Wicked Men, Imposters and Winners
Romans 1:18;
Indeed, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness;
(All Scripture from, A Faithful Version)
In the days, weeks and months following the attacks on 9-11 it seemed the people of this country were actually taking the warning signs of God seriously. I actually doubt though they knew or would even entertain the thought they were from God. True believers knew.
It didn’t take long for things to fall back into that old and comfortably numb feeling again. Things started going better, people relaxed and returned to their old habits. We did notice some things changing for the worse.
The New York legislature passed a law that allowed “Partial birth abortions.” The governor signed it before a group of cheering and clapping people, mostly women, who claimed it was a victory for women’s rights and women’s health. (Someone needs to explain that to me. I don’t get it. Murdering babies for women’s health!) When this appeared on the news many of us were speechless. Cheering and clapping for the right to murder a fully formed, full term child. Then Virginia stated they were heading in that direction also.
Then the controversy over gender identity. Your gender is what you feel it is, anatomy and physiology be dammed. Then the onset of the alphabet perverts. Seems like there is an “identity” for every letter of the alphabet.
All this led up to companies telling states that unless they passed legislation to enhance and protect these people they would move their companies out to a more “diverse” and tolerant state.
Since the election of Donald Trump as president it seems the evil has just about fully surfaced. This man and his family have been subjected to some of the vilest attacks any public official has ever had to endure. Why? He dares to mention and Almighty God and Creator. He talks about the founding principles of this country and their belief in God and His written Word. All traits the unholy progressive left hate.
Moving forward we are now in the grips of a “pandemic” – Covid 19, the Wuhan virus, lockdowns, shutdowns, face masks and on and on. There are so many conflicting reports from “experts” it pathetic. It’s showing itself as more of a planned-demic than anything else.
This current election cycle has really lit a fire under these people. Riots, looting, shootings in many major cities seemingly with the backing of the mayors and governors of the states involved. They are run by progressive, Marxist, leftwing politicians. All this leading up to a completely corrupt presidential election wrought with fraud at many levels.
We’ve heard people questioning how God can let this evil happen. They think or say, “We’re good people in a good country. We want to include everyone so we all may live and let live. I can’t believe God is doing this or allowing this to happen.”
Too many of them make the incorrect assumption this is God’s world. He created it and all things relating to it, right? Partly right! Genesis 1:1 tells us;
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Then on the sixth day God created man. Genesis 1:26-28 details this.
And God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of heaven and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that crawls upon the earth.”
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, …”
So, God created the heavens and the earth, and He created man in His image and likeness. It seems too many stop here and make the assumption it is God’s world. As we see above, the physical entity was created by God, but things changed.
Adam and Eve were taken in by the serpent, Satan, who convinced them to go against God’s commands and eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were deceived and sinned against God. God drove them out of the Garden of Eden and cursed them and Satan. (See Genesis 3: 1-24). From that time forward the one responsible for the plight of the world is Satan.
Unfortunately, too many who claim to be Christian have a worldly view instead of a Biblical view. They assume God who created the world is responsible for everything happening in it. He did not create this human society or its institutions. This man made, humanistic society is not of God’s making, it’s Satan’s. Satan has control of the educational institutions, governments and has set the standards for the way our society runs and all the false religions. Satan is the architect of this culture.
Matthew 24:3-5
And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him alone, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the completion of the age?”
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Be on guard, so that no one deceives you.
For many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’; and they shall deceive many.
The first thing Jesus tells them is to “be on guard, so that no one deceives you.” It was already there set to attack the first century church. Jesus was warning them, and us.
Later John expands on this in 1 John 4:1-3,
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this test you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. And this is the spirit of antichrist, which you heard was to come, and even now it is already in the world.
In Revelation, Jesus reveals it is Satan who is deceiving the whole world.
And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. (Revelation 12:9; also see Rev 20:3).
Part of Satan’s plan is to keep us busy and occupied. We suffer constant pressure from worldly sources. Some examples would be the news, political corruption, abortion, covid, war, immorality and let’s not forget – the latest reality tv shows, new I-phones, the latest tech devices, new vehicles and all kinds of new “toy’s” we just have to have. We have to keep busy, right? But all of this wears us down. By the end of the day we are exhausted, right? Exactly! He wants us busy and occupied so we get away from God’s Word. When we understand all of this is part of his plan we can then make the necessary changes.
We know we have to pray, study and renew our faith on a daily basis. This will keep us grounded. We have a foundation in God’s Word, and it will sustain us. Satan wants to destroy that foundation.
Look at the talk of changing the Constitution of the United States. They want to make it more tolerant and inclusive. This is the foundational document of this country. It is based on the principles of the Christian Bible. Ultimately, that’s what they want to destroy.
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3)
We rely on God. We pray, study and obey His Word. He will sustain and protect us.
The LORD tries the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone; and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup,
For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.
(Psalm 11:5-7).
Remember, we are spiritual Israel, and this country is the recipient of the birthright of Manasseh, a mighty and prosperous nation. We need the foundation set forth in God’s Word and the Constitution.
As a nation we have forgotten the LORD in just about every aspect of life.
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken, “I have reared and brought up children, but they have rebelled against Me.
The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel…”
[includes spiritual Israel]
“…does not know Me; My people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:2-3).
As we see these evils unfold each day we cannot lose our way. We need to stay focused. Our God is consistent in His ways and great in His mercy towards us. We need to take a personal inventory. What are our values? Are they consistent with God’s Word? Where is our heart? Is it fully set on God or is there something or someone we hold closer? Are we focused on the gods of this world, money, houses, toys, etc., or on our Creator God in Whom we owe everything?
We can all recite Malachi 3:6 but this is only one of a number of verses that detail God’s truth and mercy.
God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19)
It is by the LORD’S mercies that we are not destroyed, because His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation, nor shadow of turning. (James 1:17).
We see that in the Old and New Testaments that God does not change. He wants us to also be consistent, keep our foundational teachings and not to associate with those prone to change. He tells us who to fear and what to be wary of.
Do not fret yourself because of evil men, nor be envious of the wicked;
For there shall not be a reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
My son, fear the LORD and the king; and do not fellowship with those who are given to change;
For their trouble shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both?
(Proverbs 24:19-22).
If we stay true to God’s Word, show Him we love Him by keeping His laws and Commandments and pray, study His Word, fellowship together, fast and renew our faith we can stay ahead of Satan’s world.
Scripture has already shown us what is ahead.
Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come;
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, braggarts, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good,
Betrayers, reckless, egotistical, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
Having an outward appearance of godliness, but denying the power of true godliness. But as for you, turn away from all these.
For from men such as these come those who are worming their way into houses, and are gaining control over empty-headed gullible women given over to various sins, being driven by all kinds of lust.
(2 Timothy 3:1-6).
Almost 2000 years ago Paul detailed these times for Timothy. We know the outcome and God has called us to Him to be with Him and our Lord Jesus Christ throughout eternity. As we see all of these things unfold, all of this evil and corruption continue we can rest in the Lord. Hold fast and stay the course.
Abstain from every form of wickedness.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your entire spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He Who calls you, Who will also perform it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:22-24).
Let’s commit ourselves to the Lord. We are heading into bad times. With the level of evil that has been displayed these past couple of years and the falling away from God we can see the immediate future does not look too promising. We may be blessed with a four year reprieve but that’s probably it unless there is large scale repentance.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;
Unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us,
Who are being safeguarded by the power of God through faith, for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you yourselves greatly rejoice; though for the present, if it is necessary, you are in distress for a little while by various trials;
In order that the proving of your faith, which is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is being tested by fire, may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Whom, not having seen, you love; in Whom, though at the present time you do not see Him, you believe, and rejoice with unspeakable joy, and filled with glory;
And are receiving the end of your faith—even the salvation of your souls;
(1 Peter 1:3-9).
If we stay true, this outcome is not contested. We win.
FCFM: cen – 11-14-20