Found Out and Fractured in Twain #23

Sunday, January 31, 2021

“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23 KJV).

Doubtless, we never want to sensationalize or exaggerate. However, the fact remains, some dark days are ahead for the United States and the rest of the world. What can we Bible-believing Christians do?

While social problems affect every age group, they have compounded among young Americans in recent decades. Youth—particularly Millennials (my generation, born 1980–2000)—were not adequately disciplined at home. They did not learn to esteem and trust the Scriptures, discern right from wrong, respect authority, learn the roles of the two sexes, avoid drug and alcohol use, be faithful spouses and responsible parents, accept and handle losses, appreciate their national identities, and so on.

Having discarded the Bible, the resultant vacuum in our nation’s heart has sucked in anything and everything. Boundaries and benchmarks are long gone. Many have no idea what constitutes personhood. Hence, in the name of “tolerance,” we continue to accommodate increasingly deviant behavior. “I allow my children to choose their gender!” “Since we have not gotten our way, we are vindicated in rioting and vandalizing!” “I can marry anyone I love, and we can even cohabitate without marriage as well!” “Skin color must determine beliefs and values!” Utter, complete, hopeless confusion. There is no longer a standard for anything; all is in flux, subject to perpetually change with every whim and feeling. Life founded on shifting sand—a civilization based on vacillation—will perish.

We go to great lengths to justify aborting (murdering) unborn members of our species. “It is just a clump of cells and tissue, not an actual human!” How paranoid we have become as touching environmental issues—global warming/climate change, clean energy, et cetera! “Science, science, science” is a golden calf, a mantra mindlessly repeated. “Racism, racism, racism” is another overused and cheapened term. Allegedly “woke,” conscious of social injustices everywhere, they really do not have a clue as to what really matters. Boasting in their “light,” they languish in spiritual pitch blackness. Our society is scrambling so frantically to fix its problems. Nevertheless, proceeding without sound Bible doctrine (and even unaware it lacks that knowledge!), it will only aggravate its misery….

Do Not Look Back!

Thursday, June 27, 2019

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed (Genesis 19:17 KJV).

Here are God’s instructions to Lot and his family. Will they be snubbed?

Recently, I passed by one of our old church buildings at which we attended denominational services over 20 years ago. The people we knew there are now long gone (in Heaven, or elsewhere); the current pastor is apostate (I talked with him years ago). Looking at the structure (it sure looked much larger when I was a little boy!!), I recalled good memories and friends, but the bad doctrine and spiritual confusion I did not miss. I still have no regrets leaving legalism, for grace teaches me how to live (Titus 2:11,12). Thank You, Lord, for bringing me out of that spiritual nonsense and into Your marvelous grace! I now have the privilege of helping others do likewise!

Concerning today’s Scripture, God will soon destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality. He commands Lot and his family to escape; after much urging, they get moving. Lot “sat in the gate of Sodom” (verse 1): he was a politician or other governmental official. He and his wife were reluctant to abandon their lavish home, social standing, and other comforts. As they fled, God commanded them not to look back.

“[24] Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; [25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. [26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot’s wife was so materialistic, worldly-minded, she had to take one last look, lamenting, “Oh, look at all that we are leaving—the wealth, friends, celebrations, delicacies!” (Glance at Luke 17:28-33.)

Friends, when we come to faith in Christ, let us not yearn to return to the old life. As alluring as they are, the exquisite stained glass windows, the “feel-good” ceremonies and songs, and the “humbling” edifices are nothing compared to the eternal truths of God’s Word rightly divided!

Lingering Lot

Saturday, June 24, 2017

“And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city” (Genesis 19:15,16 KJV).

In “lingering Lot,” we see many a Christian today!

Nephew to Abraham, Lot was a very compromising believer. While the world’s sins bothered him (2 Peter 2:6-9), he did not mind dabbling in them himself. For example, Lot “sat in the gate of Sodom” (Genesis 19:1): he was an important statesman in that most wicked city, enjoying high social standing and great wealth. Once God had enough of the homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent two angels to destroy them (see Genesis 18:16-22; Genesis 19:1ff.).

God also sent those angels to deliver Lot and his family before His righteous wrath falls upon Sodom and Gomorrah. In today’s Scripture, the angels urge Lot to hurry and take his wife and two daughters and escape. Three words stand out: “and while he lingered….” Lot wanted to stay just a bit longer, to take one last look at all his possessions he had acquired while officiating over Sodom. His beautiful home and its furnishings would be destroyed. His sinful acquaintances would be killed. (Notice how his wife “looked back behind him” once they did leave in verse 26, and she “became a pillar of salt!” She too had been attached to the material goods she and Lot had.)

Lot should have led his family out of such wickedness, yet he “lingered.” The angels had to thus forcefully grab all four of them (he, his wife, and their two daughters) and bring them outside the city! JEHOVAH God could have consumed Lot for being so wicked, so idolatrous, and yet He was “merciful unto him.” No doubt, many such saints will want to “linger” at the Rapture, when Christ returns to take all Christians to Heaven, desiring to stay behind and enjoy this evil world one last time. May we not be those “lingering” believers!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does the Bible say about blood transfusions?

Biblophobia and Christophobia

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (John 3:19,20 KJV).

Behold, the phobias from which all lost sinners suffer!

In recent years, “homophobia” (fear of homosexuals), “Islamophobia” (fear of Muslims, or Islamic theology), and “xenophobia” (fear of anything foreign) have entered common English vernacular. These terms have been fashioned into clubs to beat Christians over the head. Actually, this sort of name-calling can be summarized as: “childish playground antics with a multi-syllable twist.” The Christian is chastised when speaking out against sin and false religion. Those who cry “foul” and “bigotry” then spew their hatred with, “Homophobe!,” “Islamophobe!,” “Xenophobe!”

Fellow Bible-believing Christians, when we are called names with the suffix –phobia, may we kindly point out that our critics suffer from conditions “Biblophobia” and “Christophobia.” They fear and hate the Holy Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ whose will it exalts. Whatever they believe and say is their business, and whatever we believe and say is ours. If they want to embrace vain lifestyles and pursuits, God will gladly let them (Romans 1:18-32). May they “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25)!

Today’s Scripture with its context: “[18] He that believeth on him [the Son, Jesus Christ] is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

So, really, when people talk about “homophobia” and “Islamophobia,” they are really saying, “Do not shine the light of God’s Word! Keep it dark! What is done in the dark no one sees!” They have a phobia… a fear of the spiritual light God’s Word casts on their sin!

Affections and Lusts Crucified

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24,25 KJV).

Behold, the key to overcoming temptations!

There is a constant battle in the Christian’s mind. On one hand, we have the garbage thinking from the Adamic sin nature. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). On the other, we have the Holy Spirit using sound Bible verses to “transform [us] by the renewing of [our] mind, that [we] may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Hence, in verses preceding today’s Scripture, we read: “[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

And 2 Corinthians chapter 10: “[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Whatever does not agree with “the knowledge of God” (His Word rightly divided), throw it out. We are to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” This is not you making your thoughts obedient to Jesus Christ. Rather, it is you taking your thoughts and seeing whether or not they agree with Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork (His obedience to Father God; Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8). The desires of the flesh, they were crucified with Christ. They have no power over you, dear brother or sister in Christ!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What advice can be given to homosexual Christians?

The Rainbow

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth…. And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh” (Genesis 9:13,15 KJV).

Why does the rainbow exist?

A dear Christian brother recently asked me if I had heard about the rainbow that appeared in the sky last week, the day before 9/11, in New York City. He proceeded, “Maybe God was trying to tell us something.” I silently waited as he explained, “Like the White House was bathed in colored lights in celebration of the legalization of homosexual unions, God had His own rainbow over the World Trade Center site to show us what He thought!” (My reaction was polite, but swift, once he finished, “God is telling us nothing!” Remember, “God” was a day early, and He had many other rainbows visible around the world on that day—what of those rainbows?!)

Dear friends, if you believe that you must look into the sky to hear from God, please throw away your Bibles. No, honestly. If you hold to continuing revelation from God, you agree with the cults! Whether looking for God’s Word to be communicated via angels, blood-red moons, rainbows over memorial sites, dreams, et cetera, you are well on your way to expanding the Bible’s canon of 66 books to include your very own pseudepigrapha (false writings, apocryphal books). If you need coffins, high unemployment rates, astronomical phenomena, hospital bills, and angelic visitations to hear a word from God, friend, religion has so robbed—yes, robbed—you of the true words of God.

The Bible says—notice this is not a hunch or an opinion—the rainbow is God’s promise that He will never flood the whole world again as He did in Noah’s day. If we are Bible believers, we should believe what the Bible says about the rainbow, rather than speculating. God has already spoken about where He stands with respect to homosexuals (Romans 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:10,11), so let us get our noses in His Book instead of having our eyes in the skies!

Where True Love is Found

Saturday, September 12, 2015

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

Behold where true love is found!

Many people today seek “love” in all the wrong places—“pimping,” prostitution, homosexual unions, pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, and all sorts of other illicit acts. Even concerning “straight” couples (involving two humans), there is usually a very shallow understanding of what true love is. There is a lot of “take, take, take” from one or both sides, and a lot of “me, me, me” on one or both sides. There is very little, if any, altruism (“give, give, give”). Both people really seeking the other person’s best interest—the rarest of all!

Beloved, let us never, ever, ever place another human on a level he or she will never attain. We are all sinners. Mistakes will happen. Other people will disappoint us, as individuals have done before. Break-ups happen, divorces happen, infidelity happens, betrayal happens. Even though both sides try their very hardest, there is still heartache and heartbreak. (Then, there is one or both parties doing nothing to make the situation better, leading to the same dismal end.)

All the unlovely people we have met in our life, the horrible individuals who treated us as though we were utter scum, we need not be bitter against them. We need to pray for them. They have not got a clue what real love is, and were thus unable to show it to us. We should take a moment to remember today’s Scripture. If no one else loves us, if everyone else betrays us, if everyone else disappoints us, if everyone else abandons us, there is still Father God and His free gift offered to us. His only begotten Son shed His rich, royal blood, that He may pay our sin debt. He had nothing left to give! Jesus Christ was Father God’s most precious relationship, and He (yea, They) gave it up, that we sinners might enjoy that perfect relationship forever!

In no other Person but Jesus Christ will we find true love. Let us not search for it elsewhere. Such a search is a waste of time… and of true love.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What about unmarried, divorced, and remarried men in the ministry?

The Truth Triumphant to Timelessness

Sunday, July 5, 2015

“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11 KJV).

Thankfully, the truth to truly triumph to timelessness!

Regarding the legalization of homosexual unions, it is said, “Love has triumphed!” Yes, love for self has triumphed, but not love for the Bible of the living God and certainly not love for the living God of the Bible. Yea, rather, hatred for the Bible of the living God and hatred for the living God of the Bible, have triumphed… for now. As today’s Scripture says, in the end, God Almighty, not “love,” will win!

Oh, dear friends, be not angry at the world for acting like the world. That is the only lifestyle they know. Before we came to faith in Jesus Christ, we were and did likewise: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). Let us tell the lost world we were once exactly where they were—going our own merry way to hell. Let us tell them that we came, by simple faith, to Jesus Christ and Him alone, that they too may receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven.

What has JEHOVAH determined to do no matter what mankind does (cf. today’s Scripture)? Ephesians 1:8-10 says: “[8] Wherein [the riches of His grace] he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; [9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him;”

In the end, God’s government will prevail. Jesus Christ will sit on His rightful throne. He will reign over all the Earth and the Heavens in His own time. Unbelievers will be consigned to an eternal lake of fire. God’s Word will prevail. God’s design in marriage and childbearing will prevail. JEHOVAH God will prevail and the eternal victory will be His. Let us patiently watch Him bring it to pass! 🙂

Laughing Lord Loathes Ludicrous Lifestyles

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision (Psalm 2:4 KJV).

Lo, laughing Lord loathes ludicrous lifestyles!

Reacting to the recent United States Supreme Court’s ruling on the national legalization of homosexual unions, a college student declared on national television: “I think everyone has the right to be happy. We were kind of raised with the mentality that you should do what makes you feel happy!”

Incredible, absolutely incredible! This 20-something woman voiced the fact that her parents taught her nothing moral or wise. They taught her to do whatever she wants to be happy! (While we are at it, let us throw in theft, lying, drunkenness, illegal drugs, polygamy, and murder!). What society anywhere could last five minutes if every citizen did “whatever made him or her happy?” Scary thought!

What happened to this young lady’s mind? Like most her age, it became a vacuum that sucked up anything and everything but the truth. She was not taught one thing from the Holy Bible and that void was filled with garbage thinking. If her worldview is valid, no one should be arrested or imprisoned for pedophilia, larceny, killing, raping, kidnapping, et cetera. After all, how dare we criticize, punish, and forbid people from exercising “their right to be happy!”

The context of today’s Scripture predicts how Rome and Israel would conspire against Father God and His Messiah Jesus Christ. “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Cf. Acts 4:25-28). They did not want Him ruling over them, so they (happily) murdered Him. The Bible says Father God laughs at such nonsense, that sinful, puny, and foolish men could believe they could do whatever made them “happy” and not reap consequences (divine judgment). Verses 4 and 5: “[4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why does Romans 3:30 read ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith?’

Sinners Should Stop Snubbing Salvation

Saturday, June 27, 2015

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32 KJV).

Such sinners should stop snubbing soul salvation!

When the nation once known for leading worldwide Christian missions becomes the leader in the legalization of homosexual unions, the world’s spirituality has reached its lowest point in centuries. When its president can sing hymns about “grace” after applauding such perversion, and not see God’s consuming fire come down from heaven, God’s grace is thus evidenced to be greater than any and all of man’s sin (Romans 5:20).

We read in Philippians 2:15,16: “[15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Hold forth the word of life, dear brethren, to this lost and dying world. The “word of reconciliation” has been committed to our trust. We are to share with all the world the good news that God is not imputing their trespasses unto them today (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). They can be right with Him today by simple faith in Calvary’s finished crosswork. They have God’s grace, His friendly attitude, and His love now, but that will instantly change at the Rapture.

As we Christians leave for heaven, unbelievers will remain on earth to experience the undiluted wrath of a holy God. Sin will be dealt with either at Calvary or in eternal hellfire. People can rely exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ’s shed blood, having Him suffer for their sins, or they can ignore Christ’s sacrifice and go to hell to pay for their sins forever and ever and ever and ever. Remember, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He does not want people to go to hell. He sent His only begotten Son to die for those sins. May they delay no longer trusting Him and Him alone!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Should women serve in the ministry?