Living in the Last Hour

In reflecting on my previous six blog posts, I realize I point out the historical division of race in our country. I must. I am a woman of Mexican ancestry. My worldview has been shaped by the circumstances I was born into, poverty, no father in the home, poor education, my childhood experiences, experiencing the death of classmates and having no one to explain death to me. Marriage and divorce, raising children as a single parent struggling to put food on the table, but the most profound experience was listening to my mother describe her experiences after her and my dad were coerced into repatriating to Mexico in the 30s. It cost her the life of her son. When WWII broke out my dad was in Mexico. The American government took no time to issue him a draft notice. He returned to serve his country, the same one that wanted him out. He served to be captured by the Germans and tossed in a POW camp. According to my mother, he returned a different. These experiences influenced how I saw the world. The world never made any sense to me and trying to navigate mine was always challenging. We all have a story that shaped who we are.

The present chaos in many of our communities, and division among American Christians is alarming. But – as events transpire it is shaping the lives of everyone watching. Unlike the days of yesterday, news today spread like wildfire. The challenges we face today—particularly regarding immigration policy and national security—are not new. Japanese Americans were forced from their homes into prison camps, the Mexicans during the 1920s and 30s. were forcibly (or coerced) deported back to Mexico, many of which were American citizens, like my folks. Today, we are witnessing alleged illegal immigrants forcibly removed from their homes, and deported, or sent to prison camps. Why? Fear. Fear, fear, fear is the driving force behind ICE. As I have said before, I don’t believe, for the most part, Americans take issue with illegal immigration enforcement. Americans take issue with the methods being used. If Americans get caught in the mix, to bad, so sad. They and the children become collateral damage.

For people who grew up in all white communities where everything was nicely packaged, with white picket fences and neatly cut lawns, and Walter Cronkite bringing the news from afar off – the protests, violence and assassinations of key leaders during the civil rights movement probably felt like end times scenarios. Most viewers probably believed the Book of Revelation was coming to life. But violence was quite the norm for people of color. People of color would experience violence for giving a white man a crossed look.

From the days of Adam and Eve to the Israelites’ begging Pilate to release a murderer over a Savior, God’s people have repeatedly struggled to discern good from evil and to recognize the consequences of collective and individual actions (a.k.a. sin). 

The tendency to 

-justify questionable behavior for the sake of political or social allegiance, 

-to overlook the deeper callings of the gospel in favor of traditions of men, 

-embrace American ideology, or self-interest, and 

-to neglect compassion for the sake of comfort or conformity, 

all point to a spiritual blindness, a distancing from the living God, which the Scriptures say leads to hardness of heart. The consequences of turning our back on God are serious. Rejecting God leads to death. God is not mocked! 

The Scriptures warn us that the path to life is narrow and that many will not choose it. Seduced by power, pride, and the traditions of men the narrow road has little appeal. As believers, we are to transform into the image of God, but that requires submission and surrender to the will of God. Whatever that looks like for each of us, with a new heart and the mind of Christ we should reflect the love and the glory of God almighty – NOT our own selfish desires. Isaiah says, “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. 

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:17-21

The true gospel asks not for allegiance to manmade institutions, that includes the physical church, but for complete surrender to the One that created all things. Surrender is not even possible without the Spirit of God. Humility, compassion, patience, kindness, turning the other cheek, giving to him who asks, mercy, grace and to give forgiveness to those who sin against us seventy times seven – all these biblical truths, are unpopular truths. They are not part of American ideology.

Ultimately, the call is to examine ourselves, to discern whether we are being led by the deceitfulness of sin or by the Spirit of God. The times we live in demand our attention, not as onlookers but as children of the living God, who have surrendered our life for the life of Christ, that He may be glorified on earth as He is in heaven. When God sent His Son as a sacrifice for my sin, our sin, He did it because He loved us before we even knew to love Him. Jesus Christ loved His Father so much, He was willing to sacrifice His life for mankind. Unless you pay a man, he will not sacrifice his life for another. He might do it for his child. I remember learning during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas that federal courts had ruled that government agencies, including police, are not mandated to protect individuals, even in dangerous situations. Because of that mandate-nineteen children and two adults lost their lives. And even parents were prohibited from entering the building to save their child.

Jesus instructed us to love the Lord, your God – with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).” These commandments apparently are not easy to keep and not worth protecting.

The First Amendment to the Constitution says,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Second Amendment to the Constitution says, 

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The first two Constitutional Amendments merit more attention from God’s people than the two commandments Jesus commanded us to live by. There is no other commandment greater than these. It is no secret – it is American pride. Americans love their freedoms and they love their guns. Religions, speech and the right to peaceably assemble to protest and be heard is under attack, but Christians appear to be willing to sacrifice these freedoms rather than love their neighbor.

As I said previously, the reason our nation is in chaos is because of the gospel. As a “Christian nation” we do not love God, or ourselves. We do love the blessing of God. Still, how can we possibly love “others” if we perceive them evil? We are a nation built on violence, on top of hate, greed and every evil thing. As a people we have an insatiable lust for what we have yet to obtain.

Can we love our neighbors? How can we, when we are afraid of our own shadow? Certainly, not when we pack (open carry and concealed) weapons to defend ourselves from our neighbors. Hate creates divisions. Satan comes as an angel of light to do just that.

Can God’s people return to the heart of the gospel? Can God’s people turn back to God? The Scriptures say, the city of Ninevah had turned to their wicked ways, but if they confessed their sin, God would save them. Jonah knew the Lord was merciful. When the Lord asked him to go preach to Ninevah He ran because He did not agree with God that “those people” deserved God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Only the Spirit of God can change a heart. Jonah learned that lesson the hard way. Only the Lord can pull us out of the bottomless pit of depravity. Only He can shine light into a world too often content to dwell in darkness. May we choose the path of humility, obedience, and agape love, fully aware that God’s purposes will prevail, and that even in times such as these, He remains Sovereign and faithful.

Jesus said, “Follow me and let the dead bury their dead.” It’s as if He says, “Let the world handle its own problems. You come out of it” 

I think if we gave it due consideration, we would find that the Lord is exposing all the deeds done in darkness, not by the world, but by those that call on His name. And how does He respond? “Depart from Me, you evil doers. I never knew you.” The Lord is a gracious God. He is reminding us that Satan comes as an angel of light, to deceive many.  No one can love as God does unless he knows God. 

The Scriptures teach us to walk humbly with our God. This is worth repeating. The enemy comes as an angel of light. He likes to condemn us when we quote scripture because he knows scripture better than most Christians. He does not want to hear it. But by the grace of God, all glory to His name, I, we as the body of Christ, will not relent. We will share the truth of the Scriptures. Truth makes liars uncomfortable.

Thank you for reading. My prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24-KJV).”

Now for your listening pleasure, Rich Mullins ..