I am often sickened by the news day in and day out. Yesterday it was the death of Robin Williams. This morning I read about a seven year old boy whose Muslim father proudly tweeted an image of the boy holding up the severed head of a man. Other images showed the boy holding a machine gun. African Americans are rioting in MO.; Fatah is bragging about how many Israeli soldiers they killed (incredibly while negotiating a cease fire in Gaza), Russians are shelling Ukraine, and on and on.
I just spent time with my eight year old twin granddaughters and cannot even begin to comprehend what it might do to them to be raised in such a crazy world. I feel extreme anguish over the state of the world that my generation has left to our children.
I’m meeting with some of the top leaders in America in NYC to discuss ways to return our country to sanity. I’m sure there will be those there who will advocate a government solution; others will want to address the education sector; still others will advocate transforming the media into one of truth instead of propaganda; some will want to remove the violence from movies, songs, and video games like Grand Theft Auto; and then there are those who think the solution lies in returning our country to a wholesome family unit.
All of those are good and worthy projects, but call me a cynic, but I anticipate that all solutions that are offered save one will rely on our own wisdom to get there. Mine will advocate turning to God and relying on his wisdom as defined in His word the Holy Bible. (I just wonder how all of those Wall Street tycoons, movers and shakers, and political giants will receive that piece of advice.)
I read the following short story yesterday, and it seemed entirely appropriate to our situation:
“Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. What then separates these two qualities? Let me tell you a story to illustrate: One day a man was taking a trip on a small prop plane. There was the pilot, a genius mathematician, a boy scout in full uniform, and this guy, So as they began flying along they heard the engine begin to sputter, pop, spit, and cough.
All of a sudden the pilot came bursting out of the cockpit and told them that they were going down and there were only three parachutes. He added, “I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took a pack and jumped.
The genius said, “I should have one of the parachutes too, because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took a pack and jumped.
The remaining guy turned to the Boy Scout and said, “You are young and I know Jesus has a seat for me at His table in heaven, so you take the last parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.” Then he hesitated and looked at the young man and magnanimously said, “I know – I know – you’re thinking: ‘Now there is a real man!’ What can I say? I’m just that kind of guy!”
The Boy Scout looked at him and caustically remarked, “Relax hero, the smartest man in the world just picked up my backpack and jumped out!”
Earthly wisdom is not needed in this world; it is the problem and not the solution. Solving the world’s problems will be accomplished when we turn to Jesus Christ, repent, and follow Him, and not when some pseudo genius presents a grand plan of “hope and change” that he declares will “fundamentally transform the world”.
We cannot expect anything aside from judgment when we violate God’s laws especially those of life, (60 million abortions and counting) marriage, (between a man and a woman), and morality, (what needs to be said on this one),
Our problems will only be solved when we quit relying on ourselves and when God’s people turn to Jesus and go about the business of living out and teaching His immutable laws to a lost world.
Make no mistake jumping out of a plane without a parachute will be preferable to the judgment described in the Bible to those who defy Him. What is happening in Iraq and elsewhere in the world are the early birth pangs of what is to come. It is comparable to a walk in the park on a spring day compared to the Tribulation that is coming and described in the Bible. And lest you think that you will escape because you are a lukewarm Christian who attends church for your obligatory 1 hour per week, and while there drop a twenty dollar bill in the offering plate, know that God said in Rev. 3:16: But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
The judgment will start with God’s people. We must turn to Jesus before He can consider healing us and our land . . . Selah . . .
2 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
August 13, 2014 – Click here to listen