October 2017
It goes without saying that these are some distressful and confusing times for all of us. And what makes it so difficult for many is not being able to understand what is going on nor have the power to control it. The “wise men” of our times cannot explain it and religious men are also dumbfounded. Something is happening in our world that man cannot remedy. Some have ventured to suspect aliens or some kind or supernatural force is at work. Could it be supernatural forces? Well, men are wise to suspect evil forces are working and to look upward for answers.
There is a supernatural force that is greater than man who has the power to circumvent man’s best efforts. From the beginning a Supernatural Being, who declared Himself to be Jehovah-Creator-God of the universe, promised that He would intervene in man’s affairs if man did not honor Him. Without a doubt, many no longer reverence Creator God or His Son, Jesus. We have seen it in science, medicine, government, religion, marriage, births, and all modes of interactions between mankind. God declared in the first commandment we should have no other god before Him but that precious commandment has been broken over and over in everyday life without much thought.
Even though Creator God has not chosen to show Himself in a visible form in our day to day life (as in statutes of Buddha or other false gods), He has declared that He is always present and knows all about us. Because of this lack of visibility to mankind, some people have decided that God does not exist and have excluded Him in their plans for life. God is not mocked by this exclusion but has rather foretold us how He would respond if we chose this path. He is first of all merciful and kind, teaching us the right way; but there comes a time when man chooses his path, whether right or wrong.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Confusion was the outcome for those who sought to build a tower that would reach unto heaven to prevent the very thing God had instructed them; to multiply across the earth and replenish it. They decided instead to show rebellion and venture into the heavens. There are some similar efforts being performed today by world scientists. Do you think God has noticed it? Past efforts to circumvent God’s instructions have been concluded as disobedience and punished as so. Those at the tower of Babel had their language confused so they were unable to communicate with each other. They were unable to finish their building project and were scattered across the earth. God was not mocked. Today man’s efforts are diminishing the population by aborting babies in the womb, producing killing agents in food, air, water, through drugs, genocide, guns and weapons of mass destruction. Man is still disobeying God’s instructions by killing rather than restoring.
Over the course of history in America and some other nations, we saw knowledge and inventions multiply as God gave man favor to establish technology that made life less strenuous for the body and mind. Ideas multiplied and inventions were brought forth that made life more enjoyable for every person. We blessed God and God blessed us. Blessings can change people though. As people began to spend more time with the blessings and less time with God, hearts were changed and hardened. Religion and false teachings sprung up that taught tolerance rather than reproof. Man slowed moved away from God until rebellion became normalcy.
God tells us in Deuteronomy 28 that He will respond to us according to our honor or dishonor of Him. Dishonor of God automatically brings evil consequences of sickness, lack, disaster, death, war, and every kind of failure.
Deu 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Deu 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
When man forgets God and His word, he becomes ignorant of the reasons that evil consequences affect his life. He is confounded through his internal darkness. God intends for man to humble himself at this time and seek answers from above but often man simply tries to improve on the evil circumstances rather than turn his face in repentance toward God.
Jer 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. Jer 5:20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Jer 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Jer 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? Jer 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Jer 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Jer 5:25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. Jer 5:26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. Jer 5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
People often ask in times of confusion and trouble, particularly during disasters: where was God? But He is the same God that spoke before the trouble and that warned of the consequences of disobedience.
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. Isa 45:15-16
God is merciful and just so He always sends warning before He judges man. Even wicked Nineveh had a prophet named Jonah sent to them. The word has declared that God will do nothing until He reveals it to His prophets. So God, in His love and mercy, does warn of judgment before it falls even though people choose unbelief or refuse to hear. America has long been beholding to the wisdom of rich, eldely white men who held the reins of power for the nation; but many in the hierarchy are being exposed for stealth, pedophilia, and sexual abuse of women, racial hatred, neglect of duty, prejudicial policies, infidelity, pornography, hypocrisy, and other unfaithful acts. Believers were always to place their trust in God.
I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. Jer 5:5
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1Co 1:21
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1Co 1:27-31
Jer 4:9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
The marvel of this hour is that the wise men of our society cannot tell us how to get out of our present problems; their knowledge is limited and their eyes have been darkened. But those that trust in their God have access into infinite knowledge. God has chosen in this hour to use the foolish to teach the wise even though the proud prefer answers from their peers. God, however, resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (1Pe 5:5). God is always speaking and He is still bidding us to draw near and hear.
We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God. Jer 3:25
Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. Jer 3:22
The above scriptures reveal the heart of God, the Father, who never changes, however, the blood atonement of Christ causes some people to believe that the Father will not allow any devastation of His people. Unfortunately, there are many people who have made a profession of Christ but who do not obey His voice. True believers are those who choose to walk in both love and obedience. Paul carefully explained in Roman 9 that not all of those of Israel were indeed Israelites. Nicodemus found out that salvation was a matter of a changed heart (Jo 3:6), not so much a birth right or profession of allegiance. God knows those that are His and He will preserve them in times of trouble. Those with a true heart for God are not in ignorance of these times because they enjoy fellowship with the Lord. Shame of face and confusion belong to the lost but even they can be saved through making Jesus Christ their Savior. The good news is still Jesus saves.
Truth and Life Ministries of Christ with Apostle Joyce Reba Payne 