He had seen more men die from misplaced confidence than justified fear.”
–Ralph Vaughn (Hell Comes to Paradise)
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
–Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
——————————
“Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.” –Philippians 2:16(HCSB)
I want to reiterate what Gary Inrig said, “Much more that I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.” More and more we need to grasp and engrave God’s Word on our minds and in our hearts. However, instead, it seems that many, and I will call the pseudo-believers, think they can choose what they wish to believe. It is almost like doing what is right in their own eyes with God’s approval.
Evil, though always present, has become blatant in the marble halls of leadership. Justice is becoming a mockery. Then from the heights, the worm of sin’s infection is still found in the dark alleys and along the streets of our country. Instead of compromising or becoming complacent it is a time in which we need to hold firmly to the message of life. Last week we looked at the principle that God is righteous. A nation that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense. This morning we turn to three more vital principles that we must keep in mind.
Know this, whether you like it or not, God is sovereign. He orders all the forces of nature and history in accordance with His own righteous will, thus working out His judgment upon the nations. We may not understand it all, but He is in control. God’s sovereignty remains unimpaired. He is still on the throne. Mockery from voices in leadership may come, but they do not daunt or thwart Him.
However, in His righteousness and justice He is still gracious and longsuffering. He is patient despite man’s sins. There is a constancy of a God who is always ready to hearken to the cries of His wayward people to intervene on their behalf. Sodom could have been spared if there had been enough righteous in the city. Perhaps America is spared because there are enough righteous people in the country. But how much is “enough”? How long before the Lord’s patience runs out? These are questions that we do not know the answer to.
Therefore, in times like these in which we are living, the importance of faith is more and more important. “Hold firmly to the message of life.” Hold firmly to your faith, let it shine forth as a beacon to others–those who mock, and to those who are looking for help and guidance. Our faith holds us firm, and it is in cooperation with the sovereign Lord. Read the word, hold fast to the example and inspiration of those with faith within the pages of the holy writ. Be like Daniel and those with him, where it declares that “the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” (11:32, NASB) The King James has it this way, “but the people that DO KNOW their God shall be strong and do exploits.” (caps mine).
When man does what is right in his own eyes, chaos reigns, confusion abounds. Civilized life is impossible when man has his own way and anarchy is on the way. We are to be a standard-bearer in this time, for this is the day in which we live. “We are to be agents of our King, pressing His kingdom and its values into our culture and forming communities that are outposts of His kingdom, demonstrating to the world another, and a better, way to live life.” (Inrig)
Culture has been pressing hard against the moral value system of God – mocking it, claiming it is old fashioned, calling for a new way of life. I remember years ago Billy Graham said that the “new morality is really the old immorality.” We are not to become milque-toast Christians, but we are called to be a Daniel and to stand alone if need be. In fact, we are to celebrate in the midst of our enemies for the Lord prepares a table in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5).
In the midst of this age go back and read the verse preceding 2:16, “Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…”(NASB)
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
–Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
——————————
“Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.” –Philippians 2:16(HCSB)
I want to reiterate what Gary Inrig said, “Much more that I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.” More and more we need to grasp and engrave God’s Word on our minds and in our hearts. However, instead, it seems that many, and I will call the pseudo-believers, think they can choose what they wish to believe. It is almost like doing what is right in their own eyes with God’s approval.
Evil, though always present, has become blatant in the marble halls of leadership. Justice is becoming a mockery. Then from the heights, the worm of sin’s infection is still found in the dark alleys and along the streets of our country. Instead of compromising or becoming complacent it is a time in which we need to hold firmly to the message of life. Last week we looked at the principle that God is righteous. A nation that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense. This morning we turn to three more vital principles that we must keep in mind.
Know this, whether you like it or not, God is sovereign. He orders all the forces of nature and history in accordance with His own righteous will, thus working out His judgment upon the nations. We may not understand it all, but He is in control. God’s sovereignty remains unimpaired. He is still on the throne. Mockery from voices in leadership may come, but they do not daunt or thwart Him.
However, in His righteousness and justice He is still gracious and longsuffering. He is patient despite man’s sins. There is a constancy of a God who is always ready to hearken to the cries of His wayward people to intervene on their behalf. Sodom could have been spared if there had been enough righteous in the city. Perhaps America is spared because there are enough righteous people in the country. But how much is “enough”? How long before the Lord’s patience runs out? These are questions that we do not know the answer to.
Therefore, in times like these in which we are living, the importance of faith is more and more important. “Hold firmly to the message of life.” Hold firmly to your faith, let it shine forth as a beacon to others–those who mock, and to those who are looking for help and guidance. Our faith holds us firm, and it is in cooperation with the sovereign Lord. Read the word, hold fast to the example and inspiration of those with faith within the pages of the holy writ. Be like Daniel and those with him, where it declares that “the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” (11:32, NASB) The King James has it this way, “but the people that DO KNOW their God shall be strong and do exploits.” (caps mine).
When man does what is right in his own eyes, chaos reigns, confusion abounds. Civilized life is impossible when man has his own way and anarchy is on the way. We are to be a standard-bearer in this time, for this is the day in which we live. “We are to be agents of our King, pressing His kingdom and its values into our culture and forming communities that are outposts of His kingdom, demonstrating to the world another, and a better, way to live life.” (Inrig)
Culture has been pressing hard against the moral value system of God – mocking it, claiming it is old fashioned, calling for a new way of life. I remember years ago Billy Graham said that the “new morality is really the old immorality.” We are not to become milque-toast Christians, but we are called to be a Daniel and to stand alone if need be. In fact, we are to celebrate in the midst of our enemies for the Lord prepares a table in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5).
In the midst of this age go back and read the verse preceding 2:16, “Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…”(NASB)