God’s Judgment and the Haitian Earthquake

There’s been much discussion and speculation concerning the devastating earthquake that decimated Haiti last Tuesday.   Much has been said concerning TV evangelist Pat Robertson’ s remarks made during a Fox News interview.

I thought about adding my own “two cents” worth.  However I have chosen to post the following link to Dr. Albert Mohler’s blog who, obviously, can better articulate the matter.  Please read his insightful article “Does God Hate Haiti”at:

www.albertmohler/2010/01/14/does-god-hate-haiti/

There’s an old hymn that goes something like this:  “There’s a sad day coming,  a sad day coming, a sad day coming by and by, when the saints and the sinners will be parted right and left”.   And then the chorus asks the question, “are you ready for the judgment day?”

Are we?

What Made the Wise Men Wise?

Did you ever wonder what made the “Wise Men” of the Bible wise (Matthew 2:1-12)?

Most agree that the Magi who traveled from the east to see the new king of Israel were learned men with scientific and philosophical backgrounds.  Obviously their credentials as scientists, astrologers, and philosopher/sage/priests would verify their intelligence.

However, an accumulation of facts and figures doesn’t always guarantee wisdom.  What then accounts for their wisdom?

Could it be that the Wise Men believed the Bible?  In all probability these men from the east were from ancient Babylon or Persia (modern day Iraq and Iran).  What was the source or sources of their information concerning the birth of a King in Israel?

Did it come from hearsay or legend?   Or were the prophetic seeds of Scripture planted centuries before when Daniel, the Three Hebrew Children and thousands of other Jews were carried into exile by the Babylonians.

The Bible says in Daniel 9:20 and following that during a time of prayer, Daniel was instructed by the angel Gabriel to prophesy that a new King, a Messiah, would arrive at an appointed time in the rebuilt and re-occupied city of Jerusalem.  (It is interesting to note that this “Gabriel” is the same angel that shared with the Virgin Mary some six hundred years later that she would be the mother of this prophesied Messiah)!

It took an incredible amount of faith for these highly intelligent and esteemed men to travel such a distance.  For them this excursion was no mere folly.  Their reputations were on the line.  The fact that Herod received them lends to their credibility.  They believed that upon arrival in Judea they would find this King spoken of by Daniel.

Where does that kind of faith originate.  The Bible says in Romans 10:17, “so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.  In all likelihood it was in the Hebrew Scriptures that these men came to faith concerning the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.

We, too, by faith can find the same King that the wise men sought.  Our faith is also based on and in the Bible, not by mere sentiment or emotion.

What made the wise men wise?  They believed that the child they visited in Mary and Joseph’s home was in fact the long awaited Messiah of Israel.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ?  If so then you too are a very wise man or woman.

There’s an old cliche, that goes something like this:  wise men still seek Him today.  Doing so will make your Christmas a Merry one!

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son,  born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

This Day (and yesterday) in History

Today is Veterans Day, originally recognized as “Armistice Day”  celebrating the end of World War I “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918.

November 11 became “Veterans Day” when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming it so on May 26, 1954.  Congress amended the bill in November 1954 to officially change the name from “Armistice” to “Veterans”.

Today we salute all veterans, of every era and conflict.  Because we have continually been at war since September 11, 2001, many of our veterans remain on active duty serving multiple tours of duty in the ongoing war against and on terror.

May God bless and keep His Hand on those gallant men and women who serve America proudly.  May we always reinforce their efforts by lifting them before His Throne regularly.

With His Throne in mind, please allow me to share something of interest from “yester-DAY in history”.

On November 10 protestant reformer, Martin Luther (1483) and the United States Marine Corps (1775) were “born”;  explorer Morton Stanley found missionary David Livingston (1871); Sesame Street debuted on NET (1969); and the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior(1975).  Also on this day the first direct dial telephone call, without the assistance of an operator long distance operator, was made in America  (1951).

Although direct dialing “officially” began in 1951, its practical application has only been universal in the last couple of decades.  Today the enormity of the volume of direct dialed calls, whether from land lines or cell phones, is probably incalcuable.

What I find interesting is that “direct dialing” has been a reality for followers of Jesus Christ since He ascended into Heaven forty days after His Resurrection.

In Hebrews 4:14-16, the Bible declares that those who have been “born again” (John 3:1-8) through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ have the ability to directly communicate with God Himself.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are], [yet] without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

No need to call the operator.  No need to call the preacher or the priest.  Don’t have to call Momma or Daddy.  All you have to do is go in Jesus’ Name and the Father will answer.

Consider this:  we don’t have a direct line to the White House or the Governor’s Mansion or probably not even the Mayor’s Office.

BUT if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus Christ by believing that He died for your sins and was buried and rose again the third day you have direct access to the Creator of the universe.

Have you called Him today.  Don’t worry, all the minutes are “free”.  Jesus paid for them on the cross!

Non-Profit Prophecy!

Some 2600 years ago in ancient Israel a farmer named Amos declared that he was “not a prophet” nor was he “a son of a prophet” when the Lord called him to the prophetic ministry.

I had a preacher friend, who on occasion, would declare that he “wasn’t a prophet nor the son of a prophet but he did work for a non-profit organization.

Attempting to model the humble attitude of the aforementioned I would like to share a little “non-profit prophecy”.

In the news this morning there were at least three stories relating to Iran.  One involved civil disorder in the streets of Tehran.  Another was about an earthquake in that nation.  Finally there was a report of the discovery and capture by the Israeli navy of missiles being smuggled to terrorist  organizations in Lebanon and Syria from Iran.

In the 38th chapter of Ezekiel there are kings and kingdoms and nations mentioned that will form an alliance in the “last days” that will invade Israel.  It is very interesting that Persia is one of those nations listed.  Persia is, of course, the “old” name for Iran.

Isn’t it interesting that Ezekiel would write, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also, about another nation that exists to this day?

Leading the confederation mentioned in Ezekiel 38 is  “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal”.  Most conservative commentators agree that this is a reference to modern day Russia and its leader/leaders.

Iran’s relentless efforts to develop nuclear weapons combined with its hatred of Israel coupled with Russia’s desire to recover its status as a “superpower” are indicators that this portion of the unholy alliance has indeed become a reality.

Obviously prophetic scripture functions primarily to forewarn of danger to come and the severity of God’s judgment on sin.  These warnings are not intended to be some kind of carnival sideshow that appeals to a morbidity that is entertained by the horrific events that are elsewhere found in prophetic scripture.

These “warnings” do, however, perform another important function.  They remind us of the lateness of the hour and the urgency of the message of the Gospel to those who have yet responded to it positively.

When the headlines begin to reverberate with the thunder of prophetic activity our calling is not to “run for cover”  but to “preach  from the housetops” that Jesus wants to save all who believe from the wrath to come.  (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

If the Bible says it’s going to happen then you can mark it down, it’s going to happen.  Judgment is coming.  Are you saved from the wrath to come?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”  (Acts 16:31).

Earthworms, The End-Times, & Eternity

A couple of weeks ago my wife’s aunt passed away.  While her uncle and family were at the funeral home for visitation someone broke into their home and stole several valuable items.

Obviously the thief/thieves knew the situation and what time the family would be at the funeral home.  The break-in becomes even more despicable because the malefactors were, in all probability, familiar to the family and their situation.  In all likelihood a supposed friend or neighbor.

It used to be said derogatorily about someone void of any moral fiber that they “would steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes”.  Whoever stole from this family nuances that saying to its blackest form.

The disciples came to Jesus and asked for “signs” of His “coming and the end of the world”  (Matthew 24:.3).  One of the indicators He gave them was that because  “iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (verse 12).  The New American Standard translates His Words like this, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”  Surely this heinous act of cowardice is evidence of “increasing lawlessness”.

The Apostle Paul states in 2 Timothy 3 that in the “last days perilous times shall come” and that “evil men and impostors will proceed {from bad} to worse”.  Can’t get much worse than stealing from a grieving family.

This person/these persons may escape justice in this world but they won’t in the next.  The Bible is explicit in who is and is not going to heaven:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (1 Corinthians 9-10)

Please excuse my language, but if you ain’t going to heaven then there’s only one other place to end up:

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:15)

There’s an hymn written by Isaac Watts that Christians have sung for years:  At The Cross.  The first verse goes like this:

Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?

The older songbooks had a variation:

Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?

It used to upset me that the wording had been changed in the newer hymnals.  I imagined an editor somewhere “watering-down” our fallen state.

But then I got to thinking.  Worms aren’t sinners.  Why bring them down.  They did nothing to make Jesus bleed and die.  But we have.

Thank God, however, that in spite of what we have done there’s still redemption.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)

Even for stealing pennies.

Baseball Season

It’s over.  The  2009 baseball season has ended.  The last pitch has been thrown.

Well technically, there’s still the remainder of the ALCS and the World Series. For serious Reds fans, however, it was over when the regular season ended.

Not only did our season end, but George Grande, the Reds long time TV broadcaster, announced that his tenure, that began in 1993, would also be ending.  His career with the Reds was over.  He would not be returning in 2010.  Bummer.

With the end of baseball season comes the end of summer.  The Bible talks about “summer” coming to an end.

In the eighth chapter of the Book of Jeremiah we hear the Lord lamenting the fact that judgement has to fall on His own people for their continued disobedience.  And then suddenly in verse 20 we hear the collective voice of God’s people cry out that “the harvest  is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!”

Mournfully they acknowledge that they have allowed a “season of grace”, an opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness and then His restoration, to pass foolishly by.

God would give them another opportunity but it would be at the end of 70 long years of captivity and humiliation.  “Summer-time” 2009 has come and gone.  Eternity will be a long hard winter.  But maybe there’s yet an opportunity.  Don’t let it  slip away.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

John 3:16

John 3:16: The Bible’s Most Familiar Verse

Following is an article from Snowy River Ministries website published in January following Florida’s national championship victory.  Thank the Lord for Christian athletes like Tim Tebow who fearlessly share their faith in Jesus Christ.  See Al Mohler’s response to recent criticism in sports journalism of athletes who share their faith (AlbertMohler.com)

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Just minutes after leading the Florida Gators to victory in the 2009 BCS Bowl (football) game, quarterback Tim Tebow sent an unmistakable message during the post-game interview to a national tv audience.  In the “black” under his eyes written in white were references to the most familiar verse in all the Bible: John 3:16,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Tebow, using the platform given to him through both his God-given athletic prowess and personal dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ, declared to all viewing that in fact “God loves the world”. Most readily know what the verse says but not everyone has responded to its message.

The message is really very simple.  God loves us, all of us – every human being - from the first man Adam to the most recent newborn, so much that He allowed His unique Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.

Whether we like it or not or even believe it to be so, the Bible declares that every human being has sinned and there is a penalty for sinning.  The Bible also declares that there is only one remedy for our “sinfulness”:  Jesus.

Have you responded to the message?  Have you believed in/on the Lord Jesus Christ?  If you have, you have everlasting life.  If you haven’t, then, you don’t.  But you can, if you’ll just let God love you like He wants to – through His Son – Jesus.

Read from the Bible for yourself the following:  John 3:16-18; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10,13; Acts 16:30-31; John 1:12-14.

1951 and ‘58 Chevy’s

1951.   Harry Truman was president.  There were half as many Americans as they are today (about 150 million).  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death for passing atomic secrets to the Russians.  Seoul, South Korea was captured first by Communist troops and then by UN forces led by the US.  The New York Yankees beat the New York Giants four games to two to win the World Series.  A first class postage stamp cost 3 cents.

It is also the year I was born. There’s something else interesting/alarming about 1951.  It keeps popping up in the obituary column.

Now if those of us born in ‘51 can stay out of the newspaper until our birthdays, we’ll turn 58 in 2009.  With that in mind please indulge me in a bit of convoluted reasoning.

A 1957 Chevy is arguably one of the most recognizable automobiles ever assembled.  It’s  body style had evolved over the previous two or three years to the delight of car enthusiasts everywhere.  In 1958 Chevrolet completely changed that “look”.  The new look didn’t last very long.  As a matter of fact it only lasted a year (no offense to all you ‘58 fans).

No offense, either, to all  my friends born in 1951.  According to the Bible we, also, won’t last very long.  “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Just like the  ‘58 Chevy, those of us born in 1951 have a longevity problem.  For that matter, whatever your birth year, longevity is a problem.  Compared to eternity, the few short years we spend on this planet are but a drop in the proverbial bucket.

There is only one solution to this problem.  Please allow me to get a little more “mileage” out of the car metaphor (pardon the pun).

Just like a ‘58 that has been restored to mint condition, the same is potentially true for us.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

The difference, however, is this:  that old Chevy will eventually rust again, but for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they will “shine as the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Convoluted but true.

Rose, the Rulebook, & Reinstatement (replayed)

On the anniversary of Pete’s banishment from baseball this “repost” might be of interest to some.

August 4, 2009

Rose, the Rulebook, & Reinstatement

Filed under: Uncategorized — five8evangelism @ 8:44 am Edit This
Tags: God’s family, Hall of Fame, hell, Jesus, Pete Rose

Pete Rose is in the news again. Rose has more hits than anyone else in major league history.  Most believe that statistic alone should qualify him as a Hall of Famer.  He would have already been, but he broke the rules.

Rose’s transgression against baseball superceded even the illegal use of banned substances.  He bet on baseball.  Not once but on a routine basis.  For that, then commissioner Bart Giamatti, brokered a deal that banned the perenial all-star from baseball for life.  A decision with which I am in total agreement.

Lately it has been rumored that several superstars have “stepped up to the plate” on behalf of the former Big Red Machine third baseman.  Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and Joe Morgan are players from the past with no taint of scandal connected to their names.  These men have supposedly petitoned the current commissioner, Bud Selig, to lift the lifetime ban against Rose and reinstate him as a candidate for his certain entrance to the Hall of Fame.  A decision with which I totally agree.

Wait a minute.  How can a person be in total agreement to Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball and its removal at  the same time.  For me it’s not difficult at all.  I’ve been in the very same situation, not as a baseball player, but as a human being.

According to the Bible I broke the rules.  I willfully sinned against God.  His “rulebook” states that the one who sins has to pay the penalty by death, not just physical death, but more tragically, spiritual death.  I received an “eternal” lifetime ban for my transgressions.

But a greater Superstar than those mentioned above stepped up to the plate for me.  Jesus Christ not only petitioned the Father on my behalf but He also willingly took the punishment for my sins.

Because Jesus was willing to die for my sins, reinstatement into God’s family became a reality.   “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”  (Romans 6:23).

I hope Pete is reinstated to the game of baseball.  Twenty years banishment is a tough penalty to have to endure.  An eternity in hell is even tougher.

The Boy’s Birthday Box

The GrandBoy (my grandson) celebrated his third birthday last week.  At his party he received an abundance of gifts.

A few days later as he and his Gran surveyed the “loot” she asked, “where did your clock come from”, noticing a present that had heretofore slipped past her super-observant Grandmotherly eye.

The Boy answered, “the Post Office giv’d it to me.  Daddy took me to the Post Office and they giv’d him a box and it was in it”.

Keep in mind this is the same youngster that deduced, on his own, that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.  Not bad for a three year old.

The Bible says that, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights”  (James 1:17).

Children don’t always comprehend that.  Adults, however, should.  Tragically, all to often we behave as though we don’t.

There used to be an old country saying concerning people who were both unconcerned and unappreciative.  These were described as “hogs eatin’ under an ‘acorn’ tree, never looking up to see where their meal was comin’ from”.

Americans are also the recipients of gifts too numerous to count.  Not from the post office but from above.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  (2 Corinthians 9:15)