Many people are asking, “What in the world is going on?” Another group is completely ignorant of the problems and is rejoicing at the so-called progress of the new administration. The third group knows exactly what is going on. I can save you reading time if you like. Just reflect on the comments of Jesus in Matthew 24. The unmindful ones of the second group who are dismissing any spiritual endeavors or thoughts are being exactly affected by them.
Consider the following areas being affected almost every day.
Sports– It seems there is a noticeable increase in professional athletes involved in serious crimes, including murder. And why is patriotism falling with athletes kneeling for the National Anthem? The final insidious action is men claiming to be women, and not just competing in women’s sports but now starting to dominate the ladies. One gender can never actually become the other gender due to physical and DNA embodiments. Doesn’t it seem a little insane to allow a burly male to shower with the girls?
Modern Society – Timeless two-thousand-year-old sins are still grasped today, including people who are unreligious, unrighteous, unloving, unforgiving, unfaithful, untrustworthy, and unmerciful, as well as the full list in Romans 1:18-32. Scripture says that they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a debased mind to do things which are not fitting (Romans 1:28). Isn’t this a clear explanation of widespread daily wrongdoing? Another problem with current society is that you are wrong if you do not believe me, aka: I’m right; you are wrong.
Our Culture – Rather than evaluating the contemporary scene, let’s refer to scriptural mandates for adherence. “Avoid worldly talk, for those who indulge in it become more and more godless, and the influence of their talk will spread like the plague” (2 Timothy 2:16-17a). “Stop disputing about mere words” (2 Timothy 2:14b). “Have nothing to do with senseless, ignorant disputations” (2 Timothy 2:23a). “If we deny Him, He will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12b). “See to it that you abstain from stupid arguments and genealogies and from controversies and quarrels about the law” (Titus 3:9a). These are perfect guidelines for today, as they are from timeless scripture.
The Media – Before the 2020 election, the produced lies were so obvious; how could they have been so vastly promoted? Known as Fake News that is broadcast on erroneous airwaves, there are reasons whereby we can understand their universal malevolence. “Men did not see fit to acknowledge God, so God delivered them up to their own depraved sense to do what is unseemly” (Romans 1:28). “Evil men and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others, themselves deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
Politics – At an 1838 GOP conference, Abraham Lincoln started his talk by reminding everyone that “A house divided cannot stand.” These were the words of Jesus as they appeared in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s writings. Our new paradigm or model is due to the reality wedge of racism, antisemitism, LBGT+ agenda, and nationality. Furthermore, the Pride flag flying on the same flag pole as our American flag announces to the world that Sodom is the American standard. While this is a sexual deviation from mandated biblical standards, the flag of false standards flies mockingly.
The Church – Historically, this meant the Christian organization that Christ founded. However, He would not recognize it as there are so many alternate beliefs being promulgated. These include the feel-good church without teaching about hell for disbelievers. Others don’t teach about the End Times for fear of losing dollars. Others hammer home about tithing. When taught that Jesus freed us from the curse of the law, it didn’t say “except for tithing.” Fortunately, Paul taught simply to give what you can (2 Corinthians 8:12). Finally, there are the incredible non-scriptural pronouncements generated by the Vatican, such as Chrislam. In addition, how can we understand pedophiles among the clergy? Another is that a personal relationship with Jesus is dangerous. Just think for a minute. When we become saved, Jesus dwells within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. How can you not have a relationship with someone so close?
Back to the title. Why concentrate on Now? The reason is the ‘Canopy of sin” we now live under,” as the Lord told me when I asked Him about the current scene. Paul’s second letter to Timothy outlined the daily life of the last days as “Men will be lovers of money and themselves instead of lovers of God; boasters; proud; blasphemers; disobedient to parents; unthankful; unholy; unloving; unforgiving; slanderers; without self-control; brutal; despisers of good; traitors; headstrong; and haughty. While these are clearly manifested and augmented today, we have to add modern wickedness and ungodliness. These include:
- the rise of demonic forces and demon worship
- increasing murder statistics
- drug usage
- the push for more abortions
- the push for same-sex marriage and raising the Pride flag at U.S. worldwide locations
- pedophile adults including even clergy
- the abuse of children and young girls
- the all religions are okay premise
- the faulty doctrines from the Vatican including the one that said atheists can go to heaven by being good.
Hopefully, solid believers can stay away from these transgressions. However, the most dangerous distraction is the one that Jesus Himself identified. When the disciples asked Him what are the signs of His coming, before He mentioned the forthcoming problems, He clearly stressed deception, which is Satan’s major thrust in the Last Days. Why else would He have said, “When the Son of Man returns, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b). He expressed the same warning when He described the road to Hell as very wide while the road to heaven is narrow. The road is wide to handle the volume of people as well as showing the many sinful endeavors people accept (Matthew 7:13).
Believers do not have to worry about the current era due to the forthcoming Blessed Hope, which is the Rapture of the church whereby believers, living and dead, will be brought to heaven. What follows is seven years of Hell on earth with the Anti-Christ, who will manage a one-world government and a one-world religion. Note that the Rapture takes place before the ministrations of the Anti-Christ. Believers will be in heaven, not on earth.
The four words I choose are very scriptural; in fact, they appear many hundreds of times in the complete Bible. Many believe the birth pangs have already started, which seems verifiable just listening to or watching the media. Therefore, the four words in the title for today are: FEAR NOT; TRUST ME.
The phrases are connected, for you cannot Trust God while maintaining any form of fear. Our problem is either ignorance of Satan’s main thrust of deception or being uninvolved in the circumstances. Fear Not is such a human problem that the phrase is used about 365 times in scripture. However, fear is not realized 91.4% of the time (Best Life 8/8/2019). Clearly, God wants us to realize that He is in charge, not extraneous forces.
If we fear objective worldly things, how can we accept Godly promises? Remember Jesus’ command that we should not worry about our life, food, drink, our body, or clothes as our heavenly Father knows we need these things (Matthew 6:25-34). While that is the physical part, He reveals the spiritual part in 1 John 5:13 where scripture says,” These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” Can any government guarantee your life now and forever?
While God is stressing unity, today’s worldwide approach is division, namely “Divide and conquer.” The original phrase is “Divida et Impera,” which literally means divide and rule, which became divide and conquer through the centuries. It was originated by Julius Caesar in his work, The Gallic Wars, as he described the three main tribes to be defeated.
While the Divide phenomenon is worldwide, the 2021 American political scene is racial insanity. Democracy has now become the birth pangs for Marxism. Can our two parties agree on anything? The answer is No because the individual parties are even divided among themselves.
We need unity, not division, as Jesus said. “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation” (Matthew 12:25b; Mark3:25). There you have it; all the continual wrangling will destroy our Republic.
While so many things are looking down, believers are looking up, awaiting the return of Jesus to bring His flock to heavenly rewards.