How Involved Are You?

I ask this question because it is one that comes to my mind often as I am watching what is going on around us. I am getting the idea that for the most part people are not aware of what is happening and the effects down the road.

Now on the personal side, it is important to know that the decisions you make can and do impact your life going forward. The same is true for a country, church, denomination or any organization.  The decisions made can and do impact going forward.

It is my personal observation that many people are not too concerned as to their decisions or that of the country, churches, denominations or organizations they might be involved in.  I say that because there is a line between what they personally think and what is going on.

Recently the term moral conscience came to my mind.  Now Merriman-Webster defines moral as of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior, conforming to a standard of right behavior.  Conscience is perceiving, apprehending, or noticing with a degree of controlled thought or observation.  Consciousness is the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself, the state or fact of being conscious of external object, state, or fact.

I say this because as the words are defined it is easy to observe that in personal life, country, churches, denominations and organizations that moral conscience has dramatically been hindered.  The results are seen at every level.

I say this for several reasons.  First, it indicates a very evident downward movement for the totality of people and of country, churches, denominations and organizations.  This is no longer pockets of a loss of moral conscience, it is an epidemic at every level.  This may be surprising to you but let’s consider what we see all around us.  Look how Paul describes what is happening in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV-

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 

2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 

Let me be clear here that since Jesus left after His resurrection that we have been and will continue to live in the end times as we know.  I recognize and have said previously that there are different interpretations as to the end times.  I mean in that as to what and how the end times occur.  This has to do with the things that happened and the order in which they occur.

Allow me to make a simple point acknowledging that this is what I understand Scripture to say and if you have another understanding that is fine.  Because I acknowledge and you probably do too that one day this world as we know it will no longer be. 

Unless the Lord takes me home before, I’ll be here when Jesus comes back for His bride, the church.  Which are all born again believers on the earth when He returns.  You’ve heard the word before, and it is rapture.  The rapture of the church.  The word rapture is not in Scripture, but the word is used to describe the moment Christ takes the church out of this world.   

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV we read that-

¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (dead) in Jesus.

¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

 ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

 ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

 ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Ultimately, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

In Revelation 21:1 NKJV John sees something remarkable, and we read in the NKJV-

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 

The term eternal state is used in describing this new earth and new heaven.  In Revelation chapters 21-22, the new earth will be the eternal dwelling place of believers in Jesus Christ. Scripture gives us a few details of the new heaven and new earth.

There is a curse on the current heaven and earth by God’s action because of mankind’s sin. All creation as noted in Romans 8:22 NKJV-

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Thus, waiting for God’s plan to come to fruition.  Romans 8:19 NKJV says-

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 

Mark 13:31 NKJV tells us that heaven and earth will pass away and be replaced by the new heaven and the new earth.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Hallelujah that Jesus assures us that His words will not pass away.  So, at that time, the Lord, seated on His throne, says, as stated in Revelation 21:5 NKJV-

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said^]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

So, we see that in the new creation, sin will be totally eradicated, as Revelation 22:3 NKJV tells us-

3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 

I say all of this because I am, and neither should you be confused as to what happens in the meantime.  If more people were saved and knew Christ, then there is the answer to many of our problems.  Sadly, it appears that more people are turning away from even a remote understanding of God.  One of our founding fathers John Adams said of our Constitution that it was “made only for a moral and religious people”.  He also noted “The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense founded on the Christian religion”.  That statement is a part of the Treaty of Tripoli signed by Adams in 1796.

We are not and have never been a Christian nation.  Yes, founded on Christian values which still exist today.  In the beginning and until today, we have never been primarily Christian and are certainly less Christian today than at any time in my lifetime.  Does that concern me, well most certainly it does. This is not about the country, churches, denominations and organizations.  It is about people for they are the ones who are the churches, denominations and organizations.

Our role as believers is to tell others and let others see Christ in us.  Will that affect the lives of people, of churches, denominations and organizations?  Yes, it will.

In God’s Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy