Do You Suppose?
The question came from an email: "Do you suppose that circumstances and situations may come to the point that Christians in America will finally turn to God for answers?"
It is a rhetorical question. We know the answer: YES!
As we celebrate the independence of American Colonies in the Revolutionary War let us take a look at one great moment of heroism, courage and initiative. Smallpox and bitter weather ravaged the impoverished troops at Valley Forge, PA. Of every ten soldiers contracting smallpox, six died. Inoculation was a new science. General Washington in a bold and daring move took scrapings from infected soldiers and inoculated healthy soldiers. Of those inoculated only one in ten who contracted smallpox died. From six to one. This single bold move by General Washington may have saved the Revolution.
I wonder what it will take for Christians in America to come to the conclusion that following Jesus includes a cross and death of the Old Man. Sin must be crucified. Sin must be brought to the cross.
We seem to use bifocals as a people. We celebrate heroes who are not godly. We look through the top part of our glasses and imagine that fame and glory are based on popularity, money, and pleasure.
Time and again we have celebrated funerals in America. We look at tenure of political lives and assign glory and honor of immortality. We hear words of praise that intimate expectation of life eternal because someone advocated political causes.
Can it be so that persons who vote for abortion and perverted sexual lifestyles will inherit eternal life? Are we not trying to bifocal life? Are we not trying to build towers of Babel to heaven without God? Are we not pretending that worldly fame is enough to save souls?
We drop our eyes and look through the lower part of our bifocals. We pick up our Bible and go to church. We sing a hymn, tell the pastor it was a fine sermon, socialize, and give a token offering. We say light-hearted prayers without repentance and with no blood or cross.
May I suggest that the anti-christ spirit is running powerfully? Who is the anti-christ? I do not know. My understanding is that no one will know the anti-christ until Christ comes for His Church....i.e., what is referred to as the "Rapture." However, any person or spirit that denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Only Savior of our souls is the "spirit of the anti-christ." Again, the spirit of the anti-christ is powerful.
Yes, the Church is being driven to her knees. Yes, saints are having to re-evaluate whether we will play "footsie" with the world, pretending that we can define secular terms for entrance into heaven. We know better. We know that the Bible only allows one way...Jesus. We know there is a cross.
Our winter is long. Our challenges are many. Perhaps we will have the courage of a General Washington to take a daring and bold move. Perhaps the Church will awaken to the deep need of intense prayer, focus on the Word, and coming together in the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Great Commission.
Of this I am confident: When the Church is built on Christ we will crucify the flesh. Our mind and bodies will become servants. We will serve with joy. We will polish the lens of our glasses and see Jesus only. We will take up our cross and follow with rejoicing. We will renew our hope for His Coming.
Much love,
Pastor Bare
2 Chronicles 7:14