"My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for...peace they will add to you....Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct ('make smooth or straight') your paths." (From Proverbs 3)
May 10 of this year marked the 80th anniversary of the infamous "book burning" by the German Government in 1933. The site of the burning is just across from the University of Berlin (later called Humboldt University). I have visited the exact spot many times. A whole culture of books were burnt. Anyone who did not agree with the German Government was banished. Now some may say, "Wait a minute. It was the Nazis who did that." Yes it was. But they were the largest political party in Germany at the time of the November 1932 Election, and though not a majority, the National Socialists received the largest number of votes of the German people (There were over 50 political parties on the ballot!). Hitler did not, as many historic sites and naive people say, "seize power." He received the largest number of votes, i.e., he was elected by the German people. Yet because the National Socialists did not receive a majority, as in any nation which has a myriad of political parties, President Von Hindenburg had to appoint Hitler as Chancellor and charged him to form a coalition government. It is true that what transpired after that was intrigue and ultimately the abolishment of all political parties and the dissolution of the Reichstag. But the German People were about to reap what they had sown.
It was classic Proverbs 3. It can happen to any people group, anywhere, anytime. Beware, Americans, lest you think we are immune to such debauchery. People tend to observe life and come to the conclusion that since the wicked seem to prosper, the Bible just does not know what it is talking about. The psalmist in Psalm 73 thought that way, "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." The Germany of the early Twentieth Century was, as William Shirer said, "a nation steeped in Christianity." It was the dominate people group of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted for a thousand years. It was a main player in the overdue and much needed Reformation. Yet, again as Shirer put it, Germany "descended into savage barbarism in the mid Twentieth Century." What an awesome warning to you and me. Our labels, our evangelism, our prayer and worship "movements," our mega churches notwithstanding, if we, "Lean...on your own understanding," and do not, "in all your ways acknowledge [Jesus Christ as Lord]," whether here or in, "the judgement to come," the same wrath of God which came to Germany will come to us. I can guarantee you that if Hilary Clinton gets the Democrat Party's nomination for President, there will be many Charismatic "Christian" women who will vote for her for the same reason many black Charismatic "Christians" voted for Obama. For far too many, gender and race rule over Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
Jesus calls us to, "Follow Me." Our text is Jesus' call to Himself, not an ism. The situation in America continues to deteriorate, and if you and I are going walk in, "direct...paths," have "smooth or straight" paths, then nothing, absolutely nothing can usurp the Supremacy of Jesus in my life. If I yield obedience and loyalty for a moment to anything or anyone other than Jesus, I too, though "steeped in Christianity," will descend into........... I feel an urgency about this, an urgency for the Global Church in general, and the American Church in particular.
Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me more and more grace to guard my walk in You. I thank you for the promise that no matter what goes on around me, "[You] shall direct, 'make straight' [my] paths." Amen.
May 10 of this year marked the 80th anniversary of the infamous "book burning" by the German Government in 1933. The site of the burning is just across from the University of Berlin (later called Humboldt University). I have visited the exact spot many times. A whole culture of books were burnt. Anyone who did not agree with the German Government was banished. Now some may say, "Wait a minute. It was the Nazis who did that." Yes it was. But they were the largest political party in Germany at the time of the November 1932 Election, and though not a majority, the National Socialists received the largest number of votes of the German people (There were over 50 political parties on the ballot!). Hitler did not, as many historic sites and naive people say, "seize power." He received the largest number of votes, i.e., he was elected by the German people. Yet because the National Socialists did not receive a majority, as in any nation which has a myriad of political parties, President Von Hindenburg had to appoint Hitler as Chancellor and charged him to form a coalition government. It is true that what transpired after that was intrigue and ultimately the abolishment of all political parties and the dissolution of the Reichstag. But the German People were about to reap what they had sown.
It was classic Proverbs 3. It can happen to any people group, anywhere, anytime. Beware, Americans, lest you think we are immune to such debauchery. People tend to observe life and come to the conclusion that since the wicked seem to prosper, the Bible just does not know what it is talking about. The psalmist in Psalm 73 thought that way, "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." The Germany of the early Twentieth Century was, as William Shirer said, "a nation steeped in Christianity." It was the dominate people group of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted for a thousand years. It was a main player in the overdue and much needed Reformation. Yet, again as Shirer put it, Germany "descended into savage barbarism in the mid Twentieth Century." What an awesome warning to you and me. Our labels, our evangelism, our prayer and worship "movements," our mega churches notwithstanding, if we, "Lean...on your own understanding," and do not, "in all your ways acknowledge [Jesus Christ as Lord]," whether here or in, "the judgement to come," the same wrath of God which came to Germany will come to us. I can guarantee you that if Hilary Clinton gets the Democrat Party's nomination for President, there will be many Charismatic "Christian" women who will vote for her for the same reason many black Charismatic "Christians" voted for Obama. For far too many, gender and race rule over Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
Jesus calls us to, "Follow Me." Our text is Jesus' call to Himself, not an ism. The situation in America continues to deteriorate, and if you and I are going walk in, "direct...paths," have "smooth or straight" paths, then nothing, absolutely nothing can usurp the Supremacy of Jesus in my life. If I yield obedience and loyalty for a moment to anything or anyone other than Jesus, I too, though "steeped in Christianity," will descend into........... I feel an urgency about this, an urgency for the Global Church in general, and the American Church in particular.
Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me more and more grace to guard my walk in You. I thank you for the promise that no matter what goes on around me, "[You] shall direct, 'make straight' [my] paths." Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
