Chris' Corner -- December 19, 2021
“Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
God ordained government authorities to have the responsibility and moral obligation to enforce laws that promote common decency and morality (Romans 13:1-7). When government fails in these fundamentals of authority, evil becomes popular and demanded as a “right.” Crime will increase, immorality will flourish, and the government will weaken in its ability to rule.
God’s own people followed this pattern back in Isaiah’s time. He introduces the text (Isaiah 59:1ff) with an observation of God’s grace and mercy. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity...Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.”
Our society and government have arrived at this same place! And we are paying the price. Those in authority are corrupt, greedy, and dishonest, and afraid of losing their power and control.
So many have innocent blood on their hands because they have an imagined “right” to abortion. There’s nothing right about a woman committing the calloused, cold-blooded murder of her precious offspring!
Lies and injustices fill the air from those in the highest places of authority, as truth is mocked and blocked. Fundamental laws and law enforcement are politicized. Instead of executing judgment “speedily,” some are quick to criticize the rule of law and order, defund or disband law enforcement, and give criminals free rein. Mobs “conceive evil and bring forth iniquity...and their feet run to evil” —right into the biggest stores in the country, in broad daylight, running over anyone in their way, to selfishly loot and steal.
How can Christians live in such a society and maintain the hope and joy we should have in Christ? We remember, our Lord lived through similar things. The Romans were immoral and depraved people. Rulers of the Jewish high court, the elders and priests were politicized. They were lying schemers and false accusers, suppressing the truth because they feared losing their power and control. They shed the most innocent blood found among all of humanity. “The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
Paul lived in the same world as the Lord. He said, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:14–16).
With God, there is always hope for those willing to turn to Him. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Never stop living right and praying for our country.
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