In my book, Miracle on Luckie Street, I write of having a dark side and an angel of light. When I was a little kid my mother told me that I had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other and they were both constantly trying to get me to do their will. Her modest explanation is actually a rather accurate metaphoric example of the spiritual warfare that rages within our beings.
A spiritual war of good vs. evil seethes around us and whether we want to participate or not, we necessarily must choose which direction we go throughout each day of our lives and there are good and bad consequences for how we choose.
Many times people go to great lengths to tell me that they do not agree with everything I say in this devotional. Much to their chagrin that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I don’t know anyone with whom I agree carte blanche either. One guy went out of his way to make the point that he particularly didn’t agree with my political views and that I was opinionated and whenever he saw I was going in that direction he quit reading.
Well of course I’m opinionated. I have an opinion on most things as do most of you. While politics might not seem appropriate for a devotional to my friend or you, I think it is vitally important to our spiritual lives.
Many of the issues facing our once great country are being called “a matter of choice” in today’s times. Two examples come to mind, abortion is defined as pro-choice vs. right to life; homosexuality is characterized as same sex couples “choosing” to live that lifestyle.
We have a choice on both of these matters. When you think about it all of life boils down to choices. God gave us free will to decide which direction we should go. He laid down His laws in the Bible and we are free to choose to accept them or reject them.
The Bible provides historical information as well as laws. I believe in part that this information is included to show us how various civilizations have coped with God’s laws and the net result of choosing to accept or reject them. The days beginning with Adam and Eve’s expulsion from God’s presence led to civilizations such as the one Noah lived in, Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel, and Babylon. All are dutifully recorded for our perusal and it’s interesting to note what happened to those civilizations when they ultimately rejected God’s laws.
Additionally prophecies are given to us in the Bible and they reveal the future and fate of civilizations including the days in which we are currently living. There is a fascinating DVD collection out entitled, “The Harbinger”, by Jonathan Caan that deals with prophecy in the Bible as it relates to the United States. This term harbinger means an omen, forerunner, indication, or warning of something to come.
Mr. Caan documents how the terrorist attack on 9/11, the stock market collapse, and other events are actually warnings from God. He mentions the greed and evil that is so prevalent in this country, abortion, homosexuality, and so forth that is angering God and provoking Him to act against this country that was initially founded upon Godly principles and was blessed as none other as a result, only to see her today turning her back on God as time progresses.
He alludes to the fact that some nations have sacrificed their children. In Israel the graven image of the demonic God Molech was carved from stone with outstretched arms. A fire was built at the base of the idol and the arms were heated until they glowed orange. At that point children were sacrificed and burned alive. This grisly practice was but one of many that angered God into action against that nation.
Today the United States has sacrificed 63 million babies to a God called choice. Would be mothers decide they don’t want a child because it is inconvenient, they cannot afford it, they don’t know who the father is, they do know who the father is and don’t like him, it’s embarrassing for folks to know that they have been engaging in premarital sex, and so forth, and so they choose to allow an abortionist to murder their baby. According to our societal laws and mores it is now okay with society to choose to take the life of our own children for whatever reason we want.
Recently I wrote that no nation since the beginning of recorded time has ever allowed same sex marriage. You heard right, not one nation since the beginning of recorded time has ever allowed same sex marriage, (until now that is). Just last week our Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing people to choose to marry someone of the same sex, provided the people within a state choose to allow it.
I saw a photo of President Obama when he heard the news and he was grinning like a jackass eating briers; lots of folks were celebrating on the steps of courthouses and men were kissing men and likewise with the women. I wonder what they think about the destruction of Sodom. Do they think that it’s just a fable, or is it recorded in the Bible to remind us what God thinks about this sin, regardless of what we as a society might think?
The harbingers of bad things ahead are recorded in the Bible for all to see. I urge you to watch the series, (Mr. Caan explains it far better than I do). Most prophecies have already been fulfilled and God’s church is preparing for His return. I believe it is imminent as does Jonathan Caan. You of course have a free will to believe or disbelieve and many will unsubscribe as you always do when I mention these favored sins.
For the record I’m not discouraged by unsubscribes, or by those of you who disagree with what I say. I don’t apologize for what the Bible states. I just try to present it as I understand it and unlike many of those readers, I have read it, (many times).
It is said that Noah preached for 120 years without a single convert right up to the point that God told him to load up his family on his boat and shut the door and the entire world was swept away, and just like old Noah I’m going to keep going until I’m silenced.
It is my firm belief that time is running out. Choose to follow God and not the world and encourage others to do the same while there is yet time. Jonathan Caan ends his message with God’s promise to heal our land if we will return to Him. Pray that we, our friends, relatives, and neighbors will do just that and we as a nation will humble ourselves and repent.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.