The student of Scripture listening to the daily news is increasingly concerned by much that is happening around us. The threat of devasting wars is fearsome. The strange social and moral deviations pushed into the public arena by politicians, teachers, media, television, and novels are mind boggling. Truth is unhinged, being personalized to one’s own opinion. The concept of divine authority has been shelved by the shaky ideas of science. Moral corruption is running rampant in our culture. Purity is no longer defined by biblical or historical mandates. Marriage, family, home, church, purity, righteousness, wisdom, and, of course, truth, all suffer at the hands of secularists who are determined to make the rules and to control debate. The foundations of Judeo/Christian principles are crumbling and being replaced by the sinking sands of, “Do your own thing.”
All of these troubling things have been superimposed upon us in the name of relativity and diversity. The gods of this world are many, and ultimately empty. Newcomers are welcomed with no requirement of study to own or understand our history, traditions, values and beliefs. We no longer seem to understand the biblical statement: “The gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” But, “The gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction , and many are those who enter by it.”
Hopefully, during this special season of the year we are reminded of the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ. Beyond His Virgin birth we must remember Who He was and why He came. The Prophet Isaiah takes us way beyond the childhood of Christ to His work and purpose. Describing the problems of his day, and ours, he said, “Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness.” Isaiah’s confidence and trust was truly enlightening and comforting: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. . . . For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. . . . The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
For followers of Christ Jesus, it is hard to think of a time more propitious when we need to see and think beyond His miraculous birth to the critical importance of why He came. Isaiah gave Him four names for our encouragement.
1. Wonderful Counselor – In His Omniscience (all knowing) He came to urgently, wisely, lovingly teach us the way to act and think in spite of conflict, waywardness, depravity and denial. His Word is vital to us for it contains powerful guidance and protection in troubled times! Critical to our wellbeing is our familiarity, understanding and commitment to the Word of the Living God. The Bible is given to us for such a time as this!
2. Mighty God – In His Omnipotence (all powerful) He can do all that is necessary to fix His creation, man and nature, and to bring order out of chaos, destroying evil and corruption, restoring truth and righteousness. Nothing is too hard or too complicated for Him to correct. He is the Lord of the universe, including over Satan, our defeated foe, and his evil hosts.
3. Eternal Father – Beyond our highest and noblest concept of fatherhood, our Holy Father God with infinite wisdom and lovingkindness looks over us, nurtures us, defends us, directs and enables us to walk in righteousness. His loving, guiding hand steers our way along the path of life, purity and truth. He provides us with all we genuinely need to be unreservedly and eternally His. We can never get beyond His presence, understanding or destiny.
4. Prince of Peace – The troubles in our world seem to go from bad to worse. We live in a time where wickedness dominates and shows itself as a “troubled sea whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Turmoil seems to be gaining more and more control. Jesus rules as the Prince of Peace. Calming us. Covering us. Providing for us. Protecting us. Comforting us. Forgiving us. Cleansing us. Fulfilling all His promises. He gives peace that passes understanding! He is our Savior.
What glorious truths those four names represent, building confidence, courage and commitment. Underneath us who believe are those everlasting arms. Evil has more than met its match! Jesus came as a Baby but He was the God-Man, living, ministering, dying and rising again to ever make intercession for us, to seek and to save all who are lost. Against a back-drop of darkness and evil, what confidence is ours. What hope! What a glorious Light shows us the way. Yes, indeed, because of Jesus have a Very, Merry Christmas!
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
It has been wisely said that if we do not learn from history we are doomed to re-live it! Students of biblical theology and church history are aware of, (and concerned about) old theological debates that are raising their heads once again. The liberalism of the late 1800’s and 1900’s, that challenged and changed important Scriptural understanding and emphasis, is once again becoming the topic of the day. Once again we have “believers” and “unbelievers”, debating and accusing one another. The questions are about the veracity of the Old Testament, the conflict between creation and science, the incredulity of harsh acts of divine judgment contradicting divine love. This time there is the issue of biblical morality, bizarre sexual diversity and the validity of the Ten Commandments, etc., etc.
Evangelical fundamentalism, though now in decline, has for the most part adopted the “seeker sensitive” mind-set. The ambition to be a relative church in modern times is driving methodology, style, music, dress, biblical authority and emphasis or the lack of it. The point seems to be God, pastors and preaching must be made more appealing and “with it” to be considered successful. Negativity, generally, is considered to be a turn-off, while positivity is considered to be attractive and invitational. Biblical authority, obedience, morality, purity, holiness, separation and judgment must be toned down, made more acceptable and palatable. Frankly, these things are choking life, meaning, purpose and power out of the church! The observation is correct, “The church has become so relative, it is irrelative.”
The Apostle Peter has given us valuable instruction for a time like this. Read carefully: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied (Old Testament!) of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look. Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy for I am holy’.”
“And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God . . . But the word of the Lord abides forever, and this is the word which was preached to you.” (I Peter 3 -25)
The “word” Peter refers to is the Old Testament without which much of the New Testament would be difficult to understand. The Old Testament stories declare to us the mighty acts of God, His authority over heaven and earth, and His essential role in all of history. We learn how He longs for a people who seek for Him and who willingly obey Him. He wants a people who demonstrate His goodness, loving kindness, faithfulness, wisdom and truth. He painstakingly anoints and builds leaders who follow and fear Him and who become His voice to all who will hear. He honors and blesses obedience and judges disobedience – sometimes drastically. In many miraculous ways He shows His Sovereignty over creation and mankind. In the most fascinating stories, including tragic and horrific ways, we learn about the presence and awfulness of sin. Without God mankind sinks into depravity, violence, rebellion and evil of every kind. Over and over again He raises a servant, a voice speaking truth, calling to repentance, wisdom, guidance, blessing and hope. Todays news media report similar stories of corrupt, wayward people who still think they can live without God, go their own way, create their own reality and escape the consequences. The false gods of science, hedonism, philosophy and human ingenuity are worshiped and claimed as possible solutions in the pursuit of happiness. Their consistent failure drives new efforts, spawning greater and even worse depravity.
An historic voice from God gives a critical answer to our desperate need, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord , and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me empty, without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will calp their hands. Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up; and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up. And it will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.'” (Isaiah 55:6-13)
In a floundering world such as ours, never has it been more important that we read with faith and understanding God’s Word, both Old and New Testaments! And that we allow Christ Jesus, by His Spirit, to “work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Can you think of a time when so many things were going wrong? Politically, economically, financially, morally, spiritually, educationally, socially, philosophically, legally, environmentally, nationally, etc., we face a wave, if not a tsunami, of disorder and chaos. Too many things seem out of control with new complexities added weekly. Understanding the times in which we live, we acknowledge that “the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” So the follower of Christ Jesus must run to the Scriptures and its critical, righteous principles to find understanding, peace and hope. Our personal safety is the whole armor of God, every piece speaks of a work of Christ in our heart and life. Ultimately, our longing is for the coming again of Jesus to be the Sovereign Commander and Chief of all that is. He will not rest until His destiny is fulfilled – to be the King of kings and Lord of lords. What peace and security all of this gives in troubled times like these.
There is something I miss that once served me well in troubled times: the words and tunes of great hymns that anchored and encouraged my mind in sleepless nights and trying days. Because we do not sing them anymore I have trouble remembering their words. Once upon a time we sang many hymns so repeatedly and enthusiastically they filled our memory banks. Right now, for these times, I choose “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” It focusses, fixes and anchors my thoughts on the presence, greatness and purpose of God in troubled times. (I have made bold the words deserving our meditation.) Sing, read and memorize its uplifting words:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing;
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing:
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing;
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He,
Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The Prince of Darkness grim-we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go, this moral life also:
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
That hymn with those words, and that understanding of God, written by Martin Luther, birthed the Protestant Reformation that saved Christianity from a dark and dismal hour in church history. It helped to bring wisdom, direction and hope to a dying, misguided religion. Send Your Spirit to revive and reform us again, Lord Jesus!
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Thirty five years ago the Government chose to do nothing to limit or stop abortions in Canada. Since then an estimated 3.4 million babies have been killed here, and another 63 million in the United States. Tragic as those numbers are, they could be much higher if the truth was fully known. The vast majority of these abortions were for personal convenience of one kind or another. All of us can look back on mistakes made and whose consequences stayed with us, disturbing our peace or hindering our future well-being. Even when correctives were made, and the cleansing of forgiveness was offered and received, our memories remained. A sleepless night brought out of the darkness those disturbing thoughts of past failures. But surely, no amount of time, correctives or explanation could ever remove the pain of having purposely, selfishly, crushed the life and potential of a child, our very own flesh and blood.
The medical profession and sociologists are expressing concern over the dramatic increase of depression and anxiety among us. This was happening before the pandemic plagued us, or inflation and shortages threatened us, or international and local violence frightened us. In fact, it was obvious during the best of times economically and of opportunity. The real problems seem to be emotional, relational and, yes, spiritual. Add to the madness of immorality, dishonesty, corruption, violence and self-centeredness the curse of guilt from abortion and its finality, and one begins to understand what the prophet Isaiah said: “The wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet and its waters cast up refuse and mud. ‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.'”
Our culture is being overwhelmed with absurdities. No rational person, wanting to make sense out of what is going on in the Western World, can sort things out in a meaningful way: racism, its rejection of the oneness and uniqueness of humanity; abortion and homosexuality, the termination of one’s lineage; euthanasia, the termination of influence; and transgenderism with its denials, confusion and deception. These evils are rooted in atheism, the belittlement or outright rejection of God Almighty, His sovereignty, creation, purpose and order of all that is. The Apostle Paul describes it correctly, “If our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” There is no way one can be a follower of our Creator God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus, and at the same time participate in the acts of depravity increasingly marking this age. The darkness of sin has enveloped much of our society. That deeply grieves and truly frightens the informed and faithful follower of Christ Jesus for it spells judgment!
Is there hope? Hear the Apostle: “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not despairing.” In spite of how increasingly hopeless things appear to be in our culture, God has not been blind-sided; He will have the last word! We do have the Holy Scriptures warning, teaching and guiding us in how to think, discern and live as lights in this darkness. Cling to it and live by it. Listen to the Spirit’s interpretation and obey.
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Within the last fifty years our political leaders have chosen to approve, then support, to celebrate, and now to propagate homosexuality and its various expressions and by-products. What began as an issue of denial and abuse of civil rights for a small minority, has turned into a militant demand for broad public acceptance with special privileges. Nothing less than equality of social status in all the rights of passage is acceptable to them. Strangest of all, is the effort to use the public school system to brainwash our children. Of profound concern is the recent Government BillC-4 which bans what they call “conversion therapy”. Conversion therapy is defined as any effort to declare heterosexuality as normal and exclusive. The Bible affirms heterosexuality as an act of God for the wellbeing and propagation of humanity. To teach or guide such thinking to anyone under eighteen has now been designated by government as wrong, even criminal. Deeply concerning for some of us is that no room has been made for the exception and protection of religious freedom normally granted in matters of morality.
Millions of God-fearing Canadians are being held hostage by a small minority with government support whose chosen lifestyle violates thousands of years of accepted moral behaviour. It is incomprehensible that our government now threatens with jail sentences those who fear God and who seek to follow the dictates of Scripture in word and deed, even in their role as parents or pastors. That is unprecedented in our history and in that of most of the Western World. A huge step has been taken in the direction of divine judgement, well documented in Scripture and history.
What is most concerning to the faithful follower of Christ Jesus and the student of Scripture is that our government and political representatives have the gall to brazenly challenge God’s laws and His people, in direct and open violation of Scripture such as Genesis 1-2, the Ten Commandments and Romans 1:16-32! The widespread accommodation and celebration of homosexuality and the trans-gender issues are a blatant attack on the creative work, design and purpose of God Almighty in Creation.
There have always been people who live outside the will of God, choosing rather to make their own rules and to satisfy their own lusts. At one time or another, all grapple with temptation, failure and rebellion against the will and ways of God. The consequences have left us wounded, ashamed, humbled and, hopefully, with repentance. The immense love of God, and His gracious gift of forgiveness through Jesus, provides hope and cleansing. Jesus came, and now lives, to declare God’s love for us and to show us the way of victory over our sins. His gift of love teaches us to love one another whatever our state. Nothing trumps God’s love! But, that love leaves no room for sin to continue. Sin violates all that He stands for, and must not be approved by any of us.
It should not surprize us that we are in the moral state that allows such evil legislation to be considered, let alone passed. “The wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” When it is not confronted, sin snowballs! To our shame, the church of Christ and His followers have not spoken as loudly, consistently nor as clearly as they should have over the years. We have not chosen wise political leaders nor held them to account for their decisions. Worst of all, we have not demonstrated sufficiently Christian love and the attractiveness of the path of righteousness.
Homosexual activists and our political leaders have thrown down a gauntlet challenging the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth. God needs no defense, but believers must display and defend God’s laws, His righteousness and His Sovereign authority. The cost to the faithful who reject the implications of this Bill could be high, but the consequences of indifference or failure will be devastating. Divine judgment is not a myth.
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Jesus’ birth and life were a vital part of my upbringing. I never cease to be grateful to God, and to my parents, that I was born into a family that worshiped God, acknowledged the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and honored the authority of the Scriptures. In our home and church Christmas was much more than decorations, gifts and feasting, good as all of that is. It was celebrated as a unique expression of God’s love in His gracious gift of Jesus. He was born to display and enable godliness, to expose sin and failure, and to provide forgiveness and cleansing. No one made an excuse for its widespread acceptance or celebration.
We grew up knowing that God truly loved us and sent His Son to die for us, thereby paying the penalty for our sin. His birth, death and resurrection proclaimed the depths of that love, and His glorious victory over sin, death and the grave. What a powerful and life-transforming truth! In my family the Bible with its stories, commands and dictates formed our thoughts and guided our lifestyle and purpose for living. Its truths regularly read to us became the ground of our being, the motive for work and word. It is no wonder that five of the eight of us were in Christian ministry. We have all enjoyed a long, meaningful and rewarding life.
To be honest, as a youngster I did not always appreciate the meaning, disciplines and limitations biblical teachings demanded. Now, more mature, I look back on it with profound gratefulness. I thank God for the noble traditions emphasized and lived by our parents, church, family and friends. They gave direction to our thoughts, choices, footsteps, decisions and ministry. Sadly, much of today’s culture denies, belittles or questions the Judeo/Christian principles and values that once wisely marked our nation. As parents, grandparents and great grandparents (to nine darlings), we fear lest the negative influences that lead to moral decline and its widespread acceptance, cripple any of them. Things once too shameful to publicize in writ or word are now openly celebrated by many, even our political leaders. The consequences of such sin and error are always tragic. All of us need to pray every day that God would “work in us to will and to do His good pleasure.” Spiritual leaders must denounce immorality and call for repentance while we still can.
Christmas, as it is really meant to be, is a fresh opportunity to tell the story and to celebrate the truth of Jesus’ humble coming and its holy purpose. Tell yourself and your children, as best you can, the Biblical record. (Luke 1:41 to 2:40; Matthew 1:18 to 2:23; Isaiah 9:2 to 7.) Discover afresh the influential history of biblical principles that our fore-fathers built into our national story. It has helped make North America a favored continent. Affluence is not a noble goal in and of itself; neither is diversity or freedom. Righteousness is!! The Christmas story is all about Jesus. His first coming is the foundation of our historical and present blessings, and our future hope.
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Once again science has wowed us with amazing images of outer space. As skilled annalists study the magnificent pictures they seek to make sense of what they see. For them it is exciting to postulate the meaning of it all. For ordinary people like most of us it is awe inspiring. The vastness, color, beauty, strangeness, orderliness, the inconceivable distance assigned to it is breath-taking, even overwhelming. There is mystery and potential in all of it.
The men and women of science have once again outdone themselves in skill and success. They must be allowed their moment of glory and their privilege of interpretation and speculation. At the same time the people of God must hold firmly and humbly to the declaration of Scripture: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Notice what the Bible affirms, and science is verifying; there are heavens – more than one, more than ours. And, there is but one earth – ours!
While affirming science for its incredible accomplishments, we, who are in Christ Jesus and who have been presented to God as His children and made His ambassadors, must boldly declare and celebrate our faith in God Almighty. He is the Sovereign Lord of the universe and its Creator. We must hold tenaciously to the authority of His Word, the Bible. Anything science declares that diminishes His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence must be questioned and set aside for further verification. The authority of His Word must be honored and affirmed as truth, even if it might appear to clash with the scientist’s speculations. Time will tell!
Never has it been more important that we, who believe in God and His Word, hold strongly to the creation statement and the chapters that follow it: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. . . .” Sponsored by the evil one, the attacks on God’s creative acts are many. Like it or not, the present day acceptance of homosexuality is not just a violation of God’s commands and common sense, it is a blatant attack on creation and on God’s essential purpose and role for humanity. Its wide acceptance as a legitimate lifestyle is not only an offense to God, it has spawned the tragic confusion around gender identification, etc. With broad acceptance of homosexuality has come the collapse of many moral values and social norms.
It is impossible for a follower of Christ, and a believer in the uniqueness of God’s creation, to make any of this compatible with Scripture and the purpose of God Almighty for mankind. The biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah is there for a reason as are the Ten Commandments!
Cherish the Genesis record, teach it to your children, and preach it from the pulpit. Do all you can to know what is being taught about gender issues in public education, and graciously protest any effort to violate truth, public decency and common sense. We must boldly hold to this essential truth or moral, spiritual and social chaos will increase and eventually bring us to destruction. Never dare to defy the Almighty nor to reject His saving work by Christ Jesus!
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
An alien is someone strange because, he/she belongs to another philosophy, lifestyle or allegiance and thus is different. The follower of Christ Jesus has increasingly become an alien in most of the Western world. Our allegiance to God and to the authority of Scriptures, the Bible, makes it difficult for us to fully align ourselves with many of our peers politically, culturally, educationally, philosophically and even spiritually. If we are true to our calling in Jesus, committed to the Word of God, and knowledgeable of its teachings, we must sense the disconnect that is increasingly happening.
It is not that we, the followers of Christ, have changed our thinking or found new paths. The common person has moved away from the Judeo-Christian principles that once governed behavior and consensus. In my lifetime much of society has chosen moral and philosophical positions dramatically different from biblical principles. Things took a turn in the late 50’s with the issue of femininity, abortion, then homosexuality and now a whole range of gender issues. These changes are forcing the God-fearing, Christ-following person into the status of an alien.
What is happening is concerning, not to say frightening, because it puts our nation at odds with the Sovereign Lord of the Universe and His word. The followers of Jesus and their churches were once considered guardians of the Judeo-Christian principles. Now, we are aliens with almost no voice and very little influence for good. There is plenty of evidence both biblically and historically that we are on a path to divine judgment. Little to nothing is being done to correct the hold that immorality has been given in our nation, even down to the children. We are making laws to teach, protect and institutionalize what is morally wrong. Wanting public approval even some churches, holding to a misguided view of God’s amazing love, have chosen to deny His righteous judgment on sin. It is hard to believe how quickly and widely acceptance of wrong, and its celebration, have been normalized. We have learned nothing from Sodom and Gomorrah.
If the evangelical church is to survive it must teach and build afresh strong foundations of truth. Starting with creation, our pulpits must remind us of the sacredness of male and female, and the purpose, value and beauty of marriage and family. We must learn how to trace through history the devastation that began with the Fall and whose roots bear damaging fruit to this very day. Depravity is not a theory, it is a theology! Right and wrong must be defined by biblical truth, not human behavior or public opinion.
We must double down on what was once the purpose of Sunday school, to teach our children to know and to believe the Word and ways of the living God. The Ten Commandments need to be explained and memorized. The authority and oversight of God over His creation and world must be declared. The relationship between sin, rebellion, the grave, judgement and saving grace must sound forth from the pulpits of our land, for the “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
In my annual journey through the Scriptures I was captivated by a promise of God to Israel as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 8:6-9 says: “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper”
Is it not interesting to note that listed among the essential ingredients necessary to sustain life, like the food stuffs, are iron and copper? Iron and copper would be important to them for all kinds of things from household utensils, to construction, to farming instruments, to weapons of war, etc. Among the promises of God for their wellbeing was the gracious provision in the earth of iron and copper. All they had to do was to mine it, fire it and mold it.
Powerful forces are challenging the widespread use of fossil fuels, especially in North America and Europe. Electricity seems to be the favored choice for replacement. The problem is that electricity is a secondary element. It depends upon a primary source for its existence – things like sun, wind, water and, of course, the fire of fossil fuel. Should not all these things be treated as gifts of God to us, for our wellbeing? What would our country and life be without it? In its own special way, the inhabited world is counted as blessed and secure by the amount and accessibility of these elements, but especially fossil fuels.
It must be strange to God our Creator, and it should be to all of us, that the incredibly abundant gift of fossil fuels should suddenly be labelled as dangerous and evil. In the name of survival, common sense, and environmental concern, how can we banish fossil fuels? Are they not gifts of God given for our wellbeing and survival? They are important building blocks of our economy.
Of course, their use requires some scientific applications of control. When and where their usage creates problems, then we should pray, study and pursue with diligence how to manage and control them in the best possible way. Much has already been done in that regard, but obviously, the scientists and other creative beings have more work to do for the wellbeing of us all. If fossil fuels are a gift of God to us, but somehow dangerous to our environment, then God must expect us to find solutions to control or subdue them. Actually, our climate, survival and wellbeing demands it!
It might be wise for us to drop the term, “climate control” in exchange for a much more feasible project of “garbage control”. Think it, or not, God controls the climate. I think He expects us to manage garbage, and lake, river and ground pollution, to the best of our ability. He might also be interested in what we intend to do with millions upon millions (and countless tons) of worn out batteries planned for the automobile industry twenty years from now!! I have not mentioned thousands of acres of worn out panels and turbines for the erratic creation of electricity.
There is a reason why the Bible repeatedly records God’s words describing Himself as “the God of heaven and earth. He is in charge of His creation. . . . Just some thoughts to momentarily distract us from the man-made chaos of Ukraine and Russia. It, too, needs our earnest prayers.
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
It is not always easy for us to understand the fierce judgment of God upon others, or upon an entire nation, even nations. But both Old and New Testaments have some strong things to say about the harsh dealings of the God upon those who perpetrate evil – the godless. Much of it has to do with protecting or punishing His people for disobedience, but sometimes it goes beyond that, due to the godlessness of a person or nation. There are numerous incidents of judgment in Scripture. Some Psalms especially speak to this, as do Peter’s letters and, most starkly, John’s The Revelation. In dangerous times like these it behooves us to think, pray, expect and act with understanding and wisdom.
Not since Hitler has there been a world leader as evil and heartless as is Russia’s Putin and his counselors. Under Stalin, many of the Russian people accepted atheism, the denial of God’s existence and rule. Millions of people died under his wicked regime. Now Putin is walking in Stalin’s shoes and the Ukraine people, and even some Russian people, are suffering unimaginable devastation and death. Putin is not the Anti-Christ we shall one day encounter, but he may well be the one who sets the stage for this winsome, but evil, peace-maker. He will first bring order out of chaos, and political solutions to global problems. But, once accepted and in power he will show his ugly side, and, as bad as Putin is, it will be even worse!
As followers of Christ Jesus how do we think, pray and act in times like these. Psalm 94 gives us some clear and important guidance: “O Lord , God of vengeance; God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render recompense to the proud. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; all who do wickedness vaunt themselves. They crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans. And they have said, ‘The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.’ Pay heed, you senseless among the people; and when will you understand, stupid ones? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, even He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath. Blessed is the man You discipline, O Lord, the man You teach from Your law; You grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. . . . . (Read the rest of Psalm 94, and with it, Psalm 46.)
We are right to pray for the elimination of Putin, for an end to the destruction of the Ukraine, protection and provision for the displaced, and for peace in Europe. (Many of us know Bill Finnemore who is presently fronting a ministry for the Alliance in Poland, where he and Diane once worked. Pray for them) We are right to examine our own political leaders, their rules and behavior, in the light of Scripture. They, too, for the common good need to be held accountable to the laws of a holy and righteous God, ruler of heaven and earth. “Righteousness exalts a nation, sin is a reproach to any people.”
It has been a long time since world affairs have been so troubled and uncertain. The voice of the Church must be heard with the clarity of truth, in humble repentance, and in exemplary talk and walk in righteousness. We must prepare ourselves to withstand the wrath of the ungodly. We must learn what it means to shine as lights in a dark world where pressure to be silent abounds. Increasingly evil reigns and, temporarily, seems to be winning. But, study again Ephesians 6 and put on the whole armor of God. Stand firm, dear saints, and remain standing! Fill your heart and mind with that blessed hope that encourages when all seems lost: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
A fellow pilgrim, Arnold Reimer
Finishing Well 