The Call to Forgive
Hi Friends,
Today I will be writing about the third part of the seven part vision. We are in the end times, and God wants us to realize that fact. We are to live every day for the Lord and now is no exception. Please read this in its entirety, because you may otherwise come to a wrong conclusion. This message is about unforgiveness.
The Vision
In the vision my view is at the end of a sloped driveway. I am facing away from the house and looking in the direction of the street. The driveway is to my right. There is water sheeting down the driveway. The street is already flooded about six to eight inches deep.
Flooding is a fairly common event in certain parts of our nation and around the world. Flooding from a Biblical perspective represents judgment, as in the great flood during Noah’s day.
The Lord was greatly disappointed in mankind. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man, animals, and creeping things and bird of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” Genesis 6:5-7
So the Lord caused the rain to pour and the underground waters to spring up and cover the earth with water. Heavy rains fell for forty days and forty nights so that the waters rose to cover every mountain top by more than twenty feet. The earth was flooded for a hundred and fifty days, during which time all life on the land was destroyed.
At the time of Noah, wickedness had reached a climax where God’s patience with man had run out. We are living in a similar time, when wickedness is ever increasing. And why is this? Over the last several decades, the church has had less influence in the lives of Americans. The pleasures of sin are constantly marketed in the media, and made popular by the entertainment industry. Movies, music and entertainers promote sinful lifestyles with comedy and romance enticing the next generation to consider the rewards of sin. Young boys and men are fed a constant diet of corruption, violence, and power via video games, television and movies.
The temptation and the opportunity to sin is everywhere. Right now in our nation wickedness is accepted and applauded by some. However we see their folly for: “Their glory is in their shame.” Philippians 3:19
We, the church, need to hear the call of God. We need to step forward to meet the challenges of reaching a sinful world. We are to present the gospel and be a voice for righteousness. Healing, restoration and brotherly love are greatly needed in our nation. If we do not wake up and respond to the Lord’s call, we will be held accountable. “He who is not with me is against me. And whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
It is the presence of God in our lives, and his word, that creates a desire within our hearts to please him and to fear him. Sin is restrained as we restrain ourselves. Others benefit from our efforts to make a difference in the world and especially here at home. God wants us to be a light and a blessing to those around us.
The Lord spoke to Abraham, and said: “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:17-18
We are blessed through Abraham’s offspring: Jesus, the Messiah, Lord, God, Savior and King!
God promises to bless all nations that turn to him in repentance.
Our nation has been blessed because of our forefathers who acknowledged Jesus as God, and through faith in him dedicated this nation to the Lord. “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:5-6
We are still reaping love, provision and blessing from Almighty God, because of the faith and obedience of our forefathers. And we are also blessed by those who currently live to be faithful to God and obedient to his word. We are blessed by those who lift up our nation in prayer each day, praying for our president and all the governing authorities. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3
But we must also see that while there are those who are praying continually, there is a large number of people in our nation who are not living for God and who are destined for destruction.
But this is not God’s heart for these people. He wants none to be lost. “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
So God brings discipline in the form of judgment, so that he can reveal himself and his mercy to those who would turn to him in repentance. I want to share an important part of scripture, simply because so many people do not know or understand God’s heart regarding judgment.
“‘I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,’ declared the Lord. ‘I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me.’ declares the Lord. ‘Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me.’ declares the Lord. ‘I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have returned to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you Israel, prepare to meet your God.’” Amos 4:6-12
It is God’s desire for everyone to know him, and to desire him above all things. This is why he disciplines us, as his children. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens every son he receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
We will someday stand before God and give account to him for every word and every action that has come from our hearts. There are a good many people who are oblivious to this fact. Those who have never known him, have no fear of God. They do not recognize sin as sin, even though scripture tells us that everyone is without excuse. “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that man is without excuse.” Romans 1:20
Yet, these people do not consider their ways or restrain themselves from evil. Without the knowledge of God, or the fear of God, they do as they please.
Over the past decades, each generation pushes the boundaries of morality a little further. What would have caused an uproar a generation ago, is tolerated today. The Church has always been the one that upholds Biblical moral standards. But today, the statistics show clearly that the church has been influenced by the world. These statistics show that the church is no different than the world. Even within the walls of the church, there is no fear of God. Morality is on the decline, and sin is prospering.
We are at an important juncture in our nation. It is only a few short months before our national election. And the church is still sleeping. It has been made known that 25 million Christians did not vote in the last presidential election. Why is the church willfully ignoring their civic duty to vote? Do they not care for the welfare of their fellow citizens or have no love for our country or our freedoms to cast a vote to protect it? What could possibly be their rationale? Are they misled into believing that their vote does not count? Do they believe that the church should not get involved with politics? If our voices are not heard, if we do not cast a vote to protect our freedoms, then we may surely lose them!
Are Christians too high and mighty, too arrogant? Is it beneath them to vote? Do they think that separation of Church and State means to not participate in voting? Our forefathers were Christian. They viewed these rights as sacred, given by God. The Lord is very concerned with every aspect of life. Our laws form the framework for us to function as a society. God is very much concerned with this.
Just this week the Supreme Court ruled to support the Church’s right to exercise their faith in two important ways: First the courts ruled that Churches and those who have a moral objection to providing contraception and abortion to their employees under the Affordable Care Act, (Obama Care), are exempt. Hallelujah! And Churches have the right to hire those who share a common faith. They are not obligated to hire people whose beliefs run counter to church doctrine. Another Hallelujah!
God is pleased with these rulings. He wants us to live in liberty, to be able to practice our faith with no hindrance. When we participate in elections, we can change the outcomes. We can choose God-fearing men and women for public office who will appoint other God-fearing men and women as justices for the highest court in the land, as well as judges for the lower courts. How important is this, that those who judge, will judge fairly, and uphold truth, justice, freedom and the Constitution as it was written? So please do your civic duty to make an informed and prayerful choice this upcoming election.
Returning to the Vision:
The vision concerns a flood. It was just beginning to flood. The street had only 6-8 inches. Yet as we all know, the longer it rains, the more the rivers swell, and the greater it will flood. Since the vision was of an American neighborhood, I believe that the vision is for us, here in the states.
We have had terrible days, these past few months, with the Coronavirus, the lock-downs, the social distancing, the economic shutdown, and civil unrest in our major cities--rioting, burning, looting, destroying property, and tearing down statues of national heroes. Anarchy has escalated into rampant shootings and murders in our cities. This is lawlessness. It is rebellion. It is not a “love fest,” as one mayor described a captured portion of her city. These well known groups promoting anarchy are part of a destructive political movement designed to remove and replace our government and our way of life.
These events were destined to happen, because of the socialist philosophies and ideologies that have been taught in our colleges and universities. These destructive ideologies are diametrically opposed to free enterprise and democracy. It was only a matter of time, before this upheaval would surface.
One generation does not accept the ideology of the other. There has been this underlying current flowing in our nation for some time. The universities who once taught that debate and the exchange of ideas is healthy— has been changed. Now it is tolerance that is preached by the left, to traditionally, conservative people. But do they tolerate others having a different opinion? I think not! “Tolerate us! Tolerate our views! You must go along with our agenda!”
But they themselves are intolerant. If you disagree with them—you are deemed a racist! You are those regarded by them as “deplorable.” This intolerance is really intimidation. This is the message: “Go along with our plans, our ideas, or you will be destroyed!”
INTIMIDATION IS FEAR.
They use fear to control people.
They want to hamstring the economy to undermine the incumbent’s re-election.
They want schools to remain closed so that mothers cannot return to work, and so impede the economic recovery.
They use the mainstream news to promote their party, and its values.
They use political power to hinder the current administration, and minimize its successes.
They use the social media giants who are aligned with the left’s ideology and agenda, to censor conservative groups, declaring their opinions to be “hate speech.”
They use the entertainment world, aligned with the left’s ideology, to influence and promote the spread of socialism and leftist ideals.
The socialist philosophy is woven into the curriculum K-12 of some government schools. Perversity is being formally taught to even small children, corrupting their minds with things that are considered abominable to my generation.
They teach a different history. They teach a different morality. They teach children to not respect the flag, or the nation that it represents.
The history they teach is slanted. They do not instill a love of country, for they are globalists. They do not teach our children that our founding fathers were noble in character, devout in faith, and God-fearing in action, but instead they describe them solely as “slave-owners” and worthy of repudiation.
The history they teach does not give respect to all the independent and hard working individuals who started with nothing and were able to create great businesses, and enterprises. Inventions, products, medical break-throughs and advances in food production have all enhanced the lives of our citizens. These great men and women of American history, helped America to become the preeminent world power.
But what do the socialist/communist ideals ultimately bring? Poverty, enslavement, depression, and fear. This always leads to a totalitarian government that does not allow freedom of speech or freedom of religion. Their ideology is in direct opposition to our faith in the Lord. That is why the left wanted to keep churches closed. Even California’s governor just told the Church to not allow singing!
What do you say to that? What did the Lord say to the Pharisees, who did not like the people praising him? “And he answered and said unto them, ‘I tell you that, If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.’” Luke 19:40
So if the church is being attacked by our governmental leaders, and at the same time, coming under God’s judgment, what are we to do?
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
We have to turn from our wicked ways. You can see by what I have written so far in this post that it is rather easy to see the sin in someone else, or the sin in a group of people. But we must be able to see our own sin.
There is an evangelist, Ray Comfort, who teaches on how to reach others for the Lord. He believes that a person must be able to see and acknowledge his sin before he can see his need for a savior. So he first helps a person to see sin as a transgression against God’s law—the Ten Commandments. When we break even one law—we separate ourselves from God. We deserve death, but because of God’s love expressed in the Lord’s death upon a cross, we can live! Hallelujah!
When we realize that we have sinned against God, we experience great remorse over what we have done or over what we have said. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings the conviction of the heart and leads us to repent.
But when our pride rises up and our heart hardens we may rationalize or justify our actions. This generally happens when the sin is unforgiveness: “They deserved it!”
Unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment are great sins that come between us and God. “If you do not forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will not forgive you your sins.” Matthew 6:15
So we the church, and anyone else for that matter, must not hold others in contempt. We may watch the news and get angry with those who do not agree with us. But we are not to condemn them. We are to pray for them! We have to forgive! If we do not forgive these people, the Lord will not forgive us!
Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
He prayed for those who beat him, spit on him and crucified him. The Lord knew that they were spiritually blind. They could not see him as the Son of God. They could not appreciate who he was. But it was the Father’s plan to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Who are we to hold an offense against our fellow countrymen? Even though we believe they are causing harm to our nation and its people, God’s command is to forgive. We must pray in earnest, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”
If we do not pray for them, or dissuade them from going their own way, and persuade them to leave their sinful lives, they may go to hell. In my last post I quoted this scripture, but it is so important, that I will include it once again:
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 3:17-19
So let us forgive. Let us pray and seek God and repent from OUR wicked ways. Then the Lord will hear our prayer, forgive our sins and heal our land! That is reason enough to sing and to shout “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” We do not want the rocks to cry out in our place!
God is good; he is faithful; he is perfect! Please share this important message with your friends and your prayer partners. And may God give you his peace! Be blessed!
