We have said we believe in God, but we've decided what that means ...haven't we??
And we say it is favoring a certain belief system ...with quickly the word 'intolerant' entering the conversation if we ever publicly talk about it.
So, we sort of distract ourselves with lesser things, and not acknowledge what should be great in our lives ...while all the time we have allowed our freedoms to freely ignore what He is really showing us, through all the experiences of those who've gone before us.
The Bible says, just before the Great Flood, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God should come, and Jesus said, " ...the kingdom of God is within."
Then Jesus mentioned the time of Noah ...where they ate, drank, married, and were given in marriage.
Jesus also mentioned how they did likewise in the days of Lot ...where they ate, drank, bought, sold, planted, and built.
It was as if saying, "Life went on ..."
But, it went on, just before it didn't.
Yes, there are times life seems to offer up difficulties. And we feel it's best to approach those situations with a resolve, committing to an attitude of ..."Life must go on!!"
But, that doesn't appear to be the attitude of anyone outside of Noah's family ...or later, let's say, Lot's family. There didn't seem to be any sense of urgency with most of the people. They didn't appear to think they had to do any serious changes.
Many changes had taken place over the years ...and those changes had an impact upon how things were at that time. It so happens that, at that time, God said it had become wicked. I'm sure it did not happen overnight, nor by an invasion of wicked people. It happened with their own people. (Read the Book of Judges, Chapter 19:20-28 ...and also Chapter 19:1-9 of the Book of Genesis, and see the similarities.)
We get a bit more graphic description from what is told of Lot ....living in Sodom. Lot had guests sent by God. The men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded Lot's house and called out to him, inquiring of his guests ...and requesting Lot to send them out, so they could entertain themselves at their expense (sort of a mild way of saying they were hoping to do wickedness with Lot's guests.)
Speaking of urgency, does there seem to be any sense of urgency today?? Or do we look upon those around us ...in a way that's not that different from how the people of that day viewed the Benjamites (Judges, Chapter 20)???
II Timothy 3:1-5, describes the sad character of people as the last days approach.
II Thessalonians 2:11-12, states, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, so that they will believe a lie, and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
And things haven't changed, as for the workings of evil, even since as far back as Isaiah, "Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!"
Again, does there appear to be any sense of urgency ... or are the only changes we deem as necessary, inclusive of considerations that exclude God. Or perhaps if we include God, it would be a sense of who we feel God is, not wholly trusting upon the Bible's description of a holy God.
Solomon asked God to make him wise ...to judge the people. We need to judge ourselves, by His standards. I have no wisdom, except that which God gives me. And I trust God!!
When we ask someone to trust us, we often are asked in return, "Give me your word!" Well, I am not giving anyone my word. God gave us His Word, giving us the substance of His relationship with His people. The Bible is where I put my trust ...because I believe God gave us the Bible, to be able to know Him.
(I was going to say, there's Lot we don't Noah.)
There's lots I don't know ...but, I am so glad I can read of God's loving relationship with His people, which extends to me. And it can extend to you too.
An open grasp cannot hold that which wants to be free ...but, an open heart can forever hold, and at the same time be free. And I hope you can grasp what I'm trying to say.
Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God should come, and Jesus said, " ...the kingdom of God is within."
Then Jesus mentioned the time of Noah ...where they ate, drank, married, and were given in marriage.
Jesus also mentioned how they did likewise in the days of Lot ...where they ate, drank, bought, sold, planted, and built.
It was as if saying, "Life went on ..."
But, it went on, just before it didn't.
Yes, there are times life seems to offer up difficulties. And we feel it's best to approach those situations with a resolve, committing to an attitude of ..."Life must go on!!"
But, that doesn't appear to be the attitude of anyone outside of Noah's family ...or later, let's say, Lot's family. There didn't seem to be any sense of urgency with most of the people. They didn't appear to think they had to do any serious changes.
Many changes had taken place over the years ...and those changes had an impact upon how things were at that time. It so happens that, at that time, God said it had become wicked. I'm sure it did not happen overnight, nor by an invasion of wicked people. It happened with their own people. (Read the Book of Judges, Chapter 19:20-28 ...and also Chapter 19:1-9 of the Book of Genesis, and see the similarities.)
We get a bit more graphic description from what is told of Lot ....living in Sodom. Lot had guests sent by God. The men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded Lot's house and called out to him, inquiring of his guests ...and requesting Lot to send them out, so they could entertain themselves at their expense (sort of a mild way of saying they were hoping to do wickedness with Lot's guests.)
Speaking of urgency, does there seem to be any sense of urgency today?? Or do we look upon those around us ...in a way that's not that different from how the people of that day viewed the Benjamites (Judges, Chapter 20)???
II Timothy 3:1-5, describes the sad character of people as the last days approach.
II Thessalonians 2:11-12, states, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, so that they will believe a lie, and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
And things haven't changed, as for the workings of evil, even since as far back as Isaiah, "Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!"
Again, does there appear to be any sense of urgency ... or are the only changes we deem as necessary, inclusive of considerations that exclude God. Or perhaps if we include God, it would be a sense of who we feel God is, not wholly trusting upon the Bible's description of a holy God.
Solomon asked God to make him wise ...to judge the people. We need to judge ourselves, by His standards. I have no wisdom, except that which God gives me. And I trust God!!
When we ask someone to trust us, we often are asked in return, "Give me your word!" Well, I am not giving anyone my word. God gave us His Word, giving us the substance of His relationship with His people. The Bible is where I put my trust ...because I believe God gave us the Bible, to be able to know Him.
(I was going to say, there's Lot we don't Noah.)
There's lots I don't know ...but, I am so glad I can read of God's loving relationship with His people, which extends to me. And it can extend to you too.
An open grasp cannot hold that which wants to be free ...but, an open heart can forever hold, and at the same time be free. And I hope you can grasp what I'm trying to say.
No comments:
Post a Comment