Echoes From the Campfire

Do the job you were born to do and do it by the book, no other way is acceptable.”
              –W,L, Cox (Hunt–U.S. Marshal)

    “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
              –James 1:22 (NKJV)
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If you’re a child of God remember that Satan is out to get you.  There is no doubt about it, and he uses various methods to do so.  Paul tells us that we are not to be ignorant of his devices, but to be ready.  The world is topsy-turvy, in which hatred seems to abound more and more.  Look again at the scripture from yesterday, this time from the Amplified.

         “That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world.”
                   –Philippians 2:15

As you continue to fight the good fight of faith there are four things to keep in mind.  (Some of the following is from Gary Inrig).

    First of all, God is Righteous!
         Do not be deceived, the devil is out to destroy your soul one way or another.  Heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit.  When a nation loses its first love there is an unmistakable picture of a righteous God.  He will weigh each nation in the balance; He will remove light from the nation.

              “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place–unless you repent.”
                       –Revelation 2:4-5 (NASB)

         Misery will overtake the people who continue to forsake or ignore a holy God.  Many countries are already in darkness.  Sin was, and is, not an insignificant thing, to be passed over lightly; it is an affront to God’s righteous being and He will visit it with stern and painful judgment.  A nation that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense.

    Second, God is Sovereign.
         He orders all the forces of nature and history in accordance with His own righteous will, thus working our His judgment upon the nation.  There are times when He will use men to aid in His work, but however He works He will show that He is in charge and on the Throne.

    Third, God is Gracious and Longsuffering.
         When is too much?  How much does it take for God to say enough is enough?  When are the scales of justice tipped and judgment must be dealt?  Thank the Lord that He is gracious and longsuffering; that He is waiting to hear the cries of His people, always waiting to intervene on their behalf.  The verse from Revelation says, “repent and do the deeds you did at first.”  Until divine judgment actually comes there is still hope.

    Fourth, never forget or underestimate the Importance of Faith.
         Do you have the quality of faith which cooperates with the Lord?  Could you be the one that He uses to reveal His might?  People who know their God and have faith in Him can do mighty things, “but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” (Daniel 11:32, NASB) (Read also Hebrews 11:32-34).
         Never despair, never lose hope–God is there!  One thing that should be learned by looking at history and reading the Scriptures is “that chaos reigns whenever man is free to ‘do what is right in his own eyes.’  Civilized life is impossible when every man has ‘his own way.’  It is an expression of the original sin…  Only by obedience to the law and love of God can man ever find happiness for which God made him!”