"How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! 'Violence is everywhere!' I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted." (From today's "Minor Prophets" reading, Habakkuk 1:1-4, NLT)
Now tell me the Bible is not relevant. This is a writing from the late 7th century B.C. Yet it's as though Habakkuk was now reading and watching current world news. But lest depression overtake you, the Living Triune God responds to the prophet, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in our own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Now what follows is coming judgment, and one might say, "What's edifying about that?" Well, for me it is the declaration to His servant, Habakkuk, of what King Jesus is about to do, letting him in on Father's administration. And Jesus is doing the same with you and me today. We have lived and are living history, a history in which Jesus Christ reigns and has always reigned. He is not silent; He is not deaf; He is not "uninvolved." He reigns!
Now tell me the Bible is not relevant. This is a writing from the late 7th century B.C. Yet it's as though Habakkuk was now reading and watching current world news. But lest depression overtake you, the Living Triune God responds to the prophet, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in our own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Now what follows is coming judgment, and one might say, "What's edifying about that?" Well, for me it is the declaration to His servant, Habakkuk, of what King Jesus is about to do, letting him in on Father's administration. And Jesus is doing the same with you and me today. We have lived and are living history, a history in which Jesus Christ reigns and has always reigned. He is not silent; He is not deaf; He is not "uninvolved." He reigns!
The short video below is from an interview with Karl Barth concerning "The Confessing Church" during the Nazi era. Sarah and I lived in Germany from October 1998 to October 1999, and go there regularly. Now some people may believe that my interest in Germany from 1918-1945 is just a guy-war-thing; it is not. Germany in the first half of the twentieth century is a classic study of Biblical Prophecy and the struggle of Christ's People in a sin ladened culture. It is, at least, a partial fulfillment of our text. Germany is a study on how a great people descended into Hell. The questions remain, questions such as William Shirer put forth, "How did it happen that an ancient and cultured people, steeped in Christianity, cultivating the arts and sciences, and preeminent in modern technology collapse into savage barbarism in the mid twentieth century?" They turned their backs on Jesus Christ and, as it is or will be with any people group or individual, "....they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie...."
You and I are living in perilous, very troubling times, yet they are exciting times. Jesus Christ, King of the Kingdom of Heaven, reigning in the earth, among nations, among people, and in His Church, in you and me is showing His Church more and more the power of His Words. I had a renewed fervency in prayer today, my call affirmed and strengthened in the Holy Spirit. I pray more and more for you the Words of Jesus, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do lift up my head! Amen.
You and I are living in perilous, very troubling times, yet they are exciting times. Jesus Christ, King of the Kingdom of Heaven, reigning in the earth, among nations, among people, and in His Church, in you and me is showing His Church more and more the power of His Words. I had a renewed fervency in prayer today, my call affirmed and strengthened in the Holy Spirit. I pray more and more for you the Words of Jesus, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do lift up my head! Amen.
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