I am intrigued by the 40+ times in Ezekiel that God said something like “then you will know that I am the Lord.” He would do certain things, either blessing or judgment, to remind them that He was the Sovereign God. Read it.
We were created for God’s glory. That is, to show His supremacy over Satan by choosing Him as our god. As you know, God and Satan are our two potential spirit-sources to draw from to satisfy our inner craving for significance, security and a sense of well-being. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that he could do it better than God, so they choose Him.
You know the rest of the story, and our dark world displays his rule. You also know that God has the last word and that all of creation will eventually bow before Him.
THE CHURCH
Jesus established the Church to display what HIS rule looks like in contrast to Satan’s. However, for both Israel and the Church it involves a “coming out,” followed by obedience to Him. (Exodus 19:5-6, Deut. 6:16-18, Deut. 7:6, Mt. 7:24-27, Mt. 16:18, II Cor. 5:17-21, Titus 2:11-15, I Peter 2:9-12)
Everything that God does is purposeful and toward His end, thus He establishes nations and determines their boundaries and times (Acts 17:26-28). The warning of Deut. 8:11-20 is as true for America as it was for Israel.
God repeatedly warned Israel of the blessing of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, including the classic Deut. 30:15-20 text, and 800-years later He was still saying it through Ezekiel. (And Jeremiah and others.) And He is saying it today in Rev. 22 and more.
How can it be, that so many Christians are apparently oblivious to coming troubles? Is it that we are infatuated with the American Dream and that little else matters as long as we can indulge ourselves there all week and still freely gather in our comfortable edifices on Sunday to engage in our religious activities?
DISTANT EYES
If you want to see distant eyes, try talking with those around you in the pews about the unavoidable consequences of America’s repudiation of the Biblical foundations that our freedom and prosperity rested upon. The blank response mystifies and frightens me.
How can we overlook our deep and accelerating dive into moral lawlessness, and how can we think we will escape its consequences? And what would change if we took this seriously? Or am I just a troublesome alarmist? Someone please PLEASE help me!
Ken Stoltzfus
Jan. 11, 2023
Click www.10minas.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/269.pdf for a printable pdf.
I think I didn’t realize how far off we were as a culture until I started to not only read the Bible from cover to cover but to study it more in depth. The Bible is an ancient document, so it helps a lot to know the context for which the author is speaking.
In reading the Old Testament I saw how deeply God longed to have an intimate relationship with Israel, and how they kept missing the point over and over again. I saw how important it was to God for Israel to be different from other nations – one example by doing certain things like taking care of those who are disadvantaged in society, during that time, the widows, orphans and immigrants.
I think it can get daunting to think about any moral lawlessness we might be facing, or certain laws being broken… I think what inspires true change is when people invite Jesus into their lives and get to know Him. They start to know peace and know that He is the answer. From then on, whatever lawlessness that’s going on is between that person and Jesus, in my opinion. But what is most important is that people are seeking to know Jesus and letting him be the King of their lives.
That’s my perspective, I don’t claim that I necessarily know what I’m talking about, but that’s what helps me have faith that God is in control, he calls those to follow him, and he will take care of those who are astray.
Thank you Leah. That’s a beautiful personal testimony by one who has walked through some deep valleys and has persevered because of her love for Jesus and her confidence that He is good and His ways are good – – which has enabled you to persevere in carrying on with His call upon your life to resource those who are translating the scriptures for the deaf. May His reward be upon you, Frederick and little Clara.