The Church and Very Difficult Times

As I have been praying, (both listening and talking), there has awaken in me a prophetic attitude that time had somehow suppressed. Prophet meaning declaring the truth with the intention to wake us God’s people to the sin that is so prevailing. There is a component to “future things” in the prophetic voice but, there is also a speaking on God’s behalf or better stated sharing things that are on the heart of God. So before you start sorting out the stones to throw at me, I am using the term in the latter sense. With that said, I am revisiting the “end times” topic not because I am trying to come up with a new and improved chart to predict when Jesus will indeed come again and take His bride, His pure and holy people with Him to heaven, but to hear and understand God’s heart for His people in regards to when all these things take place. There is so much horrible teaching out there about Christ’s return that it almost makes it seem that Jesus will come when we “the bride” the church decide for his return instead of waiting expectantly, or being “ready” when He decides to return. So without tipping my hand so to speak on where I land on the time and circumstances of Christ’s return, let me at least stir the pot of your mind and soul and exercise the prophetic voice I believe God has rekindled within me.

I see and hear of so many “believers” who claim to follow Christ, but lack the power and fruit that is naturally expressed when one is truly a disciple or better a person remaining in Christ. (See John 15 for reference) Not to split hairs and attempt to label or qualify the distinctions of those who are truly following Christ and those who are not, (I am not God) but we are to be cautious of those who claim to be Christians even leaders because there is a huge difference between a “shepherd” and a “hired hand”. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27) (For further examples see Matthew 7:13-27). I am concerned for the masses in our extreme consumerist social mindset who asks the question; “What’s in it for me?” “How will this church, this message, this program etc. meet my wants and desires?” I read an illustration where a person said, I just want $3 worth of God please, not enough to make me uncomfortable or change my lifestyle but just enough to escape the flames of Hell and live forever in Heaven. Not enough God to make me forgive those who have hurt me or love my neighbor, not enough to make a public expression, but enough to get my prayers answered and get me out of life’s difficulties. Read the prophetic words of Paul:

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.  They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.  They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)

Does this sound familiar? We translate this passage as the “world” in general, as those who would never darken the doors of a church, but the sad reality is that the passage describes the apostasy (standing away, a departure from one’s religion) of the church. These are church folk who are living this way. I will end without opinion, but will leave you with a few questions to chew on.

·        How have you seen the Gospel watered down to the point that people you know fit the descriptions above?

·        Can we fall in love with the concept of “Christian” and yet not truly follow Christ? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

·        What do you believe regarding Christ’s return? Will the church go through a “tribulation” period? Are we in it now?

·        Do you think it matters how church people live here on earth or because they made some decision for Christ they make it into heaven anyway guaranteed?

KNOWN

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;  And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)

Lord you search me not to find fault but to know me. You search me even when I am in sin. Nothing that I have done or will do escapes your presence, nothing escapes your knowledge of me. Lord I can't surprise you! The fact that you long to know me is a humbling mystery. Why should you a holy all powerful God desire to know me? I am nothing compared to you, I am but dust. Why would the creator, the one who made every part of me want to commune with me? I can't add a thing to your knowledge, I can't enhance or provide anything to you. Why the life investment in me? Oh, if I could give something of value to you. What could I honestly give you?

One day I will know you as I am known for I will see you as you are and yet even then I will not know all there is to know. I was not there when you created the heavens and earth, nor the angels nor anything else. I can't understand your thoughts and feelings when you created things. What does good and very good look like to you? What was it like when you had conversations with Adam or Enoch or when Jesus came out of the water of his baptism. What does "well pleased" mean to the God of Heaven? Is there a greater joy to know that I have made you smile or that you were proud of me or that I made you well pleased by something that I did for you? I don't want to even think of your feelings when Adam fell, when Cain killed Able, when Satan rebelled and a third of the angels went with him or when Jesus's disciples bailed on him and Judas betrayed him. Then of course there are my many sins and rejections of your love for me. I can’t imagine the hurt and grief that you experience when I turn my heart from you. Though none of this surprises you, you must still feel the immense pain or bearing the sins of the whole world. I am sorry for my contribution to your grief and pain. There is so much hurt, so much pain in this world and yet your grace eases and even removes the pain.

These thoughts are far too large for me and the capacity to entertain them are beyond me. I need to know you… intimately know you. Please override my foolish and sinful thoughts so I can focus on knowing you. I want to please you, to make you smile to do things that are "very good" in your sight. I don't want to cause you any more hurt or grief. I don't want be one more disappointment for you, but I know I will. I know I will sin a million times more and many of those times I won't be sorry for what I have done. I will cause others pain, I will discourage them from seeking you, I will be a hindrance to others and you. Again this sounds cheap and insincere, but I can only plead your grace, I can only plead your blood shed for us all with the hope that I will someday make it into eternal life with you.

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s famous quote…which is actually taken from a poem by Robert Burns, (The correct answer to some trivial question), “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is what we find in the biblical account of the civil war between kings Jeroboam (Israel) and Abijah (Judah). In 2 Chronicles 13 we see these two kings mounting up for battle against each other. Jeroboam with 800,000 valiant warriors while Abijah only 400,000. If you were in Vegas the odds makers would take Jeroboam hands down since it was a two men to one ratio. Jeroboam had a better battle plan: set an ambush from behind, surround Abijah and his men…done deal, let’s start portioning out the booty!

Believe it or not I am somewhat of a planner. I iron my clothes, make my lunch, get my breakfast ready, put the toiletries out on the bathroom counter, etc. the night before because I don’t have much time in the morning. Ok, so the real reason is that I am not a morning person, I don’t think clearly, and if it is not part of my routine it either won’t get done or will be forgotten altogether. I have to have my keys, wallet glasses and backpack in the same place otherwise I will forget them.

The confident Jeroboam had his perfect plan all laid out, with all bases seemingly covered. Leadership tip: having a well-executed plan is a great confidence builder for the next battle life throws your way. On the negative side, a great plan doesn’t always mean that it will result in a great outcome. Hence the end of our famous Steinbeck quote: “often go awry”. We often forget or at best hope for some kind of “God factor” to insure our planned outcome. The truth is, “My ways are not your ways says the Lord.” (See Isaiah 55:8-9). Our plans rarely turn out like we would like them to. Here is the gist of 2 Chronicles 13. Abijah’s plan was to trust the Lord His God. He and the people of Judah went back to the basic practices set in place by the word of the Lord: 2 Chronicles 13:8-12 (NASB)  "So now you intend to resist the kingdom of the LORD through the sons of David, being a great multitude and having with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you. "Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are no gods. "But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the LORD as priests, and the Levites attend to their work.  "Every morning and evening they burn to the LORD burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken Him.  "Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed."

This battle really wasn’t Israel vs. Judah; it was God’s people having to make a decision on who they were going to follow: the sins of Jeroboam and his master plan, or the One who is the Master Himself. Are you going to trust God with your life or trust a person, a plan, ideal or bank account? Abijah and Judah did not have a guarantee that they would succeed in this battle. It was the Lord who would decide the outcome. They were simply going to live in obedience in the ways of the Lord and let Him direct their paths. (See Proverbs 3:5-6). As the battle ensued, Israel appeared to have the upper hand as their great plan began to take shape, seeing that they were surrounded Abijah and Judah cried out to the Lord and the priests blew the trumpets…Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 2 Chronicles 13:15 (NASB)

So are we not make plans because God will do what He chooses to do in our lives anyway? Sit idly until we hear what our next steps are to be? Of course not! The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NASB). There is a “both/and” to our planning and God directing. He can be directing us to make specific plans that compliment what is on our heart and His. God desires for us to partner with Him in what He is doing. So how do we know what He is doing? Spend more time in silence and solitude with Him. (Last week’s spiritual exercise) Allow His word to permeate within your soul and live what He is saying to you. Make sure your plans are led and guided by His Holy Spirit, even to the point of surrendering those plans to Him. “Here is what I got Lord, do with it and me as you choose”.