From God’s Perspective
In Matthew 24 Jesus taught his followers about the signs that would proceed the last days. The description of these last days is similar to our times today.
John McArthur said, there is a reason for our country’s insanity… it’s because of the judgement of God. God allows any nation that rejects him to go down the path of degradation and destruction.. A nation that forsakes God produces people whose foolish hearts are darkened…. They are of a reprobate mind… a mind that does not function according to God’s divine design. He allows wicked rulers to rule over them… either overtly or covertly. The decline of a culture and of a nation is characterized by confusion, darkness, and persecution of God’s righteous remnant. God allows his righteous judgement to purge a nation according to his righteous standard…His word made manifest.
Even in the midst of the judgement God will protect his people. As Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ… for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. Those who embrace the glorious gospel are saved from the wrath of God’s judgement.
In the midst of the darkness, those God has called will discover that God has a purpose for all suffering. Jesus said, in this world ye will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Pete and Suzan learned this lesson before they left MD Anderson cancer center in Houston. The doctors said, this terminal brain cancer will take Suzan’s life. We can help you make her last days as comfortable as possible. In the midst fo the darkness of death itself, God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. Our life eternal is hid with Christ in God.
When we are born again of God’s Holy Spirit, God will open the eyes of our spiritual understanding. The Word of God is spirit and it is truth… not from our own minds, but from the mind of God himself. 1 Corinthians says, the natural man understandeth not the things of the spirit of God… these things are foolishness unto them. But the spirit is life and peace unto those who are born again of God’s spirit.
Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto his Father, even unto the death on the cross. When Pete’s doctor observed Pete’s brain scan, he said, “I cannot figure out why you don’t have full blown dementia. Your brain scan indicates that you would be suffering the effects of advanced Parkinson’s disease.” Then as a Christian the doctor said, “I can only conclude that the reason your brain is functioning normally is your life style of meditation and prayer to feed the “God-spot,” the spiritual center of your brain.”
Walt Hendrickson, Pete’s mentor in the Navigators said, Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men. Only when a man is broken of himself can God’s Holy Spirit teach a man… We can only come to him with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. When we come to him in desperation empty handed, then he can fill us with the power of his Holy Spirit. When we empty ourselves of ourselves, then we can trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding… in all our ways we can acknowledge him and he will direct our paths.
Isaiah 55 says, Seek the Lord while he may be found… let a man return to the Lord and he will have compassion unto him and he will abundantly pardon. For his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts.
The Word of Truth is an acquired taste. Therefore, taste and see that the Lord is good. When we receive the spirit of God in Christ, as Paul said, the preaching of the cross of Christ is a sweet smelling savor, a sweet aroma. The Psalmist said, the word of God is sweeter also than honey and the honey comb. Jeremiah said, Thy words were found and I did eat them, and they were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
Despite the trials and tribulations of this world, God works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Jesus said in the last beatitude, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.
God will make a way even where there seems to be no way. It takes a man of faith to believe that God himself is the source of our supply… he is our Jehovah-Gireh… he is our provision…. God himself is our allotment, our provision, our sufficiency and our all in all.
Even though we are surrounded by a world corrupted and infiltrated in education, the media, entertainment, politics, business, industry, and even religion…. The world cannot take away the spirit of God in Christ in us. Instead of cursing the darkness of this world, God has called us to shine the light of Christ. The light shines into the darkness and illuminates, dispelling the darkness of deception with the light of the truth of the Word of God.
According to Colossians 3:12-17:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
As we are faithful to walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness… Ye are the light of the world. Therefore, let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven…
… that despite the darkness of this fallen world, we may live to the praise of the glory of God’s grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
