Thursday, August 29, 2013

And So It Continues


Acts 19:21 - And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

And today there still arises a great commotion about the Way. In those days the commotion was in Rome. They had heard of Jesus but the commotion arose because of their worship of the goddess Diana and the shrines of great worth, made of silver, built in her honor. If those shrines would cease to be built because of allegiance going to Christ their prosperity would be in jeopardy. That caused great concern. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship." (Acts 19:27)

Prosperity over eternal life. Worship of an image made by human hands over worship of God. Self life, which will not last, over life in Christ which will. How skewed their thinking was.

And still is. A friend of mine and I had another deep discussion about what we see happening in this world. We sense it and wonder when something will erupt. Although we don't want it, we know it is inevitable and we look forward to it at the same time, knowing that the Day of the Lord is at hand. The unrest, the insecurity of the future. You can't say it isn't noticeable. You also can't say it surprises God. He knows exactly what's happening and we, my friend and I and many others, know also. We do not know the day or the hour, but we can know the season and this is the season.

People can think I'm crazy for thinking, believing and writing about this, but I'm certain there's a day coming soon when my words, as vague as they are right now, will take on a different meaning. What we sense in our spirits will become reality. We don't know to what to expect. It won't be pretty. The other shoe is about to drop. But if we are trusting in the Lord we will be given what we need when we need it...including peace.

All I can pray is that whatever it is it is powerful enough to open the eyes of the blind, take the heads of many out of the proverbial sand and cause many to look to the God of the heavens over the gods of this earth, those idols, whatever they might be, that one is afraid to let go of or lose because they are one's identity or life. Our lives are best when we have life in Christ, the Way...which idea causes commotion.

Perhaps when disaster strikes it will cause what is perceived as life on earth to be turned to where life truly is, where it comes from. People may find the Way. The days ahead will either cause some to understand this or they will turn others into more anger or despair. I pray it turns many to God. Our life on earth is here for a purpose greater than ourselves. God has tried for thousands of years to show us this. Some have taken it seriously, some have not.

We can find many things in this world to idolize: self, money, work, sports, things. All which can be taken away (including self) in a heartbeat. It's a lie to think that we might as well enjoy it while we can because some day we will die. If we aren't focused on God and truly aware of what He has to offer and not so dedicated to the things of the world because they give us temporary pleasure, we do not have what is most important. That also means that we cannot say we know God, say we dedicate our lives to Him and then live our lives as we have always done. It's turning from the world views of prosperity, idol worship and looking only to the Lord in heaven.

I pray that the eyes of worldly understanding would see, before it's too late, the state of the current times and understand why we are going through what we are...and most importantly to what end (which Way) one needs to truly be seeking and hoping for. It's not what you have in your pocket, in your house, in your garage, even in your own mind...it's what God has...nothing else.

1John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

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