|
|
Sandra Myers
|
Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who transcendentally closes hers eyes and repeats, “there’s no place like home” while performing the heel clicking of her ruby red slippers, mainstream Christians seem to expect that, if they repeat the words in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (If My people, who are called by my name...) often enough, they’ll awaken in their bed safe and sound, and America will once again be moral. These precious Words are not a magical mantra. This admonition is a call to action. 2 Chronicles 7:19-20, which is not usually quoted, tells us of the repercussions of not heeding God’s warning:
|
“But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations”
|
I Have Somewhat Against Thee
In Revelation 2:2-5 God compliments His people for their foundation and steadfast work of the past. These same have even reproved the unfruitful works of darkness and called out liars, but are now falling by the wayside, forgetting their First Love. God lays it out in no uncertain terms:
|
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
|
These verses in Revelation 2, 2 Chronicles 7, as well as the story of Adam and Eve, are historically repeating examples of His people who become hypnotized and wooed by the world. They have done His works in the past, they say they love the Lord, but they fall away from their First Love. God has not pulled away. As America divorces itself from God, we are suffering the consequences of our own sins personally and nationally.
Hurting the Witness of Christ
The church’s witness for Christ has already been hurt from within by not calling sin “sin.” We are seeing more and more reports on Southern Baptists and United Methodists experiencing a fracturing of membership due to their departure from “antiquated” church values. LGBTQ/inclusion in the pulpit and marriage are widely accepted and a social club atmosphere is championed.
Also hurting the Christian witness are pastors in numerous megachurches whose moral turpitude has been revealed. Carl Lentz of Hillsong, New York; Robert Morris of Gateway Church; Aaron Ivey of Austin Stone; and Ravi Zacharias (after his death, so as not to be publicly embarrassed). Homosexuality, drunkenness, illegal drug use, extra-marital affairs, pedophilia are among their sins.
These, who call themselves Christians, but are not, but are of the same synagogue of Satan, hurt our witness. Bravo to the ones who have stood up to sin and called them to accountability!
Closer to home, church member promiscuousness, drinking and drugging have gained popularity without the leadership engaging to guide and correct. It makes it hard to be a light to the unsaved when the church, as they understand it, looks no different than the rest of the world.
The Urgency of the Apostles and Early Disciples
Following the time on earth of our Messiah and Jesus’ final atoning sacrifice, the acute sense of urgency by the apostles and disciples to spread the Good News was foremost! They were living in a time where sin and depravity were saturating the world. (History repeating, right?) They knew the old religious system of the scribes and Pharisees was of it’s father, the Devil, and Jesus is the New Covenant.
The disciples traveled far and at great peril, to share the Good News. If the early apostles and disciples of Jesus had taken the attitude of many of today’s so-called Christians, His Good News would not have spread like the fields from the tiny mustard seed.
Has America gotten so far away from our Salvation that our hearts primarily care for the things of this temporal world? Let’s always be mindful of how brightly our fire burned for our Saviour as new Christians and encourage each other to return to our first love!
We are few—the remnant—and sometimes it seems quite lonely. I count myself in great company with the likes of you, my friends, as well as Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and numerous other prophets and disciples. I pray that we become more bold with our testimony, yet walk in humbleness, setting ourselves apart, spiritually, from the world, extending the grace of our Father to whomsoever will. 
|
