Day 168 The Witness

 

6/17/202

"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle 

(in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy 

prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 

their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? 

For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were 

from the beginning of  creation.' For this they willfully forget 

that by the word of God the heavens were of old, 

and the earth standing out of water and in the water."

 

This may sound crazy, perhaps misguided or misunderstood to many, but this is an exciting time to be alive, and to watch God's hand on the lives of His people. I am not just speaking of Israel, although it is His land, given to the Jewish nation, but I speak of all who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and King. I speak of all who understand His plan since before creation, and of all who realize God still speaks through His prophets of old. One has only to open the pages of the scriptures and lean into the promise of our covenant-keeping God to understand that He is God, and there is no other.

Today there are many scoffers, those who want to criticize, who cannot understand that God is holy, and He is just. There are those who once believed at a tender age, who now wonder if He exists, where is He? Who have listened to lies, and who, rather than focusing on what God says and trusting Him, choose to put their faith in man, and they only see the distractions created by those who desire power are perpetrating in our nation. In the Bible passage above, Peter continues his thought in verses 8 and 9: But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Peter then goes on to describe how the Lord will return as a thief in the night, and He will take those who wait in anticipation, those whose lamps are full of oil and ready when He returns, home to be with Him. He warns of what is to come next, when our Lord will return to bring destruction upon the earth, and then scoffers of this age will know the judgment of the Lord. I myself want to be found waiting, ready to meet my Master in the air, but while I wait, I occupy. I do the work that He has given me to do, so that on that great and glorious day I can stand before Him and hear the words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant, enter in."

I am the first to say that I muddle through life sometimes, because it is difficult being a human being watching the behavior of man, not understand who would not want to follow Him, who would not want to live an honest, lawful, moral lifestyle, following His ways and commands. They are not burdensome. In my ignorance, I have sinned and fallen short of His grace, but He is true to His word, and He forgives when He sees true repentance, a broken and contrite heart. He is not an evil dictator who tries to extract a pound of flesh from us. He only wants our love and fellowship. Why is this so hard to understand? We have only to open our eyes each day and look around at the beautiful earth He created, smell the natural fragrance and hear the birds singing and busily feeding their young or squirrels storing nuts for winter. We have only to open our eyes and see!

God has given us a second chance in America, a chance to do the right things, a time to walk worthy of the high calling of Jesus Christ, and this does not include burning and rioting, and all the ugliness we have witnessed in the streets or behind the closed doors of powers that think they be, who remain behind the scenes doing their evil deeds and blaming the innocent. I have never witnessed such hatred and lies and cover ups from leaders who profess to know God, who profane His name for self-glorification. Let me be very clear, I do not put my faith in man, my only allegiance is to my Risen Lord and God, but I do recognize His sovereign hand on the man who sits in the White House, who has endured so much evil since he first announced his run for this high office the first time. Prior to that he was everyone's friend. What happened? Were they afraid that their sin would be found out? Did they fear, knowing that regardless of the mistakes he had made in his personal life, ones they previously extolled because of his wealth, that he had a huge heart for those the world considers less? Did you know that in his first administration one of the journalists, wanting to make a name for herself, going to great links to dig up dirt, found out the truth about a man who was generous and giving when he saw a fellow human being in need? He did so many things behind the scenes of his life that people never knew. I doubt they read her report, but I did, and I remember commenting on it at the time.

Regardless of what anyone thinks or knows or thinks they know, God has His hand on our President, and no evil will be able to touch him as long as He follows God. This is true of anyone who is serving God. God promises to watch over and protect us, until we finish our work in His plan, and then we graduate to a higher office in His Kingdom, a kingdom not like man's.

I was so blessed and encouraged when I read the note that Mike Huckabee, our Embassy envoy in Israel, wrote to our President encouraging him, as he makes the most important decisions at this time. His words are honest and from the heart of a man who loves His God, and a man who realizes that the position he holds is a divine appointment, as is our President's. I close with this note:

 

 

  May the Lord God be praised! Selah.