Daily Archives: November 20, 2014

Urgency versus Complacency

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2000 years ago a man named John rose out of complete obscurity to proclaim an unusual and extremely urgent message.

CrossHe spoke with absolute confidence and power about someone who would come to prominence after Him. He didn’t fully understand the message he proclaimed, but his heart was tuned to God and he spoke as God led him. These are some of his pronouncements:

  • Someone is coming
  • He will separate the chaff from the wheat
  • He will clean up the threshing area
  • He will gather the wheat into his barn
  • He will burn the chaff with never-ending fire

The historical context in which he spoke was to a people experiencing oppression a dominant international force at the time, Rome. Many who heard his words expected a political clean up and an end to the Roman occupation of their land.

John spoke in metaphor so there can be much debate on his exact meaning, but there is no denying his sense of urgency and an impending judgment which would result in a positive experience for some and extreme judgment for others.

The same urgency was reiterated by Jesus, Paul, Peter and James in the writing we have preserved for us in the collection of books now known as the New Testament.

  • 2000 years have passed since these urgent words were recorded.
  • Many who claim to believe them have understandably slipped into complacency in their life.
  • It can be deduced that God did not bring a heaven here on earth experience during Jesus’ lifetime, as many expected. His mission was not for governmental or social reform and a clean-up mission. He didn’t do it 2000 years ago so is that His purpose today?

CrowdWhat is God’s mission? What was the urgent purpose started with the words of John the Baptist 2000 years ago? What does God want crowds of people to understand today?

From a complete reading of the historic collection of literature we call the Bible, we can see that God’s overall mission is calling individuals, one by one, to repent of their sin and follow Him. He created humans to worship Him. Perhaps the biggest sin committed by every human on earth is not worshipping God. Not seeking God in every area of life. Not surrendering unequivocally to God’s direction.

Faith surrenderPerhaps God is looking for simple faith which trumps hectic theological understanding and knowledge.

Too much theoretical discussion can lead to complacency. Children who have grown up in an environment formed on God’s truths (i.e. governments with a Judeo Christian foundation) can easily take the benefits for granted and feel protected because of the choices made by others who lived before them. God doesn’t want to be taken for granted. He wants every individual to surrender and allow Him to show them even more of His blessings.

His blessings do not translate into material accumulation. Sometimes we think those with the most stuff are favored by God, or we might think those with the most power are favored by God.

While there are many who live in the western world with an abundance that is easy to take for granted, the state of the world overall may arguably be considered more horrific than at any previous point in history.

  • The number of people, including young children, trapped in a life of slavery is a fact not easily acknowledged or understood by those of us who have never seen it.
  • Greed driven business has led to corruption beyond our imagination. Lives of people have become statistics willingly traded for bottom lines and growth of markets.
  • We live in a world where children are exposed to extreme violence and evil on a daily basis, either through media or their own personal experience.
  • Many eagerly call evil good and good evil. Confusion abounds on what is right and what is wrong. The motto seems to be whatever I can get away with and make a profit from is good.

So many of us are relatively comfortable and safe from these daily realities that it is easy for us to become complacent.

Paul traveled the world of his time urgently sharing what God had revealed to him. When Paul went to Ephesus he began to teach people about the Creator God. For a full understanding of all that Paul taught you can read through his many letters written during his lifetime, as well as the book of Acts where some of his speeches are recorded. He wrote his letters as a follow-up to encourage and instruct those who accepted his teaching and embraced Jesus Christ as God’s answer to the mess the world was in.

Paul’s teaching resulted in major life change for many people. As they surrendered to God and began to prioritize worshiping and serving God above all previous pursuits, they experienced a dramatic transformation. The things they had previously served became abhorrent to them. They realized that in their cultural traditions and rituals they had actually been serving God’s enemies and wanted to openly declare their new loyalty to the living God.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThey accumulated every item they owned which they associated with worshiping and following false gods and made a big bonfire. They included books instructing them in sorcery and incantations. They made a clear demarcation that they would only follow and worship the Creator God, source of all light.

This demonstration of dramatic life change was noticed by some powerful people. One significant leader, Demetrius, became worried because his business was founded on the concept of the local people continuing to serve false gods. If everyone in town accepted the truth of worshiping the Creator God as the only way to happiness and fulfillment in life, his business and livelihood would be ruined. He was not worried about truth or what was best for each person. He was worried about his profits and his bottom lines.

He called together everyone in his industry and stirred them up to act together to protect their industry and their future. He led them to mount an attack on the God followers and began spreading hatred and lies. Everyone in his industry was eager to join.

In reading this account in Acts 19 it is impossible for me not to think of the boardrooms of many corporations in the western world.

  • Secret meetings with alphabet agencies who are charged with protecting the population and delivering truth become vehicles of propaganda and indoctrination to support their corporate agendas.
  • Think tanks convened to figure out how to adjust data and invent new strategies to hide the truth from the unsuspecting public.
  • Deliberate plans orchestrated to discredit or remove all opponents.
  • Campaigns organized to target and attack using any and all means available.
  • Hectic marketing strategies devised to promote their agenda with a pretty face.
  • Money invested to ensure cooperation with mainstream media outlets and keep opposition silenced.
  • Writers planted to infiltrate social media channels to influence the public at every level of life.
  • Convincing everyone involved in the industry that those sharing the light and truth of God are dangerous to the corporate bottom line and future.
  • Profits, salaries, careers, reputations, and personal security are prioritized about truth and lives of the innocent.

Whistleblowers occasionally arise but are discounted and discredited. Most large corporations have legal armies that can outwit anyone with a heart to expose the truth.

We think we are very sophisticated because we live in a high-tech modern world and we have so many incredible inventions that make our life so easy. Yet it would seem that we are easily led into the same mindless chanting engaged in by the Ephesians:

“Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Today it might sound like this: ‘Great is our vaccine program.’ ‘We’ve conquered disease because we are so smart.’ ‘Great are our psychotropic drugs; we are making everyone’s life better.’ ‘You don’t need God.’ ‘You were created with an inadequate immune system.’ ‘Vaccinate everyone.’ ‘Our vaccines are great.’ ‘Drug everyone, especially children.’ ‘Our drugs are great.’

Money statueWhen a group of people, armed with a lot of money, seeks to spread their message on an unsuspecting population, they will make an impact.

When a group of people fiercely motivated by huge profits has a desire to make science support their beliefs, they can make it happen.

It doesn’t make them right.

Just because they are powerful, does not mean they are right.

There may be many good people involved in various aspects of these industries. That does not make the industry good. Every day I meet new families whose lives have been forever impacted by the errors of modern medical practice. Babies born healthy are subjected to vaccines promoted as safe and effective, yet how many young lives are sacrificed on an altar to a false god? Just because every baby receiving a vaccine does not die does not negate the thousands or hundreds of thousands who have died.

Seek God. Seek His truth. Beware of all evil associated with rejecting God.

Baby napThere is an urgency today. There are children being sacrificed every single day on the altar of greed. Babies are born healthy, injected with multiple doses of vaccines for which science attests to more danger than hoped for good, who die. Others are injured and severely impaired for life. Families are thrust into an unimagined life of suffering.

There is hope. But we need to educate each other so we can recognize truth versus lies.

Isaiah’s words written nearly 3000 years ago can inspire and encourage us even today:

Look, a righteous king is coming!
And honest princes will rule under him.
Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert
and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land.
Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth,
and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it. Isaiah 32:1-3

I was once deceived, lost and enslaved by the world’s system. I believed the lies perpetuated in our culture. I was dramatically saved through the grace of God. He opened my eyes and has helped me to understand the truth and the joy of surrender to Him. I now seek to be like a great rock offering shade to those who live in a parched land. I want to be like a stream of water in the desert offering refreshment and life in the midst of draught. I want to help everyone to see the truth of God and come to a personal knowledge of His answer, Jesus Christ. I want to be a means of hope and healing to families that have suffered.

Paul’s words to Titus seem incredibly appropriate for us, nearly 2000 years later:

“We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:12-14

Isaiah pageAgain Isaiah’s words strike a chord in my heart:

“In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes.
” [anybody think of celebrities?]
“Scoundrels will not be respected.” [Big corporate bosses? Corrupt politicians?]

“For fools speak foolishness
and make evil plans.
They practice ungodliness
and spread false teachings about the Lord.
They deprive the hungry of food
and give no water to the thirsty.
The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil.
They plot crooked schemes.
They lie to convict the poor,
even when the cause of the poor is just.” (NVICP “vaccine court” proceedings? Alphabet agency officials?)
“But generous people plan to do what is generous,
and they stand firm in their generosity.

Listen, you women who lie around in ease.” (Parents whose kids aren’t vaccine injured?)
“Listen to me, you who are so smug.” (Pro vaxers on social media?)

“In a short time—just a little more than a year—
You careless ones will suddenly begin to care.
Tremble, you women of ease;
Throw off your complacency.
Strip off your pretty clothes,
and put on burlap to show your grief.” Isaiah 32:6-11

God is raising up righteous warriors for truth. He is calling people to stop placing their trust in false Gods and serve and worship Him alone. He provided Jesus so we could have a new life and a living relationship with our Creator God. Will you join Him? Will you surrender? Will you allow Him to guide you to the urgent task He has designed for you?

IMG_1723Sometimes those of us who understand the world this way can feel isolated and alone. We need to join together to encourage each other in the urgency of the task God has for us. His purpose is still to reveal His truth and call individuals into a relationship with Him. He can do that in the midst of the evil and suffering in our world, just as He did in the time of Paul. He wants His children to be lights in a dark place.

For the sake of the children.

This is Day 30 of Encouraging people to Seek Jesus: 30 ways in 30 days. See list below for the first 30 topics.

Head Shot BAuthor: Becky Hastings, wife, mother, grandmother, passionate follower of Jesus Christ and truth seeker, especially in the areas of health and children. Navigating our present day world can be challenging, God’s timeless truths in the Bible are my guide.

If you have been helped in any way through my musings, please give glory to God. If you find anything disappointing or offensive or just have a question, please leave a comment below.