Update: I know how odd this sounds but I only a few hours ago looked up whatever happened to the St. Louis NFL football team....and I guess that 2015 was the last year the Rams were there. There was a day when I was in downtown Pittsburgh celebrating Super Bowl wins....and I can testify that if you can give up this Lord's Day idolatry that you will not be sorry....and even forever thankful. Anyway...no matter who would have won last evening....there would have been a Christian player giving post-game praise to his Lord and Savior for the victory. Many years ago there was a glossy Christian magazine....I cannot remember the name....that was all about athletes who were Christian....and I would buy every issue to give to our son.....so I know what this thinking is all about. And I remember a specific concert back at that time....with a singer/musician whose band was very similar to the secular band Journey....and every bit as good as anything out there.....and after the concert....actually there were two concerts over a couple of years....the man whose name adorned the band's title....gave a testimony....and about forty young people responded by going up front....and I probably prayed in thanksgiving while it was happening....but whether it is a rock star or athlete....and even though the testimony might be wonderful to hear....we're not saved by testimonies. In the case of last night's Super Bowl....those 'point to the sky' moments probably do more harm than good....as they....in this case anyway....keep people reveling in idolatry on the Lord's Day....give a false impression of what the gospel is....more of a joining than anything else....drawn by a celebrity and not Christ....with little to no mortification involved for who and what we are....and then internalizing and perpetuating the glamorous gospel that in itself does not save....and can actually insulate from understanding the glorious....not glamorous....message of the cross.
I know this also....there is a direct correlation between the fact that I know that the Lord's return is near....and that I was not aware that the Rams moved out of St. Louis seven years ago. Reversing this....that you are so much more informed on sports than I am....may also be directly related to why you have little so discernment on the warnings of the Lord.
It is estimated that as many as 117 million will watch tomorrow's Super Bowl....a sizable increase from 2021. Evangelicals throughout America will attend a 'worship' service....chat lively before and after the service....their passion meter barely leaving the red....then will spend much of the rest of the day in preparation for a gathering the Super Bowl....where depending on where they live....or who they have on the football pool....that meter will go into saturation....and all this as America is in the throes of collapse.
God's prophetic word speaks of a strong delusion coming just before the Lord's return. It also speaks of a "falling away" or "rebellion" or an "apostasy." We do not know what that will be or even what that is....should it be happening right now.
Something sinister is definitely occurring today. Love has certainly grown cold. Lawlessness is everywhere. God's judgments upon us are coming as labor pains. There seems to be a new zeitgeist on what once was the traditional side of the American political spectrum. The old one was defiant....but sincere in its ideology....bold....but prudent....confident of strength....but vigilant....and all this mingled with genuine compassion. The new one is defiant also....but no longer very sincere in its ideology at all....bold....but unwise....and supremely confident....laden down so with pride that it cannot even see any of its weaknesses....and almost void of compassion....or it appears....conscience.
Tomorrow is yet another Lord's Day....a hedge of protection given us by God....no....commanded us of God....so that defiance would always only keep us from following after the world....boldness would be as in Paul's prayer...."And now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness....(Acts 4:29)....and supremely confident also as in Paul's words...."being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
This new spirit that directs us....that seems to live in us....continually hardens us....brings out from us our most base impulses....and blinds us to what we should do....while appearing as an angel of light....often in politics....that beckons us to rely on our own perceived might. May tomorrow be the Lord's Day that the Holy Spirit quickens the shepherds....opens their eyes....and gives them boldness to preach that which we so desperately need to hear...."Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Cor 2:3)....and may He open our eyes....open my eyes....that we might turn from these baubles of life....these trinkets....to continually offer praise as did Peter...."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, for he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)....and that whatever is ahead we might trust as did David of God...."even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for the darkness is as light with you. (Ps 139:12)
