Michael continues: Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus of the Moody Church said, we are being swept along by a mighty cultural current that is leading over the waterfalll and crushing the American Christian ethical values upon which our nation was founded. We may wonder if this will affect the lives of true followers of Christ. America has been the only nation that has been spared Christian persecution in the last 300 years. God has honored the biblical values of our nation’s founding Fathers based on Christian virtues. However, our nation has drifted far from her moorings of the Word of Truth.
Those who think themselves wise in their own conceits have been tripped by their own pride, they have embraced the wisdom of this world and have become foolish, lacking the wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit. James 3:15-18 says, “This wisdom (of this world) descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Proverbs says that in order to receive wisdom and prudence with knowledge and discretion, a man of understanding will seek wise counsel. The fear (awe, respect, and reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools hate the knowledge of God. They run from the light whereas true Christians run to the light of truth. The words of Shakespeare are on-point: he who laughs last laughs best. Psalm 69:8 says, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.” The Lord shall laugh at their folly and at the waywardness of their vain worldly wisdom.
John 16:32 says, these things I have spoken to you that you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Whether the house we build in our lifetime will withstand the onslaught of the pressures, turbulence, and flooding of this world depends on the foundation on which our house is grounded. If our house is built on the shifting sands of the wisdom of this world, the house will not stand and great will be the fall of it. The wise man built his house upon the rock. When the waves of destruction beat upon it, it’s true character was revealed. The house that stands is built upon the rock of Jesus Christ himself. Christ is our sure foundation. He is the cornerstone upon which the house, the church of God is established, grounded, and secured.
The last of the beatitudes is, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. The trials and tribulations will reveal the true character … the quality of the foundation upon which our life is founded. According to Romans 5, for tribulation (Pressure, and trial) works patience. Then patience works experience (proven character), and proven character produces hope, and hope makes one not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
The crowds who followed Jesus around said, you need to be our political Messiah, to drive the oppressive Roman authorities out of Judea. Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world. This world will pass away. The nations are but a drop in the bucket compared to God’s plan of eternity. That which endures is not built upon the sand … upon the fleeting wisdom of this world which will come to destruction. But he who builds his house upon the solid rock, will endure into life everlasting through Jesus Christ. He alone is the firm foundation and the cornerstone of the body of Christ … the church, the dwelling place of the Lord, that despite the troubles of this world, we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace, mercy, love, and honor!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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