From My Perspective - - -
There are many signs and warnings about the contemporary world and culture that have been ignored. It is easy to live with a memory of how things once were and to avoid the issue of what we have become. The idea that we can maintain ourselves by just living from day to day devoid of any sense regarding where we are going and what the future holds is folly. Are we content to be in our cul-de-sac or are we willing to be a conduit? A cul-de-sac, by design, is a dead end road. It is defined as: “a street or lane that is closed at one end; blind alley; dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an inescapable position.” A conduit is completely different by design and purpose. Its function is to be: “a pipe or tube for conveying water or other fluid; a similar natural passage.” Do you see yourself as being a Conduit or are you desirous and content to be a Cul-de-sac?
There are several excellent articles in the October 2014 issue of Decision Magazine that sound the alarm and warning, as well as issuing a challenge and remedy. The goal of a Biblical Christian and Church should be the desire to function as a Conduit rather than to merely exist as a Cul-de-sac. One of the articles is by Tony Evans, who wrote: “America is in trouble. From sea to shining sea we are witnessing the devolution of a nation. The United States is quickly becoming the divided states. Disunity and conflict abound. Family breakdown, the immigration crisis, the threat of terrorism, an abiding racial divide and political dysfunction all point to a deeper problem. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you sit on, it is clear: Things are unraveling at warp speed. Like never before, we must pray for our nation and her leaders. As Christians, we must ask: Are we going to sit by and watch our culture fall apart and our families disintegrate? Or are we going to do something to help turn America to God? The future of our culture is in the hands of Christians because the cause of our cultural demise is innately spiritual. And if a problem is spiritual, its cure must be spiritual as well. If we Christians are going to help turn our nation to God, we must fall on our knees and our faces before God and pray. We must not only talk about prayer, but pray. Not only agree on the importance of prayer, but pray. Not only preach on the power of prayer, but pray…To get our nation on its feet, we must get on our knees.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-19 indicates that which should be common to the Biblical Christian and Church: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” There are four minimum requirements stated: (1) Rejoice, (2) Pray, (3) Give Thanks, and (4) Do not Quench the Spirit. How faithful and consistent are we in terms of the four stated requirements? How frequently do we recall what they are and mean for us on a daily basis? Is our negligence in any one of these requirements contributory to the demise of spiritual influence and impact in the Contemporary World and Culture? By example and practice, Jesus Christ prayed at length and with intensity (Luke 22:40-44; Matthew 26:36-46). Intensity is demonstrated by the words of Luke 22:44, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Discipline in Prayer is emphasized in Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
When should a nation seek the Lord? Isaiah 37 records what Hezekiah did when he received threats from Sennacherib, the Assyrian General. The letter was intended to intimidate Hezekiah and God’s people. At that moment of threat and possible annihilation, what did Hezekiah do? Verse 14 states his action: “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.” We are at this point in our Contemporary World and Culture. This is our last and best hope for the World, Nation and Church! We need to immediately go to the house of the Lord and spread the matter out before Him for His resolve and remedy. Are you content in your cul-de-sac (dead end existence), or are you a functional conduit? Consider these things with me!
No comments:
Post a Comment