While Men Are Sleeping

 

The dog days or the dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They are historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck. These dog days are today taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Well, I don’t know how your luck has been running, but it sure has been hot – the longest consecutive run of one hundred degree days we’ve had in a long time. But, I noticed early this morning, while escorting my little Chihuahua, Bella, on her daily excursion of doggie duties, the days are beginning to wane with the lack of light on the horizon at six or six-thirty. I had to giggle to myself in the thought that in the midst of our one hundred degree days, in just a few short weeks I’ll be doing the same thing except the pre-sunrise temperature won’t be eighty but more like sixty – then we can start griping about the cold for five months.

[Isaiah 29:13-21] “…but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away” (Matthew 13:25). While men sleep - the enemy has come and sown weeds among the good wheat – abortion has become an acceptable means of population control; homosexuality has become an acceptable lifestyle; sex outside of marriage has become a common behavior; teenage pregnancy has reached epidemic proportions; our society has become addicted to drugs, pornography, gambling, and alcohol, all of which develop into huge health problems – not a peep; men are still asleep. Individualism, pluralism, secularism, and apathy supplant congregations rendering the church impotent, totally incapable of doing anything about our moral crisis – because men are sleeping on it. No one seems to know what is right or what is wrong any longer. Sadly, most people don’t think there is any right or wrong, and those who do, don’t seem to care one way or another. So, everyone is doing what feels good to them at the moment, and what will make them feel good about themselves later on. While men sleep - the weeds are growing rapidly and numerously.

 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. That is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians 5:11-14). Look around! What used to be done in secret, in the dark, behind closed doors, is now in the open for even the blind to see. How scary will the nightmare become before men wake up? While men sleep - America is becoming a Godless nation, forbidding even the mention of God in public education and public affairs. Will our national motto, “In God We Trust” become obsolete? While New Testament Christians sleep - false religions are sprouting up all over this nation and around the world and like Israel of old mankind is abandoning their Creator to worship their Baal’s. Don’t you think it’s past time we awaken out of our sleep? New Testament Christians once turned the world upside down by preaching Jesus Christ. The days are getting shorter, light is lacking and love is growing cold. Christ’s return is going to surprise the majority of mankind as the blind continue to follow the blind. “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:13). Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead! Christ will give you light, and love that will never grow cold.

Hang On To The Truth

 I sometimes feel we’re living in this make-believe world where nobody knows the truth any longer and those who do aren’t willing to share it – shades of “A Few Good Men” – “You can’t handle the truth!” I don’t need to know everything, but when it is obvious that outright blatant lies are stripping a free society of its rights - chaos ensues.

If you are my friend, if you are concerned about my soul, give me the truth. Do not flatter me. Do not praise my virtues while remaining silent about my vices. Do not fear the truth will offend me. Do not treasure our friendship and our friendly relations above telling me the truth. Do not think that ignoring my sins, you can help me. Do not think that being blind to my sins will prove yourself charitable. However I may react to it, whatever may be my attitude toward you after you have done it – Give Me the Truth! For the Truth and only the Truth can make me free from the shackles of sin, strengthen me in the pathway of righteousness, and lead me to heaven’s joy. If I am wavering, weak, lukewarm, indifferent, neglectful; if I have been overtaken in a trespass; if I have been drawn into the pleasures of the world; if I have left my first love; if I have been led astray by error; or if I have done none of these, but simply need to grow in knowledge and be edified, Give Me the Truth! Truth is the guide that doesn’t waver or need excuse.

[Proverbs 23:22-23] “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it – wisdom, instruction and insight as well.” * Three things in life that, once gone, never come back – Time, Words, and Opportunity. * Three things in life that may never be lost – Peace, Hope, and Honesty. * Three things in life that are most valuable – Love, Faith, and Prayer. * Three things in life that are never certain – Dreams, Success, and Fortune. * Three things in life that make life worthwhile – Hard work, Sincerity, and Commitment. * Three things in life that can destroy a soul – Lust, Pride, and Anger. * Three things in life that are truly constant – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. * When it comes to truth, we must always be buyers and never sellers. Truth is a long-term investment that is worth everything one has. It is an investment that will pay extraordinary dividends as long as one holds on to it. But the moment one sells it; the instant one decides to get rid of it, it will be the most costly mistake they could ever make. Unfortunately, truth is so little valued in this day and age. Today, people hold opinions rather than convictions; people follow personal feelings rather than Biblical precedence. They exalt cultural standards over what God has authorized. We live in a time where truth is being sold like it is nothing more than a cheap trinket at a weekend garage sale. Nowadays the prevailing attitude is MY truth versus YOUR truth. What might be true for you may not be true for me and vice versa. Everyone’s measure is different based on their set of circumstances. How many times have we seen the truth bent, twisted or sold to fit a person’s ideology? Scripture never refers to my truth or your truth, but rather refers to The Truth! ‘To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”’ (John 8:31-32). Jesus identified God’s Truth as The Truth, and himself as the teacher of God’s Truth. Therefore, the issue is not whether truth exists, or if it is simply relative based on certain circumstances; the issue is not whether there is such a thing as absolute truth. God settles all of those questions and, surprisingly, doesn’t ask for our opinion on the matter. The real issue still stands – how do we respond to truth? Are we buyers or sellers?

Darkness - The Absence Of Light

There is a time, we know not when, a point we know not where, that marks the destiny of men to glory or despair. There is a line by us unseen, that crosses every path; the hidden boundary between God’s patience and His wrath. To pass that limit is to die, to die as if by stealth; it does not quench the beaming eye, or pale the glow of health. The conscience may be still at ease, the spirit light and gay; that which is pleasing still may please and care be thrust away. But on that forehead God has set indelibly a mark, unseen by man, for man as yet is blind and in the dark. And yet the doomed man’s path below may bloom as Eden bloomed; he did not, does not, will not know, or feel that he is doomed. He knows, he feels that all is well, and every fear is calmed; he lives, he dies, he walks in hell, not only doomed but damned. Oh! Where is that mysterious bourne by which our path has crossed; beyond which God himself has sworn, that he who goes is lost. How far may we go on in sin? How long will God forbear? Where does hope end, and where begins the confines of despair? The answer from the skies is sent: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:7-19).

[1 John 1:5-10] There are myriad examples of darkness and light in the Bible. Satan, evil, sin, ignorance, and apathy are all correctly depicted as darkness. God, Jesus, power, truth, and righteousness are depicted as light. “…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1: 5). Where does power lie in both light and darkness? There are many sources of light. The sun, a lightbulb, a candle, the stars, lightning, and all have some source of power. Darkness, on the other hand, just has one source, and it is not even of itself. The only way to attain it is to subtract or remove light. Thus, no one can go out and purchase a darkness machine; neither can one turn up the darkness to an intensity as to quench the light. Therefore, light has power and darkness does not. The only power darkness can ever hope to attain is that given to it by one who desires it; “…men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:16-21). All shades of man’s character conform and comply proportionately with the degree in which they love light or darkness. An acceptance of Jesus the Christ as God’s own son, and follower of his doctrine, inherently creates a light in one’s self, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…” (Ephesians 5:8). Now the evil one wants to quench that light in you and he is very good at what he does. We know the evil one cannot overcome the light of God any more than a dark room can overcome a flashlight or the night can overcome the day. We must let the sun go down or the batteries to weaken. And it usually doesn’t happen suddenly. Satan has been meddling in God’s relationship with man since the time of Job and is enjoying this pandemic immensely. Go to church – but not all the time. Give – But not too much. Do – But just a little. Now you’re not as bright as you once were. Your vision is impaired. Thing’s aren’t as clear; but your eyes adjust. You can still get by. You go to church, but only when you haven’t been for a while. You still give and do things, but only when you go to church. The light within you dims more. You can still see for your eyes have adjusted again, but now you can no longer tolerate bright light. The purity of God’s light and of his glory that once drew you toward Him now causes you to turn away. Darkness is the natural occurrence when light is not present. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25). Man’s self-centered “rights” are powered by his own dark depraved mind and not of the love and the light of God.

Accepting The Truth

I thought this little ditty would be a good start to my article this week. It is titled “Psychiatric Folk Song” written by Anna Russell: “I went to my psychiatrist to be psychoanalyzed; To find out why I killed the cat and blackened my husband’s eye. He laid me on a downy couch to see what he could find; And here’s what he dredged up, from my subconscious mind. When I was one, my mommy hid my dolly in a trunk; And so it follows, naturally, that I am always drunk. When I was two, I saw my father kiss the maid one day; And that is why I suffer from kleptomania. At three I had a feeling of ambivalence toward my brothers; And so it follows, naturally, I poisoned all my lovers. But I am happy now I have learned the lesson this has taught: Everything I do that’s wrong is someone else’s fault!” Is pointing fingers and protesting the “new norm”?

A pencil maker told the pencil five important lessons just before putting it in the box: 1) Everything you do will leave a mark. 2) You can always correct the mistakes you make. 3) What’s most important is what’s inside of you. 4) Throughout your life you will undergo painful sharpening, which will only make you better. 5) To be your very best, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you. We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think your life is insignificant and cannot be changed. Like the pencil, always remember the most important part of who you are is what’s inside of you. “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27).

[Acts 7:51-60] Have you ever had a discussion where the truth seemed more confusing than the lie? If you have, you know that awkward, discombobulating feeling that arises because something you have believed for an extended period of time - even a lifetime - has been proven to be false. It can be quit overwhelming. It is natural that our instinctive response is defensive, even hostile. “Who do you think you are?” and “How dare you judge me!” are phrases on the tip of the tongue. In the heat of the moment one might even rationalize, “That can’t be right.” Should one utterly reject the “preposterous idea” while in a “confused” state of mind, or should one recognize this feeling of “confusion” as a mental flag that moves one to openly reconsider a conviction, no matter how deeply held it might be? We often become emotionally attached to what we believe and it is rarely pleasant to be proven wrong. This explains the initial defense response. However, the real quality of a heart is seen after the initial emotional roller coaster ride ends. Will we stay “confused” by the truth or will we embrace it, giving up the lie? We can fear and procrastinate like Felix (Acts 24:24-25). We can shoot the messenger, as we reject “his truth” and “gnash at him with our teeth” (Acts 7:54; 57-58). We can be moved by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14-15). We can even remain in a perpetual state of “confusion” and have God reinforce “our lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)! On the other hand, we can simply receive the “love of the truth” (Acts 2:29-41). Momentary confusion at having a conviction disproven is understandable. Choosing to reject the truth or remain “confused” is simply inexcusable. Your choice will demonstrate the quality of your heart (Matthew 13:18-23). I cannot change others, But I can change me; I must learn to focus, Being the best I can be. When I change my outlook, And improve through and through; Amazingly I find, That others get better too.

Are You In Awe Of God?

This COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to sound like an Abbott and Costello skit, “Who’s On First” or Costello’s ingenious mathematics proves to Abbott “13 x 7 = 28” and “28 divided by 7 = 13”. We all know better, but we’re laughing and saying, “Right”.

“My family will never go hungry.” A famous athlete was talking about the millions of dollars he had made in his career. In one way we can appreciate his concern for his children and the way he had managed his money. He hadn’t neglected his family or squandered his wealth. But it was tragic that he used frequent profanity in the same interview that had to be edited. Instead of being humble and thankful before God he was arrogant and irreverent. How do people like this become so wealthy? Indirectly, it is because God has made this country so prosperous. But the public directly empowers them. Actors, singers, and athletes entertain us and we are eager to pay them. Then we wonder why they act like they do. Wealth gives people a false feeling of security. One country singer said he had more money than his grandchildren could ever spend, but where is the humility and fear of God in all this? Where is the awe of God today when people use His name so thoughtlessly (Oh my God – omg)? Where is the awe of God today when homosexuality, abortion, etc. are not just accepted, but encouraged in our society (Romans 1:18-32)? Where is the awe of God today when honesty and integrity are thought of as archaic words? Where is the awe of God today when tradition and entertainment are preferred over scripture and truth? Where is the awe of God today when lying and slander among God’s people carry no accountability? Where is the awe of God today when every excuse under the sun will suffice to justify us from fulfilling our responsibilities to God: to worship, pray, give, commune, study, teach, serve, fellowship, etc.? God knows the future and you’re definitely going to be in awe of it.

[Hebrews 12:25-29] Jesus told about a rich man who made a good profit. That man planned to live many years off what he had accumulated. He said to himself, “You have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). He had his retirement all laid out before him. But God told this successful businessman he was a fool (Luke 12:20). That very night he died. He was not a fool because he waited too long to enjoy his money. He was a fool because he assumed his things were really his, and he was an even bigger fool because he waited too long to prepare to meet God. It is not wise to get our hopes up too high because life can change quickly, drastically, and permanently. There were women in Israel that were so high class that they wouldn’t walk barefoot outside. Moses said those same women would get so hungry one day that they would eat their own children (Deuteronomy 28:56-57). That happened when the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem. War can bring a country with all its pride and wealth to its knees. One of the frustrations we must bear is seeing people who think “their houses shall continue forever” (Psalm 49:10-13). This is even harder when people pride themselves in the control they think they have over their very small part of the world. But God tells us not to fret. The Lord will “bring down high looks” (Psalm 18:27). Meanwhile, let us humbly say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). Standing in awe of God is not just a song we sing or prayer we offer; it’s not just a tingly feeling toward God. It’s an attitude of a humble heart bowing before the Almighty that responds with real life actions of service to Him. Are you in awe of God? We must turn our hearts again to God in prayer, before God’s wrath is realized.