February 25, 2019 - Why! One might ask, is there so much dissension, so much despair, so much suffering in the world today? The answer is not easy but it is simple, it is as the prophet Isiah said so long ago and has not changed until today.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and God, your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness.” (Isaiah 59:1-3)
Many would say, “God has deserted me and I am now in pain and suffering for God has turned his back upon me. It’s all God’s fault that I suffer so.
But, NO, God has not turned his back on you, no, he waits patiently for you to return to him for you have turned your back on him, not he on you.
Evil and oppression have overtaken the world and all who dwell in it will suffer until or unless, they turn back to God in repentance and humility.
Our scriptures say we have been defiled with our iniquities. So what does this word, iniquity, mean, what have we done?
Iniquity: To be evil, causing gross injustice and wicked and sinful acts.
Synonyms for the word are; corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, sin, vice, do you get the picture now.
Everything you see in life every day is what we have done for we, as a people, have turned our backs on God and gone the way of the world, of the devil.
And what does the Lord say about our situation?
“For I, the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord.” (Malachi 3:7)
The ball is in our court, people of the earth. We can sit in our iniquities and suffer the loneliness of being apart from the Lord, or, we can turn from our wickedness and return to him and know, forever, the pleasures of living and walking with the Lord each day.
Jesus Christ, our Lord gives us insight into the way of the world and the way to him and eternal bliss with him when he said, “For what will it profit a man of he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Matt. 16:26-28)
The clear and simple explanation of what is going to happen when the Father decides the time is right and the end of this age has come.
No amount of worldly possessions can help the one who has forfeited his soul for the world and its fleeting pleasures.
All will be repaid according to what he has done on earth. Where do you stand today? What would be your payment if Christ was to come now, today? That is the question each of us must answer for ourselves.
What must we do to come to the Lord? The old prophet Micah tells us we must; “love justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God each day.”
Do you deal justly with all people? Do you show mercy to those in need? Do you follow God’s will each day or do you do your own will or the will of the world around you?
All questions we must all answer for ourselves. May the grace of God be upon all…
