THE TOCSIN IS SOUNDING

From My Perspective - - -

There is so much noise, distraction and preoccupation occurring in the world today. A car stops alongside you at a traffic light and the radio decibel level is set at full volume causing one to hear unwanted noise. Young people walk around with earphones and portable devices causing them to be oblivious to any other voice or sound communication. Emergency Equipment has difficulty moving through traffic because of the volume levels of other sounds. If there was a warning signal or a siren being sounded, it is doubtful that such a device could be heard above the din of noise.

This is true in life and history as well. “The Gathering Storm” by Winston Churchill is one of six volumes that share his remembrances and impressions of (a) what led up to World War II and (b) how Great Britain became engaged in that War. The step-by-step decline into war, with Churchill becoming prime minister as "the tocsin was about to sound." A “tocsin” is:   an alarm bell or the ringing of it; a warning signal. The point of the “tocsin” is to sound an alarm regarding impending danger or disaster. An example of a tocsin with which most are familiar is the siren that is sounded when a tornado is approaching a community or land area. The idea is that those who hear the tocsin will make preparation and take appropriate action to be as safe from harm and devastation as possible. In Churchill’s day, how many heeded the tocsin? His immediate predecessor as Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlin, is best known for his appeasement foreign policy that led to his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 that conceded the German-populated Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Adolph Hitler and Germany. Many will recall his return to Great Britain waving the Munich Agreement as he disembarked his plane and stating that it was peace in their time.

The tocsin is sounding on another front today. The O’Reilly Factor Talking Points on December 04, 2013 focused on the Culture War that is occurring in the United States. The summary of those points is: “There is a war between traditional Americans and secular progressives. Some Secular Progressives are hoping to move religious influence in the United States out of the way to make room for (1) cradle to grave entitlements, (2) income equality, (3) unfettered abortion, (4) gay marriage and (5) legalized drugs. Some secular progressives who believe that America is an unfair place are trying to spin values held by traditional Americans as negative. Traditional values have become demonized.” Is anyone paying any attention to this tocsin? Does anyone care that the traditional values of the United States are under attack and rapidly eroding? Does it matter to someone – anyone – that religious suppression looms on the horizon?

One is reminded of the tocsin sounding from another day and how those who heard it responded. Hebrews 11:7 is a summary of that tocsin sound: “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Even though Noah had warned his contemporaries of the judgment that was about to come, he was scorned, mocked, derided and ignored. How do you think the society and culture of today would respond to a Noah who spoke about the ills, trends and life choices being made in our day? There is another tocsin stated in Hebrews 2:1-4, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” There is an increased need for one to “pay much closer attention” to God and His Word. He is the only source and means for deliverance from sin. He has made the provision for man’s salvation (John 3:16) so that whoever believes in Him can enter into God’s salvation and deliverance from eternal judgment. There are several different approaches and presentations of “The Gospel.” Tools are of value but they should not be allowed to clutter the simplicity of God’s Plan and Message of salvation. Romans 10:9-10, 13 is as simple and clear as it can get: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Have you received God’s gift of salvation to and for you? The tocsin is sounding – have you responding to it? Consider these things with me.