December 15
Micah 1:1-4:13 | PS 134:1-3 | Prov 30:1-4 | Rev 6:1-17
The leaders of our nation from its earliest years would assimilate their views towards those of God. Government was influenced heavily by those who submitted to God. Now the exact opposite is true. Not only is our government corrupt. Not only do our leaders lift up every issue in opposition to God. But now, rather than the government being influenced by the things of God, the church is largely influenced by the things of the world. As I watch in disbelief at what our nation has become, it's hard to fathom just how immoral we have become. People vote with their bank accounts. People vote by personalities. The question should always be, how closely do those in power, or those seeking election approximate the viewpoint of God. God's story will continue to unfold. Our nation is simply another of the many nations which are part of that story. But the question for you individually is: What part did you play? Did you stand for God or for the world? Did you attend a church which lifted up God or chose relevance with the world as their rallying cry? The chasm is getting wider and deeper. The ability to play it both ways is becoming more difficult. Where do you stand?
Read in Micah 3:9-12, "Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity, Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity: Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest." And this is exactly what happened to the nations of Israel and Judah. Does this not sound like the leaders of our nation, as well as the bulk of our religious institutions now? The prophets of old spoke forth God's warnings. They did so with the desire of shaking them back to God before it was too late. Micah wrote in the 700's BC. We also read in Revelation 6:2, "And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer." Here comes the future world leader, the Antichrist in the first seal judgment. Sadly, many will be fooled by his godless message. Promising peace when he stands in direct opposition to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
All of these world leaders, past, present, and future know just what to say to rise to positions of prominence. Godless leaders, preaching godless messages, and issuing godless promises to godless individuals. This goes way beyond party affiliation or petty issues that people choose to become consumed with. Do these leaders stand for God, as represented in His word, not some convoluted distortion of God put together by worldly stances and feeding on people's emotions. The same holds true with new technologies. Do they advance the things of God, or do they advance the things of the world. If not for God, no matter how convincing the argument might sound, beware. It is time for each of us to wake up out of our slumber. Perhaps you were born, "for such a time as this". Choose who it is that you stand for. Stand for God, whether that affects your popularity or not. We can't continue to walk in the shadows much longer.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: