Saturday, November 22, 2008

Peace, Quietness, Assurance

Is. 32:17 - "The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."

Righteousness. Doing what is right. Doing what is pure in God's eyes. Living according to the standard that is God. A very high standard. A holy standard. A true standard. The thing that we are to seek first: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." Matt. 6:33. If I am going after what God says is right, true,pure, holy and I am asking God to work that into my life beyond everything else then there is something that this righteousness does. It actually goes to work. It brings about a result. It has an effect. What is it? Peace, quietness and assurance.

When I look around at the world it seems that these qualities are lacking. People are not at peace. There is noise all around us and they are not assured of anything. It seems that the world is all screwed up and the people in the world know it. Financially, socially , politically. We have problems everywhere and people are scared.

Why has this happened? A lack of righeousness. A lack of living according to God's standard found in His word. This, of course, has happened over several decades of godless living. Any recovery from it will also take decades. In order for us to see peace, quietness and assurance in our nation and in our individual lives, we will have to start living righteously. For this to occur on a national scale will take a significant period of time. For this to occur on an individual scale can take only a minute. A commitment before God that I will, with His enablement, live a life that is consistent with His word. I can't do it myself but He can do it in me. The result will be peace and quietness and assurance.

The same is true on a larger scale. The is no reason that the church should be flipping out over what is happening in our world today because if the church is living righteously ,then we will be a community of peace and quietness and assurance. Can you imagine the world going crazy and the church living at peace? What a concept! What an example. What a refuge. It takes all of us, however, to see this happen within the Body of Christ. But it can happen. It should happen. It will happen if we commit ourselves to live Biblically.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day

Is. 12:6 "Cry out and shout O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst."

Today is a big day in this country...Election day. The biggie: The Presidential election. The day we will determine who will lead our country over the next four years.

I have heard all kinds of statements from people. Things like: "I'm scared." "I'm nervous." The question that needs to be asked is: "Why?" The reason that question needs to be asked is because, if you are a believer, you already know the end game. Here it is...the finale is this: That God, the great and Holy One of Israel is going to be in the middle of Jerusalem. Some day, Jesus will take up residence there and when He does, there is going to be a tremendous shout of joy. It will be the mother of celebrations. For great is the Holy, set apart One who is dwelling there.

It is interesting to watch the world. It just seems that God is up to something right now. I can't really put my finger on it, but God is orchestating the affairs of this world. The worldwide financial ups and downs, the events in the Middle East, the election in this country. It just seems that "There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear...stop children...everybody look what's going down." Remember that song? Another time with different circumstances, but major things are taking place right now. We need to pay attention. I may be all wet. I mean, God is always at work. God is always moving. He is always orchestrating the affairs of this world. It just seems that the events that are occurring are more significant now.

One thing I do know is that someday there will be amazing joy in Jerusalem. The children of God, both Jews and Gentiles will rejoice together. They will cry out, they will sing, they will shout because the Holy One, the Great One, the Redeemer of the world will there there. Seems strange in our current culture and mindset, but it is true.

"But I saw no temple in it (Jerusalem) for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illumined it. The Lamb is its light." Rev. 21:23

Don't be afraid. Don't lose hope. This is the end game and God has it all under control.

Postscript: Now that we know who our president will be, think about this. How could Barak Obama lose? President Bush's approval rating was in the 20's, the economy went in the tank 6 weeks ago and Obama raised and spent twice as much as McCain. It would have been difficult for him to lose. Yet, if you would have asked any American 6 years ago if our next president would be an African-American with a Muslim name who only had two years of experience in the Senate, every one of them would have said: "No way." Interesting how things lined up for this historic event.