This week, Michael writes that in Matthew 24, Jesus taught His followers about the signs that would proceed the last days. The description of these last days is similar to our times today. Pastor John McArthur said, “there is a reason for our country’s insanity… it’s because of the judgement of God.” Sovereign God allows any nation that rejects Him to go down the path of degradation and destruction. Hebrews 9:27 explains that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” A nation that forsakes God produces people whose foolish hearts are darkened. They are of a reprobate mind; a mind that does not function according to God’s divine design. He allows wicked leaders to rule over them … either overtly or covertly. The decline of a culture and of a nation is characterized by deception, confusion, corrupt darkness, and persecution of God’s righteous remnant. God allows His righteous judgement to purge a nation according to His righteous standard … His Word made manifest.
Even in the midst of the judgement, God will protect His people. As Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. Those who embrace the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ are saved from the wrath of God’s judgement. In the midst of the darkness, those God has called out of darkness of sin and into His glorious light will discover that God has a purpose for all suffering. Jesus said, “in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In the midst of the darkness of death itself, God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Our life eternal is hidden with Christ in God.
When we are born-again of God’s Holy Spirit, God will open the eyes of our spiritual understanding. The Word of God is spirit and it is truth … not from our own minds, but from the mind of God himself. 1 Corinthianssays, the natural man understands not the things of the spirit of God … these things are foolishness unto them. But the Spirit is life and peace unto those who are born-again of God’s spirit.
Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto his Father, even unto the death on the cross. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men and women. Only when a person is broken of themselves can God’s Holy Spirit teach them. We can only come to our heavenly Father with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. When we come to Him in desperation with empty hands, then the Lord can fill us with the power of His Holy Spirit. When we empty ourselves of ourselves, then we can trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding. In all our ways, we can acknowledge God and He will direct our paths.
Isaiah 55 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found … let a man return to the Lord and He will have compassion unto him and He will abundantly pardon. For His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.” The Word of Truth is an acquired taste. Therefore, taste and see that the Lord is good. When we receive the Spirit of God in Christ, as the Apostle Paul said, the preaching of the cross of Christ is a sweet-smelling savor, a sweet aroma.
Let's continue Michael's message about God in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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