LIVING IN THE LAST HOUR

We could all be living our last hour.

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  • Rich Mullins 1955-1997

    Rich Mullins

    Compassion International

  • What color is your sin?

    Bear with me here.

    So, last week, I was in attendance at the Texas Democratic convention in Corpus Christi. I walked away with the impression that not much was going to change in Texas. Not because democrats are not doing the work but because they do not know how to support each other. Everyone one wants to be catered to. That’s the totality of American society. For democrats their vote is the carrot they dangle in front of candidates. So, unless Texas statewide candidates can woo their fellow democrats, they can pretty much count their race a loss. But we all know, it will take a lot more than democrat votes, for a democrat to win a statewide race in Texas. 

    Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
    Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

    There was a lot to take in during the convention. My focus was on looking beyond this political divisions, racial, ethnic and even gender and not just among democrats but the whole gist of partisan politics. As a believer (in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of all things, the King of kings) my biggest question was this, “What does the Lord say of all this?” I am so exhausted with Texas conservative politics. It is a cesspool of adulterous, religious-political rhetoric that serves no purpose. This is the reason you need boots and tall hats here. Lots of poop and big egos. Isaiah 65 speaks to this as a stench to the nostrils of a holy God.

    Well, after that a bunch of other questions came to mind. “What does God think of Texas Republicans calling Talarico all sorts of names? Does God care about Texas politics or politics in general? No. You want to know why?

    Scripture says that men make all sorts of plans, but it is God’s will that prevails. Every single time, God’s will, will prevail. I can pray and pray and pray and beg God for life, for healing of a loved one to no avail. And what can we do after He has chosen to take a life? Nothing. If anyone believes in God (the living God, in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of all things, the King of kings) he or she believes that God is the giver and taker of life. Period. If you read about King David when he had taken Uriah’s wife, had him killed and then married his wife, they had a child. The child was taken ill. David was distraught. He would not eat. He would cry out to God night and day. And the child died. David got up, washed up. He got dressed, went to worship and he ate. And his people came and were amazed at his transformation and they had to ask.  “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

    King Davids responds with, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” All his efforts and pain did not change God’s will. And what was God’s will?

    After King David’s adulterous actions to the point of murder, God sends the prophet Nathan. And Nathan lays out his sin. So, “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

    And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” David sinned against God. And he gave God’s enemies the opportunity to mock him. Sin has consequences. God is not mocked.

    There are many false teachers, false doctrines, fake Christians (CINO). Fake Christians are people who grew up knowing and learning about God, but never more than that. They went through the motions, but that’s it. The name stuck. It’s the same way with Catholics. I grew up as a Catholic but never embraced the belief. I was a Catholic in name only. When I joined the military, I was asked if I had any religious affiliation or something like that. I just checked Christian. Not because I called myself a Christian either. I had yet to meet the Lord. Much later I learned the difference.

    When the religious right attacks your character and tries to discredit your witness, how should you answer? Do you go, tit for tat, tuck your tail between your legs and walk away, feeling stupid and humiliated, or turn the other cheek?

    Then it hit me…

    As I reflected on my experience at the State Convention, I felt my spirit quickened. I realized, Texas Republicans are not against adulterers, or pedophiles, or even LGBT. It’s ok to be LGBT so long as they are Republican. They have no problem with adulterous behaviors, corruption in leadership, and on and on. So, their war is not against sin. Oh, they call out the sins of others and let their followers define the rest.

    This incessant war is not about protecting American freedoms. Whichever way, the right justifies its need to wage war on democrats, or any political party, it is not over morality. It’s not over Christianity. If Christianity is about anything, it is about morality. God wishes everyone to be saved, but He knows the heart of all men too. Lust begins in the heart. And it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a man.

    Republicans have no desire to be a good Samaritan. At the cross, Jesus cried out to His Father “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” The religious leaders were condemning Jesus. They were ok, with crucifying Him. They were ok with persecuting the apostles. Do you remember, Saul had Stephen stoned? They also dragged the adulterous woman to the feet of Jesus, hoping He would condemn her. But they did not bring the adulterous man. The Jewish leaders were ok with freeing a known criminal. And still, Jesus cried to His Father. “Forgive them they do not know what they were doing.” He was their mediator. Today, religious leaders do not know what they are doing. Jesus is still their Mediator, but take note, God is not mocked. Period. I do not have to rack my brain any longer trying to understand the hate of the religious right. God is gracious. I serve a living God. And He will not give His glory to anyone. 

    Galatians 2:11-13 NKJV
    Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

    The biggest threat to the body of Christ is the Pharisee.

    More later. Blessing.

  • I start many a post…then

    I change my mind. As a Bible believing woman, I am fully persuaded that God is who He says He is. I do not expect anyone to believe as I do. It would be great if everyone did. God desires the same thing. He wishes everyone to be saved. But He knows not everyone will. He even says that everyone who calls on His name will be rejected, because He never knew them.

    I am taken aback by today’s Christian and evangelicals who have chosen to support a man of dissension. And it’s not that he is standing for the things of Christ. He is not a martyr. He is not sharing the good news of the gospel. He is not being criticized for his faith.

    The ills of society are not the result of any one people, but the heart of all people. The church shares blame. The Creator of man said the heart of man was continually evil. So much so, he had to destroy man once. But He did find one righteous man who could carry on. One man. The man Noah. Noah and his family. And even after he saved Noah and his family, his daughters had their own agenda. And here we are. And when God asked Jonah to go preach to Ninevah because He wanted to save the people there. Jonah disagreed. He felt strongly that the people should be destroyed.

    God is always willing to save, to forgive, to show mercy, and He only asks one thing. He asks that man turn his heart back to Him. Think about that. He asks that one little thing of those – He calls His children. Sadly, His children do not obey Him. And that is their history. God’s people are obstinate and disobedient. They can’t even begin to keep His laws. To this day, the most rebellious people are the children of God. And His children know too well that judgment begins with the house of God.

    So, while the trolls laugh, the Lord laughs louder. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” So, I try not to do this.

    But …. “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Sometimes I am compelled to respond. But when I do, these Christians feel a greater need to defend their stance. They dig their heels in and start hurling insults and callings their critics, children of Satan. That’s the pattern. They have taken their lead from their leader. The father of lies.

    The harvest is now. The tares must be removed to bring in the wheat. The tares have mixed with the wheat since forever, and their presence is visibly noticeable. So here we are. The tares look too much like the wheat. They have sapped that which was for the wheat (Jeremiah 12-13). But the good wheat is ready.

    May God have mercy on our souls.

    I added an AI Generated image below, just for effects. It is my first time trying this feature. It looks nice, but I think I prefer my own images.