Hope Is Found

Hope in times of trouble is a very welcome thing. I witnessed someone literally finding hope this past weekend. It was wonderful.

A group of us had gathered at a park after the funeral of a mutual friend - Jesse. We were telling "Jesse stories" - tales of how our 35-year-old friend had changed our lives. Some of us were doing better than others while all of us missed our friend.

It was a wonderful time. God had blessed us with a beautiful day. I was sitting at a picnic table with my friend Larry while three ladies sat at the other end, talking. It was a much-needed time of healing for all.

Then one of the ladies, Claire, got up from the table and, as she did, she looked down and saw a shiny rock lying on the ground. She stooped to pick it up because it had some writing on it. It said "HOPE".

Wow. What a perfect message to receive following a funeral! Certainly, hope is something that is in short supply these days. But someone had delivered "hope" for us before we even arrived on the scene. That hope was found and gratefully received.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

Jesus in our blessed hope. "An ever-present help in times of trouble" - Psalm 46:1

What a blessing hope is when we are walking through a dark time in life. Hope is something the world needs right now. Hope is waiting to be found, just like that rock was. Jesus IS that hope. And interestingly enough, Jesus is also our Rock.

Look at the picture of the rock again, more closely this time. The word "hope" is actually engraved into the stone. In other words - HOPE is found IN the rock. Jesus is that rock. You CAN find hope in Him today. Look around.

Rock of Ages

The Image of God

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him." - Genesis 1:27

We watch our news feed and comment from the safety of our bunkers. "How dare they." "What an idiot." "That's just wrong." "Black lives matter!" "ALL lives matter!!" We're forgetting one very important thing. We, and the people we comment about, were all made in the image of God.

Rioters, police, politicians, looters, terrorists, news reporters, black, white, you name it - ALL were created in the image of God.

We tend to forget that these days. We get all wrapped up in OUR beliefs that we fail to acknowledge the beliefs of others. Whether right or wrong, we all have things that we believe to be true.

But what should the Christian do when he or she encounters a Muslim? Honestly or anyone else with a different point of view? I think we must listen with our eyes and speak with our hearts.

"You'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar." That's what my grandpa used to say. Jesus told us that we must love one another. That's the honey - love. It was SO important a concept to Jesus that He said it three times in two verses.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:14-15

What does "love" look like on Facebook or Twitter? People get bashed on social media over a simple comment they have made. Total strangers then join in on the attack because they disagree. That's not love. So, what DOES love look like? How should we respond?

• Don't comment right away. Maybe the other person will think twice about their comment and delete it.
• If you do comment, apply some honey. Comment in love or ask a respectable question.
• When you post something, be considerate of others opinions. Or don't post at all.

We aren't going to change anyone's mind by getting up in their face about something. Our biggest weapon in any battle should be prayer. Do we pray about something before we post it? Honestly, I seldom do. I need to change that.

"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." - James 3:5-6

We must love one another because all too often we forget that we are arguing with and bashing the image of our God.

Wide Eyed - Nicole Nordeman

Beliefs

We all have things we believe to be true. Social media is filled with people stating their particular belief system - often opposing another's beliefs. So who is right? Is anybody?

What we believe to be true comes from deep within us. That's why we get so defensive when someone opposes our beliefs.

Some people think burning the American flag is wrong. Some believe it is a freedom of speech to burn it. Who is right?

The wearing of masks is another hot button issue these days. Some say we should wear them all the time while others say we should not wear them at all. Who's right?

We form our individual belief systems as we grow up. It's kind of like grocery shopping. We start out with an empty shopping cart and we walking down the aisle of ideas and start filling it up with things we believe in.

In this age of Covid-19, contact tracing is a big thing. Trying to go back in time to trace where someone may have caught the virus, and looking sideways to see who you may have given it to.

If we take each of our beliefs and contact trace them back to their origin, where do our beliefs come from?

In the case of wearing masks perhaps it is the CDC or the government that is at the root of our beliefs. We trust them. On the other side of the coin perhaps it is an individual freedom issue or a belief that most masks don't keep you from catching the virus. It's what we believe.

Where does our belief in God come from?  The Bible says we are drawn to Him. It also says we are called by God. Some people say we have no choice in the matter of our faith. That's called predestination. Others say we must choose to follow God, a free will stance.

We humans sure like to complicate things.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

Jesus has said that HE is the truth. Is that even possible? He also says that we must believe in Him or face certain death. And if we believe in Jesus we will receive eternal life. Is that the truth or a bribe?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

The contact tracing of our faith takes us back to the Bible. That is where God speaks to us. It says in the Bible that God cannot lie. Lying is a sin (9th Commandment). God cannot sin. Therefore, everything God says is true. "The truth" is an amazing place to start a belief system.

We had a discussion this week about baptism - infant baptism vs believer's baptism. Which is right? The answer is neither. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is what matters. How can I say that? How do I know that is true?

"I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one (Jesus) who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11

We MUST base our belief system in the truth. Otherwise we will be living a lie. We must be sure we are standing in the truth. Then we must stand firm. Jesus IS "The Truth" and the Truth (Jesus) will set us free. You can believe THAT!

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." - Ephesians 4:14

Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac

Believer's Baptism

Were you baptized as a baby? I was. At least I think I was. I don't really remember. And what did it do? I don't really remember that either. So what good was it? Let's go to the experts!

The Catholic Church has some interesting thoughts. There is a link at the bottom of this story where they will tell you exactly what they think baptism is. The funny thing is they start out their definition by stating  that other churches with different baptism beliefs are wrong.

I wonder what infant baptisms look like in the age of Covid-19. Two masked people handing their vulnerable healthy baby to an unmasked priest. Doesn't sound very smart to me. And, I'm just guessing here but, most infant baptisms have been against the baby's will. But I'm getting off track.

I was at a baptism yesterday. It was great. The pastor asked each person if the truly placed their faith in Jesus and that they have freely chosen to follow Him. All confessed their faith and were indeed baptized. Isn't that the way it should be?

All through the book of Acts, when the Apostles were spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, it repeated says that people believed and were baptized. Not that people were baptized and then came to faith.

"But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." - Acts 8:12

It is really the baptism of the Holy Spirit that matters. Baptism by water is only symbolic. And what about the thief on the cross, hanging next to Jesus. He was never baptized. At least not that we know of.

The baptism I was at yesterday featured two men, a woman, and a young pre-teen girl. They all love Jesus and have given themselves freely to Him. Isn't that how it should be?

Infant Baptism - Catholic Answers

When We Know

I read a short little story a few days ago that I thought might be worth re-telling here. It is a story of sin, repentance, forgiveness and blessing. It is the story of Manasseh, King of Judah. But it is also the story of every human that has even lived.

Manasseh was not your typical boy growing up. He was the son of the king (Hezekiah) so he lived a pretty luxurious life. Naturally, as a teen, he rebelled against his parents like we all have. Unfortunately, it was also in his teen years that Manasseh became king of Judah.

Manasseh's rebellion against his father was massive,  undoing nearly everything his father had done. He was so out of control that God Himself intervened and had Manasseh carried of by the Assyrians and put in prison.

But prison was just what Manasseh needed. It was there that he repented and sought the Lord in prayer with all his heart. Manasseh humbled himself so greatly before the Lord that God heard his prayer and rescued Manasseh. From that moment on Manasseh lived a new life, devoted to doing what was right in the eyes of God.

Isn't that just like you and me? We rebel against God in our ignorance. But when we finally learn that God is real, as Manasseh did in verse 13, things change in a rather large way.

"And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. 11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. 12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God." - 2 Chronicles 33:10-13

That's the point we all need to arrive at. We need to KNOW that the Lord is God. But there is quite a large difference between knowing about God and allowing Him to BE God. We must obey rather than rebel, submit to God rather than become our own God.

Are we being obedient when we riot and burn our cities in the name of what WE believe? Who is the defiant one? The governor imposing his will on the people? Or the people defying their governor and worshipping God anyway?

God sees everything we do. He hears everything we say. Are our words worthy of God's hearing? Or are they displeasing to his ears?

All lives matter to God. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is "not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance." And we are not to take matters into our own hands and start punishing others in anyway we see fit. That's God's job. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." - Deuteronomy 32:35

Our job is to be like Manasseh, the repenting Manasseh. THEN God will hear us from heaven. THEN God will act. When we KNOW . . . that He is God.

Manasseh King of Judah

Thy Sting

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is thy sting?" - 1 Corinthians 15:55

Thy sting? Found it! It's right here in our hearts. Yesterday we all received the news that our friend Jesse J. Jankowski was dead.

Jesse James, Triple J,  whatever you called him, he was a good friend. But Jesse was also tormented in this life. Depression battled him nearly every single day.

The loss of his mom, his dad, and his grandpa, all took Jesse further and further down Depression Street. Not a good place to be on a dark, lonely night.

Jesse's one saving grace though, and it was just that, a grace that saves, was that he knew Jesus. "Praise Jesus!" or "Jesus bless!" were comments that always flowed from Jesse's lips.

This past spring I drove Jesse from his grandpa's house in Amherst to the place he was staying at near Madison. We talked, HE talked, about his struggle with drugs and his near death experiences with the same. Scary stuff.

But we also talked about God's grace. God sure has a lot of it. He keeps extending it to you and me and guys like Jesse.

If Jesse was with us today he'd be wanting to know if you knew Jesus or not. But he's not, so I will ask you on his behalf and to honor my friend.

Do you know Jesus? Is He Lord of your life? No sin is so big that God can't cover it with His grace and forgiveness. All you have to do is trust in Him. Jesus will change the path you are walking on - for your good and His glory.

Then you can spend your days wondering what it will be like to run into His arms to thank Him? You and I, we can only imagine what that will be like. But our friend Jesse already KNOWS! He knows exactly what it's like because he has already done it.

I can't wait to see you again, my brother. I am grateful that God has promised to take away all of our pain. A pain-free Jesse will bring tears to my eyes once again one day. But they will be tears, not of sorrow, but of joy.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, but blessed be the name if The Lord." - Job 1:21

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe

The Eyes Of The Lord

Eye of God nebula

Are you willing to change who you are and the things that you do in order to please God? For the Christian, the answer is, "Yes, Lord. Thy will be done."

I was reading in 2nd Chronicles this past weekend about King Hezekiah. He changed his entire country to please God. What would something like that look like today, I wondered.

Well, many people in this country wouldn't be very pleased. If we did the same things Hezekiah, and all of the kings "who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" did, what would that look like? Let's take a look at scripture and make a list.

2nd Chronicles 29 says that the temple doors were opened and fixed, the priests sanctified themselves and sacrifices were made to God. And the people rejoiced.

Well, that's a problem. We have no national temple of The Lord here. But we DO have places of worship. But, according to Hezekiah, all would have to be sanctified to The Lord. That would be a problem for those practicing Islam, Buddhism and any other false religion. Especially in light of 2 Chronicles 31.

"Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars - from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh - until they had utterly destroyed them all." - 2 Chronicles 31:1

All of the mosques and other places of worship not devoted to the One True God would not only become shut down but torn down as well.

Other kings "who did what was right in the sight of the Lord" have done their best to shut down other religions. Banned! Their temples torn down or burned. And all their practices were terminated like the sacrificing of their children. Could you imagine the uproar in the media if our government suddenly shut down all other religious institutions and banned the practice of abortion?

Yet, dare I say it, wouldn't that be wonderful? There would be a mighty struggle to be sure but God would be pleased and He would give us rest. Why? Because we would have done what was right in the eyes of The Lord. And He is our God.

Jogging With The Dead

There's jogging, and then there's zombie jogging. The first is how things SHOULD be. The second occurs when we become surrounded by our enemies, or those who think differently than we do.

A few stories ago we saw how Satan manipulated King David's mind and caused him to sin. That's an important discovery. Is Satan manipulating someone in YOUR life right now? Is it you?

We Christians have to be weary these days of things that distract us or try to manipulate us in some way. We have to be very discerning with what we allow to enter our minds and our hearts.

Our default switch should always be, "What does God's Word say about this?" or "What does God want me to do?"

Earlier this week Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate. That should scare just about everybody, including Joe. I will predict right here that Joe Biden will not make it through his four year term if elected.

Kamala, like Joe and every other left leaning politician, is anti-gun, pro abortion, and anti-Christian. You might say, "Gee Bob, how can you make such broad, sweeping statements like that? Joe's a Catholic, you know."

I would reply with, "He says he is, but then why did his priest not allow him to take communion? It was because of his pro-choice stance on abortion."

The majority of people won't dig deeply enough to find the truth. That's a problem in politics and it's a problem in most people's faith. They refuse to dig. Then they wind up living with what happens AFTER the election. AFTER Jesus returns.

"I have done my research. I have found what is true." - says me and says you. Our opinions won't count for much standing in front of God on Judgement Day. Only the truth will matter. God's truth.

No king is allowed to take control unless it is from God. Sometime God means it for good. Sometimes, however, God means it FOR our good and will allow a particular "king" to take power for a reason.

The way 2020 has gone this far, are you ready for the November election?

We who believe have great reason for hope in these last days before Christ's return. We have not been appointed to wrath! (1 Thes 5:9). Jesus wants us to be ready, He wants us not to be deceived. He has warned us of the things that will come, not so we become fearful, but so that we are prepared.

"As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains." - Matthew 24:3-8"

Are We Nearing The End? - Max Lucado
Kamala Harris' Catholic Problem

Bend The Spoon

Each of us lives in a world that is OUR reality. We each perceive the world through our own eyes and in our own way. But what happens when we find out that OUR reality is not really the truth?

I lived most of my life believing that I was master of my own domain. It was MY world and I was in charge of it. One day, however, I discovered that there was a bigger force in the universe besides my own free will. And my perception of reality changed.

We receive input into our reality all the time. Through our relationships, through the television, through social media. Are we sure the things we are inputting are true? Or is it just an opinion that we WANT to be true.

Everybody has an opinion about wearing masks. Some say yes, some say no. Should the schools open up? Should they stay closed? Are the protests peaceful? Or are they causing harm? Is there a God? Or do we just like to think there is?

The apostle Paul had his own world view. He was a rather staunch believer that what he thought was right, was right. Until he met someone on the road to Damascus. He met Jesus and his life was forever changed. His beliefs were changed. Why? Because he was confronted by the truth. Jesus.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

We must always seek the truth. Otherwise we will be living a lie. And Satan is the father of lies. Speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said this.

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:44

Always seek the truth no matter how life changing it becomes. Remember what Jesus said about the truth.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32

There Is No Spoon - The Matrix

Pulling Strings

How do we get into so much trouble? Do we intentionally screw up our lives or does someone else cause all our struggles? The answer to that last question can be yes to both parts.

I was reading 1st Chronicles 21 this weekend. You should too. It a great story about King David getting a little too big for his britches, as they say. He ordered a census of God's people. The only problem was God didn't order one.

"Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." - 1 Chronicles 21:1

Did you notice where is said that Satan "moved David" to count the people? Take note of that. Satan has the power to move people to do things. That's what Satan does. He tries to get us to do sinful things - often without consulting God at all. That's huge! Remember that fact the next time you watch the news.

So David ordered Joab to start the counting (v2). But Joab did something that every good friend should do. Joab questioned David's decision to his face.

"And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” - 1 Chronicles 21:3

David didn't listen. That's a shame because David is about to bring the wrath of God upon his people.

Verse 7 - "And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel."

Only then did David repent.

"So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” - 1 Chronicles 21:8

But David wasn't done screwing up yet. God let David chose his punishment. David chose poorly. God offered David three choices for punishment.

11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Choose for yourself, 12 either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord - the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” - 1 Chronicles 21:11-12

David chose the Sword of the Lord and an angel began destroying Israel with a plague. David pleaded with God for mercy and God eventually relented.

"As he (the angel) was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” - 1 Chronicles 21:15

This is a great lessons for us all to remember. Never do anything that is outside of God's will. Always seek to obey The Lord. When friends ask us if we are sure we want to do something, stop and think for a moment. Satan loves to pull our strings and he actually has the power to do so. Satan can make us do sinful things.

The next time we are considering doing something we must ask ourselves, "Is this of God? Or of Satan." Than pray for God's guidance.

The Saddest Thing

If you made a top ten list of saddest things in the world, what would be on it? I'm sure a sick pet would be on there somewhere. Or a sick relative or friend.

How about what's happening in our country right now. That's pretty sad. But the saddest thing of all, the thing that tops tops the list, many people won't even acknowledge. The lack of faith in Jesus by someone we love.

It's a given that we want to spend as much time as we can with our favorite people - sons, daughters, spouses, parents, special friends. But what if some of the people we love don't believe in Jesus? That relationship WILL come to an end when one of the two dies.

Faith in Jesus offers eternal life. It seems like a no-brainer to take God up on that offer. Eternal life, forgiveness of sin - what's not to like?!

We can't change people's minds for them. They have to do that for themselves. But we CAN love them. And love is a very powerful thing. "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

Can anything be more sad than looking at someone, knowing they soon will die and be gone forever, and knowing it could have been different, it didn't have to end?

Prayer, continued love, and continued witness, are the orders of the day for the Christian. Never stop. Never give up hope. God is long-suffering and so should we be.

It is not whether we get our loved ones to believe. That's not up to us. What matters most is that we tried. And that we accept the outcome either way because it is God's will, not ours.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17

"They replied, "Believe in the LORD Jesus, and you will be saved." - Acts 16:31

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9not by works, so that no one can boast."- Ephesians 2:8-9

Send In The Clowns

Something wasn't quite right. Something was missing. It was almost as if part of my world had changed somehow. And it had. Then it hit me. There were no smiles.

I stopped in to visit my old place of employment yesterday. It was the second day of work for these friends of mine after the governor of our fair state mandated the wearing of face coverings. Just about everybody was wearing a mask.

The people sounded normal - a little muffled perhaps - but I still recognized their voices. But their faces. Something was missing. It was like something out of a Twilight Zone episode.

The problem was that I couldn't see the facial expressions of my friends. I couldn't see their smiles. And that was it. Everyone was veiled behind their mask like the sun when it hides behind the clouds. The day, the workplace, their faces, were all diminished by the masks concealing their smiles.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Whether we wear masks or not, God sees behind any "false fronts" we may put up. God sees the heart. He knows the source of all our problems and all that troubles us from within.

Wearing a mask on our face for protection is not really any different than putting a veil over our hearts to protect ourselves from pain and suffering. And just as we need to see the smiles on people's faces, we need Jesus to lift the coverings that conceal our hearts.

And when you think about it, isn't Jesus the cure for every malady the world has to offer these days? So let us put on Christ. HE is the cure we ALL need.

"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." - Romans 13:14

Send In The Clowns - Frank Sinatra (Joker)

Sacrificial Worship

What is worship? Is worship just something we attend each week because it's a Sunday? Or is worship a sacrifice - offering ourselves and our comfort to God, sacrificing what we want, for Him?

And what is a sacrifice? What does sacrificing mean to you? Is it giving up control of the remote when your spouse wants to watch something? Not eating the last piece of pie because you know it's your wife's favorite and you want her to have it? Or is sacrifice something deeper? Something more meaningful?

The governor in our state has declared that the wearing of masks is mandatory in public buildings. Our church elders have determined that that means us and they have decided to obey the governor's mandate. Masks must be worn in church. I struggle with the whole mask thing, quite honestly. It's like someone is taking away one of my freedoms.

Other pastors have determined that government meddling in a worship service is beyond the government's authority and therefore have decided to disobey the governor's mandate. So who's right? Is anybody? Does it matter?

For the Christian, I think, what matters most is God and worshipping Him. If you have to wear a mask, so be it. Worshipping God trumps all. That's not what I felt yesterday however. This conclusion came to me during my morning solo worship.

You see, I stayed home from church yesterday, partly because of the mask wearing requirement, but mostly it was because my heart was not right before God. I am glad to report that it is now.

I sang half a dozen worship songs yesterday morning before driving over to the state park. I had communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and I wrote this story.

The time I spent alone with God allowed me to examine myself and to pray - just me and The Lord. The singing of the worship songs allowed me to hear songs again that had a special meaning to me - and to God I think. The chills I received verified that and were welcome and needed.

Here is the chorus from one of my morning worship songs. It is quite a prayer for today.

Open the blind eyes

Unlock the deaf ears

Come to your people

As we draw near

Hear us from heaven

Touch our generation

We are your people

Crying out in desperation

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for also the Father seeks such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24

Hear Us From Heaven - Jared Anderson

The Exodus Gospel

Do you remember this scene from The Ten Commandments? It's going to be happening again soon.

To reset the scene, Moses was up on Mt. Sinai talking with God. Moses had just received the ten commandments when God said this:

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves." - Exodus 32:7

Take a look around the planet these days. What do you see? Haven't we corrupted ourselves? How soon will it be before God has had enough and sends Jesus down?

Joshua met Moses on his way back down the mountain and said, "There is a noise of war in the camp." (Exodus 32:17)

Is there not "a noise of war" in our country? Look at Portland. It's been over two months. Look at the Middle East. War is coming and Turkey and Iran are at the heart of it.

So what happened when Moses arrived at the camp? He witnessed God's people sinning. You can see the golden calf that they were worshipping on the right side of the picture above. What happened next? Well, Joshua blew his trumpet (a shofar). That sound should send chills down the spine of every believer on earth.

"Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him." - Exodus 32:26

When all of God's children, the ones who came to Moses, had fled the others and ran towards God and Moses, what happened next?

"And he (Moses) said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor." - Exodus 32:27

All those who did not choose to follow God, but chose to follow their own god, were put to death. The movie showed the earth swallowing them up. How ironic.

Do you see the similarities to today? Those who do not run to Jesus and seek HIs forgiveness of their sin are condemned to death. This is not something that should be taken lightly. Go back and read Exodus 32:7 again. Who was killed? Everyone who did not call on the name of the Lord!

Who is that in YOUR life? Is it your brother? Your mother? Your sister-in-law? Your child? All will suffer the wrath of God unless they choose Jesus . . . and quickly.

This is not some trivial argument about wearing masks. Who cares about a mere virus compared with the mighty outstretched hand of God? But just in case plagues are your thing, look at the last verse of Exodus, Chapter 32.

"And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf." - Exodus 32:35

God plagued the people because they had turned their back on Him. Are we any different than they in today's world?

Chapter 32 of Exodus is an Old Testament offering of what we must choose today: the ways of the world or Jesus. The question is, which will it be? Each day that passes is one day closer to the return of Jesus and His judgement of ALL the people of the earth. Have you made YOUR choice?

Moses Returns from Mt. Sinai - The Ten Commandments