He recognized the feeling for what it was—the need within himself to protect and care for something beyond himself. It was that, in part, that had led him into so many fights that were not his; and yet, was not the cause of human freedom and liberty every man’s trust?”
–Louis L’Amour (The Mountain Valley War)
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
–Luke 21:28 (NASB)
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How long? How long will evil continue? How long must we be assailed with the wicked agenda of the transgenders, drag queens, and gays? How long will there be a mockery of the government? How long will justice be perverted? How long before You return, Lord?
Have you ever heard yourself say, “How long?” How long will this sickness last? How long until I can get financial stability? Spurgeon said, “The ‘How long?’ sounds as if it were one of the saddest of all utterances in which misery bemoans itself. Many times this bitter complaint has been heard in the dungeons of the Inquisition, at the whipping posts of slavery, and in the prisons of oppression. In due time God will publish His reply, but the full end is not yet.” Contemplate, if you will, the first part of Psalm 94.
1 — O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs–O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2 — Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud.
3 — LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?
4 — They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
5 — They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your heritage.
6 — They slave the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 — Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand.” (NKJV)
In the midst of pain, suffering, turmoil and the seeming unfairness of life, know this–God is not mocked. There is a day coming when God will settle all accounts. The prophets declare it to be a day of doom and destruction. Now, everyone, but especially those of the household of faith should be thankful for God’s mercy. “Those who will not deliver themselves into the hand of God’s mercy cannot be delivered out of the hand of His justiice.” (Matthew Henry)
I used to “joke” with my students that be careful for once in a while the “spirit of slap” will come upon me. Those in the front row better be ready to duck. It was all in fun, but sometimes there is that real urge to slap, and maybe even more those of the realm of darkness. I think that the Quakers might have had it right when they said that the retaliation hurts the person more than the one who is slapped. Oh, but don’t it feel good, until the Holy Spirit convicts.
More and more the devil is whispering to God’s people, “Where is the sign of His coming? How long will you wait for something that will never happen?” Evil is so rampant and is becoming more perverted and the devil smiles whispering to us “How long?” He mocks the things of God; he mocks justice, morality, and the dignity of man. He gets us to focus on the wickedness in the world and not on the person of Christ.
Look at verse 4, “Hear their arrogance! How these evildoers boast!” (NLT) It seems that the Lord really does not see (verse 7), but remember, “This is the self-deceived condition of the godless. In their sinfulness, they are unable to see God and thus assume that he is ignorant of their actions.” (Steven Lawson) I have read Romans 12:19, several times. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (NKJV) Notice the word, “wrath.” We do not like to think in this modern and enlightened age of “woke” of God’s wrath. Churches have thrown it out. Preachers will not preach about the wrath of God, but it cannot be ignored. Today, is the day of salvation–for tomorrow may be the day of God’s wrath. How long? O, Lord–until He is ready.
“We fight for truth; we fight for God;
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for thee on earth
Must first be true within.”
–Thomas Hughs
————————————–
How long? How long will evil continue? How long must we be assailed with the wicked agenda of the transgenders, drag queens, and gays? How long will there be a mockery of the government? How long will justice be perverted? How long before You return, Lord?
Have you ever heard yourself say, “How long?” How long will this sickness last? How long until I can get financial stability? Spurgeon said, “The ‘How long?’ sounds as if it were one of the saddest of all utterances in which misery bemoans itself. Many times this bitter complaint has been heard in the dungeons of the Inquisition, at the whipping posts of slavery, and in the prisons of oppression. In due time God will publish His reply, but the full end is not yet.” Contemplate, if you will, the first part of Psalm 94.
1 — O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs–O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2 — Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud.
3 — LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?
4 — They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
5 — They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your heritage.
6 — They slave the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 — Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand.” (NKJV)
In the midst of pain, suffering, turmoil and the seeming unfairness of life, know this–God is not mocked. There is a day coming when God will settle all accounts. The prophets declare it to be a day of doom and destruction. Now, everyone, but especially those of the household of faith should be thankful for God’s mercy. “Those who will not deliver themselves into the hand of God’s mercy cannot be delivered out of the hand of His justiice.” (Matthew Henry)
I used to “joke” with my students that be careful for once in a while the “spirit of slap” will come upon me. Those in the front row better be ready to duck. It was all in fun, but sometimes there is that real urge to slap, and maybe even more those of the realm of darkness. I think that the Quakers might have had it right when they said that the retaliation hurts the person more than the one who is slapped. Oh, but don’t it feel good, until the Holy Spirit convicts.
More and more the devil is whispering to God’s people, “Where is the sign of His coming? How long will you wait for something that will never happen?” Evil is so rampant and is becoming more perverted and the devil smiles whispering to us “How long?” He mocks the things of God; he mocks justice, morality, and the dignity of man. He gets us to focus on the wickedness in the world and not on the person of Christ.
Look at verse 4, “Hear their arrogance! How these evildoers boast!” (NLT) It seems that the Lord really does not see (verse 7), but remember, “This is the self-deceived condition of the godless. In their sinfulness, they are unable to see God and thus assume that he is ignorant of their actions.” (Steven Lawson) I have read Romans 12:19, several times. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (NKJV) Notice the word, “wrath.” We do not like to think in this modern and enlightened age of “woke” of God’s wrath. Churches have thrown it out. Preachers will not preach about the wrath of God, but it cannot be ignored. Today, is the day of salvation–for tomorrow may be the day of God’s wrath. How long? O, Lord–until He is ready.
“We fight for truth; we fight for God;
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for thee on earth
Must first be true within.”
–Thomas Hughs