To us, it seems that we are in a time of unprecedented uncertainty and chaos.  With seemingly no end to the economic financial instability in sight.  Acrimony and  division characterize our government.  People protesting with no purpose other than to foster dissension.

This is a dark time for the U.S.   It is a new experience for us, but it is not something that the world has not seen before.  This is a repeat of what has come before.

What will the outcome be?  As a wise man once said, “Those who refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it. 

Is there any difference between what we are seeing in the U.S. today and the culture of Germany in the 1930′s before Hitler took complete power?  Is there a difference between  America’s current social revolution and the overwhelming desire to take what others have and make them pay than the upheaval with Lenin in Russia in the 1920′s following the philosophies of Marx? 

Is there a difference?  I say no.

And how did that work out for those countries?

If we don’t learn from history, we will repeat it.

But this phenomenon predates the last century.  This is the story of human history. 

The story of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, can be seen as the human condition encapsulated.   Their story has been repeated throughout the nations and through all the centuries.

They had golden years with men and kings who stood for what was right.  However, they had many more where the abandon the covenant God made with them and followed the practices of the heathen nations around them.

When justice and right is abandoned, eventually a nation will fall.  Their story is our story.

The Jewish people were given the Law, not only the spiritual and religious law, but civil and community laws as well.

But they abandoned it.  Not only did they abandon God, but they abandoned their civil justice.    The courts were corrupt.  The youth were out of control.  The two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, had lost their moral compass.

Into this, Isaiah, a prophet born into an aristocratic family, stepped up and stood against the tide.  He spoke out against the prevailing culture of the day and decried the wrongs he saw. 

What  sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them
  with ropes made of lies,
  who drag wickedness behind them like a cart!
They even mock God and say,
  Hurry up and do something!
  We want to see what you can do.
Let the Holy One of israel carry out his plan,
  for we want to know what it is.

What sorrow for those who say
  that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
  that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
  and think themselves so clever.
What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine
  and boast about all the alchohol they can hold.
They take bribes to let the wicked go free,
  and they punish the innocent.
Isaiah 5:18-23

They thought they could do what they wanted without repercussions.  They said, “Who is to say what is wrong?  If it makes me happy (in the moment,) why shouldn’t I do it? ”

They said, “My truth is what I decide it to be.”

Doesn’t this sound familiar?

But Isaiah warned against the coming day when God’s patience would wear out and judgement would be released.

Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble
  and dry grass shrivels in the flame,
so their roots will rot
  and their flowers wither.
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies;
  they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
That is why the Lord’s anger burns against his people,
  and why he has raised his fist to crush them.
Isaiah 5:24-25

But they ignored his warnings

The outcome for Israel was one of complete destruction.  They were invaded by Assyria, and the ten northern tribes were lost and dispersed to this day.

What will the outcome be for us?  We will stop the insanity or will we take the easy path and go along will the tide.

Will we listen?

Will you listen?

Will you be the change where you are? 

Will you stand for what is right and speak out against wrong:  both wrong actions and wrong words.

Will we listen?

The verses in this post are from the New Living Translation. If you are new to studying the Bible, the NLT version uses modern language and is easy to understand while still being faithful to the accuracy of the translation from the original text.

There are a number of study Bibles available in the NLT translation, including Life Application study Bibles. These will help you gain a fuller and deeper understanding of the verses, as well as explain the context of the culture and times in which they were written. The NLT study bibles are also available in a digital format for Kindle on Amazon.

When God calls, we should listen.

We can’t complain about Him not working in our life
     or claim He isn’t speaking to us if we don’t
     Listen, Obey and Take Action when He does.

He wants to lead us onto a path
    of abundance and prosperity.

He is our Father who loves us,
   who wants us to have every good thing.

He will lead us to fulfillment,
    bring us to the place we were meant to be
    and the person He designed us to be
    if we follow His promptings.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

My health may fail

and my spirit may grow weak . . .

But God remains the strength of my heart.

He is mine forever.

Psalms 73:26 NLT

The writer of Psalms 73 cries out to God and asks “why do the wicked seem to prosper.”  That is a question that many struggle with in their path to God.  Today, people frequently ask, ‘If God is good, why does he allow evil.”

Even the greatest mind of our time, Albert Einstein, struggled with that same question and even though he believed in a Creator and appreciated perhaps more than anyone else the magnificence and magnitude of the creation, he still could not accept God and his plan for salvation because of that obstacle.  At least as far as we know.  We can hope that he came to accept God before his death.

While God made a perfect creation, he also created man with a choice.  A choice to follow and be with God or to reject God and choose self.

When we see the evil in the world and ask, “Why?”  We have to remember that every single choice we make has a consequence.  Sometimes the consequence is good, and sometimes it is bad.

Also, the consequences always affect more than just ourselves.  I am sure there have been many times that you have suffered the consequences of someone else’s wrong decision.  Just as I am sure that many of your decisions have negatively affected others as well.

No one lives in a vacuum.

So what is the answer?  Why does it seem like those who do bad or wrong things get away with it?

The truth is that they don’t.

Regardless of your belief system, this is one universal truth.  No one gets away with anything.  We will all experience the rewards of our actions.

We yearn for justice and we want it right away.  If someone does us wrong, we want God to strike them with a lightening bolt (or at least convict the with remorse) right then and there.

But God’s timeline isn’t our timeline.  He has shown every one of us mercy and given us time to come back to Him when we have been rebellion.

Psalms 73 describes this so well:

But as for me, I almost lost my footing.

My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone

For I envied the proud

when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

They seem to live such painless lives;

their bodies are so healthy and strong.

They don’t have troubles like other people;

they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

v 2-5

This is just an illusion.

They wear pride like a jeweled necklace

and clothe themselves with cruelty.

These fat cats have everything

their hearts could ever wish for!

They scoff and speak only evil;

in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens,

and their words strut throughout the earth.

And so the people are dismayed and confused,

drinking in all their words.

“What does God know?” they ask.

“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

Look at these wicked people –

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

v 6-14

The writer of the Psalm, Asaph, tried to do right and felt like it didn’t matter because he was suffering while the wicked prospered.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of  the wicked.

Truly, you put them on a slippery  path

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

In an instant they are destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors.

When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

v 16-20

Asaph realized that the wicked do get their just rewards.  God gives them, and us, chance after chance to turn around . . . to make a change and right decisions for their life.

But there comes a time when the last chance is passed and that person gets the full measure of justice they have coming.  For some people, that will be a truly terrifying and horrible experience.

“. . . in an instant, they are destroyed.”

Even though we have our times of doubt and spiritual struggles, God is still with us.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside.

I was so foolish and ignorant–

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart,

He is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish,

for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

vs 21 – 28

The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

For a more indepth analysis of the question, “Why Does God Allow Evil,” read “The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis, available in paperback, hardcover, audio, and Kindle format from Amazon.

The verses in this post are from the New Living Translation. If you are new to studying the Bible, the NLT version uses modern language and is easy to understand while still being faithful to the accuracy of the translation from the original text.

There are a number of study Bibles available in the NLT translation, including Life Application study Bibles. These will help you gain a fuller and deeper understanding of the verses, as well as explain the context of the culture and times in which they were written. The NLT study bibles are also available in a digital format for Kindle on Amazon.

One of the questions that everyone asks is “What should I do with my life?”

God gives us instruction on how to find His will for our life throughout the Bible.  In order to learn that will, we have to first place our trust in Him, read his Word, and learn to listen to His voice.

Psalms 25 is a prayer by David for defense, guidance and pardon from God.

First he reaffirms he will place his life in God’s hands.

¹ O Lord, I give my life to you.
² I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Next he asks for guidance and forgiveness:

⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
⁶ Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
⁷ Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

Then he acknowledges that the only way to a prosperous and purposeful life is through God.

The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
⁹ He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
¹⁰ The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

¹¹ For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins.
¹² Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
¹³ They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Finally, he asks God to be his deliverer from his current problems.

Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
¹⁷ My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
¹⁸ Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
²⁰ Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
²¹ May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.

²² O God, ransom Israel
from all its troubles.

Psalms 25, New Living Translation

So that’s how delighting and meditating on your word, brings life and health. No wonder there is so much madness and sadness in the world. We’ve been thinking about what men say and not what you our creator says about us and to us.

THIS IS TRUE

55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 RSV

Lord teach me your ways and show me your thoughts to think that I may live the good life you want for me.

4:20 My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
Proverbs 4:20 BBE

You’re saying then, I should be careful what I hear and listen to and what I look at with my eyes because they form thoughts that can get into my heart and affect my life?

4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23 RSV

If I think positive thoughts enough I’ll believe them and do positive things.

Why just today I learned that a flea and an elephant can be conditioned to believe they have no power; the flea, to jump out of a jar, and the huge elephant, to free himself from a small chain all because man repeated a negative condition untill the flea and the elephant believed they could not, then, they did not when the condition was removed.

They both believed a lie. Is that what we as humans do as well, take on positive or negative thoughts and become controlled by them

23:7 For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
Proverbs 23:7 BBE

12:34 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 12:35 The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
Matthew 12:34-35 RSV

But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither and what ever he does prospers.

I want to be this person who prospers in every area of my life . . .

YOU MAY LITTLE ONE.

“SEEK ,FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU” Matt 6:33

But how do I do this?

I TELL YOU NO ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS HE IS BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT. FLESH GIVES BIRTH TO FLESH BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT’ John 3:5

My Mother gave me physical birth, you mean the Spirit of God will give me Spirit birth?

YES

“EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN (of the spirit) HE CAN NOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD” John 3:5

FOR

“THE MAN WITHOUT THE SPIRIT DOES NOT ACCEPT THE THINGS THAT COME FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM AND HE CAN’T UNDERSTAND THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED” I Cor 2:14

How can this spirit birth happen to me?

YOU MUST BE DRAWN BY THE FATHER John 6:44

YEA I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE: THEREFORE WITH LOVING KINDNESS HAVE I DRAWN YOU Je 31:

IT IS WRITTEN; THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE -ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY BUT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTON SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE John 3:16

Is that life the spirit birth? I know I have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, Is there hope for me?

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE AND WILL OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME Rev 3;20

I do open the door of my heart. Come in to my heart LORD JESUS, come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart LORD JESUS , forgive me and cleanse me of all my sins

AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM , TO THEM GAVE HE POWER ( Holy Spirit) TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD John 1:12

Oh the JOY, oh the DELIGHT that fills my soul to know I am now a child of God; a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

YES MY CHILD……..THERE IS jOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD ,OVER ONE SINNER THAT REPENTS Luke 15:10

GO NOW AND

“LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF Math 23:37

FOR EYE HAS NOT SEEN,NOR EAR HEARD ,NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM I Cor 2:9

“DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART Psalms 37:4

I am ready to begin Lord, to delight in you and be like that fruitful tree by the streams of water.

”YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT–FRUIT THAT WILL LAST. THEN THE FATHER WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME. THIS IS MY COMMAND;” LOVE EACHOTHER” John15:16

That sounds like too hard a command to keep–the world is so cruel and full of mean people

IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

Lord I need your help .

THEN PRAY; FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS, FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS ,YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS Matthew 6:12 -15

I see why this is key to being fruitful and prosperous, for its always been my sins that disconnected my life from you Lord, the source of all wisdom and rescources that I need to live an abundant life.

So you forgive me when I forgive others. Jesus you paid my sin debt , a debt you did not owe, with your own blood.

Who am I to hold debt against another and make them pay me, when you paid my great debt. Your love did that for me.

I see its your love you want me to give for others sins. forgiving others allows the father to forgive our sin thus restores our fellowship and right relationship with the King.

Repentance(returning to the right path) allows him to bless everything we do. Our greatest asset is ”

THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IT MAKETH RICH AND ADDS NO SORROW TO IT. Prov

Without Gods blessing, satan is given oportunity to devour our strength, family, health and resources.

BELOVED , I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT YOU PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS

Lord you are so good! If my soul is my mind, will and emotions then you are saying what I think about determines the health and wealth of my life. Let me ponder . . . God