaiah 24:17-23; Ezekiel 38:18-20; Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:9b-15)! It is only after this that the prophets and the apostles declare that we will see God create new heavens and a new earth “in which righteousness (alone) dwells,” (Isaiah 65:17-19; Malachi 4:2-3; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-8, NKJV).
In the meantime, the only realistic hope of temporarily curtailing gun violence by people against people during these latter days is to help as many as possible become followers and aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Jesus Christ! I’m game; what about you?
1 So foreign to the culturally conditioned American Christian mind is the biblical basis for living a gun free life today, it is bitterly rejected by many pastors and professing
Christians across racial and socio-economic backgrounds as if it were bona fide heresy. However, the right to bear arms codified in the U.S. Constitution is one of
the earliest examples of rights granted by our nation’s legal apparatus that knowingly supersedes biblical instruction and paves the way for others such as are found in
slavery, segregation, abortion and same sex marriage to name a few. For the man serious about living to please God and doing His will even in your protecting respon-
sibility, I urge you to get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics in the Strong Man Store to learn more about how to do this.
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