Living in the Last Hour

We have a new President-Elect, but there’s a lot of Americans that can’t seem to or won’t accept the election results. So, here we ago again, local news reporting of Trump-trains in the Alamo city making their way around – waving the flag of their king, calling for recounts and don’t steal the vote, or something like that. It makes me wonder how so many Americans could get caught up in this cultic-like behavior. And I wondered, “Who is deceived here?” Is it the people that accept election results, or the people that believe democrats could steal an election? Or worse… that without a conservative leader this nation would completely fall into some kind of moral decay, one from which there is no return. Clearly, many of these Americans have never picked up a Bible, much less read it.

I thought about it very hard and seriously, I told myself. “Self, you don’t have any rational reason for questioning the election process. You may have a rational reason for not believing anything that comes out of the mouth of elected officials, politicians, political parties, lobbyists, etc., be they republican, democrats, conservative, about anyone, anything they say, or whatever, but manipulating the election process – I’m not sure. That would take people on both sides of the aisle to pull off something so drastically deviant.” That would make sense.

So who is deceived? Is it me? Is it them? Is anyone right? Are we all wrong? Well, I see it like this. At any time in history, there are always two opposing forces at work. There are two types of people in the world. There is good and there is evil in the world. We have children of God and children of the devil. With this dichotomous way of thinking I believe that someone has to be in the right, that is – in the right, according to God’s word. And there is only One that is good and righteous. Why? Because God’s word says that no man seeks after Him and the heart is desperately wicked. Who can trust it?

I am fully aware that not everyone believes, or will believe in the living God. I am also fully persuaded that the children of God, have no need to ever question God’s will. Why? Because He is always working things out for our good. This does not mean that Christians can’t or won’t question God’s workings. But never, I repeat NEVER should God’s people fear the one that can destroy, the body, but they should fear the one that can destroy both body and soul. That too is pretty clear in Scripture.

Scripture is quite clear on many things and one specific is the role of leaders in the church and those in authority. We render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but our allegiance is to Almighty God, the creator of all things. And though, we should obey God rather than man, Christians are still commanded to submit to authorities appointed over us. As for church leaders, Jesus warned us about wolves in sheep clothing and provided a very detailed list of their attributes.

Who are these people that question election results? Hmm. Americans? Yes. Christian? Perhaps. Deceived Christians? Very likely. Why? Well, I do follow some pastors on Twitter. And there were some pastors that were quick to spread fears of doom and gloom if Trump was not reelected. And still, after the election, some go along with the notion that fraud was the reason that Biden won. They want their followers to trust God, but can’t believe or accept that God would have appointed Biden over Trump. I can accept they would pray for their king to be reelected. It’s like King David who prayed fervently, begging God to spare his son. But when God took his son’s life, he got up and went back to his business. God had made His decision. It was done, and nothing would change what God had already ordained. It is my opinion that some/many religious leaders seem more concerned, if not consumed with maintaining the traditions of men than the things of God. Christians are to be people of peace, love, compassion, longsuffering, kind, good, self-controlled. But who is preaching that message?

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-10

Mathew 23:25-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Luke 22:47-53
And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

I asked myself, how so many Americans/Christians could get caught up in this cultic-like behavior – over an elected official! Well, I was looking through books at the Goodwill and came across a very interesting story. Some of you may have read it. Read my next post to learn what book I found. I took some pics of the first few pages to give you a preview. Read on.

Blessings.