The World Is Not Falling Apart

"since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 1:28-32

When you read Romans chapter 1, in particular starting at verse 18 to the end, you can see a picture of our country in your mind. Is all hope lost? Is there still a possibility that there can be a turning toward God in our time? recently a friend of ours quoted a pastor who said, "The world is not falling apart it is falling into place"

We may feel like things are falling apart but spiritually they are falling into place. We may feel like the world is out of control, but I can assure you that God is still in control. A phrase that I coined some years ago is "the darker the night, the brighter the light." When I was a younger man, I flew helicopters in the Army. One particular assignment was in El Paso, Texas. Our maneuver area was in the Tularosa Basin which is high desert, about 4000 ft above sea level. It stretched roughly from the outskirts of El Paso north to the boundary of White Sands National Park. When you flew over the desert at night at times there was no visible horizon - meaning you could not tell where the sky the ground met. It was dark! Nearly impossible to find your way around in a helicopter especially when  your unit was exercising light discipline to keep others from seeing where they were. But if I would radio and tell them I was inbound, they would have someone "break" a chem-stick. I could see that little light from afar off.

Why am I telling you this story? Because we are like that chem stick, little lights in a dark place. Lights that can show a seeker the way home.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

Too many Christians are hiding their faith under a basket. Why? Perhaps they feel if they just go along they can get along. We were talking to a woman the other day about a shed. My friend asked her if she had a Bible, he had a New Testament to give her if not. Yes, she said it had been high on a shelf and saved from the rising water. So he asked if she thought one of her neighbors might need a bible. She gave him a look of indignation sending the message that she had no intent to talk to her neighbors about Jesus or the Bible. I wondered why the Bible was "high on a shelf". Sadly I think that perhaps it was not there because of Hurricane Ian.

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to Sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, But shall not find it." - Amos 8:11-12

Who are "they"? I think those who thirst for the Word and spiritual truth, but they cannot find it. Is there a famine in this land? I think maybe so.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

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