Month: March 2012

Who’s In Control Of America

(Editor’s note: the following was written by Wayne Polk, minister for the Shelbyville church of Christ.)

We live in uncertain times.  It doesn’t take an academic heavy weight to recognize that our country is in decline in all the ways that we measure decline; our economy is down, unemployment is up and inflation is on the rise while the incomes have been dropping.  The prospect of our children and grandchildren having a lower standard of living than we have enjoyed is hard to accept, but such a future appears to be inevitable.

Now, we find ourselves in an election cycle and have a host of candidates urging us to accept them as the solution to our problems.  They all promise they will make wise decisions that will lead us back to prosperity, full employment and financial security.  But, who can we trust to be both willing and able to fulfill all those grand promises? We’ve heard them before and have seen little results.

May I remind us that, irrespective of the aspirations of men, the future of our country does not lie in the hands of mere men.  The Old Testament relates a series of illustrations of God’s rule on the earth.  In Exodus chapters 7-11 and again in Daniel 2-5 the most powerful leader in the world was humbled by the power of God.  Time and again God’s people were blessed with great prosperity, but had their blessings removed because they turned their back on God.  Notice the admonition of the Lord : Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.’ ”  ( II Chron. 24:20  )

Leading our economic decline our pop-culture has been in an increasingly steep decline. Evil is called good and those who speak out against evil are maligned in a variety of ways.  Moral decay is celebrated and righteousness is ridiculed.  Heartlessly, millions of unborn Children have been slaughtered simply because their mothers deemed them undesirable or inconvenient. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.  ( Prov. 14: 34 )  To the person of faith it is obvious, our sinful conduct and disregard for the rule of God on the earth has made our nation a reproach to Him who is the source of every good and perfect gift.

Thus, the way to have our prosperity returned is to repent of our wick ways and appeal for the return of God’s favor. God is consistent so he will deal with us as He dealt with those of old. Remember King Nebuchadnezzar,  And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.  ( Dan. 4: 26 ) It is not congress who has the power of the purse, but God.  If we return to Him, He will return His blessings to us.

We must acknowledge that it is not the wisdom of men that will resolve our problems, because man’s wisdom is given by God and can be taken away as readily as it is given. ( Isa. 29:14 )  We go through the process of selecting our leaders, but it is God Himself who bestows the power upon those HE chooses.  “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men.”  ( Dan. 4:17 )

Therefore, I urge you to vote, but as you vote to make your selections, not as the world selects, but on the basis of Christian values.  It is God who determines whether or not we will prosper, not a candidate or a political party.  He can make the foolish wise or the wise foolish as He chooses.  Allow God to use you to choose leaders who will turn this country back on a course of righteousness.  Pray that God will raise up leaders with the moral courage to stand against the tide of ungodliness which is making our nation a reproach to Him who is the source of blessing.  Make your vote a proclamation of faith.

Your Spiritual Journey

“The Bible,” said Abraham Lincoln, “is the best gift God has given to man.”

Unfortunately, the gift often remains unopened and its truths unknown. To know the Bible as it deserves to be understood requires great effort, concentration and a careful reading of all its books. Here’s a list of topics and verses to help you on your spiritual journey:

— Facing a crisis: Psalm 46; Psalm 121.

— Moral choices are to be made: Psalm 1.

— Thankful: Psalm 92:1-5; Psalm 103:1-14; Psalm 150; Psalm 139.

— Tempted to do wrong: Psalm 139; Psalm 140; Romans 7:7-25; Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:12-15.

— Discouraged: Psalm 23; Psalm 37:1 and 5; Psalm 7; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 91; I Corinthians 10:13; II Corinthians 4:4-18; Hebrews 13:5; James 1:12; Isaiah 40.

— Tempted to lose faith: Acts 17:22-31; I John 4:11-16; Hebrews 11.

— Angry: Luke 6:27-38; I Corinthians 13.

— Lonely: Psalm 27; Psalm 23.

— Anxious: Psalm 107; Psalm 43; Psalm 46; Matthew 6:19-34; Philippians 4:8-13; Hebrews 4:16; II Timothy 1:7; I Peter 5:6.

— Suffering in sickness: Psalm 91.

— Things seem to be going from bad to worse: II Timothy 3; Philippians 4:8-13; Romans 8:28-39.

— Friends seem to fail you: Mark 11:25; Luke 6:35-37; Romans 12:14-21; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 18:21-22; Psalm 27.

— Needing inner peace: Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 37:4; Luke 6:22-23; John 14; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:12-17.

— You feel the need of prayer: Psalm 25:3-7; Psalm 42; Psalm 51; Matthew 6:7-15.

— In need of God’s protection: Psalm 62; Psalm 139:1-12; Matthew 10:29-31; Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:31-39; Philippians 4:6-19.

— You have done something wrong: John 3:1-21; Isaiah 53; Psalm 51; Isaiah 55:7; I John 1:8-9.

— God seems far away: Psalm 139.

— Tempted to grow bitter or critical: I Corinthians 13.

— Seeking rules for living: Romans 12; Matthew 5:1-12.

Don’t Ever Give Up!

(Editor’s note: The following was written by the talented Kristina Odom.)

“Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.” Jeremiah 7:27-28

To me those words would be very discouraging. To know before you speak that no one will listen would be so discouraging. I would not want to do it, why bother, it would just be a waste of my time. But Jeremiah did what God had asked. He went, he told them of their wrong doings, he told them what would happen if they did not come back to God, and yet they would not listen. For fifty years Jeremiah was pleading with the people of Judah, for fifty years he was telling them to stop trying to worship idols and God at the same time, for fifty years he was trying to open their eyes, to help them see what they were doing wrong. As God had told Jeremiah, they did not listen and they were taken into captivity. Jeremiah had not given up on the people, God had not given up, the people of Judah gave up on God and they had to pay for their actions. We all get discouraged from time to time. Things can get too hard, too frustrating, too much for us to handle. We tend to throw our hands in the air and say – I give up! Did Jeremiah give up? I’m sure throughout the course of fifty years, he thought about it, when he was in put in the stocks (Jeremiah 20:2), when God’s law was cut into pieces and thrown in the fire (Jeremiah 36:22-23), when he was in the dungeon (Jeremiah 37:15-16). He did not stop! He kept doing what God had asked, he kept trying to help save the people.

God sent Jesus to this earth to work- “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4 Well, one might ask what was His work? -”For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 And since we are to follow Jesus (Mark 8:34), we must work at that job too! At times this job can get downright discouraging. You are inviting your friends, they say no. You try to talk to your family, they won’t listen. You see all of these lost people and it seems like no one is listening, no one cares. Why should we work so hard when even Jesus said few will find the way? (Matthew 7:13-14)

How easy it would be for us to just give up and say “Lord, we have found a few, that’s good enough.”? But what about 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants ALL men to be saved, but we ALL have the ability to choose, as did the people of Judah. Some will choose God, others won’t, but we must keep trying to teach them about God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Keep inviting, keep talking, keep praying and don’t ever give up. Who knows, maybe one day they will surprise you with a yes!

You Are Not Alone!

Toward the end of his life, Paul was able to reflect on several things. He was looking forward to receiving that crown of righteousness having fought the good fight, finishing the race and keeping the faith. Certainly his expectation of being with the Lord was one that sustained him in the face of death. But he also had time to review those that we with him to the end, like Luke, and those that turned back, such as Demas.

However, in 2 Timothy 4:16,17, Paul understood who was with him when all others forsook him,“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged againstthem. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preachedfully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

There are times in our lives, sad times, when we feel alone. The rest of the world continues on as we silently deal with our struggles. Who stands beside us when nobody else can or will? The Lord Jesus Christ! What a comfort to know that the Lamb of God, the Great High Priest, the only begotton Son of God is standing with us! When we feel alone the following verses can help:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:19,20

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?” Hebrews 13:5,6

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6,7

I Think Your Pants Are On Fire!

There’s an old story about a preacher that announced after his sermon one Sunday that the next Sunday he would preach on Mark 17. He told the congregation to go home and read the chapter. The next week, he stood up, asked for a show of hands on who read that chapter. Immediately hands shot up all over the auditorium. The preacher then announced he would begin his sermon on lying.

Our society had become immune to the truth. People would rather lie then face the truth. Because of this, the ability to trust people becomes difficult. Instead of looking of the best in people, we look for the worst. Even a half-truth is a whole lie!

What’s even worse are members of the Lord’s church engaged in the sin of lying, as illustrated in the above story. Elders lie to preachers, preachers lie to members and members lie to each other. If you can’t trust the people that we have a common faith with, who can we trust? Even though God does not deal immediately with liars as He did in Acts 5, He does promise in Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Usually, liars are committing other sins then just lying, but it is sobering to know that lying, in the mind of God, is just as bad a sin as murder! Surely, none of us would commit murder, be we see nothing wrong with being a liar!

Lying violates the second great command, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. I can’t think of a single person that enjoys being lied to. Can anyone proclaim they have more respect for people that do not tell the truth? Do we want to be identified with the Devil, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44

Hebrews 6:18 tells us that it is impossible for God to lie, therefore, we can trust every Word in scripture. Let us strive to be more godly, let every word out our mouth be true!