LIVING IN THE LAST HOUR

The simple truth of the gospel is that Jesus Christ came not to judge or condemn, but to save all who will believe. First to the Jew then the Gentile. That was a radical message for the days Jesus walked the earth, and so it remains today. Every American has chosen which lies they will believe. Satan is working both camps. The men that Jesus called had to overcome all the teachings they had been taught since childhood.

Question: As believers, as followers of Jesus Christ are we going to be keepers of the old Law, like the Pharisees, or extenders of God’s grace, who we believe sent His only Son to suffer for the sin of man and redeem him back to Himself?

Some situations we are born into, some are thrust upon us, some we choose

I have heard people say that everyone is in the situation they are in because of the choices they have made, for the good or for the bad. I disagree with that up to a point. As newborn infants, we are born into our circumstances. A few are born into wealth and influence, the majority are not. What defines us in this world is predetermined even before conception. Out birth land – genetics, color of skin – color of eyes – color of hair – height – race – our ethnicity – sex (I do not refer to gender), our faith and religion, our social economic class, our environmental upbringing to include parenting styles, or lack of, all influence our behaviors, attitudes and experiences.

Then again, some situations are thrust upon us. There are many situations I would not have chosen for myself, like single parenting. But at a certain point I chose to stay a single parent. I would not have chosen to be born into poverty, but I worked to not remain in poverty. Still according to government definitions , I meet the poverty guidelines. Nevertheless that was the lot that was given to me.

No American in the last one-hundred years chose to enslave the black people, but let’s face it, many Anglo Americans enjoyed an extra privileged making them complicit in the dehumanization of blacks and other people of color up until the 1990’s and it has never really disappeared. It just took on a more subtle form. That is the lot of many Americans. The truth hurts. As adults our life chances allow us to change some of what we inherited from our parents. If we so desire.

Christians and Jews have been divided and pitted against one another over biblical interpretations, and political ideologies. A longstanding wile of the devil.

A friend posted the meme below. As I read it, it occurred to me that one could argue for either side with their definition of unrepented pride. That is literally happening right now.

The Lord said everything done in darkness would be brought to the light. There is no secret agenda that will not be revealed.

We are slaves to whatever we submit to. Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? I had a friend during Trump’s first run tell me, just out of the blue that “they” her and her husband fully supported him. My husband and I just looked at each other. I don’t know if she expected us to jump for joy. We were not at their home to talk politics. However, it kinda felt like a declaration of war. By the way, they have not changed their minds which truly shocks me.

The true gospel transforms hearts and lives. If that does not happen to a professing believer, then the problem is not in the Scriptures but in the interpretation of them leading to false teachings that lead to a spiritual life built on beautiful sandy shores. Satan does not have to work hard at deceiving people who are already deceived. I do not mean to say that my friends are deceived. But the fact that Christians are divided in this issue of worldly leadership, well, I believe God appoints all leaders, but I also believe he does so according to His will, not ours. What could God be telling American Christians right now? Every man has a plan in his heart, but the Lord’s will prevails.

We believe that all newborns are born innocent. But the Scriptures say we are born with a sinful nature. I doubt people, in general, view all sin as “evil” or that it necessarily makes anyone evil. If it did, this country would be in a world of hurt, more than we are today.  Newborns grow and mature. They grow to be toddlers. Toddlers get a bad rap. Those terrible tantrums are usually triggered when they do not get their way.

Where is this going? More later… Part 4