9-11-2001 ~ THINGS I CAN COUNT ON "TODAY"

 

By Bob W. Lovelace

 

INTRODUCTION: 

            When such destruction comes without total annihilation (“one” reason being others’ hatred of a nation or people for whatever the reason), you see things you admire such as patriotism, heroic acts to save others ~ even giving one’s own life to do so, also generosity and compassion for one’s fellow man. Most any nation responds thusly to tragedy. Out of concern for our nation - mourning is respect - scenes of sorrow require compassion and tear your heart out - there is such a thing as patriotism and love of your people, and nation. God understood man’s emotions when he ordained civil government. However, "these" emotions of patriotism are not the same as Repentance towards and obedience to God. A distressing factor in all of this is that this is a country whose government, educational process, and entertainment industry has too often passed judgment upon morality while condoning and fostering immoralities. Thankfully, the knowledge of "salvation" that comes from God’s Word points to the true purpose of our lives here upon this earth and man’s eternal destiny thereafter. When my and your life is over, at the end this is what ultimately matters.

           

I. “RESOLVE” FOR NATIONS IN TIME PAST ~ HOW IT WORKED AND DID NOT WORK.

A. Proverbs 14:34,

 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

B. For a resolve that did not work: Edom in Malachi 1:4,

    "Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever."

1. Edom had a resolve to rebuild, but they would not because the end of God's longsuffering with Edom had finally come.

C. We, as Christians, can’t get an entire nation to repent and turn to obeying God’s New Testament. Such a concept as a “christian” nation is not in the New Testament. We do find the church as God’s own possession being capable of edifying or building itself up (I Pet. 2:9; Eph. 4:12).

 

II. SUCH TIMES AS OURS ARE TIMES OF INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENTS AND MISLEADING APPLICATIONS. 

A. At times such as this people thrive on misapplications of God's word, and in giving human reasoning and wisdom instead of God’s eternal truths. And many love to “go with the flow,” and jump on the bandwagon at such times. Some live for this!

1. Illustrations: “Nostradamas said…,” “the Mark of the Beast,” “Armageddon has come,” “an earthly reign of Christ is near."

B. I must frankly confess that I can’t say for certain that “I” always know how to apply Prov. 14:34 today.

1. What standard of morality does God accept that keeps a nation going? Where does He draw the line and say that nation will be no more? Oftentimes Christians get caught up in “going with the flow” so to speak, and then when God doesn’t “go with the flow” and do what people think He will that isn’t enough. Then people reason that God must do more for me or us. 

 

III. WHEN MEN HAVE SUCH QUESTIONS AS, “WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?" OR "WHAT IS OUR FUTURE?"

 

   From a personal perspective "I" can bank on a limited number of things. They are precious, but few. I’m going to enumerate the things I know for sure that sustain us as  Christians. (Please note that I am talking about us as Christians and not us as a nation.)  The things I will mention is where your "life" is “today" as a Christian.

 

A. Christ Jesus (God) Reigns Over All Things ~ Matt. 28:18-20,

    "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

1. He is King of all kings ~ 1 Tim. 6:15,

    "Which in his times he shall shew, who IS (Emph. mine, B.L.) the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;"

2. This is central to any nation a Christian might live in. Any christian anywhere should put this foremost. It is very hard for me here, having not traveled abroad, to picture true christians elsewhere and see them caught in this struggle of nations, fighting for democracy and freedom such as we have here, strivings for justice and against injustices. I have difficulty, at times, trying to determine with my limited knowledge of things abroad just what is “just”.  I do know that God always stands for what is just.

3. The examples of the “martyrs” (Stephen, Acts 8, Rev. 6:9 “those slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus“) are not the same category necessarily as lives lost in a nation today at war.

4.  There is no such thing as a “christian” nation today. It is the church of Christ that is described as a "holy nation" where Peter says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (I Peter 2:9). Our great “nation” IS a political body that will exist upon this earth as such for a period of time. I like it a lot. I really like being here. There is no other place I’d rather be. There are lots of wonderful blessings, with freedom being the greatest with a view to being able to worship and serve God without persecution. Also, I find great delight in the fact that God's children here are willing to show such "benevolence" to saints in need elsewhere (I Cor. 16: 1-4), and thus share in spiritual blessings and the material blessings enjoyed here.

5. My “thoughts” are often no more than “dust” ~ When I look one place and see a nation not even claiming belief in God growing stronger and increasing, and then at home and see our nation’s immorality, I have to confess that its just too great for me.

 

 

B. God Uses, At Times, One Government To Punish Another (People) ~ Matthew 24:1-2,

    "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. [2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

1. God destroyed Jerusalem just as He said He would in 70 AD.

 

C. The Distinctions Of Being A Christian ~ Things We "Know" and "Do."

 

1. First, Something We Know. We Know the Reality of Physical Death and of Eternal Damnation. This always suggests the urgency in just one person’s salvation that we might love or be acquainted with. 

a. There is indeed a fire to be cast into ~ Mark 9:45,

    "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"

b. Please COMPARE this with a fire in the trade center to escape from. Some were willing to jump even to their deaths rather than be consumed in that fire.

c. Question: To what length have you gone to escape the “eternal” fire? Have you yet to obey this command? Mark 16:15-16, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

1) A certain disciple said to Saul, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

 

2. We Are to be Obedient to Civil Government, Rom. 13:1-7. Why? Because not to be is to be disobedient to God! There is a qualifier, for we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).

 

3. The New Testament Emphasis Is Primarily A Spiritual Keeping ~  Luke 21:16-19,

"And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. [17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. [18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish. [19] In your patience possess ye your souls."

a. This is where your life is as a Christian! Through perseverance and patience we will gain eternal life ~ Col. 3:1-4,

    "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

b. As we faithfully pursue such, setting our affection on things above and not on things of this earth (Col. 3:2), we will not suffer eternal or spiritual loss.  Jesus by no means meant that His disciples would not suffer or be persecuted. For the Apostles, obviously, “apostleship” meant physical death for many. Their and others' martyrdom was specific to their living and preaching the Gospel, and by refusing to worship false religions (Rev. 6:9). Satan was involved in a big way.  Remember, Revelation tells us that many of the disciples were martyred. Everyone will die physically until the point Jesus comes again (Heb. 9:27). But the faithful in Jesus go to be with Him when they die (Phil. 1:23). 

c. Who lived and for how long “was” also at times displayed as being in His hands,

1) Paul at Corinth ~ Acts 18:9-10, "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: [10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."

2) Stephen who “saw” Him but died physically ~ Acts 7:54-60, "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. [57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, [58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. [59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

3) A church in Asia is spared ~ Rev. 3:10, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

d. Thus we see that individual Christians wherever they might be were promised a spiritual keeping. Other verses giving emphasis to this: 

1) 2 Thes. 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

2) Jude 1:24, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

3) Hebrews 13:5, " Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

 

4. How We Pray Is Very Important ~ I Tim. 2:1-2,

   "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 

a. This is where your life is as a christian!

b. As stated above we are to pray for all that are in authority, "…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

c. We do pray for the physical necessities of life ~ Matthew 6:11, "Give us this day our daily bread."

d. And we pray for physical blessings such as health ~ James 5:15, "and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."

e. Of course, as christians and having received initial forgiveness through baptism (Mk. 16:16, Acts 2:38; Col. 2:11-13) we now pray for and receive forgiveness when we sin ~ 1 John 1:8-10,

    "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

f. Many passages show our prayers “count” with the Father; our intercessory prayers for one another help ~ 2 Cor. 1:11, 

    "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf."

g. Prayers for personal strength (Eph. 6:18) or otherwise should express our desire that God's will be done ~ Matt. 6:10; Matt. 26:39 " … nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

h. If you are like me there are so many things that you do not know all of the facts on. When such is the case, ask God for “justice” rather than define it for yourself. Remember that He has told us that vengeance is His ~ Romans 12:19,

    "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

 

5. Edification In Its Various Forms (both individual and collective) Sustains Us At All Times, 

a. This is where your life is as a christian!

b. "Reading" the scriptures to know what God's revealed will is ~ Ephes. 3:3-4

    How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

c. Handling accurately the word of truth  ~ 2 Tim. 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

d. Working at edifying one another collectively through assembling for worship ~ Heb. 10:24-25, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

e. Times of assembling are times when "all things are done for edification" rather than entertainment, games, and show ~ 1 Cor. 14:26, 

    "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."

f. A worthwhile admonition ~ Jude 1:20-21,

    "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

 

CONCLUSION: In this lesson I haven’t dealt with all the responsibilities man has to civil government, his fellow man, etc. The scriptures have told those of us who are christians where our life is. It is in service rendered to our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether a person is killed in a tragic act of hatred, revenge, or war, or whether they survive is not in and of itself a measure of righteousness. Everyone has to die; that’s part of being human (Heb. 9:27).  Beloved, not everyone must be cast into the lake of fire and eternal death. The simple message of the Bible is hear, believe, and obey. Acts 18:8 says, "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Having been taught, then why not make preparation today to seek one who will baptize you into Christ for the remission of your sins? (Mk. 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Gal. 3:26-27) By doing such you will enter Christ’s kingdom and be with the saved who make His church. (Acts 2:38, 41; Col. 1:13, 2:11-12)

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