Where Do You Stand?

Why does it matter?    Because those behind you, born and unborn are depending on you for their freedom and liberty.  Do you have the courage to stand face-to-face with Satan?   There is only one way you prevail and that is with Jesus.   Without Jesus there is no way you personally will defeat Satan.  I ask again, where do you stand?

Did you ever have the discussion when you were young what it would be like for you if your parents taught you at an early age that a dog was a cat and a cat was a dog.   Everybody would think you were mentally handicapped.  In the days of my childhood, we used “retarded” because it means the same thing but I guess somewhere along the line it became an unacceptable word.  Now think if everyone except for yourself was taught a dog is a cat and a cat is a dog.   Society, as a whole, would think you are the retarded one.  Take that same  philosophy but instead use morality. 

Definitions

I want to define morality because a lot of definitions have changed in the last 5-10 years to fit what I call an agenda.  And to make sure we are all on the same trail I’ll define a few words.  First, morality defined by the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary is, “MORAL'ITY, noun The doctrine or system of moral duties, or the duties of men in their social character; ethics.

The system of morality to be gathered from the writings of ancient sages, falls very short of that delivered in the gospel.

1. The quality of an action which renders it good; the conformity of an act to the divine law, or to the principles of rectitude. This conformity implies that the act must be performed by a free agent, and from a motive of obedience to the divine will. This is the strict theological and scriptural sense of morality But we often apply the word to actions which accord with justice and human laws, without reference to the motives form which they proceed”. 

With that definition, because of the times we are in, I also feel compelled to define virtue and divine as well. 

“VIRTUE, noun vur'tu. [Latin virtus, from vireo, or its root. See Worth.] The radical sense is strength, from straining, stretching, extending. This is the primary sense of Latin vir, a man.] VIRTUE is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth.

A particular moral excellence; as the virtue of temperance, of chastity, of charity.

Remember all his virtues.

And,

 “DIVINE adjective

Pertaining to the true God; as the divine nature; divine perfections.

Does Personal Character Mean Mean Anything Today?

When I think of morality I would say it is the character of a person.  For instance, “If I were to say, “I question the moral character of that individual”.  Would think that I probably don’t trust that person in one form or fashion and then ask, “Why?” That's what I, at 58 years old, would expect, but is that what our society would expect? From looking around and observing how many people view life today, they appear to not consider "character" in their own lives or other's lives.

For a moment just think if what use to be immoral within society has become moral within society.  For instance, things that were once considered wrong and avoided are now considered right and embraced?  Today it isn’t far fetched to say this  because I see it all around us.   Let me give you a few examples all of which were taboo not so long ago but now are considered mainstream, expected, or even shoved down our throats so to speak:

1. Pornography:  Use to be frowned upon and hard to get.  Now, it’s available to everyone and pushed by social media.   Children 7 years of age and younger are getting hooded on pornography.  Do you see a problem with this?

2. Gay/Lesbian marriage:  Same sex marriage.  

3. Transgenderism:  When did little boys start wanting to be little girls and vice versa?  It’s a lie and a huge deception. Recent current event: UNDERMINES FAMILIES: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), an open homosexual, signed into law the “Protections for Transgender Individuals” Act, a bill that allows courts to kidnap children whose parents “deadname” and “misgender” them or disagree with their claimed gender identity.

4. Immortality via a digital world: What?  Do you wonder what makes people think this is possible?

5. Transhumanism:  Man and machine as one being.  Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven because he thought he would replace God.  Do you see any resemblance to this idea?  

6. Pushing assisted suicide: Recent article:  • Mark Carney’s Canadian government is now promoting Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for children. Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich blasted the move, stating, “There are really no words to describe how utterly abhorrent this is. 1 in 20 deaths in Canada are attributed to this program at present.”

This is not an all inclusive list but it gives you a good idea of how disassociated we have become as a society.  We have not only forgotten God, but we can’t even associate with Him as our creator and don’t know or even recognize His commands or His promises.  Do you see a problem with this?  If you answer no, just try to have a meaningful conversation about the above topics with a 20 something year old to find out their thoughts or lack of thoughts.  As a culture we are submissive, afraid to stand our ground for what is divinely right, we are afraid of what man may do to us, we’ve become a nation, as a whole, of cowards who compromise on the fundamental rights and wrongs.  WE are a society that murders babies, has assisted suicide in at least one state with more states on the horizon.  We as a society have ignored God’s warnings, we’ve made it known that we don’t need Him and He has turned us over as a society to our debased minds, to do things which are not fitting.  Basically, the moral fabric of our county is in shreds and if the direction we are heading as a society doesn't change our God given freedoms and liberties we once cherished and thrived under will be just a memory of old men and women and a folklore to the young.  There was a time that right was right and wrong was wrong but those days lay behind us.  Now, in so many ways, right is wrong and wrong is right because as a society we have no discernment.  We can’t judge for ourselves what is right or wrong and we are paying the price for the for apathy, lack of knowledge and wisdom, lack of personal responsibility throughout society so much so the men and women who have paid the ultimate price to maintain our God given rights have nearly been forgotten.  As I’m living through this downfall of what use to be a great country I can't help but think of Hosea 4:6, “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children”.   The other verse that sticks out like a sore thumb is Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter”!  

Nonbelievers are kept blind

As a country we have kicked God out as our rightful leader.  No wonder we don’t have morality as a society any longer.  People in general don’t know the Holy Bible and so many are convinced that they don’t need God.   But, hold on a minute, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 warns us all, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (those who have not received the gift of life and reject Jesus). 4 whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them”.

John 10:10 and Free Will

God gave us all free will and we all get to choose our own destiny.  According to John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. 

We have a free will, we have a choice but when considering the consequences of our decision, I believe it’s not a hard choice but history proves otherwise.  

In the Book of Jeremiah within the Bible. God pleaded with Jeremiah to tell the people (paraphrased) to turn from their wicked ways, repent and come back to Him over and over and over.  

God wants us all to come home

It becomes quite clear within the Bible that God loves us and He wants us all to come home and His heart breaks when His children deny Him because they believe the lies of the world.  Who is the ruler of this world?  Satan is the ruler of this world, for the time being.  Whether you like it or not, he’s your master unless you have repented and asked Jesus to be your savior and wholeheartedly meant it.  You see, this war is for real and the battles we fight and the challenges we face have eternal consequences.  We still have time in the age of grace but no one knows when this age will end or when Jesus will return.  But we are warned to be constantly on the lookout for Him.  Take for instance  “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” – Matthew 25:13. Don’t take God’s grace for granted and there is no better time than the present to repent and ask Jesus into your life.  Today is here now, but tomorrow is not guaranteed.  See James 4:14, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”.

Yes, the moral fabric of our country is in shreds and we are reaping the consequences of a country absent of God.  But, there is hope, there can be a change in the direction of the tide.  What is the first step, we MUST REPENT as a nation!, 

THEN,

• WE MUST TURN BACK TO GOD;

• WE MUST STAND FIRM ON THE WORD OF GOD

• WE MUST BE COURAGEOUS 

• WE MUST HAVE RIGHTEOUS FAITH

• WE MUST KNOW THE BIBLE

• WE MUST HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Yes, there is hope, but it’s going to take a change of heart as a nation to turn this ship around.  I can’t do it by myself, you can’t do it by yourself, but the Body of Christ is equipped to do it.  I’m going to ask you the tough question, what are you doing, what is the fruit of your labor, to glorify God, expand the Kingdom of Heaven and push back evil?  As before, this question can only be answered by you and is asked only for self reflection.  However, for the record, I have submitted to God. I’m His to be used as He sees fit.  Thank you Jesus

May You Always Walk in the TRUTH!