James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Our world has been invaded by blatant evil once again. A probable insane person, or least mentally deranged, has taken a gun and killed the innocent. The news is awash with this senseless killing up in Newtown, Connecticut where a lone gunman entered a school and in cold blooded murder, executed small children and any adult who got in his way.
I have heard the outrage, the expressed horror of people of this nation rail out in raw emotions asking why. They ask, “why would a God, if there be one, allow this type of slaughter in our schools?” Could not God have intervened and stop this senseless act? They further
reinforce their own preconceived notions that there is no God. Instead of looking inward, they express rage outward at the Creator. They want gun control. They want the 2nd amendment abolished. They want, they want, they want, but will never find the answer in themselves. Why, is their question, does God allow evil? It is in one word…..Liberty. From the beginning, when God made man, He made him a being of free moral choice.
To accomplish this, God gave men free moral agency to enable us to choose to follow His way and assist in the development of His image in us, since we cannot be in His image unless we voluntarily choose to do so. Then the character is truly ours, as well as being truly His, because it is inscribed in us as a result of what we have believed and experienced. Humans have not changed for over 6000 years since the bible was being written down by men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit. It was the same in the day Joshua took the nation of Israel into the Promised Land that he admonished them: Joshua,
24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.(emphasis mine)
To start, it is necessary to understand from the beginning of creation, which extends to even, the angels’ man was given choice. God is not a tyrannical tyrant but a loving God that gave man all the tools to be successful and told him how to use these tools to insure prosperity both in the natural and spiritual. After giving the introduction to how God operates then answer a question with a question, “do you like your every move being dictated by another person or do you put a high premium on an individual having the freedom to make decisions for him/herself”? Of course not, you rebel at the very suggestion and so it is from creation God knew this and that is why he created man giving him choice. It comes down to one simple concept….Liberty.
To not have liberty to choose, then man is not really free. God in His loving kindness has given mankind the tools to make proper choices based on God’s way, even the laws that He laid down from creating this universe, this world, and the very first man. God gave Adam the free moral agency to choose to follow God’s example and follow Him, or to follow another god. God wants each of us to choose Him above all other influences in this world. What are those other influences outside of God? Yes, Satan, the devil. Satan has used the fallen state of man, when he tempted our first parents with transgressing the commandment of Almighty God. Satan knows that if he can just divide our loyalties between following God and following our own lusts, he can destroy man.
FROM ANCIENT TO OUR MODERN WORLD
Fast forward from ancient times to a fledging country formed out of rebellion against tyranny. A nation formed out of man’s desire to choose his own destiny, but in direct submission to the Laws of God. The young United States of America was formed based on a solid Rock foundation that was laid as a corner stone to form this nation. The Rock was the Ten Commandments and the Judeo-Christian belief in the only God found in their bible. What better choice, but to form a nation based on clear instructions founded in God’s Holy Word?
From those humble beginnings, God blessed this nation like no other in all of recorded human history. We had our ups and downs, to include our wars fought in the name of LIBERTY.
Liberty founded in man’s right to choose good or evil was what we were fighting for in our own Civil War and two major wars in this last century. From those fields of battle, the United States has become the most powerful force on earth by God’s own blessings on a people who, as a majority, put their trust in the God of our Fathers.
A NATION ADRIFT
Our national ship of state has taken a different path in the last 50 years. We have charted a different course other than what we followed in it’s previous 150 years. I propose that our nation began it’s demise starting in 1960s when a loud and obnoxious atheist by the name of Madelyn O’Hare brought suit against allowing prayer in public schools. Our own Supreme Court went against the clear historical underpinnings of what this country was built upon. It violated the first Amendment to the Constitution by subverting the intent of it’s language. “Congress cannot make a law that favors the establishment of one particular religion; that prohibits the free exercise of religion; or that restricts freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people to gather and engage in peaceful demonstrations and to petition the government for redress of their grievances. “ We were given the free moral choice by God to express our freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.
Why was the Supreme Court allowed to change the meaning of the law clearly expressed from our founding fathers? Liberty is the answer. Why did the nation accept this intrusion into our God given rights? Libery is again, the answer.
From there, it has been a slippery slope for the America that we had known. Children born into this country were brought up devoid of a knowledge of right and wrong. They didn’t need God, as humans could take care of themselves. I got an email from a reader that had an interesting quote put on a T-shirt, and it is so true. The shirt was a question from a student to God. “God why do you allow our children to be killed in our schools? signed student……I’M NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL. signed God” Is that not the truth? We kicked God out of our schools and not allowing our little impressionable children to be taught the existence of God, to be allowed to pray for His blessings, or to bring them to a knowledge of good vs. evil. Instead we have replaced it with paganism in the form of evolution theory, humanism, and liberalism.
From that deplorable beginning forced on us by a pagan, we progressed even further down into the pit. In 1973, the Supreme Court in all it’s “divine” wisdom decided Roe v. Wade in favor of legalized abortion on demand. Why was this allowed?…Liberty! We chose evil over good in direct conflict with the Laws of God. “Thou shalt not murder”. We have murdered a whole generation of the unborn. Murdered children in and out of the womb have been slaughtered and God allowed it…why? Liberty! Another culture had the same problem of poor choices of liberty, as we have experienced. Jeremiah,
19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
19:6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
These people were allowed to destroy their children, their sons, and their daughters in a fiery altar in worship to a pagan god, Molech. Why was this so? Liberty!
But God has a limit to His Holy patience. He gives men the right to choose, but there comes a time, that liberty produces another product of that liberty….JUSTICE!! Without liberty there is no justice. To make good choices based on God’s law and His commandments produces blessings, but to do evil in the sight of God according to His giving men the right to liberty, there comes a time when justice will be enacted. It is sure as the sun will shine tomorrow. My friend, justice is coming.
AMERICA IN PROPHECY
I got an email of a sermon by another minister that I would like to quote here, as it speaks to our condition today. It speaks of God’s coming judgment on this nation found in your bible. Many say that the United States is not mentioned in the bible, but oh, yes, I think it is. It’s not mentioned by name, but by it’s symptoms of lawlessness.
(“Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!” (Isaiah 18:1, 2) The nation described in this text is in dire difficulty with God because the opening word is judgmental. God says, “Woe,” and the term always connotes judgment.
1. This nation has the insignia of wings, similar to our national emblem, the bald eagle, with extended wings. People in other parts of the world recognize the symbol of America. The following is only a small sampling of the descriptions given us in the bible that distinctly describes the U.S. from any other nation in the end time.
2. This nation is a land beyond the sea. Israel is always the focal point in Bible prophecy. So the message of warning is directed to a far country beyond Ethiopia and across the sea from Israel. This designation eliminates Europe, Asia, and Africa. It eliminates Iraq where Babylon was because it is not across the sea from Israel. Instead it is directed to a nation with outstretched wings across the sea from Israel and America qualifies.
3. This nation is scattered and peeled. This nation is scattered and peeled. Scattered here means to be widely spread out or having great land areas.
4. This nation is measured. This nation is measured. This accurately describes the U.S. with its counties, cities, and states. The next time you fly across America by air notice the staked out acres tens of thousands of miles completely measured and marked.
5. This nation is a land whose rivers are spoiled. Ecological experts vouch that this significant prophecy has occurred in our waterways. Isaiah simply tells us that dreadful judgment will come upon a nation with outstretched wings, beyond the seas of Israel; a nation with vast measured land areas and polluted waters. Water tables and aquifers are polluted with drugs and chemical waste as recent news story points out.
So you can see from this prophecy judgment is pending with the word “woe” being used and no other nation in the end time meets this description. We are a nation that has rejected God and what is happening in our country we brought on ourselves. God gave us choice and we made that choice so we must live with the consequences of those decisions.” David Lamon, Why God Allows Evil. )
Woe to the land who calls evil good, and good evil. Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to them who embrace clear instructions of the Laws of God, especially when it comes to human sexuality. Romans 1,
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The world is rampant with homosexuality and no place is more prevalent than in the USA, the cradle of Judeo-Christian belief in modern history. Why is this so? Again, it’s Liberty. Young men and women have grown up devoid of the need for God. They have not been taught for generations the ways of the Lord. Their parents, their grandparents have been liberal thinkers. They don’t need God, and their children were not taught so they grew up not needing God, and believing such lies.
I have met men and women who in themselves, are good people in all moral aspects, save one. They profess that they are gay and are proud of it. They believe God will not judge them as evil, because they do so much other good for children, or other people. They ignore the clear message noted above. They feel God will ignore this one indescretion. Will God ignore this sin? No, or God would be a liar and we know He cannot lie. He would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomarrah if He did so. Why have they chosen to go against the laws of God clearly stated…..? Liberty! God has given them over to their own selfish lusts and blinded them to the truth of His Word. Why? Because they have believed the lie of humanism and believe they are just as righteous as the next person. God turned them over to a reprobate mind to believe such lawlessness. Woe to a land who embraces such sinfulness, as we have.
Woe to this land who from the beginning was endowed by our Creator with “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Woe to a nation who forgets their Benefactor, the source of life, their strength, and their national resolve to follow Him. For fifty years since 1963, the USA has wallowed in it’s own self interest devoid of accountability to the One who made us great……Almighty God, in whom we said “In God We Trust.” We were given so much, but those given so much, much is required. Luke 12:48 for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Exodus 34:14 for thou shalt worship no other god (that includes you and me): for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. We have substituted the love of money over the love of God.
GUARANTEED DESTRUCTION COMING TO THE USA
Woe to a nation who stands against the apple of His eye and wishes to divide His land. In the past, the USA has been a strong supporter of the nation of Israel. >From it’s inception, the USA has been at Israel’s side. Troubling policies have come lately of this administration, and previous presidents who desired to divide Israel and it’s captial, Jerusalem. My belief, it was the only thing saving us from certain judgment was being on Israel’s side, but no more. God has been patient and God has given us warning signs after warning signs of His desire for us to come back to Him. Just as He did other ancient people who were called to follow His laws, and abide by His Word.
EXPLANATION OF SANDY HOOK
Not to be insensitive to what just happened in Connecticut but there is a true explanation for what is taking place not just in Connecticut but all over the country with the current leadership we have. I realize in American society with Democrat liberals being in charge of our public schools and universities our children have been indoctrinated to only makes them feel good about themselves. They call it self-esteem but in the process have redefined it away from it original meaning. They teach it is a right not an earned trait one acquires through trial and error or working for it. There is no right and wrong and it is whatever they think it is. In other words, they are taught not to accept responsibility for themselves but blame on something or someone else. This is a huge root cause of the problems in American society. Now we have a generation of parents that have grown up and have children of their own but this teaching still resonates within their very being.
Whose fault is that? Of course, it begins at home with the parents. But where do parents learn it from, their churches? Men and women who even bother to go to church, entrust their salvation to the preacher, to a man to tell them how to live their life. They don’t take the time to read God’s Word for themselves. They don’t know what scripture says about their choices in this life, and the liberalism of the Emergent Church has dumbed down the masses with a watered down version of the Gospel. They don’t preach the unadulterated Word of God. No, they preach a “feel good” gospel of man. These churches entertain, they reach out for more money and they send their congregations home without clear Bible believing values to instill to their kids. Never mind those that don’t even believe in God who wouldn’t darkend the door of any church to find God, but those inside are clothed with their own self righteousness and haven’t a clue what righteous living is all about. Paul mentioned this inPhilippians 2:12 to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Each of us are responsible to God for our own salvation. And since we don’t know how to obtain the righteousness imparted by God, then how can we teach it to our kids?
LIBERTY TO CHOOSE LIFE OVER DEATH
You reading this sermon, I pray I have hit a cord of recognition in your mind and in your heart. Can this nation continue like we have for 50 years? I think you know the answer to that one, if you’re honest with yourself. No, we cannot. The bible says that with this God given liberty to do good or evil, comes justice. God is and will enact judgment and justice upon this land spreading to all the world. How soon? By the clouds of impending doom, the signs point to the near future. I propose that it has already started as our children have grown lawless and become mentally unstable to even consider doing such an act as Sandy Hook, or for that matter, Columbine. Suicide, as it’s been reported, is the number one killer of the young adults 18-30 years old, surpassing trauma of accidents unintentional, to suicides of hopelessness found in our youth. This statistic should make you stand up and say, why? Because of liberty and the right to choose evil over good. It does not have to be so, if we would have chosen wisely and followed our heritage of a God fearing nation. But it comes down to the individual, and by extension to other men who are given the correct choices for a life well lived. In the end, it comes down to YOU. Yes, you that are reading these words. You have the liberty to choose. What is your answer? Will you choose evil or good? To choose evil, just continue being a sinful human being with sin inbred in you from birth. It doesn’t take any effort on your part to become evil. Men, by nature are evil. Jeremiah,
17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Man is instilled with the nature to do evil, who can know it? Meaning who can understand why men do evil? God knows the reason. He will try each man and will know what he is made of. You see, God knew all along that men would give into the evil nature. They couldn’t help themselves. They were born to sin. This sin separates them from the Only Hope they have for living a fruitful life here in the present, and living for all eternity in the presence of the One who only wishes to love them. What separates them from God? Sin and evil done because of liberty to choose. Men have tried to be good in their moral character. Upright in their thinking and believing they can save themselves, if they can just be good enough. If you think that, then you have the liberty to be deceived.
But God had a plan to reclaim what Satan had stolen. In the Garden of Eden, Satan won out over man rebelling against the Laws of God, for a time. God knew that men would NEVER be good enough on their own to enter back into a relationship with Him. But how could God get rid of the sin that permeates all of us? God in His matchless wisdom knew that it would take a perfect sacrifice to satisfy what men had done in liberty to sin. It would require payment for that sin, in justice. Remember, the payment for sin requires justice. To accomplish this, as no mortal man could redeem himself, God knew that He would have to become man, clothed in mortal flesh and become that sacrifice in justice to reclaim what had been lost. Romans,
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
That was God’s plan. He sent His only Begotten Son, which was God in the flesh to become a servant like unto His brethren. John speaks of Him in John 1:
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
God’s plan was to perform a blood sacrifice that would satisfy the payment for sin done in liberty, with justice. To make a choice to understand, to believe that God did send His only begotten Son to die for our sins, your sins, my sins is the epitomy of LIBERTY. He doesn’t want your devotion because He forced you to do so. He wants your love and devotion because you chose to do so. Can you work good enough to earn this salvation? No, nothing you can do can make it right. It’s not of anything done as requirement of mankind’s strength and ability, but an act of Grace and mercy given as a free gift by God to a sinful, mortal individual rotten to the core with a mark of death upon it’s soul. God made is so simple, many miss this act of faith: Romans
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
We have the liberty to choose. We can choose evil, which is easy. Or we can realize that we are completely lost and unable to save ourselves. We can humble ourselves and present ourselves before a Holy God and accept, by faith God’s provision of His only Son as the substitution of what we deserved for our liberty to commit sin…which is death. Hebrews,
3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.(emphasis mine)
Jesus said that “no man cometh to me, unless the Holy Spirit draws Him, and I will raise Him up in the last day. John 6:44.
Each of us are given a choice, the liberty to do evil or to do good. We must understand that we cannot do anything good enough to save our miserable hides. It is not in us, and it is not our nature. But God sends His Holy Spirit to each of us who will listen. He won’t bang you over the head, but He will speak to you in a “still small voice”. That is God putting into the spirit within you that He wants you to come home. Come home to the God, the Only God who loves you.
God allows evil because of liberty and if there wasn’t anything but his own way imposed on us what profit would there be for him or what glory could he receive but only in and of himself, nothing genuine. No, God doesn’t want robots to love him but he put a heart and mind within us with the ability to freely serve and love him if we so choose with all of that heart and that is the only way he would have any of us. He is the eternal God and creator and as for us… James 4:14: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
This life is fleeting. Evil is all around you, drowning each of us if we allow it to do so. Take that God given liberty and choose today life over death. Accept the payment for sin in the God/man Jesus Christ while the invitation is open. It could close without warning.
This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying God’s salvation found in Jesus Christ, comes into your life. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear email me atrealteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online atwww.churchofgod-usa.org <http://www.churchofgod-usa.org/> . God bless you, till we meet at Jesus Feet.