Obeying God or Playing God

     On the evening of January 20^th president Obama delivered his sixth state of the union address.  Many citizens of Rogers County didn’t get a chance to hear the speech because they were attending an exhilarating prayer meeting at RSU called: A City on our Knees.  At the very time the president was speaking participants at that meeting were praying for God to grant him wisdom.

     Many pundits offered opinions on the president’s speech noting the omission of any mention of Islamism relative to the current war in Iraq and Syria.  According to the most recent polls such unrest is the top ranking issue facing this nation and yet the president minimized its significance.

     There are several other highly relative ‘I’ words that were similarly omitted including Isaac, Ishmael, and Israel.  The current Middle East conflict can be better understood by knowing the history and prophecy relative to the first two sons of Abraham.

     As far as the significance of Israel is concerned, it needs to be remembered that Israel is God’s chosen nation who serve as the standard for all other nations. 

     When reading the Biblical instructions God gave to Israel, it is very enlightening to replace the word Israel with America.  And remember, the Apostle Paul stated in the New Testament that God’s dealing with Israel was written as examples for this current age.

     It began when God called Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates River to travel west to a new land that God would show him.

     “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country…to a land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”  Genesis 12:1-3

     Fast forward approximately 765 years to just before the Israelites entered the promised land of Canaan after the 430 years in Egypt.  Israel had just been given the oracles of God, i.e. His laws and commandments.

     “Now, O Israel (or America), listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe…You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it...”  Deuteronomy 4:1-2

     “Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”  Deuteronomy 4:6

     The instructions were very plain; the Israelites were to observe all God’s law with no man-made deviations or amendments.  The other nations would witness Israel’s blessings and attribute their success to obedience to God.

     Moses then enumerated the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

     “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you…because you obey the voice of the LORD your God…”  Deuteronomy 28:1-2

     Now the examples are numerous; however, consider the current relevance of the following:

     “The LORD will open to you His good treasure; the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season…You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.”  Deuteronomy 28:12

     However:

     “But…if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…the alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you…He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.”  Deuteronomy 28:15, 43-44

     Three significant issues are covered in these Scripture passages, i.e. climate change, multiculturalism, and national borrowing.

     God had previously instructed Israel regarding multiculturalism by stating that Israel’s laws should apply to all aliens in the land.

     “You shall have the same law for the stranger (alien) and for one from your own country…”  Leviticus 24:22

     How much money does America owe to foreign nations such as China?  And why does America need to borrow?  Could it possibly be related to America’s disobedience to God’s word?

     More on the state of the union address next week.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

The Radicalization of a King

     The terms ‘radical’ and ‘radicalization’ have been very popular in news stories in recent months.

     Radicalization has several relevant but nearly opposite applications.  A radicalized person might be willing to kill others to further their cause or belief system. 

     Another perhaps less popular definition describes those who would be willing to die for others to retain or restore their cause or belief system.

     The Bible has much to say about radicalization, especially regarding the definition describing those who are willing to die in order to restore or retain their cause. 

     Several Hebrew synonyms for restore include return or repent.  Basically the concept is a movement back to the point of departure.

     It will be noted that the Bible in both the Old and New Testament stresses the return back to the point of departure from God’s word while contemporary progressivism is basically the opposite, i.e. the belief in political change and social improvement by governmental action.

     When King Josiah was made aware of God’s standard of righteousness and justice he immediately took radical actions to comply with God’s word.

     “Then the king…made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments…and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book.  And all the people took a stand for the covenant.”  2 Kings 23:3

     Josiah in essence ratified the original Mosaic Covenant which God had revealed to the Israelites more than 800 years earlier.  And then Josiah initiated radical actions to rid the land of those things contrary to God’s law such as idol worship and the killing of babies among other things.

     Josiah’s reward for his radicalized heart:

     “…because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke…and wept before Me, I also have heard you… ‘Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you…shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.’”  2 Kings 22:19-20

     And so it was that God arranged for Josiah to be killed in battle so that he would not need to witness the calamity which was to befall Jerusalem and the Jews less than a dozen years later.

     The last prophet in the Old Testament was Malachi who prophesied between 437 and 417 BC.  Malachi confirmed the immutability of God and His laws and the significance of returning to Him.

     “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.  Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them.  Return to Me, and I will return to you…”  Malachi 3:6-7

     And then note the final words of the Old Testament in which Malachi echoed Isaiah’s previous prophecy relative to God’s law revealed to Moses:

     “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”  Malachi 4:4-5

     ‘Elijah’ in this passage refers to the one who was foreordained to announce the coming of the Messiah and the kingdom of heaven.  This was fulfilled in the appearance of John the Baptist.

     And what was the message of John the Baptist 450 years after Malachi’s prophecy?

     “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’”  Matthew 3:1-2

     Shortly thereafter Jesus began His earthly ministry with the same profound message.

     “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”  Matthew 4:17

     The Greek for ‘repent’ in the present context means ‘pious sorrow for unbelief and sin and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ.’

     According to God’s word, what the world needs now is a vast radicalization of Christians to take extreme measures to return to God’s word by following the example of Josiah.

     Watch for next week when Biblical credibility is radically confirmed by Josiah’s actions.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

The Nation that Forgot God

     The challenges facing America today can best be understood by examining writings several thousand years old.  God’s dealing with His chosen nation of Israel is the most relevant advice available to solve current problems.  No contemporary wisdom can begin to match Biblical wisdom when it comes to achieving national success.

     “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning…”  Romans 15:4

     Most prophecy had near term applications and long term implications.  God used His prophets to reveal in advance His plan to His people.

     “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass.  I have purposed it; I will also do it.”  Isaiah 45:9b-11

     One of the greatest lessons for America today is found in the reign of Judah’s King Josiah.  The following account addresses the consequences of forsaking God’s word; the certainty of God’s wrath on disobedience; and the wonders and accuracy of prophecy.

     “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.”  2 Kings 22:1, 3

     The year was 640 BC.  The northern ten tribes, i.e. Israel had been overrun by Assyria approximately 80 years earlier.  Josiah was the last ‘good’ king of southern Judah before their deportation to Babylon which would occur about 35 years later.

     Everything was going well and one day Josiah sent his scribe to the temple to meet with the high priest to take care of some financial matters.

 

     “Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe…to the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD…’”  2 Kings 22:3-4

     And while Shaphan the scribe was visiting with Hilkiah the high priest, Hilkiah presented to Shaphan an unexpected surprise.

     “Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.’  And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.”  2 Kings 22:8

     Now the Book of the Law was the Pentateuch, i.e. the first five books of the Bible.  It contained all of the law delivered through Moses 800 years earlier and included the Mosaic Covenant whereby all the Israelites had agreed to obey all of the law.

     Shaphan the scribe returned to king Josiah and reported that the financial matter was handled as instructed.

     “So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, ‘Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.’”  2 Kings 22:9

     And secondarily Shaphan told king Josiah that Hilkiah had also given him a book.

     “Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’  And Shaphan read it before the king.”  2 Kings 22:10

     King Josiah immediately recognized the significance of the Book and realized that he and his predecessors had flagrantly disobeyed God’s law.  He then sent his envoy including Shaphan and Hilkiah to inquire of the prophetess Huldah of the consequences of their disobedience.

     “Then she said to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, tell the man who sent you to Me…Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants – all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read – because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands.  Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’”  2 Kings 22:15-17

     So the word of God had been hidden and gathering dust in the very house of worship for at least a generation.

     The question can be asked, i.e. if the word of God is hidden, what is the benchmark by which a nation conducts its business?

     To be continued.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

    

    

    

The Key to Success

     Let’s begin by defining success.  According to Webster success means the attainment of a favorable or desired goal or outcome.  Webster further describes such a goal as the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence.

     Webster’s definition parallels the accepted basis of the American Dream that pervades present day thinking.  Consider the following definition:

     “The American Dream is…a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity, success, and an upward social mobility achievable through hard work.”

     As would be expected the issue of success is also found in the Bible.

     The setting for the following is approximately 1400 BC.  Moses has died and Joshua is about to lead the people across the Jordan to possess Canaan.  God defines the Promised Land of Canaan as extending to the river Euphrates. 

     God speaks directly to Joshua and reveals the Biblical definition of success.

     “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:7

     The Hebrew meaning for ‘courageous’ includes steadfast, and to prevail.  The meaning of ‘prosper’ means to be successful.  The major thought was that success depended on adhering to the law which had been given to Moses.  No deviation was allowed.

     “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  Joshua 1:8

     The Hebrew basis for ‘success’ has several profound synonymous.  The primary meaning centers on wisdom.  It further means insight, prudence, and intellectual comprehension.

     Again note that Biblical prosperity and success depended on observing the whole law as written.  Joshua was to study and meditate on the law day and night.  In other words understanding and applying God’s law, i.e. standard of righteousness was to be Joshua’s first priority.

     Moving forward in history to approximately 970 BC King David was speaking with his son Solomon about building the temple.

     “Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you.  Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.  Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel.  Be strong and of good courage…” 1 Chronicles 22:11-13

     David’s counsel to his son Solomon echoed God’s charge to Joshua, i.e. prosperity and success was based on obeying the total law given to Moses approximately 400 years earlier.

     And then Solomon passed on the same advice to his sons nearly a generation later.

    “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13

     Solomon reiterated that keeping God’s law was man’s first priority.

     A millennium later Jesus proclaimed the same message, i.e. God’s standard of righteousness and justice given to Moses hasn’t, nor will it, change. 

     Interestingly the word ‘prosper’ in the New Testament is used to describe the bearing of fruit, not the attainment of fruit.

     Therefore, it can be seen that the present day meaning of prosperity and success have very different meanings than the Biblical definitions.  But if God’s standard of righteousness and justice haven’t changed, what has changed?

     What have changed are present day definitions of success and prosperity.  Progressivism requires change to keep pace with changing moral standards based on popular trends.

     Those who adhere to Biblical teachings, however, might surmise that a great deal of effort is being expended today on learning how to do the wrong things better.

     But as political correctness continues to rule and Biblical teachings are continually marginalized, there appears little hope for a change in direction.

     Remember the worldly majority has more voting power than the kingdom minority.

Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

Torture is Here to Stay

Torture is here to stay

     While hell for unrepentant and unredeemed mankind and the great abyss (bottomless pit) for fallen angels (demons) are temporary, torture (torment) for both is everlasting.

     At the end of this current age the tribulation will begin.  During that seven year period many occupants of the great abyss will be loosed from their prison for a short time to torture men on the earth who will not repent but reject God’s free gift of redemption.

     “And he (angel) opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit…Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.  And to them was given power…They were commanded not to harm any green thing…but only those men who do not have the seal of God…they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months…In those days men will seek death and will not find it…”  Revelation 9:1-6

     Remember hell is for unredeemed man as the abyss is for fallen angels.  During the tribulation period demonic beings were commanded under the ultimate sovereign power of God to torture unrepentant mankind for five months but could not kill them.  The torture would be so severe that men would want to die but could not.

     Shortly thereafter 200 million more demonic beings are released from the abyss, which is located at the river Euphrates, to kill one-third of mankind living on the earth at that time.

     At the end of the tribulation when Christ returns to earth to rule the nations the anti-Christ and false prophet are cast directly into the lake of fire which was created for the devil and his angels.

     “Then the beast (anti-Christ) was captured, and with him the false prophet…These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”  Revelation 19:29

    At the same time the devil himself is imprisoned in the abyss (bottomless pit) for 1000 years while Christ rules all nations from Jerusalem.

    The devil (Satan) is subsequently released at the end of the 1000 years to deceive and tempt the nations one last time.  Of course he is quickly defeated and then is also cast into the lake of fire.

     “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations…And fire came down from God…and devoured them.  The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire…where the beast (anti-Christ) and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:7-8a, 9b-10

     So it is seen that the devil and his cohorts, i.e. the anti-Christ and false prophet, were cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented (tortured) throughout eternity.

     But how about mankind who are presently in hell and those from this time on through the millennial kingdom that reject God’s free gift of redemption?

     At the end of the millennial kingdom all those in hell will be raised to stand before God.  They will all be adjudicated guilty and cast into the lake of fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

     “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.  And there was found no place for them…The sea gave up their dead…and Death and Hades (hell) delivered up the dead who were in them.  And they were judged, each one according to his works.  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11, 13-15

     Therefore, while hell is temporary, the lake of fire is forever.

     Torture as defined as severe pain inflicted intentionally by another for punishment under the consent of one acting in an official capacity will endure forever.

     All mankind has a choice, i.e. eternal rest or eternal torment.  There is no in-between. 

     Jesus was tortured on the cross so those who believed in Him could escape eternal torture.

    

     This two part column could very well have been entitled: ‘The Sermon Seldom Preached.’

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com