Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Usually I jump out of bed at 0-dark thirty on Monday morning excited and looking forward to writing. But I have to admit; today I’m flat as a pancake. The news of the past few days, both locally and nationally – then add to that the world news! – I find myself emotionally drained. I’ve always been a news junkie because not only do I want to stay informed, today I feel an obligation to stay informed. But holly-tomolly, enough is enough. The airwaves are dominated with evil and hatred hour after hour and day after day. Now add to that the political spin and various agendas, and I can’t help but think the end result is more evil and more hatred!
So what is the answer? Do I turn off the radio and TV? Do I shut down my computer? No doubt those are options, but I think I will exercise another option that is much more appealing to me right now…and most likely the reason for this blog. I will make a conscious choice to renew my mind.
It’s easy to let the circumstances of this world cloud our thinking lead us into a funk (as I was here-to-fore experiencing). But when we stop and focus on the truth of God’s Word, we can find our way back to the light (Jesus). John 8:32 is the answer: “Jesus told his disciples, if you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Notice Jesus was very specific about what teaching he was talking about; “MY teaching.” So what did Jesus teach? He taught about love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, grace, and being of service to our fellow man. He taught about “loving God with all our heart, soul and mind”. (Luke 10:27) He told us to “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) He told us “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “As he (a man) thinks within his heart, so he is.” In other words, what you have in your heart determines what you say and what you do. If your heart is filled with hatred, anger, disgust, jealousy, envy, the result will be evil actions. And who is the author of evil? The prince and power of this world…satan! So whether we are witnessing the indiscriminant killing of innocent people by an ideology that hates any way of life that does not bow down to its belief, or protests such as those seen in Ferguson or Dallas that resulted in violence and killing, the motivation comes from the same source…satan!
I am constantly amazed at how many people – especially the professed intelligentsia – seem to have learned so little from history. Both the Bible and secular ancient history books reveal the same information, albeit one from a spiritual perspective and one from a secular perspective. But if one were to take time to trace the rise and fall of civilizations in either book, it is easy to see patterns. In the Bible it is clear that when people, countries or civilizations are in line with God’s will, they are blessed and they prosper. When out of line with God’s will, there is calamity, such as fire and brimstone, floods, wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, etc. The ancient history books attribute the fall of civilizations to such human flaws as greed and the desire for power, control, and wealth. Again these human traits are out of line with God’s will because they are motivated by “self will”, the author of which is satan. And remember, his only purpose is to keep us separated from God and his ways.
So how does that basic history lesson apply to our culture today? Well…whenever a culture exalted the wisdom and teachings of man over the wisdom and teachings of God, that culture was on the pathway to collapse. Can you see that happening today? No doubt the teachings of Jesus are marginalized, minimized, mocked, ridiculed, and even condemned in many cases. The fundamental Judeo-Christian principles on which this country was founded are under assault by an agenda that wants to redefine America. The “traditional family” and “traditional moral values” are also under assault by a liberal progressive agenda that wants to redefine “normal”. Instead of seeking to promote commonality and unity among the populace, there is an attempt to divide and promote anger, distrust, and even hatred. And what could be the reason for all of this? Could it be for power and control??
No doubt, satan’s lies are always appealing! 2 Corinthians 4:4 explains this perfectly: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Well…by all appearances, satan is winning. It would appear that the saying, “the world is going to hell in a handbasket” is true…unless, of course, WE remember who we are. We are followers of Jesus Christ and we have a secret weapon that allows us to rise above the world to become the person God created us to be. We ARE already victorious. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (and so have we because we are in Christ!) He also told us in Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority over all the powerful schemes of the enemy…”, and again in 1 John 4:4. “He that is in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.”
If there was ever a time for intercessory prayer, it is now! We, as followers of Jesus Christ, have the power to change the world. The truth in the Scriptures above tell us we are already victorious, so let’s proclaim the Truth of Jesus’ teachings with a MIGHTY VOICE to this dark world that wants to keep the focus on evil! It is our time to shine. It’s our time to bring the light of Jesus to this fallen world engulfed in darkness.
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May God Bless Ya…
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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