For September 20, 2020
Recently, it’s been astounding to watch world events parallel the eschatological prophesy, “After that, [Satan] must be set free for a short time” (Revelation 20:3 NIV) happening right before our eyes as godless ideologies influence our politics, business, schools, colleges, media, and even the clergy, vainly promoting an empty utopian promise that we can provide for ourselves, apart from God.
In other words, we have no need for Jesus Christ, God, or the Bible—we are all we will ever need! Biblically centered ideals, which contrast the “everything is relative” and “everyone is right” narrative remain censored or ignored in a flawed “utopia” where hostility, disrespect, and violence have replaced common courtesy, respect, and decency.
Workers on the Tower of Babel were likewise seduced by their own sin, pride, and arrogance,
Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly. Let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves (Genesis 11:3-4 NIV)
As those builders failed, today’s god-less “utopia seekers” fail because they refuse to acknowledge the universal, inherent sin-problem that plagues all of us,
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21 NLT).
Anarchy, violence, exploitation, human trafficking and other crimes demonstrate our lack of concern for our neighbor’s well-being due to our internal malevolent nature (sin). This nature is always at work within us to urge us to perform “what’s best for us” by any means necessary. Here, we have reduced our precious, God-given, human lives to mere dollars and cents.
Also, people who feel that fortune, elite status, fame, or political power will spare them from destruction or God’s wrath are greatly mistaken,
They trust in their wealth, and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God (Psalm 49:6-7 NLT).
Jesus also says,
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? l Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with His angels in the glory of His Father and will judge all people according to their deeds (Matthew 16:26-27 NLT).
All of us will die, and we will leave our possessions behind. In other words, there is a life beyond the grave where eternity dwells. The question one should as is, Where do I want to spend my eternity?
For many, God’s Word (Bible) and His Holy Spirit no longer guide our thoughts, words, and behavior. Instead, whatever feels good or gives us pleasure—at this moment—is what governs our conscience and behavior. Oh what sorrow and despair awaits those of us who insist “evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 NLT).
No person wants to live in a society where people think and act irresponsibly constantly. Yet, left to our own devices, we are doomed to experience it since we all commit sin. Ecclesiastes 1:2 teaches, our human efforts are “futile and meaningless” because they do not offer us the forgiveness of sin and peace with God, which are essential to having a spiritually fulfilling, eternal life. At some point, we must pause to ask this question, with the utmost sincerity, what kind of world do we want for our children, and their children?
Ours is not a perfect nation; no nation is, especially with our sin and entitlement issues running amuck. Although we are blessed with advanced technology, education, politics, military, and industry, none of these things make our country great. Instead, it is our faith in God, and the Judeo-Christian values we embrace and uphold, as the Scriptures attest, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 NKJV).
One of the attributes of God, omniscience, is His ability to know perfectly and eternally “all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God knows how best to attain to His desired ends.”1 And within the context of all the things God knows perfectly and eternally is His foreknowledge of our redemption in particular,
The objects of [God’s] foreknowledge are the free acts of men. Such knowledge is involved in the prediction of events, which either concern the free acts of men, or are dependent on them. If God be ignorant of how free agents will act, His knowledge must be limited, and it must be constantly increasing, which is altogether inconsistent with the true idea of His nature. His government of the world also, in that case, must be precarious, dependent, as it would then be on the unforeseen conduct of men. As the omnipotence of God is His ability to do whatever is possible, so His omniscience is His knowledge of everything knowable.2
God’s ordering, calling, choosing, and predestining our human lives to become like Jesus Christ, while at the same time preserving our ability to have total “free will” is something people continue to debate. Rather than join this debate, suffice it to say it is a mystery that reflects God’s sovereign will and deliberate action. He is God, and it is His prerogative to choose what He feels is the best course for advancing His universe along with deciding the best means to fulfilling those ends.
Herein lies the mystery, He can choose us for salvation, but not in consideration of our moral and spiritual merit (since we have none). Jesus says God draws us to Him (John 6:44). In addition, He affirms that we are His chosen (John 15:16). These ideas are not contradictory because God does not want us to perish. He wants us to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9).
Election is a wonderful display of God’s sovereign will and wisdom He extends to all people who are willing to come to Jesus Christ,
You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9 NKJV).
Unfortunately, human “free will” also means there will be those who will reject God’s gracious invitation as they rely on their personal ingenuity, ignore His Word, scoff at His teachings, spurn His Son, and resist His Holy Spirit’s urging.
Nevertheless, Calvary’s cross still allows God’s love and forgiveness to touch everyone equally. Christ will reconcile even the vilest of sinners, to Himself without distinction. Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon us to accept His invitation freely and willingly,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20 NKJV).
Those of us who hear His call and respond to it positively will comprise His church, the Bride of Christ and will experience abundant eternal life forever with Him. Won’t you seek Him today?
A civilized people must exercise vigilance and due diligence to promote and secure the moral and spiritual well-being of our fellow countrymen and women. God has endowed all of us with the sacred trust to preserve civility, decency, and goodwill for people with whom we work, serve, and live. Why not start today.
What a Wonderful Savior!