A hard fall....

I have taken a couple of hard falls.  I got hit from behind by an out-of-control snow skier.  I ran over a dog while on my bicycle.  The pavement I hit wasn’t quite as soft as the snow was.

Both of those falls took me by surprise and nearly knocked me out.  I thought I was in complete control of my body, completely balanced and confident in my surroundings.  But I fell hard.

I imagine other cultures have the same issues, but this is my culture, the only one I know, the one I live in and am a part of.  This culture is in danger of a very hard fall.

Americans alive today have never known anything but freedom.  Even the poorest among us have resources to appeal to for aid.  For the most part, we call ourselves God fearing people.  I wonder just how much we are blinded to?  In a few short days I will be 60 years old.  I pretty much see black and white, and I have seen the world around me mix the two and form so many gray areas that are still just plain jet black to me.

Sexual habits.
Abortion.
Alcohol and other drug use and abuse.
Recognition and acceptance of other gods as equal to The Creator God of the universe.
I could make a long long list.

Sometimes I may sound like the wailing Jeremiah.  Certainly, as I read his words my heart cries out in agreement.

 “Jerusalem remembers the day she lost everything, when her people fell into enemy hands, and not a soul there to help. Enemies looked on and laughed, laughed at her helpless silence. Jerusalem, who outsinned the whole world, is an outcast. All who admired her despise her now that they see beneath the surface. Miserable, she groans and turns away in shame.  She played fast and loose with life, she never considered tomorrow, and now she's crashed royally, with no one to hold her hand…”(Lamentations 1:7-9 The Message)

Hundreds of years later, in 70 A.D.,  the Roman emperor Titus destroyed mighty Jerusalem.  He minted a coin to commemorate his victory, Jerusalem’s loss and his gain.  The image he used on the coin was a bowed down, grief shrouded woman.

“….. How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.”(Lamentations 1:1 NIV)

I remember when sin was black and there was not so much whitewashing it.  I have lived to see so much ground surrendered to the enemy of our souls. At this moment, I hope I don’t live to see a hard fall that threatens what we think is so secure.  Be not deceived, if the holy city of Jerusalem fell, so also can America.  Already we have witnessed some shakings.  We have seen collapse and devastation.  Must every single one of us personally experience a devastating hard fall, or can we learn from history, both Biblical and current?

God allowed a very hard fall to His people of Jerusalem.  How dare we think we are above the same.


“But you have come to …… the heavenly Jerusalem…..to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all…..and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood…..See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.  And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."  This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:22-29 NASB)

In some ways I am unsure about our future.  I care about those who are still on ground that can be shaken.  There is only one sure place to stand, and it is not American values, money, power, or any other such thing.  The only unshakeable place is in the Kingdom of God made possible thru Jesus the Christ.
Hallelujah.

Or else....

When I hear an authority figure use the term 'or else', I know there are consequences involved.  I know that if I don’t conform, there will be penalty.

If I get caught.

I might get by with speeding.  If radar registers me, there will likely be consequences.

I am quite familiar with the speed laws.  I am very familiar with God’s law.  Both are in place for my benefit, for personal protection and for protecting others. I might avoid a radar.  I might talk my way out of a speeding ticket.  But God can not be avoided or manipulated.

I confess that I am a sinner.  Every day is a battle.  I am given endless opportunities to choose evil over good.  Our enemy’s methods have not changed nor has he given up.  I don’t pretend to be less sinful, for I know that in God’s eyes, sin is equally ugly.  I am so very thankful that He sees the righteousness of Christ when He looks at me.

Yet, I look at the world and wonder how our Father can hold back His judgment today.  Scripture gives us history of His judgment falling on rebellious people.

“Morning after morning and long into the night I kept after you, sending you all those prophets, my servants, begging you, "Please, please--don't do this, don't fool around in this loathsome gutter of gods that I hate with a passion."  But do you think anyone paid the least bit of attention or repented of evil or quit offering sacrifices to the no-gods? Not one.   So I let loose with my anger…” (Jeremiah 44:4-6 The Message)

God speaks to us, instructs us to obey, “…or else.”

When we rebel in disobedience to God, we suffer.  Maybe immediately, maybe not.  But eventually the consequences come.  We may think we are enjoying our rebellion but be not deceived.  Judgment will come and the pleasure we thought we were having will be gone.

“…. I'll banish every sound of joy--singing, laughter, marriage festivities, genial workmen, candlelit suppers.” (Jeremiah 25:10 The Message)


I purpose to be easily taught, and easily disciplined.