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Joshua 21:25, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

 

Romans 1:18-32.  Please take the time to read this passage of Scripture for yourself.

 

In the book of Judges, a clear pattern regarding Israel’s behavior after the people entered into the Promised Land is shown.  The people fall into sin and begin to worship other gods.  Sin is followed by bondage.  The Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel.  The people of Israel cry out to God for deliverance and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to victory.  Then the land rests until that judge dies and the cycle begins again. 

 

The passage out of Romans 1 gives a pattern for the decline of Rome.  Rome turned away from the evidence of God’s existence through His creation.  God had “shown what may be known of God to them instinctively (made manifest in them).”  What did God do?  He gave them over to sexual impurity and the people began to degrade themselves.  But they refused to repent and acknowledge Him and “their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools.”  God responded by giving them over to shameful lusts.  Again, the Roman people refused to acknowledge God and “worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”  So, God gave them over to a depraved mind; they did evil of all kinds – murder, disputes of all kinds, gossip and got approval from people in doing so.  Read the list of offenses against God for yourself in Romans 1:28-32.

 

Do you follow where I am headed today?  Do you see the United States of America (and really the world) in these two patterns of behavior?  It is obvious to me that we are following this same trail that the Romans walked.  Fewer and fewer people believe that homosexuality is a sin.  Evolution is still a very popular belief today and is taught in every public school.  Just so you don’t think I pulled this evolution thought out of the air, read Romans 1:20.  It declares that God’s “hidden attributes are clearly seen (in creation), being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”  That describe where we are today.  Paul states in verse 32 that “those who practice these things are deserving of death, not only do the same thing but also approve of those practicing them.” 

 

The Romans were under God’s judgment; I wonder if this described the last stage of the Roman society.  Could the Christian disapproval of these lifestyles be an excuse to get rid of Christians?  If one does not approve of this lifestyle, is it now considered a hate crime?  One who commits a crime is punished.  By the way, this is happening today!  As with the Romans, God is giving us over to a depraved mind and people are coming up with all sorts of evil and people who do not do these things are giving their approval.  It is clear from the verses in Romans and in Judges that when a people travel down this path and approve of behavior that God condemns, it destroys their society.

 

I believe we are truly in the “last days”!

 

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Ecclesiastes 5:8, If you see the oppression of the poor, and the perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.  (The blackened words are my emphasis)

 

Power in government is an interesting topic to me.  Those who come into leadership positions must decide how they are going to use the power given to them by the position they hold.  Too often in the history of governments that power has been abused.  Often the leader is given their position through the election process (ie. the United States).  The individual campaign on being a great candidate while slinging mud at their opponents.  And, often the real agenda that is supported is hidden from the view of the voters.

 

In the verse from Ecclesiastes, Solomon is concerned for the way the poor are treated; he has observed the lack of justice given to them.  Solomon writes of social injustice within the world system we live in.  I believe we can relate to this because it is a constant source of distraction as we hear all the reports of social injustice today.  You know what I am talking about.  What is fake and what is not?  What it is false and what is true?  We have only what we are told and often that is questionable.  Solomon is cautioning us not to be surprised by all the injustice; he does want us to be aware of it.

 

What does Solomon want us to understand when he says, “for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them”?  Perhaps he is telling us that the entire system of government, from top to bottom, is corrupt.  We have certainly seen corruption in each branch of government and at all levels within them.  Who is telling us the truth?

 

In the last page of the blog, I mentioned that we are being watched.  Okay, I said the CCP is watching the Chinese people.  We are only fooling ourselves to think that is only a communist thing.  Satellites, drones, monitoring our emails, computer searches and the fact that a judge can allow any of our personal data to be looked into is all wrong. 

 

To be “watched” can have both negative and positive implications.  It is positive when one watches another in order to protect them from harm.  But to watch someone when they are unaware of it in order to gain control over them is definitely negative!  Read verse 9 in Ecclesiastes 5.  Solomon states the king or in our case the president is served by the watching – the corrupt system.

 

Our hope lies with Jesus Christ.  As was said yesterday, He is continually with those who follow Him.  He is with us through every situation we go through.  It is humbling to know that He cares for you and me and that He watches us.  The solution to the corruption we see around us is near but will not come until Jesus is here with us on earth.  My belief is that the corruption is going to grow worse.

 

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Ecclesiastes 5:8, If you see the oppression of the poor, and the perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.  (The blackened words are my emphasis)

 

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has created a digital monster whose eyes never cease watching Chinese citizens and whose brain track automatically punishes their infractions.  In 2018, China had 350 million surveillance cameras, or roughly one camera for every four people.  This year, the number is expected to exceed 580 million, an astonishing one camera for every two people in the country.  In the past three years, the CCP has used technology to facilitate the mass incarceration of more than 1.5 million ethnic, religious and political minorities.” This is from an article from a magazine titled The Voice of the Martyrs, may 2021.

 

I remember reading a book by George Orwell call 1984.  It was a book about society using technology to watch over and control people in the year 1984.  Cameras were placed everywhere and televisions were used to watch people inside of their home.  It also told of the indoctrination of children in the school system.  The defining moment came when all people believed that 2 + 2 = 5.  They used fear, intimidation, and any method to get you to believe that.  In 2021, this idea of “Big Brother” or the government watching us is a reality.  China, as seen in the article quoted above, has developed the means to watch what the people are doing; some form of punishment is done to correct behavior the government does not want.

 

That brings us to the United States of America, the land of the free.  Since we know that what is developed in China makes its way to the United States, what is our government doing in the area of surveillance of people in this country.  According to all the programs like NCIS and S.W.A.T and all the similar programs (they are all true, right?!), our movements can be traced.  You have seen the cameras located at almost every corner where there is a stop light. I drive on a toll road to avoid traffic and the license plate on my vehicle is photographed and I am sent a bill in the mail for the toll.  We are even told our email, internet searches and browsing are being watched.  Yesterday, I received a notice that my browsing was going to be sent to different places so I could receive advertising appropriate to what I have searched – unless I opted out.  You tell me if “Big Brother” is watching us in the United States today.

 

At the beginning of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will offer a plan of peace, a solution to all the problems faced by the world’s governments; he even signs a peace treaty with Israel.  During this time of peace, the Antichrist is consolidating his control by getting rid of all opposition.  The surveillance we are talking about has to be a necessary part of this control.  Obviously, the know-how and the technology to do so is already in place.

 

Jesus told us not to fear.  As a Christian, His promise to us is that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Our trust, our faith is always in Him alone.  He sees every action we take and that is taken against us.  He knows every word we speak and spoken against us.  He is with us through everything that happens to us along the journey to eternal life in His kingdom.  What do we have to fear, when the Creator of all things is for us?

 

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Psalm 19:7-8, The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 

The “law” reflects the moral character of God and is therefore perfect; it is perfect in its lifegiving influence on the soul.  Put God’s moral character with His testimony (God’s wisdom and will) and Christians are better able to make wise and prudent decisions in life.  These two verses continue with the statutes of the Lord which make up His principles for right living that produce joy in our lives.  God’s commandments “enlighten the eyes” or help us to live righteously as we fear God.  All this is a reference to the Bible – it must be at the very center of every Believer’s walk with God.

 

I know you are wondering where I am going with this.  I do not want anyone to forget the importance of daily Bible reading and study!  The New Living Translation says, “The commandments of the Lord are clear and bring joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8b).  I want joy in my heart!  I want true revival in my heart!  I want to be wise and not fall for deception!  In order for that to happen, I am to delight in the Word of God, seek the Word every day and submerge myself in it.

 

However, there are those in the world who do not believe that is good enough anymore.  There are those who will tell you that you need to have an emotional encounter with God instead of being a student of God’s Word.  Why would this type of teaching be in the world?  Do you see any correlation between this new teaching and the end times?  If the devil can get a person to stop (or never start) reading the Bible and looking for an emotional experience, you are set up to be deceived.  Your emotions can and will deceive you – The Word of God is truth and will never lead anyone into deception.  It exposes lies and gives almost a step by step plan of what will happen in the end times.

 

There are all kinds of things that are being promoted in churches.  Uncontrollable laughter was around at one time.  I have read about people barking like dogs, even people having convulsions in church services.  All supposedly being new signs of spiritual maturity and evidence of an encounter with God.  If you ever see strange new teachings like this – RUN!

 

I want you to take this from this page of the blog.  Daily Bible study will keep you from being deceived in these last days. It will keep you focused on truth and will alert you to that which is false.  God’s Word will bring joy to your heart because the Spirit of God will be there.

 

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1 Corinthians 1:10, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment (thought).

 

Paul was speaking to a problem developing in the early church – division over leaders in some churches was beginning to develop.  The result was some church members were becoming

more attached to certain ministers of the gospel than to the gospel itself.  You might be asking the question right now about why this was a problem.  Read on and you will find that Paul wrote that neither he nor any other person the people were following had been crucified for them.

 

We are seeing that same situation in the church today and it is error.  Becoming attached to a particular pastor or an evangelist can lead to a betrayal of Christian principles and can even divide the church.  There will always be differences in personality and teaching styles; however, the message is always the message of the cross of Jesus Christ, where salvation is found.  The church must be about the salvation of souls and keeping those saved on the narrow way to heaven.

 

There is a movement called the Church Growth Movement (CGM) that is working hard to convince the church that doing things God’s way is no longer the right way.  According to the CGM the best way to run a church today is to do it the world’s way which includes secular business ethics and marketing techniques that might be considered questionable.  The church according to the CGM needs to do like the world in order for the world to like those in the church.  Why do they believe this is necessary?  If people in the world like the church they will stick around and attendance will soar and that is what the CGM believes is important.

 

Perhaps the problem in the church today is people are being made to feel comfortable in the pew.  The Church Growth Movement is saying make people comfortable, even the unsaved person, so the church can brag about their attendance and make the power of the cross null and void.  Paul speaks to the power of the cross in verse 18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

The responsibility of the church is to help those perishing know and understand the power of the cross to save them.  That will make them uncomfortable!  If that is true, who cares if it makes them uncomfortable and do not like you – at least at first.  Would it not be better for them to not like you and end up in heaven than have them like you and end up in eternal fire?

 

Here is the take away today.  If you are in a church whose only concern is to increase the numbers on the attendance role. You need to find another church.  The church is to be about saving people and keeping them on the narrow way to God’s kingdom.  It is a sign that we are in those days termed the “end of days”.

 

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2 Timothy 3:1, But know this, in the last days perilous times will come….

 

The phrases, “last days” and “end times” are being used more and more today to describe the days we are living in.  I have used these terms often when writing the pages of this blog.  Perhaps an explanation of what is meant would be good to end the week and get us on the same page.  Many Bible scholars believe that the “last days” began when Jesus ascended into heaven and at Pentecost.  The “last days” will continue until the second coming of Christ.

 

The disciples and the Apostle Paul looked for His return in their lifetime – that did not happen. I have said this before; we must be in the end of the “end times”.  In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he prophesies through the Holy Spirit that evil in the world will accelerate and intensify as the end approaches.  (I have written about the verses in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 – read them again and think through them.)  From these verses, you can see that as the conclusion of these days approaches, there will be a widespread collapse of the family and of society in general.  People will be arrogant and “lovers of pleasures more than of God”.  The root of this problem is sin – period! 

 

Paul gives a pretty strong warning to us that even in the church, organized Christianity, many will have a “form of godliness”, a hypocritical religion, but will deny the power of the gospel that produces genuine godliness.  He is referring to “those who profess to be Christians and appear to be religious, but do not manifest God’s power that can save them from sin, selfishness and immorality.  Such people tolerate immorality within their churches and teach that a person may practices sin and still enter into the kingdom of God.” (from the notes in The Life in the Spirit Study Bible)

 

I’m sure that you are wanting to ask if we are living in these days.  Study it out for yourself.  Read Matthew 24. Read Daniel 12:4. Read about the “seals’, and the “trumpets” and the “vials” in the book of The Revelation.  Matthew calls the sign that Jesus gives in Matthew 24 “birth pangs” that continue to get worse and worse as the time of the Lord’s return grows near as seen in The Revelation.  My answer to the question is a strong yes.  We are living in the “last days” – the last of the “last days”.

 

So, what does that mean?  I have tried to encourage you to walk in a close relationship with the Lord.  Do not fear- place your faith and trust in the One who desires you to walk with Him.  Be alert so you are not deceived by all the deception that is trying to distract you from your relationship to Jesus Christ.  Get into God’s Word daily and meditate on what it says and apply it to your life.  I continue to pray that each of you has a hunger and thirst for God’s kingdom and His righteousness!

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2 Timothy 4:2-4, Preach the Word of God!  Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.  Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching.  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.  They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. (from the New Living Translation)

 

Here is the sad reality of what the church will be like in the last days.  The Apostle Paul under the anointing of the Holy spirit was led to encourage Timothy to be consistent in preaching God’s Word and encourage the people with good teaching because a time was coming (the end times) when people would not endure the truth but only want to hear what pleased them.  Perhaps Paul saw the end of time coming in the life of Timothy.  Paul was saying that the standing of the church was not going to get better as the time of Christ’s return drew closer.

 

We need to understand that the closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ, more and more people within the church are going to hire preachers that make them feel good rather than preach sound Biblical preaching and teaching.  Look around you; people no longer want to hear Biblical truth and doctrine.  People do not want to hear, let alone accept, God’s Word when it speaks of sin, repentance, the judgments of God and the necessity of being holy and being separated from the world.  To avoid all that, they turn to those “preachers” who conform to their own self-seeking and worldly desires.

 

In the pursuit of finding one who will “tickle their ears”, people will follow all sorts of myths – that which is literally made up.  If you are wondering whether or not we are at this point in time, let me emphatically tell you – yes, we are!  People do not want to hear or read the truth of the Bible.  They want to be entertained by preachers with a gift of speaking and speaks that one can be a Christian while living an unholy life.  They do not want to hear about living a pure life, following Jesus by denying self because that’s not what I want to do.  When people start seeking truth outside of Biblical truth all sorts of ridiculous teachings and heresy can be found.

 

God’s written Word must be our ultimate guide to truth and practice.  “The tendency within some churches to base doctrine, practice, or new truth on subjective experiences, success, human-centered goals or theories without solid, Scriptural support will be one of Satan’s chief means of deceiving people in the last days” (from the note in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible).  

 

That is why it is so important to me to encourage each of you to be reading, studying, meditating on God’s Word.  You must or you risk the chance of being deceived in these last days.  Yes, I believe the last days are here.  The search for those who will tickle your ears is upon us.

 

Let me close with Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in this same letter. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

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Mark 4:7, “And some seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.”  Jesus

 

This is a verse from the parable of the sower.  This parable is about one who is spreading seed which falls on different types of soil.  Some time ago I read a devotional written by David Wilkerson that dealt with the thorns in the soil.  I am going to use much of what he wrote for this page of the blog because it just seems to fit today’s situation with too many who call themselves Christian. 

 

He correctly wrote that the soil with the thorns was defined by Jesus as the “care of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of other things entering into the heart”. When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples, He said, “these things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful’.  Wilkerson wrote that the greatest need in the church today is to be fully satisfied with Christ.  But, “He is being dethroned by what the Lord calls the thorns.” 

 

He continues in the devotion by asking each reader to consider whether the Lord is more on your mind than a year ago.  Do you spend more time in His presence than a year ago?  Is your passion for Him growing or withering?  The problem is the enemy’s hope to get you burdened with the stresses of life, with all sorts of problems, and tempts you to chase the riches and things of the world.  If he can do that, you begin spending less and less time with the Lord and become lukewarm or cold in your pursuit of Jesus.

 

Wilkerson adds John 15:6 to further explain the result of the thorns.  “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”  The person who does not draw life from the true vine is drying up from lack of nourishment.  He is deceived into believing all is well because he speaks “christianese” very well. 

 

Jesus warned the church of Ephesus that they worked hard for Him and could not bear evil, but they had left their first love – Him.  They had become lax and then cold in their walk with Him.  He told them that they needed to repent and draw close to Him – like when they first got saved. 

 

Let me close today with what David Wilkerson wrote in His devotional.  “I hear the Holy Spirit calling the Lord’s people back to their first love.  Back to hungering and thirsting for more of Christ (that’s my daily prayer for each of you!).  back to spending quality time in His presence.  Back to loving His Word.  Back to casting all cares upon Him.  Back to depending on Him for guidance.  Christ desires intimacy with His bride (the true Church!).  He yearns after His beloved to return to Him with love and obedience.  I humbly submit to you, trusting the Holy Spirit will stir your heart and draw you closer to Himself.”

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Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to His purpose.

 

I know this is a favorite verse for many people.  This verse when read with the verses before and after offer great encouragement to all Believers when we are enduring the trials of this life.  It is telling us that God will bring good out of the afflictions, trials, and even persecutions and sufferings that many are facing.  A pastor comes home from ministering God’s Word in Canada to find his home has been burned to the ground; this verse means he can find good in the tragedy.  Knowing he is about to move to another city to serve another church, and knowing certain things had to happen before the move was made, he chooses to trust God and believe that everything He allows is for a reason.

 

Perhaps we reflect on only negative things with this verse.  Notice the statement says “all things”.  It is in all the circumstances that happen in our life – both good and bad – that God is conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ (read verse 29).  Too many preachers speak that when a person gives their life to Christ, he will no longer have health problems, no longer have financial troubles, or no problems at all.  Let me take a side trip here and tell you to stay away from theses preachers!  No, God uses the circumstances we face to teach us, to refine us.

 

There needs to be a word of cation made when we talk about ”all things”.  Sin and negligence are not included!  No one can excuse sin by saying God will work it out for good.  The Bible tells us to put “to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13).  In Romans 6:13 we are told “not to present your members as instruments of sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

 

Read the verse again.  Did you see that this verse is limited to those who love God and have submitted to Him through faith in Jesus Christ?  To love God is to have a great desire to be like Him, to conform to the image of Jesus Christ.  It is to find enjoyment in His presence, worshipping Him, being in His Word, and being with His people.  It comes from being “called according to His purpose”.  All Believers in Jesus Christ have been “called” out of darkness into His light, by His special grace, to trust in His righteousness not their own, and to do His will.  Coming to understand this helps us to understand that “all things” we face will be used by Him who called to live the life He wants us to live, to become more like Him. 

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Psalm 46:1:1, God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. 

 

Read the rest of Psalm 46; it is quite impressive as it tells that we do not need to be afraid when there is turmoil and chaos all around us.  The Psalmist tells us we do not need to fear when the oceans rise and the mountains crumble because the One who created all things is still on His throne, controlling all things through the commands He gives.

 

We are living in serious times, uncertain times, fearful times.  Terrorism causes nations to tremble as no nation is immune to its threat. The fear of covid-19 and all its various strains continue to be placed before us causing people to place their life on hold.  This has caused personal troubles and sufferings that continue to mount.  There is a “crisis” at the border with immigrants trying to get into this country that has all its problems.  And, each of us face personal deep needs, trials, temptations, and times of confusion that try us.

 

The message of Psalm 46 is meant for such times.  The Psalmist is reminding each of us that God is in our midst, with us through all we face.  The Bible tells us over and over that God’s people will not leave or forsake us at any time; we never face difficult times alone.  In fact, when we try to face difficult times without Him, we’re living contrary to His reality in our lives.

 

I believe all Believers experience times when we wonder where God is, this is not the norm for us.  No, God desires to be near His people for help and comfort – at all times.  The problem is too many go everywhere else seeking help and comfort before going to Him.  Why?  The power and ability to face uncertainties and adversities of life are found in God.  Verse 7 states “God of Jacob is our refuge.”  One is to see Him as a shelter from danger, indicating that God is our security in storms and has the ability to overcome all obstacles we face. He is always available, waiting for us to seek Him in any need we face.  We do not need to fear!

 

Verse 10 tells us how to do this, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  The Hebrew word means to “let go”.  Stop holding on to the things that keep you from exalting God and giving Him the proper place in your life.  When things are crazy, find a place to be alone with Him in order to know He is present with you and has a plan for you.  It is important to remember our personal circumstances never go beyond God’s ability, power and faithfulness to deal with them.

 

I believe it is important for each of to remember the what we are being told in this Psalm.  God is available to us at any moment, day or night.  It is His desire to guide us so He is exalted.  Whatever is your circumstance today, call upon Him to direct you.

 

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From one of those emails that come around with an unknown author.  It seems to be an illustration of the devil’s plan to keep us so busy with stuff that we do not take the time to be in His Word and develop an intimate relationship with Him.

 

One day the devil called a worldwide convention of his evil demons and said this.  “We can’t keep the Christians from going to heaven, but we can keep them from forming an intimate relationship in Christ.  If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.  So here’s what we do.

 

Let’s steal their time, so they can’t gain any strength in Jesus Christ.  Let’s distract them by keeping them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds.  We’ll over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice (of the Holy Spirit).

 

We’ll entice them to play the radio or cassette player (Ok, I know it is sort of old!) whenever they drive, to keep the TV, the DVD player, and their CD’s going constantly in their homes.  And we’ll see to it every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly jamming their mind to break that union with Christ.

 

We’ll fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers and pound their minds with the news twenty-four hours a day.  We’ll invade their driving moments will billboards and flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues and every newsletter and promotional offering promising false hopes.

 

We’ll even get them to be excessive in their entertainment or recreation and send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts, and movies so they’ll return exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week.

 

And even when they meet for spiritual fellowship, we’ll involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotion.  Why, we’ll crowd their lives with so many things that they have no time or energy to seek power from Christ.

 

It was quite a convention in the end.  And the demons went away eagerly causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and there.  Don’t forget what “busy” means. B-eing U-nder S-atan’s Y-oke.  Has the devil been successful at his scheme?  You be the judge.

 

Perhaps the examples need to be updated with the times.  But I believe you get the idea of how busyness robs us of time with the Lord.  He desires that you spend time with Him, in His Word, talking to Him about your day, about the things that make you happy and sad. As the story said, you need to examine your time spent with Him and decide what you need to do.

 

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