May 30
2 Sam 15:23-16:23 | PS 119:113-128 | Prov 16:10-11 | John 18:25-19:22
I was quite naïve to the term, “influencer” until only recently. These “influencers” have no particular skill set, no particular wisdom, no necessary morals or ethics, but, for whatever reason people follow them and are influenced by them. But popularity is usually short-lived. Rarely will one follow the course of the lives of these influencers to find out if their own lives ended well or in shambles. Voltaire was widely influential for decades, but this famous anti-Christian atheist, on his deathbed in 1778, said, “I am abandoned by God and man…then I shall die and go to hell”, he told his doctor. The nurse caring for him said: “For all the money in Europe I wouldn’t want to see another unbeliever die! All night long he cried for forgiveness.” How many throughout the generations were poisoned by the words and philosophies that he left behind. David Hume famous philosopher and religious skeptic on his deathbed in 1776, said, “I am in flames!” It is said his “desperation was a horrible scene”. Yet he influenced many. Thomas Payne, the leading atheistic writer in the American Colonies on his deathbed said, “I would give worlds if I had them, that The Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me!…No, don’t leave; stay with me! Send even a child to stay with me; for I am on the edge of Hell here alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one.” So much for the final words of some of the best known writers of the “Enlightenment Period”.
We observe the brazen actions and words of those who positioned themselves against King David, from his son, Absalom, to his advisor, Ahithophel, to Shimei, the self-proclaimed judge of David as he was fleeing. All of these men spoke with authority and influenced many. Yet each one was fighting against God unknowingly, and dragging others under their influence down with them. There were no shortage of voices in religious and political circles who deemed themselves in proper position to judge Jesus, the Son of God. We pick up a bit of the exchange in John 18:35-38, “Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world,that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?…”” Looking truth in the eyes, these “experts” couldn’t see truth. As the people were influenced by the religious leaders to crucify Jesus, we read in 19:10-11, “Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.…”.
As our Savior is being led away to Golgotha, by all appearances, it seems as though He was losing. But we know the end of the story. We know that “He is risen”. We know that He has conquered sin and death for all who are willing, in humility, to come before Him and accept His free offer. Jesus is the only “Influencer” who really matters. So, we all have a choice as to who we will follow and be influenced by. We can choose to follow ourselves in self-righteousness. This will prove disastrous. We can choose to be influenced by anything, anyone, any philosophical “ism”, etc., but beware. Many of those espousing these lofty words and positions will one day echo similar words to those experts on their deathbeds who were pivotal in the “Enlightenment Period”. If you want enlightenment, come to Jesus. Pick up your Bibles and let God speak to you. He alone has the answers and direction for your life.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: