I
wrote a piece this week titled “The Certainty of Judgment” in
which I stated this: “Judgment doesn't just suddenly come upon a
person or people without warning. In the old Testament, when God's
people strayed from His leadership, God always sent His Prophet to
warn them of the consequences and give opportunity for correction and
change.” Isaiah 9:10 is a good example of this, “The bricks are
fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are
cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” Isaiah had
prophesied the imminent judgment upon the northern tribes of Israel
specifically addressing the tribe of Ephraim and the city of
Samaria. Isaiah 9:9, “And all the people shall know, even
Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and
stoutness of heart,...” The peoples response was “we will build
back bigger and better. The chosen materials would be hewn stones and
cedars which were used for the palaces of the kings. The brick and
sycamores were for the common people. (That spirit that rises up is
the spirit of carnal flesh which must be crucified). The correct
response is to repent and return to God.
The
leadership of this nation followed the example of Israel in response
to the attacks on the World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2001. Sen. Tom
Daschle stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate building the next day,
Sept. 12. He gave the following response to this devastating attack.
“There is a passage in the Bible from Isaiah that speaks to all of
us in times like this. Isaiah 9:10, 'The bricks are fallen down, but
we will rebuild them with smooth stones: the sycamores are cut down,
but we will change them into cedars,' That is what we will do.
We will rebuild and recover. The people of America will stand
together because the people of America have always stood together,
and those of us who are privileged to serve this great nation will
stand with you. God bless the people of America.”
This
passage of scripture was repeatedly used in the coming months in an
attempt to instill hope and inspiration. But apparently there was no
national approach to repentance. Now look at where we are today. As a
nation we are more divided than since the great Civil War. There has been more civil unrest and racial conflict in the
last 2 or 3 years than since the integration battles of the 1960's.
Law and order in our world appears to be dissolving right before our
eyes. (Just watch the evening news). Justice and mercy are thrown in
the streets like refuse. Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man,
what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to
do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
The
problems of our civilization, the issues we face require supernatural
intervention. The basic problem of our world is a spiritual one. The
undermining issue is that sin is attempting to invade every area of
human habitat. As I contemplate the evil around us and the blatant
attack by Satan on the family of God, I struggle to find words to
describe what I am feeling and what I feel God wants me to share. A
single word comes into my mind, spoken as clearly as in any
conversation you might have. The word is “nefarious.” I believe
this word describes the moral climate of our world.
Merriam-Webster
defines “nefarious” as: flagrantly
wicked
or impious :
evil,
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable.
Synonyms
black,
dark,
evil,
immoral,
iniquitous,
nefarious,
rotten,
sinful,
unethical,
unlawful,
unrighteous,
unsavory,
vicious,
vile,
villainous,
wicked,
wrong
Related
Words base,
contemptible,
despicable,
dirty,
disreputable,
evil-minded,
ignoble,
ill,
infernal,
low,
mean,
snide,
sordid;
atrocious,
cruel,
infamous,
nasty;
blamable,
blameworthy,
censurable,
objectionable,
obscene,
offensive,
reprehensible;
corrupt,
debased,
debauched,
degenerate,
depraved,
dissolute,
libertine,
loose,
low-minded,
perverted,
reprobate,
scrofulous,
sick,
unhealthy;
cursed
(also
curst), cussed,
defiling,
noxious,
pernicious,
pestilential,
ugly,
ungodly,
unwholesome;
banned,
barred,
condemned,
discouraged,
forbidden,
illegal,
interdicted,
outlawed,
prohibited,
proscribed,
unauthorized,
unclean;
disallowed;
execrable,
lousy,
miserable,
wretched;
errant,
erring,
fallen,
unprincipled,
unscrupulous;
improper,
incorrect,
indecent,
indecorous,
naughty,
unbecoming,
unseemly,
vulgar;
dishonest,
dishonorable
The
connotation of this word describes the very essence of life in a
disobedient and rebellious world. I truly believe that this is the
way that God sees the hearts and conduct of fallen man. It reminds me
of Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it
repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved
him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom
I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and
the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me
that I have made them.”
The
Prophet Amos warned Israel of the impending judgment because of
disobedience and rebellion. Amos 5:18, “Woe unto you that desire
the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the
LORD is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man
did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and
leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall
not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very
dark, and no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your feast
days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though
ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not
accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your
fat beasts.
23
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not
hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But let judgment run
down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Amos
attacked the social evil of the people. Outwardly they were
prosperous but inwardly were idolatrous and corrupt. God said, there
is nowhere to hide. If you escape a lion, a bear with get you. If you
think you are safe in your house, a serpent will bite you. Observing
the sacrificial process was not enough. God said, I will not accept
you offerings. Only repentance could save the nation.
What
are we to do? God will judge disobedience and rebellion in this
generation just as He did in the days of Noah and Amos. And just as
He made a way of escape for Noah and all who would hear God's
message, He has made a way for all who will call upon the name of
Jesus. What are we to do? Quite simply we, as a collective body, must
fall upon our faces before the Lord God Almighty in contrition and
repentance. Allow the Holy Spirit of God to open our hearts to our
dismal failure as having surrendered to the arm of the flesh. It is
time to confess that we have attempted to lead in our own strength
and cry out to God for Divine Intervention. II Chron. 7:14, “If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land.” God's promise to Solomon was, “...I have chosen this place
to myself for an house of sacrifice,” 2 Chronicles 7:12. If it
doesn't rain...if the locusts devour your crops or pestilence
comes...if you will pray, humble yourselves and turn from YOUR way
(rebellion), then I will hear you from heaven and will forgive and
heal because I see you and hear your prayers. Yes, there is HOPE. He
is JESUS! Call out to Him. Repent and return...He is patiently waiting on YOU!
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