“For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the
perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and
the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” (Pr
2:21-22 AV)
Do you know what this quarantine reminds
me of? There were several times in the
history of the nation of Israel when their freedom to worship was severely
restricted. One was during the time of
the Gentile captivity. This is where we
read of Daniel who prayed in his house and almost lost his life because of
it. I read this morning of a prominent
leader in Evangelical Christian circles who lives in a state whose governor is
explicitly targeting him and his ministry as a way of putting it out of
business. There are exceptions to the stay-at-home
directive, but it is tailor-designed to put an undue burden on Christian
ministries. However, I read another article
regarding a survey done by the Barna institute that reveals overall, the faith
of the American religious population is maintaining and even growing. This shut down is not affecting the people of
God nearly as much as those who oppose it might have wished. If anything, it just might be the thing of
their nightmares. The longer we are kept
from assembling, the more we will want to.
The more we will want to, the more we will be faithful once it is
re-instituted. I don’t know why I shared
that other than to say those who oppose the Son of God will not last.
The verses above speak of a time when
the wickedness of mankind will be expunged from the earth. Whether this speaks of the return of Christ
or the recreation of Earth in righteousness, I don’t know. But there will be a time when all sin is
eradicated from the face of God’s creation.
One cannot help but notice ever-encroaching spiritual darkness descending
upon the earth. One can sense it. Times have changed rapidly. Sin is all around us. It is out in the open. It is flaunted. It is proudly exalted to the heights of
heaven as if a dare goes forth from all of mankind to the Creator of all. A dare to do something about it. The Bible reveals Lot as a man whose righteous
soul was vexed by the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was so bad he didn’t even recognize
it. I feel the same is true of the
church today. We speak of the LORD’s return
as eminent because we see the condition of the world around us. Those who have been pilgrims for several
decades cannot help but see the LORD’s return is soon. Those who have not the experience of their elders
see the world continuing as it always has.
Not so. More and more the wicked
have encroached on that which belongs to God.
The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by
force!
But there is a new day coming. A day when the sun will rise clear and
bright. A day when those who love the LORD
can exit their homes without fear of having sin slap them in the face. They will not have to fear to engage in
life. They will not have to fear
crime. They will not have to shield their
children from lewdness. They will enjoy creation
as the LORD intended Adam and Eve to enjoy it before it was marred by the sin
of mankind. There will be no spiritual
darkness. There will only be the light
of God’s glory. There is nothing that
can stop it. No quarantine, no perverted
laws, no over-reaching politician. No
one can stop the return of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His kingdom to
His will! The wickedness of the world will
cease and only righteousness will reign.
What a day that will be!
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