Preface: Please consider fitting this into your schedule sometime today. John Piper’s sermon for the day is so encouraging….yet so foreboding. Just Google John Piper…The present effect of trembling at the wrath of God.
Well tomorrow is yet another Lord's Day. How many times have I started a post out with that plea? Will the game end? Will the pastors finally forget about building their fancy churches....the more people the better....the more ministries the better....nothing but success as they want to be viewed....and all supposedly to the glory of God? The name of Jesus will be mentioned....maybe quite a bit....and the hymns will be sung....and laughter will fill the church before and after the service.....for that is what the church is in this day and age.
How would the average daily reading of God's Word.....of evangelicals.....and even Christians....(not that an evangelical is not a redeemed child of God but a distinction must be made today)....how would that discipline....if it is indeed a discipline.....be described? I've already on a few occasions given my opinion on the various....'read the Bible in a year'.....plans. Throw them out. There was a day when they would have helped but not today. What they do today is keep you away from what God is leading us to dwell upon. These plans actually limit our reading....and give a false confidence.
There should be reading in Old Testament prophets every day....if even only a few chapters. We should be paying particular attention to all of the end times-last days verses in just about every New Testament book....and the Psalms should....from constant use....be where our Bibles naturally open to. I don't think that there should be a Bible study today without tears....or a small group meeting without a wrenching of the heart.
Oh how we like to quote scripture in that we will not know the day or the hour! That has become our motto....and grand excuse not to pay any attention to any warnings that God's Word gives us....but do we even realize that we are also reminded....many times....and with great unction.....to be vigilant....to be awake....to constantly examine ourselves to see if we are still in the faith....to watch out for false teachers....and delusion?
Not only are we told that we will not know the day....but we are told that we will not know....when that day will not be! Bear with me on this. You do not know....and I do not know....that today may not be the day....of the beginning of God's final battle.....but also of our own lives! That alone should always have an impact upon us. We make so many plans....and yes we have to make plans....but never without full consciousness that this is only if God wills it. 'Should the Lord will it'....or....'Lord willing'....should be on our lips constantly in our conversations.
If we would but read the many Old Testament prophets with the diligence that we read 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 11....we would see our ourselves! We would see America....and the world! We would then cry out....."Lord have mercy upon us for we have somehow traveled off of the path that you set before us!"
Permit me to use this odd paraphrase.....'Lord....didn't I hit that home run in the World Series....and give you praise for it?'.....'Didn't I throw that touchdown in the Super Bowl and give all the glory to you?'....."Didn't I sink that put in the U. S. Open and then tell all the golfers of America that I am a Christian?'.....but many of those will hear.....and many of us will hear...."I never knew you; depart from me..."
God's Word tells us that few will be saved. If you take any date in modern history.....there will be Christians throughout the world....but that number will be minuscule to the world's overall population. Yes....before the throne there will be...." a great multitude which no man can number, out of all the nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues"....(Revelation 7:9)....for there is already such a great multitude....but Jesus told us...."Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." If only our pulpits would once again preach this warning from Jesus found in the seventh chapter of Matthew.
Lord....have mercy upon our shepherds....and thereby have mercy upon us....for this world has us in its grasp....and will not let go. Open our eyes Lord! Open my eyes Lord! Show your glory to this world full of violence and arrogance. Strike fear into their hearts Lord. Give that fear once again to us Lord....only a fear of standing before Thy awesome power....knowing that it is only by thy mercy that we have not long since been consumed. Do this all Lord.....if it indeed be Thy will.....and all to Thine own glory!
Addendum: One of the core foundations underlying some very important doctrinal issues is that we all will do or attempt to do what we desire to do. Even if someone intentionally hurts themself it is because they desired to hurt themself. So on something such as the above....we will find reasons for not looking into these areas of God's Word....because it is not our desire to go where we do not desire to go. We do not take advice to seek out wonderful God glorifying sermons to listen to....which would strengthen us.....because it is not our desire to be strengthened in this way....and it is not our desire to find that we have made....and continue to make.....serious errors of judgment in our Christian walk. Whether the above post is correct….the beginning to finding God’s will is to pray for just that…’Lord…not my will but Thine….give me wisdom to see where I should go!’
