Being Faithful In Our Waiting

 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations (he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols), therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. So I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become victims of plunder to all their enemies, because they have done evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’” – 2 Kings 21:11-15

 <Journal Entry 5 August 2011> So the Lord reviled  Manasseh and Amon. He said He would bring judgement on Israel (Judah) – but it did not happen in their lifetime – God does not use the same clock that we do – I would have thought that the Lord would have caused Manasseh to fall during his lifetime, instead it was under Jehoiakim’s reign – just because we do not suffer a consequence  in this life or in the immediate future does not mean that there is not consequence – generations have missed the Lord because they chose to worship other gods – just as it is today! Just had my breakfast – a peanut butter sandwich and a bottle of water with ½ tab of electrolyte flavor – yum! I need to get motivated! Framing in doorways in “Kay Tifi” (the girls house) and make a plan for the windows. I really don’t like the fact that Martie is not with me, but I think this time is to be used for firming up our focus and scope of ministry here (Jacmel, Haiti)  <End of Entry>

I was asked to convert 5 – 40ft storage containers into an orphanage.  That was the first of two orphanages I would oversee the construction of in Jacmel. That is another story and lesson that Lord would teach me for another time.  God intervenes in our lives and just as there are physical laws that do not change on this planet -  gravity for example – there are truths about God that prevail over time as we know it – for eternity – that do not change.  We seek God asking Him to intervene in the here and now – not in the next generation. We watch injustice and generations that have shunned God – chosen or at least accommodated other gods – we have cried out to God to intervene in our generation and set right the wrongs – but God has been apparently silent. If you think about it – there were many nations that worshipped other gods in the old testament – but the focus was not on them, for the most part – I am thinking about Nineveh and Babylon – but His focus was on His chosen people.  We want God to fix the other guy – to change their hearts and bring judgment on them. Many people make reference to 2 Chronicles 7:14 as their go-to verse for restoring this country to whatever they think it was. It is not about this country – it is about us, His children, His people. This country certainly has its merits – but it also has it demerits. We would like to think that this country has been set apart by God – like a new Israel – but, in my view, it has not been. God is concerned about the faithfulness of His children – those saved by faith the blood of the Lamb. So many have carnal hearts cloaked with a Christian wrapper believing that God can be turned on and off like a light switch. It is not a new problem.

“Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” – Matthew 23:25-26

As Christians, we are all struggling with where this United States has been and is morally – politically – socially. Hoping for God to intervene in our generation to supernaturally set things right, as if the affairs of this country are somehow more significant than those of other countries. We are a remnant living in a foreign land – not the promised land. The very fiber of our faith is being tested. Hearts that are far from God are being revealed. I was speaking with someone yesterday who was lamenting over the fact that spiritual leaders that she respected were speaking as it they were carnal.  She didn’t think that was in their nature and was discouraged.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) These times will test the spiritual mettle of us all – and is.

We must look to the hills from whence our help comes (Psalm 121) and wait on the Lord.  In the meantime, shine Bright my friend and glorify God with your life.  

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone