"Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living....Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time...." (Psalm 52:5 & Jonah 3:1)
It would be amusing, if it were not so pathetic, when people say the Bible is "not relevant today." Our texts are from some of today's readings. Now tell me that the Psalm text does not describe exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in the United States of America. No, "it's not over yet," and yes, there will be more battles to be fought. But if we could get a skywriter to fly over America today, this would be what I suggest he writes to those who resist and hate the Reign of King Jesus, "Surely God will bring you down...." Jesus addresses our Psalm text to those described earlier, those who, "boast of evil," those who, "boast all day long,..who are a disgrace in the eyes of God,..who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction....You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking truth,..you deceitful tongue." This is "front page headline."
This is Armistice Day, aka, Veteran's Day in The United States of America. We honor those who serve and have served the US during our very brief 240 year history. Consider America's battle for survival:
"September 3, 1783-- The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Great Britain. Congress will ratify the treaty on January 14, 1784." By the way, consider this: "October 7, 1783-- In Virginia, the House of Burgesses grants freedom to slaves who served in the Continental Army." (The History Place)
I heard a war veteran who served 3 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan. He is now a member of the House of Representatives from California. "What we need in the Pentagon is a restoration of the warrior mentality." He went on to say that Obama filled the Pentagon with bureaucrats, civilians. Well, of course. That's all Obama was/is.
The Bible and history reveal that war is the norm for post Garden man. I write this today in a nation whose national anthem is a chorus describing the nation's battle for survival. This was not written during the Revolutionary War. The US Anthem was written 31 years later during another attempt of a foreign power to destroy the young nation. Personally, I'm glad and thankful for our forefathers who decided it was better to fight for freedom than be enslaved to tyranny, aka, "The Warrior Mentality."
What about you and me today? You cannot read the Bible without realizing that the Followers of Jesus are, have been, and will be at war until the Second Appearing of the, "King of kings, and Lord of Lords." This "title" of our Lord Jesus Christ is a political title, a government title, a who's-running-this title. When I read the Jonah passage, I thought of how many times, "Then the Word of the Lord came to [you and me] a second time." We have this tendency to read our own limited, misinformed philosophy of life rather than, "....the Word of the Lord...." Frankly, I don't know how many, "second time[s]," we have. Church, we need to hear, "The Word of God," King and Savior Jesus, the first time and obey the first time. A day is coming when there will be no more, "a second time."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for Your mercy in these recent days. We still need You, however, so much, indeed, "to the end of the Age," and "beyond." I pray for a life of first-time obedience.
*******************************
Some personal "stuff" and news at: jhs58.blogspot.com
It would be amusing, if it were not so pathetic, when people say the Bible is "not relevant today." Our texts are from some of today's readings. Now tell me that the Psalm text does not describe exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in the United States of America. No, "it's not over yet," and yes, there will be more battles to be fought. But if we could get a skywriter to fly over America today, this would be what I suggest he writes to those who resist and hate the Reign of King Jesus, "Surely God will bring you down...." Jesus addresses our Psalm text to those described earlier, those who, "boast of evil," those who, "boast all day long,..who are a disgrace in the eyes of God,..who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction....You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking truth,..you deceitful tongue." This is "front page headline."
This is Armistice Day, aka, Veteran's Day in The United States of America. We honor those who serve and have served the US during our very brief 240 year history. Consider America's battle for survival:
"September 3, 1783-- The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Great Britain. Congress will ratify the treaty on January 14, 1784." By the way, consider this: "October 7, 1783-- In Virginia, the House of Burgesses grants freedom to slaves who served in the Continental Army." (The History Place)
I heard a war veteran who served 3 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan. He is now a member of the House of Representatives from California. "What we need in the Pentagon is a restoration of the warrior mentality." He went on to say that Obama filled the Pentagon with bureaucrats, civilians. Well, of course. That's all Obama was/is.
The Bible and history reveal that war is the norm for post Garden man. I write this today in a nation whose national anthem is a chorus describing the nation's battle for survival. This was not written during the Revolutionary War. The US Anthem was written 31 years later during another attempt of a foreign power to destroy the young nation. Personally, I'm glad and thankful for our forefathers who decided it was better to fight for freedom than be enslaved to tyranny, aka, "The Warrior Mentality."
What about you and me today? You cannot read the Bible without realizing that the Followers of Jesus are, have been, and will be at war until the Second Appearing of the, "King of kings, and Lord of Lords." This "title" of our Lord Jesus Christ is a political title, a government title, a who's-running-this title. When I read the Jonah passage, I thought of how many times, "Then the Word of the Lord came to [you and me] a second time." We have this tendency to read our own limited, misinformed philosophy of life rather than, "....the Word of the Lord...." Frankly, I don't know how many, "second time[s]," we have. Church, we need to hear, "The Word of God," King and Savior Jesus, the first time and obey the first time. A day is coming when there will be no more, "a second time."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for Your mercy in these recent days. We still need You, however, so much, indeed, "to the end of the Age," and "beyond." I pray for a life of first-time obedience.
*******************************
Some personal "stuff" and news at: jhs58.blogspot.com
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
