So every morning when I get up I start by reading my Bible. I have mentioned this before as a “Journey through the Bible”. Then I will browse social media sites and on occasion post something or repost what I have seen. I will read and sometimes listen to things that are available. I am trying to get information so I can know what is happening and understand what I might need to do.
It is important to hear diverse thoughts and points of view. Not all will align well with what you believe but it is important to know what is being said. Depending on the subject there may be somethings that cause you to change or possibly alter your original point of view.
There are things in which you may be dogmatic. That is, as defined by Merriam-Webster, as expressing personal opinions or beliefs as if they are certainly correct and cannot be doubted. Here is a example of being dogmatic. Scripture says in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Presently, I am in the Old Testament and specifically now in Deuteronomy. So since starting in Genesis 1 on January 1st, you can appreciate what I have been reading. As I read today, some of my thoughts from previous reading these past weeks brought me to remember the overall message the Lord was giving His people. That was a message of how they were to live and interact with Him. That if they did as He instructed, He would bless and provide for them.
Now before you simply write that off as Old Testament, let’s take it further. The theme of God’s word as He speaks through Moses is that there are things His people are to do and not do. We see them specifically in the 10 Commandments. Certainly, they were given to His people to lead and guide them as they went forward as He directed them. Those same 10 Commandments however have made their way in one way or another into every civilization since that time. Were they intended for the world? In their original state, they were not. However, as Scripture is God’s Word and it is a manner in which He reveals Himself to mankind it follows that this is for all.
There is a moral reality to life and in order for society to function effectively and safely that moral reality must exist. It does as it impacts life but it does not impact all life. There are those, who in the Old Testament as well as today, who will not follow the moral reality which exist. They can deny it by saying they don’t believe in God but that does not mediate its truth. You may not be able to explain gravity or it’s origin but you sure know that it can hurt when you fall.
Without a doubt we all know and see that there is a great battle going on today. As a believer, we are to look to God and His Word for direction and understanding. Even with that each day, we are unable to truly understand this life. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. What was it that Jesus said? Well, in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5:45 and using the Amplified version for clarity and perspective He said-
…for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].
The world is one in which we all live, those who are evil and on those who are good, regardless of how God is viewed. Thus all are subject to the world and the limitations to which God has placed. It is very simple to understand that just because a person denies and chooses not to accept something that it does not exist. Think about it for a few minutes and you will quickly see how true that is.
In life, there are things that occur which we wonder how and why that could be. We see miracles everyday and we also see tragedies. We do not live in a world devoid of problems and terrible things. Often they are the result of man and his actions which require an outcome which we might deem as unfair. Someone has said that elections have consequences and let’s be honest about it the things we do in life have consequences.
As a Christian when we follow the Lord in the decisions and actions of our life, we can expect that the consequences will be good. It contrast, if we do not follow the Lord in the decisions and actions of life the consequences will be from our foolhardiness. We cannot therefore blame God, but we must then accept the blame.
As true as this is for an individual Christian, we can easily see how this concept encompasses us as people corporately. Whether a community, a nation or the world how we act has consequences. There will never be peace on earth until Jesus returns and establishes His 1,000 year reign. So everybody needs to stop and take a breath. Do you hear that governmental leaders? We can hope for and try to make peace on earth but our efforts will always fall short.
When I think and pray about things like this it causes me to see again that “He is God”. I reconciled early in life that it is all about Him. I would love to say I have always done the right thing, I have not. That I have always had the best of thought, and again I have not. Now don’t judge me for it is not yours to judge. Pause for a moment and you will quickly see you are like me, a person in need of a Savior. I have Him and I trust you do to. If you don’t then, please go to the Contact Me tab on the website. Send me a note with contact information and I will reach out and we can talk.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy