I try not to be politically motivated in anything I say or do. I left my protesting days behind me back in the eighties. This is not to say however, that I do not pay attention to what is going on in the political playground we see today. Not only have the players changed, but the playground has changed as well. The bullies are still there, though the faces may have changed a little. The playground hasn’t changed so much, but the structures on the playground sure have. Long gone are the hard rigid metal structures we cut our teeth on as kids. Today, king of the castle is more like king of the world.
Okay, maybe a bad analogy, but we have seen a shift from hard-liner politics, to the ever increasing ‘sterile’ politicking. Our politicians today, whether of the democratic variety or the communist brand, neither adhere to the mainstay of their original foundations. In the United States you have a Republic claiming to rule under a democratic ideology. In Russia and China, there exists a communist philosophy, abandoned long ago. Let us not forget the wily ways of Islam which threaten all ways of political, social, and economic freedoms, including their own, with the rest of humanity left to make sense of it all on their own. Now, add in a ‘global pandemic’ and the world becomes divided even further.
The world as it is, swims comfortably in a stewing pot which has unknowingly seen the temperature rise to where it is now at the boiling point and will soon overflow. It doesn’t take a genius to see the direction the planet is heading. What it takes to understand why it’s heading there requires an entirely different mindset. It has nothing to do with global warming, or climate change, or whatever terminology you want to use. Neither does it have anything to do with geo-political movements, or natural disasters. The current condition of the world rests solely on the fact that society has systematically removed God from every aspect of daily life.
Within the Christian realm the current world situation has caused its own divisions. Each faction claims to have biblical support for their own reasons and beliefs. They all have their reasons for masking or not masking, vaccinated, or not vaccinated. What there doesn’t seem to be however, is any unity in the understanding they are all engaged in a spiritual war, and they, being spirit filled, bible believing, born again Christians, are not fully believing this war even exists. If they did, wouldn’t they forget about what’s dividing them and concentrate on what binds them together? Scripture says greater is he who lives in us, than he who is in the world. You wouldn’t know it to watch the church today.
If you haven’t heard from the pulpit that Christians are in a war, a spiritual war, then I encourage you to change churches now, before it’s too late. This CV19 situation although manifested in the physical world is, in whole, a spiritual battle, and it’s only going to get worse. If you think the world is going to recover from it, you are sadly mistaken. It is only going to continue to get worse. There is only one way for life on this planet to improve, and it’s going to take seven years of pure hell on earth before things get better.
Jesus, when asked by his disciples about the signs of the end age used the analogy of a woman with labor pains. As the woman gets closer to delivery the pains dramatically intensify. Not only do the pains intensify but the duration between each contraction is shorter, or if you will, is increasing in rapidity. The world right now to continue with the pregnancy analogy is edging ever so closely towards the end of the third trimester, and the delivery of the child. To put it in relevant context, it’s the beginning of the end.
Fortunately, there will be those who won’t have to endure those seven years. Sadly, for others however, they will not be so lucky. Even those who call themselves Christian will be surprised to discover their efforts weren’t good enough to keep them out of the great tribulation. Going to church, bringing food to the monthly potluck, and paying their tithes does not make one a Christian. They are giving themselves a false sense of security. When that wonderful day comes, when Jesus Christ returns to gather up his bride, there will be those who were only wearing the maid of honor dress.
Where am I going with all of this? The problem with the world today is the current brand of Christianity which has lost its zeal. From pastors right on down to small group leaders, and bible study groups Few pastors teach the need for repentance. Sure, we may hear about the need to confess our sins daily. Isn’t this just a license to continue what they confess to without having to turn away from? Repentance, true repentance is the turning away from the offence. I suppose it is easier to preach and teach confession than it is to preach and teach repentance.
Confession is an acknowledgement to man and God of a person’s wrongdoing or sin if you will. Now don’t get me wrong, confession is a crucial step to right oneness with God, but it’s not the only step. Repentance is where the rubber meets the road. It is the willful action of turning away from one’s wrongdoing or sin. Then, and only then can and will a person set themselves on a journey of freedom and right oneness with the heavenly Father.
How does this help with the world’s problems and current course direction you might ask? For starters, the church as seen by the secular world, would appear in it’s original calling, being in the world, and not of the world. Currently, it is hard to tell in there is more church in the world or more world in the church. A unified body committed to right oneness with God, separate from the world, pointing the way to Christ and not a church program, concert, entertainment. When we speak with the language that is no different than a trucker or a sailor (no offence meant to either profession) it’s hard to see how Christians are set apart. When fashion in the church is no longer modest but trendy, there is telling the difference between the world and the Christian believer.
Christians are to be different, set apart, and asked to be world changers. In order for this to happen, there needs to be an observed difference between Christians and non-Christians. When this difference becomes evident, then and only then, will anyone feel the slightest of impact. Today, in the current world condition the secular world is looking for answers and not seeing a whole lot of places or people to get them from. My challenge to whomever is reading this right now is to be that person, who they live as one set apart by God to be the light and salt. You may not be able to give the answers someone is looking for, but the way you live your life will surely be able to point them to the way, the truth, and the life. Remember your calling to be set apart from the world.
I am visually impaired (legally blind). Creator of varied spice blends and hot sauces. Writer of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Lover of life. Man of faith.